Dressed to Entertain: Festive Fête

November 19, 2013 by

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The holidays are really sneaking up on me, Lauren, this year. I’ve yet to plan our annual bash, which is kind of our holiday gift to about 30 local friends, who we invite over for a night of mixing and mingling. Great food, flowing cocktails, festive touches, glowing lights, lots of laughter and general merriment carry on way late into the evening. It’s my favorite night of the year and one I so look forward to, but I never seem to plan ahead!

casual glam holiday outfit | perpetually chic

My holiday excitement really sparked though when I laid eyes on this glittery mermaid skirt at Anthropologie. I mean really, talk about party-perfect! I decided to pair it with a cozy cableknit turtleneck to balance out the glitz of the sequins and give the look a casually glam vibe. Added bonus: It’s stylish but also warm for a cold winter night.

casual glam holiday outfit | perpetually chic

casual glam holiday outfit | perpetually chic

A messy high bun, some jewel-toned accessories (and glassware), and you’re set to shine. Good to keep the rest of the party a bit more minimalistic, with ample whites and some simple greenery. You wouldn’t want to steal any of the sparkle and shine from that glitzy skirt! What festive things will you be wearing this holiday season?

casual glam holiday outfit | perpetually chic

casual glam holiday outfit | perpetually chic

Get the look: J. Crew sweater, Anthropologie skirt, J. Crew bracelet and earrings, Anthropologie flutes | Nate Berkus trays

13 Comments

Nutella Hot Chocolate

November 18, 2013 by

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Growing up I had a horrible after school habit of drinking hot chocolate every single day. I say horrible because this “habit” really signified me plowing through containers of Swiss Miss at an extreme rate, due to the fact that I always doubled the recommended serving in relation to water or milk. Side note, I still do this if I come across the stuff. One packet is just not enough! You know I’m right.

But even though Swiss Miss no longer graces our cupboards, I still love having hot chocolate throughout the chilly season. Last weekend, when we were grabbing coffee with friends, there was a Nutella hot chocolate on the menu. I quickly changed up my standard latte order and got the hot chocolate. After one sip I uttered to Brandon, “OMG I’m making this for the blog.” Yep. I’m that predictable. So here it is, my own version which contains a mere three ingredients and is so simple to make. I can’t believe I didn’t think of this sooner!

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Nutella Hot Chocolate

Serves 2

  • 2 cups of milk (almond or soy will work, too)
  • 1/4 cup of Nutella
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Set a saucepan to medium low heat. Add in 1/2 cup of the milk and the Nutella. Whisk until well combined. Add in the remaining milk and heat until piping hot. Serve with marshmallows or straight up. Note: the ratio is 1 cup of milk to 2 tablespoons of Nutella, so if you’d like to make 3 servings it would be 3 cups of milk and 6 tablespoons of Nutella, and so on.

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Life Lately | November 16th |

November 16, 2013 by

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Morning, friends! I’m just crawling out of bed, now settled on the couch with a hot cup of French roast and some television from the week buzzing in the background. Pure heaven. The birthday celebrations have been flowing around here. Last night I got dinner with girlfriends who made the celebration a bit of a surprise (I love surprises.). Tonight, B and I are getting dinner with old friends at this sweet spot in the West Village. And beyond that, I’ve been extra generous with myself when it comes retail therapy. A little cashmere, some much needed leg warmers, and these pajamas. I’m thinking of throwing in a massage to cap it all off. Good idea, right?

Hope you all are having a fabulous weekend… here are a few funs links from the week:

Ordered these holiday cards from Minted- can’t wait to show you guys the final product!

Sarah makes me want to buy a crop top and twirl.

I loved Joy’s piece on getting some fresh air. I’m really feeling the need to do that this holiday season.

Can’t wait to make these flourless pumpkin spice pancakes.

Just started reading Grain Brain and really re-thinking my diet in relation to my mental health….

DIY plaid holiday napkin rings- so cute.

Becca is making pouches! The wave zip pouch is my fave.

Whipped Bourbon Bacon Whipped Sweet Potatoes. OMG.

A Thanksgiving calculator.

Image by Making Today Beautiful

1 Comment

Hello 28

November 14, 2013 by

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Today is my 28th birthday, and I have say, I’m feeling pretty darn good about it! It seems most people I meet fear the end of their 20s, but frankly, I love inching closer and closer to 30. Life, while stilling having its ups and downs, feels easier. And I don’t mean that in a “I’ve figured it all out” type of way, no no no. Life feels easier because I’m easier on myself. It’s still something I have to work at each and every day, but I thought in the spirit of this milestone I’d share a few things I’ve gotten better at letting go of as of late, and in doing so, ways that make me- overall- a whole lot kinder to myself. [Read more...]

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NYC Eats: Buttermilk Channel

November 13, 2013 by

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I’m so excited to share the next restaurant in my NYC Eats series! This time we headed to Buttermilk Channel in the Carroll Gardens neighborhood of Brooklyn.

I first ventured to Buttermilk Channel a few years back, when my friend Carey insisted we go for their buttermilk fried chicken (naturally). And while the chicken was nothing short of amazing, what brings me back time and again is the way this restaurant feels; it feels like home. Every time I step inside that big deep blue door and am greeted by their sweet staff, I feel at ease. Add in consistently incredible food, and you’ve got one of my favorite restaurants in the entire city. That’s why I was so excited to pay a special visit to the restaurant, snap some beautiful pictures courtsey of my girl Sas, and get to know the brilliant owner and chef behind Buttermilk Channel a little bit more.  [Read more...]

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Introducing Grandiflora

November 12, 2013 by

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You know those people you meet in life that you just click with instantly and you think, goodness, how did I not have them as a friend sooner? That is Erin of House of Earnest to me. Erin was a blog friend turned real life friend (meaning we went from tweeting at each other to meeting in person), who I’ve become more and more thankful to have in my life. We grabbed drinks a few months back when she was swinging through NYC, and she shared something very very exciting with me. She was launching an online home furnishings store. But not just launching the store, the girl was designing the products! I was bursting with excitement. Knowing her style and aesthetic, I knew the products would be nothing short of fabulous and unlike anything currently on the market.

And then the site launched and I was even more impressed. In fact I practically fell off my chair. Would you look at these stuff!!! It’s incredible! Those glasses and that delicious white tassel throw will be mine. I can’t even begin to describe my love for the cowhide stool. Head on over to Grandiflora to check out all the products for yourself, and be sure to throw some love Erin’s way by liking Grandiflora’s Facebook page, and following the shop on Instagram and Twitter. We’ve got to support the small guys!

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Photos by Allie Lehman

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Pumpkin & White Bean Bisque with Manchego Toasts

November 11, 2013 by

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On Saturday Brandon and I did something we hadn’t done in, well, I can’t even tell you how long. We went clothes shopping! Together. In a store. Meaning, not online. We also went clothes shopping in Soho, which if you live in New York, you know is sort of the kiss of death on a Saturday. But is was fun! I rarely clothes shop these days, not for lack of wanting items, simply for lack of time. But earlier this fall I conducted the biggest purge of all time (truly) and now actually have very few things to wear. In fact, if I see you twice in one week, you’ll likely see me wearing the same thing. I’ll most definitely be wearing the same jeans. But maybe (just maybe) in a few weeks you’ll see me in something new, because I’m now in the process of carefully adding new pieces to my wardrobe. The process started on Saturday with this sparkly sweater and wool head wrap from Banana Republic. I’m Christmas card ready!

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Anyway… after our shopping extravaganza, we headed home and holed up inside for a Saturday night on the couch. I made this pumpkin and white bean bisque which, despite the short amount of time it took to prepare, really delivered on flavor. It was actually way better than I expected and will likely take the cake for my favorite soup of the season. This is one you have to make.

Here’s to a great week!

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Pumpkin & White Bean Bisque with Manchego Toasts adapted from Cooking Light

Serves 4

  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 5 cloves garlic, smashed
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons salted butter
  • 1 15 oz can white beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 15 oz can puréed pumpkin
  • 2 1/2 cups low sodium chicken broth
  • 1/3 cup heavy cream
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tsp dried sage
  • 1/4 tsp cumin
  • 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • For the toasts: thinly sliced ciabatta bread, shredded Manchego cheese, olive oil
  • fresh thyme for garnish (optional)

Set a heavy bottomed pot to medium heat. Add the butter, onion, and garlic to the pan and sauté for 8-10 minutes until softened. Add the sage and cumin, and stir to combine. Add 1/2 cup of the chicken broth and heat for a few more minutes, scraping any brown bits off the bottom of the pot.

Move onion mixture to a blender. Add in beans, pumpkin, and remaining chicken broth. If this is too much liquid, do it in batches. Purée until very smooth. Once puréed, return onion, pumpkin, and bean mixture to the pot. Add salt and pepper and bring to a simmer. Let soup simmer for 10-15 minutes while you prepare the toasts.

Make the toasts: Set the oven to broil. Place the bread on a baking sheet. Cover generously with cheese, drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with a bit of pepper. Place under the broiler for 2-3 minutes until melted. Watch the toasts closely so they do not burn!

Right before serving, remove the soup from the heat. Stir in the vinegar, and then stir in the heavy cream. Serve with toasts and garnish with fresh thyme if desired.

7 Comments

The Power of Girlfriends

November 8, 2013 by

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With each passing year, I become more and more thankful for my friendships. I’ve been lucky in that every phase of my life, I’ve ended up with a great friend or group of friends that literally feel like family. I’ve got the one friend who I’ve known since I was eight that is practically a sister, the group from college that knows me better than I know myself, the girls I formed strong ties with while working tedious corporate jobs, and finally, the actual friendships I’ve formed through the blog world. They’re the kind of friendships that despite time and distance, remain incredibly strong. I love all these girls, each and every one of them.

But these days, given jobs, priorities, relationships, and schedules, I find it’s incredibly hard to see people in person on a consistent basis- no matter how physically close they are. Do you find that, too?  Sure, phone calls and emails help, but there’s nothing like time together in person. It’s just plain good for the soul.

Before Mexico, it’d been years since I’d spent such solid time with my girlfriends. That’s not to say I don’t see my friends, I usually see at least some of them once a week. But there’s something different about spending a concentrated amount of in person time with good friends. Add in a remote location, and you’ve got pure gold (meaning, true healing power for the soul, at least in my book). The conversations run deep. Really deep. The silliness and laughs are endless. It literally felt giddy on this trip! I mentioned an impromptu dance party in the room one night; there was also a filmed gymnastics session on the beach, an in depth beachside review of body products, and a whole bounty of discussion around relationships, babies, marriage, career, life, and so on. We got into the good stuff.

So yes, a beach vacation in Mexico, obviously that’s relaxing. But what I found, somewhat unexpectedly, was that the time spent with my girlfriends was just as much what I needed out of this trip. In fact, I might have needed it even more. My tan may be fading, but I’m still on a complete high from that impromptu dance party, complete with bathing suits as attire and Ellie Goulding blasting in the background. Yep, that totally happened.

Image by Sarah Wagonner

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Pictures from Tulum

November 7, 2013 by

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I’m so excited to share some pictures from Tulum! It was an incredible trip and I’m trying my hardest to hold on to all the relaxing elements of the vacation. You’ll be pleased to know I fulfilled my goal of not bringing my laptop or looking at my email for four whole days! You know what happened when I did venture into my inbox Tuesday morning? Nothing. The world kept spinning and everything was absolutely fine. Forever searing that lesson into my brain!

But back to the trip. So Tulum itself is located about 90 miles south of Cancun. And in comparison to Cancun, it’s the complete opposite. It’s definitely got a strong bohemian chic vibe. The beach itself is quiet and intimate, with small hotels dotting the coast and people lounging or swimming. [Read more...]

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Citrus Roasted Olives

November 5, 2013 by

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I feel it in my bones, it is that time of year. Largely because it’s cold, and things feel especially cold when you’re no longer in Mexico. But also because my neighborhood grocery store is raffling off a turkey and suddenly my desire to throw holiday gatherings is literally bubbling over. Twinkling lights! Cheese plates! Sparkly accessories! I want it all. Since our home is oh so terribly small, a full on holiday party isn’t really feasible. So instead of having a big fête, I’m planning on doing exactly what I did last year- throwing a handful of intimate dinner parties across the season to welcome friends into our home and stuff them full of food. On the menu will most definitely be these roasted olives, a simple way to kick off dinner and lighten the load of a cheese plate (please tell me I’m not the only one who always overdoes it on the cheese plate!). I really like the look of  a mix of olives, especially those big red ones. Aren’t they festive?

I love a good, simple app around the holidays. Have any recommendations? Let’s dish!

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[Read more...]

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