Style Lush

Do It Yourself: Donuts!

by Elisabeth

Ok, I don't know about you, but I'm a sucker for a donut. Not just any donut, but a cinnamon/sugar/cake one to be exact. (Actually, my FAVORITE kind is a blueberry cake donut, but I do not know how to make those yet, so until then, THESE rock my casbah.)

As I fretted about before, my boys' outdoor birthday party was indeed rained out, so two weeks later, we invited all the guests to the local amusement park to complete the celebration. Since we already fed and entertained everyone at our house on their actual party day, there wasn't much I wanted to do or bring to the park as far as concessions go.

So, I found this recipe from my dear friend, Allie, and made these donuts for the kids to enjoy once they were finished riding the rides. It was the right choice and perfect size for the little ones to gobble down. (Plus, popping a few in my mouth the night before didn't make me feel too guilty.)

 
Sugar Donut Muffins

 Ingredients:

3/4 cup sugar

1 large egg

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

2 tsp baking power

1/4 tsp salt

1/8 tsp ground nutmeg

1/8 tsp cinnamon

1/4 cup vegetable oil

3/4 cup milk

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 tbsp butter, melted

1/2 cup sugar, for rolling

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly grease a muffin tin with cooking spray or vegetable oil.

In a large bowl, beat together the sugar and egg until light in color. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, nutmeg and cinnamon. Pour the flour mixture into egg mixture and stir to combine.

Add in vegetable oil, milk and vanilla extract. Mix well. Divide batter evenly into 24 mini muffin cups.

Bake for 15 minutes, until a tester inserted into the center comes out clean. While muffins are baking, melt butter and pour remaining sugar into a small bowl. When muffins are done, lightly brush the top of each with some melted butter.

Carefully remove from the pan. Dip the buttered top in sugar. Then roll in sugar to coat entire muffin.

Cool on a wire rack.

NOW EAT! (Then thank me later.)

(Side note: I had left out the cinnamon in the batter and tried to compensate with rolling the muffins in the cinnamon AND sugar. My final analysis? TOTAL SCORE.)

Are you a donut lover? If so, what's your favorite?

{photo credit: me}

New Etsy Shop: Great Full Day

by Christina

I've just stumbled across a new shop that I wanted to share. Great Full Day; gorgeous photography and obtainable pricing!  Double Score.  I adore this washed out vintage look that is so hot right now and boy, she nails it.  There is a little for everyone, delicious looking cup cakes, fabulous shoes, seashells and flowers but my favorite are these four.

 
If you order before May 10 she is offing a buy one get one 50% off during her grand opening sale.  Take a peek!

{images via Great Full Day}

Shower Curtain Hooks

By Beth

Do you have shower curtains?  Me too.  Do you from time to time have to remove the shower curtain liner and wrap it in a hazmat bag and throw it away in the neighbor's trash can because it is covered with an unconscionable amount of mildew?  Me too.  (Or else, oh really, you must actually clean your shower then.)  Have you spent more time than you care to think about balancing on the edge of a tub opening, unhooking, and removing shower curtain rings until you feel like your arms are going to fall off?  Oh yeah, been there.  Let me improve your life right now in one small but oh so helpful way.

Shower curtain hooks.  Hooks!  No rings, no wrenching open or trying to jam closed, just little doohickeys that you pop through the shower curtain and practically toss onto the shower rod from your bed where you are reclining eating peeled grapes.  Ok, maybe not exactly so easy, but so much less frustrating.  And, bonus, so lovely too.  Check it out!

Croscill Oasis Brown and Aqua Shower Curtain Rings, $14.99 for 12 at Bed Bath & Beyond.

Zenith Square Brushed Nickle Shower Curtain Hooks, $14.99 for 12 at Bed Bath & Beyond.

Orchids and Narcissus Shower Curtain Hooks, $12.99 for 12 at Bed Bath & Beyond.

(All photos from bedbathandbeyond.com)

Odd sized art? I've got your framing solution.

by Christina

I picked up a print for the baby's room at an indie art and craft show a few months back that could have been a triangle for all I cared, I had to have it. The artist told me it was an odd size and that was fine, I would find a way to make it work. Months later I realized the only way to frame this $10 letterpress print was to go custom, which was just stupid considering its worth. After stewing over ideas for a bit I came up with an idea; use a hanger. I found these at Target and they seemed to fit the bill perfectly but I only needed one in the pack of four. Today I found a use for my extra three. More odd-sized pieces that were living in a shipping tube.

  
  
I've had these maps (which are actually wrapping paper sold by the sheet) in my basement for a while with plans to use a globe/map theme for the play room (when it comes to be a playroom) and decided to try out the hangers and see if I liked them. I do!  A lot!  What was a blank wall in my forgotten cave of a home office is now a fun place for my eye to rest.

3 maps: $4 each

4 pack of hangers: $4.49

Project total: $16.50!

It isn't a fancy display by any means, but it is just a basement and I think its casualness is perfect for what will become of this space, a total boy haven where said boys just may be climbing the walls. $16 seems like a perfect investment for such a space.

Stuff I Love: Lily Padz Reusable Nursing Pads

by Elizabeth

Now, I am not here to get into the politics of breastfeeding because as far as I am concerned what you do with your baby and your ta-tas is your own business.  That being said, I breastfed my son and these nursing pads SAVED MY LIFE -- seriously. (Also, can we talk about how gross the word "pad" is? I am going to have to put that on my list of words I cannot deal with, obvs.)

Of course not everyone has an oversupply problem and mine did eventually go away around six months, but for the longest time I couldn't go anywhere without giant wet splotches right over my boobs and holy cats was that embarrassing. I was NOT A FAN of that experience. Then I found these Lily Padz Nursing Pads and life was good again.

I'm not going to go into the EXACT details of how they work because I'm so not that girl, but you can read up on them at the LilyPadz web site -- the basic idea is that they stop leaks, rather than absorbing them.  And yes, they are a little pricier than your average disposable cotton breast pad,  but they are reusable, they will not show under shirts, they don't itch or get soggy or smell or leak.  I've already ordered a few pairs for this next go round because the thought of having another wee one without these on hand terrifies me, quite frankly, and at this point I think I've got enough to be nervous about!

{photo credit: simplylily.com}

Writer Round-up: Our Favorite Style & Design Blogs

By Jennie

Since we're a style blog, we like giving love to those other sites that inspire us. Here's a round-up of just some of our favorite style and design blogs. Check them all out immediately.  

1. Because I can never pick just one of anything (except husbands, thankfully), my picks are: A Cup of Jo, Design*Sponge (Natalie's also a fan) and Bright and Blithe.  -- Jennie

2. Creature Comforts -- Maggie  

3. The Brick House -- Elizabeth

4. "For really cool, off-the-wall stuff I ALWAYS want, I love Anna Viele's Commodity Fetishism section on ABDPBT." -- Jonna 

5. "Kyla Roma never fails to inspire me with her design-fashion-craftiness." -- Amy

6. Apartment Therapy -- Maura 

7. I Suwannee -- Natalie

8. New Dress a Day -- Leah (fyi, this is a great site we featured in our sidebar a few months back)

9. Chez Larsson -- Kristie

10. Design is Mine; Oh, Hello Friend; and Oh Happy Day -- Kerri Anne

11. "Karey Mackin of MackinInk is a curator and a Kirtsy editor who makes everything look and sound even more beautiful than it already is" and "for fashion it's always Friday Playdate, Susan Wagner. She helped me convert to a dress-wearer for everyday, which has been a lot of fun." -- Laurie

12. "Brooklyn Limestone. I just love Stephanie's home and style -- plus she throws amazing parties and travels like crazy so the eye candy is never ending." -- Christina 

13. Young House Love -- Jess

***

Tell us, what's your favorite design or style blog?

Style Lush Cribs: Emily's yellow and gray bedroom

by Emily

For my birthday a couple of years ago, I made my husband agree to repaint our bedroom so that I could redecorate it. When we'd first moved in, I'd painted the entire room a bold, deep red, and while I still loved the color (and our bedding), I wasn't loving the fact that we needed about sixteen lamps to make sure the place wasn't as dark as a dungeon. I will spare you the details of how I finally picked a paint color, but should you ever be in the market for the perfect yellow, GOOD LUCK. It was BEYOND difficult to get the shade right.

I wanted our room to be lighter and fresher. We have a small bedroom and only one window and it was going to double as our workspace and I didn't want the darkness to put me to sleep when I was supposed to be writing. Dave was afraid that the yellow walls would make the room look girly, but I wanted to offset all the potential girliness with a soft gray duvet and curtains.

Before:

 

After:

What frustrated me when I originally put the bedroom together, though, was that I had a hard time finding items that matched my vision for the place. I ended up kind of settling for a duvet that was more purplish-gray than steel gray, mostly because it was all I could find that I could also afford.

But spring has brought a bazillion home catalogs to my doorstep and lo and behold, I have found a wonderful assortment of yellow and gray pieces. Here are some of the ones I would have loved to have access to, if they'd been available. Oh, and if I'd had about six times as much money to dedicate to the cause. Dream with me, people.

Marimekko Madison Yellow Bed Linens, Crate and Barrel

Ruffled-Circle Quilt in platinum, West Elm

Jardin chair in Aegean, Crate and Barrel 

 Upholstered slipper chair in flower dot, West Elm

Marrakech print, Crate and Barrel 

[photo credits: crateandbarrel.com, westelm.com]

Recipe Favorite: Whole Grain Blueberry Pancakes

by Maura

A couple years ago I was looking for a whole wheat blueberry pancake recipe that I could make on the spur of the moment. Most of the recipes I found called for buttermilk, which is not something I usually have on hand. I came across this recipe on a blog that no longer exists and my life was forever changed. I now eschew all other pancakes in favor of these hearty, lightly textured and delicious whole grain blueberry pancakes. Even people who wrinkle their noses at the concept of "whole grains" will fall in love with these. When blueberries are not in season or I feel like mixing it up a bit, I mash up two bananas and use those instead -- living on the edge here, people! 

 

Whole Grain Blueberry Pancakes

3/4 c. whole wheat 100% stone ground flour
3 tbs. stone ground corn meal
1 tbs. wheat germ (or just more cornmeal)
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
3 tbs. sugar
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 large egg
1 c. milk
3 tbs. melted butter plus extra for griddle
1/3 c. blueberries, wild or frozen,* if large, half before mixing, extra for syrup
Grade A maple syrup

Heat a griddle or a large pan over medium-high heat. Whisk together all dry ingredients. Whisk together egg, milk and butter, and pour over dry ingredients. Mix well, and add more milk 1 tbs. at a time if too thick. Gently fold in blueberries.

Reduce heat to medium and brush griddle or pan with butter or spray with Pam nonstick spray and ladle on a couple of tablespoons of batter. Depending on the size of the pan you can do multiple pancakes at a time. Flip when bubbles rise to the surface of each pancake, about 1-2 minutes. Cook on the other side an additional 1 minute, or until golden brown. Repeat.

 

[Image credit: me]

Style on the cheap: Revlon Retractable Cord Hair Dryer

By Manda

When it comes to personal grooming I'm a drugstore girl all the way. For whatever reason (ahem, CHEAPSKATE) I cannot bring myself to spend more than twenty bucks on any one cosmetic or grooming item. Which is why it's a devastating event when I drop the $14.99 travel hairdryer that I recently "splurged" and bought myself into the dog's water bowl that I keep in the bathroom (long story).

Anyway, this is exactly what happened to me a few months ago. I ruined my hairdryer, for the second time in the same way actually, and trudged off to Target for a replacement. I wanted a hairdryer with a retractable cord that would fold for travel, and I was also looking for a model that came with with both a diffuser and concentrator.

After a lot of waffling, I decided to spend $19.99 (it was on sale!) on this hair dryer: the Revlon Retractable Cord Hair Dryer.

[photo courtesy Target.com]

Maybe I just had terrible hair dryers before -- and, NO, I haven't experienced the thrill of a fancy-pants-super-expensive hair dryer at home -- but this dryer gets the job done. It comes with all the features I wanted and gets my long, overly-moppy-and-in-need-of-my-hairstylist, straight hair dry relatively quickly and without a fuss. When it's being stored or I'm traveling I can simply retract the cord, fold it in half and chuck it in a drawer or my suitcase. I can even experiment with mousse and try to fake waves in my stubborn hair with the diffuser (I failed. Oh well.) when I get the itch! And for the price it can be replaced should it meet an untimely death with the dog's water bowl ... which would be unlikely because I now dry my hair in another location to keep my dog hydrated and my hair dryer safe.

So do you have a styling staple -- be it an amazing hairbrush or concealer or, yes, hairdryer -- that can only be found at the drugstore? Spill it! Us cheapskates need the info!

Reader Help: Sweet Potato Recipes

By Sarah

At the recommendation of our very own Elisabeth, I recently signed up for an organic fruit and vegetable delivery service. Since I have to go to the grocery store pretty often, the idea of coming home from work to a box of fresh fruits and vegetables was appealing. Plus, the idea of getting some obscure vegetable intrigued me. Until I opened my first box yesterday and saw sweet potatoes.

You see, I do not like sweet potatoes. I have tried them every which way, but just can't seem to get on board. When people started deep frying them to make sweet potato fries, I thought, Genius! A french fry is something I can get behind! But nope, sweet potato fries didn't do it for me either.

So, my question to you today: What should I do with these sweet potatoes to make them -- how do I put it? -- less sweet potato-y? Any go-to recipes you have for sweet potatoes? I am all ears, err, eyes! (Lame potato joke, sorry.)

{Photo credit: Yours truly}