Pre-game show

Tomorrow is the big day so here's a few suggestions on how to make the day even better.

Good news, God heard us.  Sweat pants are cool again.  From Alexander Wang (see below) to Marc Jacobs,  they showed up on fall runways so we have choices on what to wear to the annual food fest.   Add some heels and voila, you are good to go.

Put on some good tunes in the kitchen to make the cooking go by faster.  A lady that I like to have around is Nina Simone.  With classics like My Baby Just Cares for Me and I Put a Spell on You,  she'll have you in a groove so you won't any know you have 25 more potatoes to peel.

Got five minutes to put your feet up and escape the family drama?  Grab "Life" by Keith Richards. It's the ultimate for music lovers. So while your father in law is eating the pie for dessert and your mother is yelling  at the kids, you'll be in England on stage with a young Keith and Mick singing Start Me Up.

Say grace.  Not to go all Oprah but giving thanks with the people you love around is the ultimate Thanksgiving Day necessity. For the food may be bad and the china will get broken but the love of family and friends is forever.

Happy Thanksgiving, ya'll!!

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ps.  Shameless shoutout- My friend, Paul Lowe, has a wonderful online magazine that you should bookmark.  He was kind enough to put me in giving entertaining advise.  Thanks, Paul.

Flora fantasy

Some girls dream of diamonds, others shoes. I dream of flowers.


"I'd rather have roses on my table than diamonds on my neck  ~Emma Goldman"  

Below are some of my favorite florists around the country.  Maybe something will inspire your Thanksgiving tableaux.

Rosenow Floral Design does fun things with color.   Sticking to one color is one trick to steal for yourself. Making single hued arrangements makes an instant statement and is way easier than a mixed bouquet.

Birch in San Francisco always has an idea to steal too.  How simple yet pretty are these placecards.  What a beautiful way to set the table for Thanksgiving.  And could be more cost effective than big boy arrangements in the center of the table.  This way you can see Aunt Milridge without leaning around hulking flowers.  Being a flower purist, I would use a big bloom (the size is key) that is in season now or in a autumn color palette.  It'll make the cheapest white plate (hello, CB2)  look pretty.

Heart be still.  Saipua, the "it' floral co in NYC has arrangements to die for.  Check'em out. 

This one mixes it up with branches and things that you might find in your backyard.  The colors speak of the season.  Can see a beautiful bowl of green market pears as the centerpiece while this stunner sits in the living room by drinks table or foyer to greet everyone. 

I do not know a woman on the planet who doesn't love peonies. And this mix works.  It makes the peony feel less precious and more woodsy with the berries and leaves.  I'd love to see this on the mantle or adorning the sideboard loaded down with desserts. 

A bit more regal, it's a nice proportion for the table and feels seasonal when paired with colored candles and seasonal fruits.   It makes the point that some arrangements don't warrant anything else on the table but this one works is enhanced by the tapers. 

From 100 Layer Cake, here's a simple idea that puts a smile on my face. 

A single beautiful leaf or perfect apple and done!

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Gettin' Thanksgiving Ready

Autumn is showing us her finest hues while old man winter is trying to elbow in.  It's Thanksgiving week so my attention is on the Big Day.   I lucked out and not actually hosting this big culinary feat but joining the family (like so many others)  in a potluck of sorts. This year, instead of assigning dishes to bring, we're all bringing what we love to eat most on that day.  The host will do the turkey (thank you, sis!) but for the "what to bring" part, it's hard to narrow down.  I'm a side dish girl, preferring the scalloped oysters, cranberry sauce and roasted Brussels sprouts to a hunk of turkey meat.  And let's not forget about dessert.  Perhaps it's unAmerican to admit but I don't like pumpkin pie-at all, in fact.  And flying in the night before means getting access to an already busy kitchen so it's mail order pies for me.

My recommendation?
Red Truck Rural Bakery

Based in Virginia the crust is "slap your mama" good and no one will be the wiser that you didn't make it.
I'm thinking a classic apple pie and the double chocolate moonshine cake will make the meal.

Another favorite?  Caroline's Cakes where the caramel cake is southern classic.  $45 may seem steep but it will feed you and family of 20 all weekend long or be refrozen for later entertaining.  If this doesn't please your mother -in-law, well, I can't help you.

With the food taken care of, I'm thinking it's good to bring a little something silly.  Sometimes, families need a bit of help to get the laughter going.  Getting the gene pool together all in one room usually leads to some fireworks.  Like Jerry Seinfeld said, "There isn't such a thing as fun for the whole family."

So with that thought in mind, these adorable pilgrim themed hats add a touch to the tablescape and elicit a giggle.  The pilgrim hat kit from Paper-Source makes 3 hats for $14.  Can't wait to see the guests trying these numbers. (The lady hat reminds me of Kelly McGillis in Witness.)

After the Thanksgiving weekend is over, and it's time to send a note of gratitude to the brave one willing to allow us all in her home. This adorable mug meets post card would serve as an unexpected thank you note. From Bailey doesn't Bark (no relation) mug in gift box is $52 and pen's included.

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blogger on holiday

Back to posting next Thursday.  Till then, enjoy this sunset off Malibu coast.

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Favorite New Furniture Company

The High Point Furniture Market always has a few new comers with great style and ideas. This past Fall market was no exception.  One company that caught my eye was Carolina  George.  They specialize in multifunctional pieces which is gold to a small apartment dweller.  The pieces, however, didn't look like Ikea or CB2.  They were well designed with attention to detail like the "5 o'clock slipper chair" with a small table that pulls out, perfect for holding a drink.  Or the small end table that pulls out into a cool (extra) chair should you suddenly need.  They've also had fun with their colors.  The bright hues really sang while walking the hallways looking at one brown piece of furniture after another.

The Pendulum Console is just lovely. I dream of such pieces when having friends over for dinner and surface space is a premium. 

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Girl Crush

Drum roll please.

After her wildly successful cookbook,  I like You: Hospitality under the Influence,  

my girl crush, Amy Sedaris, has returned.  Her latest venture is called Simple Times, crafts for poor people and she doesn't disappoint.  With chapters like crafting for Jesus and unreturnable gift giving, she'll have you laughing on your worst day.  The lady is crazy but in that, I want to her to be my friend way.  My personal favorite is the section on "stretching before or after crafting."  

What a fun stocking stuffer for the closet crafter in your life... 

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Donna Karan for Thanksgiving?

Around this time of year, folks pull out their brown and white transferware or whatever seasonal tabletop they might have.  This year, inspired by Donna Karan's first ever tabletop collection with Lenox (who also partnered with Kate Spade for her fun collection), I'm channeling Donna.  Something black and layered and comfortable yet with some sizzle....

Here's a few pics from market of the new line.  With rust hued roses and some bittersweet, this might just be the new little black dress for the table.

Do you agree?

A tighter version of the placesetting.  The plates look like they've been individually thrown by a potter and have a wonderful "hand" about them.

Black dishes on a black top... with a few white options and white flowers.  It's so Donna, isn't it?

While this picture doesn't show it, the table had some va va voom to it.  The collection hits national retailers in Feb.  

Well done, Ms. Karan!

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Style for a Song

Payless had their spring preview last week and what a preview it was. The highlight was the second collection with fashion star, Isabel Toledo. Check out her sassy striped heels.  

And her two looks in one boots. 

Love this heel!

Lela Rose's new collection also plays up the heel this season. 

Christian, of Project Runway fame, also had nice flats in fall colors following fashion's lead.  It seems this spring the pastels are gone and we'll be dressing more like it's September. 

He's skin printed heels and bag give a lot of look the buck. The clutch is a nice size and has pretty hardware. 

Payless's own designers created these adorable jelly meets thong sandal for summer.  Tres Chic!

Big news? Payless has also launched a new makeup line for you beauty gals. 

A funny part of the line is the all natural germ cleaner in bright colors + nice scents. This is much cooler than Purell's hand sanitizer. 

The best part??  Nothing is over $50!  The collections hit the stores in February 

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NYC Flower District-RIP

Last week, I popped over to the wholesale flower district to pick up some flowers. This summer, I bought from the green market so I hadn't been over to 28th Street between 6th and 7th Ave in six months.  A longstanding institution, Fischer & Page, had closed.  Shocked, I walked the street and felt that while it seemed that it was "business as usual" for some, others were barely hanging on.  At one shop that I have been going to for ten years, there was a "business closing sale"sign in the window.  Everything was on massive reductions.  The sweet guy who's worked there forever looked at me and shook his head. He wondered where he'd find a new job.  My heart sank.

Chris and the crew over at Fischer and Page were part of the NY fabric that make this city interesting.  Fischer and Page is where Everyone got their flowers.  On any day, you could see the city's top wedding and event planners beside interior designers and editors.  I remember having no makeup on, wearing sweatpants and grabbing flowers along side chic Carolyn Roehm who was smarter, wearing sunglasses despite the fact the sun had yet to rise.  They opened at (yawn) 6am but the guys got their earlier and busted it till noon when the whole market closed. Blaring 80s rock music, we'd select flowers from Holland, South America and some local varieties.  The guys managed to be flirtatious with the ladies and made the task fun.

It all comes down to money and it seems the block has been rezoned for residential so the businesses are losing their leases to condos.  They talk about moving the operation to the Bronx but we'll see. In the meantime, head on over to see one of the most unique blocks in the city while it's still. And don't wait too long.