Today on Weekend Meanderings my holiday table setting, Cara Cara oranges are in season, defining my style with Allison Bornstein’s three word method and shopping local for unique and special gifts.
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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Grandma’s House
Last year for Christmas I bought myself an Epson scanner.
I still haven’t finished my photo scanning project.
But I did figure out how to use it (winning) and scanned some of my most treasured memories.
Like these black and whites from my grandparents house at Christmas.
It was a rare occasion when it snowed and when it did we made the most of it.
With my sister and our snowman. Is that a flower pot on his head?!
I know you’re busy so let’s get into it.
WINTER TABLE SETTING
I’ve put together a simple winter holiday table, very similar to the one I set for Thanksgiving. I picked up these Christmas tree dessert plates at Pottery Barn. They come in a cute, round box that I’ll hold onto for storage.
Other than the dessert plates, I pulled everything else out of my cupboards. Getting the napkins through napkin rings to form bows wasn’t easy and I wrestled with them for quite a while. They’re far from perfect, and I struggled to get the ends even. I should probably just say I meant them to be uneven and leave it at that.
Christmas Eve was my family’s big night of celebration followed by a more low key Christmas Day. I’ve continued that tradition throughout my adult life although we don’t make quite the big to do we once did. In fact, it’s pretty low key. That said, prime rib is always on the menu with mashed potatoes, of course, Ina’s green bean gremolata and Ree Drummond’s buttered rosemary rolls.
Click images to shop ~
SLOW HORSES ON APPLE TV
Do you know about Slow Horses, the British MI5 spy drama starring Gary Oldman, Jack Bowden, Kristen Scott Thomas among others. It’s on Apple TV. The Morning Meeting podcast says it’s the best thing on TV and Jim and I don’t disagree. In fact, we’re enthralled and zipped through the first two seasons, 6 episodes each, in no time. We’ve seen the first four episodes of the current, and third season, but it’s being dribbled out one episode at a time and with the last two episodes coming this Wednesday and next. Maddening. A fourth season is coming!
ALLISON BORNSTEIN WARDROBE CONSULT
On Wednesday I had a long-scheduled virtual wardrobe consult with Allison Bornstein. I’ve talked about Allison a little bit here and mentioned her new book, Wear It Well, several times. I’ll share more about my hour-long consult when I’ve had more time to absorb her sage advice and outfit ideas using pieces I already own. If you’re familiar with Allison’s three-word-method, my words are casual, comfortable, and classic. I can’t tell you how helpful these words are in pulling together outfits from my closet and also for making new purchase decisions. My Alo trousers are a recent purchase that I love but hadn’t figure out how to wear. Allison suggested sneakers and a sweater. When we finished our call I pulled together this look with a basic white tee, gray cashmere sweater and my Addidas Superstars. Then I added a strand of pearls just for fun. I think it checks all the boxes … casual, comfortable and classic. If you’re not already, be sure to follow Allison on Instagram and sign up for her monthly newsletter.
Trousers | T-Shirt | Cashmere Sweater | Addidas Superstars
CARA CARA’S ARE HERE
Last week I mentioned The Sister Market, a family farm in Visalia, California that I learned about from Ina Garten. This week I dispatched several of their wonderful Holiday Gift Boxes. And I was the lucky recipient of one as well. Thank you, Molly at The Sisters Market! When I mentioned the Holiday Gift Boxes last week, the Cara Cara orange harvest wasn’t yet available. It is NOW so get them while you can.
Anyway, I got out my juicer and there will be Cara Cara margaritas in my (near) future … this is my favorite recipe.
SHOP LOCAL
Even though it’s a jungle out there, I’m taking time to get out and shop my favorite locally owned shops. It always results in unique and special gifts.
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- Fun children’s selections at Orinda Books
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- Orinda Books
If you’re local, these are a some of my favorites. They never fail to come through with perfect presents for my family and friends. Not to mention their display tables runneth over with fun stocking stuffers. My theory is that a stocking can never be too full so I always make a last-minute dash for more, more, and more. Oh, and a stocking is not a stocking without an orange in the toe like my Swedish grandmother did. Preferably a Cara Cara!
Orinda ~
Walnut Creek ~
Alamo/Danville ~
Odds & Socks ~
The week’s adventures in Bartesian holiday cocktail making … the Gingerbread Martini, Mrs. Claus Nightcap, and Santa’s Punch.
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- Gingerbread Martini with Sweet Cinnamon Vanilla Sugar Rim
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- Mrs. Claus Nightcap garnished with cinnamon & cranberries
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- Santa’s Punch with sugar rim & orange peel garnish
While we’re on the topic, Bartesian’s ice cube and ice sphere makers are awesome and make a great, affordable gift for cocktails lovers. They take up a bit of space in the freezer but they produce the biggest, clearest cubes and spheres so we’ve made room.
Current Favorites ~
And that’s what I have for you this week.
If you missed last week’s post you can catch up here.
Let’s see what’s inspiring Kim and Elizabeth …
This will be my last post of the year.
I’m taking a couple of weeks off and will rejoin Kim and Elizabeth on January 6th.
I’m so grateful to you for your support of my little blog.
You create a community that makes this such a fun and creative outlet for me.
Wishing you and your family the most wonderful of holidays.
I can’t wait to see you back here in the New Year!
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