Links I Love

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Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

  1. I did my own, Kate did too.  Beauty guru Bobbi Brown shares her tips for doing your own wedding make-up. (yahoo.beauty.com)
  2. Turn your own handwriting into a font for your computer, for free. (myscriptfont.com)
  3. Bloggers always need good photos, and sometimes you can't take your own.  Here are the top 10 websites for free, non-cheesy stock photos. (creative boom.co.uk)
  4. He may have left us in person in 1991, but he lives on in his works. Dr. Seuss' new release will need to be added to our library. (amazon.com)
  5. 6 super-weird beauty tricks that work wonders: I'm trying the first one tomorrow. (thebeautygypsy.com)
  6. Check out this guy's Instagram: he brings beauty to doodles. (instagram.com)
  7. You had me at "chocolate".  They've compiled the best chocolate recipes in the universe. (purewow.com)
  8. For you frequent travelers, find out the quality of your hotel's wifi before you book. (hotelwifitest.com)
  9. I'm always looking for new recipes, I might get addicted to this Tender app. Downloading now. (yahoo.com)

InstaReplay + GIVEAWAY

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If you don't already follow me (@everydaystilettos) on Instagram, today is a good day to check me out.  Around 3:30pmPST, to be exact.  ;)  I've teamed up with a group of fellow bloggers and shops to offer a great prize to one of our mutual followers. Come check it out!

In the meantime, here's a recap of the latest goings on:

 
 


 

Just a few (9, to be exact)

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  1. Want to eat healthy but get bored with what that usually means?  Check out these 30 Superfood Recipes you've never tried before. (greatest.com)
  2. Sometimes you're just at the right place at the right time, and you look up.  This photographer did. (grindtv.com)
  3. If you feel your brain is wasting away, here are 17 websites that will make you smarter. (entrepreneur.com)
  4. We're having a drought, people! 5 water-saving beauty tips. (purewow.com)
  5. We all have inner super-heros. Especially these beautiful children. (themighty.com)
  6. Small closet but big fashion appetite? Here are 9 ways to rent clothing. (purewow.com)
  7. Spring clean (or I guess now it would be summer clean) your make-up drawer, here are the only 6 lipsticks you'll ever need. (yahoo.com)
  8. Who knew you could hack ice cream? These are kinda genius. (yahoo.com)
  9. And speaking of hacks, 101 lifehacks for the home.  (I seriously love this knife block one.) (glamumous.co.uk)

Summer Cake

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Probably should have posted this before the holiday weekend, because I think it goes so well as dessert with barbeques, but since we still have a couple months of summer, and therefore (hopefully) more barbeques, here's a very yummy (and easy-from-scratch) cake.

I should have used more strawberries than I did, but it was still super yummy.  It's sure to be a hit.  I mean, who doesn't like strawberries?

Fresh Strawberry Yogurt Cake

Ingredients

·         1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
·         2 cups granulated sugar
·         3 large eggs
·         Zest of one lemon
·         3 tablespoons lemon juice, divided (1 and 2)
·         2 1/2 cups all purpose flour, divided (2 1/4 and 1/4)
·         1/2 teaspoon baking soda
·         1/2 teaspoon salt
·         8 oz plain or vanilla Greek yogurt
·         12 oz fresh strawberries, diced
·         1 cup powdered sugar

Directions

1.        Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease and flour a 10 inch Bundt cake pan.
2.        Sift together the 2 1/4 cups of flour, baking soda, and salt.  Mix in the lemon zest and set aside.
3.        With an electric mixer, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in one tablespoon of lemon juice.

 
 


4.        Alternate beating in the flour mixture and the yogurt, mixing just until incorporated.
5.        Toss the strawberries with the remaining 1/4 of flour.  Gently mix them into the batter.

 
 


6.        Pour the batter into the Bundt pan.  Place in the oven and reduce the temperature to 325 degrees.  Bake for 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
7.        Allow to cool at least 20 minutes in the pan, then turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely.
8.       Whisk together the remaining 2 tablespoons lemon juice and the powdered sugar.  Drizzle over the top of the cake.

 
 

9. Enjoy!  Click HERE for a printable version of the recipe.

 
 

Note: the thickness of the batter will vary based on your greek yogurt.  Thicker yogurt yields thicker batter, which means the berries won't sink to the bottom of the pan (top of the cake) as much.  Thinner/runnier yogurt will yield thinner batter, and berries may all end up at the bottom of the pan (top of the cake.) Still just as good, just looks a little different than mine here.
 

Breakfast Eureka - Plenti: Packed Full of Goodness

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Disclaimer: Sponsored Post. Click here; see below.

I'm terrible about eating breakfast. They say it's the most important meal of the day, and on a leisurely day I do like to eat breakfast. I love breakfast foods, but on a regular morning, feeding myself is the last of my priorities. In fact, after getting myself up and dressed, the kid up and dressed, his meals for the day packed, the dog walked, our bags packed and everything into the car, usually breakfast doesn't even make it ON the morning priority list. After taking care of everyone and everything else, I neglect to take care of me. And I know I'm not the only mom to do so.

 
 

I need something full and healthy that I can grab and go. I don't have the mental energy to spend time on my own food. That's why this new hearty Greek yogurt from Yoplait is so great. Plenti yogurt cups come in 8 different flavors (a variety of fruits, and vanilla, my personal fave), and in addition to their smooth flavor and texture are loaded with oats, flax seeds and pumpkin seeds. Greek yogurts can tend to be on the tart side, which usually means I have to take a minute to doctor it up with honey or something, but these are just the right amount of sweet that they need nothing extra.  Just grab and go.

 
 

The addition of the oats, flax and pumpkin seeds add extra texture to the yogurt, but I'm good with that.  Pumpkin seeds have great nutritional benefits (magnesium, zinc, anti-oxidants, to name a few), and flax seeds are high in protein and fiber to help keep you full.  

 
 

I actually like even more crunch, so I do keep some sliced almonds on hand and add a topping. I actually don't need much more than this for a filling breakfast, and I feel good about myself for remembering to eat and for actually eating something good for me. 

 
 

This little cup has simplified my mornings - eureka! - and gives me energy to start my day.  If you're like me, you'll be so happy with this find!  Let me know what you think!