One to Nothin'

Fourth of July Blueberry Banana Bread Pie

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Lately my apartment has been so hot that I almost want the ice bucket challenge to come back. Kidding, guys; I never want to see another person dump water on anyone’s head ever again. But really, it’s 80+ in my apartment on the daily and since lying on the floor of my shower with it on cold for hours in one of the driest of the 50 states is frowned upon, I heat up the house even more by baking instead. My bananas can’t handle these temps and I pretty much despise them once they’ve collected their first freckle, so I’ve made banana bread twice in the past couple weeks. This time I switched it up by trying this Brown Sugar Blueberry Banana Bread Recipe, and it was gone approximately 5 seconds after I offered it to my roommates, so I think it was a winner. On this particular occasion, I only had one loaf pan, so I poured the leftover batter into two mini cake pans. 

I added pecans to one of them for shits and giggles, and I thought it was pretty.. but not as pretty as patriotism. So I went HAM with canned icing and the most basic of America-themed-fruits.

I brought this little guy to a tailgate party and the outer ring of berries all slid off by the time I arrived. Cake transportation is hard. The struggle is real.

Anyway, happy Independence Day!

Will you be baking a Fourth of July Pie this weekend?


Weekend Things

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Last week was pretty eventful. Tuesday night that guy took me to watch the sunset at Lands End and then “Inside Out” in 3D–go see it, guys. It was amazing. Thursday I went to see Rodney Atkins live at the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton. Friday I saw “Me, Earl and the Dying Girl” (I never go to the movies, so this week was a record), Saturday I baked all day before heading to the San Jose Earthquakes vs. LA Galaxy soccer game at the beautiful Stanford Campus. Quakes dominated (woo hoo!) and I got to play with that sweet baby angel face up there. You might remember a mini-version of him that I used to nanny for every day that I called “Dude Baby“; now he’s a big kid!!

Sunday I celebrated SF Pride 2015 with tons of glitter. My only goal was to collect as many temporary tattoos as I possibly could. It should’ve been: Don’t die. At one point my group of friends got stampeded Lion King-style and my naked foot (the heels were just for the pic, naturally) got shoved into a glass bottle on the curb, so I bled out on the sidewalk while everyone potentially ran for their lives. I’m not sure what was actually happening; I’m assuming a serious, maybe armed, fight broke out–but it’s good to know that in life-threatening situations involving large crowds and stampedes, I’d be the one sitting on the sidewalk bleeding everywhere.

I’ve been hobbling around and eating leftover banana bread ever since. So that’s what I’ve been up to. How was your weekend?

Cocktail of the Week

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Happy Friday, friends! Bex is back with a spicy beverage for this week’s cocktail creation. Take it away, lady.

People of the world, spice up your life. Aaaaahh—
Yes, that’s right, the spicy cocktail has finally hit the stage. Let it move and groove its way into your heart, just like those sassy throwback pop sensations. Damn straight I’m talking Spice Girls. What better way to get yourself jammin’ than a little Spice Up Your Life? Exactly. Anyway, today I present, “Slam It To Your Left,” as my latest for Bex’s Weekly Creative Cocktail. This one goes out to all those who give life that extra kick—who don’t need to give a shit because they’re too busy being awesome—the ones who know how to mix the fruity, spice and everything nice—the ones I gossip about from afar because I’m jealous. Just own it and shake it to the right if you know that you feel fine.

  •  2½ oz Tequila 
  • 1 oz Pomegranate 
  • ½ oz Orange 
  • 2 Pure sugar cane cubes 
  • 2 Small jalapeño slices 
  • Club Soda 

*Muddle jalapeños and sugar cubes, then add Tequila, Pomegranate, and Orange. Shake and fine strain into Collins glass, top with club soda. Garnish with twisted orange peel. 

If you want to toss me a challenge or have a fun idea, follow me on Instagram (@bexaintwang) and post your thoughts! Also, check out my website (bwyant.com) for more thrilling things I do with my free time.

Original recipe and photography by Becca Wyant.

Mimosa Diamonds

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Friday night I went to bed with JELL-O shots on the brain and woke up with a vision. Usually my Saturday morning visions are focused on one thing and one thing only: bacon. But this time? This time was different. I couldn’t shake this feeling that I needed to use the insides of my JELL-O shot vessels (oranges) for the greater good. 
So I made fresh squeezed orange juice diamond cubes for mimosa purposes. Because I’m a philanthropist.
I remembered seeing the seemingly-frivolous-at-the-time diamond ice trays at a boutique where $14-packs of birthday candles and color-blocked disposable forks are sold, and I announced with my fresh-from-sleep man voice that I must have them. I’d been thinking about it for an hour at least and I didn’t care if they cost more than 80 lbs of bagged ice from Safeway, I needed diamond cubes stat. Luckily both of the beings listening (the sausage dog and the one who posted this) knew not to argue and I got to scooping out orange halves before getting my paws on this silicone beauty. 
I juiced the orange guts (in the juicer that’s been used maybe thrice in the past two years) and froze my cubes.

From there it was just a matter of poppin’ some ‘paign and letting the diamonds melt into my newly acquired flutes. I’m thinking grapefruit juice next. Or guava! Or peaches! Or diamond JELL-O shots.. The possibilities are endless, really.

Who’s buying fancy ice trays this weekend?

Weekend Things

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These are a few snapshots from this weekend. I spent a lot of time thinking, plotting, not sleeping and, as always, eating over these past few days. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but the winds of change are blowin’ once again. Maybe it’s just those summer vibes making me itch to go somewhere and do something new and fresh and exciting. This sunlight makes me want to go, be, do, play and never stay still. Delicious food, barbecues with new friends, fresh fruit, puppy snuggles and Pinteresty Jell-O shots made a pretty solid start to summer though. And those mimosas? I’ll be blogging about them soon. I even put down a blanket and baked in the sun by a lake on Saturday. Things are good, but I have that feeling down deep. The one that’s always ready to leap into a new adventure. “Get a passport” is officially on my to-do list and I don’t know why or how, but a road trip has to happen soon. I guess you could say I have a vague and perhaps unattainable agenda for the next few months. I plan to take you all along with me, too. Let’s go on an adventure, shall we? But first, let’s make this week an amazing one.

 

What I Wore

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Shorts: E2 / Sandals: Chinese Laundry / Shirt: Old Navy / Jacket: Mystree

I have this infuriating habit of thinking I can volunteer for everything and figure it out as I go. I want to do everything, but I don’t just want to tip toe around the things–I want to somersault into them and land with toes and fingers pointed.

I don’t just want to get in shape, I want to take every workout class in the Bay Area while training for a marathon. Screw baking cupcakes for your birthday, I want to bake you a multi-layer cake with a Jell-O mold inside of it. I’m not satisfied with a dinner date before calling it a night, I want to binge watch “Orange Is The New Black” all night afterward while inhaling a giant cup of fro-yo next to said date (or, I don’t know, say, go camping in Big Sur for a second date).

And I want to do all of these things while taking a million photos, cooking healthy meals, DIYing everything, networking, freelancing, exploring, happy hour-ing, working 40 hours a week and blogging.

All this to say, I set out to play at Lake Merritt so the Sausage Dog could get some fresh air this weekend and once the sun went down enough to give me mad shivers, it turned into a photo shoot. This guy may not be able to tell the difference between red and green, but turns out he’s pretty great behind the camera (and tying v-necks at the rib cage).

Also, turns out I’m far more likely to buy things, like adorable printed shorts and beautiful puppy portraits, at rodeos after drinking wine all day in 90-degree weather. I will be wearing these shorts every day for the rest of the summer though, so I think it was a win.

Happy weekending!

Cocktail of the Week

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Happy Friday, friends! Becca’s back with her latest installment of Bex’s Weekly Creative Cocktail. This tall drink of bourbon is called “Strangers in the Night.” Take it away, Bex.

Exchanging glances—what were the chances?

You can always rely on the lullabies of Frank Sinatra to inspire you. So let’s class it up and take it back, shall we? Tonight, I offer you my latest on Bex’s Weekly Creative Cocktail, “Strangers in the Night.” Be the bold and sweet temptation with this balance of bourbon, Aperol and blackberries. Strut on over to the dark and daring, that persuading smile, that elegant demeanor, and a devious stolen dance. Consume, or prepare with moderation.

  • 2oz Bourbon 
  • 1oz Aperol 
  • 2 Pure sugar cane cubes 
  • 3 Large Blackberries 

 *Muddle sugar cane and blackberries, then add bourbon and Aperol. Shake with ice and fine strain into martini glass. Garnish with blackberry skewer.

If you want to toss me a challenge or a fun idea, follow me on Instagram (@bexaintwang) and post your thoughts! Also, check out my website (bwyant.com) for more thrilling things I do with my free time. 

Recipe and photography by Becca Wyant.

9 Awesome iPhone Cases

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If you didn’t come around yesterday, click here to learn why I’m talking iPhone cases today. Spoiler: my phone is naked and I’m indecisive but, more importantly, I’m scared I’m gonna break it. Help me decide which case to get? Clearly the wood theme got me excited so I’m leaning toward those, but there’s something perfectly quirky/awesome about carrying around some v-dub headlights. Cast your vote in the comments! Pleeeeease; I can’t decided!

Left to right, top to bottom:

1) Lace Wood: Distressed wood just feels sort of magical, amiright? This design takes me back to my middle school days, doodling on everything with White-out pens. via Darkoolart

2) Engraved Wood: Textured wood?! I didn’t even know there could be such cases! How does my phone even slide in there? I’m confused and excited at the same time. via Darkoolart

3) Navajo Wood: Apparently I just want my phone cases to be perfectly in sync with my Insta-feed. Oh, and the love of my life. via Darkoolart

4) Petite Party Dots: Basically everything ban.do does is perfection and this just so happens to be the only 6 plus variety they have at the moment and it matches my dino planter. Pretty sure I need ALL of their planners too. via ban.do

5) Groovy VW: I think we all know I secretly long to live in a VW bus, driving all over the country with my sausage dog and eating donuts. Oh, you didn’t? Well now you do. via ban.do

6) Teal Ombre Wood: Are we over ombre? It will definitely never, ever grace my head again, but maybe my phone could pull it off. via Brit + Co

7) White Minimalist: Less ombre, more white. How long would it take before it looked filthy? My purse has been known to chew up gum, in the packaging, all on its own. via Brit + Co

8) Mint Wood Lace: I’m loving these intricate details. All lace everything! via Darkoolart

9) Flowers: I like that you can still see the gold in the back with this dainty case. Is it too girly for me though? I have been obsessively Insta-ing flowers lately.. via Brit + Co

Which one should I get? HELP!

What I’ve Been Up To

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So my phone got stolen last weekend.. Gotta love that moment when you’re tipsy enough to think you’ve got the balls to hunt down the thief as your Find My iPhone dot blinks a few blocks away from the bar you’ve been dancing the night away in. Then you see police officers and ask them to help, and they’re like, “No. Also, Don’t follow them, dummy.” And you’re like, “HA! I’m doing it anyway because I may be 5’4″ and weigh the same amount as a 10 year old boy, but I’m TOUGH!” But then you accidentally hit the “Page your iPhone” button so the butt-head-thief turns your phone off at a delicious burrito shop in the Mission and it thinks it’s still there eight hours later. 
Good times. Like, what would I even do if I did find him/her? 
“Excuse me. Hi. Did you, um, do you have my phone? No? Okay! Have a good night!”
Anyway, it was because of this phone theft that I am unable to show off my gluten-free cupcakes and Ziggy cuddling with a very small princess dog wearing a LBD. You also can’t see the fruits of my solo wine/paint session last Friday where I crafted a crown for the birthday girl we celebrated Saturday. And you don’t even want to see the hot phoneless mess that went down on Sunday, but since none of my photos are able to be retrieved, I’ve been working hard to accumulate a massive collection of new photos on my new bare iPhone 6 plus (thank you, insurance!). Here’s what I’ve come up with in about a week and a half:
Bay Area sunsets, on point as per usual. A little bit of miracle rain on colorful plants.
Homemade banana bread muffins. Pretty drinks in Livermore (flashback! I hadn’t been back since I moved in September). Wine and cows at the Livermore Rodeo. Did you know that Wild Cow Milking is a rodeo event..? I’m from Central Florida and even I think that’s too far.
A little bowling action. A beautiful portrait of the Sausage Dog painted by Britt of Dog Doodlez (order yours here!). My first snow cone in years enjoyed in 90+ degree weather.

And a photoshoot at Lake Merritt with that guy wearing my new favorite shorts, purchased at the rodeo.

Add in some bootcamps, barre classes and acroyoga, and that about sums up what I’ve been up to lately. Now it’s time to outfit my new phone. Come back tomorrow to help me decide what case to buy!

PS: Looking for some tunes? Click here for my latest playlist.

Cocktail of the Week

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Happy Friday, friends! I may be off my blogging game this week, but Becca is on top of it. Today she’s got a refreshing summer cocktail for you called the “Ultimate Fresh-bee.” Be sure to try this gin beauty over the weekend and come back next week for the fun explanation for why I’ve been M.I.A. Take it away, Bex.

Summer makes me think of outdoor activities, and outdoor activities makes me think of booze. Wait what? Well, what’s been said, been said. Today on Bex’s Weekly Creative Cocktail, I bring you my “Ultimate Fresh-bee.” The light and refreshing gin sensation that will help take on the sun beaming down (with your own competing glow possibly). Don’t know about you, but I’m starting to get hit with the 90° weather, and it inspired me to create something that would help me survive. So, here’s to the many summer adventures that lie ahead! Time to put those stunna shades on and tell me when to go.

 · 2oz Gin 
 · ½ oz Cointreau (or triple sec) 
 · 1oz Fresh Grapefruit 
 · ¼ oz Agave 
 · 2 dashes Peychaud’s bitters 
 · 3 large Mint leaves 
 · Club Soda 

 *Muddle mint, and then add remaining ingredients (except club soda). Shake and dump into a Collin’s glass (or mason jar). Top with more ice and club soda. Slightly stir. Garnish with mint sprig. 

If you want to toss me a challenge or a fun idea, follow me on Instagram (@bexaintwang) and post your thoughts! Also, check out my website (bwyant.com) for more thrilling things I do with my free time.

Recipe and photography by Becca Wyant.

PS: If you haven’t already, go listen to the new Nate Ruess album streaming on RollingStone! AHHH!!!

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