OOTD: Plaid Fleece and Denim

Sometimes (okay, most of the time) when it's cold, snowy, and generally blah out, you just want to be comfy and warm.  Now, since we can't go about our daily business wrapped in a quilt, or dare I say it, go to the office in a snuggy, we have to have classier ways to keep warm on those colder days.  This plaid shirt-dress is one of those solutions for me.  It's made of a light fleece, has long sleeves, and even has pockets to keep my lip balm handy.  Score, am I right?! Throw on a belt to cinch in the waist, and you're in business.

THE DEETS

Plaid Shirtdress: Winners

Denim Jacket: Charlotte Russe

Belt: Urban Outfitters (remixed here and here)

Leggings: Filene's Basement

Boots: Shellys (remixed here)

Branch Brooch: Old Weston

Paired with a cropped denim jacket and my favourite black boots, I keep nice and toasty and don't look so bad, either! And that right there is a sure fix for those winter blahs.

As a fun bonus, here's a shot of the handsome photographer, and the stupid face I kept making during this shoot to crack us both up, and also because I was cold.  I don't know why he continues to date me.  Guess I'm just lucky.

--Erin

2013 Goals: January Update

Well folks, we're all but one month through 2013.  I'd like to say that it's going by too quickly, but the weather in Ontario through January and February is totally miserable, so, can we just skip right ahead to March already? Please?

In the mean time, the nasty weather has kept me indoors more, and I have tried to keep busy and make a little progress on some of my goals.  So let's see how things are shaping up!

• blog 4 times a week  so far, so good! Steadily writing 4 posts per week!
• complete my 365 Days of iPhone Photos project Check my updates HERE
• complete one photo-an-hour post for each month Sunday Jan.27! Will post soon.
• save my pennies and purchase a new laptop to replace the 8 year old glorified paperweight Okay, Technically I didn't save up in the new year, but finally decided to spend some of the money I already had saved on a new laptop.  BEST DECISION EVER.  Blogging and photo editing is so much easier now! I got a little 13" Macbook Pro, and named him Verne. ♥♥♥
• take a trip  I've been looking up dream destinations in the USA, but no solid plans yet.  I can't travel till October, so there's no real rush.
• create more, and consume less Netflix (or knit while I watch!) Verne has made watching some New Girl (I think I finally get that show.  maybe?) while I craft into my evening me-time perfection.  I'm working hard, and have something funny to listen to all the while!
• read 6 books (this makes me sad.  how did it come to this?!) Only made a 100 page dent into Dune.  I need to dedicate solid blocks of time to reading, instead of just reading before bed for 30 mins or so, on and off.
• create an online portfolio No progress here, yet!
• look into continuing education Nor here, either.
• take my camera with me more (and invest in a serious camera bag) I'm trying, but without the camera bag this is tricky.  I have been using my iphone camera more, of course! Instaspam like whoa...
• invest more time and effort into friendships, old and new I've made some real efforts here, but I'd like to see myself working at this harder, and dedicating some time every week to Skype dates.  After all, Verne has a webcam (livin' large, folks).
• send 6 pieces of snail mail 0/6, but getting some goodies together to get started on this...
• build a small business There may be a big announcement coming... but I can't strike this from the list until then!!! (watch as I try to hide my excitement!!)
• exercise twice a week  I've been going to the gym 2 or 3 evenings a week.  Ephraim and I both have memberships to the gym near my house, and it's great motivation to be able to go with him when he's in town.
• take life drawing classes This sort of hinges on the car thing, so that I can get to and from said classes.  So, no drawing naked people this month...
• get a car Any day now!! My Dad has been teaching me to drive stick shift (I have my full license but have only driven automatic transmission), so once I get my car (My uncle is upgrading and giving me his old car.  How nice is that?!?) I'll still have a couple weeks of slow and steady country driving before I feel comfortable driving to Toronto, but I'm getting there.  I just get nervous too easily about making the next jump in skill level.  Practice, practice, practice! 

I'm really happy with how I've been doing with my goals so far.  Many of these are lifestyle changes, so they'll never really be crossed off the list, but checking in every month or so (I'll likely cut it down once I feel like these new habits have set in) will help keep me on track.  It feels pretty good!

--Erin 

365 Project: Days 15-28

15// Brick Layin'  16// Chainsmoking Pug Is Out Of Cigs

17// I'm Just A Little Rusty  18// All That Glitters Is Not Gold

19// Fly Away Home  20// A Little Birdie Told Me

21// Seated In Fields Of Blue Flowers  22// Condensed Nation

23// Sugar And Spice  24// Without

25// Why So Serious?  26// And My Head Is Swimming

27// Atop Sugar Mountain  28// Stabbed Through The Heart

I'm starting to really appreciate being able to see phases of my year through these photos.  So many of these shots were taken in my home studio.  I'm really into jewelry making right now, and these photos remind me of that.  I look forward to seeing photos of painting supplies, when that phase hits me! 

As yet, not all of the photos are created equal.  I'm really getting the hang of the macro lens, it's by far my favourite of the three offered in the Olloclip.  It creates a lovely shallow depth of field, and a bokeh effect on what's out of focus that's just buttery smooth.  I love even photographing lights completely out of focus with it, as seen on day 26.  Dreamy.

I keep wondering about what I'd like to do with my photos after this 365 project is over.  Initially I had wanted to make a book of all 365 photos, but as the quality of photo currently ranges pretty widely, I think I may prefer to be a little more selective and make collages of some sort for the best or most meaningful photos of each month.  Anyhow, I've got over 330 days to decide!!

Are you working on a year long project?  How is it going?

--Erin

Like an Animal in a Cage

On Christmas Eve, I was on my own in Niagara-on-the-Lake.  I enjoy those days alone when I don't have work, as it is very seldom that I have time to spend in whatever way I please.  I headed in to town, made a stop at Balzac's (which I wrote about here), did a little grocery and shoe shopping, and headed home on a different route than normal.  I intended to swing by one of the cemeteries in town (those photos are coming!), and having been out for a little while longer than I had planned, the batteries on my iPod ran out.  This turned out to be fortuitous for me, as walking down the street I heard the very angry chattering of a squirrel I would have totally missed otherwise.

This fat little fellow had obviously been living in the walls of this gorgeous old house. They had set up this little cage to trap him when he made his (final) exit, so he wouldn't do any more damage to the home and he could be dropped off a short ways away.  He was very displeased about his situation, and perhaps angrier still about me taking pictures of him while he was stuck in a cage... but he was so fluffy and angry and I just couldn't help myself.  

So thanks little squirrel for posing for me... not that you had much of a choice in the matter!  Squirrels can be a big nuisance and do a fair amount of damage on old homes, and as some of the homes in town are as much as 170 years old, these little critters do have a habit of getting in where they are not welcome! That being said, I see a lot of fat happy squirrels around, so they're getting by just fine, despite whatever temporary incarceration they may endure.  So there's a bit of fluffy goodness to start your day :).

--Erin (and Mr. Nutters the Squirrel)

Super Brunch Sunday: Cinnamon Buns

I am a big fan of sweet breakfasts, if you couldn't tell from the Super Brunch Sunday recipes posted thus far!  What can I say, I have a sweet tooth that just won't quit.    I have always been a big fan of cinnamon buns, but after Saint Cinnamon disappeared from my local malls (my step-mom could always get me to be patient as a kid while she ran errands or shopped for gifts at the mall with the promise of a pecan cinnamon bun) I gave up eating them unless I was "baking" some Pillsbury ones.  I know this will make me mighty unpopular, but I do not care for Cinnabon.  And friends, after you try your hand at these overnight cinnamon rolls, you are breaking up with Cinnabon too.  Because after you eat these, you are never going to want to buy a bun that's been sitting under a heat lamp for hours, ever ever again.  I am freeing you from the shackles of mass produced cinnamon rolls.  Freedom ain't never tasted so, so sweet.

I was inspired to try my hand making cinnamon buns after I read Emma's post on A Beautiful Mess about how she loves to make cinnamon buns for Christmas morning.  I've put this baking adventure off for some time, because I was scared to make my own dough, and I had never worked with yeast before.  Well, I do learn best by doing, so in celebration of my friend Jamie's birthday (the very man who inspired Super Brunch Sundays!!), I bit the bullet and baked up a batch of these babies. 

Cinnamon Buns (recipe by Alton Brown, with my notes added)

Ingredients

Dough:

• 4 large egg yolks, room temperature
• 1 large whole egg, room temperature
• 2 ounces sugar, approximately 1/4 cup
• 3 ounces unsalted butter, melted, approximately 6 tablespoons
• 6 ounces buttermilk, room temperature
• 20 ounces all-purpose flour, approximately 4 cups, plus additional for dusting
• 1 package instant dry yeast, approximately 2 1/4 teaspoons
• 1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt
• Vegetable oil or cooking spray

Filling:

• 8 ounces light brown sugar, approximately 1 cup packed
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• Pinch salt
• 3/4-ounce unsalted butter, melted, approximately 1 1/2 tablespoons

Icing:

• 2 1/2 ounces cream cheese, softened, approximately 1/4 cup
• 3 tablespoons milk
• 5 1/2 ounces powdered sugar, approximately 1 1/2 cups

Method

In the bowl of a stand mixer with the whisk attachment, whisk the egg yolks, whole egg, sugar, butter, and buttermilk. Add approximately 2 cups of the flour along with the yeast and salt; whisk until moistened and combined. Remove the whisk attachment and replace with a dough hook. Add all but 3/4 cup of the remaining flour and knead on low speed for 5 minutes. Check the consistency of the dough, add more flour if necessary; the dough should feel soft and moist but not sticky. Knead on low speed 5 minutes more or until the dough clears the sides of the bowl. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface; knead by hand about 30 seconds. Lightly oil a large bowl. Transfer the dough to the bowl, lightly oil the top of the dough, cover and let double in volume, 2 to 2 1/2 hours.   

Seriously, just go watch a movie and let the yeast work some magic.

Combine the brown sugar, cinnamon and salt in a medium bowl. Mix until well incorporated. Set aside until ready to use.
Butter a 9 by 13-inch glass baking dish. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface. Gently shape the dough into a rectangle with the long side nearest you. Roll into an 18 by 12-inch rectangle. Brush the dough with the 3/4-ounce of melted butter, leaving 1/2-inch border along the top edge. Sprinkle the filling mixture over the dough, leaving a 3/4-inch border along the top edge; gently press the filling into the dough. Beginning with the long edge nearest you, roll the dough into a tight cylinder. Firmly pinch the seam to seal and roll the cylinder seam side down. Very gently squeeze the cylinder to create even thickness. Using a serrated knife, slice the cylinder into 1 1/2-inch rolls; yielding 12 rolls. Arrange rolls cut side down in the baking dish; cover tightly with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator overnight or up to 16 hours.

 Sleep on it.  It'll be delish in the morning.

Remove the rolls from the refrigerator and place in an oven that is turned off. Fill a shallow pan 2/3-full of boiling water and set on the rack below the rolls. Close the oven door and let the rolls rise until they look slightly puffy; approximately 30 minutes. Remove the rolls and the shallow pan of water from the oven.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
When the oven is ready, place the rolls on the middle rack and bake until golden brown, or until the internal temperature reaches 190 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer, approximately 30 minutes.
While the rolls are cooling slightly, make the icing by whisking the cream cheese in the bowl of a stand mixer until creamy. Add the milk and whisk until combined. Sift in the powdered sugar, and whisk until smooth. Spread over the rolls and serve immediately.

Yields 12 rolls. 

Notes from the editor (aka me):
Next time, I won't even bother using my stand mixer for this.  The dough was VERY sticky, and I had to fight it off with a spatula when it tried to envelop the entirety of my mixer.  Not fun.  After my "The Blob" moment, I opted to mix with a whisk and a wooden spoon, and kneaded entirely by hand. 
When it came to the icing, I went a little more free form and added milk and sugar until I got a consistency that I liked.  This recipe makes a very generous quantity of icing!! 
Next time I make these, I am also going to roll them across the wide end, and make 6-8 larger rolls instead of 12 smaller ones.  Because who am I kidding, I'm not only going to eat one of the small ones.

So, what are you making for brunch this Sunday?
--Erin