In the Kitchen: Chocolate Chip Cookie Brownies

You may have seen my instagram post about the most delicious and EASY dessert e.v.e.r. Well, I'm here today to show it to you in all its glory. Do you love chocolate chip cookies? What about brownies? Oh good-- you're in for a real treat :)

You'll need: boxed mix brownies, store bought cookie dough (I told you, it really is that easy.)
Preheat: 350 degrees

1. Make your brownie mix per directions on the box. Set mix aside.

2. I bought tollhouse cookie dough in a tub (yeah...there's a lot of that left over. My dad is rejoicing-- he's a closet raw-cookie-dough-sneaker.) 

3. Drop a little round cookie dough ball in your cupcake-lined papers.

4. Pour brownie mix over the cookie dough. 

5. Bake for 20 minutes at 350. I think I left mine in for 2-4 minutes extra when I checked them at 20 minutes, making that a total of about 24 minutes. Let cool in the cupcake pan for 10 minutes. 

6. Voila! Your cookie baked inside of a brownie and it's the best thing you'll ever taste. Bonus? It tastes completely made by scratch, which seems very impressive :)

We dusted ours lightly with some powdered sugar. 

Let me know if you try them! All 16 of ours were gone in about 48 hours. Oops ;)

Happy Tuesday!
xoxo

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October Instagram Challenge Prompts

Can you believe October is here come Wednesday?! I just don't understand where the time has gone. Like always ;) 

To celebrate the new season (& my favorite season!) I've created a Fall Instagram Challenge. This can be used as a way to document your October and explore your inner photography and styling skills as you are creative in your photos for each prompt. Of course, the thing I want it to do the most is inspire others, warm your heart as we enter the chilly months, and let it be a reminder to be thankful for all the blessings in our lives. There's something about Fall, and Thanksgiving rapidly approaching, always helps me stop and thank the Lord for every good thing. Can you feel that, too? We don't deserve a single thing, and yet He freely gives. Let's focus on that this Fall as we dive into this Instagram Challenge starting on Wednesday, October 1st. 

Tag me @michaelanoelle and use the hashtag #FALLINGFOROCTOBER so I can see your posts! I'm going to try to visit each person doing the challenge. Feel free to repost this prompt graphic in your own feed so others can join. I can't wait!

Who's in?!
xoxo

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Friday Finds: 7

Happy Friday everyone! This week has been a whirlwind-- probably because I was traveling for 9 hours on Tuesday and have been playing catch up ever since. That, plus I'm loving spending time with my family and being at home! Well, let's get to it. Here are my favorite finds this week.

1. Anthropologie is having an additional 25% off SALE items. There are so many great pieces you can use for Fall. Use the code SALEONSALE at checkout. Here are my faves:

2. J.Crew is having a 30% off SALE items, too! Use code PICKASALE.

3. Have you seen this LA home tour on Style Me Pretty Living?! It's drop dead gorgeous!

4. West Elm is holding a 15% off dining room sale. They have some great pieces! 

Happy weekend, friends! Hope you enjoy it :)

xoxo

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Sneak Peek Video from Bloom!

Photos by Ashley Slater Photography  / gorgeous florals by The Day's Design  / calligraphy by Jenny Sanders of Graceline 

Just to wet your appetite for more, here are a few sneak peeks of our day at the Bloom Workshop from last Thursday. Ashley and I had a delightful day teaching women about blogging, social media, design and photography. Then we headed outside for a styled photo shoot where the ladies were able to practice photographing and styling a gorgeous set up I prepared. We had event designers looking for tips on how to shoot their own work, stylists looking to hone their design eye, and photographers hungry to learn how to shoot in manual, pose models and more.

To learn our heart behind our workshop, check out this video (complete with peeks of last week's event!) Thank you, Katie, for the beautiful video. We adore you!


Bloom the Workshop from Katie Hollstein on Vimeo.

Registration for our October workshop in Newnan, GA (near Atlanta!) ends in ONE WEEK! If you're thinking about signing up, now is the time to do it. With amazing sponsors and artists partnering with us (SS Print Shop, Bib & Bop, Southern Vintage, Laura Hooper Calligraphy, Vinewood Plantation, and Lindsay Coletta Designs-- to name a few!) you certainly don't want to miss out. We only have 5 spots left. If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to email me! hello@michaelanoelledesigns.com

So let this little sneak peek of Bloom Rockford from last week, be your teaser for what is to come in October. We hope to see you at Bloom in Newnan, GA on October 23rd!

Happy Thursday!
xoxo

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Dahlias & Begging Fall to Stick Around

I am telling you, friends, my farmer's market is killing it with the dahlias right now! They are just gorgeous. Nothing freshens your home more than some fresh blooms-- some weeks I don't get any, some weeks I just get one stem and then other weeks, I can't resist the beautiful colors and I get a whole bunch. At only 50 cents per stem, it doesn't even break the bank. Win-win! You can see past dahlia arrangements here and here. 

These dahlias were extra special, because they were almost as big around as my face. They were stunningly huge and I hadn't seen anything like them before! Here's an arrangement I did for my dining room:

 

I'm trying to savor every last bit of good weather as I know fall will come and go quickly, and then lucky me -- I get to experience my first Michigan winter. Insert a terrified California girl who could wear flip-flops year round here ;) I know I will be just fine, especially with my handsome guy by my side, but the thought of continuous snow and freezing temps for 4-5 (dare I say 6...) months is frightening. Trips to the farmer's market are refreshing, reminding me to hold on to what a sweet gift it has been to me in the midst of moving to a new place. I went to the market and grabbed some pretty flowers almost every week in the summer, and it truly reminded me of home (I would go almost every week with my family after church on Sundays in California!) 

So, Michigan, if you're listening, please stay decent outside for at least another month! I'm begging this gorgeous fall weather to stick around. Deal? Okay, good :)


We've already made it to the middle of the week. I'm home in California for a big visiting family and I couldn't be more excited about it. Have a great Wednesday!
xoxo

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Home Suite Home: Client Project

Friends! I'm so excited to tell you all about a project I'll be working on over the coming weeks. Meet my newest design client, Lauren of Elle & Company! I'm so excited to be working with this girl, as we've become fast friends ever since she emailed me almost a year ago, telling me about her amazing Daybook Planner. As a graphic designer, brand-creator, and all around sweet soul, I jumped at the chance to help her and husband redesign their little home. 

Lauren and Jake live in a small guest house, they lovingly refer to as their "suite", so we are calling this design series Home Suite Home. I just love it! Most of their furniture and decor has been generously gifted to them or passed down to them to use in the suite, but Lauren is ready for a bit of an update, and I'm ready to help. Each week (or every two weeks) I will be showing you a current room in their suite, along with my design plan. Each week we will need your help to choose an element for the space, too, so you'll want to come back and give your opinion! 

Today I'm showing you the floor plan for the suite, as well as the inspiration for the design plan. Since budget is tight, we will be searching for items that don't break the bank, but definitely ramp up the style factor. Decor with pops of color is what Lauren is all about, and as I'm told, Jake is not opposed to splashes of pink. So...that is definitely happening :)

Here is the floor plan (for those visual-floor-plan-lovers like me!)

And here are a few of the inspiration pictures and items I'm planning to add to the space:

peachy pink pillow / fretwork pillow / sunburst mirror / turquoise shelf / love pillow / shelf


Each week we will be sharing the design plan for one specific room and we're both so excited to see this come together. Hopefully this will be a great series for those of you who also live in small spaces, craving that high end designer look, while working with a small budget and small space.

Head over to the Elle & Company blog to read more about the story of their Suite and see the initial pictures! It's so great, so be sure not to miss it.

Enjoy your day! I'm flying back to California today to visit my family. This girl is excited!! 
xoxo

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Home Tour: Colorful Chic

 

Photos by Victoria Pearson for House Beautiful // Design by Schuyler Samperton

Wow! Say I was exhausted after Bloom last week would be an understatement. I'm so glad I had the weekend to recuperate. Today I'm sharing a gorgeous, colorful and "granny-chic"-- as House Beautiful calls it. What a lovely house, mixing pattern and color so effortlessly! This home tour shows that you can have many colors and patterns throughout your house, as long as you tie everything together with a few repeating colors, creating harmony. 

Hands down, my favorite space in the house is that amazing craft/painting sunroom-extraordinare. The rustic wood paneling is just gorgeous! A close second would be the vibrant kitchen. Did you know red is the most appetizing color?! I don't normally gravitate towards red, but it's really nice in this kitchen rug. I think it adds spunk without being too crazy, while the reclaimed wood island helps to warm the space up and give it a well-balanced look. 

What is your favorite room in this cozy Los Angeles abode?

Have a lovely week!
xoxo

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Bloom Workshop #2 is Here!

Today is the day! Bloom round 2 is here and I couldn't be more excited. We can't wait to meet these wonderful ladies and pour into them with knowledge, tips, tricks and fun, beautiful things all day long. 

As I'm in bed typing this post on my phone (just being honest!) I am so thankful God had given Ashley and I this opportunity to share our passions with others. It's a JOY!  Follow along on Instagram with the hashtag #bloomtheworkshop for all the happenings throughout the day. 

Have a wonderful day! And for more information on our workshops, visit www.bloomtheworkshop.com

Xoxo

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Favorite Shoes for Fall

SHOP Fall Boots:

Are you as ready as I am for fall boots?! I just got to pull mine out last week (mine are Steve Madden from last year, but I really want to get a new pair this year!) I'm really into booties and casual flats this season, too! Those leopard flats up above?! GET IN MY CLOSET. But really, at such a great price I might have to make the purchase :) 

Do you have your eye on any new shoes for fall? Do tell!

Happy Tuesday!
xoxo

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5 Fall Touches For the Home

How was your weekend?! I hope it was better than mine-- I spent it in bed and on the couch, trying to get rid of this cold :( Thankfully, I'm feeling much better today and ready to conquer the week. Bloom Workshop is on Thursday and I'm pumped!

Since we've been celebrating fall last week and a little bit this week, too, I'm showing you some of my favorite editions to my place for the new season. Here are 5 things every home needs for fall:

1. Mums! Is there a plant that screams "fall" more than this one?! I think not.

2. This Sweet Vanilla Cinnamon candle! There's just nothing like the smell of autumn in a jar.

3. Fall Flower Arrangement that you can learn how to recreate right here. It's easy-- promise!

4. A mantel spruce up! I'm going home to visit my family next week and will surely be decorating my mom's mantel for the season. I'll be sure to show you pictures!

5. Something metallic. Whether that be a gold tray with pretty glassware, metallic pumpkins, an owl, or vase, autumn always calls for a touch of warmth, and one of the best ways to achieve that is through a metallic piece of decor.

Have a wonderful week!
xoxo

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