Meg Henning: January 2012

Guest Post - Natasha from Schue Love

Happy Tuesday henning love readers! I have a wonderful treat for you today while Sean and I are still up in Big Bear, Natasha from Schue Love. She was one of the first bloggers I read regularly and I love her recipes, her home decorations and very excited for her pregnancy! She will make a wonderful Mom. Take it away, Natasha!

Hi henning love Readers! I'm Natasha from Schue Love and I'm thrilled to be taking over Meg's sweet blog today! :) She gave me full reigns to talk about whateeeeever I want, which is super fun! :) My blog centers around fashion, food, decor, and more...so I'll be touching on all of those topics today with one theme in mind: mint.

Mint + sequins = match made in fashion heaven!

I love mint chip ice cream...these take it to the next level.

How divine is the mint sea glass tiles? Also love the striped rug!

A little something extra special on the ring finger.

This maxi skirt has my name on it!

Gorgeous wedding cake...

This is my dream bathroom...I wonder if that's real hardwood or tile made to look like hardwood?

Adore these Antrho earrings...they're a great neatural.

And just for good measure, I had to include my latest obsession...all things baby! And in a pretty mint hue, no less!

All of the images above can be found via my "mint" board.

Thanks to Meg for having me today!

xo natasha

Thanks Natasha for this beautiful color post, I need to go and find some mint
for my wardrobe or home now!

Facebook Fest with The Lovely Poppy

It is Monday all and I have two exciting posts for your reading pleasure. The first is I am co-hosting a Facebook Fest with Nicole of the Lovely Poppy, Glow Kouture, and Sunshine Stitch. The directions are listed below. Follow along and have fun!

Also I calculated the winner of the ring giveaway from Blue Soul Designs and I am pleased to say Hannah of Culture Connoisseur was picked by random.org. If you didn't win, Sarah asked me to announce she has a shop sale currently going on through Valentine's Day. The deal is two rings for $14 and each ring retails for $10-$12 each so hurry, get two beautiful rings for a great price! Check out the details on her Facebook page or her Etsy shop.

Second, I am guest posting over at Johanna's blog, 101 Things I Love by contributing to her series, 5 Snowy Steals and Splurges. Go check out the 5 white items I think about during January!

hosts:

the lovely poppy | glow kouture

sunshine stitch | henning love

to enter:
-link up your facebook page below
-"like" all hosts with your personal facebook page and comment on their wall. this guarantees at least four new fans!
-stop by and visit others who have linked up, i promise they are amazing and you'll find some amazing new businesses to support
-share on your facebook page, this will generate more traffic = more visits for everyone

Friday's Fancies Outfit Swap!

Final day to enter my giveaway for a beautiful stone ring from Blue Soul Designs, get your entries in now!
What a great idea Alison had to swap with another blogger and style an outfit for them, it is a great way to get to know another fellow blogger, learn more about their style preference and current fashion likes. I got paired up with the best partner in my personal opinion y'all, I had Lauren from Stylized Existence.

Isn't she gorgeous?!
Lauren came up with the idea for our blog swap, basically we interviewed each other, give each other current fashion likes we had. Then we created a purpose for the outfit as well and since Lauren does wardrobe consulting as a side gig, I sure hope she can take it full-time, I created an outfit she would look stellar in when she has an appointment for wardrobe consulting. A few tips I was given that Lauren really likes currently are: Stripes, Loafers, Polka Dots, Gold Jewelry, Mustard Yellow.And with that said, here is my outfit for Lauren to wear when she has appointments! I really hope you like it Lauren, and if you don't then I apologize and then I need a clothing makeover and a wardrobe consultation :-)

Have a wonderful weekend ladies!!
Tonight for dinner at our local community college, they are having a food truck fest. Unfortunately in the area, Sean and I live in Los Angeles, there are hardly any food trucks so knowing there is a food truck fest near us, we are excited!
Sunday, Sean and I are off with Kip and Kimbia to spend a few days up in Big Bear. But don't worry I won't leave you hanging here on the blog, Monday I am doing a post for Johanna over at 101 Things I Love and then on Tuesday, Natasha from schue love will be here entertaining you and sharing a gorgeous color I think we all need in our closets!

Chocolate, Chocolate, Peanut Butter, Chocolate

Current giveaway: a beautiful stone ring from Blue Soul Designs, enter now here
Did the title grab your attention?? Cuz if it did and you are a chocolate and peanut butter combination lover then boy do I have a real treat for you today.

What does the title refer to do you ask, the layers in this bodacious dessert. A bottom layer of chocolate cookies, then chocolate ganache, then a peanut butter filling topped with another layer of chocolate ganache. Do I have your little heart skipping a beat for this yummy recipe? Are you craving for it already and wish I could send you a package full of this yummy goody? Sorry friends, wish I could but read on and then make it yourself.

First, gather together your ingredients: 1 2/3 cups chocolate wafer crumbs, 1/2 cup softened butter, 1/4 cup white sugar, 4 tablespoons firmly packed brown sugar, 1 1/2 cup confectioner's sugar, 1 1/3 cup creamy peanut butter, 1 bag 12 oz. chocolate chips, 6 tablespoons heavy cream.

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees and either spray a 9 inch square baking ban or line the pan with parchment paper.

Combine your chocolate cookie crumbs, the white sugar and 3 tablespoons of butter in your food processor and pulse until all the ingredients are thoroughly mixed together.

Pour out these ingredients into the baking pan and press down the cookie crumbs and bake in the oven for 8 minutes. Remove the crust from the oven and let it cool.
*Side note, after making this recipe, next time I would melt the butter completely to fully incorporate it into the cookie crumbs. When I cut the squares yesterday, several crusts came apart from the rest of the bar, just keep this in mind when you make this recipe.

Prepare the peanut butter filling in your mixer by adding the remaining 5 tablespoons of butter, brown sugar, confectioner's sugar and peanut butter. Mix all these ingredients together very well and set aside.

When the cookie crust has cooled completely, melt the chocolate chips and the heavy cream in a microwave-proof bowl, melting the chips for 1 minute then stirring and if need to be melted more in 30 second increments.

When the chips are completely melted and the cream and chocolate are thoroughly incorporated, spread about 1/4 cup of the ganache onto the cookie crust.

Freeze the pan for 5-10 minutes to let the chocolate set. After the chocolate has set, spread the peanut butter filling on top of the ganache layer.

Finally, spread the rest of the chocolate ganache, the remaining 3/4 on the top. Let the dessert refrigerator for at least 1 hour, preferably overnight.

Then take the dessert out of the pan, cut into squares, then serve, eat and enjoy!

recipe found here

Mad for Plaid - Oh Pinteresting Wednesday

Current giveaway: a beautiful stone ring from Blue Soul Designs, enter now here
I have this one shirt from New York and Company from years ago, and it was a purposeful purchase. I went to the mall specifically to purchase this top and years later it is still one of my favorite shirts. It is a plaid pattern, it has a country feel to it and I just like the way it looks and feels. You know that one or two or even maybe three pieces of clothing that you just adore. For my Oh Pinteresting Wednesday, I wanted to show you an outfit I found on Pinterest and immediately it was a Pinspiration outfit!