Last Minute Costumes

…that aren't Eleven from Stranger Things (although I'm definitely not against it).

TV or Movie characters always make good last minute costumes, because most looks can be recreated with things you already own. But it is still important to pick a character with a very distinctive look. Because no matter how perfect a recreation is, there's always that risk of looking like you forgot to put on a costume (especially to people who don't know that you don't dress like Rory Gilmore on a daily basis). So here are three easy and foolproof ideas:

Angie Tribeca 

Get a pantsuit that's just a little too big, a police officer set from the toy store, and most importantly bangs! If you're not a brunette I'd go with a cheap wig, but if you are then clip on ones (or scissors) will do the job just fine. Bonus points if you find a friend with an orange jump suit and a fancy belt who can go as Diane Duran. Oh, and if you're not watching the funniest show on TV, then you need to drop everything and fix that right now.

Chanel #3

I love her to pieces, and there are so many options for this. Sorority Girl #3, Med Student #3, or my personal favorite (and probably the easiest costume) Mental Patient #3. You need grey sweats (1&2), slippers, and a hospital gown, and of course the iconic earmuffs. Comfiest costume ever.

Corey from Empire Records 

I've always wanted to do this, and someday I definitely will.  Liv Tyler's iconic outfit is one of the easiest, but most recognizable looks ever.  Fuzzy sweater (over a red bra if you're a perfectionist), plaid skirt, worker boots, and done. Now all that's missing is your empire records employee badge and maybe a Rex Manning record if you wanna go the extra mile and get a little crafty.

Happy Halloween!

Peace, Love, and Lobsters

Laura

picture sources 1, 2, 3 

The Easiest Decoration Ever

What do you do if the tree is trimmed, the stockings are hung, the reindeer pillow's on the couch, your guests are coming over in an hour …but the house still doesn't feel festive enough?

Easy: Turn your picture frames into decorations!

It's cheap, quick, and looks adorable!

All you need is tape, string or bows, and some leftover wrapping paper. Simply take a piece of wrapping paper that covers the front and goes a little over the sides of the frame you want to wrap, secure it with tape (or thumb tacks if you're using a wooden frame, and don't mind damaging the back, make sure you don't cover the hanger with paper, add a little bow, and put it back on the wall! 

The options with this are endless, you can go for a classic look in silver and gold, use a fun print for a kid's room, or ad some straw bows and stars to match your shabby chic decor. But whatever you decide on is guaranteed to make even the most sparsely decorated room feel festive.

Peace, Love, and Lobster

Laura

Super Easy Eggplant Pizza

Even though pizza is always a good idea, eating it daily is not.  There is, however, an easy way to change that,  just leave out the dough! Yes that's right pizza without dough, and trust me it'll taste so great that you'll never want to go back (and it's a massive time saver, too – 'cause who has time to prepare all that dough?)

Since there is no traditional base, we are using eggplant as the bottom.  Just cut up a large eggplant into finger thick slices, preheat your oven to 220°C / 425°F and place  them on a backing sheet like this: 

Sprinkle them with salt, and bake them for about 15 minutes until they look like this: 

In the meantime  you can prepare your toppings,  and just like with regular pizza there are no limits.  I kept it classic, and used tomato sauce, ham, mozzarella, and olives. But if you want something healthier try a tomato, spinach and goat cheese combination  (I made that last week and it's amazing).

Arrange the toppings on the baked slices, and put your pizzas back into the oven - but this time turn the broiler on! Broil them for about 3 to 5 minutes (make sure to keep an eye on them while they are under the broiler, as they can burn super fast).  And voilà the best (and easiest) gluten free mini pizzas you will ever have: 

Tweet me pictures if you make them! 

Peace, Love, and Lobsters

Laura

Easy Art

I love having interesting art pieces on my walls, but at this point of my life I don't have the budget to hop from gallery to gallery and buy these pieces…

Basically there's two options, hang up some posters or get creative.  And trust me you don't need a lot of artistic expertise to create something awesome. Here are my three favorite ways to bring art into your home without breaking the bank:

1) Get a canvas and paint something:

This is the obvious one,  but it's also the one that seems to be the hardest. I've painted since I could hold a brush, entered work in art contests,  and even did little "commissions" for my parents (like a series of beach scenes to go with the Hopper print in the family room) – but you really don't need to be a good painter  to create something that looks great in your home.  The one above is the perfect example: it's sloppy, the proportions are off, and I didn't even bother  to fill in the white – but I love it because I made it for a specific space, and that's why it works.  One time I simply painted a canvas green to add some interest to a large blank space – it really doesn't get any easier than that.

2) Frame your favorites: 

These two pieces are hanging in my office. The smaller frame holds an excerpt  from a letter that F. Scott Fitzgerald  wrote to his 11 year old daughter Scottie while she was away at camp (you can read it here if you're interested), and the bigger one holds a napkin. Yes you read that right, a napkin.  The pineapple design and color went perfectly with the vibe of the room, so I figured why not? And you wouldn't believe how often people ask me where I found that gorgeous pineapple print.  

3) Go 3D:

 This one takes a little more effort than the other two (but it's so worth it).  I painted a piece of cardboard with the wall color (it's always a good idea to keep a sample size around if it's a custom color), glued it into a vintage frame. Got some wooden letters to spell my favorite word ("Serendipity"), painted them gold and glued them onto the cardboard. The result is a really nice three-dimensional piece. It also looks amazing to frame fake flowers,  model cars,  or cutlery if you are making  something for your kitchen or dining room.  

…And who knows, maybe one day your old spoon will hang in a gallery. 

Peace, Love, and Lobsters
Laura

Zucchini Fries

Happy May!  I know I'm late, but you know exams... But to make up for the lack of posts, I am going to share my favorite snack ever: zucchini fries. 

After kale and brussels sprouts, zucchinis seem to be the vegetable of the moment, and I couldn't be happier about it.  I love to just cut them up and cook them in the air fryer, or use them as a healthy spaghetti substitute, but if I do have a little more time Zucchini fries are the way to go. And unlike regular fries, these things are actually good for you. 

picture

You need (serves two):

1 large zucchini

2 Eggs

Flour 

Breadcrumbs

Preheat the oven to 180°C / 350°F,  line a large baking sheet with parchment paper, and cut the zucchini into sticks – you can make them as thick or thin as you want (the thicker you make them, the longer your fries will have to bake).  Fill a plastic bag with flour add the sticks, and shake (you can also coat every stick individually but this is a huge timesaver).  Put the eggs into a bowl, and add the flour coated sticks. One last stop in the breadcrumb bowl and on to the baking sheet they go...  Bake until they are golden brown (depending on the size of your fries, this can take anything from 10 to 25 minutes), and enjoy! 

What's your favorite way to eat zucchini? 

Peace, Love, and Lobster
Laura

"Meep Meep"

I wasn't going to post any Halloween tutorials this year, but then a little guy in a furry vest and a taste for chicken came along and changed my mind:

You guessed it:  Freak Show's "Meep the Geek"

I was heartbroken when they killed him off so soon, but he surely left an impression, and since the Meep look is super easy to recreate I figured I could honor him with a Halloween tutorial: 

Click here to see where to get everything

A pair of faded denim or chino shorts, some white tights or leggings, a worn out flat boot, and you have the basics. The blue fur vest (or a jacket if your Halloween activities take you outside) can be found on Ebay or – if you have time to look around – in thrift stores. The chicken hat is available on Amazon, and Meep's other hats, can be recreated with some cardboard, a couple of feathers and a glue gun.

If you want to go the extra mile and still have some left over Easter candy, you could even take some Peeps (don't worry you can buy them online all year round), and use a syringe to inject them with red frosting to make them bleed when you bite their heads off.  

Happy Halloween!

Peace, Love, and Lobsters

Laura

Pictures: FX

Early Weekend

The weekend's almost here, and to make the wait even shorter I figured I'd highlight some of the things that I am looking forward to this weekend. And hey, there's really no reason to wait if you've got the time now…

If you're like me and love S'Mores but aren't so crazy about the whole campfire thing, then you'll love this Skillet S'Mores recipe I found on Instagram:

Click here for Instructions

I can't wait to try this. Yum.

I downloaded the  the Devil in the White City a while ago  but never got around to reading it. But this weekend, I will takle  the historical non-fiction book  that is set in Chicago during  the turn of the 20th century, and explores the world behind the 1893 Worldfair. Oh and there's a serial killer, because we all know that every good book needs a serial killer (or at least a friendly neighborhood sociopath). 

Amazon

Since this is a fashion item it isn't really something I'd like to do, but it's certainly something I'd like to wear this weekend: 

ASOS Sweater

It's a leopard sweatshirt. This thing should be tacky by default, but somehow it's not. And I already know that it'll look perfect with cropped black skinnies and tan flats.

Peace, Love and Lobster

Laura 

5 Minute Peach Bruschetta

The thing with cooking posts is that I never plan them. I'll make something and don't realize that it would make a good post until it's half gone, which is basically just my excuse for the not so great picture. So trust me when I say that this Instagram pic doesn't do this awesome recipe justice. 

I present, my famous 5 Minute Peach Bruschetta:

What you need: 

Bread (I used Ciabatta, but you can use whatever you like best)

Feta Cheese

Peaches

Olive Oil

Honey

Rosemary

How much you need of each ingredient depends on how much you want to make,  

just make sure that you're using equal amounts of feta and peach. 

5 minutes to go…

Cut the bread into finger-thick slices, and put them in the toaster (or on the grill).

4 minutes to go…

Dice the feta and the peaches.

3 minutes to go…

Mix the olive oil and the honey in a bowl, and add a dash of rosemary.

I usually start with the honey, and add about double the amount of olive oil, but this ratio really depends on how sweet you want the mixture to be. 

2 minutes to go…

Add the diced feta and peaches to the bowl, and cover them with the olive oil honey mix, while you toast/grill the bread until it's crunchy.

and done… 

Pour the mixture over the warm bread slices, and that's it!

(Tip: add extra peach slices for decorative purposes)

Bon appétit!

Peace, Love, and Lobsters,

Laura

Something for the Weekend

One of my favorite Youtube stars and bloggers, Fleur De Force, has a new cooking channel with her 

husband Mike. And one of the first things they made happens to be an all time favorite of mine: Eton Mess! Seriously there's nothing better on a hot summers day.

I know what you're thinking, a recipe for a dish that was supposedly created when a dog crushed a meringue dessert seems a little redundant - since well all you have to do is make a mess. But sometimes the easiest recipes are the most fun to make, and this video is the best proof for that: 

What's your favorite summer treat?

Check out Food with Fleur and Mike on Sainsbury's Food.

New recipes every Wednesday!

Peace, Love, and Cupcakes
Laura

A Pollock for Your Paws

When it comes to nail polish, I've always preferred a more muted look. Neons just weren't my thing. But then I saw this look on the official Essie Twitter and couldn't resist: 

source

This eye catching look is super easy to recreate:

1) paint your nails with a white base, and let it dry (it has to be completely dry, 

you won't get the brush effect if it's still sticky).

2) Pick a color, and dab it on with a tiny sponge.

3) Let it the first color dry, and repeat with as many colors as you like.

4) Have Fun and tweet me your pics!

Check out Essie's new Neon collection here

Peace, Love, and Ladybugs
Laura

5 Minute Break

I'm still swamped with school work, but I constantly find myself browsing through youtube videos in between working on my papers. Here are some of my favorites:

1) Mulberry Spring Summer 2014 Campaign

All that's missing is the March Hare.

2) 60 Second Chocolate Cake

This gives a whole new meaning to the word "cupcake".

3) Lily Collins Makeup Tutorial

Tanya's tutorials are the greatest, and Lily's flawless look is to die for.

Peace, Love, and Yellow Tulips

Laura

Piece of Cake

I didn't write a baking post in ages, but to make up for it I present you my favorite (and very healthy) cookie recipe:

You Need (for 10 cookies):

2 Cups Almond or Spelt Wheat Flour

1 Cup Rolled Oats

1 Teaspoon Baking Soda

1/2 Teaspoon Salt

1 Eggwhite (or 1/2 Teaspoon Xanthan Gum if you want to keep it vegan)

1/2 Cup Olive Oil

1/4 Cup Honey (or Agave for the vegan version)

1 Tablespoon Vanilla

1 Cup Dark Chocolate Chips

1/4 Cup Slivered Almonds 

Heat the oven to 300°F/150°C.  Mix everything except the chocolate and almonds in a large bowl, roast the almonds in a pan, add the roasted almonds and the chocolate chips, and use an ice cream scoop  to scoop the cookies onto a parchment lined sheet pan. Flatten each cookie with your hand, and bake for 8 to 10 minutes (15 if you used egg).

It's a piece of cake. 

Peace, Love an Strawberries

Laura 

Christmas Wrapping

The holidays, too many parties not enough outfits. But don't worry, just put on that little black dress from last night and dress it up with some festive D.I.Y. accessories:

All you need is a a bag with a removable strap, a pair of flats or heels, and a Christmas tree you can raid. Then just replace the strap of your bag with a bow or a piece or garland, and start decorating  your shoes.

I find it easiest to use a shoe with a strap, because then you can just tie your trimmings on, but if you only have a classic pump or ballet flat you can use fashion tape to secure the trimmings.

A candy cane look for a tacky Christmas sweater party:

  Or gold for a more glamorous affair:

Have fun! And tweet me pictures if you try it!

And for those of you who still have some shopping to do check out my  last minute gift ideas.

Peace, Love, and Twinkly Lights

Laura

 

Little Red Riding Cup

Don't you hate it when you have a nice hot drink, but then you get a text from your stalker, and that drink gets cold while you're busy figuring out how to save your friends this week? If the answer is yes then I have just the right thing for you:

picture: spoonful

It's a Red Coat drink sleeve that'll keep your Pretty Little Latte warm in style.  

And the best is, that you can make it yourself. Just head over to Spoonful.com and download the pattern and instructions. Have fun!

...Oh and how great was the Pretty Little Liars Halloween Special?

Peace, Love, and Haunted Hayrides

Laura

Treats from the Trees

Autumn is a second spring where every leaf is a flower - Albert Camus

The sound of walking through crunchy leaves has always been one of my favorite things about fall,  but since it will still take a few weeks for those leaves to fall, I found a different way to enjoy them:

source and details

...fried and sugared. 

The recipe is super simple: Just cut a couple of large tortillas into leaf shapes, frye the pieces in a pan until the edges are brown, cool them, and toss them in a cinnamon/sugar/salt mixture. Enjoy! 

Peace, Love and Pumpkin Spice

Laura

Cookie Cuisine

Macarons aren't just cookies, they are mystical creatures only found in the worlds of Blair Waldorf and Eloise, so the idea of making them at home in my kitchen instead of going out to buy a pink boxed pack of five seemed a little scary. 

But hey, I found a Macaron mix on Amazon, frozen raspberries in my freezer, and a whole lot of food coloring from my cupcake adventures.  I was all set, and it seemed like the perfect Saturday afternoon adventure.  Until.... 

Well let's just say Ladurée won't hire me anytime soon, and these things (whatever they are...) don't even taste like Macarons. But I will try again, from scratch this time…

Peace, Love, and (Hershey) Kisses

Laura

Chocolate or Flowers?

Can't decide whether to surprise your Valentine with flowers or chocolate this year? Well how about you combine the two and surprise them with a chocolate strawberry bouquet.  All you need are strawberries, chocolate, long skewers (bonus points if you find green ones), and pretty paper to wrap it in (I used tissue paper from an Anthropology order).

...and it's totally acceptable to make one for yourself. 

Peace, Love, and (Hershey) Kisses
Laura

Day 22: Gift Guide: Don't Panic!

48 hours until Christmas, you check your lists, you're ready to put on your Santa hat and spread joy and pretty boxes among your... Oh no!  What's that? You forgot someone!

Now you have 3 options: A) Panic and run over a reindeer on your trip to the Mall, B) Go on a last minute vacation to avoid Christmas alltogether, or C) Grab a latte, sit back, relax,  and read this:

1) Sign them up! 

Be it for their favorite magazine, or one of the many monthly boxes (there's even one that hooks you up with a cool pair of socks every month) - signing your friend up for a subscription is the gift that keeps on giving.

2) Pamper them!

Need something for your best friend? Find a cute card, and make it a “gift certificate“ for an after Christmas manicure or facial.

3) Hit the kitchen!

Try out this fun recipe and  surprise your friends with your very own hot chocolate mix.

4) Print their Pics!

Put together a photo album of all those Instagram moments (before we all delete our accounts in January)

5) Write about them!  

Ok, I admit that this might not be for everyone - but some of the best  and most personal presents I have received over the years were stories that were dedicated to me, or even stared me (how very Dan Humphrey of my friends).

6) If there's really no time:

If you did not realize your mistake until 5 minutes before the party, your safest option is probably a gift certificate. From ASOS to iTunes, there's something for everyone and buying and printing it will still leave you with enough time to put it into a pretty gift bag with some of your Christmas candy.

Peace, Love and Mistletoe
Laura

Day 20: Cookie Cutting

These mini danish (ok, they are cookies, but "mini danish" sounds so much more impressive), are extremely delicious, and only take about 10 minutes to make  - so what are you waiting for?

You need:

 puff pastry dough

cinnamon

1 egg

milk

a frozen fruit mix of your choice 

(I used berries and tangerines)

Roll out the dough (you can buy it pre-made at any supermarket), cut it into the shapes you want,  mix the egg-white with a little bit of milk and cinnamon, and brush the mixture over your cookies. Then add the frozen fruit, and bake your creations until they have a golden glow.  That's it! Bon appétit!

Peace, Love and Mistletoe
Laura

Day 16: Red Noses and Salty Antlers

How cute are those little reindeer snacks I found on Pinterest? And guess, what, they are super easy to make, too. 

                                                  Source: andeverythingsweet.blogspot.com via Laura on Pinterest

All you need are heart shaped finger sandwiches (salty or sweet, anything goes from the classic peanut butter and jelly to cream cheese, or maybe even pâté if you´re feeling adventurous), and pretzels and M&Ms for the antlers and faces.

Peace, Love and Mistletoe

Laura