I love a sale as much as the next girl, but even I wasn't brave enough to face the crowds this weekend. Instead, I am getting up bright and early Monday morning and shopping from by bed in PJ's. Did anyone find any deals worth mentioning on Black Friday?
Rumor has it that the deals on Cyber Monday are even better than those on Black Friday.
Here's Hoping!!
These are the best online sales and deals that I have found so far.
Well, the Thanksgiving holiday weekend is coming to an end and it is back to work and school. Before I move into Christmas decor mode, I wanted to share some pictures of the Thanksgiving decor at my grandmothers house. She is quite holiday obsessed and insists on decorating all of the rooms in her home that are visible to her many lunch and dinner guests.
This is the overall view of my grandmother's dining room table. The table seats 12, and sadly, that isn't enough room most of the time. She has a second, long table that she sets up on holidays that acts as the "kids" table. Yes, I am still at the kids table. My brother has been married for 10 years and he is still at the kids table.
Instead of lighting a fire, my grandmother lit a variety of fall-colored candles and added in some large pine cones for a cozy, fall feeling without the smoke and soot.
Fresh flowers in pretty red, orange and yellow.
Mixed in with the flowers were white pillar candles surrounded by cranberries. The bittersweet that surrounds the vase is a favorite of Nonnie's and she uses it throughout the fall season.
A wreath on the wall of the dining room. I think she has a wreath for each of the four seasons. I will take a picture of the winter one when it goes up in a few weeks.
My aunt is very crafty and has made place cards for my grandmother for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. You can barely see it, but my name is written out in gold ink. I'm jealous of my aunt's amazing penmanship.
This is the Thanksgiving set-up that sits above my Grandmother's sink in her kitchen. This will soon be changing to her Christmas village scene. This is something she started doing because her grandchildren loved looked at the lights. I remember as a child, my she would pick me up and lean me over the sink so I could get a better look at the display.
The view from the front door. One of these was hanging from each of the front doors. Very simple and classic, plus I think these can be kept and used again, which is always nice.
My grandmother's holiday dinner's would not be able to happen if it weren't for her extra freezer's and large pantry. Because these things are a rarity outside of large Italian families, I decided to share a short video of my grandmother's extensive food supply.
Crazy Right??
Tune in again in December where I will feature a post on Nonnie's Christmas decor. Wait till you see the tree! I don't know how my grandfather gets it into the house each year.
If I am not at my grandmother's house, I am at Mom & Dad's. Where do you spend the Holidays? Did anyone travel long distances?
Thanksgiving has come and gone, but there is still plenty of food to eat. If you're like me, and would rather be at home eating leftover pie and pilgrim sandwiches then shopping at the mall, then you are always looking for new ways to use up your leftover turkey and side dishes.
I got up early and did some research to find the best leftover recipes.
P.S. Yes, it is totally acceptable to spend the day after Thanksgiving in sweat pants. Why bother putting on a tight pair of pants when you are going to spend the day eating anyway?
I have been getting emails all week about the Thanksgiving & Black Friday sales and I wanted to share some of the best ones.
I prefer to shop online because I find the Black Friday crowds to be kind of scary. If you are brave enough to head to the mall, Good Luck and Happy Shopping!
Coach Factory
30% off your entire purchase in-store
J. Crew Factory
Up to 50% off in-store on Black Friday
Ann Taylor
40% off all full priced items in-store and online
Banana Republic
40% off select styles in-store and online, now through Thursday
Gap
60% off everything in-store and online through Saturday
Ralph Lauren
Through Monday, take an additional 25% off all sale prices online
Whenever I go away for an overnight or weekend, I always struggle to decide what piece of luggage to take with me. My small roller suitcase is way too much, even for a chronic over packer like me.
I realized that I needed to invest in a large weekend tote bag, that isn't as large as a suitcase, but larger then my everyday work tote.
I've searched around and found many great options.
After narrowing it down to the four bags above, I have decided to get both the L.L. Bean tote and the Longchamp tote. I couldn't choose between the two, and I love the Bean tote for summer time. It's better to have two anyway. With my over packing, i'll likely end up taking both bags for a weekend trip.
Thanksgiving is less than a week away and its time to narrow down the pie options.
My mother and paternal grandmother have always been pie bakers and for Thanksgiving they usually stick to the classics like Pumpkin and Apple.
My maternal grandmother, although an excellent cook, would have rather been anywhere except the kitchen. When it came to holiday pies, she always knew the best places to order one. Although she featured apple and pumpkin pie, her favorites were pecan, lemon meringue and anything else that struck her fancy. It didn't matter if it was appropriate for Thanksgiving or not.
In honor of my mother and grandmothers, I thought I would share some great pie recipes that will suit all tastes.
I am a huge fan of classic pies, especially my mothers apple pie, but I like to add in some different options like the peanut butter pie or the key lime pie. I like to have these because they are less pie-like than the more popular Thanksgiving options. These are great for non-pie eaters or children who are picky eaters.
Three More Pie Tips
I know that everyone likes to make their own pie dough, but not everyone has the time. Pillsbury ready-made pie dough is very good and super easy. Just defrost, roll out and you're ready to go.
If you are into pie and romantic comedies, rent the movie Waitress starring Keri Russel. It is a very sweet movie about a girl who happens to make amazing pies. I highly recommend it.
Don't forget the vanilla ice cream! For some people (like me), apple pie cannot be consumed without it.
Thanksgiving is a holiday that is usually all about food, rather than table decor, but there are so many great fall colors that can be incorporated into a Thanksgiving tablescape.
Some of my favorite items to decorate my table are:
Goards
Mini Pumpkins
Bittersweet
Fall Themed Candles
Some people have special Thanksgiving china that they pull out each year. I prefer to stick with my white china from Wedgewood and use tablecloth's, runners, and cloth napkins for pops of color.
Your table can be as simple or elaborate as you like. If you have a crowded table, a great option is to lay down a table runner, place a small floral centerpiece in the middle and add a fall-colored taper on either side.
I like polish the silver, wash the dishes and set my table the day before Thanksgiving so that on the day itself, I have one less thing to worry about.
Here are some great Thanksgiving tablescapes to help inspire you as you plan your own table.
I know that if don't have experience with entertaining, or if it's your first time hosting, creating these table set-ups can be kind of scary. No need to freak out! Sometimes less is more and all you need are some pumpkins and fall-colored votive's in the middle of the table. If you are like me, and entertaining means "go big or go home,"but you are at a total loss on how to decorate your table, then just do what I do in a pinch. Copy something from pinterest! There are thousands of pictures of tablescapes that you can easily copy, gourde for gourde, candle for candle. Just make sure you find a good photo that shows the entire table set-up. Good Luck & Happy Thanksgiving!
My love of tea comes from my mother, who has been a lifelong tea drinker. As a small child, I remember asking my mom for tea and asking her to put it in a sippy cup with one ice cube so that I could drink it with out burning my mouth.
Since I don't drink coffee, tea has become my key source of caffeine, but I would drink it even without caffeine. I find tea to be incredibly soothing, and I never drink less than two cups per day.
Another tea bonus is that it goes so well with my a couple of my other favorite things: cookies and pastry. This is where making time to enjoy a formal tea comes in.
I don't often have the time to visit a tea house or restaurant and sit and enjoy a formal tea because I'm so busy with work and school, but I make a point to go about four times a year to my favorite tea spots.
I usually go with my Mom, sisters or a close friend because we have the opportunity to sit for a while and catch up while we enjoy the tea service. A formal tea never rushed and you have plenty of time to enjoy the tea sandwiches, pastry and, of course, tea. There are plenty of places in the Boston area that offer lovely formal teas. Here are a few of my favorite places: The Bristol Lounge at the Four Seasons
They have a great selection of teas to choose from and they offer two different types of tea, the Four Seasons Tea, and The Royal Tea. I like The Royal Tea because it involves champagne, which I am always in favor of. High Tea in the French Room at the Taj Hotel
The French Room is such a pretty room and they have an extensive tea menu and all kinds of tea-appropriate cocktails, sherries and aperitifs. There is something for everyone here, and I was to take a man to tea, this would be the place. Afternoon Tea at the Boston Harbor Hotel
The water views from the restaurant inside this hotel are amazing, and that alone is reason enough to check it out. They hotel is very popular for weddings and they do a lot of bridal party teas. The set-ups are lovely and often feature rose petals and champagne. Afternoon Tea at the Wenham Tea House
This tea house, located on Boston's north shore, is a favorite of my mother's and one of the oldest tea houses in the country. They offer formal afternoon tea service or a la carte tea, where you can pick and choose the items you like. Tips for Taking Tea Make sure to make reservation ahead of time. Most places only make enough pastry and sandwiches to accommodate their reservations and may not accept walk-ins. Check to see if their is a dress code. Some places are more casual than others and you don't want to feel out of place. If you are unsure if their is a dress code, the safest bet it to avoid wearing jeans. Pants and a nice top will work almost anywhere. Call ahead if you have allergies. Many items on a tea menu could pose problems if you have allergies or dietary restrictions. Most places will be happy to accommodate special requests if you give them 24 hours notice. Does anyone have a favorite place where they go for tea? I have never been for Tea at the Ritz on Avery Street. It seems a bit modern over there, which isn't my style. If someone has been, please share. I am interested to know what it was like.
Everyone has those days when nothing is going right, and sometimes we take our frustrations out on other people.
But....
You're bad mood isn't an excuse for forgetting your please's and thank you's and good manners aren't just for the days when you feel like being nice.
Bloggers note: I know that some people think that things like manners & etiquette don't matter any more but I completely disagree!! The people that think that way are the jerks who can't get off their cell phone long enough to say hello to the person at the check-out counter. I know you are busy, tired and have "more important" things to do, but please, be kind enough to remove your phone from your ear and have a human interaction with someone once and a while. Maybe if you did, people like me wouldn't have to create blog posts about how to be a decent person.
Does anyone know where you can find the rest of the Laws of Modern Women? I found this one on Pinterest and I am interested in reading the rest of them. Thanks!
I have always loved monograms because I am crazy about the idea of personalizing something. When something is monogrammed, it shows that someone took the time and effort to make it special.
There are so many monogram styles to choose from, but I prefer to keep things classic and traditional because monogramed items are meant to be saved and, hopefully, passed on to future generations. It's a lot like dated wedding photos. That blue tux was stylish at the time, but 25 years later, not so much. Best to keep things classic.
Although I love monograms, there are some items that I don't like to see monogramed because I feel like it's a bit much.
Some items include:
Plastic or Acrylic Cups
Every single one of your picture frames (one is enough!)
Men's shirts (when the monogram is visible). Do you need it to remember your name?
Plastic monogrammed necklaces. If you want a monogrammed necklace, invest in a gold or silver one. It looks so much nicer.
Does anyone else feel like certain things shouldn't be monogrammed or am I being harsh?
There are several methods that can be used to monogram something, and the right method depends on the item you want to monogram.
Some methods include engraving, etching, debossing and embroidering.
You can learn more about these methods from the nice people over at Pottery Barn.
If you are unsure about creating a monogram for yourself or someone else (an engraved wedding gift is very thoughtful!) check out Little Miss Monogram Shop for some helpful hints.
I am always on the lookout for great places that monogram, so please post a link to your favorite boutique or online store in the comments section.
