What Would I ask For
I’ve only once made a Christmas wishlist as an adult and it was prompted by my parents who kept pressing me to actually answer when they asked me what I wanted. I always feel/felt guilty asking for things, but decided to try it out and took a page from my daughter’s book when providing links!
Nobody has asked me yet this year, but if they do, I hope they view this post….(hint, hint).
In the Kitchen
I LOVE bread. Doesn’t everyone? I also LOVE jam. They go to gether like, well, bread and butter. Which reminds me that I am going on year two with an obsession with French butter. Since it’s not super easy to buy French butter, though I promise to do a post about it at another time, I’ll focus here on the bread and the jam, but please understand that everything is better with butter, so you should always layer them.
I have never tried making English muffins, but I have eaten more than my fair share over the years. Obviously you could just look up a recipe online or in a cook book, this kit seems like a fun way to try it out and makes for an adorable package when paired with my next item. Check out this breakfast or tea-time treat.
This jam is sooooo good. I love jam of all flavors, but this one somehow is unique and, of course, I’m a sucker for the tapestry inspiration on the packaging which, incidentally, is what inspired my own product that is a feast for your olfactory senses.
We were gifted a set of Riedel Sommelier glasses for our wedding and were blown away at how much nicer they were than anything we had ever had or used before. A trip to Napa and Sonoma later and we were hooked. Truly, the quality, size, and shape make a huge difference when smelling and drinking wine. But, the Sommelier line are not dishwasher-safe and their price is often unreachable for many. Plus, most haven’t survived my family visiting for Christmas, which was always hard to swallow when tossing out a shattered glass. The Vinum line is not hand-made, but they are more affordable and can be dishwasher-washed.
I need more of these Riesling glasses in our cabinet, and these are the only solution I want:
My favorite thing to do in nice weather is to sit on my patio with my husband and have a glass of wine or a margarita. My wine of choice in the summer is a sparkling rose, but it always gets warm too quickly! I really want one of these to help my wine stay colder, longer.
On Thanksgiving and Christmas we host a large crowd. It is SO hard to keep everything warm until it is time to serve. And, inevitably, someone shows up really late. As you know, you can only reheat certain recipes so many times before they become inedible and unappetizing. We put a ton of time and thought into our meals when hosting, so it is sad when food is ruined because it has to be re cooked. This seems like the perfect answer to our holiday hosting, but I know we’d put it to great us when hosting team feeds for our kids’ sports teams. It is hard to transport chafing dishes sometimes, so this would really do the trick in keeping food warm without a flame.
https://amzn.to/4f0ZiNu
In My Closet
I have long been a big fan of Ralph Lauren and feel more myself in a button down oxford shirt and jeans or shorts than I do in Lululemon (which I haven’t owned or worn in about 18 years) or anything with lycra or spandex. I like wearing more “proper” or tailored clothes because that’s just my style. I am really, really simple in my daily choice of clothes. In the summer, I live in an all cotton fitted tee and a pair of shorts and tennis shoes.
I have thought lately it would be nice to add a little punch to my accessories, which are also really traditional and basic. I love this belt for button downs with jeans or shorts. It is classy, has a little flair, and would pair so well with any choice of shoe.
For leather shoes, my favorite brands are Frye and Miu Miu. Both are impeccably made, basically indestructible, and don’t go out of style. I don’t follow trends, which means my closet staples stick around until they fall apart. I like it best this way and it’s also better for the planet and my wallet in the long run. I need a new pair of boots and a new pair of loafers. Here is what I’d choose:Great boots
In My Bedroom
I watch the news in my bedroom at night when I have time–maybe not the best idea, but it is what it is. To balance the crazy, and also to help me wind down from the day, I burn a candle on my nightstand. My candles are made with wooden wicks, which crackle lightly as then burn, and it is truly such a soothing feature. Lately, I’ve been enjoying this Night Voyage candle because it has a dark, mysterious and cozy fragrance blend. The black exterior and gold metallic interior look so beautiful in my bedroom, too.
Years ago I purchased a set of these flannel sheets and I’ve only been kicking myself for not buying a second set when they still offered the tartan plaid I prefer. Despite hundreds of washes in my industrial washing machine, they have held up so well. The fitted sheet hasn’t shrunk at all (this is a rarity) and they barely show any signs whatsoever of pilling. I like to be cozy in bed and sleeping on quality sheets is a game-changer. I’ll be buying a set for our son who also loves to be very cozy, and I’ll continue to email L.L. Bean to plead with them in hopes they will bring back the pattern I really want more of.
*I may earn a small commission from the sale of some of these products, but I can vouch for all of them (minus the wine glass chiller and food warming mat because I haven’t yet used those) personally.