December 2011
1 tag
Internet Down
Working in a Starbucks.
Our tiny friend over here decided to spend last night discovering his hands and freaking out about them rather than sleeping, so I’m on the delirious side of tired. On the plus side, though, that means that he’s being extremely adorable and quiet while I get my work done this morning. And I’m smack in the middle of the House of Large Caffeinated...
4 tags
New Year's Eve Dinner For Four (Plus A Shopping...
Apple-y Pork Medallions with Portobello Mushrooms (pictured above with mixed mushrooms)
Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta
Ask your butcher for a slice of pancetta about 2” thick, with the rind and fat trimmed. Dice the pancetta and saute in a roasting pan until crispy. Remove pancetta from pan and add trimmed, halved brussels sprouts (20 good-sized sprouts should be enough for 4 people)...
2 tags
Yet Another Nice Thing About A Chalkboard...
You can spot this on Tumblr…
And within minutes, have this in your very own kitchen.
Easy Chalkboard Paint DIY here.
Original Article
1 tag
Eye Shadow Of Choice
When I’m looking to splurge on an eyeshadow, yeah. For everyday and for travel I’ll often use an inexpensive (drugstore) trio of neutral shades, but if I want a richer, more textured look or a really special shade for a big night out (try Outremer as a liquid liner), it doesn’t get much better than NARS.
A great shade to try to test out the line for yourself: Ondine, a...
2 tags
Best New Beauty Finds / Winter 2011
This round of best beauty picks is all about the time-savers, from a shampoo that halves the minutes you spend holding a blowdryer to an eye cream that does triple-duty and a nail polish that keeps you far, far away from the salon.
Fresh Sugar Rose Lip Treatment: I’ve talked before about how much I love the Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment, and this one does it one better with a hit of soft,...
5 tags
Salted Caramel Pears
NYE dessert suggestion: a bowl of fancy vanilla bean ice cream and a few slices of Salted Caramel Pears - which, as a bonus, are extremely easy to make and respectably inexpensive. They also make very pretty gifts tied up in a cellophane bag with a metallic ribbon (but package each one separately so they don’t stick together).
SALTED CARAMEL PEARS (makes 2)
1. Gently heat about 10...
6 tags
A New Kind Of New Year's
I’m one of those people who’s firmly in the “Not A Fan Of New Year’s” camp. Every single New Year’s Eve, I end up either bored and anxious that I’m not having The Best! Time! Ever!, or, as with one year, living through an unfortunate incident involving Lemondrops that made for a very unpleasant New Year’s Day. And usually there’s a freezing...
project593: Party Hats! →
i think i might need to do this.
party hats for everyone!
laurendenglert:
DIY New Years Eve Party Hats!
Supplies:
12x12 scrapbook/cardstock paper (1 sheet per hat)
Large Fuzzy Balls, hehe
Medium floral cone
Ribbon of any kind
Card stock for circle (I used pre-cut circles by Martha Stewart), 1 per hat
Not Pictured:
Velcro adhesive…
3 tags
Baby Gift Inspiration: Themed Baskets
Q. Hey J,
I need to get some people I don’t know very well a baby gift, and don’t know if it’s a boy or a girl. Since you’re in the baby-gift mix, do you have a suggestion for something that’s say, $60?
Thanks!
T
A. My first recommendation would be to try to figure out if they have a registry - try searching for their last name on Babies ‘R’ Us, Buy...
4 tags
Test-Run: DIY Gel Manicure Kit
(SensatioNail Gel Polish / 1 week after application.)
The reason why I don’t ever, ever get salon manicures: I don’t know whether I don’t wait long enough for my nails to dry before returning to normal activities, or whether I just have color-repelling fingers, or what, but I am completely incapable of making newly polished nails maintain their pristine state longer than two...
1 tag
Mo' Chicken, Mo' Problems
Well, that Christmas Eve didn’t exactly go smoothly.
There was the no-water problem (see paper plates, above). And then there was a little issue with the chicken. As in, I put it in around 5:15 to be done for a 7PM-ish dinner…and then at 6:45 checked on it and saw that it was a little…
…raw.
See, I have to light our stove manually, which means I have to turn the knob...
1 tag
Two Very Good Things
Bacon sandwiches (the keys to success: use the fanciest bacon you can get your hands on - think applewood smoked, super-thick-cut, et cetera - and butter your English muffin on both sides before smushing in the bacon).
And Chai Lattes made in the Keurig (really).
Original Article
2 tags
Elderflower Christmas Cocktail
Let me start by saying that this drink is much prettier if you serve it in a highball or Collins glass and garnish as it should be garnished, with a curled lemon peel. A couple of cranberries (fresh or sugared) would also be welcome here. Basically, anything but a strawberry, which, while quite delicious, makes very little sense in the company of a holiday drink.
But we worked with what we had,...
3 tags
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
With love from our family to yours.
Original Article
3 tags
Something Else We're Doing
Washing dishes in the bathtub.
Because there’s no water pressure in the kitchen.
On the single day all year during which I do the most cooking and baking.
But it’s Christmas, so, you know…
everything’s sort of fun. Including washing dishes in the bathtub.
Sort of.
Original Article
3 tags
Merry Xmas Eve!
This is what we’re doing. (Three guesses as to what movie we just watched.)
What are you doing?!
Original Article
3 tags
Christmas Eve Picnic For Two (Plus A Shopping...
Every year on Christmas Eve, I make a Coffee Table Picnic For Two. What I’m serving up tomorrow night: three of our all-time favorites.
Lemony Engagement Chicken
Asparagus, Bacon & New Potato Salad
Unscrewupable Apple Pie
(And of course prosecco.)
If you’d like to do the same, I’ve compiled a handy shopping list for you (serves 2-4):
- 1 whole chicken,...
How to Choose a Wine for the Holidays →
pretty much.
2 tags
Test-Run: Crest WhiteStrips 3D 2-Hour Express
I’m not that diligent when it comes to taking care of my teeth - I do the basics, of course, but am definitely in the business of lying to my dentist every time I see him (“Oh yes, of course I floss twice a day!”). I am also, however, genetically predisposed to all kinds of gum issues (yick), and so lately I’ve been trying to step it up so as to avoid an extremely gross and...
“When I find a well-drawn character in fiction or biography I generally take a...”
– Mark Twain
2 tags
Purple Pants From A Wild Rose
I have a few small things that belonged to my Nanny Ruth. These things include a gold-edged plate that she and my grandfather bought at Niagara Falls, a ring with a blue stone that I wear on the little finger of my right hand (like her granddaughter, she piled on rings every day of her life), and a miniature piano that winds up and plays songs. When Indy is old enough, I’ll give him that...
3 tags
Winter Wedding Guest Attire
Q. Hi Jordan! I’m headed to Massachusetts for a wedding (taking place in a barn) next month and have nothing to wear because I live in Florida and totally don’t even know what’s appropriate to wear to a winter wedding. Also, I’m super tall and I don’t want to wear heels. Help me pull this off?
Thanks!
Corrie
A. Winter weddings can be a little more challenging...
inthesaddle asked: Hey Jordan! Any ideas on what to wear over a cobalt blue one-shouldered jersey dress? I'd rock it without anything covering, but I'm usually cold, so just to be safe, it'd be nice to have something with me. Thanks!!
4 tags
How-To: Get Oil Out Of Leather
Oops.
So I love dry oil spray, I do…but I do not love it when I forget that our beautiful leather chair is now sitting in our bedroom to make room for the tree, and accidentally give it a coating of (beautifully scented) spots.
But.
Totally get-outable.
And it’s easier than you think.
All you do: pour a ton of talcum powder onto the area (no sprinkling; pile that stuff right...
4 tags
A Handful Of Last-Minute Gifts...
Still in search for the perfect present for a couple of people on your list (or…everyone)?
Some of my absolute favorites:
1. Champagne (try La Caravelle rose) is always welcome at this time of year.
2. For a last-minute stocking stuffer, Deborah Lippmann Candy Shop nail polish is too cute - click here for a photo of it in action.
3. Maybe not the most glamorous gift, but I am obsessed...
2 tags
Objects Of Affection
My very favorite picture of my very favorite people in my very favorite frame (from TJ Maxx)…
The vitamins that I’m still taking every day, and that continue to do wondrous things for my hair and nails…
An eye cream that reduces puffiness, fights wrinkles, and takes care of under-eye circles in one step (and that I leave in a drafty spot for maximum cooling action in the...
2 tags
Chiffon Sleeves & Purple Ruffles
When I was in elementary school, I went to exponentially more holiday parties than I do these days. Once I hit middle school I also had bar and bat mitzvahs pretty much every weekend, and they were held in places like the Rainbow Room and the Plaza (no joke), so I had lots and lots of reasons to wear fancy things. And so every year, my Hanukkah present from my parents was a new dress that I could...
Sweetness and Light: Natface's Essential Christmas... →
like.
natface:
As somewhat of an expert on Christmas songs — my iTunes library has over 20 hours of straight Christmas music, and that doesn’t include CDs I have lying around — I think it’s fair to say I love Christmas. And I love Christmas music. And there are actually some really wonderful gems of songs out…
1 tag
One More Perfect Mama Present / Soft-Maps
Yesterday my friend Melissa came by to meet the baby, and brought with her a gift so special that I had to tell you about it (especially since just yesterday I was talking mama-to-be presents).
Remember Soft-Maps? I wrote about them a long time ago - they’re a custom quilt company started by architect (and friend-of-a-friend) Emily Fischer. She quilts maps of various locations onto...
1 tag
A Nice Side Effect Of Having A Blog
Kendrick: Huh. A lightbulb is out. Let me change that right now.
Me: [Incredulous look.]
Kendrick: I read your site today.
Original Article
1 tag
Start From Scratch: Building Your Wardrobe
Q. Hi Jordan! One of my New Year’s resolutions is to work towards a more grown-up wardrobe. I am 21 years old, graduated college in May, but I am starting work after the New Year. Any advice as to where I should begin? Staples? Must-haves? I don’t even own a pair of black pants!
Ally
A. Congrats on your graduation! This is a tough question for me to answer since I don’t know...
3 tags
Pregnant Mama Presents
Q. My soon-to-be sister-in-law is 6 months pregnant with her first child. My fiance and I are going to give her a prenatal massage as a Christmas gift…but I also want to get her and her husband something for the baby. I still treasure things that my aunts gave me as a baby, from stuffed animals to cute prints spelling out my name that hung in my bedroom for years. But my sister-in-law has...
2 tags
Speaking Of Multitasking
Want to hear a couple of sorta neurotic but 100% effective tricks for keeping apartment mess manageable?
Every single time you move from one place to another in your home, pick something up and return it to where it should be, whether that means carrying a glass out to the sink on your way to the kitchen for a soda, or grabbing the socks from under the table (seriously? What is it with men and...
1 tag
You Know, I Was Always Pretty Good At...
…but these days, I’m great. The term “whirling dervish” comes to mind. One thing that every single friend who’s come to visit has commented on is the fact that I am no longer capable of sitting still, even for a minute - I’m constantly running from room to room picking things up, putting things down, straightening, adjusting, fixing, feeding, pouring, stirring,...
“I’m not offended at all by dumb-blonde jokes because I know that I’m not dumb. I...”
– Dolly Parton (via caryrandolph)
