Monday, August 31, 2015

coconut kisses

These cookies just flew off the counter out my house! It's a perfect mix between a chewy sugar cookie and a coconut macaroon. With a Hershey kiss on top. So. Good. Perfect way to start off a Monday ;)





Coconut Kisses (recipe from Rook No. 17)

ingredients:
2 1/2 cups All purpose flour
1 Tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon table salt
2/3 cups butter, softened
6 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 egg yolks
1 Tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
1 Tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon juice from a fresh orange
10 cups sweetened flaked coconut, divided in to 6 cup and 4 cup portions
1 bag Hershey Kisses

directions:
  1. In a medium bowl, sift flour, baking powder and salt.  Set aside.
  2. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter, cream cheese, and sugar until light and fluffy.  Add egg yolks, vanilla and orange juice and beat till smooth.  
  3. In 1 cup increments, mix flour in to the butter mixture.  Add the 6 cups flaked coconut and beat to combine.
  4. Refrigerate dough for 1 hour. While dough is chilling, remove wrappers from the Kisses.
  5. Preheat oven to 350.  One at a time, scoop dough into 1.5" balls (about the size of a large walnut, roll between your palms, then roll in the bowl of remaining coconut (4 cups).  Arrange on an ungreased baking sheet, at least an inch apart (cookies will spread slightly).  A standard cookie sheet should accommodate a dozen cookies at a time.  
  6. Bake 12-14 minutes, until the cookies puff and are very lightly browned.  
  7. Remove from oven.  Immediately press one Kiss into each cookie.  Return pan to oven and bake for an additional minute.
  8. Remove pan from oven and cool on a rack for 10 minutes.  With a thin spatula, gently move cookies on to a rack to finish cooling.

Enjoy!
-Kylie

Friday, August 28, 2015

weekly roundup

one: I just HAD to start off with the blooper reel from Trainwreck. I loved the movie and I absolutely LOVE blooper reels, so this was pretty awesome for me. When will movie companies learn we want blooper reels longer than 3 minutes?!?!?!?!?!

two: 10 adorable dog breed mashups that you need in your life immediately. Or....at least I need in my life immediately!

three: 9 steps for turning yourself into a Disney princess. When I first clicked on this article, I assumed it would be something silly. But it was actually incredibly sweet and the steps to be a princess are actually tips everyone should live by. 


Have a fun weekend!
-Kylie

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

s'mores rice krispies treats

My mom had the best idea the other day. For some reason, we had started talking about rice krispies treats, and she suggested that they'd be really good with chocolate and graham cracker pieces to make them s'mores. So obviously, I had to make them. And in my opinion...they turned out pretty darn good!





S'mores Rice Krispies Treats

ingredients:
3 tbs butter
4 cups mini marshmallows (add a cup or two to make them extra gooey!)
6 cups Rice Krispies cereal
3 Hershey bars, chopped
3 sheets of graham crackers, chopped

directions:
  1. In large saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat. 
  2. Add Rice Krispies cereal and stir until well coated. Then add in the chopped Hershey bars and graham crackers, and stir until well mixed in. 
  3. Using buttered spatula or wax paper evenly press mixture into 13 x 9 x 2-inch pan coated with cooking spray. Cool. Cut into 2-inch squares.
  4. ENJOY!

Let me know if you try these!
-Kylie

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

summer sweater

It's been way too hot lately to wear sweaters during the day, but lightweight sweaters are perfect for cool mornings and chilly evenings. AKA my new favorite sweater from the Lou & Grey line at The Loft. It's the perfect weight to make the transition from summer to fall, and has a fun light lime green color. AND a fun ballerina neck. I think I'll be wearing this one a lot.










sweater: Lou & Grey // shorts: Lilly for Target (similar) // shoes: Tommy Hilfiger (similar) // sunglasses: Karen Walker c/o Ditto (use the code DRESSINSPARKLES to get your first month of renting free!)

What is your favorite lightweight sweater?
-Kylie

Monday, August 24, 2015

twirlin' round and round

The dress I wore back on my birthday is finally making it's way to the blog! I have to say, I'm pretty in love with this dress. Fun stripes, comfy material, and exceptionally twirly! All essentials for a fun dress, in my personal opinion. Add a bright lip, wedges and fun sunglasses, and I am all set!












(you know I'm always down for the silly picture ;))

dress: Nordstrom (on sale for $31!) // sunglasses: Karen Walker c/o Ditto (use the code DRESSINSPARKLES to get your first month of renting free!) // lips: Revlon Pink Pout // wedges: Target

Who else likes their dresses to be twirly?
-Kylie

Friday, August 21, 2015

weekly roundup


two: 21 signs you might be an ambivert. Had never heard of it before this article, but it's somewhere between an extrovert and introvert. And as I read through, it most definitely applied to me!

three: Why raising kids and dogs is exactly the same. So adorable and so true.

Have a fun weekend!
-Kylie

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

chewy cherry almond bars

This may be one of my favorite recipes I've tried. These bars came out so chewy and almond-y, and the cherry was the perfect touch! I think the best way to tell if your baking is good is if people keep eating more past the first time they try it. Case in point, my family eating basically all the bars ;) 







Chewy Cherry Almond Bars (recipe from BHG)

ingredients:
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 2 cups packed brown sugar
  • 2 tsps baking powder
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp almond extract
  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 2 cups regular rolled oats
  • 1/2 cup sliced almonds
  • one 12 oz jar cherry preserves (or any other fruit!)
directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 13x9x2-inch baking pan with foil, extending foil over the edges of the pan. Grease foil; set pan aside.
  2. In a large bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add brown sugar and baking powder. Beat until combined, scraping side of bowl occasionally. Beat in egg and almond extract until combined. Beat in the flour next, and finish by folding in the oats and almonds with a spatula.
  3. Remove 1/2 cup of the dough and set aside. Press the remaining dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan. Spread with preserves. Crumble the remaining dough evenly over preserves layer.
  4. Bake in the preheated oven about 35 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack. Using the edges of the foil, lift the uncut cookies out of the pan. Cut into bars. Enjoy!
Let me know if you try them out, or use something other than cherry preserves! I recommend eating them warmed up over vanilla ice cream!
-Kylie

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

the Lilly sale

Today is the last day to shop the Lilly Pulitzer After Party Sale, and things are going fast! There are still a lot of amazing pieces left though, so make sure you hop on over today so you can snag some of them! Here are some of my favorites:




Get to shopping! Sizes are going fast!
-Kylie

Friday, August 14, 2015

weekly roundup

one: 21 very real struggles of growing up with thick hair. And no, I haven't really "grown to love it" yet like everyone always told me I would!

two: If Disney characters wore couture gowns. SO on point! (Although the belle one is slightly disappointing.)


four: This is a must watch video. My dad sent it to me recently, and while I was watching it, I was thinking it was kinda slow and sad. But the last few seconds, oh man, my heart burst. So incredibly amazing and sweet.

Have a great weekend!
-Kylie

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

chocolate banana cupcakes

Two of my favorite flavors in dessert, brought together in a fabulous cupcake! I mean, can you ever go wrong when chocolate and banana are involved?! Plus, the icing is so smooth and chocolatey, I could probably just eat it with a spoon! You're going to want to make these ASAP. (And careful, they seem to disappear quickly!)






Chocolate Banana Cupcakes (recipe from Bakerella)

ingredients:

Cream Cheese Mixture
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 small banana, pureed
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
8 oz. semisweet chocolate chips


Chocolate Mixture
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/3 cup cocoa
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 large bananas, pureed
1/3 cup oil
1 teaspoon vanilla


directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
For the cream cheese mixture:
  • Beat cream cheese and sugar until nice and fluffy.
  • Add banana, egg and vanilla and mix together until combined.
  • Stir in chocolate chips and set aside.
For the chocolate mixture:
  • Sift together flour, cocoa, sugar, soda and salt using a wire whisk.
  • Add bananas, oil and vanilla and mix together on low until combined.
  • Use a large scoop to fill cupcake liners with batter.
  • Repeat topping the cupcake batter with the cream cheese mixture.
Bake for about 30 minutes or until done.

Chocolate Sour Cream Icing (recipe from Real Simple)

ingredients:
12 
ounces 
semisweet chocolate, chopped
1 1/2 
cups 
(3 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
cups 
confectioners’ sugar
3/4 
cup 
sour cream
pinch kosher salt

directions: 
  1. Heat the chocolate in a double boiler or medium heatproof bowl set over (not in) a saucepan of simmering water, stirring often, until melted and smooth. Remove from heat and let cool, 10 to 15 minutes.
  2. Using an electric mixer, beat the butter on high until light and fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes. Reduce mixer speed to low. Gradually add the sugar and beat until smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary. Add the chocolate, sour cream, and salt and beat to combine.
  3. Top the cupcakes with the frosting once they are cooled.


Let me know if you try them out! 
-Kylie

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

tory burch private sale

It's that time of year again! Time for the Tory Burch Private Sale. AKA the time to get the BEST prices on Tory products. But you have to act quick, because things are going fast! Here are some of my favorites from the sale...






What picks are your favorite?
-Kylie

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