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Lynnell Loves: Summer Skirts

Forever 21 . . . why do you taunt me so? Why do you make adorable skirts that would barely cover my bum? Why do you think ANYONE (especially 14 year olds) should wear skirts that barely cover their bum? You think we aren't willing to pay a whopping extra 5 to 10 bucks for a few more inches (although they sell a few longer skirts and plus size skirts at pretty much the same price points)? Wake up Forever.

Here are a couple skirts I WISH they had made longer. 

Scalloped Eyelet Skirt
$22.80

Marina Mini Skirt (I'd snip that ugly chain)
$19.80

Speaking of skirts, I noticed that Anthropologie added some new outfits to their site, one of which had been rolling around in my head already. I have similar pieces to the ones that are in the "Blue Cove" look from the new  "Aquatic" collection. Problem is, I have been trying to find the right skirt. I want it to have some pink in it to go with my Coach Parker bag. Here are the items I have (or very similar) and the Blue Cove outfit (on the right) posted on Anthro's site today.

 Here are a few skirts I've been considering. 

From JCrew: Watercolor Potpouri Mini $49.99 (on sale but could use a % off) 

Would go great with the Parker bag.

From Forever 21:

Lush Blotted Skirt  $19.80

I tried this on in the store and liked the artsy print, and that it had the pink in it, 
but wasn't a big fan of the elastic waist. 

Summer Garden Satin Skirt $19.80

I wonder if this will make me look like I'm 12. It doesn't look like a true Satin in the photo which would be good.  

Seriously over priced skirts from Anthropologie (would have to play the sale waiting game):

Royal Poinciana Skirt $78

I wonder if I'll get bored with it after a season and then wish I hadn't paid so much.

Even on sale this would be $40

It's Your Move Skirt $98

Also might make me look like I'm 12 but it is so sweet. 

And finally from Urban Outfitters: Kimchi Blue Sunset Stripe Skirt $48
 This might even be close to the same shade of chambray my shirt is, if it isn't though it could look like I was trying to match it but didn't quite make it.

Thoughts?

J Crew New Arrival Picks

JCrew posted new arrivals today. These are the items that looked interesting to me. 

Alice Ruffle Tank - I like that the ruffle isn't ginormous like the Gypsy Rose Cami.

Ribbon Cut-Wave Dress - not sure if I could pull it off but it is cute, especially belted.

Studded Tunic - I love anything with roll tab sleeves if they are big enough to fit my arms.

Lace Panel Camisole - If money were not an object. I think this would be pretty paired with something more masculine, like a military jacket or camo-skirt.

Rose Vines Blazer - Could be cute paired with a plain sun-dress. If it fit right.

Lastly, the Mirelle Tote - Pretty but I wonder if the leather is soft. I like to bargain shop for my leather bags as I love good leather but usually can't afford them. I have my eye on the Coach Parker Shoulder bag in lilac or pink pearl I saw at the outlet a while back. Watching some on ebay.

Anthropologie: Openwork Vines Skirt IRL Review

I love this skirt, but I don't know what top to wear it with. The skirt falls nicely and has a bit of a flare at the bottom (more so than pictured) and the scallops are pretty. I am not sure about the tie at the waist as I tend to wear shirts out vs. tucked in since I'm petite. The skirt fits true to size. I tried it on with a few tops (the Friendly Competition Top, a chambray tunic top that is on sale and no longer online, and the Bright Side Blouse). Which one looks the best? For one, I prefer to have sleeves, second, I need a woven top and not a knit top that shows every roll. So you see the dilemma. I would like the Bright Side top if the sleeves were longer and the tie didn't compete with the tie of the skirt. I like the chambray but there are puffed sleeves and it is really long. I'd probably like it with the chambray perfect shirt at JCrew or Old Navy chambray boyfriend shirt better. The Friendly Competition top is sweet, feminine, a little bohemian, but not sure I want to bare that much arm. I could just forget the tie and wear something untucked which I would plan to do when wearing this skirt more casual anyway.

Outfit Idea with a couple accessories I already own (I have the pastel version of the earrings and a similar black platform/stiletto Mary Jane pump.) Does anyone else wish that when a piece of jewelry is made that there would always be a set (ie. matching or coordinating pieces so you don't have to spend time looking elsewhere)? Same with shoes, there should always be a matching belt. In fact they could sell them in sets as far as I'm concerned. 

 

Left Top: JCrew Slub Cotton Perfect Shirt

Right Top: Old Navy Boyfriend Shirt

Earrings: Anthropologie Corvus Earrings

Necklaces

Left: Kate Space Lady Marmalade Large Ball Necklace

Middle: Kate Spade Lady Marmalade Ball Charm Necklace 

Right: Kenneth Jay Lane Disco Ball Necklace

Shoes: Baker Carsen Pumps

Anthropologie: Rainforest Morning Dress IRL Review

I didn't think twice about this dress when I saw it online but when I went into the store, I saw it hanging and the print was so colorful and vibrant, like South Beach, and it had pretty details like wood buttons and sleeves with drawstrings so you can decide how loose they are (great for someone like me who has huge arms compared to her body and has a hard time finding sleeves that fit). It also has pockets and the waistline is elastic so it is super comfortable. Since it is a thin silk, I could see this needing a slip to fight static though I didn't experience any in the fitting room. I am a 8/10 but this worked in the size 6, probably because of the elastic waist and that I didn't want it super flared. If you are interested in this, you could probably go down at least one size. Figuring out how I can get my hands on one of these before sale . . . 

I tried this on with a couple belts but my fave was one that is not pictured above or online. It is a cream crochet stretch on the sides with a camel buckle that has some weave to the buckle. It was super comfortable and I wanted a camel to go with shoes I already own. I think the belt was $32. There were some great chocolate belts too if I'd wanted it to go with darker shoes or riding boots.

Bag I already own: Sak Silverlake Flap Bag
Shoes I already own: Aldo Dolly
Earrings: Target
Belt: Modcloth

Lynnell Loves Fudgy Mocha Cupcakes

I purchased a tin of cupcake recipe cards from Ross and decided to try one out the other day. I narrowed it down to a couple and let DH choose between them, of course he went with the decadent chocolate coffee flavored one. Here is the photo on the recipe card.

And the Recipe:

Fudgy Mocha Cupcakes with Chocolate Coffee Ganache
Ingredients:
1 Package devil's food cake mix (I used Dark Chocolate cake mix instead)
1 package (4 serving size) chocolate fudge instant pudding and pie filling mix
1 1/3 cups strongly brewed coffee
3 eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
60z semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
2 tablespoons instant coffee or espresso granules
1/2 cup prepared white frosting
OR
I used my own buttercream frosting with this recipe:

1/4 c. butter (softened in micro about 20 seconds)
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. salt
1 lb. sifted powdered sugar
Milk

Beat butter, vanilla, salt, sugar together.
Add milk enough to make a smooth spreading consistency.

Directions:
Heat oven to 350. Line 18 standard cupcake/muffin cups with paper cups (I hate messing with those paper thingies so I just spray it with pam and that does the job, then I transfer them to a covered pan for storage after they are done). Beat cake mix, pudding mix, coffee, eggs and oil in a large bowl with electric mixer until well blended. Spoon batter into muffing cups/pan filling 2/3rds full. Recipe says to bake for 22-24 minutes but it only took mine about 15 minutes before the fork came out clean. Cool 10 minutes before frosting.
To make ganache, heat cream and instant coffee in a saucepan over low to medium heat until bubbles appear. Turn to low heat and melt in chocolate careful not to overcook. You can also leave the chocolate in a bowl and just pour the cream/coffee mixture over to melt and stir.
Dip the top of the cupcakes in the ganache and smooth out with spatula if needed. Apply white frosting as desired.

I didn't feel the need to make letters and didn't have fancy decorating tips so I did the old cut the tip off a baggie trick and did swirls and stars. Primitive I know, but if it loads the top with sugary frosting what difference does it make? ;o)

And here's mine:Yum!

Lynnell Loves Bailey's Coffee Cheesecake

I found this recipe online so I didn't whip it up on my own. It was pretty easy though. My favorite part about this recipe is the topping. I think I would make this again but use the topping part over a more decadent chocolate cheesecake, but that's because I'm more of a chocoholic than a cheesecake lover. The hubs loved the whole thing. The topping would even be great if you could get it into a truffle or other chocolate candy coating and freeze it. Yum!!

This is how mine turned out.
There's not a whole photo because we'd already dived into it before I decided it was photo worthy. ;o)

Topping recipe:
Ingredients: 1 cup heavy whipping cream, chilled, 2 tablespoons sugar, 1 teaspoon instant coffee or espresso powder. Directions: Beat cream, sugar and coffee powder until peaks form. Spread the topping over the cooled cake. Garnish the cheesecake with chocolate curls or chocolate sprinkles.

The rest of the cheesecake recipe can be found here though the title is a bit deceiving. http://goinside.com/eatery/bailey.html