What I Wore | We All Scream for Ice Cream!

WhatIWore: We did something kind of fun this weekend - ice cream before dinner! It was our first time of the season to hit up our favorite little local ice cream place - the Chocolate Moose - and Felix’s first order. He’s got a thing for sprinkles - but he calls them TicTacs! He accidentally got into a pack of real TicTacs a couple months ago and every time we see them at the grocery check out (annoyingly shelved at kid height! ugh!) he just goes berserk. So anyway, the other day I was baking cupcakes for my friends and put some rainbow sprinkles on top and he shouted “TAC TIC!!!” (he says it backwards). Ever since it’s all TicTacs slash sprinkles, all the time. I give him one sprinkle as a treat, which he thinks is very special. Needless to say, our trip to the ice cream stand was a huge hit with our little boy… even though he ended up wearing more of them than eating them!  Read on for details on my new dress and sandals!

When: May 1, 2016

What:
Hat: Stars + Field (self made)
Shades: Target
Dress: gift courtesy of Tucker
Sandals: Birkenstock

Where: The Chocolate Moose!

The forecast says it’ll be chilly this week, so I used our outing to wear a sundress and sandals - both recent additions to my spring wardrobe. The dress was a gift.. I’ve always really liked Tucker prints (first from a Tucker for Target dress I used to wear all the time and then a blouse I bought off of Gilt. Given the chance to add another piece to my closet, especially this pretty print, I said yes! Thanks Gaby and the Tucker team! 

I went super casz on the shoes, although this dress looks great with heels for a more dressy look.  I finally picked up a pair of Birks after I saw a cool mom wearing them last weekend. Instead of the traditional double straps I picked a pair with slightly different styling. So far - I love them! 

Jessica Bakes | Mint Chocolate Cupcakes

I have been on a roll with baking cupcakes lately! A few weeks ago I did four dozen using spirits from my husband’s distillery for a party they held (see photos with details here and here) and then I did red velvet cupcakes for the Super Bowl. 

Today I’m sharing a recipe I’ve been tweaking for the past couple of weeks - Mint Chocolate Cupcakes! I think the key is in the kind of mint you use and how much… read on for details!

Chocolate Mint Cakes 

Yields 16

• 3 T butter, softened
  
• 2 eggs
  
• 1 C, 2T sugar
  
• 1 C flour
  
• ½ C unsweetened cocoa
  
• 1 ½ t baking powder
  
• 1/8 t baking soda
  
• ¾ C milk
  
• ½ t vanilla extract
  
• 1 drop peppermint extract
  
• 1 drop spearmint oil
  

Preheat your over to 350 and line your cupcake tin with parchment liners.

Cream together soft butter and sugar in a mixer until combined.  Add one egg at a time and mix thoroughly.

In another bowl, sift together remaining dry ingredients.

Add vanilla, spearmint and peppermint to milk.

Alternate adding dry and wet ingredients to batter, making sure to fully combine. 

Give it a good whip on high. Fill liners about half way to ¾ full using an ice cream scoop (this was a tool that really upped my game!)

Bake 17 minutes and check with a toothpick to ensure center is baked through (a clean toothpick means they are ready to come out!)

While they are cooling, prep your icing!

Mint Cream Cheese Icing with Oreos

This is my favorite icing base and I use it for every kind of flavor I do! Be VERY careful adding the mint extract and oil… the smallest amount goes a very long way and gives a wonderful nuance to the flavor. Too much and it tastes like toothpaste!

Yields enough to frost 16-20 cupcakes

• 6 oz cream cheese, softed
  
• 6 oz butter, softened
  
• 2 C powdered sugar
  
• 2 drops green food coloring
  
• 1 drop blue food coloring
  
• 1 drop spearmint oil*
  
• 1 drop peppermint extract*
  
• 2 Oreo Cookies, smashed
  

Cream together softened cream cheese and butter until fully combined and fluffy. 

Slowly add powdered sugar in ½ C increments.

Add food coloring and mix until pigment is combined.

*Now for the mint. Using a spoon, drip one drop of each flavor and let it roll off the spoon. Stir the icing with that spoon and remix to incorporate flavor. Taste your icing and repeat if necessary. 

When flavor is to your liking, fold in crumbled Oreo cookies, leaving enough crumbs to garnish your frosted cupcakes.

Once cupcakes have completely cooled, use a large star tip (Wilton 1M shown here) to ice and top with crumbled cookies. 

What I Wore | In Bloom

WhatIWore: I’m happy to say, spring is really, truly, FINALLY here! We had a gorgeous weekend and spent most of it outdoors. We were all over the place, but I’ll share more on that tomorrow! My new yellow circle skirt, remixed with a light sweater, jean jacket and comfy sandals were perfect for a full twelve hours of activity. 

When: April 11, 2015

What:
Shades: Karen Walker ‘Super Duper’
Mint Sweater: J.Crew
Jean Jacket: Anthropologie
Yellow Full Skirt: ModCloth
Bracelet: Self Made, DIY here
Shoes: Rockport, gift

What I Wore | Spring Blues

WhatIWore: Wouldn’t it be amazing if the calendar flipped to spring and all of a sudden the weather followed suit? Thankfully we don’t have snow like the East Coast, but it’s been pretty hum drum rainy and cold here. I’d love to break out my spring dresses and skirts but I know there will be plenty of time in the coming months.

On the bright side, I haven’t been able to wear these jeans in over a year and I’m so excited to have them on! Flares seems to be a style that never goes completely out but aren’t the it style right now either. I like them because I think they’re super flattering and I’ve had this particular pair in my closet for years.

When: March 24, 2015

What:
Shades: Karen Walker ‘Super Duper’
Scarf: Target (last season)
Mint Sweater: J.Crew
White Moto Jacket: MICHAEL Michael Kors (similar)
Jeans: Earnest Sewn (older style)
Booties: L.L. Bean Signature
Bag: Lancel

Where: Breakfast with my boys, errands

Why: Outfit wise, I kept thinking back to these photos and decided to do the same mint and white pairing on top. I added in a spring scarf to pull it all together, although I wish I would have had a little more time this morning to think about accessories. C’est la vie of a mom, i guess. 

See more MINT outfit ideas here.