The Better Lemonade and Dessert Party: Part I

This past weekend I celebrated and lamented the impending departures that my friends and me would be making to college. It was a bittersweet party because I have known most of these girls since I was 4 years old, and saying good-bye --even if it's only for a little while-- is never easy.

Preparing 8 different cakes, three types of cookies, and several desserts was not easy either, but it was definitely  possible with the right kind of preparation. Over the next few posts I'll explain in detail how you can plan one of these little soirees yourself without crying in the cake batter from the stress of it all.

Here is a peak at what went on inside my house. Enjoy!

{Dessert table}

{Mini BLT sandwiches}

 

{My beautiful friend, Mackenzie}

{Trying to decide what to eat first}

The Better Martha Goes Glamping: Part II

Rules of Glamping
 

1. Sometimes it is impossible to look cute. Accept it and make a competition of who can look the silliest. My absurd posing, dirty pants, and funny helmet make me the winner!

2. Try some new and crazy things like rock climbing or going down a natural water slide. You'll be scared to death, but in the end you won't have  any regrets. 

3. Take time to enjoy the scenery and clean air. The smell of car exhaust and food vendors is nice and reminds me of home, but the crisp air of nature shouldn't go unappreciated. 

*Photo credits to Britt, Mackenzie, Hannah, and Alice

The Better Graduation Reflections

This year, the beginning of the summer is a bit of a landmark for my family. My parents are having their 30th anniversary, my brother having graduated medical school is officially a doctor, and I'm saying farewell to the small prep school that I have attended for the last 14 years. After watching my father (an alum of the school) hand my brother his diploma, it got me thinking that it would only be a few short weeks before I' be getting my diploma.

Granted it is just high school, and I don't have to deal with the stress of knowing that lives will be in my hands...but still, it was a big awakening. All of this made me realize there are so many things I want to bake, do, see, and read while I'm still footloose, fancy free, and not bound to textbooks in the library. I refuse to let this summer pass only to realize that I have spent most of my days in the house. So here it is, my official Before I Go To College: Summer of 2012 Bucket List.

THINGS TO BAKE

1. Cinnamon Brown Butter Breakfast Puffs (Pictured above. Image via Smitten Kitchen)

2. Naan Bread

3. Homemade Twix Bar

4. Tiramisu (Pictured above. Image via 17 and Baking)

5. Jamaican Hard Dough Bread (This one is especially for my Jamaican parents who have been begging me to make it.)

THINGS TO DO

1. Run on the beach

2. West Coast Swing dance classes

3. Cake decorting class  (Image above via Glorious Treats)

4. Food photography/ styling class

5. Complete my tee shirt rug (Pictured above.)
6. Organize all pictures and computer files

THINGS TO SEE

1. Napa vineyards

2. Broadway show at Pantages Theatre

3. Snow White and the Huntsman

4. Chelsea Lately Live Show (Pictured above. Image via Google Images)

5. Cirque du Soleil

THINGS TO  READ

1. Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, Book1)

2. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

3. An Abundance of Katherines (Pictured above. Image via Google Images)

4. Pandemonium

5. Uglies

I'd love to hear about all the activities on your bucket list.

The Better Martha & Friends Do The Color Run

This past weekend Mackenzie, Olivia, and me participated in the 2012 Irvine, CA Color Run. They really are not kidding when they say that it is the happiest 5k on the planet. For those of you who want to know more about the color run, watch this video, and if you ever have the opportunity to participate DO IT! 

{Such a colorful group of ladies!}

{Clean, shiny, and ready to go! Look at me bringing back the fanny pack.}

{You could see the clouds of color from so far away!}

{After the first color tunnel: yellow}

Because we all were very late a tad tardy we got to go in the last group where they just dump all the leftover powder on you. This was definatly the way to go since we all said we wanted to be covered from head to toe. 

The Better Way to Revisit Childhood

A couple weeks ago I was in my local craft store trying to get ideas for a fun project to do while the Los Angeles rain clouds wreaked their havoc. While I saw many great things, something that caught my eye was a huge box of sidewalk chalk. Instantly memories of 1st grade rushed into my mind. Playing hopscotch, drawing elaborate murals that would be hosed down by the janitorial staff at night, and getting colorful smears of chalk over my uniform. Though there was no chance of me getting to use my purchases immediately, I couldn’t help but buy boxes and boxes of chalk.

{Follow the road your heart desires because the Yellow Brick Road is overrated}

{Chalk}

Towards the end of recess, my 1st grade self and my best friends (who I still am good friends with) would marvel at our work and then make a wish as the fairy dust (chalk dust) would swirl around us in the wind.

{"Fairy dust"}

The Better Way to Bring in Adulthood

This past weekend was my big 18th birthday. I’m officially an adult! I chose to keep things simple this year; on Friday night I enjoyed an iHop dinner with friends. Although my parents offered to take us to a nice restaurant, I preferred the simplicity of great company and delicious pancakes. Plus, you can’t play games of charades in the middle of Ruth Chris the way you can when you are at the International House of Pancakes. 

{Mackenzie helps Mimi put on her birthday hat}

 

{JCrew birthday bag}

 

{Olivia gave me this glam sleep mask. I feel like Beyonce in my slumber}

{Cook books I received!}

{Home made birthday brownie cake}

The Better Way to Do Cape Cod

This week I’m spending time with my best friend Olivia and her adorable family in Cape Cod. Yesterday was spent at this amazing beach where the tide pulls back so far you can walk for miles in the sand that was covered by the ocean hours ago. Here are some pictures.

{We took plenty of photos of ourselves}

{Nature gave us pedicures with her natural exfoliant}

{We ate more ice cream than any two girls should}

{We revisited youth and built sandcastles}

{We even went out into the water...until I saw there were snails and left}

The Better Holiday Cheer Lasts Throughout the Year

I love the idea that a simple gift or thought can bring cheer to anyones day, so not too long ago I baked chocolate peppermint sugar cookies that I normally bake around Christmas. After packaging them up in a more spring time theme, they were ready to be given to good friends. Unexpectedly, people ended up fighting over them and looking for ways to steal them. Note: If you don’t want to give them out as gifts, they work really well as bribes.

Ingredients 
1 1/2 cups butter, softened
2 cups white sugar
4 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
5 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
Directions
In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour (or overnight). Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Roll out dough on floured surface 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Cut into shapes with any cookie cutter. Place cookies 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 6 to 8 minutes in preheated oven. Cool completely.

The Better Day at the Grove

To celebrate the beginning of summer I went to The Grove with a couple of my friends Anna and Rafaela. We took our time eating a two hour lunch before shopping, grabbing some fro-yo, and heading to see a movie.