battling for the ultimate baking merit badge? these thin mint inspired cupcakes will knockout the competition, leaving you with a sweet addition to tote on your sash.

• 1 box thin mints, divided
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/4 cups unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 ounces 70 percent cacao chocolate, coarsely chopped
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs, room temperature
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 1/4 cups sugar

*in a bit of a time-crunch? a boxed duncan hines devil’s food cake mix will do the trick, too!

• 12 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
• 4 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
• 8 tablespoons mint bailey’s

1. preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. line two cupcake pans with liners & drop one thin mint cookie into the bottom of each liner.
3. sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into a bowl and set aside.
4. put the chocolate in a heatproof bowl and pour the bowling water over it. whisk until the chocolate is melted. let the mixture cool for 15 minutes.
5. in a separate bowl, whisk together the buttermilk and vanilla. set aside.
6. in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whisk the eggs on high speed until foamy, about 2 minutes. reduce the speed to low and slowly pour in the oil, whisking until combined, about 30 seconds. raise the speed to medium and whisk until fully incorporated, about 30 seconds longer.
7. reduce the speed to low and slowly pour the cooled chocolate mixture into the egg mixture. slowly pour in the buttermilk and vanilla mixture. add the sugar and whisk until the batter is smooth and liquid. about 2 minutes.
8. stop the mixer. remover the bowl and add the sifted dry ingredients and mix until just incorporated, preferably by hand, lifting and folding in from the bottom center. using a rubber spatula, scrape down the sides of the bowl and mix again just briefly by hand. the batter may still look a little lumpy, stop mixing.
9. pour the batter through a medium-mesh sieve into a large measuring cup or bowl to remove any lumps. press against the solids in the sieve with a rubber spatula to push through as much batter as possible, then discard the lumps. divide the batter between the cupcake liners. bake until the tops spring back when lightly pressed and a tester inserted in the center comes out clean, about 20-25 minutes. transfer the pans to a wire rack and let cool completely in the pan. makes about 2 dozen cupcakes.
10. for the frosting, crush about 10-12 thin mints. set aside.
11. add the butter to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. beat on medium speed until fluffy and smooth, about 5 minutes. add the sifted confectioners’ sugar, a few heaping tablespoons at a time, until fully incorporated. add the mint bailey’s and continue mixing until fully incorporated. raise the speed to high and beat an additional 4 minutes.
12. fold in the crushed thin mints, frost the cooled cupcakes as desired, and garnish with the remaining thin mints.

*adapted from miette’s double chocolate cake

The gotta-get-outta-town itch is setting in. Plus, you need a tan (no offense). It’s prime time to pack your bags, load your favorite tunes, and hit the open road.

Bummed you’ve only got a weekend to spare? Behold, the Bible of weekend road trips: The New York Times 36 Hours: 150 Weekends in the USA & Canada, a nifty comprehensive reference book to a number of cities and towns that spans sea to shining sea. Each city has a dandy breakdown of places to check out, along with maps, costs, hotels, etc. We love that the listing of activities has a timeline, so you can really stick to the 36 hours concept. Happy travels, friends!

The New York Times 36 Hours USA & Canada: West Coast / The New York Times 36 Hours USA & Canada: Northeast / The New York Times 36 Hours USA & Canada: Midwest and Great Lakes / The New York Times USA & Canada: Southeast

It seems as though everyone has an Instagram account these days. Same lunch plate shots. Identical latte foam art. We often find ourselves incessantly snapping photos and living life through an iPhone lens, instead of actually experiencing the fleeting moments with our own eyes. Or, at least, that was Journalist Nataly Zakharova’s annoyance with her producer/ photographer boyfriend, Murad Osmaan.

In Murad Osmann’s “Follow Me To…” series of Instagram photos, the London-based photographer bewitchingly captures his travels around the world, with his girlfriend leading the way. “Nataly was a bit annoyed that I was always taking pictures of everything, so she grabbed my hand and tried to pull me forward,” Osmann told the Daily Mail. “That said it didn’t stop me from doing photos while she was pulling me.”

The whole concept is quite enchanting, isn’t it?

*to see more “Follow Me To…” photos, follow Murad Osmann on Instagram

Spring trend alert- scallops are everywhere! We especially ♥ this playful shape against (what would otherwise be) a harsh black or white. But we must say, Emily Miranda’s stunning gold cuff takes it to another level entirely. Be sure to check out her website linked below.

The Bikini: J.Crew scalloped underwire top  and bottoms (also in a one-piece) / The Shift Dress: Topshop shift dress / The Cuff: Emily Miranda scallop cuff / The Ballet Flat: French Connection ballet flats The Tote: ASOS leather shopper / The Shorts: J.Crew scalloped cotton shorts

one: Philosophy “Hot Buttered Rum” Lip Shine / two: MOR “Black Currant Iris” Lotion / three: Glittered Manicure Set / four: Stila “Smudge Stick Waterproof Eyeliner” in Damsel / five: Philosophy “Homemade Pumpkin Pie” / six: Fresh Fig “Apricot” Petit Soap / seven: Hermes “Eau des Merveilles” Eau de Toilette Spray / eight: Sara Happ “Vanilla Bean Scrub” / nine: Capri Blue “Etched Mercury Candle” in Spicy Cognac / ten: Ciate “Dangerous Affair” Paint Pot

Today seems an appropriate time to give a little love to NYC. Below, a list of some of my personal favorite New York-centric films.

Grace Kelly and Jimmy Stewart are… well, their charming selves in my personal favorite Hitchcock murder mystery, Rear Window (1955). Though a homicidal neighbor may not be standard (or maybe it is, I don’t know), the irresistable passtime of people watching and close living quarters are definitely qualities of a quintessential Gotham life.

Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan capture the ever-present tension of “authentic,” “independent” New Yorkers versus the corporate interlopers in a The Shop Around the Corner (1940) homage, You’ve Got Mail (1998). It’s not the most sophisticated film in the world, but I think the scenery and general attitude make it a shoe-in:

A group of rag-tag pseudo-scientists take on the supernatural emotional baggage of our not-so-fair city in Ghostbusters (1984, and Ghostbusters II, 1989). Can you really resist the laughs? No. And it captures the gritty spirit of the city in the 80′s like no other. You love it. Don’t lie.

I’m fairly certain that Metropolitan (1990 – on Netflix Instant) was an inspiration for “Gossip Girl.” The cast of young adults (provoked by a young Chris Eigeman, who you may know as Jason from Gilmore Girls) spend their debutant party season engaging in heady debates, gossiping about each other, and generally placing the jaded over-familiarity of upper-crust New York society on full, unedited display. From the verbal swordplay to the early 90′s preppy fashion, what’s not to love here?

Speaking of “jaded,” Big (1988) can relate. I think we’ve all had co-workers that act like they’re 11, but here Hanks’ character brings a much-needed jolt of joy to one of the most competitive environments in the world. Plus, the scene where Tom Hanks and his boss, Robert Loggia, play “Heart and Soul” and “Chopsticks” on the floor piano in F.A.O. Schwarz is legendary.

I recently discovered Robert Redford and Jane Fonda’s Barefoot in the Park (1967 – on Netflix Instant). Let’s just say we start off in the Plaza Hotel (always a good sign) and spend the rest of the movie watching the newlywed couple take on their Greenwich Village 6th-floor walk-up. Hilarity ensues, trust me.

Surely you all know Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961 – on Netflix Instant), which exudes a similar sense of humor towards New York City living. And Holly Golightly could teach us all a thing or two about living… As for When Harry Met Sally (1989)? Well, “I’ll have what she’s having.”

So, what are your quintessential New York film favorites? I’m banking on some votes for Annie Hall orManhattan…

We ♥ anything that can be classified as “mini,” especially when it comes to dessert.
There are several reasons for this: first, everything becomes diet appropriate (in our mind) when mini-sized;
secondly, it usually cuts down on our chances of having an embarrassing chocolate on the face/sauce
on the dress moment.

Cut striped swizzle paper straws into fourths, and then stick them in the apple scoops.

Melt white chocolate chips to dip the bites & dust them with festive sprinkles.
Once they’re cool, serve them on tissue paper dots!

These. color. block. ties.

Yes.

Can we please talk about how cute some of these popsicles are styled, sitting all pretty in that ice!? Here are a few of the ones that we can’t wait to try… all looking sinfully delicious, yet perfectly light in calories. Now we’re off to find the cutest popsicle molds. Hello, hello summer time!

cheesecake // pina colada // strawberry peach coconut

Maje Suzanne metallic leather tee / J.Crew Bennett chino / London 2012 ring shades on Ebay
J.Crew Eadie purse / Repetto for Opening Ceremony flag flats

*fun fact: Olympic gold medals are 1.34 percent gold, 92.5 percent silver, and the rest copper filling. Each medallion takes ten hours to make; it gets pressed fifteen times by a nearly 2 million-pound weight.