Black & White & Gold

Blazer: Urban Outfitters (similar)
Shirt: Macy's (
similar)
Jeans:
Gap
Shoes: Payless (similar)
Necklace: Charlotte Russe (
similar)
For a casual dinner with girlfriends at a wine bar, I like to keep it simple.  Jeans, shirt, blazer, and a fun necklace, and bam...you've got yourself a pretty darn cute outfit. 

Do you have a go-to outfit when you're going out for the evening?  Please do tell!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Truffles

What do you do on a Saturday afternoon before you go out for the night?

Make these.
Seriously, these are the bomb dot com.  I had a hard time not eating all the dough before I had the chance to dip them in chocolate. They are also extremely easy to make.  My fiance and his father are both diabetics, so I did substitute regular sugar for Splenda.  I did still use regular chocolate chips, but if you're trying to cut back on your sugar intake, you can always use carob chips.  Also, please don't think of this recipe as "diabetic friendly" because there is still a lot of sugar in the chocolate that I used.  But, I figured my fiance  would probably eat these regardless if they were made with real sugar or not, so I figured I would cut back on the sugar as much as possible for his sake.
I've posted my version of the recipe below.  However, if you want the original recipe, go here.

Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 cup Splenda
6 tablespoons Splenda Brown Sugar Blend
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/3 cup fat free milk
1 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips or carob chips (regular sized chips work just as well)


14 oz chocolate candy coating (can be found at any craft stores, baking stores, or even Target)

Directions:

Beat butter and sugar substitutes in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add milk and vanilla. Stir in flour, baking soda, and salt.  Mix on low speed (or by hand) until incorporated. Stir in chocolate chips.


If dough seems a bit soft, cover and refrigerate for an hour.  If it seems firm enough to handle (it may help to lightly flour your hands), form dough into 1" balls and arrange on a baking sheet lined with waxed or parchment paper. Place the sheets with the balls in freezer and let chill for 30 minutes.


Melt chocolate candy coating in microwave according to package directions. Using forks or a dipping tool, dip cookie balls into candy coating to cover. Tap fork on side of pan to remove any excess coating, and return to the paper-lined baking sheets. Chill until set. Store, chilled, in an airtight container for up to 1 week.


Makes about 3-4 dozen truffles.


(Recipe adapted from Love & Olive Oil)

Academy Awards

I love the Academy Awards.  No matter how good or how bad they can be.  I can ignore the corny jokes and the awkward pauses that you can only find on live television.  The fashion and the speeches trump everything else for me.  And last night, both did not fail.


I don't normally agree with what Fashion gurus proclaim as "best dressed".  I can appreciate the fashion, the risk that was taken, the statement the dress is trying to make.  However, my eye normally goes to the woman who wear gowns that emphasize their natural beauty.  So yes, the dress can be a statement piece in itself...but a dress that emphasizes the actress's skin, eyes, hair...that's "best dressed" in my book.


Therefore, I give you my picks for "best dressed" from last night's Academy Awards:


First, we have Natalie Portman.  I'm a sucker for polka dots.  I thought this dress was the perfect choice for someone who had a huge year last year.  She won her award, so now she can relax, have fun, and party it up a bit.  And correct me if I'm wrong...but don't red and polka dots just scream fun?
Second, Penelope Cruz.  This dress left me speechless.  The color is gorgeous.  Simply elegant.  To be honest, I wasn't crazy about her hair style, but I'm willing to forgive her because of this amazing dress.
All the girls from Bridesmaids looked stellar last night.  But Rose Byrne and Ellie Kemper hit it out of the park.  I'm obsessed with sequins in general, but these sequin dresses are just at a whole different level.  Rose Byrne's hair was dynamite.  Who would have thought a deep side part would look so good with blunt bangs?  The back of her dress is to die for.
Ellie Kemper's dress completely emphasized her beauty.  I think she should wear that auburn color all the time.  I'm also apparently partial to blunt bangs!
And lastly, Bérénice Bejo.  She literally took all the Spring trends and wrapped it into a pretty little package on the red carpet.  Soft mint lace dress and a low braided chignon...I'm sold.


What did everyone else think of the fashion they saw last night? 

Hello.

Hello Blogosphere.

My name is Claire and I've decided to create a blog.




Why?  Well, I'm currently unemployed.  However, when I eventually find a job, it will be in accounting.  You see, I pretty much use my left brain and right brain equally.  So while accounting satisfies my left brain, I need something to satisfy the right side.  Hence, where this blog comes in.


So while I wait to find a job in the midst of this wonderful job market, I figured I would write about what I love and how I express myself.  (tune music) Because when the dog bites, when the bee stings, when I'm feeling sad...I simply remember my favorite things and then I don't feel so bad.

Okay...anyways moving on. 

Basically this blog will be about my favorite things:


baking&fashion&travel&art&books&film&weddings&life
(understand the ampersand name now?)