Melt In Your Mouth Chocolate Rum Balls

Sometimes I wonder why I only end up making these a few times a year...then I eat 10 of them in half an hour and I remember.  These are easy and addictive so if you have a love of chocolate prepare to enjoy these heavenly little bites!  

Unlike most rum balls I use melted dark chocolate in mine and start with chocolate cookies as a base so these treats end up more like truffles than your average rum balls. 

I normally only make these at Christmas and the New Year, this year we had to quadruple the recipe, but I have decided that I love them too much to limit them to once a year. So have a couple (or a handful) and enjoy! Recipe after the jump.

Food Porn Friday: Happy Birthday Mom!

I saw this cake and immediately thought of my mom. Happy birthday Mom! I hope today is full of champagne, warm words, and lots of love!  Here's a list of some of the things my mom has taught me over the years:

• Always be yourself
• Be over dressed rather than under
• Never lose your childlike innocence
• Pearls and diamonds go with everything
• Learn about yourself before you share yourself with someone else 
• Champagne is for special occasions
• Everyday is a special occasion
• Being a lady is in how you act 
• Sometimes you just need a cheeseburger
• One piece bathing suits really are more flattering
• Being a woman doesn't mean that you can't be strong and independent
• Travel, travel, travel

Thank you Mom for everything you've taught me and for being one of my best friends!

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Room Full Of Roses

Have you ever woken up and though "Ugh! There are roses on my desk, yuck!"  Me neither.  I absolutely love having fresh flowers in my apartment and this look fits my place perfectly.  Bright white walls, wood accents, and stacks of old books.  All I need is some twine and burlap and this look is done...maybe I'm not that rustic.  But darlings let's dedicate this day to pampering ourselves with fresh lowers even if it's one simple rose from the flower shop in your neighborhood.  After all, don't you deserve it?

Adorable Art Prints

Every time I seem to make up my mind about the artwork I want in my place I find more adorable prints like these!  I just stumbled upon Amanda Catherine Designs on Etsy and I love all of her sweet prints.  I think at least one of these will be added to my walls, not only are they adorable but they're affordable to.  Check out all her other designs and color options.  What do you think, would you want one for your place? Here are a few more of my favorites. 

 

Food Porn Friday

Friday is here darlings!  What are your plans for the weekend?  We are headed up the coast again, this time for my friend Blair's wedding!  The bachelorette last weekend was so much fun, I can't wait to see everyone again and celebrate Blair and Casey's marriage. 

Blair has always loved shades of green and has chosen a lovely lime green for her wedding with soft pink accents.  Given her love for color and vivacious personality I wouldn't be at all surprised if her cake looks a little something like this one.   Lord knows I'll be having at least one slice of it, dancing under 90 hanging lanterns, and loving love!  Hope you have a wonderful weekend too!

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Happy Birthday Mac!

Happy birthday Mr. Mac!!!  It's here another birthday for my love...the guy who impersonates Christina Aguilera, dances with his cat, builds go-carts, and can't say no to a tri-tip sandwich.  Love you so much and I can't wait to celebrate with you tonight!

What Is Your Favorite Birthday Dessert?

I'm lucky enough to be celebrating the birthdays of two of my favorite guys this week and I can't stop planning birthday treats.  Today is my best friend Blake's birthday and tomorrow is Mac's birthday, so exciting! They are both huge fans of lemon desserts.  So when it comes to birthdays Mac loves a lemon tart or double chocolate cake and Blake likes "wedding cake" (mild lemon cake with vanilla buttercream frosting).  It took me at least a year of trial and error to figure out what exactly he meant by "wedding cake." 

Personally for my birthday I've always loved carrot cake with cream cheese frosting or chocolate cake with raspberry jam and chocolate ganache.  What about you, have a favorite cake or do you crave something completely different?

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Food Porn Friday

Happy Food Porn Friday!  Today's treat is in honor of the weekend...pink champagne cake pops just scream bachellorette to me!  

I am so excited to attempt my gold champagne macarons tonight and then in the morning I go to pick up my best friend (and sister in law) and we're headed up the coast to the Madonna Inn for a bachelorette party weekend!  Can't wait to see my old friends and celebrate with the bride to be.  

The Madonna Inn (pictures of every room)  has always been on those 100 must see hotel lists.  Growing up right by it I always wanted to stay there but never had the chance.  Check it out, every room is different.  And please, oh please, click on the Caveman Room!

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Smile It's Almost Friday

I adore this quote!  Smiles, sequins, and champagne...what more do you need?  I've been one day off all week.  It's one of those weeks where you think Monday is Tuesday and Tuesday is Wednesday...I have the feeling by the time I get to Friday a glass of champagne will be in order! 

Gold. Champagne. Macarons.

Gold. Champagne. Macarons.  Nuf said!  I am dying over here just thinking of this delicious treat and am hardly able to contain myself because I am making them on Friday.  I want to make them now.  Now.  But I know that macarons are better fresh and that these will be perfect for my friend's bachelorette party this weekend!  

There are a few ways to make these but I am going to start with a simple buttercream and add champagne similar to this recipe then brush my macaron recipe with gold dust and hopefully I'll get a similar look.  
I am so happy that I came across this idea before the party because I think the ladies will love them.  Gold. Champagne. Macorons.   Have I mentioned I'm excited?  Is it wrong to be this thrilled by a macaron?

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P.S. If you can put my essence in a cookie I'd really like this to be the one...or snickerdoodles cuz that's just a fun word to say.  

Kitchen Essentials: Cake Stand

Over the years I have slowly been collecting kitchen essentials and accessories.  What can I say, I spend half my time in the kitchen so I might as well spend my money there too.  Along with a french press I was craving a cake stand for Christmas and these are a few I found in my search.  

I ended up getting a beautiful glass stand with a dome and I love it!  It was perfect for the cake I made New Years Eve, and now that I'm giving up sugar for a few weeks (ugh!)  it is perfect to keep my fruit in and actually looks pretty cute.  I'm so excited to have it for serving sweets at a party or even using as a pretty cheese plate.     

What do you think are cake stands out dated or would you give up a little counter space to fit one in your kitchen?  

Links to all the cake stands are available here!

Food Porn Friday

Happy Friday!  This cake just makes me think "happy Friday  let's eat cake!"  Isn't it just beautiful?  I don't know if you've ever checked out Sprinkle Bakes, but I'm pretty sure this is what would happen if dessert and fairy tales had a baby...heavenly!

This week has flown by and I am so excited for the weekend.  We'll be seeing friends on Saturday and I have a DIY gallery wall project I've been wanting to do for months, wish me luck!  What are you lovelies up to this weekend?