Fine and Feathered

Fluffy & Yummy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Over the first few months we were married, I probably tried over twenty different cookie recipes and the two biggest problems I had (besides just finding the "perfect" cookie") was finding a recipe that would consistantly come out the same, and also one that I didn't need to use 3 sticks of butter for (I mean, come on, there's only two of us - we don't need 5 dozen cookies!).

Finally I adapted a Martha Stewart Recipe (which, oddly enough, wasn't even for Chocolate Chip cookies) and I was in love! They're nice and fluffy, but with a little bit of crunch on the sides and bottom! While I enjoy a crispy, crunchy cookie now and then, fluffy is my forte:)

One of the biggest things that I've found to aide in getting the same perfect cookies every single time is to make sure you weigh your flour out. I use my little postage scale we got online for just a few bucks and I now weigh my flour out for almost every recipe - I highly reccomend it!

 

INGREDIENTS

7 Ounces of AP Flour
1/2 tsp Baking Soda
1/8 tsp of Salt
1/2 Tsp of CInnamon
1 Stick of Butter (Room Temp)
2 Eggs (Room Temp)
1/4 Cup of White Sugar
2/3 Cup of Dark Brown Sugar
1 tsp of Vanilla
3/4 Cup of Chocolate Chips

I start by measuring out my flour with just my little postage scale. It's usually about a cup and a half, but I highly suggest doing it by weight.
Then whisk in your salt, baking soda and cinnamon.

Butter&Sugars // Finished Dough

Cream together the butter and both sugars. Add in eggs, one at a time - scraping down the bowl in between, then add in vanilla. Scrape down the bowl, then slowly add in flour mixture, while mixing on the slowest setting and mix untill fully combined.

I like to mix the chips in by hand, but I'm sure you can just toss them into the mixer too.

Now it's time to refrigerate!
Yep. That's what I said.
I always refrigerate my cookie dough for at least a half hour - more if I'm not dying for a cookie fix. It really seems to help both the flavor and texture of the cookies, I've found.

Then preheat your oven to 350F, bake for 8-12 minutes (keep an eye on them the first time - you want them to start tanning on the edges, but still be slightly doughy in the center). Remove from oven, let sit for a minute and then move to a cooling rack.
Make sure you keep the dough refrigerated between batches!

Makes about 1&1/2 dozen

 

Enjoy:)

Betina Lou S/S12

Have you seen Betina Lou's Spring/Summer Collection yet?
I almost think they stole it right from my dreams:)

I adore how classic, yet totally fun all these looks are!

via Delightfully Tacky

What Season is it?

 
Is it really February?
If I didn't know any better, I'd think it was november.
Overcast skies, windy days, and yet still almost 50 degreees? Where are the pumpkins?

Perhaps that's why I felt the need to channel all sorts of fall colors today.

 

 Thrifted Shirt // Gap Skirt // Target Tights // Thrifted Shoes & Belt //
Feather bracelet (Gift) Braided Bracelet (homemade)

Dumpster Diving

I'm a trashpicker, it's true.
It's mostly just my moms trash though, so that's okay, right?

Whenever I hear she's going to get rid of something, I volunteer to take it. And quite often ask, "um... are you by any chance getting rid of this too?" It's bad. Real bad.

So when I heard she was getting rid of some bookshelves, I jumped on the chance to fill some of the empty spaces in the house. Unfortunantly, the shelves had been sitting in the dusty attic for years and were a horrid shade of cream, had all sorts of mystery stains, and were covered in random stickers and labels. So a little sanding down and plenty of white paint later and we have a nice little bookshelf for the dining room! I'm actually quite fond of it now:)

Oh, and did I mention that she was also geting rid of this adorable little globe? I couldn't say no! And those giant polaroids were all left-over marketing from the store I used to work at.

What can I say? I have a hard time saying no to "free!"

 

I'm on ABeatifulMess Today!

Ah! I'm so excited! I've been reading Elsie's blog for years now and am so excited that she chose to feature my Dress ReStyle! It's truly an honor for me!

I did want to say one little thing too! I noticed just glancing through the comments that a few people were disapointed I had altered the dress. Honestly, when I bought that dress I didn't plan on altering it, thinking it was cute too. Now I wish I had taken the "before" photo with the dress  on me, because it was truly dreadful! The sleeves were so puffy they came up to about the top of my ears and the dress was a very akward somewhere-between-the-knees-and-ankles length.
I would never alter an already pretty dress - I promise!

Make sure you check it out over on Elsie's Blog!