Pimento Cheese Spread

This time of year everyone needs easy appetizers to bring to parties or to serve their visiting friends and family. This pimento cheese spread is one of my favorites - easy to keep on hand and whip out a quick snack when needed! 

1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, room temperature

1 cup grated sharp cheddar

1 cup grated white cheddar

1/2 cup Hellmann's mayonnaise

1/4 teaspoon sea salt 

1/8 teaspoon white pepper

1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

2 to 3 tablespoons pimentos, smashed

1 teaspoon grated scallions

Pinch cayenne pepper or a dash of hot sauce 

Mix cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth. Add all other ingredients and mix until well combined. Serve with toasted bread or crackers. Or make a sandwich with white Wonder bread! <3

Christmas Stories

Need to put your feet up and decompress a little during the holiday season? Grab one of these adorable Christmas stories and cozy up by the fire. They'll have you back in the holiday spirit in no time! {My 2013 resolution is complete - finished my 52nd book with 2 weeks to spare! I'll be sharing the full list soon}

A Nantucket Christmas, Nancy Thayer

Blue Christmas, Mary Kay Andrew

Christmas Bliss, Mary Kay Andrews

My favorite spot to cozy up with a good book!

She La La Discount

Blogging's been hard since I don't want to ruin my Christmas gifts for anyone so I can't share anymore gift ideas until the New Year! But I have some great ideas for everyone for 2014! 

We did get our tree up and running - I think we should have Christmas trees up year round, they make everyday so much happier!

One great shopping deal I wanted to share was from Suzy Said - 30% off any single item at She La La in New Canaan or Westport. {Valid until 12/19, just mention Suzy Said} I love this store for gifts for the girls in my life: great home goods, jewelry, fun accessories, monogrammed items and so much more! Even gifts for children, babies and pets! 

Two locations: 

120 Main Street New Canaan 

And their new location, 

Playhouse Square, 281 Post Road East, Westport 

Now open Sundays 12-5 as well! 

www.shopshelala.com

Love this cozy window display

All ready for holiday gift giving! 

Gift Guide: 7 A.M. Enfant

After having lunch in the city with two girlfriends and their babies they wheeled their strollers outside and both popped their hands into these gloves which were attached to their stroller handles. I couldn't help but think genius! These down gloves velcro around the handle and basically create glove "sleeves" - pop your hands in to stay warm but you're still holding tightly to the handle of the stroller for safety. Also quickly pull your hands out to grab a wayward pacifier or send a text. A great gift for a new mom in your life, especially a city girl who spends her days attached to her stroller! 

WarMMuffs by 7 A.M. Enfant - only $38 and comes in lots of fun color combos, even neon! 

J&C take them for a spin 

Loving their cute baby items as well - time to bundle up for the season! 

So wish this came in my size : ) 

Shop at http://7amenfant.com/

UCNS Holiday Trunk Show

Support the United Church of Rowayton Nursery School {my alma matter!} with this holiday trunk show Thursday and Friday, December 5th and 6th at the Meeting House, behind the church. Favorite vendors include johnny-O, Seaside Delights, Soundview Millworks, Sail to Sable, Snapping Turtle Kids, Bling, Moes Monkey and KEP Designs. We're excited to check out the other new vendors as well! 

I think Thursday night shopping followed by a delicious dinner at Rowayton Seafood sounds like the perfect girls night! 

Rowayton Tree Lighting

Join the Rowayton Civic Association to Light Up Rowayton on Sunday December 1st! Festivities begin at Pinkney Park around 4:30 with caroling by Brien McMahon's Holiday Chambor Choir followed by the lighting of the Christmas tree. Stroll Rowayton Avenue to view window decorations by local merchants and warm beverages and snacks compliments of Rowayton Market. 

Be sure to check out the 9th annual Rowayton Egg Nog Contest! Enter your favorite egg nog recipe or just come to taste and vote on your favorites. Tasters must be 21 or older. To enter email Stuart Weismiller at stuart5100@aol.com - participants need to bring 3 gallons of your favorite egg nog recipe; tables, chairs and cups will be provided. The perfect way to get in the spirit of the holidays! 

Also notable is the 19th Rowayton Arts Center Holiday Gift Show. Offering unique holiday gifts, decorations and collectibles from some of Fairfield County's finest artists and craftspeople this is a great spot to look for unique gifts! Show opens Saturday November 23rd and continues through Tuesday December 24th. 

Roasted chestnuts and cider will be served from 5-6:30 during the tree lighting. Admission to the RAC Gallery is free. Open Saturdays 10-5 and Sunday, Tuesday - Friday 12-5. 

Santa Claus is Coming to Town

The Christmas season hasn't officially arrived without seeing Santa and his reindeer ride down Greenwich Avenue! Come see them November 29th around 2pm as they make their way into town and down to McArdle's Florist & Garden Center. You'll be able to visit them there until December 24th as well as have your photo taken with Santa. The perfect time to pick up your Christmas tree and other beautiful holiday decorations from McArdle's. 

December 7th kicks of Greenwich Holiday Stroll weekend with over 100 participating merchants offering holiday promotions and refreshments. Free parking on Saturday. Horse drawn carriage rides, professional ice sculpting demonstrations, bouncy castles, food trunks, holiday singing performances, letter writing to Santa and much more! $5 of every photo package will be donated to one of our favorite local charities, Kids in Crisis during this weekend. Also be sure to check the Giving Tree at McArdle's during the month of December to benefit Kids in Crisis as well. 

Visit www.greenwichreindeerfestival.com for more details! 

Gift Guide: Monomoy Designs

Looking for the perfect holiday gift for someone who has everything? How about a gorgeous custom painted nautical chart from Monomoy Designs! Below is the Nantucket Rainbow Fleet at our house last Christmas - on loan from our cousin the artist...I sure wasn't happy to see it make it's way to a gallery after the holidays! 

Some nautical Christmas magic!

These charts are hand painted by artist Kyle Bartlett to reflect some of their most iconic destinations - Cape Cod with Stage Harbor Light, Martha's Vineyard with Edgartown Light, Nantucket with the Rainbow Fleet or Brant Point Light. Any nautical chart can also be customized to feature your favorite boat, summer house, wedding destination and more!

Many original paintings available for the holidays - visit www.monomoydesigns.com or contact monomoydesigns@gmail.com for more information on paintings and custom opportunities. 

All paintings available for viewing on Facebook as well! 

Cape Cod Chart with Stage Harbor Light - Sold 

Cape Cod Chart with view from Chatham Bars Inn - my personal favorite! 

Kyle working away...

Martha's Vineyard Chart with Edgartown Light 

Martha's Vineyard to Block Island Race 

Nantucket Chart with Brant Point Light 

Custom Projects:

Greenwich Shoreline with Ticonderoga 

Fishers Island Chart with clients home and boat 

Give Thanks in Style

We are communally hosting Thanksgiving this year in Chatham so we're keeping it super low key since we'll be in a rental - paper plates anyone?! But it's fun to daydream about how you'd celebrate if you were pulling out all the stops. Maybe I'll find a way to bring a few of these details up with me! Happy Thanksgiving to all! 

For the centerpieces:

I adore everything about this arrangement - especially the birch vase

Pheasant feathers always play heavily into my moms holiday decor - I think she'd love these

For the placecards:

Loving these gilded mini pumpkins - so chic!

Rosemary always reminds me of Thanksgiving {and how much I hate it}
but these placecards are too cute

Show your family you are thankful for them - I love this idea!

Use these as placecards or send your friends and family home with a party favor!

For dessert:

These just make me smile 

Mini apple pies - darling!

I would make these as my own personal dessert
as a reward for hosting :)

To remember what matters:

Start a great table conversation 

All images thinks to Pinterest - and my "Fall for Fall" board 

Run Like A Turkey!

Run like a Turkey! Get in the Thanksgiving spirit with these great Fairfield County Turkey Trots! Help raise money, gather donations or just burn some calories before you dig in for dinner! These turkeys will be trotting in Chatham for the holiday week! Gobble gobble! 

New Canaan Turkey Trot - Sunday, Nov 24th 11am
5K run/walk
http://newcanaanturkeytrot.com/

Pequot Runners Thanksgiving Day Race - Southport, Thursday Nov 28th 8:15am
5M run, 2.7m walk
Info!

Rowayton Turkey Trot - Thursday, Nov 28th 9:30am
5K fun, 1M fun run/walk
http://www.rowaytonturkeytrot.com/

Shippan Turkey Trot - Stamford, Thursday Nov 28th 9:30am
4K fun run
http://shippanturkeytrot.blogspot.com/

The Great Turkey Escape - Redding, Thursday Nov 28th 8am/9am
5K run, 1K fun run
http://www.thegreatturkeyescape.com/

Greenwich Alliance for Education Turkey Trot - Saturday, Nov 30th 9:30am/10am
5K run, 1M fun run/walk
http://www.greenwichalliance.org/events/a-turkey-trot-2013/

Gift Guide: Lisi Lurch Jewelry

Time to start our holiday gift giving posts! Looking for a great gift for your best girlfriend, your sister, yourself? I just learned about the cute costume jewelry of Lisi Lurch at the Serendipity event and they will fit the bill perfectly! 

I snapped up these awesome Turquoise drop Hilary earrings {for myself!}, they were the perfect accent to my all black outfit for the next night. These will definitely be a holiday staple for me. 

I love the below earrings as well - all priced from $45 to $98, a great price range for holiday gift giving!

KWM caught in the act! 

Visit www.lisilerch.com to see all styles! 

Dough & Co to the Rescue!

Let Dough & Co take care of all of your holiday baking needs! Locals, place your order by Monday Nov 25th and pick up your Thanksgiving treats at Flea on Thursday Nov 28th btw 10am-Noon. 

Looking for treats to send to your loved ones around the holidays, check out the items available to ship as well (my favorite featured above!)

Also be sure to swing by Flea in Rowayton to check out their adorable gifts!

Thanksgiving menu!

Treats to ship!

New Canaan Holiday Market

The Young Womens League of New Canaan hosts their very popular Holiday Market this week. Kicking off with a Preview Party on Wednesday night from 6:30pm-9:30pm you can enjoy entertainment, appetizers and cocktails, featuring "A Taste of New Canaan" with local restaurant specialities and a wine tasting bar. Thursday offers a full day of shopping from 9am-4pm, some of our favorite vendors include B Draddy, Bird Dog Bay, Lizzie Izzie & James, M Milestones, Moe's Monkeys, Shell Stories, Small Field Papers, Splurge, The Pink Mink and Three Islands. See all show vendors online.

Tickets to the Preview Party are $50, $55 at the door {which includes admittance into Market Day}
Tickets to Market Day are only $10 online or at the door
Purchase tickets here!

This years theme is "Help A Child...Change A Community" with all net proceeds being granted to local charities that better the lives of children. It's so much better when you can shop for a cause so kick off your holiday shopping in New Canaan this week!

Waveny House
677 South Ave, New Canaan
http://www.ywlnewcanaan.org/holidaymarket

*So many great things going on in FFC this holiday season so we'll be posting more than once a day when we have lots to say so be sure to scroll down for all daily posts*

Juliska Party Recap

I had a great time last week at the Juliska Holiday Hostess event featuring blogger Catherine Tompkins of My Life in Parties! Tasty treats from Dough & Co. {more details on their Thanksgiving orders tomorrow}, beautiful flowers from Greenwich Orchid, great gift giving ideas from Juliska and fun paper goods by Catherine. Here are some of my favorite photos from the night! It was also really fun to finally meet Lindsay from Vineyard Loveknots! We realized we were buying all the same adorable gift tags and notecards from Catherine, see below! {I also just saw her post on this event when I linked her blog and realized we pretty much wrote the exact same thing about each other : ), hi Lindsay! Her photos are also much better so check them out}

Amazing flowers from Greenwich Orchid. I loved the elephant place cards and the mix of Julikas bamboo styles with the feather napkin rings, perfect for Thanksgiving!

Mmmm, Dough & Co cookies! {more details tomorrow}

Another great table setting, I especially loved the furry owls!

One of my favorite vignettes, the guys gift guide - such a good idea and great gifts for the men in your life. Didn't think you'd find guy gifts at Juliska right?

Christmas is coming! Love the burlap with plaid placemats, the charming Juliska holiday china and the cute pillow in the background!

Letterpress stationary - stocked up on gift tags and notepads! Available at Juliska while supplies last. 

Juliska will be putting their amazing Christmas ornaments out this week as well, a must shop! 

465 Canal Street, Stamford CT 

www.juliska.com