Today on Weekend Meanderings it’s all about cozy elegance with my Thanksgiving tablescape, comfortable (and affordable) cashmere, and a premium cocktail maker that will turn your holiday entertaining into a blissful breeze. I’m also sharing a heartwarming book and my latest adventures in life coaching.
Happy weekend, friends!
It’s Saturday and Veteran’s Day.
I’m joining Kim and Elizabeth for our weekend roundup of inspiration and fun.
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It’s cozy elegance season and our library room is back in business.
It has such a fall winter vibe.
I’ve been enjoying my morning cocoa in here all week.
THANKSGIVING TABLE
This week I played around with a simple Thanksgiving table setting. I needed pillar candles so I stopped in Pottery Barn and all of their autumn and Thanksgiving merchandise has been completely shoved aside for Christmas. Thankfully (pun intended) Thanksgiving things are still available online … and there’s time. So in the unlikely event you didn’t plan your Thanksgiving table back in July, this might give you a couple of quick and easy ideas.
As far as table settings are concerned one cannot have too many layers. To start things off I bought a neutral table runner, it works for all seasons. Next up, woven placemats and basketweave pattern porcelain chargers (these are similar), recently purchased cabbage dinner plates and cute little pumpkin themed appetizer dishes (you can find the same pattern salad plates here). I’m using ivory colored flatware (similar) along with brick colored, frayed edge napkins pulled through wheat sprig napkins rings. And finally glassware, Heartland goblets and Moroccan recycled glass tumblers.
Shop My Thanksgiving Table ~
For a centerpiece I kept my fern on the table in it’s chevron patterned planter (similar planters here, here and here), added a couple of pillar candleholders and 3″x3″ unscented, white candles (I debated using ivory candles … these are the weighty matters I grapple with), and a glass pumpkin trio set I bought in Sonoma 20 years ago. I keep breaking the stems, and Jim keeps supergluing them back on. A few fun options here, here, here and here.
Shop My Simple Thanksgiving Centerpiece ~
Jim and I are on our own for Thanksgiving this year. I can’t decide whether to make a small turkey, a turkey breast or toss tradition out the window and opt for a favorite chicken dish. I’m leaning toward the chicken. The more important decision is dessert. I love Pillsbury’s Classic Cookbook recipe for Pumpkin Pie with Coriander Sauce (see below) and also Pioneer Woman’s rustic apple pie with easy caramel sauce. Maybe both. Since it’s just us I can wear my eating pants comfortable clothes and dig in with abandon.
I’ve been sipping my morning cocoa in these cute pumpkin mugs. And they’re the perfect size for a Thanksgiving soup course. I shared a favorite vegetable chowder recipe here that I love as a Thanksgiving starter.
THE BARTESIAN COCKTAIL MAKER
With Thanksgiving just 12 days away and Christmas … and New Year’s … around the corner, it’s officially the holiday entertaining season. Apparently my cocktail loving reputation precedes me because Bartesian reached out and offered to send me their Cocktail Maker which is an entertainers dream machine.
Last night was cocktail night at Snowberry and Jim and I tested out a couple of classic cocktails which are holiday party favorites. A Whiskey Sour for Jim and a Cosmopolitan for me … watch my Instagram Reel here.
After receiving the Bartesian Cocktail Maker and drink capsules, I decided to upgrade our ice cube making situation and ordered Bartesian’s clear cube and clear sphere large format ice makers. In addition to all kinds of classic cocktails, Bartesian is offering holiday cocktail capsule collections, including the 12 Days of Bartesian advent calendar! I’ll be making them all over the next few weeks so keep your eyes peeled to my Instagram. Better yet, get yourself a Bartesian Cocktail Maker. Or gift one to a cocktail loving friend.
QUINCE $50 CASHMERE
It seems that everyone’s talking about the Quince $50 cashmere sweater. So I did what bloggers do and did my research … ahem, ordered myself a sweater. Here’s the reason everyone’s talking about it. It’s amazing! I’m in love with this sweater. It’s so so soft and comfortable. And it comes in 18 colors … I ordered it in camel.
I wanted to compare the Quince sweater to my J.Crew classic-fit cashmere sweaters. In fairness, my J.Crew sweaters are a couple of years old. J.Crew’s website says they’ve upgraded the quality of their cashmere and it’s now softer. They’ve also upgraded the price. Both sweaters are referred to as ‘relaxed fit.’ I ordered small in both brands and the Quince sweater is a little roomier … which I like. It’s also a tad longer.
Quince $50 Cashmere | J.Crew Classic-Fit Cashmere
HEIRLOOM ROOMS
Erin Napier’s new book, Heirloom Rooms: Soulful Stories of Home, found its way to my doorstep a couple weeks ago. I adore Erin and Ben Napier’s show, Home Town. Filmed in their hometown of Laurel, Mississippi I appreciate their approach to reviving older homes by updating them for today’s lifestyles while holding onto their history and character.
Heirloom Rooms: Soulful Stories of Home
When I curled up in the library to look through the book and read Erin’s essays I was a little surprised when tears began to flow. Erin’s way of describing her upbringing and the way she and Ben are raising their two little girls is so sweet and I dare you to read it without a Kleenex box nearby. In addition to the moving essays, the photography is beautiful, and a little moody, and includes not only the Napier’s home but the homes of their friends and family members. If you haven’t read Erin and Ben’s memoir, Make Something Good Today, I loved it too.
KYM SHOWERS LIFE COACH RETREAT
Last week I traveled to Avila Beach for my second Kym Showers Life Coach retreat. It was even more fabulous than the first retreat last May. It was really great to see old friends again and meet many new ones. All of Kym’s coaching clients are amazing, supportive, encouraging and inspiring woman. If it looks like I’m having fun, I am.
If you’re a woman in mid-life … or a woman at any stage of life … and you’re not listening to Kym’s podcast you’re missing out. Same goes for Kym’s daily dose of encouragement and wisdom on Instagram. Take a peek at a couple videos from the retreat here. It’s not all fun and games, Kym coaches us with her unique wisdom for unleveling our lives no matter our age. And this retreat focused on being everything to ourselves and the more practical matter of planning tomorrow today. Don’t you love that concept? In addition to other fun things in our swag bag, we received a Kym Showers Plan Tomorrow Today planner that’s already made a difference in how I organize my days.
I joined one of Kym’s coaching group nearly a year ago and loved it so much I re-upped for a second 6-month session. A perk of being a Kym Showers coaching client is an invitation to attend one of her now legendary retreats in Avila Beach. If you join her next coaching group, starting in January, you be invited to her retreat in May. And as a new client you’ll also get a couple of one-on-one sessions prior to the group getting underway. If you’re ready to uplevel your life … learn more and sign-up here.
Odds & Socks ~
This week I placed my 2024 LifePlanner order from Erin Condrin. Yes, I still use a paper planner and you can’t stop me.
Speaking of 2024, I pre-ordered my Oscar’s Place Adoption Center & Sanctuary wall calendar too. Oscar’s Place is close to my heart and Jim and I are monthly contributors. You can follow their very cute and fun Instagram here. I harbor a not-so-secret desire to buy a few acres of land so we can adopt and care for a couple of rescue donkey’s. Surprisingly, Jim is onboard so stay tuned and see what happens.
Pottery Barn’s Fall Warehouse Sale is happening now! I’m eyeing the velvet everywhere pillows and decorative terracotta pumpkins.
Current Favorites ~
And that’s what I have for you this week.
Let’s see what’s inspiring Kim and Elizabeth …
If you missed my last post, you can catch up here.
Any thoughts you’d like to share?
I’d love to hear from you in the comments below.
Cheers from Snowberry!
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