The Best Carrot Cake

December 4, 2013

I have a confession to make: I really don't like cake. If I were re-doing my wedding, I would have pie instead of cake. Cake just isn't my thing. But this cake is an exception. In fact, as far as the actual CAKE goes, it's the best I've ever tasted. And you really can't go wrong with cream cheese frosting now, can you?

I made this recently as a double-tiered cake (cut the recipe in half) since the triple-tiered cake is just SO MUCH CAKE… but if you have lots of people you can share it with, go for the whole thing. It really is prettiest with three tiers, anyway!

Carrot Cake

For a bit of extra oomph!, set aside the 1 c. golden raisins in a bowl and cover with dark rum. Let soak overnight, or even just a couple hours before assembling the cake!

4 eggs, well beaten 1 c. packed brown sugar 1 c. white sugar 1-1/2 c. vegetable oil 2 c. unbleached flour 2 tsp. baking soda 2 tsp. baking powder 2 tsp. cinnamon 1-1/2 tsp. nutmeg 3 c. finely grated carrots 1 c. flaked coconut 1-8 oz. can crushed pineapple 1 c. golden raisins 1 c. walnuts, coarsely chopped

Preheat oven to 325. Oil three 8" cake pans. Set out 1/2 c. butter, and an 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese to soften (for frosting). Put pineapple in sieve to drain (and raisins if you soaked them in rum). Beat eggs in large bowl. Add sugars and beat till light and fluffy. Add oil and mix well with whisk. Add the dry ingredients and beat till smooth. Stir in remaining ingredients and divide batter equally into oiled layer pans. Bake for 40 minuges or until knife comes out clean when inserted in center of cake. Cool slightly and frost.

Cream Cheese Frosting 1/2 c. butter 8 oz. cream cheese 1 lb. box powdered sugar 3 tsp. vanilla

Mix together till smooth with a hand blender. Frost between layers and on top. Toast some coconut to sprinkle on top for garnish!

Images | Styling by Lauryl Lane.Recipe adapted from a family recipe.

Spring in Malibu

August 22, 2013

I come from a big family of girls. I have two older sisters and five younger sisters. I grew up with my younger sisters (along with two younger brothers), so I basically always had little dolls to dress up, style, stage, and direct. From lip-sync home-movies of The Phantom of the Opera to front-porch stagings of my own script for Peter Pan to two of my younger sisters weddings, I've been producing events for and with my siblings as long as I can remember. My sisters are all grown up now, but it's a given that a trip out to Los Angeles to visit me will involve some sort of photo shoot where they will have to model flowers. Back in April, my beautiful little sister Rose came out for a visit, and graciously agreed to model these lovely spring blooms for me during our trip to the beach. She also got to enjoy a pina colada in a coconut afterwards, so it's not like I didn't make it fun for her! April in Malibu was sunny, slightly chilly, and absolutely stunning. We stayed until the sun set and couldn't have had more fun combining work and pleasure.

Images | Floral Design | Styling by Lauryl Lane.

Coral Charm Peony

August 1, 2013

Wow. Just...wow. The magic of nature makes me weak in the knees.

Image | Floral Design | Styling by Lauryl Lane.

Succulent Wreath

July 26, 2013

This was my very first succulent wreath. I wasn't quite sure what I was doing at the time, but I wanted succulents on my door, stat. I've learned a lot since then about how to insert the succulents properly so they can grow and thrive. They are such amazing little plants and I don't think I'll ever be tired of them.

I'm actually considering teaching a class where you can learn to make your own succulent wreath! Would you come? I can promise lots of fun!

Images | Design | Styling by Lauryl Lane.

Soft and Lovely Ranunculus

June 11, 2013

Ranunculus definitely have to be my favorite flowers ever. I know I've said that about roses and orchids and a lot of other flowers... they are all so dear to me. But ranuncs, as I lovingly refer to them, are especially special. Most especially special.

Images | Floral Design | Styling by Lauryl Lane.

Peony Perfection

June 5, 2013

The peony season is lasting longer than usual due to the stunningly moderate weather we've been experiencing lately, and you'll hear no complaints from me. Peonies never cease to amaze me. It's incredible that they go from being weird, tightly closed balls and then they open and expand into these fluffy, scrumptious, petaled bits of amazingness. I just wish they were available ALL YEAR ROUND.

Images | Floral Design | Styling by Lauryl Lane.

Surrounded by Spring

May 27, 2013

Spring, spring, spring. Could there possibly be a better time of year for flowers? I think not. I am so enamored by the beautiful blooms all over my city right now and it's impossible not to fill my home with these pretties. Hydrangea, roses, lavender and gardenias are the current blooms in my garden and I love to be surrounded by bouquets of flowers inside and then look out the window and see even more flowers in bloom! Is it spring in your part of the world? What are you growing in your garden?

Images | Floral Design | Styling by Lauryl Lane.

Spring Lilac

May 15, 2013

Spring lilac is in bloom and we can't get enough of it! I've been thinking of planting a lilac bush in the garden, but I'm not sure that I know how to care for it- I feel like lilac plants can be a bit persnickety. Do you grow lilacs? Have any lilac-care secrets to share???

Images | Floral Design | Styling by Lauryl Lane.

Fresh Floral Bracelet

April 17, 2013

Floral bracelets are such fun accessories for your spring wardrobe! They take some precision and some patience to put together, but they're really quite simple to make. Most fresh cut flowers won't last long out of water, especially not soft flowers like these white ranunculus, but if you use floral glue to adhere them to an existing bracelet or piece of ribbon shortly before you head "out on the town," they'll probably look good until it won't matter any longer (ie., the flowers get crushed as you flop around wildly on the dance floor!).

Images | Floral Design | Styling by Lauryl Lane.

Au Natural

March 27, 2013

I'm designing with a LOT of color these days - my clients are pretty gaga over the vibrant array of spring shades that are available right now. And I love color too, no doubt about it, but despite the gorgeous hues at my fingertips, I still gravitate towards green and white. It's just so fresh and lovely and natural. And it looks good in my home, so there's that. Big arrangements, small arrangements, any arrangement at all.

Images | Floral Design | Styling by Lauryl Lane.

Avocado Breakfast

March 7, 2013

We have had no shortage of avocados lately as our "neighborhood" avocado tree is producing more than we can possibly consume. But I still try to eat as many as possible, partially because I L-O-V-E avocados and partially because I don't want the neighborhood racoons and skunks to get them! Sliced avocado on toasted English muffins with poached eggs on top is one of the most simple and delicious breakfasts around.

Images | Floral Design | Styling by Lauryl Lane.

Botanical Foraging

March 6, 2013

This is literally one of the best times of year for botanical foraging. If you live in a more suburban or remote area, it's likely that you'll have a lot more variety when you head out to forage for botanical elements-- but seeing as I'm in Los Angeles, the second most densely-populated city in the United States of America, I think these pictures are proof enough that botanical foraging can be highly successful even in the most urban of settings. A few blossoming branches, a handful of fresh lavender from the plants by my front door, some purple-hued foliage from a potted plant, and a few more bits of foliage from neighborhood bushes, and I have everything I need to create some sweet little super-springy arrangements for my home. Perhaps next week I'll venture further afield: I saw jasmine vine growing over a fence in a parking lot the other day, and there's masses of bougainvillea in the alley behind my housing complex. What have you found in your botanical-foraging expeditions???

Images | Styling | Floral Design by Lauryl Lane.