DIY Glitter Jars

I am pretty sure I couldn't live without Q-Tips. I know that sounds extreme, but it's true. I use them for everything - cleaning up messy manicures, fixing my eyeliner if it's not perfect, removing my eyeliner at the end of the day...you get the picture!

I recently bought a couple of cheap clear jars at the Christmas Tree Shop for my bathroom sink - one to keep Q-Tips in and one to keep cotton rounds in. I wanted the to be readily accessible but also wanted to keep my sink neat and organized. I have a tiny bathroom so I don't have much space to work with! I totally forgot to take a before picture of the jars, but they were just basic, clear jars that cost about $2 apiece.

I decided to jazz them up with some glitter, just like I did in my glitter wine glass project. They were just as simple to make and look much cuter in the bathroom than the clear jars did! You could do this project with any size jar for any use...they don't necessarily need to be little ones for the bathroom sink!

Pink is my favorite color!

From the palest blush to fuschia and everything in between, pink really is my favorite color. Here are some of my favorite pink images for your viewing pleasure :) Which color is your favorite?

buy this print on etsy

Friday Inspiration: Quotes I Love

Another week has flown by and it's Friday again! I wanted to apologize for my lack of recipe & DIY posts lately...I normally bake and craft on the weekends, and it's been so gorgeous out that I haven't felt like staying inside! I promise more recipe & DIY posts will come in the fall and winter months! :)

Now it's quotes time. The first one (Andre Breton) speaks to me the most, but I really love all nine of them this week!

Design Inspiration: Parisian Rooms

Hi guys! I have an exciting guest post lined up for you today that combines two of my favorite things to blog about: Paris and interior design! Hope you enjoy it! xoamy

Hi, I’m Joanna. I blog for Design Shuffle—a website and blog created for interior designers to share their portfolios and design enthusiasts to find interior design ideas. Today, I'm bringing you Paris inspired rooms. I love all things French, especially Parisian. Hope you enjoy the post about these lovely spaces! Thanks for letting me share.

There isn’t a thing I don’t love about this Paris apartment! The pink French daybed is gorgeous. The chevron floor topped with a tiger rug adds interest to the space. All that’s missing is a lovely crystal chandelier.

This formal French space is features antique furnishings such as a partner’s desk and a 19^th century peer mirror. The soft blues are comforting.

Christian Lacroix’s Paris apartment is an eclectic mix of new and old. While the architecture of the space is quite formal, much of the furnishings are modern. The colors of the room are pulled from the abstract art.

Must-Have Hand Creams

Not sure about you, but I have a minor hand cream obsession. Washing your hands frequently can lead to dry, tight skin, which I absolutely hate, so I always keep hand cream in my handbag and on my desk at work. The following 8 are a combination of some of my personal favorites and also a few I'd love to try. Do you have a favorite hand cream? Let me know in the comments!

must have hand creams by amybreckenridge


1. L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream - $28 for 5.2 oz. This is my absolute favorite - it smells great, feels great and moisturizes super well. It's L'Occitane's highest selling product, so it appears many others agree with me!

{CLOSED} And the giveaway winner is...

Are you the winner of the adjewelry bracelet? Find out after the jump!

A Bit of Whimsy: Magical Books

I've always loved to read. As a child, I would beg my mum to take me to the library so I could pick out a new book (which I would often read in one sitting) and feed the ducks at the library's pond (I gave them the crusts of my sandwich bread since I never ate them.) I've been collecting images of books on Pinterest and wanted to share my favorite ones with you. Aren't they magical?

side note: today is the last day to enter my adjewelry giveaway - it will be open until midnight!

Friday Inspiration: Quotes I Love

Hope you all have a great weekend in store for you! :)

Don't forget to enter my adjewelry bracelet giveaway - Monday will be the last day to enter!

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Summer Sunsets

What could be more beautiful than a summer sunset at the beach? I can't think of a thing right now! Take a look at these photos, relax and imagine yourself on a blanket in the sand with a drink in your hand...that's what I am doing!

(don't forget to enter my giveaway for a gorgeous adjewelry bracelet!!)

Style Inspiration: Diane Kruger

For some reason, I've never paid much attention to Diane Kruger's style until recently, and boy, was I missing out!! She's totally caught my eye this year on the red carpet and at runway shows with her elegant dresses - they always fit her like a glove and are months ahead of the trends. I think she wears white really well, but can pull off any color, especially pastels! I've chosen a few of my favorite Diane ensembles from 2012 - which is your favorite?

in Nina Ricci

in Giambattista Valli

in Chanel

Stellar Studs

I wear my hair down almost every day, so I'm a big fan of stud earrings. They don't get caught in my hair and add just the right amount of sparkle when my ears peek out! I've put together a shopping list with a few pairs of studs I've had my eye on lately...it's going to be hard for me to resist buying them all!!

stud earrings by amybreckenridge


Top row:
Henri Bendel 'Modernist' coral stud earrings - $88
David Yurman freshwater pearl and diamond earrings - $350

Second row:
bounkit moonstone square studs - $100
Kate Spade colored stone stud earrings - $25

Third row:
BaubleBar pink 'Pop Knot' studs - $24
Dara Ettinger 'Felicia' disco druzy stud - $95

Bottom row:
delezhen cushion cut aqua chalcedony earrings - $72
Kate Spade 'Skinny Mini' bow stud earrings - $48

If you love jewelry, don't forget to enter my giveaway for a gorgeous adjewelry bracelet!!

{CLOSED} adjewelry bracelet giveaway!

I am very excited to announce Cupcakes & Couture's very first giveaway!! Once the blog reached 100 followers, I knew I wanted to host a giveaway to thank all of you for reading my posts each day. :)

Since I love bracelets so much and always want to rock a fun arm party, I reached out to local jewelry designer Anne Keane who has a shop on Etsy called adjewelry and asked if I could give away one of her pieces! She is super talented and creates her pieces using vintage materials which makes each one unique. She names each piece after her favorite New England spots and is one of the most popular vendors at the SoWa summer market in Boston's South End. You've probably noticed her work before on my blog - I often wear her turquoise beaded bracelet with a funky tassel.

This week, we are giving away this gorgeous bracelet that has salmon colored threads, peach silk cords and gold plated chain woven together. The bracelet is adjustable to fit all wrist sizes. I absolutely love this bracelet and almost asked Anne if I could keep it for myself instead of giving it away!! :) 

Friday Inspiration: Quotes I Love

Just because it's Friday the 13th doesn't mean today has to be unlucky!! :) I hope you enjoy my Friday quotes and have a great weekend!

*PS - Don't forget to check out my blog on Monday...I am hosting my very first giveaway and it will be a good one!! I'm super excited!

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A few things on my wish list

Normally when I put together a shopping list for my blog, there's some sort of central theme tying all the items together, but today I wanted to share a few things I've been eyeing lately that don't necessarily fall into any specific category!

wish list by amybreckenridge

1. Prada 'Infusion d'Iris' Eau de Parfum - $80 for 1.7 oz. I received a sample of this perfume and I love how it's floral but light and clean at the same time. It's perfect for every day wear.

2. Marc by Marc Jacobs Mouse Ballerina Flats - $250. I love everything about these: the cute mouse face, the metallic mauve color and the gold studs!

3. BaubleBar 'Peony Elsa' Necklace - $42. This pretty pink and gold statement necklace would dress up any outfit.

4. Valentino 'RockStud' Pump - $895. These pumps are just insanely gorgeous!! The studs modernize the black and nude colors and classic silhouette to make these shoes super unique.

5. ASOS Double Breasted Blazer - $100. The perfect shade of pink makes this blazer feminine and easy to pair with anything in my closet!

6. ASOS Metal Bar Detail Envelope Clutch - $30. The classic envelope clutch is fresh again with a bold mint color and gold hardware.

7. Gorjana 'Pristine' Star Earrings - $45.  I can see myself wearing these cute star studs every day!

What do you think of my picks? Which is your favorite?

Lately on Instragram...

Happy hump day! I wanted to share some of my favorite Instragram shots from the past couple of weeks. Don't forget to follow me on Instagram - @amybreckenridge! 

What have you been up to this summer?

had a nice view of Boston from Spectacle Island

enjoyed the warm summer weather wearing an
LC by Lauren Conrad knit top (similar), Levis shorts,
Guess by Marciano aviators and a Dogeared horseshoe necklace

Design Inspiration: Home Offices

Lately I've taken to Pinterest and interior design blogs for inspiration on creating the perfect home office space in my apartment. Whether you can dedicate an entire room or a small nook like I will, having a comfortable, beautiful, inspiring area where you can work is essential! Here are my favorite office spaces - which can you see yourself working in? The first three are my favorite!

Centsational Girl

Margarita Cupcakes

This past Saturday, I was asked to bake cupcakes for a friend's goodbye party - he and his fiance are moving to Chicago! :( I decided on Margarita cupcakes because they're perfect for summer and they have booze in them, so I knew people would love them!

They really were fantastic - a perfect combination of lime with a kick of tequila! I couldn't stop eating the leftover batter and frosting. I luckily had green polka dot liners hanging out in one of my cabinets which complimented them perfectly. :)

Friday Inspiration: Quotes I Love

It's Friday again...woo hoo! Hope everyone has a great weekend! :)

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Style Inspiration: Emma Stone

In case you haven't noticed, Emma Stone has been knocking it out of the park with her wardrobe choices lately! Whether she's doing an interview on TV, walking the red carpet or attending a premiere, she always looks chic, classy and fashion forward. She's really bloomed into a style icon over the past year, wouldn't you say?

in a Chanel dress, Cartier jewels & Louboutins

wearing a Fendi dress & Cartier jewels

Happy 4th & Texas Caviar!

Happy 4th of July everyone! I hope you are all enjoying the day off and celebrating with family and friends :)

last year's fireworks over the Charles river in Boston

To celebrate this American holiday, I wanted to share one of my favorite recipes for summer cookouts - Texas Caviar! It was originally introduced to me by my friend Ashley two summers ago and I've been hooked ever since. I make this for parties and BBQs all the time and people absolutely love it. It's super addicting, so I'm sure you'll like it too!

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There are lots of different ways to make this dip, but the recipe that follows is the way I like it :) You can substitute for different beans, lentils or veggies as you see fit!

Statement Sunglasses

During the summer, it's essential to have a stylish pair of sunglasses that add a bit of flair to your outfits while protecting your delicate eye area from the sun's harmful rays. Here are my top six picks for statement sunglasses that are sure to turn heads - which pair is your favorite? I'm head over heels for the Prada pair!!

statement sunglasses by amybreckenridge 

1. Prada Baroque Sunglasses - $290

2. Valentino Studded Cat's Eye Sunglasses - $285

3. Miu Miu Noir Catwalk Sunglasses - $390

4. Dior Metal Accented Rectangular Plastic Sunglasses - $345

5. Lanvin Snake Print Leather Accented Modified Square Sunglasses - $475

6. Balenciaga Square Glam Sunglasses - $325

Cherry Vanilla Cupcakes

Madai of Leather&Pearl asked me to write a guest post for her blog, so I decided to do a recipe post and chose to bake these delicious cherry vanilla cupcakes! Please head on over to her blog today to check it out. :)

One of my favorite things about baking is using seasonal ingredients. Pumpkin in the fall, peppermint in the winter...now that it's summer and there are so many fresh fruits available, I really wanted to make a cupcake with cherries! 

I took a basic vanilla cupcake, filled it with a homemade cherry puree and topped it with a vanilla buttercream with a bit of freshly squeezed cherry juice. The flavor combination was light, fruity and slightly sweet, making it a perfect summer dessert.

They were easy to make but were a tad time consuming due to the cherry chopping, juicing and puree-ing. Important note: cherries leave permanent stains, so make sure to change into clothes you don't care about before baking these!