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This post is going to be a little different than my usual posts... because its about cupcakes. I realize that cupcakes are not really something that you can decorate your house with, however, I think that comfort is a big part of making a new place a home. And cupcakes are definitely comforting. Plus, who doesn't love an apartment that smells like somethings baking???

So, without further ado... I give you, Nannie Cakes: A deliciously moist chocolate cupcake, but i rich and fluffy chocolate swiss buttercream frosting.

** Apologies for the picture quality, I had to quickly take pictures with my horrible cell phone camera before they were gobbled up**

for the cupcakes...

you'll need:

2 1/4 cups granulated sugar

2 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon of fine salt

1 cup strong brewed coffee

1 cup vegetable oil

8 ounces of sour cream

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

3 large eggs

to make:

Preheat the oven to 350

Line three 12-cup muffin tins with cupcake liners

In a large bowl (or your stand mixer bowl) combine the sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt.

Mix together.

add wet ingredients: coffee, oil, sour cream, vanilla, and eggs.

Beat with an electric mixer or your stand mixer until smooth. This cupcake batter may seem a bit runner than other recipes you've tried, but i promise, if you follow the directions, it will bake perfectly!

Pour an even amount of the batter into each cupcake liner (they should reach about two-thirds full).

Bake for about 16 to 18 minutes. Test a couple with a toothpick and make sure it comes out clean.

Let cool in the tins for 10 minutes.

Remove from tins and let cool completely on a wire rack.

for the frosting...

disclaimer: Swiss Buttercream frosting is not for the faint of heart!! it takes time, patience, and a little bit of skill to pull it off. But trust me when I say that its totally worth it! Its smooth and delicious like all buttercreams, but because of its meringue base, its fluffier and less overpowering. If your frosting breaks, DONT PANIC! Its fixable!! In fact, the batch I made for the cupcakes pictured above, looked like a goopy cottage cheese at one point!

The reason your frosting broke is probably because of one of two reasons: you over whipped, or added the ingredients too fast. This blog post is a wonderful resource for fixing those uh-ohs: http://www.jasonandshawnda.com/foodiebride/archives/7640/ 

That being said...

you'll need:

3/4 cup of granulated sugar

2 teaspoons of fresh lemon juice

pinch of fine salt

4 large egg whites

3 sticks of unsalted butter, each cut into fourths

6 ounces of melted chocolate (i used Ghirardeli)

to make:

Bring a few inches of water to a boil in a saucepan that can hold a heatproof bowl (i used my metal kitchen aid stand mixer's bowl) above the water.

Melt the 6oz of chocolate. (You can do this in the microwave, or with a double boiler, your choice). Let it cool to room temperature while you are continuing the next steps.

Add the sugar, lemon juice, salt and egg whites to the mixing bowl and whisk together by hand. Set the bowl above the boiling water and continue to hand whisk until the mixture is warm and the sugar dissolves completely. Transfer to the stand mixer (or a hand mixer) with a whisk attachment and beat at a medium high speed until cool and the whites hold stiff peaks, about 10 minutes.

Toss in a couple chunks of butter at a time, but make sure they're fully incorporated before you add more. Continue on until all the butter is added, mixing at a medium-high speed. Whisk until the mixture forms a smooth spreadable consistency.

Fold in the now room temperature melted chocolate.

Put the frosting into a pastry bag, and go to town on the cooled cupcakes! Or, just use an angled spatula or knife!

The garnish...

which is entirely optional, but I think is just too cute to resist!

you'll need:

yellow colored white chocolate chips (you can find these at your local craft store)

health bar bits

to make:

Melt the chocolate chips and put in either; a pastry bag with a small tip, or a ziplock with a tiny bit of the corner cut off. 

Lay a sheet of wax paper on a cookie sheet, or any flat surface.

Using the pastry bag as a pencil, squirt out the chocolate in the shape of a giraffe (it doesn't have to be perfect, mine clearly are not)

Move cookie sheet into the fridge, or allow to sit out until cooled and solidified

Peel off the wax paper and place on top of frosted cupcake

Sprinkle with heath bar bits... And EAT!

Enjoy!

One Nightstand

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Alright folks, here's my latest creation: 

So we've had this old fake wood grain and gold nightstand in my bathroom FOREVER. Seriously, this thing might be older than I am. And since it had been in a bathroom and subject to shower steam for at least 10 years - we clearly don't move things around much - the lovely fake wood grain sticker was starting to peel off and look even worse than it did to begin with. So this is my attempt to give this poor little nightstand a new life and a new purpose (living in a bathroom for the sole purpose of hiding tampons is not what this guy was made for).

Exhibit A: The stuff.

For this little project I was able to get away with using only one can of primer: I like Rust-oleum Universal Satin in white (it says its paint and primer in one, but I think it really works best as just a primer). And one can of paint: I used Valspar Perfect Finish Gloss in (what i think is) Indigo Cloth. For whatever reason Valspar doesn't name the colors on their cans (annoying, I know!), but from what I saw online, Indigo Cloth seems to match the color of the lid.

I also used one small jar of Valspar Antiquing Glaze. You really only need the tiniest amount of this stuff, unless of course you're like me and accidentally dump a ton on the garage floor because you were trying to shake it with the lid barely on...

And as for the hardware, I purchased mine from Anthropologie.com

heres the link to the owl: http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/product/home-hardware/973368.jsp

and heres the link to the twig handles: http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/product/home-hardware/873174.jsp

Now, I would never spend this much on hardware, as I am broke as a joke. Tons of great options can be found at your local hardware store (especially handles, Anthro doesn't have a whole lot of those to choose from), or even at a local vintage shop, or ebay or etsy. So many options! But I work at Anthropologie, so I was able to use my employee discount - which is nice. I just want you to know there are PLENTY of other knob options out there!

The total cost of this project was around $50. To be fair though, even with my employee discount, over half of that budget was spent on hardware. So this project can be done even cheaper than that!

That being said, heres how I did it:

Step 1:

You're definitely going to want to take out any existing hardware. Now, after you've done this, check and see if the new hardware you bought will fit in the existing holes. If it does, fabulous! Ignore this next step. If it doesn't, you'll need to fill the existing holes with wood filler following the instructions on the packaging, and wait for it to dry. Then sand the filler until its flush with the surface of the furniture. Then drill new hardware holes according to whatever you bought. Thankfully, my new hardware fit perfectly, and I avoided all that.

Next, you'll need to sand the entire thing. You might be able to skip this step depending on the finish. Seeing as how mine was covered in a weird sticker thing, I sanded.

Step 2:

PRIME! Follow the instructions on the can in terms of drying times and weather conditions. 

Step 3:

PAINT! same as the directions in Step 2, but with the other can!

I was kind of nervous after this part because it looked like the color blue you'd put in a little boys room, and that's definitely not what I was going for. But keep going... it gets better!

SPRAY PAINTING/PRIMING TIPS:

SHAKE THE CAN!!!! Its actually really important. Also, always spray paint in a well ventilated area to avoid spray painting unwanted surfaces (such as the side of your house) and to avoid paint fume loopiness!

Step 4:

The purpose of the Antiquing Glaze is to make a piece look older, or to give it more definition. How much or how little you add is really a personal preference situation. I just wanted to add enough to settle in the crevasses and curves on this piece so they would be more noticeable.

Antiquing is really kind of a haphazard process. Obviously, read the instructions on your particular bottle of glaze first. But basically, they're going to tell you to slap some glaze on the piece, wait a certain amount of time, then kind of wipe it off. You'll have to experiment a few times before you get it the way you want it, but thankfully, you can't really mess this stuff up. And if you do, you can wipe it off! I let the glaze settle pretty heavily in the groves, and then I wiped it over every surface and wiped it off in one direction to give sort of a dry brushed look.

Overall, I think the glaze did a good job of making the blue not so ridiculously blue!

And here's the final result!

Crate Coffee Table

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Alright folks, so here's the first project in a hot minute, and I know its on pinterest already, but I've added a few different touches that I think are kinda cool. So here's my version of the craft store crate coffee table:

Step 1: go pick yourself up some crates from the local craft store

Step 2: get some stain. Or in my case, go find a decent looking old one from the garage! I used this one from MixWax ^^^

Step 3: stain the crates according to the instructions on the can of stain

Aaaaaand this is where I failed at taking pictures... So, sorry folks... Also, a helpful tip for all the steps along the way: DRILL PILOT HOLES!!! I know they are more work, but your project will look better in the end. Also, if you use bronze(ish) screws, they match better with dark stains.

Step 4: Set the crates up on their sides with the openings facing out (if this doesn't make sense, look at the pictures of the finished coffee table below, and do that). Screw 3 of the crates together. I used four screws at every connection, and it might have been a bit much. Make sure you screw from the slat side into the thicker side pieces (with the handle cutouts) and not the other way around!

Step 5: Place the 3 assembled crates on top of a piece of MDF or hardboard (I used hardboard). Set the 4th crate in place, and then trace and cut the piece of MDF or hardboard to make the top of the base (it should be approx. 3'x3'). Then cut another piece of the same material to put in between the crates to fill the hole in the middle. Spray paint the two pieces whatever color you want! I chose red because I love warm colors in a living area.

Step 6: Slide the smaller spray painted board in the middle of the three connected crates so it rests on top of the slats. Then screw together the last crate with the spray painted board in the middle. It should now be trapped (but might still move a little)! **Screwing everything together might require another set of hands. Seeing as how these are cheap craft store crates, they are not perfect. Which means some of them are not square, which can require some manipulating to get the top flat and make sure there aren't any gaps on the sides. But trust me, its doable!

Step 7: Cut 2x4s to make a structural base that will go under the large spray painted boards, and the crates. I made a square with mitered corners, then put one cross beam in the middle for extra support. Screw together.

Step 7: Stain the structural base the same color as the crates. Or different if you want! Its yours, do whatever! Painting is an option as well!

Step 8: At this point, you should have three separate pieces: 

1. Your crate structure

2. Your spray painted hardboard base

3. Your 2x4 structural base

Assemble those items together as a sandwich in that order, by screwing down from the inside bottom of the crate structure, through the hardboard, and into the 2x4 base.

Step 9: Flip the table over. Screw in casters to the four corners of the structural base, being careful that you're not putting them where they might hit previously placed screws.

Step 10: Flip it back over, and roll it over to your couch because you are done!

My finished coffee table:

I hope that was helpful, and I apologize again for not having those pictures for the middle steps. I know I learn best just from pictures, so if you have any questions feel free to comment and I'll try to help you out. And trust me, you don't have to have much construction knowledge to put this one together! Just a power drill and some spare time is really all you need!

New Years Resolutions

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Not really apartment/DIY related, but I'm going to post it anyway to hold myself responsible for my resolutions. So here they are:

- do more yoga
- cook more and eat out less
- keep up with this blog
- keep up with my box of beautiful things... Which I suppose needs a little explaining. I'm trying my best to appreciate all of the little things, the important things in life, the beautiful things, if you will. So I've started a box full of index cards. One for each day, where I write down the date, and just one good thing. It could be something I'm thankful for, someone, anything that I did, thought about, saw, whatever. Then on the other side ill draw a picture or a magazine cutout that illustrates the card, and whenever I'm having a bad day, or just need a pick me up, I can look in that box and see all those beautiful things.

I'll post pictures of the cards and the box when I get further along in the process, but for now my resolutions are but words. 2013 is for making them realities. Happy New Year, everyone!

Hiccup #1

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So, I haven't posted in a while... BUT! I have a good reason! The intended full time job I had lined up, fell through. And of course, with no full time income, means no moving out of my parents house. Le Sigh. And because I had no apartment to move into, everything I make/buy would have just gone into my fully furnished storage unit. Which is just a little depressing. So I fell of the wagon with making/blogging/being inspired.
I have secured a part time position at the local Anthropologie (a store which I am obsessed with!) and have been working there over the holidays. Of course I tend to spend all of my earnings on clothing and our wonderful home goods! But the good news is, since Anthropologie is such an inspiring place to spend the day, I have pulled myself out of said rut and now I have decided to journey on!
It is my New Years resolution to keep up this blog! So I look forward to lots of new projects and fun times in 2013!

Vanity Tray

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If you're like me, you can sit for hours pinning and repinning items in the 'DIY and Crafts' category on Pinterest. Which wouldn't be a problem - except for the fact that I spend so much time pinning, I never get to  doing! Now that I actually know where I'll be living for the next couple of years, I can get to crafting and actually have a place to put all my creations! With that being said, I'm starting small with a cute bottle cap tray for my vanity (did I mention I have a fabulous built in vanity at my place?!)

I used the instructions from this blog: http://sweetsomethingdesign.blogspot.com/2010/07/bottle-cap-tray.html

Of course, since I drink my coffee black, I don't really need a tray to keep sugar, creamer, and other coffee fixins. But I was thinking a colorful tray with some glass apothecary jars (like these: http://www.etsy.com/listing/107557166/vintage-apothecary-jars-4-jars?ref=usr_faveitems) and perfume bottles would look really cute in my bathroom. So I got to craftin!

I grabbed some spray paint from my personal stock and filled in the gaps by picking some up at Lowes. I used a total of four colors: gray, white, turquoise, and black (the blue on the far right in the photo below actually looked just like the turquoise color, so i grabbed a black spray paint out of the craft closet and it turned out just as well if not better!). I went to the craft store and grabbed an unfinished wooden tray, and a box of floral setting resin. Then I pulled out my collection of bottle caps and headed to the back yard to paint.

The tray took some experimenting before I got the color right. first I sprayed it black, but I changed my mind, so I tried spraying it in the gray, but then it looked really green. So finally, i ended up just brushing it with a cool gray interior paint that was in the garage.

Here is the before:

And after:

I bought the 12 oz box of resin, and it just barely didn't cover the top of the bottle caps, so I'm going to go back and grab a 6oz box to add another thin layer to the top to cover everything evenly. But other than that, and it taking 36 hours to cure, its done! I'll post more pictures once its in place and doing its job.

Overall, I'd say I'm pretty satisfied with the way it turned out. I definitely should have sanded the tray before I spray painted it, and unfortunately there was just barely not enough room to add another row of caps, so there's a little more room around the edges than I would like, but what can you do? I can hardly tell now that its done anyway.

If I ever make another in the future, I think using buttons, paperclips, pencil shavings, yarn scraps, or beads could be fun.

the beginning.

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I'm just going to go ahead and put this out there: I have never been a good blogger, journal writer, diary keeper, what have you. But this time, things will be different. That being said - you were warned.

Now for the fun stuff:

I have officially applied and reserved my first post-collegiate apartment. Estimated move in date: October 27th. This blog is my attempt at an outlet for all of my excitement and activities related to this new adventure. I am a DIYer, an organizer, a planner, an artist, a designer, and a total neat freak. My hope is that this blog will be a timeline for me, and maybe provide my readers with some fun inspiration and ideas!

I suppose I should start with my list of necessary things to buy/accomplish first:

• buy a vanity chair - my apartment as a marvelous built in vanity area! I am currently on the hunt for a most fabulous place to park my butt while I put on my makeup.
• coffee table - obviously a necessary item. I'm still on the fence as to whether I will create my own, or buy one.
• buy a desk - i need a place to do some blogging!
• wall art - gotta personalize people! I'm talking photos, paintings, clocks, etc. 
• bedroom furniture - as many who have learned before me, my college days were filled with mix and match furniture (if you could technically call it furniture at all). This includes my bedroom set. I have never had a dresser. There was simply not room in my tiny little apartments. My "nightstands" were rolling plastic storage bins. Needless to say: its time to buy furniture.
• washer and dryer - the one disappointment about my new place is that it only comes with a washer and dryer hook up - not an actual washer and dryer! Thankfully, there is a laundry room at the clubhouse, so the purchasing can be put off for a little while, but eventually will need to happen.
• deck chair(s) - my marvelous apartment has a deck!!! I cannot tell you how much I appreciate the fact that I'll be able to just sit on the porch, kick back, and enjoy some fresh air and a cold beer.
• and all the other things I haven't thought of yet!

So it seems I have a lot to do! And there will be lots of fun, shenanigans, and hiccups along the way, and I hope you'll be there to join me. :)