Scenes from a Holiday : Thanksgiving

Thursday, November 25th - Thanksgiving 2010

Happy week after Thanksgiving! I hope everyone is holding up well after all the eating and family bonding. I spent the long weekend at my parents. I left work early on Wednesday and headed home to start baking immediately. The first thing I knew I wanted to make were scones. My family is big on baked goods for breakfast. A few years ago I started making scones for holiday breakfasts and it kind of stuck. I decided to make these Petite Vanilla Bean Scones after seeing them a while ago on The Pioneer Woman and drooling just a little. They were really easy to make and came out so tasty, crumbly and buttery. I've never used real vanilla bean before. It was an experience I'd like to repeat.
(My recipe edit: I did not make the icing. I put butter and honey on mine for breakfast.)

I woke up on Thanksgiving and made myself some tea to have with the scones. It was a great way to start the day. I relaxed around the house until I finally got up the energy to take Lua to the park and hopefully get rid of some of her energy before the rest of my family came over. It was overcast and started to rain while I was there. I didn't mind though, it was crisp and made me rush home to get back and help prepare for dinner. It also reminded me that I need to get gloves for walking Lua in the cold this winter.

When I got back to the house it was time to ice the cupcakes. I used a recipe I had found from Ina Garten's (aka The Barefoot Contessa's) House Beautiful feature. The Pumpkin Cupcakes with Maple Frosting were a last minute addition to the baking plan Wednesday night. We were going to my brother's soon to be parents in laws (he got engaged a few weekends ago!) for dessert and my mom suggested it would be nice to bring something. I remembered wanting to try this recipe but not really having an occasion to make cupcakes. Plus, everyone loves a cupcake. 

(My recipe edit: I used a light olive oil instead of vegetable oil because it was what we had on hand. I used some of the pumpkin I roasted from scratch and filled in what I didn't have with pumpkin purée. The last difference was that I sprinkled the top with some pumpkin spice instead of adding any Heath Bar.)

My mom set the table, took the turkey out to rest, put the breads in the oven to warm, and waited for the rest of our family to arrive. I straighten up my room and myself and hoped that Lua would be on her best behavior. 

I made a cornbread as well this year. I used another Ina Garten recipe, Cheddar Dill Cornbread (minus the cheddar and dill). I always find her recipes very trustworthy, which is great if I don't have time to try different options and need to get it right the first time. It was an easy recipe to pull together and didn't require any machinery so it came together quickly. The end result was a thick bread with a distinct homey cornbread taste. Yum. 

(My recipe edit: I didn't add dill or cheddar. Instead I added a drained can of whole kernel sweet corn.)

Then there was the pumpkin bread. A few weeks ago while in Denver, Sarah was going on and on about her Nana's Pumpkin Bread and how perfect it was. I convinced her to make it for me and it was delicious. I decided I wanted to try to recreate it for the holiday. I knew I wanted to make my own pumpkin purée for this. I had bought a small pumpkin earlier in the week and threw it in the oven to roast as I put other things together. I think using the freshly roasted pumpkin might be why mine didn't turn out as orange as Sarah's did but it was just as scrumptious.  

(My recipe edit: I used a light olive oil instead of vegetable oil because it was what we had on hand. I didn't use as much water as her recipe because I thought it might have been an altitude adjustment. I sprinkled sugar in the raw over the top which gave it a nice sweet crust.)

Thanksgiving was a success. Everything my mom made came out perfectly and I was quite pleased with how all my baked goods tasted. Unfortunately my face wasn't as please with all the sugar and dairy that comes with that day of eating. I knew what I was getting myself into and I always make acceptations for Thanksgiving. It's my favorite meal after all. Of course Icebox Cake made an appearance for dessert. It's a staple for us on holidays. It was a lovely day with alot of food and relaxing family time. Everyone went to bed content and with full bellies. I hope everyone (who celebrated) had a great Thanksgiving! 

I was a little lagged from the long lazy weekend today. I was so tired I could barely function! One of the best things about Thanksgiving is that I don't have to do any grocery shopping this week. Our fridge is packed with leftovers. 

Shop Girl : Tree & Kimball

My Tiny Heart

I don't remember exactly how I stumbled upon Lisa's shop Tree & Kimball in the depths of all that is Etsy but I am so glad I did. Lisa designs and creates amazing lace pieces that have a distinct vintage feel. Each piece is handmade by Lisa in her studio in Pennsylvania using materials she's selected. You can tell her background in design plays a huge role in her new endeavor as the owner of two Etsy shops. 

Considering Color

The first thing that comes to mind when I think of lace is certainly not wearability. Lisa's pieces completely changed my mind about that. If I am wearing a very casual or menswear inspired outfit (as I tend to do often) her jewelry adds an unexpected softness and femininity that elevates the outfit to something completely different. She takes extreme pride in designing each one of a kind piece. While you may not think lace is within your style realm I strongly suggest taking a look through Lisa's shop. I think you will be surprised how she is able to make something so specific as lace jewelry be so versatile.  

I asked Lisa to share some of her story and design secrets. If you aren't convinced yet to take a look through her shop you might be after reading how qualified and genuinely lovely Lisa is. Check out her interview below and then go shopping. (Lisa is the little text.)

About Shop, In the Beginning:

I'm originally an Ohio girl, born & raised in Cincinnati (go Midwest!). After graduating university with a degree in Fashion Design, I relocated to Philly, along with my longtime boyfriend (now hubs) for a position with Anthropologie. My career there lasted for about 4 1/2 years & went through quite a metamorphosis within that time. I started as an intern in the Print department & ended up as the Blouse & Dress designer, with stints in the Embroidery & Skirt departments in between. It was a fantastic experience... from drawing embroideries by hand with my pup perched on my desk to traveling to Copenhagen, Paris, Amsterdam, & India, there was never a dull moment. I met nearly all of my best friends there & am so grateful to have had that time in my life. While I was still working at Anthro, I began to play around with lace jewelry as a hobby... I had amassed quite a collection of vintage crochet, tatting, & venise lace by way of flea markets & my Great Aunts' estate & wanted a way to incorporate these pretty bits into my daily life. I opened shop on Etsy after some experimentation & essentially, have never looked back. It's been a bumpy road from time to time, but honestly, I can think of nothing better than being my own boss while making things that I love for likeminded souls. Oh! And I have a vintage shop too... that's pretty straightforward: I'm a vintage junkie, plain & simple. I'll buy my lingerie & jeans new, but otherwise, nope! Just point me to a thrift store & I'm in heaven. And share it with other people? Even better!

Inspiration and Obsession:
I had two great aunts that were very dear to me -- Marg & Lib. They were sweet spinster sisters, had always lived together, & were ALWAYS tatting in their matching recliners (adorable, I know... may I remind you that I am from the Midwest?). That, teamed with the fact that my parents are extremely nostalgic & environmentally-minded people got me to where I am, I suppose. Just when I tell myself 'enough already!' with the lace, I stumble upon some other antique-lacy-something that I simple must have. Some people gamble, others drink... I collect lace. Could be worse, I guess. And my little row home is bursting at the seams with vintage apparel & apparently collecting things that aren't one's own size is bordering on crazy? (So says the husband.) I have resigned myself to this belief & have now acquired the aforementioned vintage shop to aid & abet this habit. (Still crossing my fingers that the hubs doesn't find the boxes of shoes (thankfully all my size) stashed in the corner of the basement -- he believes me to be in a vintage remission... silly (& lovably gullible) boy.)

Process:

It's pretty organic... no sketches, I just tinker with the materials I've sourced & see where it takes me. I did my fair share of sketching while at Anthro (understatement of the year), so working this way is really refreshing & rewarding for me. I am the number one internet vintage-finding-lurker/ shopper & am constantly searching for new (to me) materials. It's a bit of a treasure hunt & I absolutely love that about it. I've been stockpiling some antique cotton lace from flea markets as of late... I still haven't decided what to do with them, but am toying with the idea of creating some very special hand-beaded pieces for a future collection. We shall see!

The Future and The Favorite:
There have been some exciting projects & bits of press for Tree & Kimball this fall! I designed three exclusive styles for Anthropologie, which are available at select store now & the 'evadne' necklace was featured in the New Orleans gift guide in the December issue of Lucky magazine! Cincinnati magazine will have a piece on Tree & Kimball in one of their upcoming issues as well. I have some broader concepts for Tree & Kimball that I look forward to exploring at some point, but for now, I am content tinkering around with dye-baths & lace whilst hibernating for the winter with some cinnamon tea. My favorite piece would probably be the 'aphrodite' necklace, simply because it is what I wore on my wedding day & that day has yet to be topped in my book. As far as lacy bits go, I can often be found wearing the 'aurelia' necklace... the neutral color makes it easy to throw on with just about anything, while the fringe detail keeps it interesting & special.

Click on the pictures in this post to be directed to each original item. 

Beyond being an amazingly talented person, Lisa has a heart of gold. She has reached out on more than one occasion to offer me kind words and support. I can completely endorse and support her shop because I own two of her pieces and am contemplating which I would like to make my third!

As well as her lace jewelry Lisa has a vintage shop that is worth taking a look at. I always make sure I peruse her vintage finds before I head to other shops. She has a wide range of styles and decades in her shop but what make her finds exceptional is her ability to keep an eye on quality and wearability. 

Lisa's Twitter - Tree & Kimball - Tree & Kimball Market

Lisa, thank you so much for taking the time to answer all my questions! I'm glad I've met someone who is kind, interesting, and creative all in one. Hopefully some day soon we can take our relationship to the next level and chat in person.

Now that you've successfully navigated (or avoided) the crowds of Black Friday go pick up some unique, handmade, and vintage inspired pieces from over 60 designs Lisa currently has in her shop. She is offering 10% off your purchase from 11/25 - 11/28. Head over to her shop to grab the coupon code. Then start shopping for that distinct piece to wear to holiday parties or something special for friends and family! And remember it's great to support local and handmade no matter what time of year it is. Happy shopping!

Considering Color

Saturday, November 20th

On Saturday I kept talking about how completely different Melissa and I were dressed. She wasn't wearing any color, and I didn't have any black on. As we were shopping I kept noticing most of the pieces Melissa was reaching for were black or neutrals. 

It reminded me of the way I used to shop a few years ago. I remember looking in my closet and it was a sea of black. I decided to try not to buy any new black items for one season. At first it was very hard. I felt like black was the thing I looked best in and it was versatile. I could wear black to work, school, or out at night. It made me look more mature. That's what I thought at least. That still might even be true. 

After the season was over and I realized I could start buying black again, as per my self inflicted rule, I didn't even want to. I was telling Melissa that I think I have a very sad face, so when I wear mostly black it didn't really help the situation. When I was wearing more colorful clothing I felt that people were less likely to approach me and ask, "What's wrong?".

Pictures by Melissa

I still tend to stay away from black. I think there are so many options out there. Pairing colors together can be a little more challenging, and sometimes not always successful, but I do think that in some minor way it affects my attitude. 

Old Embroidered Scarf, Old Dress from Anthropologie, Bag from ShopRuche, Terrace House Jacket from Anthropologie
Vintage Sweater, Vintage Frye Boots from Old Baltimore Vintage
Imperia Necklace from Tree & Kimball

I walked around all day feeling very girlie while Melissa was in a much edgier harder look. I really liked the way Melissa was dressed. It wasn't forced at all. It came together so seamlessly and I thought reflected her style personality well. Despite our differences in dress that day we managed to get along just fine. I think you can appreciate someone else's style without always seeing yourself in it. What do you think? Color or no color? 

This fluffy post was brought to you by an after Thanksgiving dinner mind, still a little sluggish. I hope everyone (that celebrated) had an amazing Thanksgiving with family and friends. Internet willing I'll have another post up later with more to share about the lovely lace necklace I'm wearing. 

Scenes from a Weekend : VI

Did you miss her?! I know I did when I was away. This past weekend I stayed in the city. I couldn't help but take some pictures of Lua lounging just after breakfast in my apartment. 

During the week I got a very exciting email from my newly acquired friend Melissa. I met Melissa through Kim at her birthday in the city a few weekends ago. Melissa and I felt some mutual good vibes so we made sure to keep in touch about meeting up in the city again. 

Melissa and her friend Adele had decided to grab brunch and do some meandering and shopping around the city. I immediately jumped on board. We met at Madam Geneva | Double Crown for brunch where Melissa's sister and her friend came to join us. I'm a huge fan of meeting new people, especially when they're interesting. It's a good thing everyone there was. Also a good thing they agreed to ordering donuts for the table. 

 

After brunch and learning about the old speakeasy that was in the back of the restaurant we set out on the town. We walked and talked for a few hours popping into stores when the mood struck us. I left empty handed, but I scoped out a few items that I might have to go back for. We ended the day  by going for some Mexican food in the area. Melissa and Adele were great to hang out with all day. They are both so easy to get along with. It's also nice to be around another blogger when the suns about to set and you have to grab pictures fast.  

The weekend was a nice mix of relaxing fun around the city and being comfy cozy in the apartment. Sounds just about right to me. I'm so glad I was able to grab some more quality time with Melissa. I can't wait for more of the same in the future. 

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving! I spent all night baking up a storm. I'm so excited to eat it all tomorrow! Have you been preparing anything special for Thanksgiving?