Buttered Popcorn Cupcakes

Do you want to do something a little special for dessert while watching the Oscar's on Sunday night?  Well nothing says movies like buttered popcorn and nothing says chic dessert more than Buttered Popcorn Cupcakes.  What a fun little treat to mark the occasion.  What will Beautiful Mess think of next?

Cheesy and Easy

It looks like the cold weather is not done with us yet so if you have a busy week coming up and want something super easy without sacrificing taste? Then this Pork Guiso Verde is for you.  It takes about 10 minutes to prep and then you throw all ingredients in a slow cooker and the results were amazing.  A couple of side notes...I mixed the meat cubes with the spices before putting it in the pot, I used fat free cream cheese and it was still creamy and whole wheat tortilla chips added a nice crunch.  Also, it has some heat so if you don't like spicy than cut back on the green chilies.  Don't skimp on the cilantro it gives it a fresh taste that brings it home.  This dish is easy, inexpensive and really good!

Boudoir Lamp Revamp

I've recently started to attend estate sales.  It's a little wacky...people wise, adrenaline inducing, and I feel a little odd pilfering other people's stuff.  However, I never expected to love the heart racing feeling as they open the doors and everyone tears in like they are on an episode of The Grocery Game.  My main interest is Mid Century Modern which is coincidentally most other people's as well...so game on.

Let's start by saying that I've never owned or purchased, let alone refurbished, something that is 80 years old.  But I saw a little Boudoir lamp on a dusty shelf that had a combo of a milk glass base and a hobnail body that I couldn't resist.  I suspect at one point it also had a hobnail lamp shade that somehow met an unfortunate incident. 

This post is about the journey of a lovely little lamp that cost me $3 and started its life somewhere between the 1920's and 30's according to the fact that it had a cloth cord.  Also, almost everything in the house was from the same era...I'm quick like that.

This is what the shelf looked like where I grabbed it from.  I also wanted that green lamp and desk lamp but both were snatched moments before I could get to them.  I'm telling you this is no joke.

When we plugged it in, suprisingly it still worked, but wouldn't be safe due to the frayed cloth cord.  So my husband took it apart piece by piece in about 3 minutes.

After some intense cleaning we purchased a new socket set and electrical cord from Home Depot.  We also painted those three rings you see at the top with brass spray paint due to the fact they were so rusty they wouldn't clean up nicely.  Then reassembly began using tips from this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNcUst55t5s) and about 10 minutes and a few curse words later my husband had it reassembled. It really sounds like rewiring a lamp would be a major undertaking but it was actually quite easy!

I purchased a new lamp shade and with all the parts we spent about $30.  But it was a very gratifying project and now we have a little piece of history on our bedside table.

Link Love

CasaSugar
Cool way to store your sunglasses.

Damn Delicious
Caprese Tomato Soup

The Graphics Fairy
Piece of wood plus cloche=awesome place for succulents

Lakyn  + Judah
Smore's donuts

Asian Cucumber Salad

Lately my sides have been getting a little stale.  I tend to lean towards roasted brussel sprouts, green beans and cauliflower.  When I saw this Asian Cucumber Salad it looked refreshing and easy.  It actually looks like a summer dish but I bet the vinegary combo would be delicious with wintery roasted meats.

The Apricot Hamantini

I'm thinking of hosting a brunch over the next couple of weekends and I was putting together a menu when I ran across this.  The Apricot Hamantini from Busy in Brooklyn.  When serving brunch I like to serve a sweet and a savory cocktail.  The Bloody Mary/Ceasar is a no-brainer but I always struggle a little with the sweet drink.  I'm going to give this a go and serve it in a short water glass with the cookies on the rim.  I think it will pair nicely with a rich egg dish and vinegary salad dressing.

DIY Projects

I am somewhat of a DIY poser.  I like a lot of DIY ideas and can appreciate the sheer genius in them, as well as, the cost efficiency.  However, I don't have a lot of space and I am pretty mechanically disinclined.  However, the posing stops now.  I've decided to give myself 4 months for 4 projects that interest me.  Wanna jump on the bandwagon?  Here is a few concepts I like.

Copper Dipped Vases

New Dog Beds for Rosie and Ruby

This Designer Knock Off Velvet Heart Pillow

A Gold Leaf Puppy Canvas (I'm going to do mine really small-ha!)

Snack Time

I thought I would write about something a little healthier than cake.  If you're like me you get a craving for a little something sweet about twice a day.  Well how about grabbing a vitamin C packed orange that just happens to have a little chocolate in the mix.  Check out these amazing looking chocolate dipped blood oranges.  They used white chocolate I would imagine to counter balance the tartness of the orange but you could use dark or milk if you prefer.

Link Love

A Feast for the Eyes
Coconut and lemon bread with salted honey!

Home Stories
Love this photo book.  I think it is for commercial use but why not fill it with fun black and white memories?

Crooks and Nannies
Great table.

Savoring the Thyme
Italian Shrimp Antipasto

Enough is Enough

The snow just keeps coming and coming and coming.  The household needs a pick-me-up.  I thought we needed to be reminded of one of our favorite summer traditions...eating lobster.  Although, I wanted it to be a little different than the way we celebrate the first days of summer.  So I dug around and found this Brown Butter Lobster and Spinach Pizza with fontina and bacon.  I'm going to pair with a nice Rose (usually reserved for summer only) and eat it picnic style on the floor.  Can't wait.

Salted Caramel and Chocolate Cake

I know...I know...I talk a lot about cake.  Which is kinda crazy because I don't eat a lot of cake, I save it for special occasions.  Apparently that doesn't stop me from thinking about it.  The thing I love about this particular cake from Sweet Paul is that you don't have to worry about making it perfect.  I think the icing of the cake always causes a bit of stress because it takes some practice and who wants to go through all the trouble of baking layers to mess up the final product.  Where there is a whisk, there is a way.

Small Symbols

Some people feel that Valentine's Day is a commercial holiday that is intended to make people spend money.  Most likely that is the case.  However, I don't think it is such a bad thing to have a day dedicated to appreciating loved ones.  I mean really...it's one day people and you don't need to spend a fortune.  If you just want to acknowledge the day and maybe be a little cheeky in the sentiment, here are a few cute ways.

The Sweetest Occasion

Spoonful 
***Great message for his/her morning coffee.

Etsy

Creative Greed
***I would write this little note and attach to his cell phone.

Valentine's Date Night

Valentine's Day is on a Friday this year, so the pressure is on.  We talked about going out somewhere but the truth of the matter is that most tables in NYC are about 6 inches from another.  It's really hard to be romantic in this situation.  So, I think we'll make a nice dinner and maybe do a makeshift spa night and no t.v. allowed.  What do you have planned?  Here's whats up my sleeve.

Arugula Salad with beets, goat cheese and walnuts

Beef Wellington Tarts

Chocolate Pots de Creme for Two

Link Love

The Flair Exchange
If your significant other is strictly a beer drinker, this is a great way to kick it up a notch for V-day.

Hungry Rabbit
Strawberry Banana milkshake cake...great for a Valentine's day dessert.

Untitled
Looks like a great way to spend a romantic Friday night.

The Cottage Market
Don't forget to spread the love to the pups as well with some homemade pizza treats.

Valentine's for your Sweetie!

Check out these adorable free downloadable valentines.  Love the colors.