Illustration Class with Katie Rodgers of PAPERFASHION

I have loved the illustration blog PAPERFASHION for forever. A whimsical mix of color, art, and style, it is on my short list of favorite blogs. Recently Katie announced that she was offering a class on Skillshare. I've always wanted to sketch things, so this sounded like the perfect opportunity. 
If you're interested, the class is $20 for a two week class that has four sessions. It's completely online, with places to upload your inspiration and work. (Sign up here) 

So inspired by tulle, furs, and florals. For more information on the class, you can watch this quick video.

February Wishlist

Just some of the things I have been eyeing for this month!

1. Pop Gia | 2. Copper Jack Paperweight | 3. What About Bauble? Necklace | 4. Hepcat Shades | 5. Italian Cashmere Wrap | 6. Kate Spade Twirl 3.4 oz Spray | 7. ASOS Cat Ears Ring | 8. Wave Print Canvas Tote | 9. Lilac Stick Pin & Violet Stick Pin

Pumpkin Scalloped Potatoes

I love potatoes. And I adore pumpkins. So this yummy recipe went straight to the top of my "soon to make" list. Although this might be a fall-ish recipe, I still love me some pumpkin.
Pumpkin Scalloped Potatoes

Yield: 8 servings

Prep Time: 25 min

Cook Time: 55 min

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup unsweetened pumpkin puree
1 sprig fresh thyme
2 garlic cloves, smashed
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg (freshly grated is best!)
2 pounds Yukon Gold white potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/8-inch slices
2 pounds yams or sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/8-inch slices
kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 ounces Fontina, Havarti or Swiss cheese, shredded
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a 2 quart casserole dish with nonstick spray.

2. In a medium saucepan, combine the cream, pumpkin, thyme, garlic and nutmeg and heat over medium-low heat. While the cream sauce is warming, prepare the potatoes.

3. Create three rows of potatoes along the bottom of the dish, overlapping slightly and alternating the two types of potatoes. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Remove the cream from heat (fishing out the thyme and garlic and discarding those) and spoon 1/3 of the cream sauce over the potatoes. Combine the two cheeses in a medium bowl. Sprinkle 1/3 of the cheeses over the potatoes too. Create a second layer of potatoes, sprinkle with salt and pepper and drizzle with 1/3 more of the sauce and 1/3 more of the cheese. Create a third layer of potatoes, sprinkle with salt and pepper and drizzle with the remainder of the sauce.

4. Bake the potatoes, uncovered, for 50 minutes. Sprinkle the remainder of the cheese on top, and bake for an additional 5 to 10 minutes, or until the cheese is slightly browned and bubbly.

(Images and recipe from Recipe Girl)

Five Loves: B & W Stripes

I love black and white stripes. Whenever I go shopping for a dress, black and white striped ones are just calling my name. "Eliza! Eliza! Spend money on us!" I usually do. But I digress.

1. Black and White Bowtie Pasta | 2. Alice + Olivia Dina Striped Pumps | 3. How Striped is Now? Bag | 4. Rugby Stripe iPad Folio | 5. Black & White Striped Stud Earrings

Peppermint Pattie Brownies

I love mint and chocolate together. What says winter more than a cool and rich combo? Yummy yummy in my tummy.

Peppermint Pattie Brownies

YIELD: 9-12 BROWNIES (1 8X8 PAN)PREP TIME: 20 MINUTESCOOK TIME: 25 MINUTES  TOTAL TIME: 1.5 HOURS

Ingredients

1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
2/3 cup chocolate chips

Peppermint Pattie Layer

2 cups powdered sugar

1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

3 tablespoons evaporated milk

1/4 teaspoon vegetable oil

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract

Ganache
3.5 ounces dark chocolate, chopped
2.5 tablespoons heavy cream

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8x8 baking pan with butter or nonstick spray.

In a large bowl, combine melted butter with sugar and vanilla extract, whisking until combined and almost smooth. Whisk in each egg one at a time, stirring until a smooth batter forms. Add in flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt, stirring until combined. Fold in chocolate chips. Spread batter in the 8x8 baking dish and bake for 25-30 minutes until set. Remove and let cool.

While brownies are cooling, add powdered sugar, butter, milk, vegetable oil, vanilla and peppermint extracts to the bowl of an electric mixer. Beat until smooth and creamy. Pour over brownies and spread in an even layer with a spoon or spatula. Place in the refrigerator until set, about 30 minutes.

To make ganache, heat heavy cream until warm and pour it over chopped chocolate. Stir for a few minutes until totally combined, smooth and creamy. Spread over the top of the peppermint layer or cut brownies first and spoon over top. I love these refrigerated!

(Brownies from All Recipes, peppermint layer from homemade peppermint patties)
Isn't that easy? I will be whipping these up very soon!     (Images and recipe from How Sweet Eats)

Ann Shen

I love art prints. So when I heard the word about Ann Shen, I was instantly hooked. Her prints are colorful, whimsical, and at such great prices, I think it's a win-win. Plus, everyone could use a reminder about worrying from time to time.

1. Macaron Print | 2. Once Upon a Time Print | 3. Don't Give Up Print | 4. Thank You Postcards | 5.  I Won't Worry My Life Away Print

Gifting Guide

Valentine's Day is coming up.

Holidays can be pretty stressful. Gifts to buy, food to make, traveling to do, people to see...the list goes on and on. So I made a few handy gift guides for the people in your life.

1. Kate Spade Jewelbar Enamel Locket ($98) | 2. Fielding Calls iPhone Case ($16.99) | 3. Urban Decay Super-Saturated High Gloss Lip Color ($19) | 4. French Zip Wallet ($98) | 5. My Own Rendition Earrings in White ($13) | 6. La Mer Triple Wrap Watch - Lime Green ($40) | 7. Lots of Dots Studded Skinny Belt ($11)

1. Contrast Stripe Knit Gloves ($25) 2. Wake Up Call iPhone Dock ($40) | 3. Urbanears Plattan Headphones in Black ($60) | 4. Maritime Soap ($9) | 5. Store Trooper USB Flash Drive in Darth Vader ($25) | 6. Striped Sock Set ($7) | 7. I See Whoo Contact Case ($7)

1. Head, Shoulders, Keys and Toes Scarf ($10) | 2. Kate Spade the Glass is Half Full Idiom Bangle ($58) | 3. Mascara in There and Black by Louise Gray ($15) | 4. Lipsy Faceted Cascade Drop Earrings ($20) | 5. Dior Vernis Nail Lacquer ($23) | 6. Clustered Short Necklace - Clear ($30) |  7. Traveling Cupcake Truck Dress ($60) 

Now, gift with confidence!

Weekend Beauty Tips

For most of you, the weekday is time to put your best face forward. When the weekend hits, it's easy to just let yourself go a bit. Out come the sweats, and makeup is tossed into the bag until you need to get all gussied up again. So I put together a simple, quick weekend beauty routine that will take only a few minutes, leaving you fresh and primped.

1. Cleanse your face. (I like Clean and Clear Foaming Facial Cleanser; it's el cheapo, gentle, and oil-free.) When you dry it off, use a soft towel and pat. Never rub or swipe, it can irritate your skin.

2. Moisturize, especially in the winter. I have dry skin year-round, so I always take care to use lotion. The kind with SPF built in is the best, even when it isn't sunny. Make sure there is no lotion on top of your skin, rub it in until your skin doesn't feel greasy.

3. Put the brightening face primer on, especially under your eyes. I get dark circles, so this is literally a lifesaver.  

4. Curl your eyelashes. Here is a great tutorial that tells you how to get longer, more defined lashes. (Always the goal.)
5. Apply mascara from the base to tip of your lashes. Blinking when you brush can help get it all the way down to the lash line. Take care to get the little corner lashes.

6. Put on your lip balm. Enough said.

I included nail polish as well because I usually do my nails on the weekend. It's the only time that I have the motivation to do it really well, and have usually very little to do, so it can dry.

1. Badgal Lash Mascara | 2. Baby Lips Lip Balm | 3. Sephora Eyelash Curler | 4. Scotch Naturals in Seaboard | 5. That Gal Face Primer

Party Marshmallows

I love marshmallows. Sweet, fluffy little clouds that melt away in your mouth. They add their magical touch to cocoa, sweet potatoes, and fudge. Yes, fudge, but that's a different post.

Chocolate Dipped Marshmallows

Makes 24

Ingredients

• 12-14 ounces, weight chocolate or candy melts
• 24 marshmallows
• preferred toppings (sprinkles, chopped nuts, chopped mints, melted chocolate for drizzling)

Instructions

1. Melt the chocolate/candy melts according to package direction.
2. Using a skewer, dip each marshmallow in the chocolate and turn upright, then slide a fork under the marshmallow with the skewer fitting in between the fork tines, and gently pull the skewer out. Using the skewer carefully push the marshmallow from the bottom off of the fork onto wax paper surface.
3. Before chocolate hardens, sprinkle with favorite toppings. Party party party! Yayyy!!! (Images and recipe from She Wears Many Hats)

Novogratz Love

I love the Novogratz. Ever since I saw their new collection at CB2, I've been (mildly) obsessed with them. I record their show every time I see it on, whether I've seen it 5 times or not.

Design makes me happy. 
1,2,3

Tent Living

Okay, so I don't do tents. The idea of sleeping outside on the cold, hard ground is, ahem...mildly unappealing.
But this is no ordinary tent. This is a veritable cloth palace. I could easily live warmly in this on a warm, sandy beach somewhere warm. (Like Tahiti.) Did I mention I would be warm? (For those of you who live in the Northeast, too, you understand what a precious commodity warmth is.)
Ah carefree living. 

Favorite Song

I love this song. Seriously, I can listen to it ten times in a row and never get tired of it. Maybe it's because of Jamie Grace; she's amazing.
It's got me singing along!