New York, I love you.

I was just lucky enough to spend five days in New York city with a group of friends and we had a blast. I was amazed how much the city has changed, even in the few years since I've been there. I could have counted the crazies we encountered on one hand. There was very little trash on the street, and cops all over the place. I never had a problem catching a cab and other than being cold (30 degrees is cold to me, shh) our experience was wonderful. We even went down into the Bowery and up into Hell's Kitchen. Other than the scowling hipsters, I felt welcome wherever we went. People were polite and had a sense of humor. I never felt in danger (other than my wallet cringing when I went to the Sanrio store in Times Square - I only bought one thing, you should be proud of me). The food was good (except one lukewarm latte, darn it) and the prices were reasonable.

My husband grew up in Brooklyn and I love his stories of the city and his adventures, like when he was a teenager skipping school and heading down to sketchy Canal street for cheap electronic parts and a crazy dude with a screwdriver stealing his belt on the subway. That is not the New York of today, it's clean and friendly while being the same vibrant and interesting place it has always been. The shopping is weird and awesome, and the architecture is gorgeous.

I was rather naughty and spent more time yapping with my friends, walking about 20 miles through the streets and shopping than taking photos (I have almost no photographs of any interest, I only took pictures of my friends being morons). But here's a photo of some of the cool things I came home with from various places all over the city.

A bat in Lucite, a 160 million year old fossil, a Chinese rabbit
and an acupuncture model.

Long story short, spring is coming, get some plane tickets and get yourself somewhere interesting.

- Kim (Artista Muerta)

Spring Line Up Fun From the Past!!!

With the Spring Line Up coming up again on May 15th, I was feeling a bit nostalgic and wanted to share some old pics of the event! We've had everything from doggie (and human) fashion shows, chalk drawings, vendors, vendors, vendors, and tons of fun with friends and customers!

I'm definitely looking forward to this year's event!!! More fun and new pics to share!!!! Hope to see you there!!!

Crafty Love,

Meagan Rae

Chocolate Chip Cookies stuffed with an Oreo

About 3 weeks ago I saw a post about this recipe on facebook. Etsy had shared a new cookie. Here's the link, click here A cookie that has a hidden surprise. It has an OREO cookie inside, cool! Someone came up with a cool way to do an old thing. Taking it to the next level. It's what us modern crafters do. I wanted to attempt this recipe, cuz it is such a COOL idea and try it out, so here goes!!

Here's what you need:
Oven
Mixer
Bowls
Cookie Sheet
Parchment Paper
Double Stuff Oreos
Chocolate Chips, 12 oz.

Ok here's the recipe. I used Nestle Chocolate Cookie recipe:

2 cups of Flour
1 tsp of salt
1 tsp of baking soda
Mix these together in their own bowl

1 cup of Butter (two sticks)
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
Mix these together, once they are combined, slowly add in the flour mixture.
Mix in the chocolate chips.

Put the mix in the fridge and let it harden.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

This was the most successful batch

For each cookie, make a ball that is the width of the cookie and gently press it down, being careful to not crush the oreo. And make a pancake flat dough piece for the oreo to sit on. I didn't cover the sides, I let the cookie melt down the sides, and it actually looked like the cookies on the other sites. Hmmmm... I wonder how many cookies they made before they took their pics. I placed them on the pan like how they look in the pic directly above.

Bake for 10-14 minutes or until golden brown.
Bake on Parchment paper, it's easier clean up and it lifts of the paper nice.

Let them cool before moving them.

Only bake about 6 at a time, cuz the dough spreads out. And don't expect to get it right on your first try. I had to do several different mini batches to figure it out. See below.. I took some pictures of the examples, that the other blogs didn't mention. I'm sure that they omitted their mistakes to make it look easy. It's easy, but they didn't give these tips! I had to figure them out myself! Have fun with this baking project. I had a great time with it!

Till the next time, Happy Baking! Svea. Belle Pepper Couture


Oreo cookies and some chocolates. Yum.


Here's the cookie dough before cooking..



First Attempt at making the cookies:
Too much cookie dough, it looks like a sombrero.
Do not put as much dough as they show on other blogs!!!

This is better, less cookie dough.

Final Cookie, it could use a few more mins cooking and it will be perfect. ;-)