This recipe has been a family favorite for decades. I've ate this for breakfast and snacks since
I was a kid...don't forget the apple juice, of course. Trust me, you won't want to limit devouring
this just to fall time, it's good to make year round. I'm busting this out now to try and prepare myself
for the season change and attempting to bribe myself into even liking fall. We'll see how it works out.
Enjoy!

RECIPE: Pumpkin Muffins with Cream Cheese Drizzle Frosting

Pumpkin Muffins

3 Cups sugar                                
1 1/2 teaspoon salt                      
1 teaspoon nutmeg                  
1 teaspoon cloves                        
1 teaspoon cinnamon              
2 teaspoons baking soda
2/3 cup hot water
4 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
3 1/3 cups flour
2 cups pumpkin

First, blend sugar, spices and eggs. Next add in pumpkin and oil. In separate bowl, mix flour and baking soda. Gradually blend flour mixture into pumpkin mixture, alternating with water. Mix well.
Pour batter into muffin liners/pan
Bake at 350 degrees for 18-24 minutes till toothpick comes out clean

Cream Cheese Frosting

4 oz cream cheese

4 tablespoons butter

1/2 box powdered sugar

1 tsp vanilla bean paste

1 tablespoon almond milk

Cream sugar and cream cheese together. Add in vanilla and gradually add in powdered sugar. 

The almond milk is to make the frosting a less dense constancy, add to your liking. Mix ingredients well and drizzle onto muffins when they are cool. 

Just to note, I eyeball this recipe. I usually do equal parts of butter & cream cheese. Then I add powdered sugar till it gets to the consistency I want. 

PYLO you rock my world. The Namiko T-Dress is a dream. Oversized and flowy, perfect to wear while Summer is winding down. Im wearing it in the color called "Naked", a light fleshy neutral with a touch of pink. It works well with the trending minimalist style. For my skin tone, I pair this color with darker accessories (hat, shoes, ect) to add depth and contrast so I won't won't look washed out (wink wink). I've been into simple minimalistic dresses this summer, ones you can throw on and go. Just add some killer accessories.

Hat: Nastygal  ///  Earrings: Glam & Grace  ///  Sunglasses: Nastygal  ///  Necklace: Banana Republic  ///  Arm Party: Glam & Grace  ///  Namiko T-Dress: Pylo  ///  Gladiator Sandals: Urban OG

Rustic Boho Layer Cake with Fresh Flowers

If you know me personally, you're well aware I'm like an little old lady who loves tending to her summer flowers. Unfortunately living in my loft, I'm unable to have flower beds anymore but I'm still finding ways to incorporate pretty greenery and lovely live flowers into my life.

This was my first experience designing a cake with real, fresh flowers. It was great & it was nerve-racking...but I highly recommend doing it. 

The layer cake is white cake with vanilla buttercream. I frosted only in-between layers and the top of the cake. Keeping the sides unfrosted provides the rustic boho look. It gives off an unperfect vibe, which I love. Decorating with buttercream (instead of fondant) and embracing it's messier quality, is my absolute favorite.

DESIGN TIPS

Pick a variety of flowers

I chose some vibrant peachy orange/pink roses as a main focal. As supporting cast, I wanted greenery. I used killer lime green mums and leafy eucalyptus stems. All 3 plants have a very different look which gives variety to your creation. The varying visual texture makes it more interesting to look at.

Layer and Pile it On!

Don't be shy here. Why not heap on the flowers? Go for it and make a statement. I started with a blanket of rose petals and then placed a group of flowers on top as discussed below.

Create a Focal Point

I grouped a large rose, some sprigs of eucalyptus and a few mums on the top of the cake. This arrangement grabs your attention and creates visual interest. In one spot lower on the plate, I also gathered a few blooms to make it look like a cascading effect. 

Dealing with the natural & fresh aspect was challenging. The eucalyptus and mums are quite resilient while the Roses are quite delicate and will wilt a little more quickly. I had a couple of back up roses for a quick replacement after I arrived to my destination. It's good to keep all the flowers in water and then place them on the cake at the absolute last minute.

All in all, it was a fun experience. I just had to go with the flow and learn as I went along. The flowers were gorgeous and made for a lovely presentation. I can't wait to give it another try and experiment with different flowers.