It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas!

It's starting to feel like Christmas with the chilly weather, holiday decorations popping up and 300 catalogs in my mailbox every afternoon! But I couldn't be more ready to kick of the season - would it be too soon to put a tree up before Thanksgiving??

If you're in the Christmas spirit too I have a great event to make you feel even more festive! The Enchanted Forest in Greenwich is visited by over 7,000 people as they enjoy an amazing holiday experience - beautiful gingerbread and Christmas tree forest where all items are for auction, a holiday boutique with over 50 vendors to jump start your shopping, gingerbread decorating workshops and my personal favorites - a Santa breakfast with the jolly man himself and tea with Clara the ballerina from the Nutcracker! There is also a girls shopping event on Friday night with cocktails, beauty treatments and lots of door prizes!

The most fun event of the weekend however is the Saturday Night Jingle Bell Bash - a night of live music with the Short Bus, lots of festive cocktails and delicious dinner, wonderful silent auction items {a week rental in the Vineyard, a year membership to the Hermitage Club, tickets to to Lady Gaga/Tony Bennett concert and so much more!} And at only $125/ticket it's one of the most reasonable tickets in town.

All proceeds from the weekend go to benefit the amazing works of the Junior League of Greenwich supporting those in need in our community! It is by far their largest fundraiser and supports almost a year of their work so please come check it out - bring your kids, your family and your friends! You can buy tickets below or make a donation if you are interested. It's a truly magical weekend and I hope to see many of you there!

Friday Nov 21 - Sunday Nov 22: times for all events listed below

Hyatt Regency Greenwich
1800 East Putnam Ave
Old Greenwich

http://www.jlgreenwich.org/?nd=ticket_list&fundraiser_id=56

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

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 

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 

The Enchanted Forest 2013

Help support one of Greenwich's largest fundraisers - The Enchanted Forest! This years theme is Celebration of Sweetness and it's sure to bring many sweet treats to all who attend. Enjoy breakfast with Santa, tea with Clara, a gingerbread workshop, sweet soriee cocktails, biding on beautiful Christmas trees and much much more!

One of my favorite events is the Friday night shopping preview from 6-9. Leave the kids at home, free entry and plenty of libations! Enjoy shopping without anyone yanking on your leg and get a jump start on your holiday gifts! There will also be early access to the trees and gingerbread houses for sale this year. 

Another highlight is the Saturday night event - always with a wonderful silent auction, signature cocktails, live band and plenty of delicious food. Grab a group for a fun night out. Last year we left with blue brothers sunglasses for all, plenty of hysterical photobooth film strips and a ski house for ten - party success! 

Learn more at www.jlgreenwich.org. All proceeds help fund the charitable works of the Junior League of Greenwich. 

Shopping Wednesday!

So many great shopping event on Wednesday that are not to be missed! With the short time between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year it's important to get your shopping started soon! I will admit as I walked down Greenwich Ave on Saturday it felt like the holidays and I loved it! I even purchased my first Christmas gift - this girls ready!

For some daytime shopping hit up this great group trunk show with some of my favorite friends in Darien from 11-4:

To get a kickstart on the holidays join Juliska and Catherine Tompkins to see their best gift ideas along with holiday entertaining ideas - enjoy food, drinks, gift bags and door prizes! Don't miss this fun event in Stamford from 6-8:30 which also supports Neighbor to Neighbor:

For girls night out be sure to check out the Serendipity event at The Loading Dock in Stamford. A great  fashion show with philanthropic models, plenty of great shopping, food, wine and cocktails! Proceeds benefit Canary Kids. In Stamford from 7-10, buy tickets ahead of time for a discounted price:

I'm going to try to really get my shop on and hit all three! 

Shop For A Cause

Support Breast Cancer Awareness Month and start your holiday shopping early! Join Juliska for wine, snacks and great gifts for your favorite hostess. Soundview Millworks will also be there selling their wonderful teak and holly cutting boards. 

Preview your favorite styles at www.juliska.com and www.soundviewmillworks.com

Favorite Flower Shops

When it comes time to pick up some flowers, either as a gift or just to brighten up our apartment these are a few of my favorite spots!

Cos Cob Farms in Greenwich 

61 East Putnam Ave (next to Corbos)

Beautiful cut flowers, potted plants, amazing orchards for $39! See the below stunner that I picked up there recently. They also have delicious candies, fresh fruit and hard to find grocery items. 

Me and my orchid cruising around town!

Flower & Flowers in Darien

876 Post Road 

203.662.9666

www.flowersandflowers.net

We love Adam's beautiful flowers - great as a gift or for a special event. We love the below arrangements he did for a friends dinner party {and we really love their dining room chairs!}

Love all the texture here!

Compo Farm Flowers in Darien 

27 Tokeneke Road (next to Ernies)

Another lovely spot for fresh cut flowers, lots of unique blooms, and also beautiful arrangements {they usually have a nice assortment in their refrigerator or stop in to request a custom order} They did these beautiful flowers for my parents 35th wedding anniversary!

Vermont Nuptials

I'm a big fan of eye candy on a Friday. At this point in the week do you really feel like reading anything? So enjoy these gorgeous photos of our friends wedding in Ludlow, VT a few weekends ago. After their church ceremony we rode the chair lift to the top of the mountain for a champagne toast - amazing! - and then off to a picture perfect reception at their beautiful farmhouse. So many special details that pulled the whole wedding together, country chic done oh so well, enjoy! 

The happy couple riding up Okemo

Gorgeous dinner tent 

A great memento in their garden

Escort cards 

Amazing aps

Cupcake station

Family style dinner menu 

Love the long tables

Gorgeous flowers and favorite ski destinations

Wildflowers everywhere

Love!

Thanks M&M for an awesome weekend! 

What To Do This Weekend?

Looking for some fun things to do this weekend? Check out these favorite past posts for some great activities around town! 

Stand Up Paddle Board

Eat Lobster Rolls

Go to Kennebunkport!

Track Down the Grilled Cheese Truck

BYOB

Make a New Beach Bag

Eat Dessert

Roadtrip to Litchfield

Take a Flower Class

Throw a Birthday Fete

Here are some highlights from our summer thus far. Happy Weekend! 

Nantucket Wine Festival 

Summer at Sankety

Birthday drinks at Toppers

Beachcomber

Neon Skys

Picnic in Garrison

Five Mile River

Wedding at Okemo

Chatham Bars Inn

Shore Rd.

Perfect Beach Day