All I want for Christmas is... (Part 1 - Emily)

1. Salvatore Ferragamo Black Flats
2. Kitchen Aid Mixer (In pink, of course)
3. 2012 Frankie Daily Journal/Diary
4. Hetterson Navy and White Striped Jumper with Elbow Patches
5. Madewell Black Suede Sandstorm Boots
6. Orla Kiely With Honors Dress
7. Monki Majken Polka Dot Dress
8. Hansel From Basel Zig Zag tote

x E

Blogger failures

So we're back from our prolonged blog hiatus... We sometimes forget this blog exists and promise to update this page more often. We are in the process of creating a list of things to do over the summer so be sure to keep an eye out for our upcoming posts!


In the mean time, I'll be spending my time sewing and attempting to complete this cute little project: 

DIY Peter Pan Collar = DREAM.

- Playlist -

Grouplove - Tongue Tied

San Cisco - Awkward

Lana Del Ray - Video Games

James Blake - A Case of You

Bjork - Immature

Elliot Smith - Between the Bars

x E

Outfit of the Day

1. Repetto BB leather ballerina flats 2. Saint James Meridien II T-Shirt 3. Miu Miu Angora and wool-blend duffle coat 4. Cheap Monday Zip Low Dark Blue 5. Chanel - Hydrabase Lipstick - No.170 
6. CHANEL VINTAGE Vintage gold necklace 7. Rochas Open Tote with Wallet

Still obsessed with Polyvore.

Playlist:

Spooky - Dusty Springfield
Well Alright - Spoon
Loon And The Lion - Levek
"En Gallop" - Joanna Newsom
Ray Gun - The Bird And The Bee
All Mine - Portishead
Ghostwriter - RJD2
To Care (Like You) - James Blake


x x x

MY MUST HAVES

So we all have a closet jammed with clothes we settled for or bought completely on a whim...Well I've decided that from now I will only buy items that I LOVE LOVE LOVE. So here are some of my closet and makeup bag essentials that are a must have and most definitely a must keep!

1. Smith's Rosebud Lip Salve in Minted Rose

2. Tie up shirts (Top Shop)

3. Striped shirt (Saint James Meridien II)

4. Black sweater (The Row Norton)

5. Nars blush

6. Red nail polish (Essie - Really Red)

7. Tbar flats

8. Brown belt with a gold buckle (Hermes, mine is a vintage brown belt)

9. Camel cardigan (J. Crew)

10. Basic black skirt (Top Shop)

x Nancy

Hello again

Wow, it has been quite a while since the last post as we've all been busy with work! 

It's now that time of the year where procrastination is at it's finest - yes, exam time! 

I've recently succumbed to making an account on Polyvore and have spent hours on end arranging all sorts of outfits ever since. Who knew that this would be such a distraction? 

This is one outfit that I've compiled:

1. Acne Atlas Skater Dress 2. Karen Walker Eyewear Super Duper Strength Black 3. Nadinoo Pixie's Adventure Cape 

4. Comme Des Garcons Burgundy Leather Purse 5. Dorothy Perkins Grey Socks 6. Rachel Comey Dekalb Clog Sandal

On another note, there are a lot of things to look forward to in the next few weeks so stay tuned. 

x Emily

Vanilla Cupcakes with Strawberry Jam Filling

Instead of finishing the copious amount of work on my desk, I made these scrumptious cupcakes. Time well spent in my opinion.


Ingredients : (makes 12)


1 1/2 cup of self-raising flour, sifted
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
115g softened butter
1 cup caster sugar
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla essence
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup strawberry jam (approx.)


Method :

1. Preheat oven to 190°C

2. Mix the flour, baking powder and salt

3. Beat in the butter followed by sugar, then add in eggs, vanilla essence and milk until it forms a smooth batter

4. Fill the cupcake liners a third of the way

5. Place about a teaspoon of jam in the centre of each cupcake liner

6. Cover the jam with the left over batter

7. Bake for about 20 minutes or until skewer comes out clean

8. Leave to cool

9. Spread icing over the tops of each cupcake

10. Have a lovely afternoon tea!

x Emily

F21's Style Icons

Forever 21's Top 5 Blogging Style Icons

(1) EMILY - www.cupcakesandcashmere.com

(2) RUMI - www.fashiontoast.com

(3) LOUISE -www.misspandora.fr

(4) MINNIE - www.thestylewanderer.blogspot.com

(5) KELLY - www.theglamourai.com

x x x

BANANA MUFFINS

I had half a dozen incredibly ripe bananas sitting in my fruit bowl, and instead of throwing away perfectly edibly bananas, I adapted from a banana muffin recipe and made these super easy and super delicious treats...

MUFFIN RECIPE

• 125g Butter
• ¾ Cup of Sugar
• 1 Egg
• 3 Ripe Bananas Mashed
• 2 Cups of Self Raising Flour
• ¼ Cup of Milk
• 2 Teaspoons Cinnamon (or to taste)

Method

1. Preheat oven to 170 Degrees Celsius.
2. Melt the butter and sugar together.
3. Once melted, take off the the heat and add the mashed bananas and the egg and stir together.
4. Add this mixture, the milk and the flour together and lightly stir.
5. Line your muffin tin/if making a cake, line your cake tin with baking paper.
6. Spoon the mixture into your tin.
7. Bake in the oven for approx 30 minutes, check after 20 minutes.
8. Stick a skewer in the thickest part of the muffin, if the skewer comes out clean, the muffins are ready.
9. Let the muffins cool.
10. Enjoy!

Note: I have my banana muffins with Earl Grey Tea :)

x Nancy

Where in the World - USA

How do I spend my summer? I hop on a plane for 20 hours across the world to go spend a month in a winter wonderland, 5 cities in the dead of winter in the USA. Seattle, Boston, New York, Washington DC and LA. As an Australian, there isn't much sense to my bizarre fascination with the US. Really, culturally we're almost two peas in a pod. Nonetheless, I do have a fascination with the US and everytime I visit I fall more and more in love.
New York City really is a city that never sleeps and I love love love it there. I mean dig a hole and bury me on Fifth Avenue. I have no shame in admitting I'm a brand junkie and being on Fifth Avenue where glass paned store after store displays what I believe to be the finest art; well that is just the cherry on the top of a magnificent trip.

Brooklyn Bridge, New York




 

The view of New York from the Empire State Building, the prettiest concrete jungle

 


Joseph the Snowman, on the sidewalk outside our hotel on Broadway




Times Square, New York





Central Park, New York; 
There is something so hauntingly beautiful about seeing Central Park in the dead of winter, covered in snow

 

Iceskating at Wollman Rink, Central Park



Chestnut the squirrel, Central Park




Lilac the horse outside the Plaza Hotel, New York





Statue of Liberty, New York



Space Needle, Seattle

Dried flower arrangements at Pike Place Market, Seattle

Rocks at Pike Place Market, Seattle

Trinity Church, Boston

FOOD


Although America is not known for their fine cuisine and gourmet delicacies, there were a few treats that I wouldn't mind putting in my pocket and saving for later. For someone who doesn't have a sweet tooth, I soon grew one as I was constantly taunted and teased by the rows of delectable desserts.
In a country where excess is just the tip of the iceberg, their cupcakes were to DIE for. I'm no cupcake connoisseur, but you'll never find me saying no to a moist decadent chocolate cake slathered in creamy, rich cookies and cream frosting. Yum! ►

Yogen Fruz, Green Tea with Strawberries...so GOOD!

Crumbs Bakery, the best cupcakes I've ever had...

Crumbs Cookies and Cream Cupcake

The Four Seasons Hotel Dessert Buffet



Cherry Cheesecake, Carnegie Deli



Sandwich from Panera, my sister and I LOVED eating at Panera

Cupcakes from Magnolia Bakery

Cakes from Magnolia Bakery

Cakes from Magnolia Bakery




x Nancy

TREATS

We thought it would be perfect to start off our day with some baking!

So, we're going to keep this post short and sweet -

Below you'll find an oh so lovely recipe for cupcakes and scones accompanied by pictures!

(anyone and we mean ANYONE will be able to make these)

Enjoy!

CUPCAKES
(makes 12 small cupcakes)
Ingredients
60g softened butter
1/4 cup caster sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
1 egg
3/4 cup self raising flour sifted
1/2 cup buttermilk/milk
pure icing sugar to serve/ready made frosting


Method
Preheat oven to 180°C and line the *patty pan with small cupcake cases
*(use a 12 hole, 2 tablespoon capacity, flat based patty pan)
Cream butter and sugar until pale and creamy using an electric mixer then add the vanilla and egg
Beat until it is well combined
Fold in half of the sifted flour, then half the quantity of milk and repeat with the remaining flour and milk
Make sure the batter is smooth
Next, fill each of the patty liners 3/4 full and smooth the surface
Bake for 15-20 mins or insert a skewer into the centre and if it comes out clean it's ready
Leave it to cool for 10 mins
 To finish, decorate the cupcakes with frosting, icing, dragées, or whatever you wish


DONE!

Playlist :

The City - Patrick Wolf  

If She Wants Me - Belle and Sebastian

Wuthering Heights - Kate Bush

Chasing Pavements - Adele

Elephant Gun - Beirut

You Can't Hurry Love - The Supremes

Feeling Good - My Brightest Diamond

Dreams - The Cranberries

SCONES

Ingredients

2 cups self-raising flour sifted

1/4 cup caster sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup thick cream

1/2 cup lemonade

2 tablespoons milk

Method

Preheat the oven to 220°C and line the baking tray with baking paper or otherwise grease the tray

Put the flour, sugar and salt in a large mixing bowl followed by the cream and lemonade and MIX

- This will then form a soft dough

Take the dough and knead until mixture is combined

*Make sure that your workbench is covered in flour to stop the dough from sticking

After pressing the dough until it's about 2cm in thickness, cut out shapes with a cutter

(We've used heart shape cookie cutters instead of the conventional round cutters)

Place them on the baking tray and brush the tops of each piece with milk

Bake for approx 10-15 mins or until golden
Serve with jam, whipped cream and a nice cup of tea

DONE!

x x x

Emma & Nancy & Emily