Mulling It Over

Southern Living

My subscription to Southern Living ran out long ago, but the December issue made me wish it still arrived in my mailbox every month. Most notably, their idea for mulling spices proved to be fantastic and so simple (for once...no offense SL)!

For this fun and festive little treat, here's what you need:

8 black peppercorns

6 whole allspice

6 whole cloves

2 3-inch cinnamon sticks

3 3-inch by 1-inch orange rinds

5-inch square of cheesecloth

kitchen string

Voila! La finished product! (I used green twist ties instead of kitchen string (1) because it added a little more color and (2) because we aren't eating or drinking anything seasoned by these spice bags.)

You can really use mulling spices in a variety of ways. My favorite SL suggestion, though, concentrated on bringing that wonderful holiday aroma into your home.

Place two spice bags in a pot filled with eight cups of water and bring it to a boil over medium heat. Once the water boils, turn down the heat and let the spices simmer for three or four hours, filling your home with Christmas cheer!

This year, I plan to give two mulling spice bags to all of my fab friends who sweetly welcome us into their homes. Ideally, they would receive the spices BEFORE the party so that their house smelled yummy and delicious but surely women who love to entertain can employ the spices at a later date...

For the hostesses' gifts, I tied a gift tag onto the bags with green wired ribbon and wrote the directions on the back of the card...in pink, of course!

Maybe this holiday season, you have someone who could use a little Christmas cheer? If not, these smell just as lovely in your own home...

Happy Holidays!

Let's Get Together and DISH

Etsy

Usually this blog is reserved for posts on fashion and interior decorating, but today I'm going to be bold and dive deep into table settings. Some of you out there may be little Martha Stewart or Eddie Ross apprentices, but some of you may be more like me and have only recently expanded your scope of "styling" to the table.

For me, the entire desire to decorate my table started at Thanksgiving, when I saw so many beautiful dining room table settings and realized that I not only have nothing in the way of beautiful accessories like tablecloths and candlesticks, I also don't own but THREE plates! How can this be, you might ask. Simply put, most plates broke when I moved (cough cough...two years ago...) and I've just ignored the issue...until I laid eyes on some perfectly suitable plates for my dining room table...

If you haven't seen my house before, it's decorated with more whimsy and fun than tradition or pomp. These hand painted ceramic plates from M. Bagwell are right up my alley. I love the graphic polka dots mixed in with stripes and swirls. In fact, this entire collection is called Mix & Match! Check out the charger, bowls and salad plate below...

M. Bagwell

M. Bagwell

M. Bagwell

It even looks fantastic set with solid Vietri! And who can resist mixing damask and dots??

InArkansas.com

Of course the polka dotted pattern could benefit from a tiny bit of playful sophistication, don't you think? These TAG Hobnail Edge glass plates look elegant on their own yet play off the polka dots without competing but complementing. I love those scalloped edges and it's a total bonus that they're completely clear!

The Weed Patch Store

Amazon.com

Amazon.com

Since the plates and bowls read fairly girlie, I would keep the stemware really simple and sleek. This Luigi Bormi Michaelangelo stemware offers some grown-up sensibility to my playful and chipper table setting.

Bed, Bath & Beyond

Among all of these new and modern graphic pieces, my grandmother's silver would offer a beautiful layer of tradition and intricacy.

This is Glamorous

Yet among all of my planning, I have yet to find a place mat or tablecloth worthy of my dream-world set-up. Maybe one of these by Sferra? A solid would be the safe choice, but a pattern could bring another layer of whimsy to the table. (No pun intended.) What do you think?

Gracious Style

Would hot pink be too much?? I think it might be the perfect color to DISH over...

Dress Code Clue from Drew

As invitations to holiday parties pile up, we're gently reminded of all the fun and festivities that this time of year brings. And, inevitably, every girl must ask herself one question: What will I wear??

This year, I've decided to take a cue from Drew. Ms. Barrymore arrived on the set of David Letterman's show looking polished, fashionable and ladylike. I couldn't wait to recreate her stylish combo! (Though I will avoid recreating her flashing scene on Letterman a few years ago...) Who couldn't love the an unassuming long sleeve tee adorned with flashy sequins?! Or sleek black silk pants that pair just as easily with sequins at night as they do with cotton button-downs during the day?! And we can't avoid mentioning those wonderfully neutral yet interesting gray suede pumps.

Of course, to pull off Drew's look, simple hair, make-up and accessories are in order as to avoid the Vegas showgirl effect. Hair worn down and looking natural is beautiful on Drew but a sleek ponytail would work just as well. Keep the make-up palette neutral and neat and stick to one stand-out accessory, if that!

Now, for the clothes! How about this tee from J. Crew with some luxurious silk pants and a pair of textured pumps?

J. Crew Drapey Long Sleeve Sequin Tee

Loeffler Randall Draped Pocket Pant

Steven Rianna Pumps- Shopbop

As an alternative, a patterned sequin top would be sassy and fun with leather leggings. The leather still gives off the shine but adds some edge to the outfit. Patent leather platforms would also be a must.

Dallin Chase Owen Top- Shopbop

Factory by Erik Hart Jersey & Faux Leather Leggings- Shopbop

Pour La Victoire Irina Hidden Platform Pumps- Shopbop

I'll be recreating this very look myself for an engagement party this Saturday. Stay tuned to see how Barrymore I can be!

The Feminine Mystique

Even though Wilmington faces a high of merely 42 degrees today, a girl can't help but wonder what the must-have items for spring will be once the fair weather rolls back around...

Behold Talbots Spring 2011 collection.

Yes, I said Talbots.

The classic American sportswear brand has always offered timeless, well-made pieces, but it's only been recently that they've upped their street cred on Fashion Ave. by hiring new creative director Michael Smaldone, formerly at Elie Tahari, and bringing on Julianne Moore to replace Linda Evangelista as the face of the brand.

People Magazine

Now we can look forward to these fabulously feminine pieces for Spring. Talbots will carry lightweight leather jackets, 1950s silhouettes, paperbag waist shorts, and, from the looks of these images, some sleek-n-chic accessories. It's fashion that can last you a lifetime and keep you looking fabulous at every age.

Of course, Old Man Winter has waved his hand over the nation to bring us chilly winds and a little snow, but once we rotate back toward the sun, Talbots will have much to offer in the way of blooming into a beautiful spring daisy.

(All Talbots images via Style.com)

Shelf Life

Have y'all heard about these little guys called Elf on a Shelf? I'm not really sure what they do or their purpose but I imagine that these frisky characters create Christmas cheer as a lead in to Santa Claus. They might eat your milk and cookies one night or leave a treat on your dresser while you're at school. (If you're young enough to still be in school, that is!)

Obviously, there's no elf on my twenty-something year old's shelf, but I wouldn't mind a shelf with a few of these on it...

Rebecca Minkoff bags via Starfish & Sundresses

The Rebecca Minkoff handbags on that bookshelf above are certainly lovely, but if my elf really wanted to know, this convertible attache by 3.1 Phillip Lim is what I'd want to be surprised with. (By the way, elf, I prefer it in iridescent green with navy, if you are wondering. Beanie + Cecil carries it.)

When it comes to bags, I rarely get too overly excited. Gasp! Something from the fashion world that doesn't knock me over with enthusiasm! But, in all seriousness, when I fall for a bag, I fall hard, and this little gem is worth falling for. Any girl on the go could use the bag as in the first picture to pack her wallet, planner and files for work. When 5 o'clock (or 7:30 in my world) rolls around and it's time to meet the girls for drinks, toss the planner in your passenger seat and fold that puppy in half (image 2). The shoulder strap detaches to give you one good looking clutch. Of course, a little lock and key pouch is always handy too...

Of course, when you buy a new bag, there's a bit of guilt that comes along with replacing your old bag. Minkoff might just have the solution! I can put my current everyday bag on my bookshelf, along with some special occasion bags, to display like art!

Botkier Trigger Bag

Hmmm...what other bags can I add to my bookshelf "art" collection. We'll have to consult the elf...

La Dolce Vita's 12 Days of High Gloss

To all of my lovely readers, I want to share a blog with you that I recently started following and am already loving. You may have heard a bit of buzz already about High Gloss Magazine, coming to an computer near you this January with fresh decorating, entertaining and fashion ideas. But the woman behind the helm is none other than Paloma Contreras, a high school Spanish teacher turned Internet media pro after she started her blog La Dolce Vita in 2007.

Although I've only recently become a follower of La Dolce Vita, I am already loving Paloma's aesthetic and approach to style. I have even submitted my email address in order to subscribe to High Gloss and can't wait to see what they come up with! To top it all off, she and the team behind the new e-magazine now offer "12 Days of High Gloss" to share some of their favorite items with their readers. Check it out to see what might be awaiting you!!

Only 11 more days to see what's in store, so check them out soon!

Serious Glamour

The latest issue of Glamour boasts America's sweetheart Reese Witherspoon on its cover and the girl has never looked more stunning! Who knew our sweet Southern belle had this fierce glamazon within her??

On top of Reese's to-die-for wardrobe featuring L'Wren Scott, Oscar de la Renta, Burberry and Cartier, I love the over-saturated colors in these vibrant photographs. No doubt, the lady looks amazing but these photographs are amazing in and of their selves.

At this point, I have only read snippets of the article featuring Witherspoon, but you have to love her philosophy on appearances ("Funny doesn't sag."), making her family her first priority and the deep respect she shows for other rom-com actresses. It's great to see yet another positive female role model succeed while remaining close to her roots.

Roots that are Southern no less!