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

I.  When I first started blogging, I had an overwhelming amount of support from both close friends and people I barely knew.  This support is the only reason that I’ve been able to follow my passion for cooking, writing, and entertaining over the last three years.  One of the most vocal in her support from the beginning was Los Angeles-based stylist Keylee Sanders of Style Studio.  I’d only met the gorgeous former Miss Teen USA a handful of times when she reached out to me to do a feature on Table + Teaspoon for her website.  I was stunned that someone who I looked up to from afar as a confident successful business woman believed in me, and I will never forget her kindness.

Though we fell out of touch over the years, I was recently reminded of how strong Keylee is when she started chronicling her divorce after finding out that her husband was leading a double-life. I’m so proud of Keylee for sharing her sadly relatable - yet inspiring story, and encourage you to check it out on her blog (beginning here).

II.  This weekend, I’m hosting a baby shower for a friend who is waiting until birth to find out her child’s gender.  With traditional blue or pink color schemes eliminated for decor, I turned to Pinterest for inspiration.

With these images in mind, I’m going with an all white palette for an ethereal feel.  For dessert, I’m making these Gin Fizz Cupcakes topped with adorable gender-neutral teddy bears - perfect for a late brunch celebration.

III.  Ever since discovering Karlie’s Kookies, I’ve been obsessed with Karlie Kloss.  During Fashion’s Night Out, Kloss sold the cookies that she created in collaboration with Momofuku Milk Bar and gave the proceeds to FEED, which benefits hungry children worldwide (gluten-free, sugar-free, dairy-free recipe here).   Needless to say, I was stoked to find that Vogue recently featured the supermodel’s foyer into home decor with a “Shop the Look” feature.

IV.  Due to a high volume of toxing lately (weddings, birthdays, friends from out of town, Sunday brunches, wine with dinner, nightcap before bed - you get the idea) I’ve decided to detox.  To jump-start the effort, I make a green smoothie every day when I wake up.  I won’t lie to you - I’ve consumed tastier things in the morning (for example: breakfast flatbread with prosciutto and arugula), but there’s nothing quite like the energy you get from starting your day with several pounds of ridiculously healthy vegetables.  I’m not fancy enough to have a Vitamix, so I use my trusty Ninja to blend.  Here’s my recipe (makes two): 1 cup almond milk, ½ banana, ½ apple, ½ cucumber, 2 cups kale, 1 cup broccoli 

V.  Fingers crossed that my detox takes effect in time for the SF MOMA Modern Ball.  Our planning committee has worked diligently to create the most spectacular evening, and I hope that you will join me!  The night begins with a playful dinner, then comes alive with performances by Passion Pit and Holy Ghost! at the legendarily scandalous afterparty.  Mark your calendar for April 30th - this is an event that you won’t want to miss.

Have a wonderful week!  xx tt