Guest Post: Counting down

My wedding is super soon - 2 weeks and 2 nights! "Excited panic" is how I think I am feeling. So in the name of my looming "I do's"

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Guest Post: Half and half

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Guest post: I'm Awesome

Love this!

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Guest Post: HAPPY 30TH BIRTHDAY DEAREST SISTER

Happy birthday dearest Bailey. Have a sparkling time in New York continue to be as wonderful as you are! 

New York Weekend!

Happy weekend peeps and peepesses! It is a super happy one for me as I will be spending it in NY. I am so excited! Enjoy Cheska's guest posts while I am away, and I will tell you all about it when I get back.

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Kisses xoxo

Long haul flight to Australia

 I read this bit of marriage advice once about making an effort not to look like you are permanently on a long haul flight to Australia. You can just picture the clothes right - comfy, slouchy, soft.

Tomorrow I am really about to embark on a long haul flight. Fifteen hours to NY. Yes, you want to be comfy, but you don't want to arrive at JFK looking like you've just been on a fifteen hour flight. With the added complication that you change seasons in mid air. You can always spot the seasoned traveller - the one who balances glamour + casual so perfectly. Of course, the above mentioned traveller usually emerges from business class. It is a whole lot easier to look glam and casual when you've had 10 hours sleep on a flat bed. The travelers I really don't understand are those that wear skirts on long haul flights. Really? You chose to wear that for 15 hours during which you twisted your body and bend your legs into all sorts of contortions.

So, what to wear? I think any of these are perfect travels outfits...

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(Shhh - Apparently this outfit will bump you up to first class)

Guest Post: OH YUM: Dark Chocolate Brownies, Ginger Ice Cream & Salted Butter Caramel Sauce

Doesn't this look like the most delicious thing ever?

For the brownies (adapted from Martha Stewart):

Notes: you can replace the gluten free flours with 3/4 cup all purpose flour if not gluten sensitive.

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
6 ounces semisweet chocolate
1/4 cup best-quality unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
1/4 cup superfine sweet rice flour
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/4 cup millet
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1/4 cup Kahlua or strong coffee

Preheat oven to 350°F and position a rack in the center. Line an 8-inch square baking dish with parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang on 2 sides. Butter the paper and set aside.
In a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, melt together the butter, chocolate, and cocoa. Remove from the heat and stir until smooth; let cool slightly.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the rice flour, cornstarch, millet, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whip the eggs, sugar, and vanilla until pale on medium high speed, about 4 minutes. Beat in chocolate mixture. Add kahlua or coffee. Add flour mixture and beat until just combined, scraping down sides of bowl as needed.
Pour the batter into your prepared pan and bake 30 to 35 minutes until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Let cool 15 minutes, lift out of pan, and transfer to a wire rack. Let cool completely. (check at 15-20 minutes if using smaller molds). Cut into 8 rectangles. Brownies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 3 days.

For the ginger ice cream:
2 cups (500ml) heavy cream
1 cup (250ml) whole milk
1 cup (200gr) granulated sugar
2 tablespoons freshly and very finely grated ginger

In a large saucepan, stir together the cream, milk, sugar and ginger. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium low heat, stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar. Remove from the heat and let steep as it cools to room temperature. Refrigerate, preferably overnight. Strain if desired.
Process the mixture into your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's intructions.

For the salted butter caramel sauce:
1 1/4 cup (250 gr) granulated sugar
80 ml water
1 stick (115gr) salted butter at room temperature, cut into small pieces
150 ml heavy whipping cream

In a heavy saucepan set over low heat, combine the sugar and water. Cook just until the sugar is dissolved. Add the butter. Let it come to a boil and cook until it reaches a golden caramel color. Remove from the heat and add the cream ( it will splatter and get crazy). Whisk to combine and put back on the stove. Let it come to a boil again over low heat and cook 25-35 minutes until you reach a creamy consistency. Pour into a jar and try to refrain yourself from drinking it!

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