Be Mine

With Valentine's Day less than two weeks away, a lot of fashion websites have posted features about what to get your significant other for the Hallmark holiday.  A lot of them feature items with hearts, unnecessary frills, etc. (How old are we, anyway?)  Thus, I've compiled wish list for that special day, with an acceptable gift option for each cliched category that I can think of.  They are as follows: fragrance, lingerie, wine & spirits, jewelry, candy, and flowers.  Because even if we don't get many male readers, at least they're good ideas for things to buy yourself after your boyfriend gets you a king sized Reese's thinking that it's an appropriate V-Day present.

Tokyo Milk Rose with Bees Bubble Bath no. 12

Okay, I'll be frank: I've never actually smelled Tokyo Milk's bubble bath.  But with bottles like this, who really cares what it smells like?  If I ever received a batch, I would more than likely never open it, but rather, I would leave it to sit on my vanity for decoration.  And that way, I could enjoy it forever.

katie likes...luxirare.

my favorite blogs have always been fashion blogs, but over the past summer, i had a lot of time on my hands that i spent learning to bake sweet treats. after only a few weeks, i had amassed a bookmark file for baking blogs that rivals the size of my fashion blog file; it's a bit ridiculous. anyway, while scouring the internet for more website about baking, i stumbled upon luxirare: the ultimate blog.

not only does this blogger make some of the most intense recipes i've ever heard of ("pie pops," black truffle ice cream, and health bar crayons are only a small selection of some of her recipes), she has a fierce sense of style. example?

and not only is her wardrobe beautiful, a lot of it is handmade. that dress above? handmade! in her latest post, she makes herself a pair of staggering 7.5 inch tall suede, platform, wedges.

crazy right?

i definitely recommend checking out her beyond amazing/inspirational blog. even if you don't like cooking, her photography of the process is crystal clear and absolutely stunning. also, if you click the picture of the greyscale eye to the right of the page, it'll take you to her image feed blog, which reminds me of jane aldridge's alternative blog (they don't call them lovers in high school, leeland)

definitely check it out!

luxirare.

kr.

katie likes...fall fruits.

so it's clearly becoming fall down here in the south, and when i feel fall winds, see red leaves, and break out my cheap (but wonderful) target peacoat, i know it's time for fall foods. fruits in particular.

i absolutely adore baking. i recently got into it this summer, and since my dorm just so happens to be equipped with a kitchen and working stove, my interest in baking has soared this year. it's my first fall as a kind-of-experienced baker, so i've been really excited to try out some fall recipes. my favorite fall fruits are definitely pumpkins (yes, they are fruits), apples, and cranberries. in lieu of making the ever so predictable pumpkin pie, apple pie, and cranberry sauce, i've decided to spice up these fall staples.

and maybe you should too:

apple & brie bites - confessions of a city eater

black bottomed mini caramel pumpkin cheesecake bites - picky palate

chewy chocolate chip & cranberry oatmeal cookies - obsessed with baking

apple cake - smitten kitchen

pumpkin pie bars - joy the baker

cranberry pecan cupcakes with maple pecan frosting - annie's eats

golden apple triangles - the wednesday chef

cranberry bliss bars - vanilla sugar

& finally...

pumpkin cookies with butterscotch chips - joy the baker

i actually made these pumpkin cookies, and let me tell you, they were really good. they are a lot more cake-like than cookie-like, so i just told my friends that i'd made muffin tops.  i did change the recipe a little though by adding dark chocolate chips in along with the butterscotch (i love dark chocolate, how could i resist?)

if you do happen to make these and any remain long enough cool off, later you can pop them into a toaster on the lowest setting for a minute, and they heat up for a really nice treat.

hope you've enjoyed my baking suggestions. i'll update you on the recipes if i make anymore of them anytime soon.

kr.