Fantastic food themed ornaments

(Super cute food-themed ornaments from Sur La Table!)

Peter and I are off to Philadelphia tomorrow for not one but two fun holiday parties! I can't wait to see our friends and their pretty houses and cute puppies!!!  Got to get the peppermint bark going.  And figure out what to wear. Oooooh life's big issues...

Wishing you a very happy weekend, friends! Hope you have lots of cheese, a little gin, and one fantastic cupcake!

Books for All: Guys Edition

Carter Beats the Devil: President Harding!  Beautiful blind women! FBI agents on the loose!  What's not to like?

Super Freakonomics: Your Dad loved the first one so much...and the podcast is so awesome. And, bonus: your dad sells life insurance! This will show him how to break into the giant untapped market of suicide bombers.

Doesn't it warm your heart to buy a book published by McSweeneys? It warms mine. And I really enjoy that feeling around Christmas.

Heart & Evergreen Pillow

Yay finished!

I'm not sure it's best to write these posts up right after I finish a project, because I'm inevitably really sick of whatever project it is.  But, here is the little heart and evergreen pillow! I might be more of a Rachel Ray when it comes to crafts -- 30-60 minutes start to finish sounds perfect right about now.

When working on each individual square, it felt very whoa pink and green, but all together it's much more neutral.

I was recently gifted a lovely new sewing machine, but I'm intimidated by it, so this was done all by hand (I know that it's insane to do that when I have a shiny new sewing machine!).  Ladies with sewing machines: any tips?!  It looks so scary and easy to make a mistake.  I guess like any new gadget, you just have to get used to it.

I had grand plans in November to make a bunch of cute fabric ornaments this year to attach to my gifts -- we'll see if being done with this project inspires me to get going.  Only ten more days to Christmas!!!

PS Super neat!

Wishing for Snow + Potato-Fennel Gratin

When I get my act together in the morning and actually wake up before I must, the whole day feels lucky. In a perfect world, every one would be like today.


Peter brought me coffee in bed and I read for a while before throwing my robe on, plugging in my twinkle lights and doing the Reverb10 prompt for the day. Snow was falling softly outside, and I was thinking about how my recent eyelash wishes actually came true.  Do you wish on your stray eyelashes?  It's kind of a silly habit. But for the past week or so I've been wishing for snow, and there is now a light dusting covering the backyard!


In reality, these mornings happen about once a week (except for the snow falling softly part!).  But when they do, magic, I tell you!


Anyways! I really wanted to tell you about this gratin from last night. It's potato fennel from Ina Garten. I usually like fennel in salad or risotto, so I was curious about this recipe that has you saute the fennel until caramelized before layering it into the gratin. Like cooking a radish, that really takes the bite out of the fennel, turning it into this soft, lightly anise flavored pile of awesome. Highly recommended.


Potato-Fennel Gratin, based on Ina Gartin's recipe


You will need:
1 large fennel bulb
1 yellow onion, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
4 large potatoes (I like Yukon Gold, but Ina calls for Russet!)
1 cup cream
1 cup grated cheese (Gruyère would be great; I used a combo of cheddar and Parm)
1 teaspoon rosemary and thyme, if you have them
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter the inside of a 10-by-15 inch baking dish.

Remove the stalks from the fennel and cut the bulbs in half lengthwise. Remove the cores and thinly slice. Saute the fennel and onions in the olive oil and butter on medium-low heat for 15 minutes, until tender and just barely caramelized.

Peel the potatoes, then thinly slice them by hand or with a mandoline. Mix the sliced potatoes in a large bowl with cream, cheese (reserve about a handful), herbs, salt, and pepper. Add the sauteed fennel and onion and mix well.

Pour the potato mixture into the baking dish. Press down to smooth the potatoes. Sprinkle the reserved handful of cheese on top. Bake covered with foil for for 1 hour, and then 15 minutes uncovered until the potatoes are very tender and the top is browned and bubbly. Allow to set for 10 minutes and serve.

Erin Flett Awesomeness

We've been thinking a bit about how long is long enough in Brooklyn. Do we move this summer, or wait a few more years?

This isn't an announcement of any kind, but when I'm thinking about moving, I'm often thinking about Portland. Today I hopped over to my favorite Portland landing pad, LiveWork Portland and found this darling little interview with Erin Flett. 

Isn't she cute?!  She makes all these adorable pillows.

I'm feeling a little obsessed this fish Lolly.

Happy Monday, friends!  Hope you had a fantastic weekend.

P.S. I should have a fun pillow update of my own for you later this week!  Yayay for finishing holiday projects before the holiday!

Holiday art

My mom has two oil paintings of Santa that come out every holiday season to hang over the dining room buffet. My sister and I loved them growing up, and I am really smitten with the idea of having a holiday picture or two for my own home.

(The Sledding Hill)

(Assignment)

(Trees that Glisten)

(Horseshoe Holly)

(Bittersweet)

That Magical $5 Gift

With office holiday parties, get together's with friends and stockings to stuff, we all need a few random gifts in that magical $5 range. These are always a little tricky because, of course, you want it to look like you spent more than just $5.  Here are a few I'm thinking about picking up!

1. Feathered owl ornaments, $2.95
2. Salong vase, $4.99
3. Dwell in possibilities notebook, $5.95
4. Doll ornaments, $2.95 each
5. Godiva Dark Chocolate Holiday Bar, $3.99

6. Steep Up to the Plate tray, $5.95
7. Two Piece Wine Pourer and Stopper, $4.94
8. Trivial Pursuit Steal, $5.24
9. Smart Money subscription, $5
10. Green Chandelier Earrings, $1.98

Books for All: Ladies Edition

For your sister-in-law with a giant heart and a thing for strong-plot fiction: THE MEMORY KEEPER'S DAUGHTER.

For your crafty sister who is about to graduate from her cozy college cocoon: HOW TO BE AN EXPLORER OF THE WORLD.

For your mother, who most definitely taught you to live with substance and style: a subscription to ANTHOLOGY magazine.

And a little something to get the shopper in the Christmas spirit: A CHRISTMAS CAROL AND OTHER CHRISTMAS WRITINGS (I read this through Daily Lit last year -- it was such a nice mid-morning break throughout the holiday season!).

Holiday party prep: Being a good guest

I'm not hosting a holiday party this year, but I am lucky enough to have a few on the calendar in the coming weeks!

Being a good party guest is cake compared to hosting, but there are still a few preparations that should be made. What to wear, what to bring...well, I guess that's about it in terms of prep work.  But of course, you also have to make sure you don't hog all the bubbly once you arrive. So easy in theory, so hard in reality.

Here's a little cheat sheet:

1. Crinkle Silk Tie Neck Shirt (LL Bean Signature)
2. NV Riondo Raboso Pink Prosecco, about $10 (Food & Wine)
3. Chocolate cheesecake candy cane bars (Food Network)
4. Kate Spade Women's Dazzle (Amazon)
5. Guy Wolff Paperwhite Kit (Restoration Hardware)

Grace in small things: holiday edition

1. Candles with dinner

2. Watching bulbs grow before my eyes (thanks for the amaryllis tip, Ashley!)

3. Going back to a holiday sewing project

4. Turkey soup, turkey croquettes, turkey sandwiches, turkey and rice casserole...

5. A cozy new book (and some fun complimentary reading!)