Sweet Treats: Chocolate Chip Meringues Recipe

pink vanilla meringues with sprinkles fine art photo print~ maria kallin

I tried to make meringues a few years ago and they did not turn out well at all. But, over the past year, I have been seeing them everywhere. I'm starting to rethink my meringue fluke could be improved upon, because really, don't they look so sweet?

Holly of In the Fun Lane has a Chocolate Chip Recipe she shared that I think I will try, I've already heard rave reviews on it. The step by step pictures help a girl out a lot as well. Here is her extremely thorough recipe (and photos):

The ingredients you will need are:
4 eggs
sugar
vanilla
chocolate chips

To start take your eggs and separate the whites from the yolks. Let the whites sit out until they are room temperature (you won't need the yolks). While they are warming up I take some sugar (1/4 cup for every egg white so in this case 1 cup) and put it in the food processor. I like the meringue to be like silk so this really makes the fine grains even finer.

Once the whites are room temp I blend them with the whipping attachment on medium until the whites look foamy. Then you slowly start adding the sugar.

Some recipes add other stuff to get the texture really thick, but with the Kitchenaide mixer I have no problems getting them fluffy and stiff. Once the mixture can hold a peak add just a touch of vanilla extract. (One commenter wrote, not to add any extracts that are too oily, like peppermint, otherwise they won't whip correctly).

This is where the recipe goes from average to amazing! I take a half cup of chocolate chips and put them in the food processor as well so that they are little crumbs.

I mix it all together for just a second then spoon (or use a baggie with the tip cut off) to swirl them onto a Silpat sheet. You can use aluminum foil as well, but parchment paper really doesn't keep them from sticking.

Place the sheet into a preheated 250 degree oven for about an hour and 40 minutes. I like to let them sit in the oven once I shut it off to let them get a smidge crunchier, but at the same time have a bit of a gooey center (I don't like solid, rock hard meringues).

Homefront: Our Vintage Linen Interchangable Bedroom

 

A while back I talked about some vintage linens I have been collecting and promised a bedroom update with them. (I don't usually have this many pillows on the bed, it's just for the pictures. I think losing the blue one in the back would look so much better.)

So, while the room isn't done, I pulled out the pillowcases out to show you. I have a few sheets, but I mostly collect pillowcases since they bring the maximum change. By having neutral curtains, a white down comforter and a white bed skirt and headboard, I can change the pillow styles however I wish, swap out a few accessories to match and have a new bedroom feel in minutes.

Don't be afraid to mix and match patterns. Geometric, florals, polka dots, paisley, plaid, ethnic, lace prints... so long as you have a similar color scheme or mood you are trying to achieve, and  simple non pattern thrown in (like the plain comforter) pattern groupings don't matter. That is the appeal of a shabby chic room. I made a few grouping as example of how they can look together.

 The top pillow case is the same as a set I had as a little girl that is long gone. I was thrilled when I found this at the thrift shop, but sad because it has stains all over it. Maybe I will turn it into a garland or something.

Our room is usually in more modern blues as seen here at our old place when I painted the headboard, so this orange/yellow mash up is cheerful for now.

Because our bed is positioned in front of half a very large window, it created some challenges. I nailed up some old curtains to cover that wall for a little bit of balance. They weren't long enough, nor lined enough to make it seem like a seamless wall, but being unemployed means making do, so I just pinned a pillow sham on the bottom corner. It's not very noticeable once the table is put there anyways.

And by the way, isn't this vintage metal enameled daisy chandelier adorable? I found it at an antique mall for an incredible price ($11.50). I would rather not have in in the bedroom, but it was the best place for it, and the main reason our pillows are orange/yellow today. I've thought about painting it white, because it would make redecorating so much better, but am conflicted on keeping the vintage charm. What would you do?

I found a white one for sale here at Retro Daisy Girl so you can take a gander. If you are looking for a similar lamp to purchase, I see them fairly often at antique malls and online. Just search for "vintage daisy chandelier" or "vintage enamel chandelier". Here's some on Etsy and some on Ebay using those search terms.

*included in these link ups: Kimba's DIY Day linky, Room to Inspire, A Silly Little Sparrow, My Backyard Eden, not at Bewteen Naps on the Porch, or Keeping it Simple, but lots of other great projects are.

Vintage Toy Museum Bedroom

There is a blog called IMNC with lost of simple inspirations that I found recently. He has a lot of Asian indie film and technical video posts and such that are very interesting. Maybe I'm drawn to it in part because my dad lived in China for a few years and so I have always been fascinated by that culture. I appreciate her dedication posts to her mum as well, since I also lost my dad to cancer several years ago.

But I love his room. A vintage toy museum as he calls it, perfect. It's organized chaos it seems, yet the white walls and bedding and simple shelving makes it work. Visit the link to see larger picture of the collections.

Also, if you love this, you will enjoy visiting the Geek dress up party post too.

Homefront: I'm Going to Miss This Place

 I'm going to miss this place. We have been here for 6 months. It's a 2 bedroom apartment, but we got very lucky. This little room right there, is the patio. But, on the 3rd floor layout, it is an enclosed extra room. I love the massive window, the extra space for my little computer area.  Just when I was starting to feel settle, deciding on window treatments and maybe even a new computer chair... my husband lost his job.



The reason we got this place, is because we also got a great discount on it from his employer. So, not only did our income become zero, our rent went up a few hundred dollars. Fortunately, since he was non-disciplinary terminated due to no fault of his own, we get some unemployment, though we only have 4 weeks of it left. And our wonderful church has helped us out with groceries, and keeping us encouraged as well.



 So, in a few weeks, our family of 4 will be moving in with the in-laws. We've done it before when we were pregnant with our first. At that time, we decided not to renew our lease on the 400 sq ft apartment we were in so we could get a 2 bedroom for the new baby. Just as we were going to put down a deposit on a place we had been looking at, Hurricane Katrina hit and all of the evacuees came here and took all available apartments. We were homeless and moved in with the in-laws for several months. It was rough.

Fortunately, they are kind and gracious people, but that doesn't mean things will be easy. I will miss all that we have built together and wondering how and where we will end up. Starting out all over again is difficult. Not to mention living out of a bedroom with most all of our belongings in storage is hard enough. And being cramped and not feeling like the ruler of your own home is difficult, though I will focus less on that and more on how grateful I am of all that we do have. I am fully aware things could be much worse.

Our home is more than a place... it was a start of something new, a joy, finally feeling like we had a fresh start and things were just beginning to take off. We were just beginning to make friends and find ourselves out here. I had finally decided on what I was going to finish college in, so that is going to have to wait again.

Our oldest was about to start preschool for the first time. It was the first time in the last 7 years we have felt settled and in a city where we were known for us and not as our parent's children.

Before we go, I'm going to do what I can to remember it. Before we pack everything in boxes, I am going to try and finish what projects I can without having to buy anything. Then I can leave here with no regrets.

So, expect to see lots of pictures of this place in the next few weeks. Then, when I am feeling sad and alone and crazy, I can remember that I did have a home at one point in time. I did have dreams and they were starting to come true. Maybe it will help me remember that it can happen again.

Besides, it will be good to leave this city. I won't have the temptation of going and throwing rotten eggs at my husband's jerk of a former boss's office window. And, I suppose, that is a good thing.

Engagement Photography Session: Breakfast in the Meadow

Simply Bloom Photography did an amazing job on this staged engagement shoot. They call it, "Breakfast in the Meadow: Vintage Wedding Photography" and I believe it is truly perfect. Visit the link to see more of these beautiful shots. The farm eggs, tea and honey and dessert theme mixed with the vintage linens for a tent is so romantic with dreamy lighting and color tones.

Natural Pastel Beauty

wish

In keeping with this weeks accidental pastel theme, I wanted to focus a touch on soft, ethereal beauty. As a stylist and make-up artist, I haven't excercised my creativity lately in this way, so my gift certificate to Ulta will be put to good use this week. (Thanks, Mom!)

To get the look, I wanted to start with this lovely pastel makeup. It's so colorful and soft, the nude lips and simple, swept back hair keep it simple and pure. Tutorials : the pastel look, shimmery smokey eye, dramatic lips and lashes,  white frosted eyes, and dramatic basic black eyeliner.

Why does this pastel smudge work? Because the colors are shimmery, blended, in the same color family with soft lines under the brows, and the colors compliment the eye color. I've seen people attempt to acheive this that end up looking more like mermaid costume club makeup, such as here.

A low, easy, soft double twisted bun would work nicely with such bold eye colors, don't you think? Directions on how to get the look on Cookie Mag here.

13 bees 1970's ivory sweater

Throw on a soft blouse or light sweater, a colorful and chunky bangle in blues and greens,

wrapped cotton yarn bangle by Mindy Giehll

1980's teal pencil skirt from max and chloe vintage

Add your choice of bottoms, could be anything dressy from a colorful skirt, or laid back such as some lightly distressed cropped jeans with some green vintage espadrills and you are ready to go with your neutrally colorful look.

vintage green canvas wedge sandals shopREiNViNTAGE

*This dressing guide post is included in Kimba's diy day.*