Cancun Vacation Diary.

My latest vacation was nothing short of magical and filled with awe-inspiring views, have a peek for yourself :)

{heading out to isla mujeres and couldn't take my eyes off the turquoise waters}

{sun, sun, and more sun}

{my fave sunnies ever + delicious pina coladas = lovely mid-day siesta}

{rented a lensbaby composer for the trip, super dreamy and magical!}

{my family loves street side coconuts}

{pina con chile paletas - too bad they weren't as good as the ones I've had in LA before though...}

{beach bliss}

{sunny palms}

{always living for that pink sky}

{swimming and kayaking through stalagmite and stalactite caves makes for an adventure-filled day}

{driving towards adventure}

{my sister & I practicing our synchronized jumping at chichen itza, one of the new seven wonders of the world}

{chichen itza, too bad they don't let you climb it anymore...}

{sister & i at the ruins}

{a cenote, which are a result of limestone bedrock that has collapsed to form a large sinkhole. something from my dreams, basically.}

{local kids diving into the cenote}

Guava-Orange Margaritas

I'm heading to Cancun this Sunday and even though it will not be an escape from this wretchedly hot weather we've been having in Southern California, at least I'll be greeted with crystal clear waters and the luxurious amenities of an all-inclusive resort. All I can say is, I'm going to be drinking a lot of girly, tropical drinks and no, I'm not ashamed to admit it. You know what they say... when in Rome, or in this case... when in Cancun.

Anyways, I can't wait for bottomless margaritas and pina coladas, and hopefully they'll be as tasty as this margarita here ;)

Guava-Orange Margaritas

Yields: 8 1/2 cups

Adapted from here.

2 cups orange juice 

2 cups tequilla

1 cup grand marnier

3 cups guava puree

coarse sugar, such as turbinado, for rims

Combine everything in a large pitcher. Refrigerate until chilled. 

Adoravel Pt. II

We added bunches of new stuff to the shop! Check it out :)

You can get everything here.

savai | cube-shaped champagne beads on gold plated chain with gold plated bars accents

simplicidade | gold plated chain rings

callia | layered mixed metal necklace of gold plated chain and silver plated bars

millieu | chain and bead rings (in graphite and mint)

* also available in fern, gold, jet and silver.

lingua | morse code initial bracelets made of silk cord, gold plated bars and gold plated beads

{letters 'l' on top, and 'm' on the bottom}

petra | a delicate gold leaf on gold plated chain

la paz | mini gold hammered pendant on gold plated chain

daphnia | coral and gold beads hanging on gold plated chain

diptico | gold plated bar and hanging thread of rhodochrosite stones on gold plated chain

{me wearing the diptico}

prelude | miniature rose-colored fresh water pearls on gold plated chain

tarvisio | hand-forged, hammered pendant on gold plated chain

{me wearing the tarvisio, layered with the savai}

Peach Cobbler Cupcakes

I seriously cannot believe it is already August; where has the time gone? It's amazing how at one point, summer felt so far away and in an instant, it's gone in a blink of an eye. I'm still looking forward to my vacation at the end of the month though - it seems like it has taken forever to come. 

I'll be going to Cancun, which I wasn't all too excited about at first because it's a little cliche and overrun with tourists, but I decided I was gonna make the best of it. I started researching all the awesome places to go, like here and here and here, and now I find myself incredibly excited. Underground caves? Yes, I'd like that, I'd like that very much. A fine example of why you shouldn't judge things too quickly.

Anyways, I'm pretty sure I made these last summer, goes to show how much of a procrastinator I am. But since it's summer now, these cupcakes are perfectly fitting for the season. We actually have gorgeous peach trees at home, both yellow and white, so I love baking with them. These cupcakes will inhabit your dreams, they do mine, while I reminisce about eating them last summer...

Full of fresh peach chunks and a tender cake, then topped with a crispy-crunchy top. On top of that, a fluffy frosting made of pudding mix! I wanted to try something new and I'm glad I did. It's perfectly rides the line between being too sweet and not sweet enough and it's velvety on the tongue. Definitely a home-y, comforting little cake.

Peach Cobbler Cupcakes

Yields: 16 cupcakes

Cupcakes adapted from here. Frosting adapted from here.

For the cupcakes:

1 1/2 cups flour

1 1/4 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. baking soda

3/4 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. ground cardamom

1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup sugar

2 eggs

1/2 cup sour cream

1 tsp. vanilla

1 1/2 cup peaches, skins removed, roughly chopped (about 2 medium)

For the crumble:

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/3 cup flour

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

For the peach-pudding buttercream:

2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature

1 stick salted butter, room temperature

1 pkg. white chocolate instant pudding mix

1/2 - 3/4 cup heavy cream (depending on how thick you want your frosting)

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

pinch of cardamom

1/2 cup powdered sugar (or more depending on your taste)

To make the crumble, mix everything in a bowl with your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs; set aside. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Line a cupcake pan with liners and set aside. Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and spices in a bowl. Beat the butter and sugars in a stand mixer for 1 minute until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, sour cream and vanilla until blended. Mix in the flour mixture until just combined. Fold in the peaches. Fill the cupcake liners 1/2 full. Sprinkle each cupcake with about 1 tbsn. of the crumble mixture. Bake for 25 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. 

To make the frosting, in a stand mixer, beat the butter on medium speed until smooth and silky. Turn the speed to low and add the pudding mix, when incorporated, slowly add in the cream, a little at a time. When fully incorporated, bring the speed up to high and beat for 5 - 7 minutes this ensures you beat the grit of the pudding mix out). Turn the speed back down to low and add the powdered sugar, tasting along the way. When it is sweet enough to your taste, beat again at high speed for 5 minutes. Add the vanilla and spices then bring the speed back to low and beat for 3 minutes longer.

Etsy Store Debut: Adorável

adorável is a creation from the minds of my best friend & i. it's a humble place that we can call our own, where we sell handcrafted jewelry. adorável means 'lovely' in portuguese and we thought it was just the loveliest name for our shop (pun intended). we mostly make minimalist, modern and sweet pieces that we love to wear ourselves! we always use gold-plated or silver-plated furnishings and make everything on the site with care.

if you have the time, please do stop by here!

in the future, i'll also be selling vintage, handmade jewelry trays and cupcake stands. i'm in the process of salvaging the supplies, but once they are finished, you better believe i'll be sharing the results with you all.

daphnia | gold plated bar with hanging smoke beads on gold plated chain

ancla | seafoam beads on gold plated chain

[ deanna wearing the ancla in graphite ]

prelude | amber beads on gold plated chain

baker's charm necklace | fork and spatula charms, rested on a gold medallion on gold plated chain

vidalia | champagne and sienna swarovski beads suspended on gold plated chain

engine heart | brass hex nuts on gold plated chain

diptico | gold bar with suspended silver plated beads on gold plated chain

mirage | silver plated beads on gold plated chain

ibiza | red dyed bamboo coral sticks on gold plated chain

grace | authentic chinese jade pendant on gold plated chain

[ me wearing the grace ]

great divide | mint tiered beads on silver plated chain

diptico | gold bar with suspended authentic turquoise beads on gold plated chain

[ me wearing the diptico ]

Lana Del Rey x A$ap Rocky

New Lana video, with her as Jackie O. and featuring A$ap Rocky as JFK. Much love for Rocky xoxo.

{Beauty Giveaway}

You all know I love my beauty products. I've shown you my favorite polishes and skin care that I use daily but there's nothing like finding new products to me! I love trying new things even though I've so-called found the "one."

I've recently been sponsored by Apothica & home of the best body acne products and they have so kindly offered to spread the cheer of our new sponsorship by giving away a $20 gift card to my readers! I just thought it would be something that one of you guys would enjoy, because honestly, trying new products is one of my favorite things ever! Plus, why not try some awesome products from awesome sites like these that host some of my favorite beauty brands such as Deborah Lippmann nail polishes, Stila, Essie, Yves Saint Laurent and more!

{HOW TO WIN}

Find your favorite product from Apothica or SkinCareRX and post it in a comment below. I'll randomly choose a winner in 2 weeks and then the product love can commence!

Personally, my favorite products are the nail polishes - especially the new glittery Deborah Lippmann ones. I can just imagine the nail art that i'm gonna come up with next. Swooooooon!


**This giveaway is now closed**

{glitter ombre}

{neon}

{double funky french}

{color ombre}