Thanksgiving Time Lapse

No matter how you celebrate, it's all a big foodie blur in the end, isn't it?  Enjoy, and please travel safely!

Cheers,
Whitney

Festive Fall Favor

I recently wrapped up this fun little gift for my bestest gal in the whole world, my Ma, and took some photos as I wrapped up the fun little package.  I think it would be a lovely gift for any host, especially this week as many of us are guests in others' home for the Thanksgiving holiday.  One of the easiest holiday hostess gifts is a bottle of alcohol or a potted plant, but sometimes it's nice to get out of the expected, ordinary favor train.

First, find yourself a vintage or antique nutcracker.  Not the Christmas soldier type, but a solid metal nutcracker.  These can be found vintage on eBay or Etsy or in thrift stores everywhere.  They're very clever hostess gifts, as nutcrackers seem to create many handy uses for themselves besides cracking nut shells.

The nutcracker gift I chose for my dog-lovin' recipient.  Lift his tail and crack nuts in his mouth! 

I found this one, an iron dog, on Etsy; I like that he's a little worn & vintage-y.  I had seen a similar one in the Neiman Marcus Holiday Gift catalog many years ago, and have been keeping a subconscious eye out for something similar ever since. 

Pretty ribbon and a small card serve as accessories to this favor

SHELLED NUTS!  L-R: Pecans, Hazelnuts, Walnuts



My gift was being sent in the mail, so I used the nuts as packing material!

  

I tied one end of my ribbon around the doggie nutcracker

And buried him in the nuts!



The other end of the ribbon tied to the card, wishing my wonderful recipient a Happy Thanksgiving!

 Depending on how much you spend on the nutcraker, this can be a very, very inexpensive gift with lots of impact.  If I was bringing this directly to the home of my hostess, I'd nestle the nutcracker with shelled nuts in a pretty basket, decorated with fabric ribbon and maybe some pretty fresh herbs tucked into the crevices of the nuts. 

Happy cracking!
Cheers,
Whitney

Apps and Apps

APPS!
If you're hosting the Turkey feast this week, or if you're a guest, you may need to have some great appetizer recipes at the ready.  Even though Thanksgiving dinner is typically huge, many folks make a marathon out of the eating, complete with apps earlier in the day to kick off the celebration.

For Thanksgiving, especially, I think appetizers should be super easy and nearly idiot-proof.  If you're the hostess, your kitchen is packed with all the meal prep and you don't need to be fretting over a platter of high-maintenance hors d'oeuvres.  If you're a guest who was told to bring an appetizer, you need something that can travel well and won't need any attention in your hostess' kitchen upon arrival. 

Dates Stacks

image via Lola Lobato

Slice dates in half lengthwise.
Sandwich in beween each halves a piece of walnut and a small slice of your favorite cheese (bleu is great, as is a creamy manchego!)
Stick a toothpick through the stack, or tidily pack on a dish with fresh herbs as garnish.  


Onion Mushroom Gruyere Tartlets

image via BrownEyedBaker

Caramelize 1 thinly sliced onion in butter over medium heat, adding thinkly sliced mushrooms, garlic and thyme after 20 minutes.
Unfold thawed sheets of puff pastry and cut out circles from the dough, placing them evenly spaced on baking sheet.
Dollop each round with the onion mushroom mixture, leaving a small border around the edge of each round.
Top each round with shredded Gruyere cheese, and brush the edges of the dough rounds with the egg wash.
Bake at 400 until the pastry is golden brown, about 15 to 25 minutes. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley. Serve warm or room temperature.


Insalata Caprese On A Stick

image via Pinmarklet

Use long, stylish food picks to layer mozzarella balls (use the pre-marinated ones), two leaves fresh basil and cherry tomatoes. 
Arrange all finished sticks on a platter, drizzle with extra virgin olive oil.  Serve chilled.


Honey Walnut & Brie Tartlets

image via Joelen

Use prepared phyllo shells to fill with a heaping chunk of soft brie cheese.
Drizzle with honey and top with toasted crumbled walnuts.
Serve immediately!




APPS DUEX!
Let's talk about some awesome design-related iPhone applications.  For one, the app that Schumacher finally launched!  This is helpful app seems to be designed in the same style of the Kravet & Lee Jofa apps.  To the point, easy and full of inspiring photos.




Speaking of inspiring photos, have you downloaded the Remodelista app?!  Similar to the ever-popular Houzz app, this site's endless supply of fantastic photos will keep you busy and entertained on your iPhone.  via Remodelista.com/app

Lastly, give yourself the treat of the Design Icon app.  If you're a fan of midcentury modern design and love name-dropping your Breuers, Bertoias and Jacobsens, this is the app for you.  Part pop-quiz, part design lesson, the Design Icon app tests your knowledge of designer's product names, and design eras.  Currently there are apps for Iconic Chairs and Iconic Lighting, as well as a fun one on typography!  Lots of fun and sometimes a great challenge! via failforwards.eu

Happy App-ing!
Cheers,
Whitney

What a Week!

It's Thanksgiving Week! A short work week for many... A stressful travel week for some... A frantic cooking week for others. No matter how your week is planned, try to take a minute and enjoy yourself amidst the chaos. Treat yourself to this scrumptious cocktail creation from the stylish brilliance of Leaf:


The Tipsy Turkey Thanksgiving Cocktail

Cheers! Whitney

TONIGHT: Design Night on Carnegie Hill

If you're in the NYC area tonight, make your way uptown to the Design Night on Carnegie Hill, hosted by a grouping of upper Madison Avenue antique & décor shops. 

Dealers will be keeping their doors open late for a community night of shopping, socializing and admiring their truly spectacular home décor and fine antiques.  I'll be at Flessas Design most of the night, so please come stop by to browse, shop, have a glass of wine and mingle.  Also participating are Good Design, Buck House, Gerald Bland, Carnegie Hill Antiques and Linda Horn.  See you there!

Cheers,
Whitney

Serving Up Our Flag

Do you have plans to entertain for the holiday?  Or maybe you're a guest somewhere and would like to arrive with something succulent & fetive as a hostess gift.  You can't go wrong with theme-y food, epecially on this holiday.  Everybody's in the spirit, everyone's hungry, and your options abound for things to bring.  Red & blue fruits are easy to come by, and you can get clever and creative, with presentation on a pastry or sweet treat.  Or just go semi-homemade and still win accolades; like the pretzel sparklers!

Melt some semi-sweet chocolate chips in a bowl.  Dip the pretzel rods in the warm chocolate, then into fetive toppings!

All images via Pinterest.  Check out my pins here.

One of my favorite omg-it-looks-so-fancy-but-ha-ha-ha-you-won't-ever-guess-how-freakin-easy-it-was recipes is here.  I'm making one this weekend and bringing to my hostess.  Hint: spike the whipped topping with vanilla extract and lemon zest to make it taste less, uh, fake. Or, better yet, whip up some realy thick cream yourself!

Cheers,
Whitney

Feeling Red White & Blue

Getting ready for your Independence Day?  My Pinterest account is overflowing with red, white and blue images, evoking the charming spirit of this summer holiday.  I love this land of mine!

via Emmersonmade

Victorian painted ladies

All images via Pinterest.  Check out my pins here.

Feeling patriotic, and lovin' it.

Cheers,
Whitney

Happy Father's Day



my awesome dad and me.  Check out Spot the horse eyeballing the camera.  photo by my husband



Let's Go Glamping

For many, camping is one of the best parts of enjoying summer's weather.  For others, living outdoors is an inconvenient and upsetting activity.  But the travel industry figured out how to make camping bearable for even the most high-maintenance of divas: Glamping, baby.  Safaris and outdoor resorts have taken the 'tent' and turned it into a small showhouse of design with rugs, luxury textiles, and furniture, some even with electricity.

This is really an outdoor room than a tent, no? via Marie Claire Maison

Stunning.  Clayoquot Wilderness Resort via heirloomphilosophy

Teepee! via ShannonEileenblog

This is serious GLAMPING. Paws up in Montana!

via StyleSwoon

via Architectural Digest

 But if an exotic vacation is out of the question this summer, try glamping at home!  

Tent up an outdoor party!  via Giver's Log

Set up the tent in your backyard and bring some furniture & linens.  via Tumblr

via Victoria's Vintage

via InsatiablyCurious by flipthroughit, 

Or if the weather refuses to participate, and summer rains squash your glamping plans, bring the tent inside.  The kiddies especially love this.

from 'The Holiday' film

via Tumblr

How romantic!  via Dirty Pretty Thing

Cheers!
Whitney