Berry Almond Yogurt Cake

This cake is so pretty and fresh for spring. I love berries with cake anyway, so it's just an added bonus.

Serving Size: 8

Ingredients
1/2 cup almond meal
1 cup flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
Pinch of salt
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup plain yogurt
3 eggs
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1/2 cup canola oil
1/2 cup fresh raspberry preserves
1 cup fresh blueberries
1 cup fresh raspberries

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-inch cake pan and set aside. In a medium bowl, combine the almond meal, flour, baking powder, and salt, and set aside. Place the sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer and combine with the yogurt, eggs, and almond extract. Stir in the dry ingredients, and then add the canola oil. Stir until incorporated and pour the batter into the prepared pan.

Bake until the cake is golden and slightly pulling away from the sides of the pan, about 25 minutes. Cool 10 minutes in the pan before unmolding. Melt the preserves in a saucepan until spreadable, and spread on top of the cake. Rinse berries and pat dry. Arrange on top of preserves in any pattern you’d like. Let cool, and enjoy!

(Image and recipe from Jessica Comingore)

Ink Calendar

I love this ink calendar by the inventive Oscar Diaz. The paper absorbs ink every day for a month. The colors of the ink are specially designed to match the weather for each month, (blue for December, red for July). 
Love it!
(Image source)

To Whom You Belong

There are times when we feel super insecure. Even the most confident people have had those moments. It's easy to get caught up in comparing ourselves to other people. It may be their success, their looks, their possessions, or their talents. In comparing, we undervalue ourselves and become very unhappy in the process.

Stop comparing. You were made for a purpose, by a God who loves you more than you can ever understand.

(Image source)

Sending Love Your Way

This past week or so has been scary for all of us. I've been watching the news like crazy. Words can't describe how some of you must be feeling. We're with you, Boston. I'll be sending extra love your way.

xo.

(Image source)

Meringue Swirls

I have a dark past with meringue. In an effort to make macarons, I had to create it. Let us just say that it was not pretty. After much investigation,I finally realized that I had not added cream of tartar. Whoops. Maybe next time I'll remember the whole recipe.

Ingredients

• 3 large egg whites, room temperature
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 vanilla bean, seeds scraped
• Large pinch of salt
• Large pinch of cream of tartar
• 1 teaspoon finely grated fresh orange zest
• Gel-paste food coloring, in orange

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Combine egg whites and sugar in a heatproof bowl. Add vanilla bean seeds. Set bowl over a pot of simmering water, and stir until sugar dissolves and mixture is warm, about 3 minutes. Add salt and cream of tartar.
2. Beat with a mixer on medium-high speed until stiff, glossy peaks form and meringue is mostly cooled, about 7 minutes. Beat in zest.
3. Using a small paintbrush, paint 3 vertical stripes of food coloring inside a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-inch round tip (Ateco #805). Fill bag with meringue, and pipe 1 3/4-inch circular shapes (they don't need to be perfect rounds) 2 inches apart on 2 parchment-lined baking sheets. As you finish piping each shape, apply less pressure to pastry bag, and swirl the tip off in a circular motion.
4. Bake meringues until crisp on the outside but still soft inside, about 1 hour 15 minutes. Let cool completely on a wire rack.

Yum yum!

(Image and recipe from Martha Stewart)

4 Interiors I Love

While I am really a fashion girl myself, I still can enjoy a beautiful room. Interior design is such a personal career. You're working very closely with the clients, so you get to know them. In essence, you are creating a space where life can happen. 
I now need a red lacquered desk. Again, thank you Pinterest.
(1,2,3,4)

Oh, the Weekend

Have you heard about Saturday by Kate Spade? It's like Kate Spade's little sister, but more casual. Super cute! I especially love the Half-Circle Bag....perfect for the weekend!

(Image source)

The Test: Prestige vs. Drugstore

I love prestige brands. But they can get super expensive. Sometimes drugstore stuff does the same thing (or even better) for a cheaper price. 
I was willing to do a bit of an experiment. I tried Maybelline One by One mascara and Benefit Cosmetics Badgal Lash mascara. Here's what I found.

Overall, both mascaras are great. It really comes down to what you are comfortable spending on a mascara. 
If I had to pick a favorite, I would say Maybelline. I like it because less mascara accumulates on top of the brush. But the Benefit stuff is awesome because it is less flaky and gives you more separation. (Hence the A- versus the B+.)

Vacay Essentials

I am going on vacation in a couple of months, so I have been compiling lists of things to pack and do. (I am such a packing freak!)
Some of my essentials for travel are: a huge tote bag, a cosmetic bag, sunscreen, an eye mask, and lip balm.
All important. If a vacay is in your future, do not travel without them!
1. Target tote | 2. A-Thread cosmetic bag | 3. Clarins sunscreen | 4. Modcloth eye mask | 5. Laura Mercier lip balm

Almond Brittle and Praline

I love praline. Sweet and crunchy. So when I found Dulce Delight's video about how to make both almond brittle and praline, it was as if the heavens had opened and dropped a miracle into my lap. (Hallelujah! Hallelujah!) 
How cute is that video? 

April Wishlist

1. After Glimmer Mint Necklace | 2. Crystal Crush Bobbi | 3. Vega Patent Perforated Sandals | 4. Blue Iconic Floral Scarf | 5. High-Gloss Belt | 6. Tory Burch Flamingo Cosmetic Case | 7. Iridescent Earrings | 8. Frisia Suede Slingbacks | 9. Garden Stud Earrings | 10. Kate Spade Sprinkles Mallory | 11. This is Glitz Earrings | 12. Gayla Sunglasses | 13. Orchid Band Ring | 14. Live Colorfully Eau de Parfum
It's hard for me to believe that it's already April. This year has just flown by for me. The blog is officially 4 months old today. (Yay!) I love blogging. Not only is it a fun creative outlet, it's a way to find out more about myself and what I love. Another thing I love about it is that I can share about the most important aspect of my life; my faith.
But all sentiment aside, here are some of the things I have been loving for this fabulous month. Here's to a great April!

Baby Style

1. Crew Cuts pajamas  | 2. Gap striped dress | 3. Seed Heritage bunny Mary Janes | 4. Broer & Zus baby tee | 5. Juicy Couture bathing suit | 6. J. Crew cashmere sweater

Just some things I love for the little people in our lives.