A Multi-Generational Baby Shower

Last month, I was lucky enough to be able to throw a baby shower for my sweet friend, Alison. She's expecting a little boy within the next couple of weeks, and we had a great time celebrating his eagerly anticipated arrival. What made this shower especially fun for me was that I got to play hostess alongside my mom and grandmother. You see, our moms have been best friends since childhood (Alison's mom actually hosted a shower for my mom when I was born -- check out that vintage photo below), and our grandmothers are friends as well! So we turned this into a shower that spanned three generations of family and friends, and it was just so much fun.

Our goal was to tie in elements of baby shower trends from over the years. For our current generation, we opted for mason jars, paper straws, and cutesy favors. Our punch was popular during Mom's generation, and we were sure to include butter mints and nuts in a nod to my Grandmother's era.

For our invitation, I turned to Freshly Squeezed Cards on Etsy. How cute is that little yellow bird? And it went perfectly with the colors we wanted to use: light blue, yellow, and grey,

We kept decorations pretty simple. I made a table centerpiece using antique blue mason jars filled with white hydrangeas and a wooden "S" monogram spray painted grey for the family's last name. We draped the serving areas with white tablecloths and hung a customizable banner. I like to use clear plastic plates and metallic plastic cutlery (that looks deceptively like real silverware) for food and mason jars with patterned paper straws for drinks. This time around we also used Susty Party's punch cups and cute patterned napkins.

Food we kept fairly simple as well. Since it was an afternoon shower, we wanted easy to eat finger foods. The final menu consisted of fruit skewers, Mini Zucchini Basil Quiche, Rosemary and Lemon White Bean Dip with pita chips, marinated mushrooms and mozzarella, spiced pecans, butter mints, frosted sugar cookies. A local girl made the cookies for us, and we were thrilled at how well they turned out. They were a big hit! For drinks, we served Cucumber Citrus Water (just fill a large beverage jar or pitcher with ice and lemon, lime, and cucumber slices, and top it off with water) and a Pineapple Punch (Ginger Ale and pineapple sherbet). I placed frozen blueberry skewers in each punch cup for a little extra color and fun.

Once everyone arrived, we had a wonderful time catching up. After snacks and sips, we moved into the living room for Alison to open presents. Thankfully, she had some expert help from a couple little girls in attendance! Along with gifts, we gave books in lieu of cards. I picked this darling book, How to Catch a Star, that tells the story of a boy who longs to befriend a star. It's so sweet, and the illustrations are beautiful.

Once the afternoon drew to a close and hugs were given all around, we sent folks home with lavendar bath salts tied up with colorful ribbon and twine in little paper sacks. Because who doesn't deserve to put their feet up in a hot bath, especially a mom-to-be? It was a lovely afternoon with lovely people. Now for the countdown to meet that little baby!

All I Want For Christmas - 2014 Edition

Ok, it's that time of year again! Christmas is almost here! Our tree has been up for weeks, a wreath is on the door, and lights are on the house, but I'm scurrying around doing last minute shopping. Here are some things I'm loving this year! Happy Christmas shopping to those of you who, like me, still have a couple folks left on your list!

How cute is this Julia Child cookbook bookmark? She never fails to make me smile.

(Photo from Food52 Provisions)

I'm a sucker for just about anything from Rifle Paper Co, and these Floral Coasters are no exception.

(Photo from Rifle Paper Co)

Wouldn't this 2015 calendar be perfect in the kitchen?

(Photo from Food52 Provisions)

I'm dying to add this East of Eden print to the collection in our library.

(Photo from  FRAMEDVINTAGE Etsy Shop)

A cheery monogrammed Ring Dish would look great on someone's nightstand.

(Photo from Anthropologie)

Have you seen this Coloring Book? What a perfect way to spend dreary winter afternoons!

(Photo from Amazon)

Who doesn't like a cozy pair of PJ Pants?

(Photo from Old Navy)

Even though I have no room for new cookbooks, I would love to have David Lebovitz's newest, My Paris Kitchen. He's just the best.

(Photo from Amazon)

I know I asked for a pretty copy of Little Women last year too, but have you seen this In Bloom version?! Swoon.

(Photo from Rifle Paper Co)

Finally, how about this completely gorgeous Smeg Toaster? How can someone make a toaster that pretty?

(Photo from West Elm)

Thanksgiving Dreaming

Happy Day-Before-Thanksgiving everyone! Are your turkeys thawed? Have you started cooking yet? Is your family in town? Do you have your stretchy Thanksgiving pants ready? This year, we'll be spending the day with my husband's family, our first Thanksgiving with family in 6 years! I can't wait! But as excited as I am, I'm a little bummed that we're not cooking this year. Gosh did I love hosting Thanksgiving in Boston, spending the day cooking, decorating the house, sharing the day with friends who were also a long way from home (or celebrating with just the two of us like last year). So to help scratch that itch, I decided to put together a Dream Thanksgiving, if you will. If we were hosting this year, this would be my road map, my inspiration, and my menu.

First let's decorate! How fun would it be to make these "I am thankful for..." placemats? And I  definitely would want to recreate these adorable rosemary place setting cards. When it comes to centerpieces, I love to use seasonal produce, greenery from the yard, and candles. They make for lovely and affordable decorations, and arrangements tend to be low and spread out so guests can still see each other. I also love this leaf garland for the dining room wall.

 1) Photo from Oh My Deer, 2) Photo from Apartment34, 3) Photo from Country Living,

4) Photo from Glitter Guide, 5) Photo from Garland of Grace, 6) Photo from A Texas Belle

Now for the food! Every year, I start with these Rosemary Roasted Cashews.  It's nice to have something to nibble on while I put the finishing touches on dinner, and these are light enough so folks don't ruin their appetites.  Also, they're delicious.

(Photo from Family Spice)

 

For dinner, the star of the show is a smoked turkey. We get up early to get the smoker going, season the bird with this simple but flavorful rub, and by dinner time, we have a beautiful turkey that left the oven free for side dishes. Speaking of side dishes, how good does this Cornbread Chorizo Cherry Pecan Stuffing sound? I don't know if I could branch out from our classic family cornbread stuffing, but this recipe makes it awfully tempting. I'm also itching to make these Mashed Potatoes with Mushrooms. What an ingenious idea. For something green, I love these Seared Brussels Sprouts with Bacon Lardons, which we made last year. And for something green covered in cheese, I like to make my great-grandmother's Green Pea Casserole rather than the more traditional green bean casserole. Finally, we can't forget the Cranberry Sauce! I make this super simple recipe from Sam Sifton, the man who literally wrote the book on Thanksgiving. It made me a believer in real cranberry sauce. In addition to the homemade stuff, I always leave a little room on my plate for a slice of "can", the canned jellied cranberry sauce that I will always love, regardless of stigma.

1) Photo from A Texas Belle, 2) Photo from The Bitten Word, 3) Photo from Joy the Baker,

4) Photo from A Texas Belle, 5) Photo from Serious Eats, 6) Photo from A Texas Belle

After dinner, I would serve theses Hot Ginger Apple Toddies. It's fall in a mug, perfect for chilly evenings. They're great with a generous splash of bourbon or cognac.

(Photo from The Kitchn)

 

Finally for dessert, I would stick with a classic pumpkin pie, but if I was feeling extra adventurous, I would love to try this Salty Pumpkin Spice Cake with Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting too.

(Photo from Libbie Summers)

 

As a side note, how lovely are these Thank You notes from Rifle Paper Co for thanking the host/hostess or thanking your guests for helping you celebrate? You could also use them for guests to put on paper what they're thankful for this year!

(Photo from Rifle Paper Co)

And let's not forget the day after! I would start the day with strong coffee and this Cranberry Orange Cake with Vanilla Crumble. If you feel guilty eating cake for breakfast, maybe call it Cranberry Orange Coffee Cake. That sounds more breakfast-y, right?

Then to use up all of those beautiful leftovers, here are some of my favorites: Cranberry Brie Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, Thanksgiving Leftovers Couscous Salad, Turkey Terrific sandwiches, and Turkey Gumbo.

So there it is! There sure are a lot less dishes to wash this way. As much as I'm going to miss hosting this year, it's such a blessing to have family welcome us in their home and cook for us. I'm so thankful for our families, and I'm thankful to finally be able to share this holiday with them after so many years away from home. And hopefully someday it'll be my turn to return the favor!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, everyone!

Feeling Fall-ish

Even though it's October, the temperatures around here are still climbing into the 80s and 90s, and leaves are still as green as can be. But because it's October, I'm bound and determined to bring a little fall into my life, even if it's just through the internet. Here are some things that are making me feel fall-ish!

These pencils! Don't they just capture everything you love about fall?

(Photo from Amanda Catherine Des' Etsy Shop)

How beautiful is this Butternut Squash and Sage Pizza? Even though I'm sad to leave okra and tomato season behind, I sure do love when winter squash arrives at the grocery store!

(Photo from Alexandra Cooks)

I've got to get a pair of these Long John Pajama Pants. Wouldn't they be perfect for lounging around the house when it's chilly out?

(Photo from Hanna Andersson)

I would love to have one of these gorgeous cable-knit throws for curling up with a good book and one of these rustic plaid throws crisp fall picnics.

(Photos from Pottery Barn (1) and Patron Designs Scoutmob Shoppe (2))

While I may not be able to go apple picking in New England, my grandparents brought back a huge bag of apples from a recent visit to Colorado that they were generous enough to share with me. I can't wait to use some of them to make my favorite Homemade Applesauce.

(Photo from Simply Recipes)

 

I usually take a crafting break during the summer, so I'm ready to pick up my craft supplies now that fall has arrived. I love knitting (something cozy like this ribbed cowl), and I also want to make this lamp shade for the library!

Fall also means steaming mugs of hot tea or mulled cider. Two of my favorite ciders are this Mulled Apple Cider for a crowd or this Hot Ginger-Apple Hot Toddy.

(Photo 2 from The Kitchn)

With Halloween approaching, I love to decorate the front porch and the house with pumpkins. If we get in the mood to carve some, how lovely are these?

(Photo from Southern Living)

 

Once the weather gets a little cooler, I tend to crave hearty greens, especially swiss chard and kale. I love these Brown Rice Bowls with Swiss Chard and Nutty Romesco Sauce and this Pumpkin and Kale Pasta with Lemon Goat Cheese Sauce. I'm looking forward to trying these two soups: Spicy Pork and Kale Soup and Cavolo Nero and Cannellini Bean Soup.

(Photo 1 from The Kitchn, Photo 2 from Eat, Live, Run, Photo 3 from Whole Living)

Finally,  I can't wait to sit by a crackling fire. We have our very first fireplace in our new house, and I'm itching to put it to use!

(Photo from The Bungalow Blog)

My 10 Favorite Things in April

April brought spring to New England, Easter celebrations, weddings, and two trips to Texas (thanks to the aforementioned weddings)! We got to see family and old friends. We got to venture outdoors for backyard BBQ and picnics. The trees are finally in full bloom, and every now and then the sun shown through the April showers. These were my favorite moments of the month (in no particular order).

1) Easter Brunch

Mimosas, coffee, and Breakfast Polenta Squares with Spinach and Bacon along with the Easter story were a great way to start the day.

2 ) Crystal's Bachelorette Party

Man was it fun celebrating Crystal and her upcoming wedding with a gaggle of girls and plenty of margaritas!

3) Picnic at Walden Pond

Such a great picnic spot! Perfect for soaking up sun, admiring the view, snacking, and a little reading.

4) Alison and Matt's Wedding

I couldn't be happier for my beautiful "friend from the womb" and her dashing new husband Matt. What a lovely wedding, and congratulations!!

5) Crystal and Troy's Wedding 

Wedding #2 this month was a weekend long affair at Moon River Ranch in Satin, Texas celebrating the marriage of two wonderful friends. There were good friends, wide open spaces, skeet shooting, horseback riding, paddle boats, farm animals, swiming, TexMex, BBQ, and cowboy boots -- it doesn't get much more "Texas" than that! Congratulations you two!

6) Spending time in the Texas sunshine

Somehow, I made it 28 years before trying Topo-Chico, and man have I been missing out. Turns out that an ice cold Topo-Chico and a view over the Brazos River while skeet shooting with friends on a ranch in Texas is a fabulous way to spend an afternoon. Thanks Crystal and Troy!

7) Firing up the smoker for the first time this season

There may be no truer harbinger of spring than firing up the smoker for the first time since winter and spending the day out in the backyard checking on the meat, sipping a cold beer, and playing Jenga on the picnic table praying for the wind to stay calm during your turn.

8) Date Night with Kurt and Nina at Backbar and Bronwyn

Gosh do I love these two! We had so much fun over Backbar's cocktails and Bronwyn's German fare.

9) Receiving the new Homesick Texan cookbook

I think I squealed when my pre-ordered copy of Homesick Texan's new cookbook showed up on my doorstep. I can't wait to start trying her new recipes!

10) This Tangelo Campari Sorbet

Last but not least, I really love this Tangelo Campari Sorbet. It's light and refreshing, sweet with just a pinch of  bitterness. Delicious!

Beating the Winter Blues

It's March, and it snowed again today. In the frozen tundra of New England, we have at least one more month of cold and snow before we can even begin thinking about warmer weather. I'm a summer girl that needs warmth and sunshine, and right now I've got to tell you that I've got a bad case of the Winter Blues. So in an attempt to think about sunnier things, here's my plan:

1) Bake this beautiful Tomato Tart from The Endless Meal

Does anything say summer more than tomatoes? And as these tomatoes are roasted, the recipe is a little more forgiving when using sub-par winter tomatoes. Bonus Points: In the winter the house isn't so warm that I can't turn on the oven!

(photo from The Endless Meal)

2) Mix up one of these Sunburnt Margaritas

Using some beautiful in-season citrus in place of traditional lime, these look like summer in a glass.

(photo from What's Gaby Cooking)

3) Throw an indoor "Garden Party"

Why not turn up the heat, invite some friends over, throw on flouncy sun dresses, put out fresh flowers and colorful decor, and pretend we're having a garden party on a warm, breezy summer day? I totally want to make this happy garland and napkins for the occasion. 

(Photo from Project Nursery)

(photo from The Purl Bee)

4) Indulge in an At-Home Spa Day

How fun would this be? Make a homemade sugar or salt scrub (like this three ingredient Lemon Salt Scrub) for the shower, spread on a face mask, cozy up in a fuzzy robe, paint my nails with a bright summer color, the works!

(photo from The Beauty Department)

5) Buy more fresh flowers

Fresh flowers in a pitcher on the dining room table or in a vase in the living room do so much to brighten up a dreary winter day.

(photo from Gourmet Galley via Life of a Vintage Lover)

6) Light cheerful candles

In the winter, I'm usually drawn to bright citrusy scents. Two of my favorites right now are the Mandarin Lavender from Paddywax as well as their Pomegranate Spruce.

(Photo from Paddywax)

7) Start a craft project
Having a fun project to work on makes the days seem a little less dark and dreary. One I've been itching to start is this adorable cross stitch featuring one of my favorite Jane Austen quotes.

(photo from Gazette 94)

8) Curl up with a good book
I've been reading the incredibly dense Dr Zhivago. A story of people caught up in the tumultuous Russian Revolution, it is by no means "beach reading".  I'm pretty ready to get through the last 25 pages and start something a little lighter. Something perfect for spending a lazy morning on the couch curled up under a blanket with a cup of hot tea. I think I want to re-read Bradbury's beautiful Dandelion Wine.

(photo from The Kids Stick Together)