Oh Snap!

How do you like my ridiculously cheesy, pun-intended, title of this post? Well good, cause I like it too. As promised, I would take more photos of myself, my life, and my daily doings. Here they are in all their instagram glory...

1. A very thoughtful housewarming gift from a friend, a Jonathan Adler vase. (swoon!) // 2. Louis Vuitton windows // 3. An apartment complex in my neighborhood, looks more like a dollhouse to me // 4. Pretty flowers // 5. Pretty clouds (I have so many cloud pics on my phone, it's kind of embarrassing) // 6. Happy Cinco de Drinko - frozen margarita from a friend. // 7. At the Alameda Flea Market, looking out at the SF skyline // 8. HOT, some fun (life-sized) letters // 9. Silverware galore // 10. My view of my first online "class" // 11. If you squint you can see two street names of what I will be calling my new apt from now on, Laurent's Chateau ;) // 12. A Saturday in the park // 13. "Your Blog Sucks." I thought that was a funny coffee holder and I maaay have to go back and take that home with me. // 14. Jean Paul Gaultier's signature. His exhibit is at the de Young Museum in SF from now until mid-August // 15. Madonna's corset from her 'Material Girl' video and tour by JPG // 16. My favorite piece from JPG's exhibit // 17. A summer staple, fro yo // 18. Ramen and MS Living // 19. My dream car. Since I was nine I have wanted a '66 Mustang // 20. Happy Mother's Day, Momma J. (pic taken at my 30th derby-themed bday)

xo,

L

*Credit - all pics taken with my trusty iPhone

LSL {Foodie Friday} - No Bake Nutella Cheesecakes

I am craving something sweet. Okay confession, most of the time I am craving something sweet. And, cheesecake is one of my favorite desserts, if only for the fact that I hardly eat it, so when I do it's feel like a special occasion. 

And then there's Nutella. Another confession, I have a small obsession with it. I actually told myself that for my NY's resolution I was going to try and go this whole year without eating it. (And even though I told you I don't normally do resolutions, five months in, so far so good.) You see once I start with it, it's a very slippery slope. Picture me with a spoon, the jar over the kitchen sink and a messy face. Telling myself just one more bite, I'd say. That would be the last. Put it back in the cabinet. Then all of the sudden the jar is empty. How'd that happen? Soon after, I start plotting my next Target run where Nutella is usually on sale. (As you can see through this very embarrassing story, it's a bit huge problem.)

However, once I saw this recipe, which is making it's rounds on Pinterest, then saw how easy it is to make, I realized I may have to break my non-NY resolution/no Nutella rule.

No Bake Nutella Cheesecakes

{via My Baking Addiction}

Yield: 4-6 servings

Prep Time: 15 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

For the Crust

12 Oreo Cookies, crushed into crumbs


3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

For the Filling

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened


2/3 cup Nutella


1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract


1 (8 ounce) tub frozen whipped topping, thawed

For the Garnish

whipped topping, optional


chocolate shavings, optional


toasted, chopped hazelnuts, optional

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a medium bowl, stir together the Oreo cookie crumbs and melted butter. Evenly divide the crumbs between your individual serving dishes and press into the bottoms of the dishes to form a crust layer.

2. In a large bowl, with an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese and Nutella until smooth. Add vanilla and mix to combine. Using a rubber spatula, fold in the whipped topping until well blended and no streaks remain.

3. Evenly pipe or spoon the filling into individual serving dishes. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.

4. If desired, garnish with additional whipped topping, chocolate shavings, and/or toasted, chopped hazelnuts.

I seriously can't get over how delicious this recipe looks. I have a feeling that this is one where the dessert tastes as good as it looks kinda deal. I think I have my next B.Y.O.D idea for any dinner parties/BBQs that I'm invited to, just so I can taste it try my hand at making it. (Psst, that was a hint hint friends. It might be get-together time soon.) What is your favorite foodie vice? Have you ever made a no-bake cheesecake thing before? 

Bon Appetit and Happy Weekend!

xo,
L

Pink-spiration

My current crush of the moment: pale pink.  

This current crush is wanting to me to buy and paint everything pale pink. And good news, Vogue is telling me that pale pinks are in this season. (they are my bible and they do know best) ;)

What colors are you currently crushing on? Are you feeling pretty in pink like me? 

xo,
L

PS. Okay, can we talk about how fabulous those curtains are in the 2nd photo, the wall color of the 3rd one, the shirt dress of the 4th one, and the ornate mirror of the last one. Wowza is all I'm gonna say.

*Credits - 1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9

LSL {Foodie Friday} - Olé

Happy Cinco de Drinko Mayo. You know it's funny how different this holiday is now compared to when I was in college. Then, it was how early could you get up and find a Mexican restaurant that would let you start drinking. Nowadays it's more of a lunch or dinner event with far less margaritas involved. Don't get me wrong both periods in time had their perks, but now I am more concerned with not having a hangover due to all that triple sec. 

Like most people, I love Mexican food and could eat that for most meals, everyday. If you check out Cooking Light's latest issue it's chock-full of yummy and healthy-ish sounding recipes like this and this that you could whip up to make for a Mexican feast. 

However, I decided to pay homage to my Cinco de Drinko days and show you how to make a grown up version of the standard Margarita, a Spicy Grapefruit concoction. I think I'll grab some friends, add some chips and salsa, sip on these, and laugh at ourselves chat about the "good ol college" days?

Spicy Grapefruit Margarita

{via Bon Appetit}

Makes 8

Ingredients

2 cups plus 2 tablespoons tequila

1-2 habanero chiles, halved

Kosher salt

6 cups fresh pink grapefruit juice

Preparation

Mix tequila and chiles in a large pitcher. Let steep 3 hours, or longer if a spicier tequila is desired. Discard chiles. DO AHEAD Can be made 1 month ahead. Cover; chill.

Pour enough water onto a small plate to cover. Pour enough salt onto another small plate to cover by 1/4". Dip rims of eight 12-ounce glasses into water (or rub a lime on them), then into salt to lightly coat; fill with ice. Add grapefruit juice to pitcher with tequila. Fill with ice; stir until cold. Divide drink among glasses.

*Note: The longer the tequila is infused with the chiles, the hotter it gets. And the reviews say this drink is a little on the spicy side so proceed with caution. Or you don't have to spice it up at all and make is a standard grapefruit marg by foregoing the chiles all together. 

If interested in more mouth-watering margarita flavors, go here. What are your weekend Cinco de Mayo plans? Going to a Mexican place like me or bucking the whole tradition and having Chinese food instead? 

Bon Appetit and Happy Weekend!

xo,

L

*Credits - Recipe by Eric Werner via Bon Appetit, Photo by Dean Kaufman

LSL {The Lovely List} - New Collab

Okay, I just died and went to heaven...

This coming October, the 21st to be exact, NATE BERKUS IS COMING TO TARGET! I die. Seriously, right now, I'm dead on the floor.  And how is he looking cuter and cuter every year? #dreamboat xo, L *Credit - YouTube and Target