Making It Feel Like Spring

Roksanda Ilincic Skirt,Zara Top,Zara Sandals,Loeffler Randall Bag,Tom Ford Sunglasses

I'm still pretty new at this whole thing of seasons changing, I had always heard that Puerto Rico has yearlong summer weather.... totally understand it now. I'm sure I share with everyone my yearning for warmer days since Spring seems to be making us wait for her presence. I guess the best way to fill the streets and our lives with the slowly but surely arrival of Spring is by filling our houses/apts/rooms with beautiful flowers and adding much needed color to our looks. 

Yellow is one of biggest colors for Springs and I'm totally obsessed with it right now. It's definitely a feel good color and it makes a great entrance. Pastels are always perfect for Spring, so matching this bright yellow skirt with this lilac top will perfectly balance the look and make it super feminine. I went for this Loeffler Randall bag in a mint color which looks great with both lilac and yellow, the black detailing is the perfect way to integrate the black sandals, and tie everything together. Oversized sunglasses are always my favorite, and I think we can all agree that Tom Ford makes some of the best out there. 

So... maybe it still doesn't really feel like Spring, but there are some flowers blooming around, so lets just pretend it really feels like Spring until it arrives!

Hope you like this look!

Xo,

Flor

Todavía soy muy novata para todo esto del cambio de temporadas, siempre había escuchado como en Puerto Rico tenemos temporada de verano todo el año... ahora lo entiendo. Estoy segura que mucha gente comparte el mismo anhelo por un poco de calor y días soleados que yo. Definitivamente la Primavera nos está haciendo esperar por su presencia y la mejor manera de llenarnos de colores y ese sentimiento es llenando nuestras casas/apartamentos/cuartos de flores y añadiéndole color a nuestros vestidos. 

El amarillo es un de los colores más populares para la primavera y yo estoy loca con el. Es uno de esos colores que automáticamente te hacen sentir bien y hay que decir que harás tremenda entrada con el. Los colores pasteles son un clásico para la Primavera, y esta blusa en lila es el balance perfecto para este amarillo tan brillante. Escogí esta cartera color menta ya que va muy bien com ambos colores y los detalles negros en ella atan las sandalias de tacones perfectamente al look. 

Pues... todavía no se siente tantísimo como Primavera pero hay flores floreciendo, así que deberíamos actuar como si ya llego mientras tanto.

¡Espero que les guste el look!

Xo,
Flor

Alberta Ferretti

More about Fashion Week, but this time from Milan. If I thought I had liked the other Spring '14 collections, then I most say that I LOVED Alberta Ferretti's collection. It has enough of a peasant vibe without crossing to the costume side. The combination of bright colors with beautiful flower embroideries with touches of happiness and femininity, make for the perfect spring collection. I love that this collection is like effortlessly beautiful, detailed, but not complicated; she truly transmitted her inspiration of cultures shaped by the sunshine. Hope you like this post!

Let me know!

Xo,
Flor

Más sobre Fashion Week, pero esta vez nos dirigimos hacia Milan. Si pensaba que las otras colecciones Primavera '14 me habían gustado tengo que decir que me encantó la de Alberta Ferretti. Tiene mucho de campesina pero sin cruzar la linea hacia los disfraces. La combinación entre colores súper brillantes con bordados de flores y toques de alegría y lo femenino hacen para una colección ideal! Me encanta que la colección es como belleza no forzada, detallada pero no complicada. Su colección transmitió su inspiración perfectamente, culturas creadas alrededor del sol. ¡Espero que les guste este post!

¡Me dejan saber!

Xo,
Flor 

Photos from Vogue.com

Denim for the Weekend

I've been on a denim uniform lately, mixing and matching denim shirts with jeans, black jeans and shorts. Today, these pictures were snapped right before heading off to enjoy the weekend, and the look pretty much summarizes the weekend... relaxing next to the beach. Since I've been wearing denim almost nonstop this summer, I wanted to add something different to the look, so I went for my leopard print loafers. My instinct was to use my leather ballerina flats, but when I saw the effect of unexpectedness the loafers gave the look I decided to leave my instincts aside. Even though both shades of denim are on the lighter wash, the shorts are slightly darker and also have the ripped effect, which creates some differentiation between the top and the bottom, a must have in pulling off the denim on denim look. I promise that the next post will have nothing to do with denim! Hope you like this post and enjoy your weekend!

Let me know what you think!

Xo

Flor

Photos by: RaRod

Blouse: Old Navy, Shorts: Zara, Shoes: Steve Madden, Shades: Tom Ford, Bag: 3.1 Phillip Lim

Vanilla Pound Cake

Pound cakes are the perfect dessert for those warm days to come, really rich and buttery, but they still feel light when you eat them, so deceiving. This recipe is one that everyone should have, it's really simple to make and you can make so many variations from the same recipe. You can go with some fresher options like lemons, limes and oranges or some richer ones like chocolate, caramel or rum. The same stands for the glaze, you can go simple with the cake and twist it up with glaze, adding nuts or rose water and even just dusting some confectioner sugar. This pound cake recipe makes two cakes, so it's perfect for a party or a dinner between friends and it's so simple that it takes one stress away from party planning. I love decorating with fresh flowers, it's a perfect idea for spring and really easy. You can make the Glaze Recipe and use it for both cakes.  Hope you enjoy the post & try out the recipe!

Xo

Flor

Recipe:

1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temp

2 cups granulated sugar, divided

4 extra large eggs, room temp

3 cups all purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon kosher salt

3/4 cup buttermilk, room temp

1 teaspoon pure vanilla

Directions

Preheat ove to 350 degrees F. Grease & flour 2 (8 1/2 by 4 1/2 by 2 1/2 inch) loaf pans. Line the bottoms with parchment paper.

Cream butter & granulated sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment for about 5 mins, or until light & fluffily. With the mixer on medium speed, beat in the eggs, 1 at a time.

In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, & salt. In another bowl, combine the buttermilk and vanilla. Add the flour & buttermilk mixtures alternately to the batter, beginning & ending with the flour. Divide the batter evenly between the pans, smooth the tops, & bake for 45 mins to 1 hr, until cake tester come out clean.

When the cakes are done, let them cool for 10 mins. Take them out of the pans, place them on a baking rack & allows the to cool completely. You can wrap them well & store in the refrigerator if not for immediate use.

Source: Ina Garten (Barefoot Contessa)  

Glaze:

2 tablespoons melted butter 

1 cup confectioner sugar

1 teaspoon Vanilla extract

2 tablespoons milk (if needed)

Directions:

Combine the 2 tablespoons of melted butter, vanilla and confectioner sugar; if the result is too thick add milk. ( I suggest you add one and if it remains to thick add the second).

Very Lemony Crunch Cake

When I think about desserts on a lazy spring afternoon what comes to mind are light & fresh desserts, using fruits you just got at the market. When you try this lemon cake you'll understand what I mean by a light & fresh dessert. This cake is definitely for a lemon lover, but if you wish to tone it down you can use less lemon zest & juice. Originally I wanted to make Meringue frosting, but it was a rainy day so I knew the egg whites wouldn't rise, so I decided on the 7 Minute Frosting which is a great substitute for Meringue when you have a humid day. The difference between these 2 frosting is that the Meringue Frosting has an even lighter feel to it, the 7 Minute has a richer texture. I can envision this cake as the perfect dessert for a outdoor lunch. On what occasion would you use it?! Hope you liked the post!

Xo

Flor

Very Lemony Crunch Cake 
  Bake & Decorate by Fiona Cairns

For the Cake:                                                                    For the topping:
1 1/4 cups self-rising flour                                                 1/2 cup granulated sugar
a pinch of salt                                                                    juice of 1 large lemon
3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened plus more for the pan
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
finely grated zest and juice of 1 large lemon

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F
Lightly butter a 7'' springform pan and line the bottom and sides with parchment paper.

Sift the flour and salt into a bowl and set aside. Melt the butter in a small saucepan and set aside to cool slightly.
Using an electric mixer on high speed, beat the eggs and sugar together until very light and fluffy (about 5 mins). Blend in the melted butter; then very gently fold in the flour mixture and lemon zest.
Finally, slowly fold in the lemon juice.
Pour and spread the batter into the pan and bake for 30-35 minutes or until the cake springs back to the touch, or wooden toothpick comes out clean.

Meanwhile, make the crunch topping by simple mixing the sugar and lemon juice together. As soon as the cake comes out from the oven, pierce tiny holes all over it with a wooden toothpick and pour the lemon syrup evenly all over the surface.
Let cool completely in the pan. Remove the side of the pan and the side papers. 

7 Minute Frosting
Click on this link for the 7 Minute Frosting recipe.

Chocolate Cake & Fudge

With February officially over, I can start posting delicious chocolate recipes, since you've probably had time to detox from all the chocolate from V-day. In my family we have a tradition of having chocolate cake with chocolate fudge for any occasion that requires a cake. The recipe I used for this cake makes a very moist and rich cake, the fudge is super easy to make and really delicious. Fresh flowers work perfectly for decorating cakes, it gives it a really elegant but natural look and it just looks so pretty. I chose these white flowers since it was all chocolate, but for example if you have a yellow frosting you could use pink or purple flowers. I think that sometimes using chocolate can intimidate people, but if you have a good recipe you'll most likely get it right, and once you see you can do it you can bake anything! Let me know what you think!

Xo

Flor

Basic Chocolate Butter Cake

(Makes 2 9" layers)

2 cups sifted cake flour

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup buttermilk or sour milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened to room temp

1 1/3 cups sugar

3 eggs

3 (1 ounce) squares unsweetened chocolate, melted or 3 ( 1 ounce) envelopes no melt unsweetened chocolate

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Sift flour with baking soda and salt and set aside. Combine buttermilk and vanilla. Cream butter until light, add sugar gradually, beating until fluffy.

Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition; mix in chocolate. Add dry ingredients alternately with milk, beginning and ending with the dry and adding about 1/3 of the total at a time. 

Beat just until smooth. Spoon into 2 greased and floured 9" layer cake pans and bake 30-35 minutes until cakes shrink slightly from sides of pans and are springy to the touch.

Cool upright in pans on wire racks 5-7 minutes, then invert on racks. Turn cakes right side up and cool thoroughly. 

Fudge Frosting

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/2 cups water or milk

1 tablespoon light corn syrup

1 tablespoon butter or margarine

2 (1 ounce) squares unsweetened chocolate, coarsely grated, or 2 (1 ounce) envelopes no-melt unsweetened chocolate

1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:

Place all ingredients except vanilla in a heavy saucepan with a candy thermometer, set over moderate heat, and stir once or twice as chocolate melts.

Boil without stirring until thermometer reaches 234 degrees F or until a little mixture dropped into cold water forms a very soft ball. Remove from heat at once and cool without stirring to 120 degrees F; mix in vanilla and beat until thick and of good spreading consistency

Note: If frosting seems thick, add a little milk or light cream; if too thin, beat in a little sifted confectioners' sugar

Between the Flowers

One of my prized possessions in my closet is this Zara Maxi dress. I remember it like yesterday, there was this super sale and I bought for $30; it wasn't enough that the prize was incredible but the dress was AMAZING! This dress is perfect for a garden wedding or any event during the day. I kept it really simple so the dress would be what would stand out, I paired it with a vintage bag and blue chandelier earrings. What I really love about this dress is its combination of bohemian and femininity. Let me know what you think about this dress!

I love using fresh flowers to decorate by desserts. It's really easy to do and it's a great presentation. This would be perfect for a garden party or for an intimate gathering. Love the vintage flair.

 

Enjoy!