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Layered Red Velvet Cake with Creme Fraiche Frosting Recipe

 

This red velvet cake recipe, from Baked: New Frontiers in Baking by Matt Lewis and Renato Poliafito, is one of my favorite tested versions.  The creme fraiche frosting recipe from Martha Stewart Living Magazine is equally not too sweet and spreads easily.

 

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Round-Up, Halloween Pumpkin Carving and Decorating Ideas

 

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Entertaining Hollywood Style, A Backyard Movie Screening Night

 

An outdoorsy movie night is such a fun way to gather friends and take advantage of fall’s crisp cooler weather.

The talented duo from Bash, Please put together this inspiring photo shoot for Design Sponge and Brandon Kidd Photography captured all the gorgeous details.  Vintage props from Found Rentals were used to set the scene.

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South Asian Beef and Potato Biryani Recipe

 

This fragrant rice casserole once reserved for the Royals of the Nawabs and Nizams and special occasions is now considered common dish; reflecting traditions and flavors that have evolved throughout centuries.  Using beef and potatoes in the recipe is just one of many variants of biryani that is prepared in South Asia.

Trying to pin point the origins of a dish is hard enough, so I’m not going to go deep into the culinary anthropology of biryani.

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Real Kids Parties, Swim Cap Invitation Inspired Summer Pool Party

 
 

Inspired by the adorable Sweetie Swim Cap vintage invitation collection by Loralee Lewis, photographer Kelly Anderson styled, hosted and photographed this colorful activities-filled summer pool party for her pre-school aged daughters.

 
You can’t go wrong with sparkling blue waters, oversized lounge chairs, yellow sun umbrellas and colorful flip flops.  Add water balloons, bubble-blowers, squirt guns and your own poolside photo booth and props to the equation and you end up with an amazingly memorable fun day.

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Bulgur and Beef Stuffed Vegetables, a Levantine Recipe

 

This recipe for stuffed vegetables is down-right comfort food; whether referred to as Meesov Tsavari Letsk in Armenian, Mehshi bi Burghul in the Middle East, or Dolma throughout the Levant.

Bulgur is a wheat cereal that is usually sold parboiled, dried, ground, and sifted into distinct sizes.  It can be found in natural food stores as well as ethnic and traditional grocery stores.  It differs from cracked wheat in that it is pre-cooked.

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Atmosfere Neorealiste: Anima Latina e Seduzioni Retro, Wendy Bevan

Italian for Neorealistic Atmosphere, Latin Soul and the Return of Seduction.  A fashion photography shoot for Marie Claire Italy (May 2009).  Photographed in Cuba by Wendy Bevan; modeled by Elisa Sednaoui.

Wendy Bevan’s Italian-Neorealism influenced Polaroid film sets have been featured in numerous publications including Italian Marie Claire, Harpers Bazaar, Russian Vogue, The Observer, Lula, The Independent and Financial Times.

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Vintage Preppy, an Engagement Photo Shoot by Tinywater Photography

 

Paper flowers, stacks of vintage books, cute props, an antique car and typewriter, old luggage bags and more.  An amazing styled “Vintage Preppy” photo shoot from the talented duo Caroline and Daniel behind Tinywater Photography.

I have been a fan of Tinywater Photography’s hip, fun and offbeat photographs for a long time now; and have come across many of their beautiful shots over the years.  There is something about their artistic style that catches your eye and who better to describe their style other than the artists themselves.

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DIY Tutorial: Hanging String-Bound Kokedama Moss Balls

 

 
photo credit: String Gardens 

 

A few weeks back I posted an article titled Modern & Eco-Friendly Indoor Gardens in which I talked about string gardens by Fedor van der Valk.  As promised, here is a tutorial on how to make your own hanging string-bound Kokedama moss balls.

Kokedama is an old Japanese botanic art form which has been lately revived.   The following tutorial with accompanying instructional photos are courtesy of Sicilian-born Amsterdam-based designer Aura Scaringi from  Miss Moussetache.  A portfolio of her work can be found at Mimimou; an urban exploration, graphic design and illustration studio.

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Honey & Mackie’s Ice Cream Shop, Branding by Wink

 

Honey & Mackie’s packaging design by Wink is both modern and nostalgic.  I absolutely love the concept of enclosing rainbow colored and striking typography within a profile silhouette.

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Herbed Green Olive, Pomegranate and Walnut Salad Recipe

 

Herbed green olive, pomegranate and walnut salad.  Is this a salad or a relish?  I always find myself asking that.  I think it can go either way, because it is equally delicious when served with bread.

Super easy.  All you have to do is grab a handful of firm green olives, preferably a variety with a slight bitterness to it, and combine it with some fresh herbs, pomegranate arils, and walnuts.  The dressing is made with essential ingredients commonly found in the cuisine of Armenia, the Levant and surrounding regions.

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Orla Kiely is Opening in New York’s Trendy SoHo

 

The Irish-born London-based designer Orla Kiely will open her first U.S. store on 5 Mercer Street in SoHo this September.

You might recognize her graphic retro prints, mod designs and tailored coats; but did you know that Orla Kiely has published her first book “Pattern” and been awarded an honorary OBE in recognition of her services to business and the fashion industry.

It is always fun to go through runway fashion photos, but it is even better to watch a season’s collection film that keeps you wanting more.  It is what inspired today’s post.  Even though Summer is halfway through, I found it very befitting to feature “From London with Love”, a fashion film featuring Orla Kiely’s Spring/Summer 2011 collection; directed by Gia Coppola.

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