Dear Denim

☆ Denim Vest - Flea Market ☆ Gray Tee - Peek ☆ Miniskirt - H&M ☆ Black Converse - Converse ☆

As summer swiftly approaches, I must check my closet and make sure that I have all of the essentials for the warm weather! One of my favorite pieces for this summer is a denim vest. It puts a playful touch on denim and is easy to wear with skirts, leggings, shorts, or jeans. My denim vest was purchased at a flea market and I like it because it is unique. At the top near the collar, there is a bit of bright embroidery that makes it one of a kind! I paired my denim vest with a mini skirt, a simple gray tee and black-on-black converse. I wore this look to my mom's birthday dinner and to my brother's baseball game, which just shows you how versatile it is! xx

Chocolate Decadence Cupcakes

It just so happens, that my mom's birthday falls right around Mother's Day! My brother, dad, and I love to bake something scrumptious just for her on her special day, and it has been a tradition since my brother and I were just able to see over the counter, to make chocolate cupcakes. Although the recipe has changed year after year, we finally found the perfect recipe and we cannot get enough of these cupcakes. They are rich and wonderfully perfect! Easy enough to make,they taste like heaven. Here is the recipe:

For the cupcakes: 

3/4 cup plus 1 1/2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder 

3/4 cup cake flour 

2/3 cup unbleached all-purpose flour 

3/4 teaspoon baking powder 

3/4 teaspoon baking soda 

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt 

1 1/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons packed dark brown sugar 

5 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature 

1 large egg

1 large egg yolk 

1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons buttermilk 

3/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1. Preheat the oven to 350F. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners, if you have more than one 12-cup muffin tin. Otherwise line a standard 12-cup muffin with liners and then line small ramekins (if you have them) for the remaining batter.

2. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk the cocoa powder and 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons warm water to form a paste; set aside.

3. In another bowl, sift together the cake flour, all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

4. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix the brown sugar with the butter on medium speed until they are well combined with no pieces of butter visible. Add the cocoa paste, making sure to use a spatula to get all the cocoa paste into the mixer bowl. Once this is well combined, add the egg and egg yolk. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. In three additions each, add the buttermilk and vanilla extract, alternating with the flour mixture.

5. Divide the batter evenly among the muffin cups, filling them 3/4 full. Bake, rotating the tins halfway through, until the cupcakes spring back to the touch and a tester inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out mostly clean, 20-25 minutes. Invert the cupcakes onto a wire rack, turn them top side up, and let them cool completely.

For the ganache:

4 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped

1/2 cup heavy cream

2 tablespoons light corn syrup (optional; I didn't use this)

1. To make the ganache, put the chocolate in a small mixing bowl. Combine the cream and the corn syrup, if using, in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Pour over the chocolate right away, and stir slowly until all of the chocolate melts and the ganache is silky and shiny.

2. Carefully dip the top of each cupcake in the ganache, tapping gently to remove the excess. Return the cupcakes to the wire rack to let the glaze set up, at least 30 minutes.

3. The cupcakes can be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

recipe credits: the wednesday chef

Insta8

Here is the Insta8 for the month of April! Enjoy xx

The Essential Jacket

☆ Tweed Jacket - Zara ☆ Peplum Top - H&M ☆ Tank Top - Topshop ☆ Boyfriend Jeans - Zara ☆ Wedges - Kork-Ease ☆

The tweed jacket has always been and will always be a classic. Chanel inspired jackets have now been reproduced by hundreds of companies ranging from Forever 21 to Target. In my opinion, Zara makes the best replica of a Chanel jacket! When I purchased my Zara jacket, I went with a more daring color - a bright turquoise-ish color! I am so glad I did, because it looks great  with jeans, which are a staple of my wardrobe!  Personally, I think that wearing this style of jacket with a skirt is a little bit overdone for my age group, so I would pair it with tattered jeans, jean shorts, or even leggings. In this case, I wore a delicate peplum silk top and ripped jeans to balance out the look. xox

Yipes! Stripes!

 ☆ Striped Dress - Zara ☆ Cowboy Boots - Flea Market ☆ Turquoise Bracelet - Bloomingdale's ☆ Red Polish - Essie's Too Too Hot ☆

This casual striped dress is a versatile piece that can be worn many different ways depending upon the accessories chosen to go with it! Here I added a Western vibe with the cowboy boots and turquoise bracelet. The red nails are yet another pop to make the look a bit more playful and vibrant! If it was a bit colder out, I would match this cute striped dress with a basic black cardigan and maybe even wear the dress as a tunic over black leggings! xox

Vanilla Milkshake

☆ White Jeans - Pinc ☆ Green Vest - Zara ☆ T-Shirt - LA Made ☆ Scarf - Zara ☆ Shoes - Converse ☆ Laces - Nike ☆ Bracelet - Kitson ☆

Guess what?! Spring is officially here, which means that we can now dust off the white jeans, bright shorts, sun dresses, and cutoff tanks and sport them. A classic pair of white jeans is a must-have. You can wear these jeans with sneakers (as I did), sandals, or even heels. It's a look that can easily be changed to wear to the beach or a party, but here I just wore it as a casual outfit. The army green vest and printed scarf are items that are good to wear over basics because they create a more finished look!  xox

Insta8

Here is the March Insta8! Enjoy!! xx