Ready for New Year's Eve

clockwise from top left: earrings, lipstick, dress, nail color, heels, bracelet, clutch

Thanksgiving Table Inspiration

Thanksgiving is almost upon us! We've seen some gorgeous table decor on Pinterest lately, and wanted to share some of our inspiration with you. There's nothing like a beautiful setting to complement delicious food and welcome family and friends.

all images from pinterest

Gift Guide: For the Gardener Dad

Clockwise from top left: lawn mower, lopper, garden kneeler, wheelbarrow, 

gloves, doormat, hand trowel, bucket, hose, birdhouse

Crazy About: Easter Decor

clockwise from top left: egg lantern, gold eggs, bunny bundt pan, egg boxes, yellow egg platter, 

copper egg, easter bunny dress up kit, bunny bookends, blue egg platter, bunny planter, chocolate bunny

Cozy Day After Christmas

We hope you had an amazing Christmas and got everything you wished for! We're planning on building a big fire in the fireplace and watching movies while sipping on our favorite warm beverages: apple cider, almond milk egg nog and mexican hot chocolate.

clockwise from top left: housecoat, apple cider, nutmeg, eggnog, throw,

slippers, mugs, mulling spices, mexican hot chocolate

Here are some things we've been watching lately:

Snowpiercer

We loved the visuals of this futuristic snowpocalypse movie where the world has frozen over and humanity resides on a giant train that travels the world, completing its loop once a year. It features Tilda Swinton, who, based on this article by GQ seems like the coolest person ever and makes us want to visit Scotland immediately. (available on Netflix)

The Affair

Season 1 just finished for this drama about an affair between two married people. Each episode covers events first from one's perspective, then the other. It's interesting to see which tiny details change, this musing on the fluidity of memory was something that also drew us to our favorite recent podcast, Serial. (available on Showtime OnDemand)

The Artist is Present

This documentary delves into the past work of performance artist Marina Abramovic and follows her as she prepares for a retrospective at MOMA. Her piece Lovers is especially moving as she and her partner walk from opposite ends of the Great Wall of China, meet in the middle and decide to end their relationship. (available on Netflix)

Portlandia

We love this IFC series set in Portland. Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein have created an amazing array of characters. It will begin its fifth season this January, so it's the perfect time to catch up on past episodes. (available on Netflix)

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas, everyone! Hope you are having an amazing day.

Crazy About: Seasonal Sweaters

Clockwise from top left: red with bows, gold knit, turquoise ski, grey with gold broach, penguin,

black & white jacquard, grey reindeer, unicorn fair isle jacquard, red tartan

Holiday Party Outfits

We don't know about you, but we've been busy wrapping up our Christmas shopping and have just realized that we need to figure out outfits for the upcoming celebrations. Here's what we're thinking...

Christmas Eve

clockwise from top left: lip color, necklace, nail polish, eyeliner, ring, tights, dress, flats, wrap, clutch

Christmas Morning

clockwise from top left: sleep romper, robe, hot chocolate, snowman marshmallows, slippers, socks, mug, glasses

New Year's Eve

clockwise from top left: dress, eyelashes, headband, lipstick, highlighter, iPhone case, purse, nail polish, heels

Holiday Gift Guide: For the Boys

Clockwise from top left: keychain, gentlemen's deck playing cards, tie, watch, shell jacket,

belt, shaving kit, chess set, sweatshirt, GOOP cold weather set, utility knife, socks

Holiday Gift Guide: Gal Pals

Clockwise from top left: necklace, fur hot water bottle, pouch, hair ties, candle, idiom pencils, bracelet, 

sequin throw, smoking slippers, pants, tank, iPhone case, weekender bag, tea, makeup favorites

Holiday Gift Guide: Inner Child

Clockwise from top left: skeeball machine, card games, speaker, playable art coasters, longboard, 

cubebot, color puzzle book, kate moss paper dolls, build a tiara, slingshot, dominos, gold tattoos

Winter Wonderland Holiday Party

We love having our friends over for dinner during the holidays. It gives us a chance 

to relax over food and wine and good conversation. We recently hosted a winter 

wonderland-themed party, and it was a great way to get into the holiday spirit.

Our small flocked Christmas tree set the tone with its snowy branches, from Little Hills Tree Farm.

 We went for an easy appetizer of crackers, cheese and an orange cranberry mostarda.

 Guests were welcomed with a mug of Mulled Wine. As a bonus, it also made the house smell amazing.

The dining table, set and ready. Branches of seeded eucalyptus made a simple centerpiece. Dinner was French Onion Soup, a baguette and a pear and blue cheese salad. Easy to make ahead and put in the oven when guests arrived.

 Letter ornaments served as name cards, and also a party favor to take home.

 For dessert: a gingerbread spice bundt cake.

Clockwise from top left: tablecloth, seeded eucalyptus, pitcher,  flatware, bundt pan, candles, candlesticks, 

wine goblets, mulled wine syrup, plates, glasses, christmas crackers, letter ornaments, napkins

Holiday Gift Guide: Happy Camper

clockwise from top left: campfire candle, national parks bandana, pocket fishing rod, beanie, 

Wild book, terrarium, fire starter, fur throw, bkr bottle, solar lantern, frontier lampshade, boots, 

leather thermos, survival bracelet, portable mini bar, day pack, petrified wood trays

Holiday Gift Guide: Man's Best Friend

clockwise from top left: collar, dog shampoo, antler chew, balloon dog toy, leash, kong, 

dog bed, sweater, treats, dog sign, grillz chew toy, snowman toy, cleansing spray

Holiday Gift Guide: One for the Road

Clockwise from top left: bitters, ice cube mold, bar spoon, tasting glass, wine rack, shot glass, knives,

citrus juicer,beer kit, copper shaker, ice scoop, rabbit opener, bar tool, whiskey cube, decanter

Our Favorite Thanksgiving Recipes

This is the second Thanksgiving since we started the blog, and we have accumulated quite a few recipes now... Hopefully some of these will provide inspiration or last minute assistance before the big day tomorrow!

Butternut Squash and Apple Soup

Brussels Sprouts with Chorizo and Toasted Almonds

Kale Gratin

Truffled Roast Yams and Potatoes

Cranberry Chutney

Sourdough Stuffing with Kale, Dates, and Turkey Sausage

Duck Fat Popovers

Cranberry Pear Crisp

And don't forget...

We are also trying this Mark Bittman recipe for a 45 minute roast turkey - last year we spatchcocked our bird for the first time and it was delicious.

Roasted Turkey Gravy

The key ingredients to the best mashed potatoes are plenty of butter and salt - this is definitely a day for indulgence!

With Pumpkin Pie, it's good to keep it simple and classic

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Thanksgiving Menu: Cranberry Chutney

This is a great substitute for/addition to cranberry sauce on your Thanksgiving table.  This recipe is quick, simple, and delicious, and can easily be doubled or tripled for more servings.  It's also excellent left over on turkey or grilled cheese sandwiches. 

Ingredients:

8 ounces of fresh cranberries
3 tablespoons of sugar
2 tablespoons of red wine vinegar
Zest and juice of half a small orange or mandarin

Add all of the ingredients to a small saucepan, and cover about a third of the way with water.  Cook over low-medium heat for approximately 12-15 minutes, until the cranberries are soft and cooked through, but not breaking apart.  Smash the cranberries slightly and cook for another minute or two until the liquid becomes more syrupy. 

Allow to cool and serve.

Thanksgiving Menu: Butternut Squash and Apple Soup

This soup is a perfect starter for Thanksgiving dinner, and can be made in advance to cut down on cooking the day of.

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 large yellow onions, chopped
2 tablespoons yellow curry powder
2 large butternut squash
4 Fuji apples
2 cups vegetable stock
2 cups apple cider
creme fraiche
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
-In a dutch oven melt the butter and add the olive oil. Add the chopped onions and yellow curry, and cook over low heat, stirring until onions are translucent. 

-Peel and seed the squash, and cut into chunks. Peel and core the apples and cut into chunks.

-Add the squash, apples and vegetable stock to the onions, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, and cover and cook until the squash and apples soften. Using an immersion blender, puree until everything is smooth.

-Add the apple cider and salt and pepper to taste. Pour into bowls and garnish with a dollop of creme fraiche. 

Serves 6.

Based on Ina Garten's recipe in Barefoot Contessa Parties.

Thanksgiving Menu: Brussels Sprouts with Chorizo & Toasted Almonds

We are big brussels sprouts fans, and when we found this recipe incorporating chorizo and almonds, we were curious to try this warm salad. It got good reviews from everyone who tried it, even from people who wouldn't normally eat brussels sprouts.

Ingredients:
1/4 cup raw almonds
3 oz. chorizo sausage, sliced
1 lb. brussels sprouts, halved with leaves separated
2 tablespoons garlic flavored olive oil
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1 teaspoons fresh thyme
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
- toast almonds in a frying pan over medium heat for about 6-7 minutes. let cool and chop.
- cook the chorizo in a large pan, stirring until crisp. set aside.
- heat oil in a large pan over medium high heat, adding the garlic and thyme and sautéing until the garlic is golden. Add the brussels sprouts in batches, cooking until leaves have wilted and have browned a bit, approximately 10 minutes.
- remove from the stove and mix the almonds and chorizo in with the brussels sprouts. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Adapted from a Bon Appetit recipe. Serves 4.

Crazy About: Thanksgiving Decor

Clockwise from top left: wine glass, tumbler, pumpkin, pitcher, rosemary napkin ring, tablecloth, birch pillar candles, 

farm to table serveware, champagne bucket, dessert plate, dinner plate, napkin