Cornmeal Thumbprint Cookies

Anyone who knows me knows that I really don't bake. I don't completely hate it, I'm just not very good. I have successfully produced maybe two batches of cookies in my life. Enter my new found social life, and the holiday season. People expect you to bake. You are a lady. Therefore you bake. It's that simple. And while I love the whole Suzy Homemaker image (i'm a little bit more Siouxsie Homemaker if you don't get this joke, you were never goth), I have just always sat a little left of the definition of "lady". I have, however put monumental effort this year into proving my boobs are not phony. My first cookies, Honey Almond cherry shortbread were such a marvelous success, that I didn't have a panic attack when I was invited to a cookie exchange. Instead I turned to the goddess of all things Suzy Homemaker-like and checked my last holiday issue of Martha Stuart Living. I selected the cranberry thumbprint cookies, and decided to make a little change. While Martha would never allow the jam to be store bought i didn't feel quite like a foray into homemade jellies quite yet. Luckily my friend Jessica made me some superb South Carolina grown strawberry jam, so i settled on that.

Vanessa's Cornmeal Thumbprint cookies

1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
1 stick (4 oz) unsalted butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon finely grated orange zest
1 large egg, separated

1)
Preheat oven to 350degrees.
then make the cookies!
Whisk (or mix with a fork) flour, cornmeal, and salt in a medium bowl. (I insist it be a cute one. Makes cooking look better) Beat the softened butter and 1/4 cup sugar in the mixer on med until pale and fluffy(2min- ish). Add orange zest and egg yolk. Mix well. Turn the speed to low and slowly add the flour mixture. I recommend spooning it in. Mix until combined ( at this point I found it to be a smidge dry. I added 1 tbl egg white and 1 tbl water until it all suck together and stopped being so grainy. this is really important in a second)
2)
Lightly whisk egg white. Scoop 2 tsp. of dough and roll into a ball. Dip into egg white and then the 1/4 cup and 1 tablespoon sugar. Place it onto your parchment* covered cookie sheet. ( *or tinfoil if that's all you have in my case) Press gently at the center with your thumb just to flatten the round a tad. Repeat till you sheet is full (12-16 cookies) then use the end of a wooden spoon to add an intent to the center of the dough balls.
Bake for 16-17 min. I found that I went all the way to the 17 min. I probably made my cookies too thick though.
4)
Heat your jam in the microwave for 30 seconds or so. I'm really super specific. You can see why baking is not my forte here. After the cookies are baked and yummy, spoon a bit of the hot(!) jelly/jam/ stuff into the indentation of the cookies. Repeat with second batch. Makes 24-30 cookies.

WARNING!!!! Let the cookies cool FULLY before you attempt to take a bite. The little f*%$kers are extremely hot, and the jam is sticky, and runny. You will burn the ever loving daylights out of your lips. Not that I would know by experience or anything...

5)
Enjoy your delicious cookies.
Luv,
Vanessa*

Cold and Quick

Brrrrrrr! It getting so cold out! Just getting these shots was incredibly difficult! My toes were numb!




Also, Hello winter static. This was a new experience with my bangs. A two inch chunk in the middle of my face spent half of the day sticking straight up, the other half plastered to my face. I have to figure out a way around that. I love how I had no feet in these photos. The tiny hill I was standing on had really soft ground and I kinda sunk into the grass. So let's just assume I was wearing some Loubutins or something.

Dress: Gift from my sister (from JAPAN!)
Belt: Vintage
Slip: Forever 21
Tights: doubled for warmth, Target
Shoes: (unseen, not Loubotins) Vintage Ferrigamo courtesy of SoCo Antiques
Necklace: Corvidae

Here's hoping for slightly warmer weather.
Luv,
Vanessa*

P.S. How do you guys like the new look? I played for a long time to find something I was happy with. Let me know what you think!

60% of the time it works every time.

I have been accused as of late of being a teensy bit negative, bitter, cranky, hateful, and downright unpleasant to be around. Subsequently I have challenged myself to frequently point out thing that I don't just like, I freaking love. Like, could write sonnets about. The decision has been made (by me) to post at least once a week on a highlight in my life. Something that I love so much it can't help but make me happy. More than just silly material things, but sometimes yeah, that's just what I'm gonna talk about.

For my first attempt I have selected one of my very favorite movies. Anchorman The Ron Burgundy Story. No matter how miserable I am this movie can make me laugh. I decided it would be a lot of fun to look up awesome stuff that has been inspired by Anchorman. I mean how can you not be inspired by a guy that shoots fire out of his flute.

1Why Don't you go back to your home on Whore Island Needlepoint by KatieKutthroat
2 Stay Classy Pencils by Earmark
3 Ron Burgundy Poster by claudiavarosio
4 Tits McGee Scrabble tile rack by GamerGirlz
5 Kind of a Big Deal print by Addigaledesigns

The fashion in this movie is... very 70's. VERY. But Veronica Corningstone looks so amazing is her suits (both power and lounge) I thought I would shop for her.

1 Diane VonFurstenburg Suit
2 Pale Tweed wool suit
3 Striped Jacket Set
4 Green Sleeveless Jumper
5 Red Blazer

And of course, I can't talk about inspiration without plugging my own stuff for a second. My Stay Classy bracelet helps you do just that. I like to believe Miss Corningstone would love to have this grace her wrist.

Well this concludes our first edition of Stuff I Don't Hate. OK! Until Next time.
Stay Classy,
Vanessa*

Last Thursday night...

...We had a family reunion. The usual suspects raided their closets (or made a corset and full bustle skirt in 24 hours) to hit the Harry Potter movie premier. As per usual we leaned toward the Baddies (they are just sooooo much more fun!). Brittany was set on Narsissa Malfoy so we kinda fell in around her. Richard opted for Lucius Malfoy. Alicia (my lil sister) made her second round as Bellatrix LeStrange, and her first time seeing Potter with us as a group. She's been at school. I picked the only remaining option; Andromeda Tonks. Ok. So if you don't Read Harry Potter you may be a little lost. How are these characters connected? Why was Andromeda my "Only option"? Well, I'm glad you asked.

These three are the Black sisters. Each one is married(Narsissa to Lucious) and two of which are considered villains. Andromeda, not so much. Anyway, we hit the theater loud and late. Mayhem ensued.
What the hell?
Get that out of your mouth.
Her pennant says GO VOLDY! A joke from this girls art. Makani. Awesome hilarious stuff.
We frequently refer to Andromeda as the useless sister. Her Role in the books was to give birth to Tonks. I prefer to assume she was interesting and had a great sense of humor.

We had a fantastic time. We all stayed out too late and were completely exhausted the next day, but hey, there is only one more chance!

Hat:Vintage
Turtleneck: Anthropologie
Coat: Anthropologie
Gloves: Arden B
Skirt: Target
Tights: Target
Shoes: Seychelles
Necklace: Corvidae (my new line)

Luv,
Vanessa*

p.s. The movie was pretty awesome. I had a little fit over the costumes.

Harry Pottah!

Tonight I give JK ten more of my hard earned dollars. I hate you JK.
Hopefully I will have more to post about over the weekend. You can read about my antics last time we went to a HP movie HERE.

Until then,
Vanessa*

Nests

Sticks And Stitches
with Susan Edmonson
SATURDAY, NOV. 20 || 10:30 a.m.

These one-of-a-kind stitched and beaded necklaces can be done by hand or on a machine free-motion. The base is painted canvas with trees, branches or flowers for the stitching. The rest is fabric, threads, sticks and whatever your heart desires that can be stitched on! The chain is a simple beading technique, but can be customized through placement and selection of beads.
Fee: $85; includes all materials except brass pendant. Level: Beginner.

To reserve your spot for any class: 704-376-3331

Susan Edmonson is an incredibly talented quilt and mixed media artist. I'm extremely fortunate to have met her, and very flattered that she likes my jewelry (and wears it frequently!)
I always feel so inspired after talking to her. So if you live in Charlotte (or within 100 miles. she's worth the drive) Call Beadlush (704)376-3331 and reserve your spot right now! Now Now GO! Why are you still reading?!
Call!

Luv,
Vanessa*

Old Photos

I found these going though my pictures the other day, and I thought I would post them before I decided I didn't like them anymore. I have got to be better about blogging! I don't dislike it. I just hate editing photos. But here these were, all ready to go, and I forgot about them. Ah well. Better late then never. I have several shoots that I need to get up. (Yes, Halloween will be up soon. I need to retrieve the photos from my friend. Same with my vacation)




I really like this outfit, and wore it a ton this summer. It was light, comfy, and combined stripes and florals which I adore.

Check out my sexy, white, bruised legs. This was taken late July, early August. This is as tan as I get.

Shirt:Walmart ($1!)
Skirt: Vintage Gap
Shoes:Ann Taylor
Necklace: Corvidae (my new line! More news on this very soon)

Luv,
Vanessa*