Photograph lovelies

One Blue Wren via papertissue

(c) Lisa Waringer @ The Sunroom

papertissue:: raphael?

 

13bees via

ineedacupcake:: abbytriesagain

KrisAtomic via prettypinkshoes::ineedacupcake

Neighborly goodness

{+}

I've always thought that a Real Neighbor is someone who (other than looking out for you, keeping an eye on your place, etc.) you can seriously feel comfortable asking to borrow a cup of sugar, if you need one.

sweetbeetandgreenbean

Or, in my case, a cup of milk.

Hankins

Um, at around 10-ish pm because I never made it to the grocery store after getting home from work around 8p + making spaghetti and meatballs (yes, homemade meatballs! a-hem), and I am now too lazy to get out of the house. And of course the work brunch is the next morning.

But you know what's even better than a Real Neighbor?

A neighbor Friend. Someone who you message, hoping you're not waking her up but that she's also got that milk :D

And who calls you back 20 mins later because she's actually getting back from the gym, and you know what? She was planning on maybe stopping by the store, and now she really has a good reason to go (her makeup wipes, your milk -- now cream, because you can upgrade like that!), and is there anything else you need?

thesmallobject @ etsy

Nope, I have no idea what I did to deserve such an awesome friend, but *thank you so much,* A, you're a rockfest :)

Here's to hoping all of you have (or soon make!) a neighbor Friend -- and are also a neighbor Friend to someone else!

Cupcake Delights

Scott and Tem Photography

Seriously, I am Queen of Procrastination. Look what deliciousness I've found!

Scott and Tem Photography

sugar rush baking company, photography by imagery.stitchpixie

via Mrs. Peach

Favorites!

Man, Wednesday was *filled* with gorgeousness! In case you missed it...

• Design Lovely's Night Out -- soo pretty!

• Desire to Inspire, featuring photographer Kathryn Russell.

• Southern Weddings feat. Sarah Maren Photography, Ettores Cakes, event planner Kate Miller Events

• Style me Pretty, feat Justin & Mary Marantz photography. A Floral Affair, and Felicia’s Sweetface Pastry Shoppe (also see here)

• And RocknRoll Bride, feat. Jill Devries

yes.

I am missing not one but two happy hours.

Because I am working.
So I could use a little of this.

{EverJean @ flickr}

Or I could settle for this, too.

{madebygirl}

Or, okay, a little of this (hee).

{Jason-Morrison @ flickr}

sigh-worthy cupcakes

And isn't this somehow such a dreamy + fantastical bouquet?

And this tie. Oh man, so want for Hubs.

Martha Stewart Weddings, pointed to by RocknRollBride, citing Once Wed & WREN Handmade

Week's Faves (in Photos)!

Again, too many pretties this week to refrain from re-posting, so here's another mass-post of my faves :D

• Everything about this tablescape.
  

{Tec Petaja, on Green Wedding Shoes}

• I think redheads are gorgeous, and this dress is fabulous -- and ICE CREAM, i don't need to say more.
  

{Stephanie Williams Photography}

• House caz caj cas casual-glam: want. [and to know how to spell the one syllable "casual" abbreviation. ideas?]
  

{Coco+Kelley, feat. Western Interiors}

• such. dreamy. colors.

{by Ashley on OnceWed}
*update: this has since been deleted, so here's my attempt to recreate the board...

[Images c/o 1. C.Ekholm Fotografi 2. Lona* 3. James Mullineaux 4. Laduree macaroons by London Evening Standard 5. Kristy Mitchell 6. berta 7. Yvette Inufio

• So dainty!
  

{Martha Stewart, in beautiful inspiration board by Lucky Me!}

• Welcome back, velvet furniture!
  

{desiretoinspire, feat. hitbyabus}

• And hello color!

{desiretoinspire, feat. gardenhouse}

{cupcakes take the cake, feat. texturl}

• Um, my Macy's sure as heck doesn't carry dresses like these!

{The Shooting Gallery, all of these bridal images}

Seriously, the dress itself (and as captured by The Shooting Gallery) is like straight up magic to me. And *all* of the images here are heavenly!

• And all of PolkaDotBride's mismatched bridesmaid finds, like:
  

{Martha Stewart} -- *love* these pinks!!

And check out these black & white prints!

{Photo by Matthew Morgan via We Met In A Bar}

• *gorgeous*
  

{GreenWeddingShoes}
top row: sylvie gil, the knot, elizabeth messina, shona henderson
middle row: w scott chester, j crew, michele m waite
bottom row: lisa lefkowitz, della fiora

• Dream-comeintolife-dress.

{Reem Acra, feat. on BridalCheek ala Credit Crunch Bride via OneBarefootBride}

• And finally: IT'S ME! IN A DRESS! I mean, the model is not me. But, well, I know what I mean.


{Weddings Unveiled, feat. Modern Trousseau}

Boston Cream Pie Cupcake {Stylish Events, feat. Martha}

{Martha Stewart}

Stylish Events posted this link, and it looked too yummy not to capture and post, since I know Martha Stewart's pages get taken down after I'm not sure how long. For example, before tissue poms because super-all-the-rage, another blogger had posted a link to MS's instructional page, which, after time disappeared. And I'm not losing this scrumptious looking thing!

BOSTON CREAM PIE CUPCAKES!
Makes 18

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for tins
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup whole milk
• 3 ounces (6 tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened, plus more for tins
• 3 large eggs
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• Vanilla Cream
• Chocolate-Ganache Glaze

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour standard muffin tins. Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl. Warm milk and butter in a saucepan over low heat.
2. Beat eggs and sugar with a mixer on high speed until thick and pale, about 5 minutes. Beat in dry ingredients.
3. Bring milk and butter to a boil. With mixer on low speed, add milk mixture to batter, and beat until smooth. Add vanilla. Divide batter among muffin cups, filling each halfway. Bake cupcakes until light gold, about 15 minutes. Let cool in tins for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks. Let cool.
4. Using a serrated knife, cut each in half horizontally. Spread 1 tablespoon vanilla cream on each cupcake bottom. Sandwich with top. Spoon glaze over each, and serve immediately.

PS: Vanilla Cream

Makes 1 1/2 cups

• 2 large egg yolks
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons plus 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch
• Pinch of salt
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions

1. Whisk yolks until smooth. Mix sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add milk in a slow, steady stream. Cook, stirring, until mixture begins to bubble and thicken, about 5 minutes.
2. Pour 1/3 of milk mixture into yolks, whisking constantly. Return mixture to saucepan, and cook over medium heat, stirring often, until thick, 2 to 4 minutes. Stir in vanilla.
3. Pass vanilla cream through a fine sieve into a bowl. Press plastic wrap directly on surface. Refrigerate until cold, at least 1 hour, or up to 2 days.

PPS: Chocolate ganache glaze (Makes about 1 1/4 cups)

• 2/3 cup heavy cream
• 6 ounces semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon light corn syrup

Remove from heat, and add chocolate and corn syrup. Let stand for 5 minutes. Whisk until smooth. Transfer to a bowl, and let cool, stirring often. Use immediately.

Holy Cupcake!

{Bakerella}

First Communion cupcakes. I mean, I'm not saying these are the Body of Christ -- but Bakerella made these for her friend's daughter's First Communion celebration. The process she went through to make these delightful treats is, in itself, a delight. Or maybe I just looooove cupcakes. And pretty pink things. Hmm.

Favorite finds

I've been a smidge more self-conscious about re-posting things from the fabulous blogs I read ... but some of these things I just can't help. And I tried all week not to... but these are such.pretty.things.

decor amor's dream series, but especially

{Neemrana Fort Palace, India}

{Hagia Sophia, Turkey}

The Finer Things' feather finds

Cupcakes Take the Cake's pedestal of cupcakes

{Suburban Kat}

DesireToInspire today, but especially

{both at Aleenta Resort and Spa, Phuket}

A whole bunch of posts I've missed at Dwellings and Decor, somehow, but especially

[A reader's home]

[Rachel Follett's sketch of her office space, since she had to send pics of her work space for an interview! How neat! I'd almost wish I worked in a field where this was part of the interview, but I think I'd never get a job...]

{Living in Argentina}

BakingBlonde's Peanut Butter Oatmeal Dream Bars. Seriously dreamy.