hebrokemyheart brownies

Trapped in the house for the last two days has led me to a lot of cooking and baking. Although I’ve been trying so hard to watch what I eat and workout regularly, once the ice warnings and power threats kicked in I decided I need to prepare for a catastrophe. I cooked lasagna, vegetable soup, blueberry muffins, and of course, my mother’s famous brownies. This brownie recipe is packed with numerous memories from my childhood to adult years. When my mom makes brownies she has always makes these, never from a box. My cousin Cindy from Florida always requests my mom to bake them for her when she comes to visit. She even asks for her to send them to her by mail on occasion. These brownies make everything go away; homesickness, loneliness, and they can even mend a broken heart.

Recipe

Ingredients:

• 4 squares unsweetened Baker’s chocolate
• 1/2 c. butter
• 1/2 c. cisco
• 2 t. instant coffee
• 4 eggs
• 1/2 t. salt
• 2 c. sugar
• 1 T. vanilla
• 1 c. flour
• 3/4 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter 13X9 baking dish. Melt butter, shortening, and Baker’s chocolate together over low heat. Mix together and let cool. Stir in coffee powder.

Beat eggs with salt. Add sugar slowly and beat until very light. Stir in chocolate mixture and add vanilla.

Add flour all at once and mix just until smooth by hand. Stir in chocolate chips. Bake for 35 minutes. Sprinkle with powdered sugar when completely cooled.

Always here

The picture above is of Buarl and I in Daytona Beach probably walking the pier or along the boardwalk. I was maybe 2 or 3 and people joke that I am looking at the camera with my bratty grin saying, “haha I’m getting what I want, look who’s got me now!” Buarl always gave me what I want. He came over to my family’s house almost every night for dinner. If I didn’t like what we were having he’d always take me to McDonald’s after I “ate”. If I wanted ice cream he’d take me out to the Sweet Shoppe. If I wanted to swing he’d take me to the park. We’d go out to the fair and he’d let me run. A lot of what we did together had to do with food, because quite frankly we both enjoyed eating. When I was little I can remember sitting on the porch in the summer time feeling the “breeze”. He’d always sit in the rocker chair and lean way back. Every once in a while he’d let out a “weeeee,” although he was never going anywhere. He’d talk to everyone that walked by. He told stories, some true, some not, you never really knew.

Buarl never asked for much. Actually, I don’t think he ever asked for anything more than to fill up his glass of tea. My car would break down and I would call Buarl. I needed a couch for my first apartment. I called Buarl. Buarl was always there for me. He cherished my family with memories we will never forget. Twenty-two years of family vacations to Florida-some of the best times my family has ever had. Buarl was a selfless man and never let another go hungry if he had anything to do with it. For years I’ve been trying to describe success. Thinking success had everything to do with me and what I achieve in life. Today I learned success is what you do for others’ lives and the impact you leave behind. I love you Buarl. You truly were and still are an angel among us.

Some Things Are Worth Waiting For

The best time to shop is right after Christmas. Everything goes on sale, but it takes some strategic planning on how to get the best deals. These deals are the only thing that keep me from buying presents for myself before Christmas. Just keep your eyes on the prize and you will get the best deals of your life.

This leather motorcycle jacket is the absolute best value that I can find that still has all of the details I am looking for; large floppy collar, neck snap, unpolished gold zippers- to-nowhere, and slight flare in the sleeve. Retails for $380, on sale now for $229 and I have a $50 off coupon. I’m still waiting until AFTER the holidays for an extra discount. It will be a definite STEAL.

Tocca’s new fragrance Colette is a mixture of spicy, floral, and musk. I couldn’t tell from just smelling it out of the bottle, but it reminds me immensely of last year’s craze Bond no. 9 Scent of Peace, for a fraction of the price. This retails for $65, but I always buy expensive perfume off Ebay. On Ebay I can get it for $45. Cha-Ching.

These Avant-Garde inspired platforms would make me well over six-foot tall, but they’re worth it. With downtown flair, Vera Wang Lavender label shoes beg for compliments. There is no deal here..but I’ll keep praying to the fashion gods.

Ugh. Love at first site. It also comes with a silver long chain for an option to wear across-the-body. I think this metallic is hot for spring or winter. ID, lipstick, debit, floss, CHECK. Thank you Diane Von Furstenberg.

Sleepy Saturdays

Saturdays after work I usually enjoy going out for a nice dinner with friends, but this Saturday I am still recouping from Friday night’s festivities. Hanging solo usually consists of trying to put my brain in a coma by watching bad T.V. and eating greasy food. Slowly, but surely I creep onto my computer to catch up on all the blog surfing I didn’t have time for during the week. Here are just a few thoughts I’m having…

Perfect Fall Meal: Black Bean Soup + Apple Pie

Recipe and Photo:herbivoracious

 

I could have saved some money by not having braces. My teeth looked just like that!

Love Ashley Smith.

Inspiration for my future home and pet.

 

Erin Wasson for
Scanlan & Theodore
S/S 11 Lookbook

Source: Studded Hearts

New York Loves Me

Because all I practically talk about is New York; living, working, and breathing, I am finally going back for a quick visit next month. Now, I just day dream about what I’m going to wear for the couple days I am there. These are some ideas I have up in my little head…

Day 1

Vixen by VintageGlamGirl featuring high heels

Balenciaga Leather biker jacket
1,475 GBP – brownsfashion.com
Short jacket »

Gap Always skinny jeans (black coated wash)
$70 – gap.com
Low rise jeans »

Diane von Furstenberg Nubuck lace-up boots
$395 – net-a-porter.com
High heels »

Eyelet Leather Clutch
$365 – saksfifthavenue.com
Cross body handbags »

Bobbi Brown Creamy Lip Color – Black Cherry
$22 – barneys.com

hair bun
advicesisters.net

Chanel Paradoxal Nail Polish | Jet Set Girls
thejetsetgirls.blogspot.com

 

Day 2

Day 2 by VintageGlamGirl featuring suede leather boots

3.1 Phillip Lim Mohair and wool-blend check cape
$1,100 – net-a-porter.com
3.1 Phillip Lim coats »

 

Women’s – jackets & outerwear – Midnight Blazer – Madewell 1937
$70 – madewell.com
Cargo »

 

H by Hudson Dot Suede Lace-Up Boots
$234 – asos.com
Suede leather boots »

 

Women’s Accessories, Belts, Scarves & Bags – Madewell
madewell.com
Madewell belts »

 

Womens’s PANTS & SHORTS – pants – Legging Cords – Madewell
$90 – madewell.com

 

Ambre Blends the art of wearing natural fragrance.
ambreblends.com

 

Catalog Shuffle

 

I will have this hair! Anthropologie October Pg. 31

 

Because I was raised in small-town Indiana, the latest fashions were never at hand. Seeing new trends required a car and my mom to drive me to the nearest mall, which was about an hour away. One way I could always stay updated was by catalog shopping. Catalog shopping was more like window shopping for city girls. I would flip through the pages of Victoria Secret writing down every item I dreamt of and trying to copy the models’ make-up and hair in my bathroom. I would write wish lists that were never ordered. The funny thing is I still do it to this day. I still love the Victoria Secret catalog, but I also adore Anthropologie, J Crew, and Free People. I have a routine where I rip out the pages and post them to my bulletin board. Then I make a mental list of what I already have and what I need to re-create the look. Above is my newest hair obsession! I have been working for WEEKS at getting this hair and I am very close. I will post a DIY tutorial when I nail it.

 

Anthropologie October 2010 Fave

 

This was my favorite picture from 2010. I love her updo, dress, and tights. I wanted it all…and still do!

This look is from Free People. I totally want this outfit for Sunday Fundays; gloves, hat, and bag. This sweater is very relaxed and still a bit sexy. Perfect for mingling and beer drinking.

Sweet and Sultry

After reading this quote from the Creative Director for Chanel makeup, Peter Phillips on Beautiful Makeup Search, I was enticed to not only buy the SoHo collection, but to come up with other things that are a bit sweet and a bit sultry.

“For me, SoHo is a place where Bohemian ideals meet the toughness of the city… I love the tension and energy this creates.” says Peter Philips. “I had a specific girl in mind who is both hard and soft. A girl who discovers a new city, a new life. This is a very special kind of New York woman. She is innocent, but she has a steely determination that fuels the city.”

ROSE GOLD WATCH BY MICHAEL KORS

STETSON WOOL FEDORA

DOLCE VITA STORM BOOT

Hopeless

Betrayed, deserted, hungry, and alone you find your way the best you know. You once loved, but you were left. You gambled with your dreams, yet they were defeated. You built beautiful houses, though let yours crumble to pieces.

On My Way

In the creation of my blog I was struggling with being consistent, dwelling on the past, and moving forward with my future. I was focused on the things I didn’t have and I created a little plan to help bring the faith alive in my life and to be happy with the small things. I made it a point to run every morning, to eat healthier, to meditate, and to write(shown Here,Here, and Here. These daily goals allowed me to realize all that matters in life is the present moment.

Nine months later, a term long enough for the creation of a human being, I would say that I have learned more about myself than I have in the last 5 years. I have a sense of direction of where I want to be, who I want to be, and what I want to do. All of the wrinkles haven’t been exactly pressed, but that’s when life happens.

I’ve always been a goal setter, so I’m going to set some goals for myself for the rest of the year:

1. Lose inches. I say lose inches because weight really doesn’t matter. I just want to feel good in my leggings and jeans this fall. As you can tell I love fall fashion so much that it’s a great motivator for me to feel good about myself on the outside as much as I do on the inside, hence Faith and Fashion 🙂

2. Write more, write freely, express myself. I’m almost finished with Tropic of Cancer and it has changed my life. Miller’s writing style is like no other; poetic almost. He says when he writes he doesn’t over analyze it. He doesn’t go over it and try to make it sound better. He just writes how it is. There’s so much I want to say or write, but I am always censoring myself. I want to stop the censor. Like this little number I wrote here.

3. Blog. I want to blog more, use more personal pictures and really amp my site. The end.

4. Be my best. I really just want to focus these last 3 months and give it all I’ve got. I want to workout, work hard, play hard, and just be the best person I can possibly be.

Fall: Accessorize Your Staples

Fall Accessorize by VintageGlamGirl on Polyvore.com

My black leather knee-high boots have scuffed their way through two years of long harsh winters and this year I am looking to update my wardrobe with a slightly different look. Being in a more fashion-forward industry and a strict budget, I am strategically planning my fall wardrobe based on updated trends and fashion staples that will last year after year.

My number one staple update is a pair of thigh-high suede black boots like these Sam Edelman’s. They have a sexy slender heel with a small platform, a great compromise for the height conscientious while still providing enough comfort. These boots will look great with dresses, skirts, and leggings; my favorite fall attire. The second most important staple is a jacket or vest of some sort. Since I will be wearing the black pleather H&M jacket from last year, I will update my wardrobe with a faux-fur vest that I can throw over almost anything. I love combining different patterns and textures and creating something unexpected. Think fur vest paired with a denim shirt, flannel, lace, or even with bare arms.

Small things that are less expensive, but still on trend are wool fedoras. You can find them anywhere from $10 and up. I will probably use my old one from H&M and update it with a feather flower pin from JCREW to add a punch. Large hobo bags are out and small crossbodies are all the rage. I love this suede satchel from Madewell with the chain strap.

No matter what your budget is take a good inventory of what you have from last season that is still in this season. Make a list of ways you can update it and then decide whether you want to splurge, save, or add a little do-it-yourself project. Don’t forget to rummage through vintage stores! You can probably find a lot of what you are looking for for a lot less of the cost. I found a pair of Crosby Square wing tips in the men’s section for $18! I could easily cross oxford off of my list and the $100 price tag.