Friday, September 25, 2009

apologies for the delay...i'm back, and with muffins! well pancakes...

hello! things have been pretty hectic the past couple of months moving back into the city and starting junior year, but i promise to write more frequently starting now! i actually found this recipe quite awhile ago and in a fit of procrastination, made this incredible pancake muffins. the logic behind them is basically that sometimes you just don't feel like making pancakes, so if you make muffins that are actually pancakes, you'll have them for a few days AND you can dip them in syrup. what a sweet combination. i made a few healthy substitutions in the recipe, which i've noted...so i suggest making these, even if you're trying eat well =]

Mini Maple Chocolate Chip Pancake Muffins.
(adapted from bakerella)

1 cup flour (*i used whole wheat)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons sugar (*i used splenda)
2/3 cup buttermilk (*i used skim milk mixed with a few drops of lemon juice and let it sit for 5 minutes)
1 egg
2 tablespoons pure maple syrup (*i used low fat syrup)
2 tablespoons melted butter
1/2 cup milk chocolate chips (*i used dark chocolate! but mostly because i prefer it...)

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and sugar in a medium bowl. Sift together with a wire whisk.
  • In another bowl, stir buttermilk, egg, maple syrup and melted butter until just combined.
  • Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and stir with a spoon until combined.
  • Stir in chocolate chips. Reserve a few chips to sprinkle on the tops.
  • Bake for 8-9 minutes.

Makes 12 mini pancake muffins.

Let cool slightly and remove from the pan. You may need to use a toothpick around the edges to separate the pancake muffins from the pan.
Serve with warmed butter if you like or even just with maple syrup.


Tuesday, August 4, 2009

something both really awesome and a little bizarre...

today i discovered these bathtubs...that are shaped like stilletos. and, while i'm a little perplexed as to why or how anyone would ever have one of these, i can't help but admit how much i'd love to have one in my own bathroom. they're designed by an art mosaic company called sicis and have their own name - the audrey. they come in three different designs and measure 165cm or 65" tall at their highest point as well as 270cm or 106" in length. i don't particularly love the designs, but i think the concept itself is kind of cool, and not to mention unusual. on second thought, i'd probably prefer one in solid white or black...

Monday, August 3, 2009

new obsession: pete oyler

i came across pete oyler's work the other and was in complete awe. the first thing i saw were his stretch shelves that consist of something that looks like a really wide and sturdy rubber band plus three to four (or maybe more?) pegs that go into the wall. both modern and practical, these shelves are the perfect decoration for a contemporary home. they come in fun, bright colors, too!




oyler is originally from louisville, KY, but now resides in Brooklyn after graduating from RISD in furniture design. i'd characterize his pieces as somewhat quirky and definitely unusual, two things important to cheer up any room. while you can't purchase his art through his website yet, i'm sure it will be available sometime soon...at least we can hope!



Thursday, July 30, 2009

apparently inanimate objects can be polite...

perfect for city-dwellers, i came across this "polite umbrella" designed by jooyoun paek. because it can easily scrunch up just a touch, it's perfect for battling the streets of any crowd in the pouring rain. i'd like to somehow obtain one of these myself, but i can't seem to find a way to purchase it. nonetheless, this umbrella, amongst other clever creations from paek, can be viewed at his website: http://jooyounpaek.com/politeumbrella.html

before...
after...!!


Thursday, July 23, 2009

i still can't get over this...

last week's contemporary routine from SYTYCD...jeanine and jason dancing to "if it kills me" by jason mraz. choreographed by the one and only travis wall (:


Tuesday, July 21, 2009

stages: art for a cause

this is a bit delayed because i actually discovered these awesome bikes a few days ago, but better late than never! so, lance armstrong has now collaborated with Nike in asking 20 professional artists to design bikes to raise funds for cancer awareness. the project is entitled "stages" and the exhibit to display the bikes and other artwork will continue until august 8th at Galerie Emmanuel Perrotin in Paris during the length of the Tour de France. it will then travel to new york city in october before moving to los angeles. all proceeds will go to the Lance Armstrong Foundation and some of the bikes (designed by artists Kaws, Shepard Fairey, Marc Newson, Kenny Scharf, Yoshitomo Nara and Damien Hirst) will actually go to lance himself for remaining 2009 races. pretty awesome, eh?



Thursday, July 16, 2009

something else i want - a cupcake tub.




despite the fact that these remind me of my all time favorite food (cupcakes), they seem to be quite useful, versatile and adorable. these "sweet cake tubs" can be found on this german website for a whopping 149 euros ($210). but, if you're using the cupcake-liner look-a-like as a pet bed, planter, sand box or wading pool, i think it's worth it. so awesome.


via: allthingscupcake.com