Good News

Rifle Paper

It is a good day indeed.Two of my favorite companies have joined creative forces. The collaboration of Rifle Paper and Paperless Post is a match made in heaven.Take a look at the collection. So many amazing choices! And did you know, you can now buy actual paper through Paperless Post. Can’t believe I missed that!

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Photo Credit: Paperless Post and Rifle Paper

Found

Matine

Happy Friday, dear readers! I can’t believe we are one week away from Halloween. Do you have your costume picked out? I’ve never been one to dress up but was thinking I might just step out of my comfort zone this year, especially since I’ll be trick-or-treating with my nephews and niece. Let me know if you have any good ideas!

For this week’s found item, I wanted to share my new Passport case that is currently en-route. Carolyn Misterek is the creative genius behind MATINE, a leather accessories line based in DC that takes simplicity and craftmanship to the next level. Carolyn designs, cuts, sews and finishes each piece by hand. Just beautiful! Truth be told, this is my first Passport case. I’ve been on the hunt for one for quite some time but never found the perfect one. That was until I stumbled upon the british tan Au Revoir case. I can’t wait for it to accompany me on all my travels!

Enjoy your weekend and I’ll see you back here on Monday!

Design Crush

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Remember these guys? For years, my Saturday ritual included a night with Vern, Hildi, Ty,and Doug on Trading Spaces. Hard to believe the show launched 15 years ago {on October 13 to be precise}. Granted, we didn’t get Paige Davis till the second season, but this show was certainly my present day Scandal. Did you feel the same way? At the time, my favorite designer was Laurie. The adorable red-head with the southern accent. But I’ve got to tell you, now my favorite is Genevieve Gorder.

I’ve had a few days sick in bed these past few weeks, which always means Netflix. Last week, I watched HGTV’s 6-part series on Genevieve’s renovation of her New York City condo. Just take a look at the finish product:

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The ladder, those  chairs, that marble….

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The black walls with the Moroccan tables and large storage piece from an antique store in Maine. I want it all!

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And my favorite room by far, her guest bathroom.

Looking for a little design inspiration, log into your Netflix account and watch Genevieve’s Renovation. I should also note her Capel rug collection is phenomenal and the price point is quite good. Now, if I could just find a condo to renovate!

In the Kitchen

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I’ve been feeling a bit under the weather these past few weeks and can’t quite seem to kick it. I don’t know why but whenever I’m sick, I lose my appetite, which doesn’t help the whole getting better process. Last night I decided I needed a meal that felt like a big hug. And don’t you just agree that soup does that! I found this flu fighter soup on Pinterest and it has since become by go-to. Feeling under the weather? Give this a try. The broth will instantly make you feel better, I promise!

Flu Fighter Chicken Noodle Soup

For the chicken:

  • 1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast tenders
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees (F).
  2. Place chicken tenders in a large baking dish lined with parchment paper. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons of oil and sprinkle with spices. Place in the oven and bake for 25 minutes, flipping the chicken at the half way point.
  3. Once cooked, pull into small chunks using two forks and set aside.

For the soup:

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 3 large carrots, peeled and diced
  • 3 stalks celery, diced
  • 1 very large onion, finely diced
  • 8 cloves garlic, minced
  • Big pinch of salt
  • (1) 32 oz containers chicken stock
  • 4 cups water
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 2 cups of pasta noodles (your choice)
  • Juice of 1 lemon, plus more for serving
  • 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup fresh dill, chopped
 Directions
  1. Heat olive oil in a large, heavy bottomed soup pan over a medium flame. Add carrots, celery, and onion, and cook – stirring occasionally – for 8-9 minutes.
  2. Add garlic and salt and cook for another minute before adding the bay leaf, water and chicken stock.
  3. Increase heat to high, bring soup to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low, stir in noodles, and simmer for 10 – 15 minutes, or until the vegetables are soft.
  4. Stir in cooked chicken, dill, and lemon juice. Taste soup to adjust seasonings.

How To

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Hello, dear readers! I was a bit under the weather yesterday so my sincerest apologies for yesterday’s silence. Today, I wanted to share with you my second How To column. And quite an important one, I think. How to write a thank you note. At a young age, I was taught the importance of saying thank you. Before a gift could be enjoyed, I had to sit at the kitchen table, put pen to paper and write out a card. Today, I do my best to follow the same protocol. Here are a few tips or rather how to’s to help you out.

  1. Timing is everything. I always try to write a thank you note within 24 hours. Timeliness is also key as I can’t tell you how many times I send a gift and don’t hear from the recipient. Its always nice to know a gift was received!
  2. Keep a supplyKeeping a supply of cards on hand makes the writing that much easier. From these postcards to these cheerful cards, having inventory is key to getting a thank you card in the mail pronto! I tend to shy away from a thank you text.
  3. Be you. There is no need to overthink a thank you card. Simply be gracious, thank the sender for their kindness and generosity, indicate how the item or experience was received or how it will be used and sign off with a sweet salutation. It really is that simple!
  4. Plan ahead. During the holiday season, writing cards can be time consuming so sometimes I try and address envelopes ahead of time. Same is true for birthday and/or weddings and showers.

Found

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This was a very good week for my design book collection. Wednesday Emily Henderson’s Styled book arrived on my door step, K surprised me with The Monocle Guide to a Cosy Homes and last night I met Eddie Ross at his Modern Mix book signing at one of my favorite stores in Boston! Looking for inspiration or a little color to add to your bookshelves? I suggest checking out these found items.

Hope you have a lovely weekend!

In the Kitchen

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Apple picking really has become my favorite way to welcome fall. Last Sunday, K and I traveled to South Natick to meet up with my sister and her family to enjoy the day at Lookout Farm. And what a day we had: a train ride, camel ride, cider donuts and some of the most beautiful apple trees I’ve ever seen! With the help of my little pickers {my nephews}, we came back to the city with one giant bag of apples. Not wanting any to go to waste, I got myself into the kitchen to do some baking and thus far have made a cake and these muffins, which were super easy and super delicious.

Apple Muffins

  • 1 1/2 cups of sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup canola oil
  • 1 Tbs. vanilla extract
  • 3 cups flour
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  • 1 tsp. cinnamon
  • 3 cups peeled, cored and diced apples (about 3 apples)
  • Brown sugar for topping

Directions

  1. Preheat over to 350 degrees. Line muffin pan with paper liners.
  2. Cream together sugar, eggs, oil and vanilla.
  3. Sift together flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.
  4. Add dry ingredients to creamed mixture until combined. Note that the batter will be very thick.
  5. Add in diced apples and incorporate.
  6. Fill muffin liners to the top and sprinkle with brown sugar.
  7. Bake for 22- 24 minutes.

Yield is about 18 muffins. Next time, I may add just a bit more cinnamon to the mix. Oh and if you’d like to know, the ceramic muffin pan and napkins are from Anthropologie.

Found

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Happy Friday, dear readers! Any big plans for this holiday weekend? Apple picking, movie watching and closet cleaning are on our itinerary. Why the closet cleaning, you might ask? In looking at my calendar, I realize that this will be our only weekend in Boston till November 14. Can you believe it? The good news is that with all these weekends away, I have been an excuse to treat myself to a new weekend travel bag. Yesterday, I received an email from Lo & Sons letting me know that my top contender {in forest green} was on sale. Yahoo! And thus I am thrilled to share this week’s found item, The Catalina. It will be arriving next week and I can’t wait to travel with it to Durham, Baltimore, and Nantucket over the coming weekends.

Image Credit: Lo & Sons

Book Club

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Mindy Kaling seems to be everywhere these days. The fall cover of Domino, streaming on Hulu, selling out a book signing in Brookline in minutes {sorry we missed this, Jamie}. It looks like this Boston girl has certainly made it. I have to say, I loved her first book Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me. Upon completion, I just knew Mindy and I could be best friends. And so, when her second book Why Not Me hit book shelves on September 15, I knew I had to pick myself up a copy. Truth be told, I was a little worried it wouldn’t live up to the first but I’m happy to report, it does!

This collection of short stories {really personal essays} is broken into four categories: For the Ladies, Take This Job and Love It; Love, Dating, and Boys Who Ru(i) the World; and All The Opinions You Will Ever Need.

My favorite stories: Mindy As A Sorority GirlOne of the President’s Men; Soup Snakes and Why Not Me. Throughout these stories, Mindy let’s her true self shine through… vulnerable, anxious, worried, and sometimes lonely. Looking for an easy, up-lifting read? Pick up Why Not Me. The diagram on the back cover of Mindy’s heart is worth the money alone!

“Work hard, know your shit, show your shit, and then feel entitled. Listen to no one except the two smartest and kindest adults you know, and that doesn’t always mean your parents. If you do that, you will be fine.”