Love of the Day

It has been AGES since I blogged.  Chalk it up to trying to find a job and the madness of the holidays (to be perfectly honest, I've really been knitting up a storm. seriously, a storm).  These slippers are my current creative inspiration: Tom Scott's Harry Slippers by Creatures of Comfort are simply knitted perfection. $207 at the Cool Hunting for the Gap pop-up in Manhattan.  How I wish I could hop on a plane and pick a dozen of these up!

images from: http://www.projectno8.com/ 

November and December

My two favorite months of the year are, without a doubt, November and December.  The weather is crisp, the leaves are beautiful, the weather is finally bearable, and family abounds!  During these weeks, I cannot do anything but sip hot chocolate, knit, watch my favorite holiday movies, and count down days until the whole family gets together.  This past weekend, I had so much fun spending time with my cousin Rachael and her two adorable boys.  Here were some photos from our fun:

Thanks-Giving pt. III

Happy day-before-Thanksgiving!  I write today to share my grandmother's amazing stuffing recipe with you.  This year, I'll be making a small vegetarian batch of this goodness.  The vegetarian batch will differ from the "regular" batch only slightly by replacing the turkey broth with vegetable broth.  The original recipe also calls for margarine, but I use butter in my cooking for both taste and "natural" reasons.  Make and alter as you like and please use as many fresh, local or organic ingredients as possible!

GRANDMA'S STUFFING 

INGREDIENTS:

• Loaf of slightly stale white or wheat bread 
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup of butter
• 1-2 stalks of celery
• Medium yellow onion
• 1/2 tsp. Sage
• 1/2 tsp. poultry seasoning (sage, thyme, pepper, and dash of marjoram and cloves)
• Salt
• Pepper
• Turkey (or Vegetable) broth 
• One egg
• 1/2 to 1 cup milk

DIRECTIONS:

1. Cut bread into cubes and put into a big roaster to mix.
2. Saute celery, onion, and seasonings in butter.
3. Combine celery and onion mixture with bread cubes and mix.
4. Add broth to desired consistency (i.e. not too dry, not too wet) a little at a time.
5. Beat egg with milk and add to the bread mixture.
6. Bake in casserole dish at least 45 minutes (Can also be cooked in a greased slow cooker for 3-4 hours on the 'low' setting)

Thanks-Giving pt. II

Darling Bloggers, as promised I'm posting the most delicious, most wonderful, super simple spinach artichoke dip from the Whole Foods Cookbook to enjoy as a Thanksgiving appetizer or as an any-time appetizer.  It may need reheating after awhile if you don't gobble it down immediately... and, if there are any leftovers, it is an amazing topper for baked potatoes (just re-heat and place a big spoonful on top).  And please use as many local or organic ingredients as you can!

Whole Foods Spinach Artichoke Dip

Cooking Time: 15 minutes

Servings: 4
Preparation Time: 5 minutes

INGREDIENTS
· 2 cups grated Parm Cheese
· 2 Cups grated Monterey Jack Cheese
· 1 cup Mayonnaise
· 1 cup Sour Cream
· 1 (14 oz) can artichoke hearts, drained and diced
· 1 (10 oz box) frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
· 6 cloves garlic, minced (1 tablespoon)
· 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 400F. Combine cheeses, mayo, and sour cream in a large bowl until well blended.
2. Add the artichoke hears, spinach, garlic, and pepper. Mix well.
3. Place the mixture in a casserole dish and bake the dip uncovered for 15 minutes or until the mixture is bubbling.

4. Tastes great with blue-corn tortilla chips (or regular-corn tortilla chips) or with crackers or lightly toasted baguette rounds.

Thanks-Giving

This holiday season, I am most thankful that I get to spend Thanksgiving day with my family.  It has been 4 years since I've been able to say that because:
4 years ago I was studying in London and didn't get any time off from school to fly home;
3 years ago I was trapped in a hotel room in Memphis and in the air after trying to get home for Thanksgiving day, but not making it until late Thanksgiving evening after the meal had been eaten and left-overs had been packed away (i.e. close, but no cigar);
2 years ago I was studying like a madwoman through Thanksgiving break for a business associations and tax finals; and
Last year I stayed in Cleveland and made an entire thanksgiving meal with Christopher and enjoyed desserts with the Pollis Family.
But, this year, I will be snuggled up with Maggie and Kendal watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Dog Show and watching Elf for the first time and helping prepare the Thanksgiving Day meal.  Because I am going (I use this form of the verb because, while I have given up all meat, I'm clinging to crustaceans for a bit.  However, I've been 'animals with a face free' since August) vegetarian, there will be no turkey on my plate.  Instead it will be filled with the supporting cast of delicious sides.  I'll be making, from scratch, Alton Brown's green bean casserole recipe.  I'm super excited to try this version that doesn't use processed-soup or other foods.  Instead of Campbell's, I'll make my own cream of mushroom soup and instead of French's, I'll make the fried onions.  Here's the recipe:

I'm also making a vegetarian version of my Grandmother's beloved stuffing, a vegetarian gravy and a spinach-artichoke dip from the Whole Foods Cook book for those tummies that cannot wait until dinner time to be filled.  I'll post those recipes later in the week as we get closer to Thanksgiving Day! :)  Happy cooking and safe travels!

The Gilded and Glittered Holiday

My father hates glitter.  From a young age, I remember attempting to bring glittered crafts home from school and sunday school but being stopped short of entering the car.  I don't remember tears, but I'm sure there were some as I was forced to stuff anything glitter into a bag (or worse, being thrown away) before getting in the car for fear that some of that magical glitter would escape and be forever embedded into the car's upholstery.  But my father's hatred of glitter didn't end with my sisters' or my childhood- just the other day he went into a christmas store, and as the story goes, was appalled by all the glitter on everything and was nervous that some of it would get on his shoes.  Needless to say, that visit was short.
I tell this anecdote because, unlike my father, I LOVE GLITTER.  I love sequins, and shiny metallics and gilded everything.  I love the silvers and the golds and the icy blues of the holiday season.  I love things dipped in glue and then dipped in glitter, and if some of the glitter falls off, it just makes everything merrier... right?  This post is about all the lovely glitters of the holiday that are showing up in fashion and accessories and are absolutely perfect for the upcoming days.  Do not shy away from mixing as many as these amazing finds together as you can.  It's the holidays!  Go Glittery! (p.s. I need to find a holiday party asap to wear these amazing things... scratch that, I need to find a job so that I can buy these things...)

Gem-Laden Snood (circle scarf) from J.Crew $99

Glitter Jacquard Ballet Flats from J.Crew $188 (gold)

Disco Sequined Silk-Chiffon Jacket by J.Crew from Net-A-Porter $495

Sequined crept T-shirt by Vince, from Net-A-Porter: $295

DAY Birger et Mikkelsen Night Sparkling sequin-embellished silk waistcoat $355

D&G Sequin-embellished crepe mini at Net-A-Porter $375

(...and this is exactly what I was looking for to wear to law prom.  Why, oh why am I always a season early with my ideas?)

Antik Batik Pop Sequined chiffon dress at Net-A-Porter $625

(I LOVE LOVE LOVE this... paired with some opaque tights and booties and a sequined hair bow)

Halston Heritage Metallic ruched jersey gown at Net-A-Porter $475

Falling Snowflakes Necklace from Ann Taylor $138

...in other news, I'm an official licensed Texas attorney... scary and exciting all at the same time!  Now I'm just waiting for a prosecutor position to open up somewhere (read anywhere) in Texas.

Halloween Fashion Pt. II

I realized this morning that I hinted at my halloween costume for this year in previous posts, but never updated you darling readers on the final project...  I was the Tea-Party!  My other favorite thing about halloween (aside from the fashion-bonanza) is that it falls on the weekend before general elections.  And politicians never fail to provide fodder for costume.  In fact, while at a bar in Austin over halloween weekend, I ran into another 'Tea-Party'.  Kid. You. Not.  His costume was... okay... but he definitaly did not allow his costume to consume his entire week-before-halloween like I did.  Without further ado, here's the masterpiece...

Sadly, some of these people won their races...

Until next halloween, stay creative and stay political!

Christmas List

Having received the best present of my entire life this past week (Passing the Texas Bar Exam!), I'm fully aware I don't really "need" anything else.  But, with the almost-insane amount of holiday cheer abundant everywhere, I can't but help make my yearly Christmas-list.  I'm aware that my list will not come close to Oprah's favorite things, or Ellen's 12-days, but these things are on my wish-list for 2010:

I promise I'm not being a brat... My mother requests lists from my sisters and I every year... alright, I guess they don't have to be in PDF format...  Happy (Early-Beginning) Holidays!

Halloween Fashion

Halloween might just be my favorite fashion holiday of the year.  "Fashion holiday?" you may ask.  Yes, Fashion holiday.  Compared to Spring and Fall runway weeks, and the mullings over of various outfits to wear to new year's celebrations, birthdays, and holidays, Halloween by far takes the cake of the best fashion holiday EVER.  This year, however, I'm cutting it close.  Real Close.
Last year, I worked for weeks on the beloved, and amazing Mr. Peanut Costume:

This year, I'm contemplating two equally as perfect tea-party themed costumes.  One political, and one that is perfectly timeless.  Sigh... the CHOICES!!!  For awhile I had planned on going as Christine O'Donnell a.k.a. "not-a-witch."  I decided that it wasn't "global" enough for people to get, and believe-you-me after the Mary-Kate Olsen/Derelicte debacle of 2008, I vowed never to go down that path again.  So, that's really the purpose of this post, to talk about how I am struggling between two halloween costumes and how I only have 4 days left to make the one I choose (I should note now, that as of a young age, I have been raised that Emersons make our costumes.  This is evidenced by the handmade duck, Miss Piggy, Kermit, Princess riding a horse, "live" Painting, and artist costumes my sisters and I have worn over the years).  Regardless of which I choose, I cannot wait to spend it with dear friends in Austin!  What are you wearing this year?

Swooning for Accessories

In my fashion blog posts, I focus mainly on clothing and shoes.  But today, in this post, I focus on accessories... Not just any accessories:  today the accessories will be amazingly elegant and quite extravagant accessories.  And, accessories that no one really needs.  But, isn't that what makes them so spectacularly amazing?  I can accept that I will never own some of these- but, oh how easy it is to swoon:

Jean Schlumberger 'Bird on a Rock' Aquamarine brooch: $79,000 at Tiffany & Co.

Nancy Gonzalez Crocodile iPhone Case: $325 at Net-A-Porter

Lanvin Tassell keyfob: $275 at Net-A-Porter

Smythson Deluxe Leather Jewelry Box: $3210 at Net-A-Porter

Louis Vuitton (Obvi) Cover Bloc A4: $655 at Louis Vuitton

Crane Scales of Justice Correspondence Cards: $34 at Crane

Tiffany & Co. Business Card Holder in Sterling: $295 at Tiffany

Fashion Sunday.

To me, fall is, and always will be, about tradition.  It's the season where the color palette never changes from red, orange, and gold.  It's the season of homecomings and holidays and football.  It's the season of warmth and of magic.  And, I'm getting a bit too nostalgic.  I'm not sure whether it was the arrival of the Brooks Brothers catalog or my new glasses, or the ever-so-slight change in weather, but my mind has been dancing with thoughts of fall fashion classics...

like my new Wayfarer glasses (I'm incredibly in love with them and they make the scary of my missing corneal cells disappear with their coolness)

Mulberry Bayswater Tote in Oak Natural Leather: $950 at Mulberry

Movado 'Museum Classic' Black Leather Strap Watch

Willliams-Sonoma Home, Red and Ivory Plaid Cashmere Throw: $298 at Williams-Sonoma Home

Burberry Checked Wool-Crepe Shirt Dress: $425 at Net-A-Porter

Burberry Cotton-Twill Trench Coat: $1395 at Net-A-Porter

Many other, beautiful Trench Coats at the Burberry Website

The Frye Company's Jane Stitch Boot, a slightly different take on the legendary Campus Boot:

$298 at The Frye Company Website

And, of course, all the above things are even sweeter (er, nicer) with a Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte.  Who do I need to call to get this a year-round drink?  No, seriously, I always want one of these when they are not "in season"

Canton, TX

For many of us who grew up in the Dallas area, Canton, TX was a place where our mothers often escaped on the weekends for the "world-famous" First Monday Trade Days.  For me, Canton, TX was a place where the whole family went.  I remember trips that were unbearably hot.  I remember begging for a sausage-on-a-stick (one of the many culinary delights available at the trade days).  And I remember the feeling that days at Canton would never end (It is undeniably the Smithsonian of trade days/flea markets).  "Canton" is a gigantic conglomeration of people selling antiques, crafts, and junk.  This past weekend, the roommates and I headed east on a beautiful Texas morning to find treasures.  It turned out to be a bit warmer than we thought and extremely more crowded.  Canton is truly an overwhelming undertaking, but afforded some good times and great finds.  Here's some pics from the day:

(we ended up getting the office chair on the far right- truly amazing)

baubles and beads and bags

awesome light hangings

"junk"

I should have bought that sign...

Fashion Sunday: Shoes

Only 5 more weeks until bar results.  Yikes.  But, instead of dwelling upon November 5th and the significance of that date, I will think about shoes.  Shoes have never steered me wrong (ha).  In fact, shoes have brought great happiness in times of testing anxieties (see my May posts).  Today the focus is on shoes fit for my intern schedule, i.e. shoes that can go from days of standing to days of sitting and from days of driving downtown to days commuting on the train (with much walking involved).  Additionally, the shoes have to be black (or in the black family).  So with all those qualities in mind, I peruse the interweb:

Christian Louboutin Simple 70 Leather Pumps: $595

If only my intern salary (ha!) allowed for these.  This may very well be my first purchase after getting a job.  Swoon.

Same goes for these, below:

Jimmy Choo Gilbert Leather Pumps: $495

YES! these are women's shoes.  I'm loving the patent oxford look.  These are by Church's;

Patent Burwood brogues: $425

Cole Haan Air Swan Oxford Pump, found here: $225

Nine West Roothy Black Patent Oxford Pumps, found here: $79

Coach Adra Heel $168

I usually swoon for Coach heels, but these are the only ones I would contemplate buying from their current line.  Shame- they fit so well.

Tory Burch 'Amy' Pump in black: $250

Salvatore Ferragamo Femy Low Heels: $524

...and, a shoe to truly dream about and save one's pennies for:

Manolo Blahnik Patent Leather Mary Janes: $645

for real Swoon.