Girl Meets Life | Girl Meets Life | a lifestyle blog by Gracie Gordon

eats: red velvet cake batter brownies with cream cheese frosting.

29 November, 2014 by Gracie 1 Comment

Second only to my Original Cake Batter Blondies, this recipe has been my most popular post. It’s been a while since I shared it, so I thought it would be a good time to do a little re-post. You know, since it includes those Christmas colors and all 😉

Red Velvet Cake Batter Brownies || girlmeetslife.com

brownie ingredients:

1 box red velvet cake mix
1/4 cup canola oil
1 egg, beaten
1/4 cup milk

frosting ingredients:

8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 + 3/4 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Put cake mix in a large bowl and mix in the oil and egg. Then add the milk slowly JUST until the batter is combined – you want it to remain as dense as possible. Place batter in a greased 8×8 pan or 8-inch cake pan and bake for 22-25 minutes.

While the brownies are is in the oven, get started on the frosting. Beat the cream cheese and butter until fully combined. Add vanilla and sugar, and continue beating until creamy.

Let brownies cool for at least 30 minutes before cutting/frosting because the gooey center needs to set. The result will be a decadent, brownie-batter texture.

Red Velvet Cake Batter Brownies || girlmeetslife.com

These babies - especially combined with the cream cheese frosting - are pretty much guaranteed to be a crowd pleasing dessert for the holidays.

(Check out all of my Cake Batter recipes here)

speakable newness.

30 June, 2014 by Gracie 12 Comments

Helloooo and happy Monday!

I must admit I’m always a bit wary that I’m posting too much about Speakable - mostly because I never want to seem too self-promoting. BUT…Speakable is my baby and something I’m extremely proud of. So why wouldn’t I share it on a blog about my life, right?

With that being said, I just wanted to let you in on a few exciting things going on over in Speakable world. First of all, (as you may have seen on yesterday’s post) NEW YORK is back!

Secondly, all of the necklaces are now available in lower case lettering, which has been getting a great response.

The new nameplate necklaces have also been getting a ton of love…

And last but not least, I’ve released not one but TWO new words to the Freedom Collection! Well, phrases 😉

BE STILL and BE BRAVE.

Both of those were just really on my heart, so I thought they’d make a perfect addition.

So, that’s that! Thanks again for all of your support and encouragement. You can check out all of the necklaces (and contact me if you have any questions) over at www.Speakable.co, and stay up to date by following Speakable on Instagram.

ben amun bracelet giveaway (this is a REALLY good one!).

7 May, 2014 by Gracie

If the title didn’t give it away, I’m EXTREMELY excited about this giveaway!

I’ve been a huge fan of Ben Amun jewelry for a while now. I don’t think it’s much a secret that I’m a jewelry/accessories girl through and through, and Ben Amun’s designs continue to wow me.

If you ask me, Ben Amun is the leader when it comes to eye catching statement jewelry (or as referred to on their website, “wearable art”). Their jewelry is bold and interesting, yet classic and elegant at the same time. Not to mention the fact that each piece is custom made to order.

My best friend Jessi is the social media community manager for Ben Amun, and when she asked if I’d like to do a giveaway, I obviously jumped at the opportunity.

Ben Amun was kind enough to gift me with the box link chain bracelet seen above, and I haven’t taken it off ever since. I love chunky gold jewelry, especially layered with other bracelets (a fun look for summer!).

And as for the giveaway, one lucky reader will win this STUNNING large link chain bracelet - the highest valued prize I’ve ever given away!

how to enter:

1) Leave a comment saying how you’d style your new Ben Amun bracelet.

2) Tweet about the giveaway: “I entered @alagracie’s @ben_amun giveaway! http://tinyurl.com/lwwat6w”

3) Follow @ben_amun on Instagram

You can enter once, twice, or all three ways – but be sure to leave a comment for each entry in order for them to be counted accordingly.

~~Contest open to US residents only. Must be 18 or older to enter. Ends on May 14st, 2014 at 4pm EST, so get your entries in! Good luck~~

5/14/14 - winner has been emailed!

Please note I was not monetarily compensated for this post. All opinions herein are my own.

my favorite spring/summer fashion trends.

15 April, 2014 by Gracie 7 Comments

I don’t know about you, but even though it’s only April, I’m all sorts of excited about trading in my sweaters and layers for tank tops and cut offs.

The other day I posted some of my spring/summer wardrobe and got a few requests to share my favorite fashion trends for the warmer weather, so here it is!

(I thought about waiting until it was closer to summer, but if this year is anything like last – the cooler part of spring is going to flash before our eyes. So why not get the wardrobe ideas started now?)

While compiling my favorite styles and trends, I realized that they kind of all overlap and fall under one big category. So I’m going to call my favorite fashion look(s) for the spring/summer Boho…with an Edge.

If I had to describe this “Edgy Boho” look, it would be…

KIMONOS // STRAPPY // FLOWY
CROCHET // CROP TOPS
CUT OFFS // LAYERED JEWELRY
WHITES // BRAIDS // NATURAL MAKEUP
OFF THE SHOULDER // DISTRESSED DENIM
MESSY HAIR // BEACHY // EFFORTLESS
HEAD SCARVES // FLARES // OVERSIZED // FRINGE

(all images found via Pinterest. Click the image for source)

Some of my favorite places to SHOP for Edgy Boho clothes are:

URBAN OUTFITTERS // BRANDY MELVILLE // NECESSARY CLOTHING // LF // FREE PEOPLE

**********

What are your favorite styles & trends for this spring and summer?
Which of these do you like (or dislike) most?

if i’m being real…

14 April, 2014 by Gracie 25 Comments

I miss the good old days of blogging. The days where not everyone and their mom had one. The days where blogs were BLOGS and not informational websites or online magazines.

On a completely unrelated note, most of the time there’s a lollipop hidden somewhere in my purse.

99% of the spring/summer clothes I’ve gotten recently are white.

When I say “whatever, I don’t care” - it means I definitely 100% do care.

I eat at least a spoonful of peanut (or almond) butter a day.