Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Bits of My Week

Bits of My Week via my iPhone :)
These past few weeks have been a gigantic headspin. We've fit so much into our tiny little schedule. But, it's all been fun. I don't get too personal on my blog i.e. photos, so I thought I'd share a few snapshots of my life with you. Enjoy :)

DIY Coming Soon to ThreeLayerCake// Work Event Wearing Aprons by Carolyn's Kitchen // Hawaii // Homemade Pasta // Chili and Lime Tortilla Chip Tapas // Comic Con Costumes // Men of the Family Waiting Patiently While the Ladies of the Family Shop // Breakfast Made By My Love // Homemade Tortilla Chips // New Kate Spade Bridesmaid Idiom Bangle // Coffee and New Blog Design // More Homemade Pasta // Star Wars "Dive In" Date with Clint at The Pearl Hotel in SD // Clint and his Star Wars Cocktail (Lightsaber Glowstick Included) 

Monday, July 30, 2012

Budget Friendly Buys!

So, I gathered up a bunch of fabulous finds on the cheap for you! I'm trying to save $ right now so I can buy some bigger ticket items (ahem, cough, cough) but that doesn't mean I can't live... just... a... little, right!?

I am definitely buying the ASOS spike bracelets, wrap claw ring and cross bracelet. I mean, at these prices, it's hard not to, right? I just found out that ASOS, where many of these items are from, ships both ways FREE! That's unheard of!

Hooray for cheap thrills!



Friday, July 27, 2012

Current Obsession // Jayson Home Again...

I couldn't help myself... Jayson Home is so fabulous I had to share it again as my Weekly Obsession. How A-M-A-Z-I-N-G are these pieces!? I can just imagine these pieces all housed in an ultra luxe reading nook or chic dining room. I'll say it again, if you haven't visited online retailer Jayson Home yet, get on it! 

What is erveyone's plans for the weekend? Considering the mild weather in San Diego (76 degrees), I decided I want more heat! It's summer, isn't it! I WANT HEAT! So a few friends and I are heading to Arizona where the sun can make sweet, sweet love to this white, white skin of mine! SO looking forward to spending some time at Havasu River with some tasty buds, lots of junkety junk food and a few close friends. Hope you all have an exceptional weekend whatever it is you end up doing :)




Thursday, July 26, 2012

Chef Spotlight: Joy the Baker

ATTENTION ALL FOODIES!

Have you heard of Joy the Baker? She is an amazing chef blogger who prepares and photographs the most delicious looking food! I've tried and adapted several of her recipes including my Sun Dried Tomato, Spinach and Cheese Ravioli from THIS RECIPE of Joy's and I'm yet to be disappointed. 

Her blog is beautifully put together and her directions are filled with the perfect mix of informative and funny. And did I mention the photos? The photos will induce serious mouth-watering! 










Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Bar Essentials

I LOVE entertaining and what is a party without a great cocktail in hand? I have a tall dark wood and mirrored bar cabinet from Z Gallerie that I am just in love with. I have it decorated with lots of fun straws, pretty liquor bottles and family heirloom barware. It's one of my favorite pieces of furniture. Here is my guide to stocking the perfect bar. Bottom's up!


Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Mirror Image

I am and have always been in love with mirrored furniture. not only does it make your space look bigger, but it is just stunning to look at. What category does this fall in? Modern, shabby chic.... whatever the case, I love it. 

Here are some amazing pieces that were featured on Joss and Main as of late. If you could own any of these, which one would it be? Do you have a mirrored piece of furniture in your home?



Sunday, July 22, 2012

Stud Muffin

Spikes and studs are everywhere lately. I personally love the trend. I think it's so fun to pair a feminine piece with a tough piece... think pink pouffy cocktail dress paired with gold spikey bracelets. Floral pants and white top paired with chucks and heavy eye make-up.

Cute while still being edgy. 

What do you think about this trend? Is it a GO or is it a NO?



Thursday, July 19, 2012

Cacio e Pepe


Shortly after my boyfriend and I got back from our amazing 12 day trip to Italy (emphasis on the AFTER), my boyfriend said he had watched Anthony Bourdain chowing down on some amazing looking pasta in Rome called Cacio e Pepe. 

Cacio e Pepe, literally cheese and pepper, is a classic Roman dish made from the simplest of ingredients: water, pasta, cheese, freshly ground black pepper and butter.

And it's simply amazing. If you ever see it on a menu, order it. Or, better yet, make it yourself! 

It's become one of our favorite meals to repare and I hope it might become one of your favorites as well.


Prep: 10 mins | Cook: 6-10 mins | Yield: 2 servings

Ingredients:
Half pound spaghetti or bucatini
1/2 cup salted boiling pasta water
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon good quality olive oil
1 tablespoon freshly grated pepper, plus more for garnish
1 1/2 cups grated Pecorino Romano cheese, plus more for garnish
Basil or other green for extra garnish (my basil is from my home garden, hence the caterpillar bites)


Directions:
Cook pasta according to directions on the box (add salt to water). After pasta has cooked for several minutes, ladle out 3/4 - 1 cup boiling pasta water and set aside. When pasta is extremely al dente (about 2 minutes before you would normally strain), remove the pasta and strain. Set aside momentarily. Add boiling pasta water, butter and pepper to a hot sauce pan. Add the drained pasta to the pan and toss through the water mixture until the pasta absorbs almost all of the water. Remove from heat and add cheese to pasta. Toss and garnish with more cheese and pepper, to taste.

Buon Appetito!

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Sunnies Love

There are a few things in life that I think every girl should splurge on. These include:
High Thread Count Sheets
A Dream-Tastic Pillow
A Good Pair of Kitten Heels
A Great Piece of Jewelry You Buy Yourself
and last but not least...
"Make-You-Feel-Fabulous-Every-Time-You-Put-Them-On" Sunnies!
Some sunglasses just have the ability to transform how you feel. I can be wearing sweatpants and a tee to the grocery store but once I put on my Ray Ban Aviators, I feel pulled-together and chic. 

Check out these below picks... I think they are all fabulous head turners! 

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Three Layer Cake Mentioned on MadeByGirl

Three Layer Cake was mentioned over on MadeByGirl today!

I have said it once and I'll say it again, if you haven't checked out Jen's blog before or her fabulous online stores, MadeByGirl and Cocoa&Hearts, you must go take a look-see! She is one of my favorite bloggers around and her art is beautiful... I'm sure you've seen her LOVE prints floating around the blogosphere before.

Enjoy!

Designer Spotlight // Sam Edleman

Sam Edelman Rules. He makes things I melt for. Shoes and bags and bags and shoes galore! I'm especially obsessed with the top right suede booties. I want them SO bad! The link provided is the cheapest I've found them yet!

Chickety check him out!

left to right

Monday, July 16, 2012

Pillow Crush

Pillows are a bland couch's best friend. And my interior design crush.

These ones from Shop Furbish are so cute.

Which one is your favorite?



Shop the home decor section of Shop Furbish where these pillows can be found.


Friday, July 13, 2012

Weekly Obsession // Shop Furbish

Do you remember the much anticipated Kia Optima Car Commercial that played during the Superbowl? Mr. Sandman brings a dream to an unsuspecting guy? The guy's dream features model Adriana Lima,  Rock Legend Motley Crue and WWE Fighter, Chuck Liddell. It's the perfect male fantasy, all rolled into one hugely ridiculous dreamscape. 

Well, Shop Furbish would more than likely be featured in my female dreamscape fantasy. Shop Furbish... along with Goblets of Chambord.... and Brad Pitt. In a banana hammock. Meow.

Anyways, Shop Furbish is perfection. In an online retail platform. Poodle Bookends? PUH-LEASE! I am toast with a credit card! 

Just do me a favor and go shop the store. Not only will you drool a little on your keyboard, but you will find that it's a great place for inspiration.

P.S. If you haven't seen that commercial, it's really very silly. Click HERE to watch it.


1. brown floral bench $1700 // 2. poodle bookends $65 // 3. green tie dye pillow $65 // 4. the rivera ring - neon pink $12 5. // furry stool $215 // 6. flamingo cards $16 // 7. brass grasshopper paperweight $35 / 8. large floral pinched tray $25 // 9. watercolor binder $24 // 10. skull cuff $14

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Watch It

Confession: I love watches but I don't own one. I hate the feeling of feeling something of weight on my wrist, which is weird, I know. Bracelets, I can deal with. Watches, not so much.

Truth: My parents' college graduation gift to me was a brand new watch so I could look professional in interviews... they told me to go buy whatever watch I wanted (under $150) and I came back with a $25 bright lime-green digital Swatch complete with a calculator on it. It was sweet in my mind but it was definitely not what they had in mind... I wore it a few times and retired it to the glove compartment in my Jeep. I'm just not a watch person, darnitall. 

That Being Said: I still looove how they look and think they are a cute (and useful) fashion accessory. 

Here are some of my favorite picks out there! Do you have a watch? What brand do you like?









Tuesday, July 10, 2012

I Need Your Opinion!

I have an insanely huge announcement to make! Threelayercake.blogspot.com will soon be changing to glamourmash.com. Glamourmash will still be hosted on blogger but I will have a dedicated webpage and corresponding store to sell jewelry and other glam accessories. It's more my style and will allow me to explore more exciting ventures, which I will be announcing soon!

I am in the early design stages of the website and I cannot get past the first element of design and it's killing me: My logo font! I know it seems minor but I just need to know what everyone's opinions are because your opinions are the ones that matter! I will probably delete this post after a few hours and make the formal announcement at a later date, so I appreciate your help!!

Ok, so please tell me your honest opinion. Do you like the top option or the bottom option.







Lots of love and many thanks,
Holly Foxen Wells

Fancy Bookends

"Old friends. Sat on their park bench like bookends... winter companions, the old friends... lost in their overcoats, waiting for the sun... the sounds of the city sifting through trees... settle like dust on the shoulders of the old friends." -Bookends by Simon & Garfunkel

Aren't those lovely lyric by Simon & Garfunkel? It's one of my favorite songs. We stow many of our favorite and most cherished possessions between bookends, so why not make these functional pieces slightly more fabulous than normal. Here is a collection of bookends that I am just so in love with.


1 / 2 / 3 / 4  5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9  

Monday, July 9, 2012

Shop Spotlight // Sugar Paper

What is it about letterpress printing that gets us ladies in a complete and utter tizzy!?! I get happy... excited... elated even, to peruse shop aisles and internet pages for those perfectly and eloquently designed bits of stationary. 

I am in love with the simplicity and the nostalgia of these pretty papered notes.

Sugar Paper is one of my favorite paperies... and the story of the creation of the store is quite sweet, too. Close friends and graphic designers, Chelsea Shukov and Jamie Grobecker, founded Sugar Paper in 2003 out of their love for letterpress. It turns out, lots of people agreed with their design throwback as well and the store concept caught on like wildfire. Visit their paperie site HERE and go get your tizzy on ;)