Inspiring Styling + Links

Whew!! This week was a bit of a whirlwind and I'm quite glad to see it come to an end! Whirlwind weeks seem to make the days go by faster. Before I know it, Christmas and 2013 will be here and I must say that I certainly look forward to it! So what's up for the weekend? I plan to finish up my Christmas shopping (I swear I will finish this weekend), check out some of best Christmas lights in the city here, try out a new Italian restaurant and get a good nap or two in between. Can't wait...

I've got some good links for you today, so I hope you enjoy! Have a great weekend and I will see you next week!

Loved this creative video on how to style a bed...

I wish I could trade my current kitchen for this one designed by my friend Melissa. Quite lovely...

This home in the new issue of Lonny is beyond beautiful. That bedroom and bathroom- sigh...

She made 450 sq ft look amazing...

My two new favorite pieces of internet real estate: This blog and this blog.

The perfect little personable gift...

So true!

Use code WISHLIST and get 30% of your entire purchase at J.Crew online! Free shipping, too!

Image via

Holiday Home Tour: Tracey Ayton

Since the holiday season began, I have been on the hunt for the perfect home tour to share with you- one that is inspiring, fresh-looking and beautiful. Well the other day, I stopped by the blog of talented photographer Tracey Ayton. When I saw her holiday home tour, my first thought was, "Wow." Tracey is one of the best photographers out there and I am always in awe of her work - so much so that I have featured it a few times here on the blog (here and here). You know how much I love "simple" style, so I was instantly drawn to her holiday decor. It's simple and stylish with a beautiful dog to go along with it. Gotta love that...

So pretty right?? I love the small tree in the basket and I bet that Anthropologie candle smells fabulous.  

Be sure to stop by her website and blog to see more of her beautiful work!

Holiday Cocktail: The Cranberry Claus

Thanks to you, my wonderful readers, the holiday cocktail I posted last year was very successful. So I thought I would make it a little tradition here on the blog to post an annual holiday cocktail.

This.One.Is.GOOD!!!

I wish I could take credit for the recipe, but I actually found it on one of the last few pages of the December issue of InStyle magazine. My idea of a good drink is something that colorful, simple, different and most importantly, extra tasty. This drink meets all of those requirements. The puree makes the drink sweet and slightly tart. The burbon adds that extra little kick and offsets the tartness of the cranberries. Oh so good. The puree can also be made ahead of time- which I love.

Here is what you need and what to do:

Drink 

(makes 1)

2 oz light-syle burbon

1/2 oz St. Germain liqueur

2 oz cranberry puree 

Cranberry Puree

1 12 oz bag frozen cranberries

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

3 whole cloves

1 cinnamon stick

1 orange, zested

Add all of the ingredients for the puree to a small saucepan. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Your house will smell amazing...

Remove the cinnamon stick and pour the mixture into a blender or food processor. Puree until smooth. Strain the mixture into a bowl and chill in the refrigerator. 

To make the drink, fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add all of the ingredients for the drink to the shaker. Shake until your fingers feel like they are going to fall off, about 15 seconds. :) Strain the drink into a slightly frosted martini glass and garnish with cranberries and sliced oranges. 

TIP: The puree can also be used a base for a cranberry mimosa. Just add a little of the puree to the bottom of a champagne glass. Top it off with your favorite champagne!

Update: I'm sharing this recipe with Natasha at Schue Love! She is hosting a Holiday Recipe Party, so be sure to stop by!

Weekend in Five Pics

My favorite coffee table book at the moment | Saturday dessert - the BEST cranberry lemon bar from this bakery | Saturday lunch - a California turkey sandwich with a spicy chipotle mayo | Banana Republic pea coat (similar here) | Frozen cranberries for tomorrow's cocktail

Hi there my friends... I hope you had a wonderful weekend. My weekend was extremely low-key. On Saturday morning, I took my slow time getting out of bed, had a little practice time with my camera, had a great lunch and dessert, then hit a few stores to do some Christmas shopping. Why is it that I always find the BEST stuff, on sale, when I am shopping for other people??? Does that happen to you? That yellow coat had my name on it and was the only one left on the sale rack, plus I had a coupon. So buying it just felt like the right thing to do... :)

On Sunday, I slept in again and made my 2012 holiday cocktail that I can't wait to share with you tomorrow! 

Dreamy + Links

Are you thinking what I'm thinking? Are you thinking how wonderful it would be if you could spend a few uninterrupted hours in that tub surrounded by that gorgeous tile, candles, a stack of magazines, a glass bottle of champagne and a fully checked off to-do list? Dreamy I tell ya. 

Speaking of a to-do list, conquering everything on my TeuxDeax list is my weekend goal. I love the TeuxDeax app by the way... Finishing up my Christmas shopping, figuring out a design for my home office (it looks a hot mess right now) and rest are at the top of the list. "Rest" is actually an item on the list. How sad is that?? Despite the busyness of the season, I hope you find time for a little rest, too.

Here are a few of my favorite links from the week. Have a great weekend!

Cutest pups ever...

I just KNEW her wedding video would be good...

This photo shoot starring one of my favorite bloggers and her husband is just, well, it's just beautiful...

Oh my goodness gracious...

LOVE this cozy little NYC apartment...

I feel like I have seen 100 gift guides over the last few weeks, but there are a few I keep going back to, like this one and this one. I loved the products + the guides were just really pretty to look at. 

Thanks for your sweet comments on my holiday home tour and my cranberry cheddar popovers! 

Image via (no longer available)

The Holidays Around My House

Just a few glimpses of the holiday decor around my house... I kept things simple this year, just like I did last year. Simple just always makes me happy. My goal this year was to use what I had and not buy anything new. Of course I didn't meet my goal, but the items I did purchase were inexpensive, so that doesn't count right??

A few weeks ago, I went to TJMaxx to find a lamp for my guest bedroom. I walked out of the store with the garland for the wine glass chandelier and the sequin skirt for the tree. No lamp... TJMaxx gets me almost every time! Does it get you, too? Remember those Crate & Barrel candle holders that I mentioned here?? Well they were on sale on Black Friday, so I purchased them that day under the premise I could use them all year round. I love em', so I'm sure that will be the case! I found the quilted stockings and the little monogram pins at Target and I loved the way they turned out. They are for my mom (M), dad (D) and my brother Chad (C). I am going to fill them with little sentimental gifts instead of wrapping individual gifts for them this year. I hope they like them! 

I'll try to be better at meeting my goal next year...

I'm sharing my decor with Michelle at Ten June today! She is hosting a Holiday Mantle Party today, so be sure to check it out!

 

 

Cranberry Cheddar Popovers

When I was in my early 20's (roughly ten years ago), I did what some girls in their early 20's do. I moved to a new city - all for a boy. A boy that I cared about so much that it made total sense to move nearly 900 miles away from my family to a city where I knew absolutely nobody but him. To be honest, I didn't even know myself. But who does in their early 20's?? Well, to make a very long story short, it didn't work out. But I always try to find the good in the bad. If it weren't for the move, I would have missed out on some huge learning experiences, some of the greatest friends I have ever had, and well, probably the popover... :)

Looking Backward & Forward...

Row 1: View from Charleston, SC beach house, Ravenel Bridge in Charleston

Row 2: Me doing what I love most- photographing food, Scoring the Anthropolgie Peplum Ponte tank for $22!

Row 3: Charleston Farmers Market, Grass fed beef burger & sweet potato tots from here

Row 4: Fresh berries on my Christmas mantle, A walk with my dad

Over the weekend, I looked back through some photos I took during November. I was reminded that life can be really, really good, the small moments always make me the happiest and that I have a ton to be thankful for. I can't wait to see what's in store for this month. This weekend, I attended my first Christmas party, celebrated my alma mater's win of the SEC Championship football game (I swear I almost had a heart attack), and watched The Holiday for the 1000th time on my couch, wrapped in a cozy blanket while fully surrounded by Christmas lights and decor. I'd say this month is off to a great start. 

Photos via Instagram (@savorhome)