second post of the day...it happens.

Today is a rainy day in Paris.

And I'm resting up before going out tonight.

So why not ramble on some more?

Are y'all on Pinterest?

I'm obsessed.

It's like DIY heaven.

Thought I'd share some of the best things I saw today.

when I'm a grown up and throw Super Bowl parties I'll make these!

sugar cookie fruit tacos - i die.

i dream of being this organized one day

aren't these freakin' cute? perhaps i'll make them on my first day back in America

yum yum yum

drooling

appropos, non?

...huh...

all food related.

so typical.

click here to follow me on pinterest!

Recipe: Cake Pops

Now this is a recipe that calls for a little patience and a whole lotta sweet tooth.

Have you tried cake pops yet? They sell adorable little perfect ones at Sbux. Try one of those before you make your own!

What I love most is that these are super easy to get good at making, and everyone fawns over them because they're so cute. I did a trial run a few weeks ago and they turned out okay, but I made a second batch of 'em for Kendall's graduation party that everybody loved (even me, my harshest critic)!

What you need:

A baked cake (I like funfetti or yellow...or if you're hardcore make one from scratch!)

A mixing bowl

A tub of frosting (vanilla for funfetti or chocolate for yellow)

Candy chips that you can melt (Michael's craft stores have an excellent assortment of colors and they're relatively inexpensive)

Large lollipop sticks

A styrofoam brick

How you make them:

1. Start crumbling the cake into the mixing bowl. Should be about the consistency of breadcrumbs.

2. Once you've mashed up the whole cake, mix in one spoonful of frosting at a time until the mixture is entirely moist. I usually use about half a can of frosting, but add more if you like things extra sweet!

3. Wash your hands and start shaping the cake/frosting mixture into balls, about 2 inches in diameter. Place them on a plate, and once all your mixture is balled up pop them in the fridge for at least 3 hours.

4. Get your candy chips and melt them in a microwave safe bowl (microwave for no more than 30 seconds at a time and stir in between).

5. Take out the cake balls. Place sticks in them, no more than about a centimeter deep.

6. Dip the cake ball into the melted candy. You might have to swirl it around and even use a spoon to make sure it's all covered. Add sprinkles to decorate if you wish!

7. Place the pop into the styrofoam to harden.

8. Enjoy!

The dipping can be tricky the first time you do it, but I promise it gets easier!

Let me know if you try them!

Kendall's Graduation in Pictures

One of the things that is most endearing to me about my family is that whatever can go wrong will go wrong. Seriously, regardless of how good an Archer's karma might be or how hard you've prayed for everything to be in its right place, something bad always happens.

Kendall's high school graduation was no different.

Despite how fab she looks in all these pictures, Kendall got released from the emergency room a mere 11 hours before her graduation ceremony started (meaning only 7 hours before she had to wake up in the morning.) She woke up with horrendous food poisoning and was sick all day Thursday. She went to the ER to get all hydrated and well again, and rallied for the ceremony and her party the next day.

A true champ that one is. And doesn't she look gorg?

A few weeks ago, my mom officially put me in charge of the little family party, so being the cray-cray that I am, I went to town. I literally spent 13 hours baking the day before, and spent the morning of scrambling around decorating. Totally worth it to make my sister happy :) and I think things turned out pretty good, right? I'm considering a career in party planning at the behest of the party guests :)

Husky cupcake recipe can be found here (super easy, I promise!)

On me: Dress Rachel Roy, Ring F21, Watch Michael Kors, Shoes Target

On Kendall: Dress Single, Shoes F21 (hair and make up done by yours truly)

Arts and crafts on a rainy day & celebrating my best friend!

Sunday marked the 20th anniversary of my best friend Morgan's arrival in America. She was adopted from Korea, and I'm so glad that she was! We have been best friends since kindergarten, which brings our friendship to almost 16 years (3/4 of our lives!). Needless to say, I love her dearly and will be friends with her forever. We go to schools far away from each other now, but we try to stay connected by talking regularly, and we always hang out at least a few times when we're both home in Hollister.

In honor of her 20 years in Amurka, I decided to make her a little arts & crafts project. Morgan is super creative and sends me cards and little presents all the time, so I figured there was no better way to congratulate than by giving her something homemade. I hit up my new favorite store, Michael's, for some scrapbooking stuff and fake daisies (which are Morgan's favorite flower).

Supplies! Cute letters, scrapbooking paper and stickers, and Elmer's glue

The finished product. I hope she likes it!

The only picture I included--Morgan at my 7th birthday party.

Eating pizza--how American!

The daisies and her card!

I am so grateful to call Morgan my best friend! Now we're off to celebrate her US arrival with all things American--Mexican food for dinner and then the newest episode of Sister Wives! God bless America. :)

Arts and crafts aren't just for kids!

Today I proved that with a little art project. A few weeks ago I stumbled upon an adorable notebook in Urban Outfitters, and its message (Stop and Smell the Flowers) inspired me to make a journal. Since I have a habit of earmarking things in fitness journals (ie recipes I want to try, work outs I want to attempt, etc), I decided I should start compiling all of these things into one place. So, my little fitness journal was born.

All it took was the notebook (which doesn't have to be a fancy one...a cheapo from Walgreens will definitely suffice), some magazines (which I had collected over probably six months), and some sort of adhesive--I used rubber cement because it's easier to work with than a glue stick, and I'm lazy.

The journal isn't done yet (because when is a journal ever done, really?), but so far I have an ongoing brainstorm about why I want to lose weight, some recipes I am going to make when I go home for spring break (which of course I will share on the blog), and some fitness tips/moves I want to try. I am hoping this journal will help me stay fit and on the right track, especially because I just ordered this little number and want to look fab in it by the time summer rolls around.

Can't wait to continue adding to it!

Be well,

Jordan