Today on Weekend Meanderings all things holiday from brooches to party punch, and a veggie beef farro soup recipe that’s delicious, nutritious and easy to make during this busy time of year.
Welcome friends!
It’s Saturday and I’m joining Kim and Elizabeth for our weekend roundup.
All manner of inspiration and goings on.
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It’s on.
The holidays I mean.
Do I need to say it?
Don’t let over-the-top expectations (your own),
to do lists and Instagram posts
make you frantic, stressed or feeling like you’re not keeping up.
No one lives like an Instagram post.
No one.
Lower (your) expectations, keep it simple and do what you want to do and realistically can.
It’s enough.
That said, let’s talk the holidays.
BLING IT WITH BROOCHES
Earlier in the week I met up with Kim and Elizabeth to share our love of holiday bling in the form of pins and brooches.
Kim shared all kinds of fun ways to wear brooches and pins during the holiday season. And Elizabeth showed us 15 creative ways to wear brooches … so clever.
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- Northern California Style
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- Pinecones and Acorns
Spot light on Fleurette 1949 ~
By the way, I got as many questions and comments about my winter coats as I did about wearing brooches. So let’s discuss.
Both coats are by Fleurette and many years old. If you’re not familiar Fleurette is a 70+ year old Los Angeles based brand. Their hand-finished coats are made with Loro Piana wool and cashmere. Fancy. They’re on the pricier side. But as I said, mine are many years old and will probably last forever so I’d say they’re a good investment. Searching resale sites like The Real Real, Poshmark, eBay may turn up some great deals.
A few Fleurette styles at Nordstrom ~
GUMPS CATALOG
The arrival of Gump’s holiday catalog signals the beginning of the holiday season for me. Are you familiar with Gumps? The 160 year old San Francisco department store is truly an institution for San Franciscan’s and everyone around the Bay. And Christmas is Gumps time to shine. My mom loved Gumps, especially their holiday catalog, so when it lands in my mailbox I know it’s officially the holiday season. Known for their beautiful homewares, jewelry, gifting options and, of course, stunning holiday decor looking through the catalog and website is like getting swept into an old, glamourous Hollywood movie. Of course I want everything single thing. Take a stroll through Gumps website and get ready to swoon.
Gumps is traditional, inspirational and aspirational and makes me think of my mom who loved Christmas and pouring over the Gumps holiday catalog. Occasionally we made the December trek to the San Francisco store to see the decorations and be lookieloos. We had to be properly dressed and on our best behavior. Maybe Jim and I will pay a visit this year.
Gumps
NO. 10 CAT
These photos of Larry the Cat, the British Cabinet’s Chief Mouser, showing off 10 Downing Streets holiday decor made me smile. I love animal content. And Larry’s Twitter – or whatever we’re calling it now – @Number10cat is a bright spot in the platforms cesspool of horror. Photojournalist Justin Ng doggedly covers Larry’s comings and goings and shares cute videos of protection service officers knocking on the door to notify Cabinet staff when Larry is ready to come inside. As it appears he does in this photo.
Image @imageplotter
Larry, a 15-year old tabby, likes to remind his audience that he’s been in office longer than any of the previous five Prime Ministers who serve him.
Image @PoliticalPics
VEGETABLE BEEF & FARRO SOUP
Having a pot of soup on the stove is always a good idea. Never more so than this time of year, when it’s cold, we’re rushed and in need of a comforting meal. I could eat soup for lunch and dinner everyday. The addition of a salad and roll or chunk of bread makes it a meal. Fortunately for me Jim feels the same way. I like to make a big pot of soup on Sunday’s then portion it out to keep in the fridge or freezer so we always have an easy meal option on a busy day.
By the way, you can find my super cozy lounge set here.
I love farro and a couple of weeks ago I googled ‘veggie beef soup with farro’ and came up with this recipe. It’s delicious. It calls for braising the beef which isn’t something I’ve done before, and does take additional time, but makes a huge difference in the tenderness of the beef. Sorry the photo isn’t great, the soup was piping hot with steam rising.
CRANBERRY TEQUILA PUNCH
My Cranberry Tequila Punch post from a few of years ago is trending and that can only mean one thing. Holiday parties! If you’re looking for a fun, festive batch cocktail they’re just the thing.
Speaking of cocktails, we enjoyed some holiday cheer last night tasting through the holiday cocktail collection with my Bartesian Cocktail Machine. Fa la la la la!
Odds & Socks ~
Last week I shared a roundup of utility jackets but neglected to include this great option from Alex Mill.
And this week I ordered my first pair of Birdies. So many women I know swear by them. I plan to wear them to a couple of holiday parties, I’m so over heels, and decided to go with this shimmery pair.
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.
And if you’re still shopping for holiday gifts I have a few ideas.
I always love to hear from you, so leave a comment below.
Cheers from Snowberry!
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