Tea Stains on Parchment

No one is perfect. Couples have ups and downs and little things that will never be fixed. But, there is one couple that breaks that rule. One couple that is absolutely perfect. A relationship based on love, understanding, and, most importantly, honesty. Obviously, I'm talking about Mrs. Lovett and Sweeney Todd. Here are a few tips you can learn from Broadway's best power couple. First off, no one gets Sweeney like Mrs. Lovett does, and don't we all want someone who understands us when others would just run away? Well, Sweeney is one lucky man because when he makes the logical decision that all of mankind is evil and deserves to die, Mrs. Lovett is right by his side. If the love of your life wants to kill everyone under the front of a barbershop, then you should be right there supporting them! Don't just say, "that's great, honey." No, you need to give just as much to this relationship. You have to be complements. So, when your SO says, "I'm ...

New Year, New You! Time to get back into shape! Take up a hobby! Reinvent yourself! Self-help specialists and newspapers everywhere bombast us with phrases like these. A new year is approaching, and with it, is evidently a new you. Because the some numbers on a calendar change, apparently we must, too. Apparently a method for counting human existence equates progress in our own little lives. Well, here is a "demotivational" post, it doesn't. So, we're approaching 2019—what an accomplishment! A new year seems like a new horizon, like we must be getting closer to something. And yes, sometimes change is great and making a better life for ourselves, but I think that people are just using a new year as an excuse to get their life together. Before I tear into New Year's resolutions, let me preface this by commending us for wanting to make our lives better. It's important to be able to see a problem or point of improvement in our lives and want to change. And that ...

A lot of you here are in school, probable college, and you have a lot of work coming up (you can actually see it on the syllabus). And maybe you're not in school, but you still have a busy life full of stress I'm sure. Honestly, trying to navigate your way through a grocery store can be extremely stressful. There is always something to be cleaned, something to be prepped, a paper to be written, poems to be read--that sentence alone was stressful (because it's true). When there is always something to do, it's hard to allow myself to do nothing. Well, I'm here to tell you, or rather myself, that you can and should  do nothing. OK, stop what you're doing. Sit, curl up under a blanket, diffuse some oils, and breath. Now get back to reading this blog post. I'm not going to tell you to stop worrying because I know that that isn't going to change how you feel. But remember, whatever you're stressing about is only one moment, so take a few moments for you....

Coming back to college this summer, you may have seen that many of your friends got some sort of "prestigious," unpaid internship while you lounged around in your house all summer. While you sit around and hear about people in the same boat as you, fresh out of freshman year, going on about galavanting through L.A., New York, and San Fransisco, try not to feel discouraged that you wandered the aisles of the grocery store every week. I know it can seem overwhelming, because that person that says they did "nothing " this summer is me. One of many ice cream adventures My summer was one that featured many enriching activities. From binge watching How I Met Your Mother to waiting until that jean jacket at Target got clearanced to $10 (from $35!), I truly learned a great deal this summer that will definitely  help me get an amazing job out of college. But in all seriousness, I don't think that I would trade my summer at home for even the most exclusive internshi...

I've dreamt of French patisseries filled with croissants, mille-feuille, and, of course, macarons. I don't think I am going to France any time soon, but I have always thought I was pretty good at baking. That is, before my many failed attempts at macarons. For such a small cookie, they offer an unnecessary amount of work. And there is a steep learning curve; so many things can go wrong: hollow shells, no feet, flat shells. Macarons are impressive, delicious, and beautiful. Though everyone wants a batch on their table at their tea party, no one wants to pay the often $2+ price tag or fail at making them. Let me help save you from both of these fates and teach you everything I have learned making macarons professionally the past few months. 1. There are a lot of recipes out there, but to know that the recipe is decent, the amount of powdered sugar is double the amount of almond flour. Some recipes work more than others, but t his one is my go-to, though I do have a few alte...

Nothing. Absolutely nothing. I had never really realized that people placed so much emphasis on lip color. It wasn't until watching "Cake Hunters" that I heard that red lipstick was somehow suggestive or inappropriate for a 16 year old (but any other shade was perfectly acceptable). This seemed silly to me. I wear lipstick everyday, and I had never put much thought into what the color supposedly "said" about me. I only thought "does this match my outfit?", "does it look good?", "is it too bold or outlandish on me?". I never once thought that light pinks made people assume I was kind or flirty, that oxblood meant I was sultry. Color doesn't define a person, does it? When choosing lipstick colors, the only "feelings" I thought about were the vibe or mood of my entire ensemble. I might choose bright red if I was going for a vintage look, calling to mind Victory Red. Or plum if my outfit consisted of dark colors,...

cake. Get naked cake! The cake trend that is sweeping the Pinterest scene is naked cakes. I was a skeptic, but when done properly (not out of laziness), they can be gorgeous. There are plenty of reasons to love these crumb coated beauties. 1. It's really easy ice a cake that is known for almost no icing 2. Technically it is healthier, right? Less icing=less butter+ less sugar 3. Cakes with flowers and height are really pretty! At first glance, naked cakes seem like a cheap trick, like you ran out of icing, or are simply too lazy to ice a cake all the way, but this method is great. With less icing, it is easier to achieve a smooth finish* and show off those beautiful layers underneath, this is especially stunning if you use small pans (I used 6 inch layers) to create several thick cakes. Downside to this, it is hard to cut, but I can guarantee that if a cake is better looking, it is better tasting. If you want an ombre effect, just add the colored frosting to the bottom (by spa...

Every now and then I get the urge to just bake, bake something I've never made before. Today I'm sharing a slice of my newly found tart knowledge. 1. There are many options for crust: pie crust, graham cracker, or short crust. But all of these crusts have something in common- you have to get whatever dough you made into a pan and bake it. I used a short crust recipe which is akin to a shortbread cookie, but I ran into a problem. I rolled my dough too thick. Because it is like a cookie dough, you should make the dough thinner in the pan, otherwise you will have a thick, dense crust. I suggest rolling your crust, if a dough, instead of just working or into the pan with your hands. 2. The filling is the best part of a tart, at least in my opinion. Choose something scrumptious and don't skimp on it! Your tart will also have more luscious cream if you learn from my mistake and roll a thinner crust. Tip: add lemon zest to complement berries and cut through the sweet milkin...