Paint The Town

My friends + I will use any excuse to throw a party.  Birthdays, holidays, TV show viewings, job promotions, you name the occasion we are most likely toasting Veuve to commemorate it! When my friend Angela recently moved to a fabulous new place on the Upper West Side it seemed obvious that a "painting party" was in order, so that was exactly what we did this Saturday morning.

After dissecting back issues of Domino {RIP}, scouring design blogs + over analyzing Benjamin Moore swatches, colors were chosen, mimosa were poured + we got to work.  I decided we might need a something sweet to keep us motivated mid-morning so I baked a chocolate chip coffee cake before hopping on the 1 train uptown.

_____________________________________________________________________

Janet's Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake {adapted from here}

Grocery List

Dairy- 1 stick unsalted butter at room temperature

           2 large eggs at room temperature

           1 cup sour cream

Dry Goods- 2 cups all-purpose flour

                    1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

                    1 teaspoon baking soda

                    1 1/4 cups sugar

                    1 cup chocolate chips {Ghirardelli milk chocolate chips taste best!}

Spice Cabinet- 1/2 teaspoon salt

                        1 teaspoon cinnamon

                        1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract {my favorite kind}

Game Plan

1. Preheat oven to 350. Grease an 8-inch square baking pan.  In a medium bowl mix together flour, baking powder, baking soda + salt.  In a small bowl combine 1/4 cup sugar + cinnamon.

2. Using an electric mixer, beat together the butter + remaining 1 cup sugar until fluffy, about 5 minutes. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then beat in sour cream + vanilla.  Fold in the the flour mixture in 2 parts until just combined.  Pour half the cake batter into the pan + sprinkle with half the cinnamon-sugar mixture + half the chocolate chips.  Spoon the remaining batter over the filling as evenly as possible spreading gently.  Sprinkle with remaining cinnamon-sugar mixture + chocolate chips.

3. Bake 30-35 minutes until golden brown + tooth pick inserted in the center comes out clean.

4. Enjoy! 

_____________________________________________________________________

  

xo

jules

City Love

Dear New York City, 

I think any New Yorker will agree "if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere". As a young girl growing up in the Windy City, I always dreamed of moving to the Big Apple.  Here I am 6 years later, still standing + just as smitten with you as ever. I've changed jobs, boyfriends, moved apartments an inordinate amount of times, had my heart broken, broken some hearts, consistently paid obscene rent + STILL there is no place I'd rather be.

Ok, ok, I'll cut to the chase. Yes, it's true. I did abandon you for a multilevel structure surrounded by copious amounts of land, complete with white picked fence in a far off land called New Jersey.  I admit it was a gargantuan lapse of judgement, but love makes you do crazy things sometimes {and just plain crazy others!}.  Please accept this sincere apology from the bottom of my city-loving heart + know I will never relocate west of the Hudson  again.

I've returned to my senses + could not be more ebullient to meander through your villages, listen to music in all your quaint little venues, taste the fruits of your culinary masters, people watch in your luscious parks, be inspired by your museums + most of all rediscover what it means to be a New Yorker.

Forever Yours,

Jules

Ps. Check out my new digs! 

xo

jules