Picture of the Day: My Lovelies...

Happy Friday Friends .... just a little thought to push you all the way until the end of the day. 

Have a great weekend all!

via bestsoylatte.blogspot.com 

Bake Shop: Marble Pound Cake

There are some days when all you can think about is Henry Cavill or Ian Somerhalder {is that just me}?  Or maybe it's all the cleaning you need to do {that's NEVER me} or perhaps a much anticipated vacation {I WISH that was me}.

However, there are just days when all you can think about is choclate.  And cake.  

Today is one of those days.... 

Marble Cake via The Baker Chick

Marble Pound Cake

Yield: 1 9x5 loaf cake

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 3/4 cups cake flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 large eggs, room temperature
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2/3 cup buttermilk, room temperature
• 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon Dutch-process cocoa powder
• butter or spray for pan

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Generously butter or spray a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan; set aside.
2. Whisk together the cake flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside.
3. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until combined after each addition and scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Mix in vanilla. Add flour mixture in 3 batches, alternating with the buttermilk and beginning and ending with the flour.
4. Scoop 1/3 of the batter into another bowl and set aside.
5. In a separate small bowl, mix the cocoa powder and 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons of boiling water until smooth. Add the cocoa mixture to the small bowl of cake batter; and stir it well.
6. To assemble the cake- start by creating a checkerboard pattern in the bottom of the pan by spooning dollops of each batter on opposite sides of the pan. (see picture below recipe.)
7. For the second layer, alternate the pattern, spooning vanilla batter over the chocolate and vice versa.
8. Finish with a final layer of batter- again alternating it from the pattern of the 2nd layer.
9. Use a knife or skewer to swirl all the batters together. Make a couple figure 8s and run it back and forth so it is swirled and pretty.
10. Bake until a cake tester comes out clean, 40 to 60 minutes*. Transfer pan to a rack to cool 10 minutes. Turn out cake from pan and cool completely on the rack. Cake can be kept in an airtight container at room temperature up to 3 days.

Notes

* I know this is a wide range, but every oven is different. I needed the full 60 minutes for my cake to bake through. Start with 40 minutes and add more time as needed.

Original Recipe from: Martha Stewart adapted version via The Baker Chick. 

How To Images:

PS -- if you still believe that all thoughts should lead to Ian & Henry {which I am full agreement} ~ this should help. 

Henry Ian 

Pinterest Pin of the Day: Creative Life

In honor of my participation in Holly Becker's "Blog Boss" -- I thought this pin was PARTICULARY relevant today.  

via Tina Roth Eisenberg of Swiss Miss

Blogging Like A "BOSS"

Hi Everyone ....

I just wanted to give you a head's up that you might see some changes & wacky things on the blog over the course of the next few weeks.  

This week started the eCourse I am taking called "Blog Boss" - presented by Holly Becker of Decor8 fame.  This course will feature co-teachers Stefanie Luxat from Ohhh Mhhhh and Irene Hoofs from Bloesem and Bloesem Kids. I'm so excited! 

source: Holly Becker

I'm always THRILLED to participate in Holly's courses.  I have learned so much & found buckets full of inspiration.  That being said - sometimes, all that creativity leads to shake ups and changes on the blog.  If you notice something is different - or not quite right, no worries.  It's all a work in progress.  

Stay tuned for great changes & improvements.  You never know - maybe a homework assignment or two will pop up as well. 

XO,
Carrie  

Blast From The Past: Sassy & Molly

I spent a little time this weekend creating a new board on Pinterest.  I will go on record as saying I have never NEVER had so much response or interaction with people based on one particular board as I have on my newest collection, "Blast From My Past {Vintage & Classics}".  

This hilarious and sometimes sad view of my life in the 70's, 80's and early 90's is a walk down memory lane featuring the good, bad and VERY ugly of my generation.  

After looking at all the hilarious "I ♥ 80's" collections, I have come to the certain conclusion that I owe everything I know and believe about life to 2 things.  

Sassy Magazine: The Teen Girls Bible

Molly Ringwald

If I couldn't or didn't find the answer to all my questions from one of these two sources --- I didn't need to know it.  

Who or what had the most influence on you during your childhood?