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

I.  I’m shamelessly obsessed with Christmas.  Favorite Movie: Home Alone.  Favorite Sweet: Candy Cane.  Favorite Activity: Holiday Parties.  Favorite Decoration: Pine + Twinkle Lights.  And that’s where the problem begins…  As it turns out, I’m allergic to pine (hanging my garland resulted in full-on hives).  This wouldn’t be an actual problem, but for the fact that I live in a small apartment.  While the garland is all the seasonal greenery I can handle, I’ve found myself missing the tree component of the holiday.  I loathed the PVC version as a child, but it turns out that faux trees have come a long way since the 80’s.  I found this picture of a black/white/gray option on Pinterest in my preferred color palette, and had to have it.  After a little research, I discovered both DIY and inexpensive ombre options.  

II.  Beyond holiday decor, December means that the beginning of 2015 is just around the corner. As much as I enjoy the convenience of conducting my entire life via iPhone, there’s something about having a tangible planner that I just can’t live without.  Though I don’t typically buy one until January, I stumbled upon this gorgeous gilded pocket version at Target last night and threw it in my (already overfilled) cart without a second thought.  Much to my delight, the Target collection is the result of a collaboration with the adorable Los Angeles paperie, Sugar Paper.

III.  San Francisco has been drenched for weeks, inspiring me to spend more time than usual in the kitchen.  After roasting so many chickens that I grew tired of them (something I didn’t think possible) I decided it was time to find something else to do with my dietary staple.  Realizing that I hadn’t made Coq au Vin since posting it on T&T, I went to the store to grab ingredients and spent my Sunday making the mouthwatering chicken braised in red wine, mushrooms, and bacon. Perfect rainy day indulgence!

IV.  Assouline has long been my go-to for coffee table fare, but I’m particularly smitten with the publisher’s latest release Ottoman Chic.  Photographs of a former pasha’s richly decorated hunting lodge capture the opulence of onetime imperial capital, Istanbul.  Restored by Turkish designer Serdar Gulgun, who narrates the book, the palace perfectly captures the magnificence of the Ottoman Empire combined with a modern aesthetic.  I’ll be rush ordering a few of these gems for hostess gifts this season.

V.  Back in my lawyering days, I thought that being both an attorney and a food blogger was impressive.  Then my friend Addie (a doctor) started her food blog, and instantly trumped me. Addie and I often text about tweaks she’s made to my recipes, but I didn’t realize the full extent of her culinary prowess until I started reading PNW Problems.  Chronicling foodie adventures unique to the Pacific Northwest, the blog offers recipes for nearly every night of the week (how does she find the time?!).  If you’re wondering what to do with your CSA Box or Farmers’ Market loot, take a peek at the blog for delicious inspiration.

Have a wonderful week!  xx tt