Happy Thanksgiving

Good Morning! I hope everyone is at home with family and friends, baking pies and watching the Macy's Day Parade.
Last night we made REAL homemade pumpkin pie, with fresh pumpkin and homemade crust. We haven't tried it yet but it smells delicious!

Cooked Pumpkins

Pumpkin Puree

Canned Pumpkin or Beautiful Pumpkin Puree- Pick One!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Baking Bonanza

I spent the weekend searching antique stores and baking! Two of my most favorite things to do. I decided I had better start getting all of my holiday recipes under control and start testing out any new recipes that I want to add to my repertoire. Yesterday I made a pumpkin roulade with marscarpone butter cream filling, which is delicious. Its a great alternative to a pumpkin pie.

You can find the recipe here

I also made these amazing Chewy Molasses Cookies from Martha Stewart. They turned out crunchy and chewy at the same time and are not too molasses-y but just right! I think I am going to make these along with my traditional Snowballs (aka Russian Tea Cakes) and either a Chocolate Crinkle Cookie or Snicker doodle. So while I was baking I got to thinking about how to package all of these delectable treats. There are so many great, inexpensive ways to present your holiday gifts I had to share a few with you.

These are my Chewy Molasses Cookies packaged in a mason jar!

You can find most of these gift packaging ideas at Martha Stewart

The Cocktail Party

Picture this....in a by gone era couples gather casually in each other's living rooms or front yards in their suburban neighborhoods, drinks in hand to gossip about the neighbors or compare golf scores.

Now I'm not advocating we all move to the suburbs, start a family, get dogs and start the inevitable heavy drinking - but I am advocating the return of the cocktail and the cocktail party. I often contemplate what it would have been like to live in the early 60's a la Mad Men. Would I have been a chic housewife like Betty or a working woman like Joan? Regardless of my career situation, my 60's fantasy always includes me as the ultimate hostess at my very own cocktail party. Dutifully freshening guests' drinks while laughing at witty stories among friends.

My 60's bar, complete with cigarettes and spam.

Then I snap out of it and wonder why young people don't get together in this way as frequently anymore? In this age of cell phones, text messaging & twitter updates are we just too busy to commit to something as concrete as (oh no!!) a relaxed evening with friends? Does it always have to be "hey, I might stop by so and sos bar tonight, if I'm not too overbooked that is."

Why don't you start a new tradition with your friends. Invite everyone over for casual cocktails on a tuesday night, or make it an event on a Saturday. All you have to do is create the perfect bar and set the mood. In the next couple weeks I'll post about all of the essentially for hosting a fabulous cocktail party! But if you need immediate advice don't hesitate to call.

Setting Up Your Bar

- Designate a bar area: you don't have to have a real bar but having everything you need in a beautiful set-up will make your like easier and impress your guests. A side table or even an area on your bookshelf could work well.

- Stock your bar with all the essentials. This is an investment to be sure, but you will be able to host plenty of small gatherings with this supply. Also, you could always ask your guests to bring something to share.

I love the idea of putting all the liquors in a large low basket. It keeps everything organized and can be a year round accessory.

Bar Essentials List:

Liquor

blended whiskey
sour mash whiskey
bourbon
brandy
champagne
gin
vodka
tequila
vermouth (dry & sweet)
scotch
rum
liqueures (coffee, orange, cherry)
sherry (dry & sweet)

Mixers

tonic
club soda
ginger ale
cola
fruit juice (pineapple, orange)
bottled water
sparkling water

A beautiful summery bar.

I picture this bar surrounded by deep chestnut leather sofas and a crackling fireplace.

Stay Tuned for Cocktail Parties Part II

Sneak Peak

Sorry this is a short post. I am working on something for tomorrow that I hope you will like. Here is a little hint...it has to do with the characters below and bringing back a party from the past!

Barns

I have always had a great love of barns. Maybe it is a product of growing up with a Grandfather who loves to paint barns and the landscape of the east coast. I remember passing this great dilapidated tobacco barn every time we visited my grandparents in southern Maryland, so I always have that nostalgic feeling when I see these beautiful structures. This particular barn has since been taken down but my love of barns and their architecture lives on.


Typically barn site seeing happens by chance. It usually involves us speeding down some country lane or coastal highway, spotting an amazing barn, and then my boyfriend making an illegal u-turn at 50 miles an hour so we can get a better look. We have seen barns all over the place, in Vermont, Maryland, Virginia and Northern California and it seems that each new barn is my favorite. Unfortunately I don't always think to take a picture, although I am getting better about documenting things like this.

This was a great barn near Whiting, Vermont. I really loved the size, the crisp
white color and the window placement.

Another photo of the Vermont Barn.


Okay, not just a barn but a beautiful farm house and barn
in Northern California. I could live here forever!


I'm cheating on this one, I have not visited this barn but how awesome is it?!
Well the Grand Tetons in the background help a lot.

Do you have any cool barn photos. Send them my way I would love to see them!

Holiday Gift Guide

I thought I would start my gift lists early this year. There is nothing more stressful than trying to come up with gifts for people who have everything, and I seem to know a lot of these people. I also think men are extremely difficult to buy gifts for, especially a certain guy in my life who is very attuned to all things design, quality, and function. He accepts nothing but the best and he helped me compile some of this list. The other "person" that I find hard to buy for is that individual on your list who you don't know well enough to buy something completely personal for but whom you want to give a little something to show how much you care for them. For this individual I suggest something for the home. I love all of these brightly colored gifts that will bring a smile to any one's face!

molton brown re-charge black pepper lotion, moltonbrown,com $28.00;
john w. nordstrom cashmere leather lined gloves, nordstrom $59.50; paul smith striped cufflinks, paulsmith.com 55euro;
map of new york city, bluemonocle.com $53.00, rubis grooming set, dwr.com $150.00, rubis swiss cross slant, dwr,com $35.00
tumi adaptor with leather case, nordstrom $65.00; ugg australia fingerless lambswool gloves, nordstrom $65.00

This Molton Brown body moisturizer smells masculine enough for your guy but delicious enough for you. I just bought a vintage map of washington dc from blue monocle maps and had it framed and it looks splendid, any man loves a great map! Grooming sets are always on men's gift lists but this one from design within reach is so elegant and completely well made.

wood chopstick set, dwr.com $35.00; bosa's meilito honey pot, aplusrstore.com $44.00;
tsubota pearl's stick lighter, aplusrstore.com $32.00; marvis toothpaste, drugstore.com $9.00;
multi-colored bowls set of 7, williams-sonoma $179.00; silicups set of 12, williams-sonoma $24.00

How fun is this rainbow chopstick set? With a jar filled with fortune cookies you can have awesome hostess gift. I also enjoy the unique honey pot which will look perfect displayed on the kitchen table for everyone to see. These elegant matchstick lighters come in many colors plus gold and silver and are beautiful and practical. My favorite gift is the set of bowls from Williams-Sonoma, we actually own these bowls and using them makes cooking and baking a joy and our table always looks cheery!

I am filled with gift ideas so let me know if you need some help with that special someone in your life!

PS- stores are already having sales so take your time and ease into the gift giving spirit, start by outlining your list of recipients and jot down thoughts as you are browsing stores and online!

Personal Holiday Consultant

Bookscases, Shelves and Things to Put Things On

I am writing this post especially for my Mom. She has a great little house on the South River near Annapolis were she has lived for about four years. Anyway, she had done a lot of painting and re-painting and put on a sun room addition, but she hasn't gotten down to really adding all of those special touches that make a house a home. I know she wants to have book shelves flanking her fireplace which I think is great! I am always a fan of symmetry, (a product of my slight type A personality, I'm not sure?) so of course I want to help but "styling" a bookshelf takes a certain finesse. I went on a search of interesting ways to dress a bookcase. Books are almost always the main ingredient but not necessarily, using accessories, paintings, collections, and dishes will add variety. Try employing a few of the following techniques to update your look!

Start with a clean slate- take everything off the shelves its easier than trying to work around preexisting conditions. (yikes! too much talk about health care i think)

Chose objects that that relate to each other- a collection of plates, a group of white ceramics.

Whole rows of books look more balanced on the bottom shelves and stacking them in rows from tallest to shortest isn't always the best option. Try stacking them randomly to create a very natural look.

Monochromatic look

I love how they hung a great piece of art on the shelf it adds a whole new dimension

Adding color to the back of the bookcase is a great way to freshen up a boring shelf

If you are like me you could fill your whole shelf with books. Try stacking books to add a different look. Display your "best" books at eye level, I really like large design/art books. Martha Stewart recommends rotating books stacked horizontally to prevent warping of bottom books.

Covered books- I think covering books can look awesome, especially when it helps bring color, or lack of color to your space. However, am I the only one who finds this a bit impractical? I occasionally want to read the books that I have on my bookshelf or at least be able to locate a book to lend to a friend.

Wrapping your books in brown or white craft paper could look really cool and you could label them with your best architectural lettering! Or try this simple Pottery Barn trick and turn your books around to create a more consistent look.

This is so clean and simple!

An interesting display which has a lot of smaller accessories without looking too clutter-y.

Use baskets to conceal unattractive items like dvds or to store blankets

Have fun creating your new look.
Not sure where to start? Call W Design Studios and we can create a great look for you!