And the Academy Award goes to...

ME! For being the best blogger ever. Okay, so I know I haven't posted in a few weeks but, sue me, I'm a college student.

Don't worry, I'm back just in time for the Academy Awards, possibly one of my favorite programs of the year to watch!

Today I'm going to tell you guys my personal pick of winners. Disclaimer: I'm not a movie critic and I haven't seen all of these films (wish I had time for that). For those of you who know me, I'm simply just a girl that loves movies.

Best Picture

 

Silver Linings Playbook

Silver Linings Playbook starring Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper. I've heard mixed reviews from friends on this one; one of my roommates, Katie, hated it. However, I went to see it with my other roommate, Katharine and... honestly, I loved everything about it (she did too). It handled real-life issues but also threw in comedy, romance, and even a little bit of dancing. The unexpected chemistry between Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper blew my mind. But hey, if you wanted to pay me millions of dollars to have chemistry with Bradley, I think I could do it, too.

Actor in a Leading Role

Bradley Cooper - Silver Linings Playbook

Cooper plays a man recently released from a mental institution and struggling to get over the loss of his beloved wife to another man. It was a different role for him, and he nailed it. I mean, how many actors could actually make you fall in love with a slightly crazy mental patient? Only you, Bradley.

(EXTREME) Honorable Mention: Hugh Jackman - Les Miserables 

Actress in a Leading Role

Jennifer Lawrence - Silver Linings Playbook

Can you tell that I really loved this movie? Lawrence plays an unstable widower that went off the deep-end after the death of her husband. I think this was a really smart move for her career. She bursts into stardom as Katniss in "The Hunger Games", and instead of waiting until THG trilogy is complete to attempt to break out of her Katniss mold, she did it immediately. And rocked it.

Honorable Mention: Jessica Chastain - Zero Dark Thirty

Actor in a Supporting Role

 Christoph Waltz - Django Unchained

Although I haven't gotten to see this movie yet, I'm just going to guess and say that he was freakin' awesome.

Actress in a Supporting Role

Anne Hathaway - Les Miserables

If you watched the "I Had a Dream" scene and didn't cry, you have no soul.

Animated Feature

Brave

Visual Effects

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Original Score

Anna Karenina

Anyone remember the Pride and Prejudice soundtrack? Perfection.

Cinematography

Anna Karenina

Costume Design

Les Miserables

Sound Mixing

Les Miserables

Do you agree? Disagree?

Love always,

T

I'm still here!

To my very diligent followers ;)

I'm still here! School is, as always, kicking my butt a little bit right now. But I have a great new post planned, so stay tuned!

Ciao.

Syrup

Syrup is located in downtown Norman, OK

For the first time in my college career, I have Fridays off. WOOHOO! But I've already made a pact with myself that I'm going to use Fridays to be productive and not laze around all day. Was I productive this past Friday? No. However, I did get up early to try out this hip, new breakfast place, Syrup, with my roommate before her meeting at 10:30 a.m. So at least I got out of bed, right?

AT DAWN, WE FEAST! Okay, it was 9 a.m. when we left, but that's pretty early for a college kid.

As the name alludes, Syrup is famous for their loaded waffles and pancakes. In an unpredictable moment, Katharine and I opted for the Eggs Benedict.

One scrumptious English Muffin topped with avocado (a little unique for Eggs Benedict, but delicious!), crispy pepper bacon rather than the typical Canadian, two perfectly poached eggs and a creamy Hollandaise sauce.

 

You could definitely say I wasn't disappointed with my decision.

Not to mention the atmosphere of this place! It was, in the words of Katharine, practically a living Pinterest board in there. I should have snapped a few more pictures, but I'm pretty sure I'll be back soon to try some of those famous waffles.

It's officially 11:30 p.m. on a Sunday, and guess who wants Eggs Benedict? Yep.

Love always,

Taylor

On to the next one.

First day of school! First day of school!

I'm sad to say that this occasion is not near as much fun as it was when I was little. Maybe if my college professors would take a note from Mrs. Sand's book (my second grade teacher) and let us color pictures of princesses and practice writing in cursive I would be a bit more enthusiastic.

Unfortunately, that isn't the case. I just finished my first class: Multimedia Journalism. It'll be a lot of work but I think I might actually enjoy it, with any luck. However, my next class is Italian Literature, and the syllabus says "STRICTLY ITALIAN SPEAKING". Well, seeing as how I don't speak Italian, that should be interesting. Mannaggia! (Google it... it was Serafina's -- my previous professor -- favorite word to say)

This also means that I won't get to post about baking very often anymore since I don't have a kitchen. This day just gets sadder and sadder!

Although the first day of school may not be as exciting anymore, my roommates and I decided to still get "dressed up" for the occasion.



Here's to another semester!

Love always,
T

Buttermilk Pecan Pie

If you love Pecan Pie, you have got to try this variation. It's rich, buttery, delicious, and did I say buttery? Oh yeah.

Buttermilk Pecan Pie

Ingredients:

1/2 c. butter, softened
2 c. sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
3 eggs
3 Tbsp. flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1 c. buttermilk
1/2 c. chopped or halved pecans (or more to taste... I typically use more)

All-Butter Pie Crust
This is my all-time favorite pie crust recipe... In fact, I'm pretty much in love with it. Stay tuned -- I will dedicate an entire post to this crust and you won't want to miss it!

 Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 300°.
2. Cream butter until softened. Gradually beat in sugar, 1/2 c. at a time. Blend in vanilla. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. 
3. Combine the flour and salt. Gradually add to butter mixture. Stir in buttermilk.
4. Sprinkle pecans over bottom of the pie shell. Pour filling over.
5. Bake 1 1/2 hrs. Serve at room temperature.

  
Love always, 
T

The (should-be) Future of Sexiest Man Alive

How many of you are frequenters of People magazine? My mom and I definitely are. But even for those of you that aren't, I'm sure you are all familiar with the annual selection of "Sexiest Man Alive". Here are a few fun facts:

• Only 4 men have won the prestigious award twice (gasp!): Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Richard Gere and Johnny Depp.
• In 1993, People didn't do "Sexiest Man Alive". They did "Sexiest Couple":  Richard Gere and Cindy Crawford.
• The first-ever "Sexiest Man Alive" was Mel Gibson in 1985.

In case you hadn't heard, Channing Tatum was this year's lucky recipient. You could definitely say he's deserving... However, People could learn a thing or two from me. I have already chosen the worthy winners for the next five years (and trust me, I could keep going). So,  LISTEN UP PEOPLE!

2013 Sexiest Man Alive - Leonardo DiCaprio

Not that this requires any explanation, but Leonardo DiCaprio has never won "Sexiest Man Alive". Is this some kind of sick joke? COME ON PEOPLE. GIVE IT TO THE MAN! Don't worry Leo, your time is coming. You can rest easy tonight knowing that I'd give it to you if I could!

2014 Sexiest Man Alive - Vince Vaughn

Vince Vaughn may not be your stereotypical "Sexiest Man Alive" material, but he's tall, he's funny, he's perfect. Enough said.

2015 Sexiest Man Alive - Ryan Gosling

 

Look into those gorgeous eyes and tell me he doesn't deserve it. Hey boy, I'd vote for you any day.

2016 Sexiest Man Alive - Gerard Butler 

They say a picture's worth a thousand words, so there you go. Boom.

Andddd... drum roll, please!

2017 Sexiest Man Alive - Chris Hemsworth

This up-and-coming hunk was in several major blockbusters this year, including "Thor", "The Avengers", and "Snow White and the Huntsman". Luckily, I think we'll be seeing much more of him in the future...wink, wink. I sure hope so!

DING DING DING! BONUS SEXY!

Orlando Bloom

This hunk of burnin' love is completely underestimated. People have swept him under the rug a little bit because he has been inactive due to his new marriage and adorable baby boy, Flynn. But don't worry, he's coming back. He's sexy as a pirate. He's sexy as an elf. Let's face it, he's just plain sexy. I got your back, Bloom.

So there you have it, ladies and gents (mostly ladies at this point, I'm guessing). You may disagree with me, but I'm pretty confident in this list of stone-cold foxes.

Love Always, 

T

Mrs. Billett's Wintry White Cake

It has become known around my family's household that I'm the baker. With the exception of my sister-in-law, Leslie, it's pretty much my ball-field. Between Leslie and I, we take care of all the desserts around the holidays (and all the other times during the year when my family wants sweets, which is pretty often).

This year, my mom decided that she wanted me to bake Mrs. Billett's Wintry White Cake out of Southern Living magazine for our family get-together.  Well, with only a few bumps and bruises, it turned out wonderfully (and tasted even better than it looked!)

It's a three-layer, all-white hunk of vanilla yumminess. I'm usually a chocolate kind of girl, but this one took the cake (pun intended).

Mrs. Billett's Wintry White Cake

Makes: 10-12 servings
Total time: 2 hours (or so the recipe says...)

1 cup milk
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract (I used clear imitation vanilla to keep the cake really white)
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups sugar
3 cups cake flour
1 Tbsp. baking powder
5 egg whites

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Grease 3 (8-inch) round cake pans.
2. Stir together milk and vanilla.
3. Beat butter at medium speed with a heavy-duty electric mixer until creamy; gradually add sugar, beating until light and fluffy. Sift together flour and baking powder; add to butter mixture alternately with milk mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture (this may seem ridiculous, but it really does matter... don't leave that step out!). Beat at low speed just until blended after each addition.
4. Beat egg whites at medium speed until stiff peaks form; gently fold into batter. Pour into prepared pans. (Okay, I had no clue what "stiff peaks" meant. This just means that when you pull the mixer out of the mixture, it's thick enough that it pulls up and sticks.)
5. Bake at 350° for 20-23 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.
6. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool completely.  

Vanilla Buttercream Frosting:

Makes: 4 1/2 cups

1 cup butter, softened
1/4 tsp. salt
2 (16 oz.) packages powdered sugar
6 to 7 Tbsp. milk
1 Tbsp. vanilla extract (also used the clear imitation vanilla)

Beat butter and salt at medium speed with an electric mixer 1-2 minutes or until creamy; gradually add powdered sugar alternately with 6 Tbsp. milk, beating at low speed until blended and smooth after each addition. Stir in vanilla. If desired, beat in final Tbsp. of milk until frosting reaches desired consistency.

If I were to do this cake again, I would probably double the frosting recipe. Call me crazy, but I like plenty of frosting in between every layer and on the sides. I'd rather have too much than too little!

Another thing that I typically do is bake the actual cake the night before and, once completely cooled, I put each layer in the freezer overnight. The next day, I pull each layer out one by one to frost. This makes the cake so much easier to frost and adds a little extra moisture once it unfreezes!

Snowflakes:

For these beauties, I cheated. I bought ready-made fondant on Amazon. They're just for looks mainly so I didn't really take the time to make them from scratch.

I cut them out the night before and let them set up overnight. The next morning, I brushed them with milk and sprinkled on Shimmering Sugar from Williams-Sonoma. Beautiful!

















BLOOPERS:

Like I said, I always bake the layers the night before. So around 6 o'clock I started baking. Everything was going well... Until I pulled the layers out of the oven. One was perfectly golden brown and moist. The other two were completely sloped and black on one side. So, guess who got to rebake two layers at 10 o'clock at night? This girl.

I also have a huge issue with softening butter. I never think to take the butter out of the refrigerator in time to soften naturally, so I always have to resort to putting them in a Ziploc bag and beating them with a meat tenderizer. If you do this, the butter will flatten out and after about 5 minutes will be ready to use. Well, as "easy" as this sounds, I really struggle with it. I ended up getting butter all over me and all over my kitchen. Classic butter mix up.


Enjoy, and Merry Christmas!

Love always,
T