lemon crinkle cookies

Merry Christmas eve! I woke up this morning and decided to bake a little treat for my family to enjoy over the next couple of days. I made these cookies for a sweet friend's cookie exchange, and they were so yummy and easy. 

The recipe is simple and it only took about an hour, clean up included! 

lemon crinkle cookies 

1/2 cups butter, softened 

1 cup granulated sugar 

1/2 tsp vanilla extract 

1 egg 

2 tsp lemon zest 

2 tblsp. fresh lemon juice 

1/4 tsp salt 

1/4 tsp baking powder 

1/8 tsp baking soda 

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 

1/2 cup powdered sugar 

1. turn oven to 350F 

2. cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy

3. whip in vanilla, egg, lemon zest, lemon juice. don't forget to scrape the sides! 

4. stir in salt, baking powder, baking soda, flour 

5. scrape the sides again! 

6. pour powdered sugar into a large bowl, then drop in a dough ball and roll until it's covered in powdered sugar. repeat with each dough ball until done! 

bake for about 10-13 minutes or until golden brown. let cool for about 3 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack. 

These cookies are absolutely delicious! My brother said they were his favorite cookies yet...

how cute are these vintage plates?

 

I hope y'all have a wonderful holiday and enjoy! I'm excited to have a relaxing day with my family and continue to bake with my mom. 

merry christmas, 

m

DIY sugar scrub

As I mentioned in my DIY holiday prezzies post, I decided to make my holiday gifts. So, this morning I ventured out in the rain to get ingredients to make the perfect sugar scrub. 

I made a trip to Target, Michael's, and Office Depot...then hurried home to begin! The process was super easy, and the supplies only cost about $30. 

I started by mixing together the pure cane sugar and granulated sugar, then added vanilla extract. It smelled so good! The recipe called for about 2 1/2 cups of pure cane sugar, 3/4 cup of granulated sugar, and 5 tablespoons of vanilla extract..but you can really just wing it. Then, I scooped the scrub into the blue mason jars. It took about 15 minutes total...which was wonderful! 

After scooping and sealing the lids, I made the cutie labels online. I thought they were the perfect touch. 

These scrubs are super easy and inexpensive if you're looking for a last minute prezzie! You could add any extract to make the gift more special, like lavender or almond. I used it this morning and my hands have been soft the whole day. 

enjoy! 

m

holiday party with a twist

Pajama party! Instead of your typical holiday party, I decided to throw an adult sleepover. Complete with donuts, mimosas, and pajama attire. I invited my sweet high school friends over... it was a treat to catch up and laugh about the silly things we did in the past. The soirée was even compared to Blair Waldorf's infamous sleepover. It was a blast. I was so excited about the party that I didn't get to take many pictures...but here are a few I was able to snap.

we had a gift exchange..how cute is this wrapping?!

the bar was stocked...

these blooms were our centerpiece..love!

I used my mom's vintage barware & found
the cutie straws at target

the last donut, complete with a gold star

The party was a total success! I loved that it wasn't your average holiday gathering and I was able to make it my own. 

I hope everyone is enjoying their time with loved ones and friends. Stay tuned for more posts this week! 

m 

m's guide to hot yoga

I'm so glad to be back! I had to take a quick break from the blogosphere to study for my finals... 

Now that I'm home, I'm picking up on some old habits. One of them being my favorite way to work out...hot yoga. This morning I went to my favorite studio in Fort Worth, Sumits Hot Yoga. I love everything about this studio.. there's fun, modern music throughout the class and you sweat like no other. They also have a great deal for new students.. two weeks for $20! 
Even though I've been doing hot yoga for several years, it's hard to get into the swing of it. Here's a guide to be the best hot yogi... 

1. bring a water bottle...try to stay away from gatorade or other sports drinks until after your class. today I got a delicious, freshly pressed smoothie from juice junkies. it was the perfect, all natural hydrator! 
2. wear breathable and fast-drying clothes...hot yoga is not the place for an XL t-shirt. old navy and target have inexpensive pieces that are super cute.
3. bring flip flops...this may seem silly, but you'll need them as you walk from the locker room to the studio. 
4. invest in a yoga mat towel...you'll be sweating so much that your mat becomes slick. these nifty towels help you maintain your balance and they're easy to throw in the wash after! I have a yogitoes towel from lululemon. Here's some other mat towels.. 

• the towel from lululemon- $38 
• dragonfly's mat towel from kohl's- $30
• gaiam's thirsty towel from target- $25

5. don't compare yourself to others...today that was my biggest issue. since I haven't done hot yoga in months, I wasn't as flexible as before. it's important to remember that everyone has their first day on the mat! 

I'm excited to continue hot yoga throughout my winter break! 

namaste, 

m

the new look...

I'm so excited about my new look! 

I've been wanting to update "modern with a twist" for a while.. but I wasn't sure what I wanted. After some trial and error, I decided on the bumblebee with navy blue, coral, and grey accents. The story behind the bumblebee is very simple... bees are always buzzing, just like me. I love to be busy, going from one activity to the next. It fuels me! I thought a bumblebee was the perfect fit. My favorite colors are navy blue, coral, and grey.. so obviously that was my color scheme. 

The logo was so much fun to make! I designed it on the Rhonna Designs app. I've had so much fun with it! I even designed an invitation for a bridal shower I'm throwing for my sweet bestie, Mady. The app costs $1.99, but it's totally worth it if you love to design and edit photos. 

It's been such an exciting and relaxing Saturday. Enjoy the rest of your weekend! 

boomer, 

m

DIY holiday prezzies

Happy SNOW DAY to all! It's a beautiful, snowy day here in Oklahoma. 

As I mentioned in my december "joy" list post, I'm planning to make Christmas prezzies for my friends and family. While I love to bake, I wanted to do something a little more special...I'm very excited! Whether it's completely homemade.. or a simple addition to an item, it will be heartfelt and personal. 

My original thought was to make sugar scrub, complete with a cute jar and sparkly spoon. Here's where this idea stemmed from:

Hey Gorgeous! made a simple and yummy body scrub, spending about $6 per container! 

Check out her blog to see the directions and beautiful pictures. 

For the sparkly spoon (to scoop the body scrub), I wanted to recreate these adorable little spoons (via something turquoise). You can find these spoons at any craft store for cheap, cheap, cheap! 

something turquoise 

Another adorable idea... 

attach this printable to a nail polish or foot scrub, and voila! An easy, inexpensive, and cute gift. 

I made this on the Rhonna Design iPad app, love it! 

This idea is courtesy of the original crafty girl, Martha Stewart. Fabric-covered notebooks! 

marthastewart.com

It's really simple to make these little notebooks. Spray the notebook with adhesive glue, firmly press the fabric, and cut the access fabric around the edges. I love that you can make this gift super personal by the selection of fabric, as well as adding a little note inside for the recipient.

good luck with your DIY prezzies and stay warm! 

m

holiday wear with a twist

Every single year, I go through the same dilemma. What does one wear to a holiday party? I immediately think of a shimmery dress, a pair of tights, and booties. I love all of those pieces, don't get me wrong. It's just that... I'm ready for a twist on these pieces to create the perfect holiday look. Also, it's usually cold... which complicates the outfit even more. Here's what I'm looking forward to wearing during this festive season... 

cozy & cute- asos

love these big sequins- asos

bright POP of color- asos

perfect twist on holiday color- asos

black & white (with sequins), classic with a twist- asos

because everyone needs a LBD- asos

love this look- found it on pinterest

this clutch says it all, courtesy of katespade

These looks make me so excited for the "party" season. 

pop, fizz, clink! 

m

december "joy" list

Now that the holiday season is in full swing, I'm excited to complete my December "joy" list. It's a list I've created of the things that I want to do throughout the month of December, whether it's personal goals or the act of spreading joy to others. I've always been told it's important to give back during this season, but I never really knew how. So... I've been jotting down goals that I want to accomplish before the new year. Some are silly, some are fun, some are heartfelt... but my goal is to have a meaningful & joyful December. 

1. volunteer at a local food bank- This is a great way to give back! I plan to get a group of friends together and volunteer throughout the month.  
2. make homemade holiday presents- I'm hoping to make DIY sugar scrub with cutie wooden spoons... I will definitely keep y'all posted! 
3. pay it forward & buy someone's Starbucks- I go to Starbucks daily...and I've always thought about doing this. This month, it's happening. 
4. try Indian food- This one is silly... but I need to expand my palette & enjoy food from other cultures. I'm excited. 
5. read a classic book- I'm thinking Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte or Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. I was instructed to read these classics in high school, but I didn't appreciate them. 
6. donate books to an elementary school- Being an elementary education major, I've learned that being exposed to books at a young age is extremely important. Also, I've learned that not every child is given this opportunity, and it was definitely something that I took for granted.  
7. host a holiday party- I'm so excited about this. I'm hosting a donut & mimosa pajama party, complete with a gift exchange and lots of glitter confetti. Here's the invitation I made for my little soirée :  

I created this on the Martha Stewart Craft Studio app 

There's more to my list... and I'm continuing to add more as new inspirations are presented to me. If you'd like, join me and we can create a joyful December together. 

have a great day, 

m

thankful

I'm thankful. I'm thankful for my supportive family and friends, the amazing opportunities that are presented to me, and for this great holiday. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays because I get to spend time with my mother in the kitchen, watch my dad and brother fry a turkey, and relax with friends. 

Yesterday, we prepped for our Thanksgiving feast (of 12 people) by setting the table, baked a pumpkin cake, and I baked my first apple pie! It was harder than I expected... but it's scrumptious. I also made my thanksgiving flowers. I went to Central Market, and bought a gorgeous assortment of blooms...

Today, I'm making stuffing and sweet potato casserole... it's topped with marshmallows and brown sugar, YUM! 

I hope y'all have a delightful day. 

thankfully, 

m

the aftermath... 

thanksgiving flowers

Thanksgiving is quickly approaching, thank goodness! Time for delicious food, fellowship, and beautiful floral arrangements. One of my favorite parts of "turkey day" is creating the floral centerpieces and arrangements for my guests to enjoy. I love the warmth of flowers' colors, and how any room can be immediately transformed with fresh flowers. There are so many fall flowers to choose from, like sunflowers, peruvian lilies, dahlias, chrysanthemums, roses, hypericums, and succulents. I can't wait to venture to the flower market this week and create the perfect Thanksgiving floral arrangement. Here are some beautiful arrangements I'm using for inspiration...

I'm thinking for my vases... I will use either clear, bubble vases or mercury glass vases. Maybe I'll even mix & match! 

be on the lookout later in the week for a new post... I'm going to bake my first pie. 

m

(images via pinterest) 

m's guide to parties

It's party season! Lots of good food, friends, and my favorite party accessory- glitter. Here's a guide to throwing the perfect party: 

party prep
Guests rarely recongize the little imperfections in your home (like the cobweb in the corner), so try to not focus on those... Instead focus on: is my home inviting? does it smell good? is there ample room for seating or dancing? Here's a few more tips for party prep success...

• music 
• there should be a good mix between modern-day & holiday music. 
• keep it loud enough to hear, but your guests shouldn't be yelling over the music (unless you're having a dance party, which I fully condone).
• food 
• it should be easy to prepare with lots of choices. 
• whatever you can do the night before, do it. 
• ask your friends to help, hello potluck!
• decorations 
• do it the day before, duh. So if you forget anything, you have the next day to grab it! 
• decorations should encompass the theme of the soiree and your personality, keep it simple. 

The best party tip I have ever learned is to have an empty dishwasher before the party begins, from my beautiful mother. 

throughout the party

Even though you're playing hostess, it's important to enjoy the party! I've also learned to not stress if the party doesn't go exactly as planned... sometimes things simply can't be avoided. It's also important to let your guests decide the schedule! If they're not done with dinner... you don't want to move on to the gift exchange. Let them enjoy your hard work! 

post party
The party's over... now what? 

• clean up the dishes & food after your guests leave. The dishwasher will be empty, so it'll be an easy clean! 
• leave the decor up until the next day- you'll remember how fun it was as you clean. 
• if your guests left dishes- return them within the week (cleaned), with a thank you note. 

I love parties. I plan to throw several over the next month. Here are some of my favorite party inspirations... 

love the black & white with color 

neutral & fabulous

cutest DIY, just put glitter in the water

sip, sip, hooray!

adorable brunch table setting 

happy partying!

m



(images via pinterest)

a winter accessory: the vest

I love this time of year... the temperatures are dropping, the leaves are crunching, and the air smells so fresh. Here in Oklahoma it's finally cold enough to break out one of my favorite winter accessories, the vest. Whether it's goose-down or fur, a sassy vest can complete any outfit. Here's some of my favorite vests: 

• old navy
• $24, on sale! 
• available in coral (shown), raspberry, black, white, navy blue, olive green, & pink

photo credit: old navy 

• gap
• $70, on sale! 
• I love the neutral grey with polka dots.

photo credit: gap

• jcrew
• $120 
• avilable in neon flamingo (shown), saddle, black, navy, deep rivera (blue), & dark poppy (red)
• I LOVE this color.. and it proves that neons can be worn during any season.

photo credit: jcrew 

• forever 21
• $30 
• such a unique faux-fur pattern, love it! 

photo credit: forever 21

• h&m
• $35 
• available in natural white (shown) & beige 
• this is a great cheap chic find...

photo credit: h&m

• nordstrom
• $38 
• I like this vest because it can be styled casual/edgy.

photo credit: nordstrom

Any vest can be dressed up or dressed down with the right outfit. I love pairing a puffy vest with a chambray top and colored corduroys. A fur vest can make any outfit look glamourous. Today, I'm wearing a puffy tan vest with a bright pink & red scarf.

It's the perfect afternoon to get a Starbucks drink and relax with friends.

stay warm,

m

my exciting news...

For the past month, I've been praying for an opportunity that encompasses my strengths, creative passion, and of course, something fun! I'm very excited to announce that I have the privilege to intern with Leslie Herring Events for the Spring. I can't wait! She is truly inspiring and I'm anxious to begin my internship. Some of my duties will include venturing to appointments and consultations, preparing for weddings and events, and blogging (my new favorite hobby). 

I know some of y'all may be thinking... she's an elementary education major, why is she interning for an event planner? Well, I've always loved planning events. My mother has always said that I throw parties for the excitement of planning, decorating, and watching my guests enjoy them. I thrive on the excitement! I'm delightfully waiting to see where this internship will take me...

Also, I love weddings (who doesn't?!), so I decided to gather a few sweet pictures of some of my favorite weddings... 

wedding in Dallas, TX. photo credit: style me pretty

wedding in Scottsdale, AZ. photo credit: style me pretty

hey gorgeous' very own wedding photo credit: hge

photo credit: leslie herring events

photo credit: leslie herring events

photo credit: hey gorgeous events

photo credit: brides of north texas

beautiful new year's eve wedding. photo credit: style me pretty

new year's eve wedding. photo credit: style me pretty

Wish me luck on my internship!

m