NYE party inspiration

HAPPY NEW YEARS EVE, ALL! I hope your day is filled with sparkles and fun!
Lately I've been saying a lot "When I'm in my grown up apartment..." when we're out shopping our talking about future things. Mainly because I'm living on campus right now while I'm in my nursing program (for the convenience of it!) and it definitely doesn't feel like my own apartment. But I also have "adult ideals" about parties I would host in the future (who wants to host a masquerade together? ;)). Pinterest is obviously where I get all my inspiration, and I would love to do some of them for a NYE party! Here are some of my faves:

Popcorn and Champagne Bar: I think this one is so much fun! You could have a variety of champagnes and different popcorns, and everyone could have their favorites! Plus, how cute is that set up?

Chili Tasting Party: Sign me up! Everyone could bring chili in the way they make it, and have a big taste off! All you would have to do is supply mix ins for it, and the cute different signs (where are free printables on the site!)

Hot Cocoa Bar: This would obviously be for a more low key party (maybe where kids are in attendance!), but a perfect way to wrap up the holiday season! You could have a basic hot cocoa recipe, and a ton of fun mix ins to customize!

Have you ever hosted a "themed" NYE party? What are your favorite ideas?

-Kylie

peppermint fudge

I'm totally in denial that Christmas is over. We always keep out decorations up past New Years, and I usually convince my dad to leave them up til I leave. So obviously I'm still baking Christmas-y goodies! Plus, peppermint, candy canes and fudge is just the perfect combo! (Also, this is my 300th post! Wow!)

Peppermint Fudge (recipe from girlichef)

Ingredients:

• 17 oz. (3 c.) white chocolate chips
• ½stick (¼ c.) unsalted butter
• 1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
• ½ tsp. pure peppermint extract
• tiny pinch sea salt
• 5 regular-size peppermint candy canes

Instructions:

• Line a square (8"-9") baking pan with foil. Grease the foil and the exposed sides of the pan well with cooking spray.  Unwrap the candy canes and place them into a zippered baggie. Bash them with the bottom of a small pan until you have tiny pieces and a bit of peppermint dust (should equal ~½ cup).
• Place the white chocolate chips, butter, and sweetened condensed milk in a glass bowl and microwave for 1 minute; stir with a wooden spoon. Stick back into microwave and heat in 30 second intervals, until the butter and the chips have melted entirely. (This is going to take a bunch of rounds to really get it all melted. Just make sure you do the 30 second increments so the chocolate doesn't burn!)
• Add peppermint extract and salt and beat by hand for 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until the mixture is smooth. Stir in about ⅔ of the crushed candy canes.
• Dump the mixture into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Sprinkle the remaining crushed candy canes over the top and press lightly. 
• Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or until firm. Cut into squares.

Are you still in the Christmas mind set?

-Kylie

new years eve sparkles

Almost time for New Years Eve, and all the sparkles that come along with it! So excited to be collabing with one of my blogging besties, Hannah from Sweeter than Serenity, on what we would wear for the night! I'm so in love with the romper she chose. I definitely think I need to snag it for myself! You can never have too much sparkle, am I right?
I went with a sparkly sweater and my favorite black jeans, and topped it off with a blingy necklace, sparkly heels, and neon pink nails. Gotta get that pop of color in there!

sweater: Chico's (similar) // jeans: Calvin Klein (similar) // shoes: Nine West (similar) // necklace: Accessory Jane // nails: Kate Spade Shocking Pink (unavailable online, but look in Nordstrom Rack stores! it comes in a little set!)

What are you planning to wear on NYE?

-Kylie

weekly roundup

Hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!

one: Why you should never ask a feminist to promote a sexist product. Aka...reason number 57386970 Ellen is awesome.

two: So the guy who does Humans of New York came out with a book called Little Humans, which is basically HONY but all kids! And then he asked parents to send in videos of their kids reading it, and put together an adorable video of little humans reading Little Humans.

three: 21 photos guaranteed to make you laugh. I've actually experienced #2 in real life!!

four: If girlfriends were honest when arguing. I was laughing the whole time! I am definitely the girl who has her argument planned out ahead of time!

Have a great weekend, all!

-Kylie

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all! I'll be spending the day with my family in our pajamas, eating whatever we want and watching a ton of movies! Here's a taste of Christmas at my house...

The tree in my room! Note all the ballerinas...

I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!

-Kylie

chewy chocolate chip cookies

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE! I don't know about you guys, but our house is always filled with cookies and all kinds of sweets during the holidays! It's actually one of our traditions to make all different kinds of biscotti and send them out to our family! So obviously, one of the first things I did when I got home was bake. I have about a hundred different chocolate chip cookie recipes saved, all with just the slightest difference. So I figured now would be a good time to try one out! I used chocolate chips for some, and also used some Andes mint baking chips, because I had them and wanted to use them!

Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies (recipe from Apple A Day)

Ingredients: 

3/4 c. unsalted butter, softened 

3/4 c. brown sugar 

1/4 c. granulated sugar 

1 egg 

2 tsp. vanilla extract 

2 c. all purpose flour 

2 tsp. cornstarch (<-- the magic ingredient!)

1 tsp. baking soda 

1/2 tsp. salt 

1 c. bittersweet chocolate chips (or really, whatever you want to mix in!)

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

2.  In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugars until fluffy and light in color. Add egg and vanilla and blend in.

3.  Mix in flour, cornstarch, baking soda and salt. Stir in chocolate chunks.

4.  Using a standard-sized cookie scoop or tablespoon (or just be like me and use your hands #oldschool), drop dough onto a prepared baking sheet.  Bake for 8-10 minutes, until barely golden brown around the edges.  (The tops will not brown, but do NOT cook longer than ten minutes.)

5.  Let cool, on the sheet, on a wire rack for five minutes.  Remove from baking sheet and let cool completely.

Have fun baking!

-Kylie

white christmas

I took these pictures a couple weeks ago when it snowed right before Thanksgiving, and it's definitely making me wish we had some snow right now! I always think that snow is so much more magical before Christmas....and then totally sucky after the holidays. So here's hoping for white Christmases for all!

sweater: Charming Charlie (similar) // leggings: Lou & Grey // boots: BCBG (similar)

Who wants a white Christmas?

-Kylie

christmasfied

Since it's so close to Christmas, it seems like everyone wants to be festive! Both of my parents have been wearing Christmas colors pretty much every day, and my sister definitely raided my closet for something red or green. This sweater from Oasap ended up being the perfect piece for a day of shopping! And the cashier at Chickfila loved it, so obviously it's the best! Plus, meet my new obsession. 360 studs from Sparkle & Whim! I'm beyond in love with them, and you can get 15% off using the code 'kylie15'!

sweater: Oasap c/o // skirt: Forever 21 (similar) // boots: Calvin Klein (similar) // bow: Preppy Bows and Sass c/o (use code 'kylierep' for 15% $10 or more) // earrings: Sparkle & Whim c/o (use code 'kylie15' for 15% off) // lips: Rimmel London Diva Red

Have you been dressing all festively lately?

-Kylie

weekly roundup

one: 42 of the most important puppies of all time. Probably the most important things I've ever posted. (cue scrolling through with awwwwww's and puppppppieeees)

two: This is too funny. Jimmy Kimmel apparently lives across the street from Emily Blunt and John Krasinski, and they prank each other every year at Christmas. You'll be dying of laughter.

three: 45 toys every 90's girl wanted for Christmas. Yesssssssss.

four: Andy Grammer's new song "Honey, I'm Good" is pretty cute and fun on it's own. But this video makes it even better!

Have a great weekend!

-Kylie

a layering fool

I am all about that layering lately. (Not so much about the bass ;)) It's been pretty darn cold outside, and totally up to chance inside! I have one classroom that's always pretty warm, and my other one is always freezing! Aka, absolutely need to layer so I don't overheat in the first or freeze in the second. Plus, isn't there some blogger law that you must layer in the winter? ;)

sweater: Gap (similar) // shirt: Ralph Lauren (similar) // jeans: Lucky Brand // boots: DSW (similar) // necklace: Forever 21 (similar)

Are you all about that layering?

-Kylie