Cheeky Quote Tuesday

Birthday Cake Blondies - Simple & Delicious Recipe

Hi lovely reader! If you follow me on Instagram @notexactlyplainjane you may have seen that I posted a Reel the other day of a Birthday Cake Blondie Cake that I made (check it out here). It turned out super cute and was really easy to make so I wanted to share the recipe with you! Funfetti, white chocolate, and rainbow sprinkles, what's not to love? Check it out below!

Ingredients
-Cooking Spray
-Baking Pans (I used 2 6-inch rounds and 1 8-inch round to make multiple "cakes")
-Parchment Paper
-3 cups All Purpose Flour
-1 1/2 tsp. Kosher Salt
-1 tsp. Baking Powder
-2 1/4 sticks butter (18 Tbsp), softened
-1 1/2 cups Granulated Sugar
-3/4 cup Packed Brown Sugar
-2 tsp. Vanilla Extract
-3 eggs
-2 1/4 cups white chocolate chips (I used the Nestle Funfetti morsels)
-1 cup Rainbow Sprinkles (or any color) + optional extra for decorating (I used 2 small shakers total to cover the sides)
-Icing (option, these are actually really moist so they don't necessarily "need it")

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease your pans with cooking spray and line the bottom with parchment paper. In a bowl, combine the flour, salt, and baking powder.

2. In a larger bowl using a mixer, beat the butter and sugars until fluffy, then add the vanilla and eggs and beat until combined.

3. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture gradually and beat until combined. Then fold in the chocolate chips and 3/4 cup of the sprinkles.

4. Pour the batter into the pan(s) and bake until the edge are golden, about 30 minutes. Let cool & then decorate!

And Voila!

What's your favorite birthday treat to make for others? Xx

Shoe of the Week - January 2021 Recap

Hi lovely reader! If you follow me on Instagram @notexactlyplainjane you will know that I have a segment called "Shoe of the Week" where I share a shoe I'm currently loving every Monday. Somehow it is the end of January so I have put together a recap of the styles from this month with direct links (not sponsored) and similar options if they are not available. Enjoy!

Adidas Grand Court Sneaker - Exact

New Balance x Kate Spade Saturday
Exact - No longer available, if you search these there are a few pairs from the collection on Poshmark
Similar - New Balance Fuelcore Nergize Sport Training Shoe

Circus by Sam Edelman Gunner Boots
Exact - Out of Stock
Similar - Circus Flora Hiker Boot

Dr. Scholl's Amara Bootie - Exact

Shoe of the Week - December 2020 Recap

Hi lovely reader! If you follow me on Instagram @notexactlyplainjane you will know that I have a segment called "Shoe of the Week" where I share a shoe I'm currently loving every Monday. As it is the end of the month & year! I have put together a recap of the styles from this month with direct links (not sponsored) and similar options if they are not available. Enjoy!

Puma RS-0 Play
Exact's are no longer available but the Puma website has tons of fun other RS Collection options!

Halogen Hailey Studded Black Leather Booties
Exact - Sold Out
Similar Vibe - Zara & on Sale!

Sam Edelman Jacquie 2 Lug Sole Chelsea Boot
Exact - On Sale!!

Hunter Boots Original Tour Foldable Tall Rain Boots
Exact - Hunter Boots

"Best Ever" Baked Oatmeal - How Sweet Eats | Easy Breakfast Recipe

Hi lovely reader! I wanted to share an easy breakfast recipe that I found on Instagram by Jessica Merchant of @howsweeteats . It's delicious (tastes like a dessert), simple, and a great make ahead breakfast option for mornings on the go (or when you can't be bothered to actually make something...hello microwave). I have copied the recipe below but you can also find it on Jessica's blog "How Sweet Eats" .

Ingredients

• 4 1/2 cups quick oats
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 large eggs
• 2 cups milk whatever you like! dairy or nondairy
• 3/4 cup canola oil
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup chocolate chips
• 1/3 cup sliced almonds
• 1/3 cup flaked coconut toasted if you've like!
• 2 tablespoons hemp hearts
• 1 tablespoon chia seeds
• milk or cream for drizzling (I like to pair mine with vanilla or coconut greek yogurt)

Instructions 

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9x13 inch baking dish with nonstick spray.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the oats, sugar, baking powder and salt. In a smaller bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, oil and vanilla extract. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and stir until combined. Pour the mixture in the dish.
• Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and set. Remove the dish from the oven and place the chocolate chips on top right away (so they kind of melt!). Top with the coconut, almonds, hemp hearts and chia seeds. Let cool slightly, then cut into squares and serve with a drizzle of milk or cream.
• *After the dish has cooled completely, I cut them into squares, wrap in cling wrap individually to help keep them fresh, and put them in a ziplock bag to freeze. Then in the morning you can just grab a square and microwave it for a minute or two!

Shoe of the Week - November 2020 Recap

Hi lovely reader! If you follow me on Instagram @notexactlyplainjane you will know that this month I started a new segment, "Shoe of the Week" where I share a shoe I'm currently loving. As it is the end of the month, I have put together a recap of the styles from this month with direct links (not sponsored) and similar options if they are not available. Enjoy!

Jaclyn Waterproof Chelsea Bootie 
Exact - Nordstrom (dark taupe is sold out on Sam Edelman Website)
Black Suede - 40% off on Sam Edelman Website

Adidas Lite Racer Adapt
Olive is no longer available
Black - Kohls (on sale for $39.99!)

Steven by Steve Madden Seaton Black Leather Loafer
Similar Backless Version - Steve Madden
Similar - Coach Outlet

Sam Edelman Laguna Black Leather Boot
Exact - Sam Edelman

Dr. Martens Black Coated Glitter Boots
Exact - Rack Room Shoes

My Current Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe | Sunday Baking

 Hi lovely reader! Happy Fall! It's kind of hard to believe that October is here but I'm ready to embrace it. The mornings and evening have started to get cooler where I am, pumpkins are popping up in front of the stores, my Instagram feed is filling up with cosy recipes, and it's great! 

    Today I wanted to share what I can confidently say is the best chocolate chip cookie recipe I have ever made. My mom who is quite the cookie critic is also in agreement so you know it's good! I found this recipe on @smallkitchensweets Instagram and had to give it a try. His page is full of beautiful photos of delicious sweets and teasers of recipes to come on his website. (Spencer, if you ever read this, we want more!) He posted a week ago that he is working on a pumpkin chocolate chip cookie recipe and I am praying that we get to see it because if it's anything like these chocolate chip cookies it will be AMAZING! 

As he notes on his blog, his NY Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe is inspired by the famous Levain Cookie. The one thing I did differently was that instead of making eight giant cookies, I kept mine on the smaller side while still following all of the steps and they turned out great! I will post the basics of the recipe below but I highly encourage you to check out his post on these cookies because it is full of great tips and tricks to get them to turn out perfectly.

INGREDIENTS:

• 226 grams / 2 sticks unsalted butter
• 150 grams / 3/4 cup light brown sugar
• 100 grams / 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt + flaky salt for the top 
• 420 - 480 grams / 3 - 3 1/3 cup All Purpose flour *see tips in post
• 360 grams / 2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips
• 180 grams / 1 (ish) cup walnut halves *optional

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 400 F / 200 C and place a rack in the middle of the oven. Remove butter from fridge. Allow to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.
2. In the bowl of an electric mixer, add slightly softened butter and sugars together. Cream ingredients for 1 minute on high speed. Scrape down the sides of your mixer.
3. With mixer on low speed, add eggs one at a time and mix until combined.
4. Turn the mixer off and add the 420 g of the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Pulse the mixer until just mixed.
5. Add chocolate chips and walnut halves if you are using them. If you decide not to add the walnuts, add more chocolate chips or add 40 grams of extra flour. If the chocolate chips don’t combine completely, knead the dough a slightly to incorporate.
6. Divide dough into 8 pieces, about 6 oz. each. If making smaller, adjust baking time accordingly. 
7. Roughly shape each piece of dough into a ball. They should be rustic looking, do not flatten! Place each ball of dough onto a sheet tray and transfer to the freezer. Freeze for about 30-45 minutes. They should be quite firm. You will bake the cookies from frozen!
8. Bake 6 cookies at a time for 13-15  minutes. Rotate the tray halfway through the bake . The cookies will be *quite* golden on the top and bottom but gooey on the inside. Don’t overbake, they will continue to cook on the tray.
9. If you want to add flaky salt to the top, now is the time! Sprinkle over the top right when they come out of the oven!
10. Let the cookies cool for 15 minutes before serving.

The actual best! Sharing is caring and I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I did! Xx

Cheeky Quote Tuesday

Cheeky Quote Tuesday

Cheeky Quote Tuesday

What quotes have you seen this past week that have sparked inspiration or encouragement? Xx

Cheeky Quote Tuesday

Living in London | Life Update

Hello lovely readers! As you are able to tell by the title, some things have changed recently and I am currently living in London!!! (The fact that I am able to say that is still surreal) Now this was not a spur of the moment up and go situation, I am studying here and have been planning this for a long time.

I have always been interested in London and England and thought that I loved it but now having been here for a little while I can say with complete confidence that I LOVE it here! The pace of everything, the fashion, the lifestyle, the fact that there is always something to do, the architecture, and the ever present mixing of past and present times. 

Since being in London, I have visited a few different areas and plan to give them each their own post rather than one massive one. With this experience I want to share how I see London as well as tips for studying abroad in general, and anything else that I get up to. 

Also, with it being my first time here, I am looking for suggestions of places to go, things to see, and places to eat for sure!! So if you are from the area or have visited before, please please please, comment or feel free to send me an email with your tips! So, yes that is my little life update! Stay tuned for more and also, if you don't already, follow me on Instagram @notexactlyplainjane for more daily happenings! Xx

Cheeky Quote Tuesday

Favorite Fall Beauty Trends | Adore Me

Hi lovely reader! One thing I love about fall are the beauty trends. The lips shapes get darker, the eyeshadows get warmer, and berry toned everything fills the shelves. In celebration of all things fall beauty, Adore Me has launched a project themed around the oh so festive autumnal palettes of this year and their new October Showroom!

As I've said before, if what you've got on under your clothes coordinates with what you've got going on on the outside, you instantly feel like you've for something together for the day. For today's post I wanted to share my top 3 favorite makeup for fall in looks that I have seen lately on instagram, as well as various pieces from Adore Me that coordinate beautifully with each of the looks!

This year I am all about the satin finish bronze and copper colored eyeshadows. They can be layered and mixed, paired with a darker brown and smoked out for a more dramatic look or simply worn on their own for a daytime look. These warm shades have been my go to this month! I would say that these tones are pretty classic for fall so to go along with that, I think that the is "Matilda" pajama set from their sleepwear collection evokes just that. They are classic, simple, and oh so cozy!

Another eyeshadow and lipstick combo that I have seen a lot that I like is a simple barely there eyeshadow with maybe a touch of glitter and a strong lip. To me having a strong lip always gives me a boost of confidence and when I saw the Damariss bra and panty I immediately got that same vibe. I love the wine color as well as the flower embroidery details on the cups.

Speaking of lips, without a doubt, my favorite beauty trend for fall is a berry or burgundy lip! Again with a bold lip! Whenever I put on a good berry tone I instantly feel so autumnal. This Noreh Contour bra is the perfect shade for fall and I love the cut of this bra with the lace detail that carries down the sides!!

What are your favorite fall beauty trends this year?? Anyone you think particularly rocks a good autumnal look?