jamie of all trades

enjoy :: where did you go!

so...i've been a little m.i.a. over here.  okay, very m.i.a.  but i have a good reason.

i moved.  i was offered the opportunity to go and cover for someone on maternity leave in london!  over there they get up to a year for leave and i have a nine-month contract.  it was one of those things where i wasn't sure if it was going to happen and it was taking forever to hear back and then finally i did and everything happened so fast.  like almost-pack-your-passport-in-your-shipping-cointainr fast! {true story!}

once i had word the move was officialy i felt like i had to cut things out of my life and focus on only a few things - family, friends and fun.  and even though this blog fits into the fun category, i had to take a break.  packing up your life and saying goodbye is kind of rough!  but that's all it was - a break.

i'm back now!  and things might be a little different around here.  the focus of the blog is going to change and i hope you'll like it.  will i still be posting cookies, baking, crafting, fun stuff?  absolutely!  but those won't be the only things!  i want to post about life in london.  i've been here almost three weeks and i feel like i could talk for hours about all the things i've done, seen, tasted, drank, experienced!  i want to post about travels.   one of the great things about living here is that you're close to so many places and i have long list of places to go.  

and i want to post about how i'm feeling.  so things are going to get a little bit more personal.  it's a really weird, different but fun thing to move to a different country.  there have been a ton of ups but there have also been some downs.  and the downs have made me realize how much i miss writing!

i hope you're excited.  i am!

do :: benefit creaseless cream shadow

i've been using benefit's creaseless cream shadow for years and they recently relaunched it.  new packaging and a larger pot of shadow but still the same great formula that stays on all. day. long.  seriously this stuff is amazing.  it's long lasting and comes in a variety of great colors.  i highly recommend if you're in need of some great eye shadow!

{image via}

enjoy :: caitlin mcgauley

i love cruising the internet and finding fun stuff like these adorable trays from artist caitlin mcgauley.  how cute would one of these be on your desk or console table to catch your keys and lipstick?  i can't decide which one i like best.

{images via}

 you can find these cute trays in furbish studios pop-up shop.  and see more of caitlin mcgauley's workhere. 

eat :: st. patrick's day green velvet cupcakes

 

for whatever reason i could not get my act together for st. patrick's day.  i finally was able to pull something together and made green velvet cupcakes.  just like my classic red velvets with green food coloring - duh!  this is such a classic recipe.  the cream cheese frosting recipe always gets complements on it!

3 1/2 cups cake flour {not self-rising}

3/4 cup {1 1/2 sticks} unsalted butter, soften

2 1/4 cups sugar

3 eggs, at room temperature

a few drops of green food coloring

3 tbls unsweetened cocoa

1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1 1/2 tsp salt

1 1/2 cups buttermilk

1 1/2 tsp cider vinegar

1 1/2 tsp baking soda

 

 

preheat oven to 350 degrees.

line a muffin tin with cupcake papers.  or if you want to make a cake, grease and lightly flour three 9x2-inch round cake pans, then line the bottoms with waxed paper.

 

in a small bowl, sift the cake four and set aside.  in a large bowl, on the medium speed of an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar until very light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.  add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

in a small bowl, whisk together the green food coloring, cocoa and vanilla.  add to the batter and beat well.

in a measuring cup, stir the salt into the buttermilk.  add to the batter in three parts, alternating with the flour.  with each addition, beat until the ingredients are incorporated, but do not overbeat.

in a small bowl {there are a lot of small bowls in this recipe} stir together the cider vinegar and baking soda.  add to the batter and mix well.  using a rubber spatula, scrape down the batter in the bowl, making sure the ingredients are well blended and the batter is smooth.

divide the batter among the muffin cups.  bake for 19-24 minutes.  for a cake bake 30-40 minutes.  allow to cool completely on a wire rack.

 

1 pound (two 8oz. packages) cream cheese, soften and cut into small pieces

6 tbls unsalted butter, soften and cut into small pieces

1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

5 cups sifted confectioners' sugar

 

in a large bowl, on the medium speed of an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese and butter until smooth.  add the vanilla and beat well.  gradually add the sugar, 1 cup at a time, beating continuously until smooth and creamy.  cover and refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours to thicken before using.

enjoy :: things i just like

...a few things i just like.  for you to enjoy.

loeffler randall shoes // sunset margaritas // lovely bedroom // quotes to live by