Food Adventures: Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

{Obsessed with pumpkins as in I had my bridal photo shoot in a pumpkin patch! Photography by Kristin Byrum} 

The other weekend I awoke and immediately decided that I was going to treat myself to Starbucks, and by treat you should know that although I love my lattes, I do not subscribe to the idea that spending 4 some dollars on a caffeine fix every morning is a good way to spend your precious pennies! 

Anyways, as I was waiting in line for the usual (a soy latte with a sprinkle of cinnamon), I was delighted to see that the Pumpkin Spice latte was back! I never order said spice latte, but you know as sure as the leaves change, as sandals turn into boots, and as the reg. latte turns into a Pumpkin that Fall has arrived! My seasonal obsession with all things pumpkin has officially begun!  Pumpkins are cropping up everywhere, and I'm currently salivating over these chocolate cookies with a pumpkin twist...

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
What you'll need: 
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon milk
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

What to do: 
1. Combine pumpkin, sugar, vegetable oil, and egg. In a separate bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, ground cinnamon, and salt. Dissolve the baking soda with the milk and stir in. Add flour mixture to pumpkin mixture and mix well.
2. Add vanilla, chocolate chips and nuts.
3. Drop by spoonful on greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for approximately 10 minutes or until lightly brown and firm. 

Don't they look absolutely divine?  I could probably eat a dozen. Thank goodness I don't have to worry about a bikini anytime soon - Hello Pumpkins and Hello Fall! 

{Via Just Bella}

It's raining here...

It's raining here and the droplets cascading down my window have made me unusually aware that I've always been exceedingly generous with my umbrellas, in the city that is.  Undoubtedly doling them out like food for the hungry or medicine for the sick at the first inkling of poor weather ahead.

One for the subway for always getting me to where I was going, albeit inconsistently.

One for the classroom where I could feast on fashion, rather than derivatives of under grad's past, until I was stuffed to the utmost with all things stylish.

One for the bar that kept the half priced cocktails flowing when I found the city to be a pin ball machine in which I was the pinball dizzily barreling in all directions at once. 

One for the dressing room in which I discovered my all time favorite (and fabulous if I might add) funnel neck trapeze winter coat.

I never seemed to mind, especially in that place, going without an umbrella and for that matter the rain.  It's kinda like that quote that goes something like...Going about under an umbrella interferes with one's looking up at the sky.  I kind of agree- unless it's monsooning out, after hours, and I'm lost in the deserted financial district- don't you, loves?

{Image via my favorite Rodney Smith}

I'm back! Champagne and Elderflower anyone?

 

 {Poppin' bottles because life is a celebration!} 

Hi loves! I can't believe it's almost been a week since I've seen you last. The past several days have been a whirlwind- 

I finished my first, and possibly only, interior design-on-a-freakin-dime project, 

hopped a (quite turbulent) plane where I met the coolest couple bound for studies in the middle east, 

caught up with my roomies from Parsons here,

paid homage to my college days at a tailgate by polishing off my flip cup and beer pong skills, 

spent much needed QT with family over a surprise birthday, 

and due to the celebratory note that traveling and reunions take on- drank lots and lots of my most favorite... bubbly!  

I have many pictures to share, but while I settle back into my own place (thank goodness!), you should definitely pour yourself one of these...

{A champagne cocktail made with the most delicious elderflower liqueur!}

It's not quite 5:00 here, but I'm sure it is somewhere. Cheers loves!

Happy Anni!

Happy Anniversary to my sweet, sweet grandmother and to my grandfather who's still got that swagger after all these years!

Ciao

{Tepper Jackson Luggage Tags- Bright and Easy to Spot!}

 

 {Bobbi Brown product bottles perfect for 3 oz or less!}

You already know I love to travel in style AND comfort, but travel essentials extend past the perfect wardrobe. Make your luggage easy to spot with fun, bright luggage tags and avoid a melt down at security when they take your fave beauty product with Bobbi Brown's perfectly portioned plastic bottles!  As for me, I'm almost packed and ready for the next flight out! I'll see you there ;) 

{Via InStyle}

A Sweater for your door...

We've all seen the typical wreath, but have you ever seen a "door sweater?" I love transitioning my wardrobe from light weight summer brights to more muted chunkier knits, and by the looks of it my door could use some sprucing up too.  A sweater and a ruffle please! 

{Via Knack, Design by Cranny}

How Many Sleeps?

So right now because of THE house, the entire house I must decorate in t minus 2 days, the house that is unfurnished so I should "just imagine" the furniture in order to buy coordinating accessories, the house where, "oh yea, there will be a toilet there tomorrow, maybe," I feel like this...

 {I don't care if you have to climb that damn ladder, my cocktail glass, sir!}

After a crazy, unorganized day of not a soul knowing what's going on -think Dumb and Dumber when they finally get to Colorado and Harry realizes that Lloyds comprehension of Mary's last name is at best Samsonite- I'm physically and mentally pooped.  

 {"Slimmon... Sommen... Simmon... So... Swenson... Swanson?"}

My light at the end of the tunnel?

 {How many more sleeps until you get here, Auntie Woxy?}

You see, at the end of the week, I'm leaving on a jet plane to a place that makes my heart skip a beat for many reasons like the one above.  Now if I can just get through, "Oh yeah, Samsonite!! I was way OFF!"

p.s. I promise I'll recap my weekend soon- it was quite fabulous- and get back to my daily reads!  Hope y'all had an excellent Monday!  

Ciao my dears, Roxy

Happy Friday!

 {via Rodney Smith}

Good morning loves!  What are your plans this weekend? I've got quite a full agenda planned.  Tonight I'm going to be a guest speaker at a local university!  I'm very flattered I was asked, and I hope I can get everyone as excited as I am about Fall Fashion.  Saturday I'll be attending a baby shower and as ecstatic as I am for the sweet couple, the baby bug is a myth as far as I'm concerned so I will most likely need hard liquor to get me through!!  Sunday our very first official tailgate will take place! Yippee! And I hope to celebrate with a win and a Bloody Mary or two.  Somewhere in between I must find time to shop for furnishings for an entire house (I got my first interior design project yesterday!) that I must decorate in approx 4 days... eek!  On that note, I'm off to find bedding!  Meanwhile, here are some posts that are definitely My Cup of Te...Happy Friday loves!

Clogs or Booties?  I see both, and I die. 

Veggie cocktails never looked so good- tomatillos, jalapenos, fennel , rhubarb, cucumbers, rose petals...mmm

This chic rocked a BLANKET as a skirt and killed it. 

How resourceful is this twiggy DIY?

Why don't you dress up as a ghost and run around the NY Public Library?

A departure from Gaga, and back to earth with Marc, yes please.

Would love to furnish my entire apartment with E.Bauer ...and NO! Def not Eddie!

These are worth the extra spin sesh.

The most powerful colors of the world. 

My "weekend hope."

Why don't you? Dance in the street. 

Mini trend: The fairest of the Fair Isle.

Thank You M & M!

{Step 1. Choose your head! Uhh, where the Asians at?!}

{Step 2.Voila! Fabulous personal stationary perfect for writing a thank you note! By Rifle Paper Co.}

Yesterday Marc arrived.  I knew he was here because as soon as A walked in the door he replaced hello with "what on earth have you ordered now?"

Honestly my piggy bank is borderline anorexic so I'm not quite sure what he's talking about!  And for that matter, it was courtesy of Bananas thank you very much!

Anyways,  I immediately hopped up and ran straight down to our concierge who happily retrieved my eagerly awaited package.  I promised, promised I would snap a picture so I patiently stood for a photo opp.

 {Sorry, there was just no patience time to make up for A's bad aim}

Soon after, my coffee table looked like this...

 {Torn up with the fervor of a kid on Christmas morning}

And my hand like this...

{Marc calls for a manicure, don't ya think? Next up, OPI's Black Cherry Chutney!}

Although I do not yet own fabulous personal stationary like the adore notes above, I guess sometimes food comes before frill, I just wanted to say thank you to Miss Mayra for hosting such a fabulous giveaway and for bringing a little glam and...

...a smile to My Cup of Te!

Interiors {Re-inspired!}

I've been iffy about a certain mirror.  A mirror that I've looked at for years.  A mirror that has in turn looked back at me and asked among many, many other things...

What are you going to wear today?

Whether it was from my grungy days (thank God there is no found evidence) when I most probably dressed myself to the tune of Smells like Teen Spirit or to Gavin Rossdale crooning about Glycerine OR the days when Cher from Clueless was my inspiration not to wear the same stylish outfit twice for at least one semester (really?), she always seemed to have the answer.

Despite all this, all our history, I almost kicked her to the curb... until, I found this- her long lost twin...

{hello, old friend!}

I mean really, she's not too bad, right?  Although home girl may need a makeover (as I surely did back in the day!), I'm now determined and re-inspired to keep her around.  Besides, I'm sure dressing my 20 something self in front of a mirror that holds my faux pas of fashion's past could be quite amusing.  Especially in light of the fact that I now know flannel layered over t-shirts is NOT acceptable! (gag)

Do any of you ingenious D.I. Yourself-ers have any suggestions?  We would BOTH appreesh.
 
{via Belle Maison}

Food Adventures {Quinoa and Grilled Zucchini}

 {Don't forget the goat cheese!  It complements and balances out the avocado and cilantro dressing which would've been weird without}

Besides the Saturday afternoon flip cup tourney and Patron shots in honor of a good friend's birthday, this past weekend was pretty low-key.  My head hit my pillow pretty early both nights, partly due to said shots, and you know what they say about early to bed- early to rise!  With lots of energy and more time on my hands than usual as there was no recovery (mmm I love a top shelf tequila!), I decided to do some cooking!  I poured a large glass of refreshing Sauvignon Blanc, which was on sale from 17.99 to 9.99 (yes!!), quickly looked up a recipe I had bookmarked quite some time ago and immediately got to work.  Here's what you'll need:

QUINOA AND GRILLED ZUCCHINI 

Ingredients 

1 large avocado, ripe
juice of 1 lime
1/4 cup lightly packed cilantro
1 clove garlic
1/4 cup plain yogurt
3/4 cup water
1/2 teaspoon fine grain sea salt

3 large eggs

1 large zucchini, cut into 3/4-inch thick coins
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
couple pinches of fine grain sea salt

2 cups quinoa, cooked, room temperature
1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted
1/4 cup goat cheese, crumbled
a bit of chopped cilantro for garnish 

Instructions

Prepare the cilantro-avocado dressing by blending the avocado, lime juice, cilantro, garlic, yogurt, water, and salt in a blender (I used my handy-dandy bullet). Set aside.

Hard boil the three eggs. Place the eggs in a pot and cover with cold water by a 1/2-inch or so. Bring to a gentle boil. Now turn off the heat, cover, and let sit for exactly seven minutes. Have a big bowl of ice water ready and when the eggs are done cooking place them in the ice bath for three minutes or so - long enough to stop the cooking. Set aside.

While the eggs are cooling start preparing the zucchini by tossing it with olive oil and salt in a medium-sized bowl. Prepare your grill (medium-high heat). If you are worried about the zucchini coins falling through the grill you can thread them onto kabob skewers (stab through the green skin). Grill until zucchini are tender and cooked through, roughly 5 minutes on each side. Remove from the grill and cut each zucchini coin into quarters.

Crack and peel each egg, cut each egg into quarters lengthwise. Assemble the salad by tossing the quinoa with about 2/3 cups of the avocado vinaigrette. Top with the grilled zucchini, pine nuts, eggs, goat cheese, and a bit of chopped cilantro for garnish.

Enjoy!  Did you try anything new and tasty this past weekend?

{via 101 Cookbooks}

Forever 21 at Work

{I love them all, but if I just had to choose looks 1, 2, and 7 are my top three!  What about you, loves?}

During my days as a buyer, I was lucky enough to work with two of my best girlfriends.  Since we bought for Juniors, our "competitive shopping" trips often landed us, and with a quickness, at Forever 21.  We would quickly take notes on the information we set out to gather (assortments, signage, visuals, pricing, trends, blah, blah, blah) before inevitably finding ourselves in side by side dressing rooms with loads of clothes, twisting and turning in front of mirrors, and casting our votes on each others' ensembles. 

O.M.G. That is ADORE!  You HAVE to get that.  Uh-huh, so nesss right now!!! 

Whether we were working at Forever 21 (yes, competitive shopping with a quick sidetrack counts!!) or wearing Forever 21 to work, it was (and still is) definitely a store that fit our budgets and fed our fabulous fashion cravings.  Forev's Fall 2010 lookbook does both.  Its perfectly priced pieces and on-trend offerings will have you looking fabulous for Fall and fashionable, yet professional for work.  I imagine if we were all still together in our tiny gray cubicle, we'd still find time to oooh, ahh, and oh my gahh over Forev's latest.

What are you wearing at work today?  Happy Monday, loves!

{via JadePurpleBrown}

Happy Friday!

{via}

Hi loves.  It's Friday, yay!  Can you believe we're almost half way through September? After a long week, I have quite an (un)eventful weekend "planned."  The next two days I will delight in cooler evenings, home-made meals, bike rides, and perhaps calm my growing wanderlust by booking a flight or two ;)  What are your plans?  I'd love to hear about them!  Meanwhile, here are some posts that are definitely My Cup of Te...

Sequins and Cigarettes.

Isn't this handmade watch, impeccable?

Wedding gowns for a hopeless romantic.

FNO parties not to miss.

Why you should always talk to strangers. 

Summer squash ideas before it's too late.

It's prime time- for {yellow} tomato- {pizza}! 

Kissing is fun. 

A hidden wedge makes a perfect Fall boot. 

Pay homage to McQueen without breaking the bank.   

The Rise of the Asians: Wu, Wang, Chai, Lam...

The perfect {purple} bed. 

A well-dressed man starts here.  

Clothing optional.  Insert loads of tulle and pretty purple ribbon.

Don't mind the gap.

Plain Fierce.

Evite just got served.  Fine stationary via the web.


See you on Monday!
Cheers,
Roxy

Fall back, Spring forward

{Zac Posen Fall 2010}

Good morning my dears!  Right now, I'm knee deep in styling out the showroom.  After months of markets, fabric style-outs, and paint chips, I'm finally getting to do the best part!  Since I'm unable to share in the fun of Spring 2011- Fashion Week started today!- here are some of my Fall Fashion Reviews, I started back in July, to remind you of fantastical Fall Fashion as you spring forward to 2011.

A Love Letter {Dear Fall,}

Dearest Fall, 

I know you're still unable to visit, but I've been anxiously awaiting your arrival as you know you are my favorite.  I can barely wait to feel your briskness against my cheeks and to see your rich, saturated hues intoxicate everything within their reach.  Please stay longer than usual as winter is not quite as pleasant you.  

Fondly,
Roxy 

p.s. Don't forget to bring as many pumpkins as possible as you know they are beyond My Cup of Te :)

{Images 1, 2}

What's YOUR Cup of Te?

" She was his cup of tea, and her, his."

  

What's your Cup of Te, loves?  I learn something new about mine everyday, and I'd love to hear about yours!

{Image via Hopscotch and Grace}

The Great Escapes |Top 10 Pantone Colors Designers used for Spring 2011

Pantone announced the Top 10 colors designers used in their Spring 2011 collections.  The palette?  It takes you to far off places like Peru, Turkey, India, and Africa.  They dub it with one word: "escapism" because who wouldn't want to jet-off to somewhere lush and exotic during a downturn economy and often desperate times?  Since I can't share the collections (duh, they haven't walked the runways yet, and I'm no clairvoyant), I'll showcase one color a day (or every several days if I can't stay on my blogging toes, I've got a showroom to design!) and loads of inspiration to match.

 {Regatta Pantone 14.81% of designers used this color}

"Blues have been gaining momentum with the fashion flock. As a cooling tone, regatta has a calming appeal. 'And I mean, who doesn’t like blue?' Eiseman asked, as proven by its number-two ranking for women and number one for men."

 {See, I told you it makes you want to get away!}

{And if you can't quite get away, who says you can't paint sporadic places around your house}

 {Or for that matter, who says you can't paint your whole house}

{If not your house, perhaps your garden}

{And if you can't afford to do any of the above, just resort to a little imagination ;)}

{Via WWD and Vintage Rose Garden}

Monday Inspiration {Fashion Week Spring 2011}

In Fashion Drawing 101, one of our very first assignments was to create a croquis book full of our fashion sketches and all things from which they were inspired.  On each page I created mini mood boards bursting with magazine tears, fabric swatches, paint chips, and anything that would take to rubber cement or a staple.  During my very first critique of said croquis, as I cowered in fear (keep in mind my first degree was in Business Management) my professor, Ms. Sugar, concluded that I "should've grouped all these together instead," "should've cut this one out this way instead of that," "should've tried just a little bit harder."  Although she meant only the best, I couldn't help but to scream (in my head of course because I had no desire of committing fashion suicide during my first week at Parsons), "I thought this was my. personal. inspiration. book!!!!!"

As we near Fashion Week, I will spare you my personal croquis pages and share inspiration from the designers à la Spring 2011 that not only you, AND Ms. Sugar would rather see, but that is also much more inspiring!!

 {Marchesa "Orientalist"}

 {Charlotte Ronson "Adorn"}
 

{Yoana Baraschi "Desire"}

 {ADAM "Romance"}

 {Bensoni "Electomagnectic"}

 {Chris Benz "Pop"}

I don't know about you, but I can't wait to see the above inspiration come to life and march straight out of the designers' dreams and onto the runways!  Days away!  What inspires you lately loves?

To see more than just my random edit, see here.

Weekend Recap {Marc Jacobs loves me and I climbed a mountain}

As I neared the end of trail number 2, to which I reluctantly agreed, (hello, A?! I just pulled a cliff hanger Sly style) my weak (think bambi) legs began to take over my brain.

If you really want me to keep going there better be a present at the top of this mountain.  A good one. Think fashion.  Or food.

You see this is how MY brain works.  And after a lot of this...

{Super excited for silly photo opps. then sweating bullets and actually having to man up}

I somehow managed to check something so very FAR from My Cup of Te off my list...

 {I climbed to the top of "here," ate a tofurky sandwich, a Kashi 7 whole grain bar, and declared myself granola for a day}

For a girl who 1) would rather prance around the concrete jungle in stilettos, 2) is instantly nauseated by the sight of MUD,  3) is allergic to everything on God's green earth, and 4) whose idea of roughing it is a beautiful log cabin complete with wrap around deck, fireplace, and hot tub- I say, not too shabby!

Although there was neither food, of the prize-winning variety (just tofurky, bleh), nor fashion of any type, I still felt triumphant..

 {I throw my hands up in the air sometimes}

Little did I know the fashion (triumphance came TWICE today!) was to come just a little bit later in the form of this...

 {hello there, marc, it sure is good to be back in the city!  the marc by marc jacobs house of cards court harem ring}

Thanks Mayra for not only hosting such a fabulous giveaway, but for making me laugh with every post AND for knowing Marc is my absolute favorite.  You, your blog, and my new ring are "bananas!"
Did you check any "firsts" off your list over the long weekend?  Stay tuned for the rest of my weekend recap. Cheers, loves!