Infusing grandeur into otherwise drab Mondays with five things/ideas/events for the week:

I.  November is flying by so quickly, somehow it’s already time for Christmas trees and I still have gold-dipped Halloween pumpkins on my kitchen counter. Walking through my neighborhood this weekend, I realized that not one - but two tree lots are up and running (Guardsmen and Marina Middle School). With the launch of my start up (details coming very soon), I was planning to skip the whole tree thing this year, until I stumbled upon this darling photo. I love the simplicity of a naked tree in a rustic wicker basket (a wood crate is another beautiful option). By using this minimalist approach, you reap the benefit of the delicious pine scent without the chaos of tree skirts, lights (which are inevitably always broken), and ornaments.

II.  Where to put the place card has been a question that’s haunted me ever since I was old enough to help my mom set the table. For years, my go-to was a package tag tied with pretty ribbon around the dinner napkin. As my aesthetic evolved, I’ve become more partial to enhancing prints and textures by placing napkins underneath chargers to play off the table linen. This left me without a suitable place to tie my tags - which meant place cards lazily laying flat on salad plates. So when a friend spotted these adorable Esselle place card holders at a crafts fair, I knew they were the perfect solution. The geometric shape and color options allow the pieces to participate as much or little as you like in your table decor.

III.  Last week, I mentioned a brilliant tool for addressing envelopes. But what about the whole “my five-year old has better hand-writing than I do” dilemma? Enter Laura Hooper Calligraphy. Providing everything from online and in-person workshops to DIY kits, Laura will make you forget Paperless Post exists because you will be so excited to show off your chic new lettering. Join me at the Beginner’s Class on January 30th at Lux-SF!

IV.  While I like to imagine that by following my blog the last six years, you’ve all become master chefs, I’m well aware that most of you are just here for the pictures. Whether that’s true of you or your culinary prowess rivals mine - with all of the out of town friends and family flocking in this week, having a ridiculously easy recipe for post-Thanksgiving breakfast is crucial. I promise my Breakfast Pizza won’t disappoint. All that you need is a pre-made crust, cheese, eggs, and toppings (think bacon and truffle oil). Come to think of it, I might have to make this for dinner tonight…

V.  On the topic of Thanksgiving, through my pro bono work with foster youth, I’m devastated to know first-hand that not everyone has a place to go to celebrate the holiday. If you aren’t on kitchen duty, please consider donating some of your time or extra food at a shelter. Here’s an excellent resource for how to get involved in the Bay Area.

Have a wonderful week, and happy Thanksgiving!  xx tt