October 31, 2011

3rd Annual Pumpkin Carving Contest

Well it wouldn't be Halloween if we didn't have our annual pumpkin carving contest. This Halloween seemed like such a blur. I had to cancel our Halloween party because of our stupid mold situation {it's spreading, it's gross, and the walls are going to come down..literally!}. I didn't even dress up, which is really sad for someone who loves this holiday. But at least, at least, we had our annual contest! It made me feel like we were able to celebrate a little bit!
 sneak peek at my cat pumpkin
 sneak peek at Matthew's crazy monster pumpkin
Lit up, at night. My Dad's is the bottom left. Can you guess what his is? It rhymes with schmirate! 

Do you guys have a favorite? I'm thinking it was Matthew's year to win for sure!

How was your Halloween? Did you dress up? Trick or treat? Carve pumpkins? Throw a Halloween party? 
I need to live vicariously through you guys, ok? Next year will be better, I swear!


xox
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you can see photos from our previous carving competitions here and here!

recipe: Halloween Chocolate Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Icing

yay Happy Halloween! 
I hope you all are having a spooky and fun Monday! I wanted to share these AHmazing cupcakes that I made over the weekend! They are chocolate peanut butter goodness and they're so good it should be bad, but it's not {just don't read the ingredients}! All my fellow pb&chocolate lovers must try this recipe and let me know what you think!


Chocolate Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Icing by Ina Garten {recipe here}

Ingredients

  • 12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 2/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 2/3 cup light brown sugar, packed
  • 2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 1 cup buttermilk, shaken, at room temperature
  • 1/2 cup sour cream, at room temperature
  • 2 tablespoons brewed coffee
  • 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup good cocoa powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • Kathleen's Peanut Butter Icing, recipe follows
  • Chopped salted peanuts, to decorate, optional {I chose Halloween themed sprinkles!} 

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line cupcake pans with paper liners.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter and 2 sugars on high speed until light and fluffy, approximately 5 minutes. Lower the speed to medium, add the eggs 1 at a time, then add the vanilla and mix well. In a separate bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, sour cream, and coffee. In another bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt. On low speed, add the buttermilk mixture and the flour mixture alternately in thirds to the mixer bowl, beginning with the buttermilk mixture and ending with the flour mixture. Mix only until blended. Fold the batter with a rubber spatula to be sure it's completely blended.
Divide the batter among the cupcake pans (1 rounded standard ice cream scoop per cup is the right amount). Bake in the middle of the oven for 20 to 25 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes, remove from the pans, and allow to cool completely before frosting.
Frost each cupcake with Peanut Butter Icing and sprinkle with chopped peanuts, if desired.
Kathleen's Peanut Butter Icing:
  • 1 cup confectioners' sugar
  • 1 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 3/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/3 cup heavy cream
Place the confectioners' sugar, peanut butter, butter, vanilla, and salt in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Mix on medium-low speed until creamy, scraping down the bowl with a rubber spatula as you work. Add the cream and beat on high speed until the mixture is light and smooth.
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I had to top them with some Halloween themed sprinkles too! It seemed only right :)
Have a great Halloween everyone! Who dressed up as what? Share please!!
xox

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wearing an appropriately designed DOTS shirt!

October 28, 2011

Levi's + Lucky Mag + M Loves M

A couple weeks ago I had the opportunity to go to the Levi's store on Rodeo Drive and check out, as well as get fitted for, their Curve ID collection. The concept is that it's about shape, not size. It was so weird to see this measuring contraption they used but I was amazed at how accurately my fit, well, fit! It was such a fun event put on my Lucky Magazine and I loved seeing some of my blogging friends, and making new ones!

 getting my Curve ID fit!
 catching up with the beautiful Beth Jones
Rebecca, Beth, Neekoh and I showing off our picks!

 I was a Demi Curve and decided to chose a pair of flares with adorable front pockets. Stay tuned to see how I styled them! 

Have a great Halloween weekend everyone! 
Don't get tricked but eat lots of candy!
xox
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photos c/o Lucky Magazine
{ps the KK issue is really really good!}

October 26, 2011

look book: pop of color

I can't resist a pop of color with a neutral, especially when that color is red! Oh, Red, my favorite color. I remember the days I used to question my love because I didn't own a single red item in my closet. Now there's no need as I have a red jacket, awesome red shorts, a red dress, and now a pretty red skirt! Slowly, but surely, I'm proving my love! 
blouse c/o 11 Eureka, clutch old Banana Republic {similar}, bracelets Forever 21, belt vintage, skirt c/o Chloe Loves Charlie, shoes Guess {similar pair}

Have a great day everyone!
xox
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October 25, 2011

giveaway: $30 to Chloe Loves Charlie- CLOSED

Today's giveaway is from Chloe Loves Charlie, an adorable online boutique with a penchant of sweet and romantic clothes. One of you can win $30 to spend however you like in their online shop! Some of my favorites are above: the Pink Pleated Shift Dress, the Silver Sequin Party Dress, and the Midnight Serenade Dress!


To Enter:
1). Must be a follower of M Loves M

For extra entries
3). Blog/tweet for extra entries!
4). Become a Facebook fan of M Loves M or follow me on Bloglovin'
5). "Like" Chloé Loves Charlie on Facebook or follow them on Twitter {tweet tweet!}

I'll be picking the winner next Wednesday November 1st! Good luck!
xox 

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UPDATE: Congrats to Joanna Ruth! I'll email you with more details!

October 24, 2011

look book: columns

I'm loving this skirt! The accordion pleats give it a slightly fancy look but I love that I can dress it down with boots and a sweater. Also wearing my pretty new David Yurman bracelet. I've never had such a fancy piece of jewelry and instead of letting it rot away in a jewelry box I'm trying to wear it as an everyday piece. Good thing it gets with mostly everything!
my two favorite everyday bracelets!
sweater J.Crew {similar sweater}, skirt Forever 21 {similar skirt}, scarf gift from godmother, boots Old Navy, bracelets David Yurman c/o the Vogue Influencer Network, gift from Matthew, rings red- thrifted and rose gold-gift from Matthew

I had such a fun weekend that it's sad to see it go! I hung out with Matthew in Malibu on Saturday for a work event and then I drove to Riverside to spend the rest of the weekend with my best friend Lizzie. We watched/fell asleep during a movie, played with her dog Talula, went home shopping {fell back in love with the amazingness of Marshalls and Cost Plus!}, and had the best all you can eat sushi experience- good sushi, $20, and I didn't get stuffed! I'm also madly in love with Lizzie's apartment and now I'm inspired to get mine together before the end of the year. We can do it!

Have a great Monday friends!
xox
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October 20, 2011

look book: forget me knot

 One of my favorite new things to do is add knots to my outfits. I do it with my t-shirts {love it off to the side}, my long skirts, and now button-ups. I'm guilty of succumbing to this trend because it's just too cute! I love how it gives such an effortless feel to any outfit. What do you guys think of this look? Would you do it?
dress TJ Maxx, button up J.Crew (similar), necklace Heather Belle, shoes Chinese Laundry via DSW, bracelets c/o Alex and Ani (one, two and three)

Funny story about these shoes: I saw them years ago around the holidays and wanted to get them because they were such a good price. I didn't want to impulse shop so I decided to think about them. The next day I went back because I couldn't stop thinking about them. On the night I was going to meet Matthew for the first time with some friends, I wore them! I'm thinking it's because of these shoes that he fell in love with me :) Well, maybe it helped?? Regardless I'll never ever ever get rid of these shoes, nor will I forget about them!

Yay for the weekend! I desperately need to sleep in. I've been getting way too little sleep over the past week. 
Do you guys have any fun plans?? 

xox
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October 19, 2011

Banana Republic + Lucky Magazine Event- Thurs 10/20


You know those times where you're like, "Pinch me. Is this really happening?!" That's how I've been feeling since Lucky Magazine asked me to host this event at Banana Republic tomorrow night. I feel so honored to be working with two companies I love so much! Banana Republic is one of my go-to stores because of classic pieces that are both feminine and modern. 

If you're in the LA area, please come by The Grove tomorrow night October 20th at 5pm. I'll be giving style consultations, talking about the Lucky Dozen Banana Republic items and hanging out. It should be a lot of fun and I'd love it for any of you to come! My Mom got an invite in the mail so you can meet her too :) haha
xox
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October 18, 2011

giveaway: $40 to 11 Eureka Boutique


I'm excited to announce today's giveaway! 11 Eureka is an adorable shop curated by the lovely Reneé, a girl with a love for clothes, her adorable dogs, and anything vintage! She's offering $40 to one of you lucky readers!


To Enter:
1). Must be a follower of M Loves M
2). Visit 11 Eureka Boutique and leave a comment telling me which item(s) you'd pick!

For extra entries
3). Blog/tweet for extra entries!
4). Become a Facebook fan of M Loves M or follow me on Bloglovin'
5). "Like" 11 Eureka on Facebook or follow on Twitter {tweet tweet!}

I'll be picking the winner at random next Wednesday October 26th! Good luck!
xox
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October 17, 2011

look book: pumpkin patch

I have been wanting to go to a pumpkin patch for years! And when I say pumpkin patch I mean a real pumpkin patch, not one of those converted parking lots with straw on the ground. I want to go to a big, beautiful field and pick a big orange pumpkin and cut it right from the vines. In LA a real pumpkin patch is almost impossible to find, but I put Matthew to the test to do some research and he found the perfect place. Of course it ended up being a little outside of LA {yes, a whole county north}, but we found it nonetheless and had the best time picking out our pumpkins! Our yearly pumpkin carving competition is coming up and I need the perfect one to win :)
dress c/o 11 Eureka, sweater and boots J.Crew, scarf random boutique, tights Target

I love the color of this dress! It's so pretty and reminds me so much of the fall season. I've said it before but I'll say it again, this is my favorite season by far! The cooler weather, the change in lighting, the natural colors {mustards, browns, oranges}, the layering.. it really can't be beat! {Although I know some of you summer-holics would beg to differ!}

Have a great Monday friends!
xox
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