6.30.2011

THIRTY-ONE DAY PHOTO CHALLENGE

new month, new experience.  i found a great idea when i stumbled across white peach photography and their 30 day photo challenge . i am adding a day since there are thirty-one in july and adjusting the criteria slightly to make it my own by including a few of my passions and also a few things out of my box to ensure it is a new journey which makes me stretch a little.  i am hoping this will assist me in forming a habit of posting daily which i have so far found quite difficult.  another motive is to learn a few new features on my eight month old camera which i still only know the basics of.

challenge as follows:

day one:  doorway
day two:  self-portrait
day three:  clouds
day four:  yellow
day five: from a high angle
day six:  from a low angle
day seven:  food
day eight:  a bad habit
day nine:  someone you love
day ten: childhood memory
day eleven:  household object
day twelve:  cityscape
day thirteen:  long exposure
day fourteen:  eyes
day fifteen:  silhouette
day sixteen:  my street
day seventeen:  technology
day eighteen:  your shoes
day nineteen:  something orange
day twenty: create and use a bokeh
day twenty-one:  faceless self-portrait
day twenty-two:  hands
day twenty-three:  sunflare
day twenty-four:  letters
day twenty-five:  pink
day twenty-six:  close-up
day twenty-seven:  from a distance
day twenty-eight:  flowers
day twenty-nine:  black and white
day thirty:  something furry
day thirty-one:  #31


i will see you tomorrow with the first of my postings, so excited.
.

6.20.2011

TREAT TIME: ALMOND AND RASPBERRY TART

this weekend r and i decided to try out a new recipe.  in typical fashion we took a few shortcuts......here is our baking adventure.

dough:
pre-made

filling:
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup superfine sugar
3 eggs, beaten
1/2 tsp almond extract
1 cup ground almonds
6 tbsp raspberry jam
powdered sugar

the original recipe of included making dough for the crust but we decided to cut 20 minutes off our commitment and make use of some pre-made dough hiding in the freezer.  we had pillsbury pie crust but any will do.  leave dough out until room temperature.  choose your dish and grease with butter, we chose a 9-inch cake pan.  roll dough out in to dish and push into nooks and crannies.  crimp ends of dough in whathever fashion you prefer, we used a fork.  poke bottom of dough with fork to allow breathing during baking.


cover with wax or parchment paper.  set approximately 1.5 cups of rice on parchment paper to weigh down while baking.  bake in a 350 degree oven for 20 minutes.


while crust is baking, make the filling.

begin by chopping almonds in food processor until finely ground.


beat butter and sugar in mixer until creamy.


slowly add lightly beaten eggs and mix until fully incorporated.

add almond extract and ground almonds.  mix, just until combined.


remove pie crust from oven and allow to cool.  spread jam over pastry.


spoon filling into shell on top of jam.




bake 350 for 25 minutes.  top will be slightly darker than golden brown.  center should be set but still slightly soft to the touch.


allow to cool on bakers rack.  dust with powdered sugar.  slice and devour.

COLOR ON THE CANVAS

i love the combination of such bold items with such bare items. 

due to continually forgetting to bring my picture files to the office and not allowing enough time in the evening to upload, i am stuck with sharing another outfit post.  kitchen time blog to be posted this evening, i'm positive of it.

Blank Canvas, Color Splashes
Blank Canvas, Color Splashes by stephdanielle featuring zara shoes

Nude dress
$95 - topshop.com

Zara shoes
$50 - zara.com

TopShop stone ring
$13 - topshop.com

Necklace
$25 - topshop.com

DIY, I THINK SO

thanks to the always entertaining and fashionable blog, The Blonde Salad , i have a new diy idea.  this cut out sweatshirt is so fun and with the right hunting tactics, i will find one lightweight enough to be the perfect summer top for evenings out and about.  wish me luck, i will keep you posted when i am ready to begin slicing and dicing.


DENIM AND GOLD

i am in love with this look for a summer night out.  i like mixing casual pieces with dressier and or work wardrobe pieces.  time to begin searching for a version which will be a little nicer on the wallet.

TopShop white racerback tank
$10 - topshop.com

TopShop gray blazer
$120 - topshop.com

True religion shorts
€359 - jades24.com

Zara wide sandals
$109 - zara.com

Zara messenger bag
$100 - zara.com

Bex Rox costume jewelry
$295 - stylebop.com

Diamond jewelry
overstock.com

Forever21 coin necklace
$3.80 - forever21.com

6.15.2011

SUMMER COMFORT

i could live in this until october, i'm sure of it.

Summer Comfort



Cardigan
hfm.co.jp

Cotton tank
$30 - witchery.com.au

Boyfriend jeans
€129 - conleys.de

Toms shoes
55 CAD - gravitypope.com

Zara leather handbag
$149 - zara.com

House of Harlow 1960 gold plated bracelet
$79 - shopthetrendboutique.com

Kendra Scott gold plated jewelry
$195 - charmandchain.com

Costalots plastic sunglasses
£128 - amrag.com

SHELLAC, NO NEED

i'm a girl who wants instant satisfaction thus i have a strong hate toward waiting around for 15 minutes after painting my nails waiting to touch anything until they dry.  i was reeled in to this product by the 'insta' and took the bait when i saw the price tag, under $5.  it really does dry instantly (hints the name), as long as your definition of instant is under 45 seconds.  it can stay looking fresh for up to a week and a number of people have mistaken my current color, petal pusher, for being shellac, the new nail craze which costs around $30.
do it, check out sally hansen's insta-dry....perfect for us girls on the go.

6.13.2011

TO BLOG OR NOT TO BLOG

for the past two years I have been juggling the idea of creating my own blog.  after much deliberation surrounding time, material and ability to be consistent, I have finally made the leap and am officially committing.  i will use this platform as; an inspiration board to get some of my thoughts and visions in the flesh, internet flesh, that is, share my bargain-finding techniques and diy fails and successes.  you will also find copious amounts of food porn and dog related finds as these are two of my obsessions.  in the end, i hope by sharing the things which make me smile will act as a 'pay it forward' technique and you to will find something each day that will cause you to show your pearly whites.  welcome to my wild world of sarcasm, fashion and paw prints, enjoy.

--steph xx