Daily Delights: What’s Delighting me right now 8/13/13

So what are daily delights? Daily delights are the little things that make life worth living. Things that inspire. Encourage. Make Me Smile. Make Me Laugh. Make Things Rosier.

The happy little things, people, events, products, places and pieces of art that make the world a happier place to live in.

Are these things mind-blowing? Earth-shattering? Life-changing. Not usually. But they’re things that make me smile and, thus, make me want to share with you.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed them.

(These are usually pictures I post on Instagram of things that I’m loving at that exact moment. So if you want to get my daily delights on a daily, moment-by-moment basis, follow me on Instagram at @beautyfrosting)

My Daily Delights 8/13/13

1) On Saturday, I was delighted to attend the show of my fellow Texans – Lyle Lovett & Willie Nelson – at The Hollywood Bowl. I had to pay proper homage by wearing my Papaw’s Stetson cowboy hat, of course!

BeautyFrosting, Dawn McCoy

"Dawning" my Papaw's Stetson cowboy hat for Willie Nelson at The Hollywood Bowl this past Saturday

 

And I was so excited to attend with my good neighbor-friends from “The Compound”! We call them “the compound” because they’re two families that own a duplex together. I’m  like “The Compund Plus+” since I live right across the street. Love these folks!

Southern meets SoCal: With my favorite neighbor-friends at Willie Nelson at The Hollywood Bowl

 

And we kept getting compliments on our picnic spread. We did it right!!! With market fresh salads, cheese, fruit, hummus, homemade southern pimento cheese spread and homemade brownies, we were set!

Our picnic at The Hollywood Bowl for Willie Nelson & Lyle Lovett

I have never seen either Lyle or Willie live and they were even better than I could have imagined. And I got to see my friend, Mickey Raphael rock his harmonica. It was a magical, memorable evening that I won’t soon forget!

 

2) Even though I featured all of the decadent – and delightful – details yesterday, I still have to mention my Mary Poppins Popcorn Pajama Party as one of my Daily Delights this week. It was beyond delightful. Check out yesterday’s post to find out how to have your own movie pj party!

3) Right after Easter, I always buy all of the Easter-themed, pastel M&Ms I can find. Why? Because, I can enjoy their delightful pastel hues throughout the year. Sweet, indeed!

Sweet Saturday - a daily delight, for sure, thanks to Easter M&Ms

4) This is how you know summertime is in full-effect in Los Angeles. My sunglass tray, by my front door, is well-stocked and ready to block the shine! The bottom 3 pairs are from my favorite sunglass line of the moment, Ivory+Mason.

Summertime is in full effect so my Sunnies Tray is fully stocked! Featuring Ivory Mason sunglasses

5) Every time I bake brownies, I think of my mom. Sneaking tastes. Licking the spoon. Baking with my mom. These are amongst some of my most cherished memories. So when I baked Judy Rainey’s Brownies this past Saturday, I thought of my mom as I licked the spoon and baked with love. Parents, be sure to bake with your kids!

6) What started out as two girlfriends getting together to surprise our friend, Garrett, at the bar he works out turned into a mini reunion of my old Chris Fields acting class buddies. So much fun!

Love impromptu reunion parties! At Big Bar...

7) I really enjoyed this quote this week. As we walk through this world, this is a good one to remember!

Love this quote

 

xoxo,
BF

BF Asks: What were your “Daily Delights” this week?

 

Recipe Box: BeautyFrosting’s CCC Brownies – in honor of my Mom

When I think of moms, I think of my Mom baking brownies when we were growing up. I think of “getting to clean” the beaters from the mixer, licking the spatula, my mom taking a big finger’s worth of buttery brownie batter and my eyes widening in delight as I savored the gooey goodness. YUMMY!

So, on Sunday, when I couldn’t find my Mom’s brownie recipe (which she originally got from her dear friend, Judy Rainey), I decided to make up my own! I tried something out and it just worked beautifully! I love it when that happens. So here are my CCC Brownies. Why CCC? Because the key ingredients are cocoa and cream cheese! And butter, of course! Now, you can share my buttery, brownie recipe with your kids!! May their memories be as sweet as mine looking back on it one day! Happy Mother’s Day!

And, Mom, thanks to you and Nanny for giving me the baking bug! I am forever grateful.

xoxo,

BF

BeautyFrosting's CCC Brownies

CCC Brownies (Cocoa Cream Cheese)


Preheat oven to 325.
2 sticks (1 c.) Butter, softened
1 package (8 oz) Cream Cheese, softened

3 eggs
3 c Sugar
2 tsp Vanilla extract
3/4 c Cocoa
1/4 tsp Baking Powder
1 c all-purpose Flour
1/2 tsp Salt
Line baking pan with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, combine softened butter and cream cheese. Whip ’til light & fluffy.
Add eggs. Add sugar. Add vanilla.
In a small bowl, combine cocoa, baking powder, flour and salt.
Add mixture to creamy mixture. Mix well.
Pour into parchment paper-lined pan.
Bake 30-45 minutes (I bake mine for about 40 but my oven’s a little slow).
Mixing up CCC Brownies in the BF kitchen

Ready for the oven!

Yummylicious!! CCC Brownies