My Blog Moved

Hey everyone! I moved my blog over to Tumblr. I'll leave this one up for another week or so but all the old posts are now on Tumblr as well as my new ones. I hope you'll continue to follow. Here's the link!
ooola-la.tumblr.com/ 

Favorite Friday

Hey everyone! Who's excited for the long weekend? I know I am! Here are my favorites for this week. Also I was thinking about switching this blog over to Tumblr. If you have an opinion on that please let me know. Thanks!

A Happy Cocktail 

Sprinkle Rimmed Cocktails
I saw this on Pinterest and thought it was so cute! Even if it was just juice for a kid's bday party- I love the colors. I guess you just do it like a margarita. Creative.

Creative

Mirrored "Table" 
Speaking of creative how fun is this as a bedside table? I love that tray on top (or is it a mirror?)- maybe I could find a similar one at a local vintage shop.

Cute!

Texas Tie
Finally I came across this tie and I love it. It would make a great gift for a guy from Texas don't you think?

Beauty Talk: What's Your Favorite Mascara?

I always switch mascaras- who knows how many I've tried! Right now I have these 3 in my makeup bag:

Covergirl Lashblast Length

Maybelline Falsies

Maybelline Lash Stiletto

I like them all OK but I'm still looking for the "best" mascara- something that makes your lashes look amazing without flaking or looking messy at the end of the day. So friends tell me! What one is your favorite?

Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream with Peanut Butter Sauce

Chocolate peanut butter ice cream with peanut butter sauce

If you don't have an ice cream maker you should seriously reconsider. It makes amazing froyo and it doesn't get much simpler than this recipe. This stuff is sooo good and doesn't have any of the unpronounceable crap that is in some store bought ice cream. Chocolate peanut butter is my favorite combo and topped with my homemade peanut butter sauce this is the most divine dessert! Enjoy! 

Homemade deliciousness

Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream

From The Perfect Scoop by David Lebovitz

Ingredients:

• 2 cups half-and-half
• ¼ cup unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
• ½ cup sugar
• Pinch of salt
• ½ cup smooth peanut butter

To make:

1. Whisk together the half-and-half, cocoa powder, sugar, and salt in a large saucepan.  Heat the mixture, whisking frequently, until it comes to a full, rolling boil (it will start to foam up).  Remove from the heat and whisk in the peanut butter, stirring until thoroughly blended.
2. Chill the mixture thoroughly, then freeze it in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Lala's Crunchy Peanut Butter Sauce

Ingredients: 

• Smooth peanut butter 
• Rice krispies cereal 

To make: 

1. Put as much peanut butter as you'd like for a topping into a microwavable bowl and microwave in 30 second intervals until the mixture is pourable. Stir in the cereal and drizzle over ice cream. Eat! 

Summer Picks: Express

While online window shopping recently I noticed a lot of really cute summer staples from Express. I love their clothes! These are bright, light & wearable as the heat starts to creep up. Where do you shop for your summer must-haves?

More Express...

Favorite Friday

Hooray for Friday! I have a fun Austin weekend planned- what about you? Here are my favs!

Image from Flickr

Cold Brewed Coffee
I recently got a cold-brew coffee maker and so far I'm loving it. In Texas summers the last thing you want is hot coffee so this is the perfect solution. You put the grounds and water in the fridge overnight and in the morning you have a whole carafe of cool delicious coffee. It makes a bunch at a time so you can drink it all week.

Baggu Bag $16

Elephant Bag
I've got my eye on this super cute elephant bag from BAGGU. Perfect for the farmer's market don't you think?

Friends in DC

Friends!
One of my good friends Jessica had her bachelorette party last weekend in DC. So much fun to see these college girls- I'll see them again next month at the wedding!

<3

Anniversary
Finally I have to do a shout out since it's my 2 year anniversary today with my amazing BF Chris! xox

Healthy Pancakes

I adore pancakes. If you're ever in Austin please check out Kerby Lane Cafe- best pancakes in Austin! And queso too but that's an entirely different post. I made this healthy version of pancakes recently- the recipe caught my eye and I had the ingredients on hand. They use whole wheat flour, Greek yogurt, & I added some homemade granola in for an added crunch. Topping with butter and maple syrup probably takes the healthiness down a bit but I like to think it balances out!

Great way to start the day!

Healthy Whole Wheat Granola Pancakes

Adapted from this recipe

Ingredients:

• ¾ cups Whole Wheat Flour
• ½ cups Rolled Oats (not Instant)
• 1 Tablespoon Sugar
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• ½ teaspoons Baking Powder
• ½ teaspoons Baking Soda
• 6 ounces, weight Fat Free Or 1% plain Greek Yogurt
• ½ cups Water
• 2 Large Eggs
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla
• ½ cup of your favorite granola

To make:

1. In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients (flour, oats, sugar, salt, baking powder, baking soda). Make a hole in the middle of the dry ingredients.
2. In a large measuring cup or small bowl, mix together the Greek yogurt and water. It should be a very thick but still be of pourable consistency. If more water is needed, add a teaspoonful at a time.
3. Add yogurt-water mixture, eggs and vanilla to the hole in the dry ingredients. Whisk the wet ingredients together until just combined.
4. Mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just mixed. Stir in granola.
5. Cook the pancakes on a preheated griddle or in a skillet on the stove. When the edges of the batter appear dry and bubbles begin to form and pop, flip the pancake and cook the other side until done.
6. Serve topped with a tablespoon more granola, butter & maple syrup. 

Party Planning Committee!

A better way to invite!

I have some friends graduating this weekend from UT grad school- congrats to them! This is just another reason for a party, right? If you're planning an event and want to send cute customized online invites then check out Punchbowl! According to the site they're "a modern, effortless way to plan an unforgettable celebration with party planning features including customizable digital invitations, potluck organization, gift registries, local vendor search and much more." Whatever makes life easier in a fashionable way, right? If you're just looking for a reason to celebrate they have you covered there too. Evidently today is "Visit Your Relatives Day." Who's up for a party??

Wine Tasting in DC

Main at Mt. Vernon

Apologies for missing some posts last week. Blogger went down and the scheduled ones didn't go out. Plus I was in Washington D.C. for the weekend! I was there for my friend Jessica's bachelorette party. It was a great time! At the end of the weekend some of us went to Mount Vernon for the Spring Wine Festival. It was my first time visiting George Washington's old house- it was really beautiful and interesting. Plus I got to try a bunch of wines from Virginia (who knew they made wine there?!). Here are some pictures from that event- the bachelorette party pictures are off limits ;-).

View of the Potomac River

Me & Meredith drinking wine

Sunset

Brunch French Toast

French toast anyone? 

For mother's day brunch I made this recipe from Ms. Paula Deen (yes it has butter!). It was a super delicious treat- easy to make ahead and feed a crowd. Use really good bread to make it even more special. 

Sunday Brunch Baked French Toast

Adapted from this recipe

Ingredients

• 1 loaf French bread
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup half & half
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 2 sticks butter, melted
• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

To make:

1. Slice French bread into 1-inch slices. Arrange slices in a generously buttered 9 x 13-inch flat baking dish in 2 rows, overlapping the slices
2. In a large bowl, combine the eggs, half-and-half, milk, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and  whisk until blended
3. Pour mixture over the bread slices, making sure all are covered evenly with the milk-egg mixture. Spoon some of the mixture in between the slices
4. Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight
5. The next day preheat oven to 350 degrees
6. Mix together butter, brown sugar, pecans, cinnamon, & nutmeg. Spread topping evenly over the bread and bake for 40 minutes, until puffed and lightly golden. Serve with warm maple syrup