Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Help my blog GROW!(:

Hello! I am getting so excited because I have almost 500 blog views! I would love for you guys to subscribe to my blog so that when I post, you get an email and you can check it out. Also, you guys can send me emails if you have any questions and I love when people comment on my posts! Another way you guys can support me is by following me on my tumblr or my instagram! The more support, love, and feedback I get from everyone, the more eager I will be to post more and and get more involved! So, if you all would be so kind, (: tell all your friends, family and, everyone you know to check out my blog!!

P.S. Let me know if you guys want me to do any special recipes or outfits (or anything else fun) for valentines!

Love always,

Caroline

Friday, January 25, 2013

My First Half Marathon

Last Sunday (Jan. 20th), I ran 14 miles with my brother Alex. What a blast it was! Now, let me tell you, if you have the heart to wake up at 4:45 A.M. for a race, I think that you are most definitely a dedicated runner. I know I am. So, I woke up and ate a banana, apple, and a a little almond butter. The race started at seven o'clock and of course we got their with fifteen minutes until the gun and Alex and I both had to use the restroom. Wonderful. So we found the porta-potties and the line was fifty people long. Thankfully, the line went quickly and we ran to the start line. Two thousand people showed up and I feared I might be trampled. I wasn't.....no worries!(: So before the race started, the Star Spangled Banner was playing on the loud speaker. Then the cutest thing happened, the loud speaker died and all of the runners and supporters kept singing their hearts out and it sounded so beautiful! Anyway, the marathon began and we were off. My brother shouted "Good Luck!" and I thought "Here we go!" My brothers goal was to finish in under two hours and he finished in an hour and forty-five minutes. I finished in exactly two hours and I seriously was not even trying that hard. So right when I finished, I went for the orange slices and chowed down.... not really. You don't exactly have a big appetite when you finish a half marathon. Seeing as I was a bit nauseous, I was a little sickened by the people who were shoving cookies in there mouths.  Icky. When we got home I jumped into a freezing cold pool and then took a shower outside. The day was going my way! Then my family arrived and we had subs for lunch. I ate one and a half, marathoners gotta eat! After I ate, I sat in the jacuzzi. It was so nice! So that was my marathon day! Please subscribe to my blog to get email updates! I love you all! Muah!

Xoxo,

Caroline

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Terrific Tuesday!

Good morning everyone! I hope you are having a fabulous day! I just wanted to check in with you all and let you know whats been going on. Yesterday, I was hoping to put up a recipe for breakfast muffins. I was really looking forward to it because you know how mornings are, you get up and your like "Hmmm, what can I eat?" Anyway, the reason for me not blogging is actually a good one.(:

My brother Alex is going on a trip to India with my dad in February. He came down to live in our guest house for a month to visit with us before they leave. Before the 12th, I hadn't seen him in three years. I didn't realize how much I missed him until it really sunk in that he was coming. At first I was nervous to see him but then I couldn't wait to be with him again. He used to make me laugh so hard when I was younger and apparently nothing has changed because he is kind of hilarious. Mom says I act just like him. To me, that is a huge compliment.

He has been here for three days now and we are just having the best time. He is so easy to talk to, just like he always has been and I could not ask for a better brother.

Today when I was praying with my class before history (I go to a Catholic school), Mrs. B said "Now, take a moment to think about your special intentions in the silence of your hearts." My special intention was this, "Thank you Lord for bringing my big brother home."

So thank you all for understanding my short absence from baking posts. I will get on it as soon as I can.

Love,

Caroline

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Weekend Outfit

Since I have to wear a uniform to school, fashion posts will not be as common. But because it is the weekend, I thought it would be a good idea to take advantage of my freedom and blog a little fashion(:.

Today im wearing:

A button down from Abercrombie and Fitch..




















Shorts from Abercrombie Kids....

My Cartier Love bracelet...














My diamond heart earrings...














And this is the full outfit(:



















I hope you like it!(:

The Real Sugar Cookies!

Every time I attempt to make sugar cookies (in the hopes that they will be like the ones from Publix with the sugar crystals and crackled tops), they turn out to be like those sugar cookies that desperately need gobs of frosting to make them taste good, or even taste like anything for that matter. Well my friends, I have found it! The recipe that puts all other sugar cookie recipes to shame! This recipe was originally from Sweet Tooth Sweet Life, but I made a couple modifications. Instead of cream of tartar I used baking powder, and because I did not have almond extract, I simply added an extra 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract for a nice flavor.

After I was finished baking the last batch, I bit into my perfectly crackled cookie and my sense of smell was overwhelmed by the irresistible aroma it was giving off. Now, enough of my mental pictures, lets go ahead and jump into everything!

Ingredients/amounts at the end.

Preheat your oven to 350' F convection bake.

Let us begin as we begin all (or most) recipes, by creaming our butter and sugar!













After your butter and sugar are smooth, mix in three egg yolks one at a time.














Next, add in your vanilla extract.













Now your wet mix is complete and it is time to add the dry ingredients. Here I have flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Add these gradually to guarantee that you will stay at least semi-clean!


























Your mixture should look like this.













Now make one inch balls and roll them in raw/decorating/granulated sugar (I used Sugar In The Raw).













Place them on a greased cookie sheet about 1-2 inches apart.













Put them in the oven for about 10 minutes. Or until they are all fully crackled on the top like this!













Transfer them to a cooling rack.













Have a lovely day! Bon appétit!(;

Temp.- 350'F convection bake

Ingredients/amounts:
1-1/4 cups white sugar
1 cup salted butter
3 egg yolks
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 baking powder
1/4 teaspoon of salt
coarse sugar crystals or regular granulated sugar

Xoxo! Love,

Caroline

Thursday, January 10, 2013

First Recipe!

When I got home from my cruise I found this recipe on Smitten Kitchen and thought "Oh. Yes" I hope you love this recipe as much as my family and I did! Please try out this absolutely great recipe. Even if you don't like oatmeal raisin cookies, comment and tell me that you made them anyway and how oatmeal raisin is now your favorite type of cookie! Please comment even if thats not the case for you. Now, lets began.(:

Preheat your oven to 350' F on convection bake. It is also helpful to pre-parchment paper your cookie sheets. Ingredient amounts are at the bottom(:!

Let us began as we begin all recipes, by creaming the butter and the sugar!...













After you cream the brown sugar and butter, add one egg...













Add a little vanilla....













Your wet mixture is complete! Now you get a to do a mini arm workout... take the bowl off of you mixer and add the dry ingredients (flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt). Mix together with a big spoon or rubber spatula.














Finally, fold in your raisins, oats, and walnuts (if you like).













Chill your cookie dough for 10 minutes.













After being chilled, scoop some similarly sized balls onto a cookie sheet covered with a Silpat or some parchment paper.













Bake for 10-12 minutes depending on how crispy you like your cookies and your oven. For me, 10 minutes was perfect!.....they should look something like this













Transfer to a cooling rack and let them sit until warm-ish.... or just eat one right when they come out of the oven like me. It is okay if it burns your mouth, it will heal and you can get your cookie fix!(: Enjoy!!! ......and go for a run! It's good for you!


























Ingredients/amounts used:

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
2/3 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon table salt (You can put 1/4 if you like less salt, but the salty and sweet from the raisins compliment each other very well.)
1 1/2 cups rolled oats
3/4 cup raisins
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped (optional)

Love,

Caroline <3

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Welcome!

2013 has arrived, as you may know. January is the time for resolutions and planning, and for me, a time for goals and dreams for the long year ahead. In December I decided that it would be a great idea to create my very own YouTube channel. Because of my very slight addiction to baking and beauty videos, I thought it would be easy to keep up with. Wrong. So as a result I have one video up on my channel and I have a little more iMovie skill than I once had. As it turns out, this years very unique goal started as talking to my camera, editing, and posting, but formed into typing my spectacular ideas and photographing my creations to share with you. So this fine new year, I shall blog. And blog. And bake. And create cute outfits . I will try to blog whenever I possibly can and keep you allll updated on the adventures of my life. If you have faith in me, you can help me grow into a highschooler and then into a college student. I will not disappoint. Want to know a little more about me? Watch my one video and leave comments everywhere! (Here, YouTube, Instagram, Pinterest) Tell me if you love Pinterest as much as I do and if you will stick with me through this blogging journey. To conclude my very FIRST blog, let me just say "Welcome fellow bloggers, readers, bakers, fashionistas and welcome 2013!" I love you all!! Xoxo muah!