Your wish is my command.

ingredients:

directions: Preheat [...]]]> A little while back I asked what new varieties of Cake Batter Blondies you’d like to see most, and one of the top responses was a Red Velvet version.

Your wish is my command.

ingredients:

• 1 box red velvet cake mix
• 1/4 cup canola oil
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 batch of cream cheese frosting (optional)
• sprinkles for topping (optional)

directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Put cake mix in a large bowl and mix in the oil and egg. Then add the milk slowly just until the batter is combined – you want it to remain as dense as possible. Place batter in a greased 8×8 pan or 8-inch cake pan and bake for 24-26 minutes. Let cool for at least 60 minutes before cutting/frosting because the gooey center needs to set. The result will be a decadent, brownie-batter texture.

These are the perfect combination of the richness of Red Velvet Cake and the ooey-gooeyness of a fudgy brownie. The addition of cream cheese frosting is almost too much to handle.

Almost.

You can find the rest of my cake batter creations on the recipe page.

You know – I’m getting back into that Monday grind – so I might as well take advantage of the trendy “wordless” blog post, right? Right.

I kicked things off with ice cream, naturally.

Flowy dress = check (from Necessary Clothing).

Latte pit stop at Saturdays.

Baby showering in Brooklyn.

This is just awkward… ..and yes I am “Jolie-ing.”

Dinner at [...]]]> …nearly wordless, that is.

You know – I’m getting back into that Monday grind – so I might as well take advantage of the trendy “wordless” blog post, right? Right.

I kicked things off with ice cream, naturally.

Flowy dress = check (from Necessary Clothing).

Latte pit stop at Saturdays.

Baby showering in Brooklyn.

This is just awkward…
..and yes I am “Jolie-ing.”

Dinner at Delicatessen.

Lesson (still very much being) learned.

…among other things.

What was the highlight of your weekend?

Growing up, my summers were spent with my family at the Jersey Shore. Long days at the beach ended with a visit to our condo pool. They were quite the enjoyable, worry-free summers, to say the least.

Yeah, we were pretty hip kids.

These days, though, life doesn’t let me escape to the beach or pool in the [...]]]>

Growing up, my summers were spent with my family at the Jersey Shore. Long days at the beach ended with a visit to our condo pool. They were quite the enjoyable, worry-free summers, to say the least.

Yeah, we were pretty hip kids.

These days, though, life doesn’t let me escape to the beach or pool in the summertime as much as I’d like. As a twenty-something working and living in New York City, my friends and I have to find ways to bring our fun summer activities to us.

Sometimes it’s going somewhere for brunch where we can enjoy our meal outdoors.

Other times it’s a trip to the park to soak in some sun and greenery.

And then, sometimes we prefer to stay in the comfort of our own apartment building and enjoy a favorite summer snack on the sundeck. For Jessi, Erica and I, our favorite treat as of late is Nestlé® Drumsticks®.

We love how Nestlé Drumstick cones are the perfect way for us to enjoy ice cream without having to bring bowls and spoons down to the sundeck with us. They also act as instant portion control, which definitely can’t hurt for when the time comes that we do eventually hop into our bikinis and head to the beach for a weekend!

The other day we broke into a box of the new Pretzel Dipped Drumstick cones (…which I may or may not have had two of, shh). We’ve recently tried the other flavors too – Lil’ Drums Caramel Delights in Vanilla Caramel Crunch and Caramel Graham – and they’re equally out-of-this-world delicious.

You can check out all of the new flavors on the Nestlé Drumstick Facebook page.

With our crazy and oftentimes stressful lives in New York City, simply being able to relax, hang out with friends, and enjoy the mild summer weather is nothing short of priceless. And, let’s be real, there’s still something so darn fun about eating ice cream cones on a hot summer day…even when it’s in the middle of a concrete jungle.

What is your favorite summer activity with your friends and family? Tell me in the comments section for the chance to win a $100 Walmart gift card and a Nestlé Drumstick gift pack!

Rules:

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

• Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
• Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
• Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post

For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 5/14/2012 to 6/15/2012.

Be sure to visit the Nestlé Drumstick page on BlogHer.com, where you can read other bloggers’ reviews and find more chances to win!

As someone with long but relatively thin hair, finding an easy yet cute up-do other than a ponytail isn’t always easy…until now.

I first learned about the sock bun via Brittany. Check out the original sock bun [...]]]> Apparently I’m one of the last girls on the planet to have learned about the genius-ness that is the sock bun.

As someone with long but relatively thin hair, finding an easy yet cute up-do other than a ponytail isn’t always easy…until now.

I first learned about the sock bun via Brittany. Check out the original sock bun video tutorial here!

I’ve never owned a white swimsuit. Truth be told – it seems like it’s a very high maintenance choice; making sure it doesn’t get dirty, I’m “tan enough” for it, and of course…the see-through factor. Ahem.

Regardless, I’ve still got [...]]]> It’s been a few months now that I’ve been on a mission to find the perfect white bikini.

I’ve never owned a white swimsuit. Truth be told – it seems like it’s a very high maintenance choice; making sure it doesn’t get dirty, I’m “tan enough” for it, and of course…the see-through factor. Ahem.

Regardless, I’ve still got my mind set on finding thee white bikini. White just seems like it’s so darn classy…or whatever. Right?

The thing is, though, I want a classic, almost old-fashioned looking one. But with summer right around the corner, the only luck I’ve had so far is on good old Pinterest.

So with just a few weeks left, my bikini mission is still a go. Wish me luck!
(…you know, since there is clearly nothing more important going on in the world than finding the perfect bikini.)

What’s on your summer wish list? Favorite style of swimsuit?

It happens.

[...]]]>

It happens.

As a busy and single twenty-something living in New York City, one of my favorite things to do is have dinner then hit the town with my girlfriends. Sometimes instead of going to one of our favorite restaurants, though, it’s nice to spend the [...]]]>

As a busy and single twenty-something living in New York City, one of my favorite things to do is have dinner then hit the town with my girlfriends. Sometimes instead of going to one of our favorite restaurants, though, it’s nice to spend the evening at home and have a relaxing dinner before heading out for the rest of the night.

Last week my best friends Jessi, Erica, and I did just that. We all met at my apartment after a long day of work, and I greeted them with a Cranberry Lime Mocktail.

To make: combine one part Simply Cranberry Cocktail, two parts lime-flavored club soda, and a generous squeeze of lime juice in each glass. Add a few ice cubes and a handful of frozen berries. Garnish with a slice of lime.

This was one of the most refreshing drinks I’ve ever had and the perfect way to finish a long day of work. I loved the flavor of Simply Cranberry Cocktail – it had a unique and delicious taste that is different than other cranberry cocktails I’ve tried before; I’m so glad Simply Orange Juice Company asked me to try it! The balance of tartness and sweetness was perfect. It’s also made with not-from-concentrate cranberry juice. Simply Cranberry Cocktail is newly available at grocery stores in the refrigerated juice section, so be on the lookout for it!

We continued to unwind by chatting and catching up on life – and by life I mean work, boys, gossip…the norm.

Then it was time for the main course – what I like to call All-Nighter Energy Salad. We love eating salads before a night out because they’re not too heavy but still give us the energy to stay out until the wee hours of the morning.

…because being healthy is all about balance, right?

all-nighter energy salad.

ingredients:

4 cups romaine lettuce

3 cups baby spinach

1/2 pound chicken breast, grilled and sliced

1 avocado, sliced

1/2 cup feta cheese

1/4 cup almonds, chopped

dressing of choice

directions: Chop the lettuce and spinach and place in a large serving bowl. Top with the chicken, avocado, cheese, and almonds. Toss and serve with dressing of your choice (we went with a Champagne Vinaigrette).

We finished the meal with 3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies…aka the most simple yet delicious cookie recipe ever. I’ve seen this recipe all over the internet but followed Katie’s lead.

To make: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine 1 cup smooth peanut butter, 1 cup sugar, and 1 egg. Drop golf ball-sized spoonfuls on a greased or parchment-lined baking sheet, and press down with the back of a fork. Bake for 6-8 minutes (mine needed the full 8 minutes). Let cool on pan for 5 minutes before transferring to cooling rack.

With the Cranberry Lime Mocktails, the salad, and the cookies, it turned out to be the perfect girls’ night in…before going out, that is I can’t wait for our next get-together!

What is your favorite way to make a party or get-together at your home more festive? Tell me about it in the comments for the chance to win a $100 gift card!

I need to start getting the smile memo.

Red Mango now offers flavors like Cake Batter, Peanut Butter, and Vanilla Cookie Cream. It’s about time they got with the program.

There are few things I love more in life than going to the movies. …and a good love story [...]]]> Sometimes, moving forward requires getting rid of some things.

I need to start getting the smile memo.

Red Mango now offers flavors like Cake Batter, Peanut Butter, and Vanilla Cookie Cream.
It’s about time they got with the program.

There are few things I love more in life than going to the movies.
…and a good love story definitely doesn’t hurt either.

Alright Pennsylvania, you do spring better than New York. We get it.

What was the highlight of your weekend? Learn anything?

Even as a little girl I’d prance around in a princess dress decked out in plastic jewelry. Fast forward 20 years [...]]]> I’m not usually that girl who is a blatant advocate for being au naturale. In fact, you’ll often see me with big hair, obnoxious jewelry, ripped tights, and of course – a decent dose of makeup.

Even as a little girl I’d prance around in a princess dress decked out in plastic jewelry. Fast forward 20 years and I’ve added smokey eyes and bronzer to the mix. To be quite honest, I’m probably not going to change my arguably over-the-top looks anytime soon. I guess you could say it’s my grown-up version of playing “dress up,” and it’s just…fun!

But, lately I’ve realized that I don’t ever want to lose the ability to go without all of that. It has nothing to do with vanity. Instead, it has everything to do with being me – just being Gracie.

That’s me. Freckled, light-featured, blue-eyed me.

Is it ironic that this post is coming on the heels of one about beauty products? Maybe. I don’t think so. Because here’s the thing – I do love those things and being girlie. I love makeup, highlighting my hair, high heels, and jewelry for days.

…but I never want to let any of that become a disguise of who I really am and who I want to be.

a daughter.
a sister
a friend.
a future wife.
a future mother.
a woman of God.

I’m a big believer in the fact that a person’s outside appearance does give at least a glimpse of what’s going on in their heart and mind, and I don’t ever want to portray myself as anything but…Gracie.

A photo to prove just how ridiculously clumsy I am: priceless.

Water taxi to Ikea in Brooklyn: free on the weekends.

The gorgeous views from the East River: priceless.

A visit to a west-side pier as the sun sets: a few blocks of walking.

Recapping April and praying into May with my [...]]]> Two eggs gone to waste: about 60 cents.

A photo to prove just how ridiculously clumsy I am: priceless.

Water taxi to Ikea in Brooklyn: free on the weekends.

The gorgeous views from the East River: priceless.

A visit to a west-side pier as the sun sets: a few blocks of walking.

Recapping April and praying into May with my best friend: priceless.

One highlighting kit: $16.99.

The night we randomly decided to highlight our own hair for the first time in years: priceless.

Realizing our hair didn’t turn out as we had hoped: some ranting and venting about how the box lied.

Eating peanut butter sundaes to make us feel better about the mishap: priceless.

Have you ever tried highlighting your own hair? How’d it go?
…and any fellow-clumsies out there?