New Direction---->

New blog. I needed a different template system. And something fresh.;)

http://shadesandshapes.wordpress.com/

 Molly xo

Tea Time!

~~Just my cup of Tea!~~

With high expectations for my 21st birthday, I decided to turn this years monument into a fancy feast with hors d' oeuvres and drinks!

~Menu~ 

Assorted Fruits, Breads, Cheeses, Jams

Hummus and Crackers
Asparagus Ham Rolls

Roasted Beet and Quinoa Salad

Scones

Golden Eggs

Red Velvet Cupcakes

~Beverages~

Mimosas

Pink Lemonade

Blackberry Lime Mint Infused Water

And of course, Tea

Thank you to all of my amazing friends! It couldn't have been more perfect!

Photo by Gloria Marson

Spice up your snail mail!

Turn any pages from a magazine into a fun envelope for the fam and friends! All you need is a magazine with great images, tape, and scissors! (P.s- Make sure your card isn't too large for regular mailing size, or else you have to pay a little extra postage at the post office.)

Superfood me: Kale!

If you are a chip cruncher, you have got to try this SUPER EASY recipe. Substitute this for chips and you cut the majority of calories AND get the benefits of this vitamin-packed super green.
1) Wash kale
2) Tear kale into med sized pieces
3) Add olive oil and sea salt
4) Bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 min
Chomp away!

Sowing Seeds!

So lately I have been obsessed with watching Dr. Oz and learning nutritional tips and info. He recently had a doctor on his show that specializes in cancer fighting foods and shared some great info! First of all, he said that 40-60% of cancer can be prevented through foods alone. Wow! He also mentioned how amazing sesame seeds are for you and how they basically make cancer cells self destruct. I've been keeping shakers and containers handy with sesame seeds, chia seeds and flax seeds all in one so I can easily add it to my dishes like eggs, parfaits, and salads. Try it! It adds a great crunch:)

Superbowlin!

Cupcake recipe courtesy of...of course: Martha Stewart;)

Chocolate Cupcake

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup sour cream

  Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 12-cup standard muffin tin with paper liners.
  2. Into a medium bowl, sift together cocoa, flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside. In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each, then beat in vanilla. With mixer on low speed, add flour mixture in two batches, alternating with sour cream and beginning and ending with flour.
  3. Pour batter into cups, filling each 3/4 full. Bake until a toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes.
  4. Cool in pan 5 minutes; transfer to a wire rack to cool completely, then spread with Easy White Icing using a table knife or small offset spatula. Decorate with sprinkles, if desired.

  Special thanks to Samantha and Sadie McMahan for all of your help!!;)) xoxo!

Where it all happens!

Not only did we get to see the Martha Stewart Show but we got to sit in the front row!! New York was so much fun and exciting and seeing Martha Stewart was everything I'd hoped it would be. (Besides meeting her and being offered a job of course! Ha!) Everyone was so nice and friendly and we walked away with amaazing beauty products!

We received a homemade lavender soy oil from Farmaesthetics CEO Brenda Brock, fabulous makeup including Urban Decay cheek tint, Tarte concealer, a 3 in 1 eye pencil, Stila lip gloss, Josie Maran masacara, a Tweezerman mini brow shaping kit, and Almay eye makeup remover Q-tips. We also received a free session at John Barrett's fabulous braid bar on the 9th floor of Bergdorf Goodman! I was a little worried they weren't going to incorporate food into the show with it being so focused on beauty this week, but to my surprise they delivered and sent us home with Kara-age frying mix! Yum!

My mom had recently come across an article in Martha's February issue where Lucinda Scala Quinn and Martha had recently had lunch at a restaurant in Manhattan called Buvette. Lucinda said Martha rarely raves about restaurants the way she was raving about this one so we decided we had to go. It. was. precious. As soon as we spotted the red door cover protruding on the sidewalk, we new it was going to be as picturesque as we imagined. This place was beyond adorable i'm telling you!

An enormous chalkboard wall with European maps greeted you as you stepped into the petite French inspired nook. We were served sparkling water in tiny 2 inch rounded glass cups and were given a small flower vase as the refill pitcher. Everything was so detailed from the design of the menu to the flavors that went into our dishes. The staff was great and we had great conversation with the owner and head chef Jody Williams! This place has my heart. Everyone should go at least once in their life!

The whole experience was truly... Marthabulous.