Girl About Town

I have fallen in love.  It happened fast and might only be a Summer fling but it's still defiantly true love.....

Saturday I hit the mall needing to stock up on some of my MAC favorites.  I do the recycling program there which you should be doing too if you're not already!  If you aren't familiar with MAC (who isn't?) every time you use six of their products up instead of throwing them away you turn them back in.  Your six empty makeup containers score you a free lipstick of your choice.  How sweet is that????  I go through six pretty fast since I use their mascara everyday of my life.  Even if I'm having a no makeup day which I try to do once a week I always need that little bit of mascara.  But back to your free lipstick!  How wonderful is that?  It's a great way to try out new colors that you normally would never buy for yourself.  So I'm standing at the MAC counter lusting over everything there... I know it's bad but I just love MAC makeup.... anyways I'm picking out color after color asking the hubby what do you think of this one?  Finally I narrow it down to a coral color and a pink color.  The hubby says the pink is brighter then anything I have, so I go with it.  As soon as we leave the counter I pull out my little wallet mirror and apply.  It's love at first sight!  Bold, vibrant, luscious, hot pink!!!  If you do not own this little tube of Girl About Town stop what you're doing and go buy it!  The hubby complemented my new pink kissers multiple times that day so did everyone else.  I'm in love with Girl About Town.

This color looks so good on so many different people!  Here are few celebs just to show it off...





Beyonce Knowles

Kim Kardashian

Sandra Bullock

 Ashley Greene

I was asked how long this color will stay true on your lips.  Well I woke up the next morning after washing my face the night before with pink lips.  So I hope that helps show you the staying power of MAC.

 

Me in my new summer love lipcolor Girl About Town by MAC

humming bird

Happy Mother's Day to all of the wonderful mothers out there today!!!

I got to spend Saturday grilling out with the family to celebrate my beautiful mother!  It was a nice relaxing day which was much needed.  We have been in the process of moving this past month.  Note the lack of blog post :(  .  But we are here in our first home together now yay!!!  And things are starting to get settled in.  Except the mishap of our living room furniture not being finished yet... just let me say doing a custom design and the place running out of fabric just a few days before your move in is not ideal!  But that's another post entirely.  And once I get around to taking some pictures I'll post them!

So for Mother's Day I wanted to find a special dessert recipe to fix.  I love finding and trying out new desserts.  I have the biggest sweet tooth ever.. thanks papaw and mom!!  I blame it on them for passing it down to me.  No matter how full I am or how healthy I try to eat I always fall surrender to sweets.  I get cravings and nothing can satisfy me until I get it!  I swear I would be 10 pounds lighter if I didn't consume sugar.  During the week I try not to have any sugar or white flour what so ever, I'm a strong south beach diet follower.  But on the weekends that's my cheat days ;)  so bring on the sweets!! 

While searching the Internet I came across a recipe for a hummingbird cake.  I've never had a hummingbird cake but reading through the ingredient list it all sounded very yummy.  So after doing some research on different varieties I decided on a Paula Deen recipe.  Her desserts never seem to fail.

Hummingbird cake is a Southern layer cake said to have gotten it's name because each bite makes you hum with delight. :)  The hummingbird cake was first published in Southern Living Magazine in the February 1978 issue, submitted by a Mrs. L.H. Wiggins of Greensboro, N.C.

Ingredients

• For the cake

  • Nonstick vegetable spray
  • All-purpose flour, for pans
  • 3 cups self-rising flour
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 3/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
  • 2 very ripe large bananas, mashed
  • 1 (8-ounce) can crushed pineapple, with juice
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 4 large eggs, beaten

• For the frosting

  • 1 pound (1 box) confectioners' sugar
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
  • 6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon milk, or more if needed
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Spray and flour three 8-by-2-inch round cake pans, tapping out excess flour; set aside.
2. Prepare the cake; in a large bowl, stir to combine self-rising flour, sugar, oil, pecans, bananas, pineapple, vanilla, cinnamon, and eggs.
3. Divide batter evenly between prepared pans, smoothing with an offset spatula. Bake, rotating pans halfway through, until the tops spring back when gently pressed with your fingertips, 26 to 28 minutes.
4. Transfer pans to a wire rack to cool 10 minutes. Invert cakes onto wire rack. Re-invert cakes and let them cool completely, top sides up.
5. Prepare the frosting; in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or a hand mixer also works, combine sugar, cream cheese, butter, vanilla, and 1 tablespoon milk on medium speed until frosting is smooth. If needed, add more milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, to achieve the proper spreading consistency.  I added around 3.
6. Using a serrated knife, trim tops of cakes to make level. Place four strips of parchment paper around perimeter of a serving plate. Place the first layer on the cake plate. Spread the top of the first layer with 1/4 of the frosting. Place the second layer on top and repeat process with another 1/4 of the frosting. Place the remaining layer on top of the second layer bottom side up. Spread entire cake with remaining frosting. Sprinkle the top with pecans. Remove parchment paper strips; refrigerate until ready to serve.

Enjoy!  This cake is defiantly a keeper in our family.  Everyone loved it!!

Happy Mother's Day also to my mother and best friend!!