eats: red velvet cake batter brownies with cream cheese frosting.

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Second only to my Original Cake Batter Blondies, this recipe has been my most popular post. It’s been a while since I shared it, so I thought it would be a good time to do a little re-post. You know, since it includes those Christmas colors and all 😉

Red Velvet Cake Batter Brownies || girlmeetslife.com

brownie ingredients:

  • 1 box red velvet cake mix
  • 1/4 cup canola oil
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 1/4 cup milk

frosting ingredients:

  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 1/4 cup butter, softened
  • 1 + 3/4 cup powdered sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

cream cheese frosting

directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Put cake mix in a large bowl and mix in the oil and egg. Then add the milk slowly JUST until the batter is combined – you want it to remain as dense as possible. Place batter in a greased 8×8 pan or 8-inch cake pan and bake for 22-25 minutes.

While the brownies are is in the oven, get started on the frosting. Beat the cream cheese and butter until fully combined. Add vanilla and sugar, and continue beating until creamy.

Let brownies cool for at least 30 minutes before cutting/frosting because the gooey center needs to set. The result will be a decadent, brownie-batter texture.

Red Velvet Cake Batter Brownies || girlmeetslife.com

These babies - especially combined with the cream cheese frosting - are pretty much guaranteed to be a crowd pleasing dessert for the holidays.

(Check out all of my Cake Batter recipes here)

speakable newness.

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Helloooo and happy Monday!

I must admit I’m always a bit wary that I’m posting too much about Speakable - mostly because I never want to seem too self-promoting. BUT…Speakable is my baby and something I’m extremely proud of. So why wouldn’t I share it on a blog about my life, right?

With that being said, I just wanted to let you in on a few exciting things going on over in Speakable world. First of all, (as you may have seen on yesterday’s post) NEW YORK is back!

NEW YORK engraved bar necklace // Speakable.co

Secondly, all of the necklaces are now available in lower case lettering, which has been getting a great response.

CHOOSE JOY engraved bar necklace // Speakable.co

FEARLESS engraved bar necklace // Speakable.co

FAITH engraved bar necklace // Speakable.co

The new nameplate necklaces have also been getting a ton of love…

personalized nameplate necklace // Speakable.co

And last but not least, I’ve released not one but TWO new words to the Freedom Collection! Well, phrases 😉

BE STILL and BE BRAVE.

BE STILL engraved bar necklace // Speakable.co

BE BRAVE engraved bar necklace // Speakable.co

Both of those were just really on my heart, so I thought they’d make a perfect addition.

So, that’s that! Thanks again for all of your support and encouragement. You can check out all of the necklaces (and contact me if you have any questions) over at www.Speakable.co, and stay up to date by following Speakable on Instagram.

my favorite spring/summer fashion trends.

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I don’t know about you, but even though it’s only April, I’m all sorts of excited about trading in my sweaters and layers for tank tops and cut offs.

The other day I posted some of my spring/summer wardrobe and got a few requests to share my favorite fashion trends for the warmer weather, so here it is!

(I thought about waiting until it was closer to summer, but if this year is anything like last – the cooler part of spring is going to flash before our eyes. So why not get the wardrobe ideas started now?)

While compiling my favorite styles and trends, I realized that they kind of all overlap and fall under one big category. So I’m going to call my favorite fashion look(s) for the spring/summer Boho…with an Edge.

 

If I had to describe this “Edgy Boho” look, it would be…

KIMONOS // STRAPPY // FLOWY
CROCHET // CROP TOPS
CUT OFFS // LAYERED JEWELRY
WHITES // BRAIDS // NATURAL MAKEUP
OFF THE SHOULDER // DISTRESSED DENIM
MESSY HAIR // BEACHY // EFFORTLESS
HEAD SCARVES // FLARES // OVERSIZED // FRINGE

 

(all images found via Pinterest. Click the image for source)

 

Some of my favorite places to SHOP for Edgy Boho clothes are:

URBAN OUTFITTERS // BRANDY MELVILLE // NECESSARY CLOTHING // LF // FREE PEOPLE

 

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What are your favorite styles & trends for this spring and summer?
Which of these do you like (or dislike) most?

if i’m being real…

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I miss the good old days of blogging. The days where not everyone and their mom had one. The days where blogs were BLOGS and not informational websites or online magazines.

On a completely unrelated note, most of the time there’s a lollipop hidden somewhere in my purse.

99% of the spring/summer clothes I’ve gotten recently are white.

When I say “whatever, I don’t care” - it means I definitely 100% do care.

I eat at least a spoonful of peanut (or almond) butter a day.

I was on a date last week where a guy made me feel dumb for believing what I believe. I didn’t like that.

Speaking of the opposite sex, I think this quote via Pinterest really nailed it.

I don’t own any designer clothes. Not by New York’s standards, at least.

Going to the movies is one of my tippy top favorite things to do, but I haven’t been in months.

Did I really just say tippy top?

I’m really good at glamorizing/romanticizing things. It’s a blessing and a curse.

I’m trying to become a better listener. I think I’m already decent at it, but I want to be better.

I’m also working on being less hard on myself. So far, so good!

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Your turn! Be real with me about…something. Anything.

snapshots.

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Shipping out Speakable orders is my new favorite way to start the day.

Okay fine…there’s a better way, and it’s called brunch. Even if it doesn’t “start� the day until 3pm.

A la Essex…

brunch at Essex NYC

mimosas

 

The other day I got these Amy’s Sandwich Rounds to give a try. They’re really tasty, but really small.

Amy's Gluten Free Organic Sandwich Rounds

If you look really closely, there’s one hidden under there…

eggs + sriracha

But it’s all good because I got the extra carbs I needed from a green smoothie.

Why do smoothies taste better in a jar…?

Green Smoothie

 

My summer wardrobe is growing at a much more rapid pace than most years.

But…how much do you want to bet I’ll never wear those crop tops?

summer clothes

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Have you started getting summer clothes yet? Any colors/trends your especially loving lately?

color lovin’.

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If you follow me on Instagram you may have seen my newly BLUE hair.

No, I didn’t actually dye my hair blue (although, it IS quite trendy right now according to Pinterest…). That optical illusion is thanks to Shimmering Lights, odd lighting, and a cool-toned filter. I’d never forsake my beloved blonde, but the blue is kinda cool looking, huh?

More color has been making an appearance in my life via my accessories. I definitely tend to lean toward neutrals when it comes to my clothes, but jewelry is a fun and easy way to add a pop of color.

I got this great bracelet from Target. I don’t usually check out their jewelry section, but they had some great finds! I thought this was just so fun for the spring and summer.

Speaking of jewelry, did you know that Speakable necklaces look great with any color? 😉 Shameless plug – sorry not sorry.

Speakable engraved necklaces

On the food front, this go-to meal has continued to make an appearance quite often. I always knew this combo of avocado, eggs, and sweet potato was delicious and filling, but it’s also quite the colorful one, yeah?

Avocado, Fried Egg, Sweet Potato

And then there’s Baby Bo’s Cantina, which is one of my favorite hidden gem restaurants in the city. They have hands down some of the best authentic Mexican food I’ve ever had. Not to mention it’s clearly quite festive there.

Baby Bo's Cantina NYC

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What do you think of the bright and bold hair colors trending right now? Would you ever try something like that?