EAT

Happy December folks!  It takes a lot of planning and conscious effort (along with Christmas music and hot cocoa) not to let the busyness of this month steal my holiday joy.  As life goes... at a time when my daily 'to do' list is overflowing with Christmas time extras; I'm also entertaining more than ever.  As you know, I'm a big proponent of keeping it simple…. so this month will involve a lot of one dish + salad +baguette + wine + store bought dessert type of gatherings which will hopefully have me soaking up the time with friends and family instead of sweating over the kitchen stove.

Thought I'd share three easy dishes that I've made in the last couple of weeks that were big hits for both the kids and adults alike...

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Penne alla Vecchia Bettola
Autumn Chopped Salad
Linguini with Shrimp Scampi

… and if the schedule just doesn't allow…. there's always a pizza to be ordered or a rotisserie chicken to be bought…. joy to the world! :)

Anything help you keep your sanity this time of year?

Gather….

Man, this is the toughest week to be an American expat living abroad as there are few things I love more than the Thanksgiving holiday.   Having friends and family gathered around my dining room table any time of year; with candles flickering and a fire crackling in the fireplace; lively chatter and laughter interspersed between bites of hearty casseroles or homemade pie is pretty much my idea of bliss.  And while I appreciate a fancy "pull out all the stops" china and flower arrangements type of shin-dig; my true tendency, if I were hosting, is to keep it simple… a little something like this….

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… a few votives, simple fragrant greens…. 

Alas, we will be spending Thanksgiving in London this year.  My guy has to work; so I've hunted down a restaurant serving 'American Thanksgiving' for the girls and I.  And while it will probably not come close to satisfying our taste buds (i.e. how could they possibly compete with mom's cornbread dressing or sweet potato casserole); it will at least help us feel connected to that beloved tradition of stopping to give thanks for all the goodness in our lives… which is worth celebrating wherever we are.

… until we can gather again.

Fool Proof Hostess Gifts….

Tis the season for lots of holiday gatherings both big and small…. and we all know that if you are the hostess; it usually ends up becoming more work than you originally thought it would be.  That's why I'm a big believer in always showing up at the door with a little token of appreciation….  And, with a mile-long 'to-do' list this time of year; I'm also all about keeping it simple and (no surprise) sticking with the classics that are sure to please….

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1. It doesn't matter if you're an excellent baker or not; she will surely appreciate waking up to a breakfast that doesn't involve messing up the kitchen again…
2. Something she wouldn't necessarily buy for herself; a quirky yet useful item (especially if it doubles as a memento of the occasion) is sure to put a smile on her face
3. No explanation needed…. there is always a reason to celebrate when there's champagne (she didn't have to buy herself) chilling in the fridge
4. Again, whether she decides to share them with guests or hoard them away in her closet for later; she will be thankful you came bearing this love language
5. Whether it's a potted bulb or one in full bloom; it will bring her several weeks of virtually care-free beauty
6. And, finally…..Yes, a beautiful smelling soap in a nice container can make dish pan hands and germ protection just a tad bit more enjoyable this holiday season…

Now…. let's party! :)

T'Goodness'IF

it's time to stock the bar for holiday entertaining.... isn't this a beaut?

speaking of beauty.... really, how does one get their hair to look so gorgeous?

a short-sleeve coat may not be all that practical... but it sure is cute (especially paired with stripes)

made this for dinner Tuesday night.... delicious!

Cheers to the weekend!

Giving Thanks......

While we won't be celebrating Thanksgiving in a traditional gathering with extended family this year; it hasn't stopped me from spending a few minutes dreaming about a lovely tablescape....

party favor, Crate & Barrel flatware, flower image from The Knot, pedestal table, monogrammed napkins, Kate Spade "Library Lane" place setting, place card holders, vase, candlesticks, chair

..... quite a departure from last year in vibe..... but not in attitude.....

We'll be joining new friends and fellow American expats at potluck dinners this weekend......
I have no idea what the table will look like and it really doesn't matter; because.....

good food + good company = good times

..... paper plates or The Plaza
..... and, for that, I am thankful!

Entertaining: The Cabinet Bar.....

......so, I know bar carts are all the rage.... and I love them too.... but if I were devising an SAT analogy it would go something like this...

a bar cart is to a Fiat as this spectacular red and black cabinet bar is to a Ferrari......

House Beautiful Magazine

words do not describe how much I love Mary McDonald's bar..... in fact, I've carried the torn out magazine page with me all the way to Switzerland.  If this were sitting in my house.... I think I would be found perpetually dressed in Kate Spade, Pimm's Cup in one hand, and penning invitations to my next soiree (and using words like "soiree") with the other one. :)  Name your price all you great thrifters and DIY'ers..... I have a feeling you could pull this off and I'd be buying!

Celebrate: Cake Toppers

Over the weekend, we celebrated my husband's birthday..... and while I honored him with his favorite chocolate sheet cake with traditional birthday candles..... I was secretly dreaming of having a reason to order one of these....

monogram, bunting, bow, love birds, flowers, personalized

...... it seems the creative types have been "baking up a batch" of delightfully "sweet" cake toppers recently..... as if I needed an extra reason to love a cake. :)

Dining "al fresco"

It is quite well-known that Europe has a "vibrant cafe culture" as one of my friends puts it.  There are cafes on every corner with people sitting outside drinking, eating, smoking (that one takes a little getting used to) and chatting for what seems like hours.   So..... I shouldn't be surprised that while our family has been taking walks around our village after dinner we hear so many voices of folks dining "al fresco" thru the privet hedges (more on my renewed love of those in a later post).

I've always enjoyed eating outdoors.  Unfortunately, however, we did not bring an outdoor table and chairs with us..... nothing a visit to IKEA can't take care of.  Add a simple linen or burlap tablecloth..... some candles or lanterns, a container filled with wildflowers, a bottle of wine, cheese and crackers, fruit.... a few close friends and you have the makings of a pretty perfect evening in my book.

Here's a little inspiration for breaking free of your dining room this summer (once the temperature falls below 85% ofcourse!) :).....

Bon appetit!

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Easter with Ease......

Easter was one of my favorite holidays growing up .........each year meant a new Easter dress and shoes, a chocolate bunny, going to church, and a family lunch followed by a traditional egg hunt with my cousins (and a competition to see who could find the golden egg filled with coins!)......  In addition to the candy high, I think what I enjoyed most was that the adults just seemed more relaxed during this holiday..... swinging on a porch swing and sipping sweet tea or taking turns churning the homemade ice cream as opposed to busily preparing a fancy meal or fussing over gifts, decorations and such.

In keeping with that theme, I've gathered some ideas for simple, yet beautiful entertaining this weekend.

Centerpieces

any hurricane would do; filled with jelly beans and a pillar candle

 a cake stand or other dish filled with dyed Easter eggs; the kids will be so excited to see their creations on display

a clever way to offer utensils to guests  (and they won't mind that they're plastic because they are so cute!)

an easy way to make little guests feel special..... a personalized tag attached to a simple basket for the Easter egg hunt.  Template here:  Martha Stewart

  Our Easter lunch always centered around a ham and salads.......... potato salad, jello salad, 7 layer salad, macaroni salad, fruit salad....and deviled eggs, ofcourse.  And each year, my mom would make this super quick, yet lovely and delicious cake.  Everything was made ahead of time and served buffet style on paper plates so that we could get right down to business........ blessing the food and "visiting" with one another.

Recipe here

And that's simply good stuff in my book.

Happy Easter everyone!

Romans 1:4-5 
And Jesus Christ our Lord was shown to be the Son of God when God powerfully raised him from the dead by means of the Holy Spirit. Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name. (NLT)

Sources

Setting the stage for......

This is my idea of the perfect elements for this much loved meal.  I know many a family pulls out the good china for this special occasion which is ofcourse lovely,  but when it's up to me I always seem to be drawn to simplicity;  with the focus being on the goodness of the food and company. 

prayer from Traditional Home 2002

apron, place cards, brown transferware, napkins, burlap covered vase, brass silverware, hand-stamped serving spoon, and table runner from Etsy

wreath, basket and tureen from Williams Sonoma

How about you?  Do you like the table dressed up or down for Thanksgiving?