Raspberry Chocolate Cupcakes

I just posted a new recipe over on Wonderland Kitchen and wanted to be sure to share it with you all as well. This was probably the most creative I have gotten with decorating them, and I LOVED the way they turned out!

You can check them out here!

Back in Boots

Fall has definitely happened in Chicago, and I love it. I don't know if it's just that I love fall so much or that I'm so glad the humidity has gone away, but I have been in just about the best of moods ever since the weather started getting cooler last week. My house has been in constant candle-mode, alternating between Slatkin & Co's (Bath & Body Works) "Leaves", "Creamy Pumpkin", and "Autumn Apple." Yum!!! I also made the first batch of Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bars of the season last night, and then proceeded to eat two of those and drink a glass of Sauvignon Blanc as my dinner. As someone on Facebook commented "I'm sure that covers at least 4, maybe 5, of the food groups anyways!" Haha.

What fall means as far as my wardrobe goes is this: SWEATERS AND BOOTS ARE BACK! I threw a big chunky sweater on Wednesday night and had forgotten how super comfortable and warm they always are. Mmmm. Here's today's outfit:

Outfit
Dress: TJ Maxx
Scarf: H&M
Sweater, Leggings: Old Navy
Boots: Durango via RCC Western

And in the background? Only my absolute favorite flowers- gladiolas! They were surprisingly cheap at Whole Foods... $3.99 for 10 stems.

What are your favorite parts of Fall that you are excited about? Or are you like me and it's just about everything to do with it?

What's New in Wonderland Kitchen

I'll admit that after discovering Food Gawker this week (Thanks Lauryn!) I have spent a large majority of my time perusing that website, making recipes lists and grocery lists, grocery shopping, and cooking. Oh, well I also spent most of Monday at a tattoo parlor watching my dad get his version of the "family tattoo", but that's a story for another time.

Basically I've been trying to put a little love into Wonderland Kitchen, and haven't so much been wearing anything interesting or doing anything other than things that seemed more relevant to post about over there. So here's what's going on the last week or so on that front:

A new love for our neighborhood Italian market.

A trip to Lincoln Park's Burger Bar. (And Truffle Fries!!!)

Warm gooey fresh baked cookies for dinner... and taco salad for dessert.

Spinach Caprese Omelettes and a fresh mozzarella obsession.

Sorry if your mouth is now watering. I know mine is. Maybe I'll be back tomorrow with an outfit post... assuming I ever put on real clothes today.

Wonderland Kitchen Update

For those of you who may or may not follow, here's a little update of what's been going on over at Wonderland Kitchen:

(You can click any picture for a link to that post)

Super Cute Anthropologie Apron Obsessions

FARMbloomington Restaurant Review


Iced Coffee


Cookie-Bottomed Cupcakes


How Sweet's Bacon and Gorgonzola Roasted Potatoes

Thanksgiving Picture Post

As can be expected every year perfectly in time for the end of the semester and finals, I have picked up some dreadful little sickness. I'm assuming it's just some awful head cold, because that's what it usually is, and I've been keeping myself in a steady daze of a variety of cold medicines, allergy medicines, and advil. Basically I'm telling you this because it explains why this blog has been so boring lately... no good outfits or cooking going on in this neck of the woods!

We did have our first snow the other day, and I woke up to maybe a half inch on the ground. It's always that much better when you're not expecting it! Tonight/tomorrow we're supposed to get up to "2 to 4" inches of accumulation (Those meteorologists, always right on the dot!) and I hope it hits four! I LOVE SNOW!

We've been finishing off our Christmas decorations today, and it occurred to me I never shared pictures from Thanksgiving. Only food, of course. I basically wore pajamas the whole day and didn't put on a dash of make up since we didn't go anywhere. But the food is definitely worth posting about, my dad is an AMAZING chef, and my mom and I aren't half bad either!

My wake up call at 10am Thanksgiving morning. Thanks, dad!

"The Best Turkey Yet", as we all decided.

Seriously the most amazing stuffing I've ever had... Herbed french bread, Italian Sausage, Chives, etc etc, SO GOOD!

Miss Penske is never far when meat is involved.

Sweet Potato Casserole. Trying to get this recipe up in the near future. Also looking forward to making it into a more "pie like" version over break.

I hope no one else has caught this wave of sickness that seems to be going around, but if you have, I'll hope for a swift recovery for all of us! Enjoy any holiday decorating going on in your neck of the woods!

Baby Shower Brainstorming

I've been to a few baby showers, including one that I planned, but I'm doing another one in January for a cousin of mine. They don't want to find out the sex of the baby (much to my dismay, of course, makes planning way more fun!) so I'm going with a gender neutral theme.

Does anyone have any really cute ideas for games or anything? My guess is that there will be somewhere between 30-40 people at the shower, so I'm particularly looking for any games that are more suitable for a bigger crowd! If you have any fun ideas, I'd love to hear them!

I also just put a new recipe up for Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bars on Wonderland Kitchen! I got the idea from Red Vines for Breakfast (One of my favorite blogs, especially when recipes are involved!) and I have already made it twice in a week and a half. SO GOOD.

New Recipes- Mexican Style!

Two new recipes up on Wonderland Kitchen for those of you who are interested: Baja Shrimp Tacos and Homemade Guacamole! I'm not a big fan of Mexican restaurants for the most part, but I LOVE homemade taco anything, and I've been trying to branch out lately in making other things. I didn't add much to the Shrimp in cooking them, but they turned out absolutely delicious!


I also just put the other blog through another major revamping... that seems to be my newest procrastination tool when it comes to getting my homework done. Tonight I'm dragging myself to Barnes and Noble to be without any distractions and actually get as much done as I can!

Get Your Plaid On!

I'm doing SO well with keeping up with regular postings, eh?! I guess I do feel like I've been much busier than normal, mostly just getting used to being back in classes... and I've been traveling pretty much every weekend since school started.

I have definitely picked up the Fall Fever, and it kills me that these stubborn temperatures are hovering in the mid to low 80's on most days. Come on mother nature, can I get a mid or even low 70? Pretty please? I don't want the weather to go rushing off into anything too extreme, but I've got a few cardigans and long sleeved dresses just dying to jump out of the closet.

Take, for example, this longer sleeved plaid shirt-dress from Old Navy! I wondered if it was a bit too "Patriotic" when I bought it, but the other colors were mostly black and gray, which I may have a bit too much of already. (Ok, false, I don't think there's such thing as too much black as long as you have some colorful accessories to balance it out!) I ended up wearing it to a Cookout on September 11... so low and behold, patriotic seemed to be the theme of the day and I unintentionally fit right in.

Outfit
Dress, Flip Flops, Leggings: Old Navy
Guitar Necklace, Belt: Forever 21
Purse: Charlotte Russe

The weather was maybe just a BIT warm for the longer sleeves, but as the sun went down it was a pretty comfortable outfit! I absolutely love the button leggings. Old Navy has surprisingly proven pretty trustworthy in long-lasting leggings, and I love when they have the subtle detailing. They run around $15, but you can usually find them on sale, and like I said, they do last for quite a while!

Now I'm off to do some MORE readings... readings that I probably should have done earlier, but neglected in favor of registering for the GMAT and researching Business Schools for my MBA, all of which really needed to be done anyways.

For those of you with a sweet tooth, feel free to stop on by Wonderland Kitchen for this DELICIOUS Nutella Cheesecake Brownie recipe, borrowed from Miss Valerie over at Red Vines for Breakfast! They're amazing!

Belvedere Pink Grapefruit Cosmo

As promised, here is the recipe for the Belvedere Pink Grapefruit Cosmopolitan! It is a delicious twist on a classic cosmo, and adds an extra citrusy and subtle summer feel. Belvedere is a little more expensive than what I normally drink, but their Pink Grapefruit flavor is definitely worth a little splurging!

1.5 oz Belvedere Pink Grapefruit

¼ oz lime juice

¼ oz premium triple sec

½ oz Ocean Spray 100% Cranberry juice

1. Shake with cubed ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
2. Garnish with an orange twist or lime wedge.

Outfit Post: Back in Black

Who knows WHY I thought it was a good idea to run around in head to toe black in the 90+ degree weather of the Chicago summer, but it really didn't get too bad until the end of the day. I needed something that was not too revealing, comfortable to walk around in all day, and not too risky when it comes to those Chicago winds vs. Skirts/Dresses. Just for the record: Quickest way to take a black outfit and make it pop: ridiculously colorful scarf. Voila!

Outfit
Dress, Leggings and Ring: Target
Scarf: Old Navy
Shoes: Gap
Earrings: For Love 21

Yesterday we started off with breakfast at the Bongo Room on S. Wabash in the South Loop. It was REALLY delicious, but way too filling. I'll be posting a review soon over at Wonderland Kitchen (Along with several other amazing restaurant reviews from this Chicago visit! You can currently find a review for the South Loop pizza joint Flo & Santos).

(Red Velvet Pancakes with Vanilla Creme Sauce. You better believe I'll be trying to find my own recipe to share with you guys in the very near future for this delicious little creation!)

Then we had school visits at Northwestern for the little bro, and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago for both of us. I've been looking into a Master of Fine Arts in Visual Communication Design, but after being told that I'd basically just be blowing a cool $80,000 to play around with "studio time" for two years, it didn't seem exactly like what I wanted to pursue after I graduate... as much as I'd love to sit around and craft for two years and call it an education. It did, however, look like a really cool school for anyone who is specifically pursuing art and has an actual undergrad background in it.

We ended the day (night, really) at a White Sox game (the REAL Chicago team) followed by watching the fireworks at Navy Pier from the drive out by the Planetarium. It was a busy busy but really great day overall!!

By the way, big thanks to Pearls, Lace, and Ruffles because I was one of the winners of her 300 followers giveaway! I can't wait to get this adorable little collection of jewelry and put it to good use. I promise to post as soon as it comes in :-) (And thanks to all of MY new followers! Again... it means a lot that any of you actually read this! I've been working on pulling stuff together for a giveaway of my own, and that will be happening soon!)

Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes!

New recipe post up at Wonderland Kitchen for a fun summer twist on cupcakes!
(Yes, I really am trying harder to keep up!)

Picture Post- Spring Break Brunch with Steven

Over Spring Break my best friend Steven and I made brunch complete with Mimosas and French Bread French Toast (Recipe here, at Wonderland Kitchen. Given recipe uses Challah bread but French Bread works just the same!). SO delicious!!!

(And I finally have my camera back, obviously)


(Squinty eyes! It was so bright!)

Hello Hello! (And some Home Sweet Chicago)

So I'm gone for practically a week, and I come back to three more followers! Welcome, newcomers!!! I've also gotten so behind on everything I want to post, since I was in Chicago from Sunday to yesterday (Wednesday) and now I'm back at HOME home in Southern Indiana... but hopefully in the next few days I can get myself caught up here. My apologies if posts get a little picture cluttered!!!

So I'll try not to get ahead of myself, and start with Chicago. I went to visit my dad's apartment (He works/lives there during the week) and my days were mostly spent reading/working out/sleeping in/cocktailing, which was completely relaxing and ok with me.

I got to go to Gibson's Steakhouse sunday night... one of the best restaurants EVER. I wore this floral print tie front shirt I bought forever ago and never could really figure out what to pair it with, and my usual high waisted black eyelet skirt. I really need to go get another high waisted skirt- this poor guy is way overworn.


Monday I cooked and then we went to see Alice in Wonderland (Again!). I wore the Alice headband bow again, but tried it out with a shirt that is a little more summery. And yes, in the one picture, I'm wearing shorts, it just happens that the way the shirt falls in this pose you can't see them. Not trying to whore it up for the whole internet to see!




Tuesday we went to this great Mexican/South American restaurant called Carnivale. The decorating scheme inside was crazy, and really fun, and the food was SO GOOD. The service was a little lacking, but it was still a good night. However, before dinner, I did manage to drag my dad to Forever 21... actually a Forever XXI, aka HUGE. We were in a hurry so I was trying to be fast, but I still bought 2 shirts and a dress that will likely make an appearance soon.

Next up... ST. PATRICK'S DAY! Nothing too crazy for that, but I will have a picture of one of the Forever shirts I bought, and a few other pictures from going out, so it's worthy enough of its own post. See ya soon ;-) And thanks again to the new followers who have joined us!!!