Blog Crush :: Mimi Thorisson's Manger

Well hello there!  I hope you all had a fantastic Thanksgiving.  Are you waking up early to brave the crowds and find some Black Friday deals?  Or are you doing your holiday shopping from the comfort of your bed?  I have never been much of a Black Friday kind of gal, but may stop by a few local boutiques in my hometown today {two of my favorites being Whispers and Preen}.

Since I am still dreaming about our fantastic meal yesterday, I'd like to share with you one of my favorite food/lifestyle bloggers -- Mimi Thorisson.  Her blog, Manger, follows her and her family's life in their gorgeous French farmhouse.  Looking through her posts, I absolutely fell in love with her effortlessly chic style, family, recipes, home, love of nature, and the fact that she has 14 dogs {I mean, could you imagine?!} She spends her days exploring the beautiful French countryside with her six children, antiquing, visiting winemakers and food artisans, and creating delicious recipes inspired by her time in France and Hong Kong.  And not to mention the fact that she is absolutely stunning, has a photographer husband who captures each moment and dish just perfectly, has an American book deal, and a French TV show.  Did I mention that she has 14 dogs?! 

Ok, so suffice it to say I am a little envious, but she seems so down to earth that it's impossible not to love her.  And after you look at the photos of her beautiful family, home, food, and life, I'm sure you will too!

Images via Manger and Bon Appetit

Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving my dears!  I hope your day is filled with friends, family, food, love, and giving thanks.  I have a lot to be thankful for this year and today I will be celebrating that.  Cheers!

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Recipe :: Thanksgiving Sides

In celebration of Thanksgiving, I have rounded up four delicious and festive sides from my favorite magazine,  Bon Appetit.  A Winter Squash Bowl that is an absolute head-turner, a simple Butternut Squash Tart with Fried Sage, a rustic Bread Stuffing with Red Mustard Greens, Currants, and Pine Nuts, and savory Nutmeg and Black Pepper Popovers.  Click the links for the full recipes, and for the BEST Apple Pie, Ever, click here.  Happy eating!

Outfit :: Thanksgiving Dinner

1. JCrew Collection Featherweight Cashmere Jeweled-Collar Sweater // 2. Bauble Bar Mystic Topaz Gem Drops // 3. JCrew Stadium Cloth Cocoon Coat 4. JCrew Etta Suede Pumps // 5. Tory Burch Drew Tweed Pants // 6. The French Market Cookbook // 7. Kate Spade Bright Light Carah

I absolutely love Thanksgiving.  I love that it is the official beginning of the Holiday Season.  I love being able to celebrate with family and friends and not have to worry about finding the *perfect* gift for everyone on my list.  I love the food {see recipe for the BEST Apple Pie, Ever here}.  But mostly, I love having a day that reminds us to remember how blessed we really are.  And this year I have a lot to be thankful for.

I like to be comfortable on Thanksgiving but also still look fun and festive.  I think this outfit with it's jewel tones, luxurious textures like cashmere and tweed, and sparkly extras is exactly what the doctor ordered.

Image via A Beautiful Mess

Recipe :: The BEST Apple Pie, Ever

I cannot believe that Thanksgiving is on Thursday!  November has just flown by, and before we know it Christmas will be here too.  I am trying to savor every moment of the holiday season, because it always just seems to go by too fast.  One thing I look forward to the most about this time of year is my mom's Apple Pie.  Seriously, it is legendary.  The recipe has been passed down in our family, and as you can see below the recipe itself has definitely seen it's share of spills and dirty fingers.  Thankfully my mom made me a new recipe to go inside the cookbook that she made for me when I turned 21 {all hand-written and illustrated...she is the best!}  So without further adieu, here is the recipe for {in my humble opinion} the BEST Apple Pie, EVER.

The BEST Apple Pie, Ever

CRUST: 

1 1/4 c. shortening {chilled}

3 c. flour

1 teaspoon salt

Approx. 5 tablespoons ice water

1 egg, beaten well

1 tablespoon vinegar

In a large bowl, mix salt and flour.  Cut in chilled shortening with two knives until it starts to mix -- blend the rest of the way with a pastry blender until the texture resembles coarse sand.  Don't over mix!

Add egg and vinegar, mix with fork.  Add ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, mixing with fork until blended.  Dough should be pretty moist.  

Form into ball and wrap with plastic wrap.  Chill in fridge for one hour.  Divide in half - roll out bottom half to fit pie plate bottom and other half for the top.

FILLING:

1 c. sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon lemon rind, grated

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

3-4 tablespoons flour

7 c. peeled, sliced apples {mostly Granny Smith}

1 tablespoon lemon juice

2 tablespoons butter

Heat over to 400 degrees.

Combine sugar, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, flour, and lemon rind in a small bowl.  Put apples in a large bowl and pour lemon juice over.  Mix dry ingredients in with apples, mix well.  Taste and add more spices as you see fit.

Pour apples into prepared pie crust.  Dot with four or five pats of butter.  Put crust on top and pinch the crust with your thumb and first finger from one hand and first finger from other hand.  Repeat until crust resembles photo below.  If desired, use a little extra dough and a fun cookie cutter to put a few decorative shapes on top {I like to use little leaves or stars}.  Draw a happy face with sharp pairing knife, to make sure steam can release from pie.

Bake on middle rack -- 400 degrees for 10 minutes then turn oven down to 350 degrees.  Bake for another 40-50 minutes until crust is golden brown and apples are bubbly.  Turn once or twice while cooking to ensure all sides are cooked evenly.

Let cool, serve with your favorite vanilla ice cream {I love Jeni's Ndali Estate Vanilla Bean}.  Enjoy!

Outfit :: Ice Skating in Central Park

1. JCrew Jeweled Fair Isle Stripe Sweater // 2. Club Monaco Sienna Angora Hat // 3. C.Wonder Cashmere Tres Chic Gloves // 4. Club Monaco Colleen Faux Leather Skirt // 5. AE Boyfriend Chambray Shirt // 6. Black Long-Sleeve Zipper Pockets Coat // 7. Marc by Marc Jacobs Gig Mossheart Quilted Leather Shoulder Bag // 8. Falke Pure Matt 50 Denier Tights // 9. Figure Skates // 10. Kate Spade Small Square Studs

Happy Friday dears!  I am in full-on vacation planning mode, getting ready for my six-day trip to New York City!  I am especially excited to go ice skating in Central Park - Ryan has never been to NYC before and I can't think of a more magical time for him to visit than the holiday season.  I always try to carry-on when traveling domestically, so packing will definitely be a bit of a challenge.  But I think a little faux-leather swing skirt paired with a festive fair isle sweater, cozy accessories, and a lady-like black wool coat {that by the way is only $42!} would be a perfect look for skating hand-in-hand in the park.  Bring on the snow!

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Travel :: Christmas in New York!

I have been bursting with joy these past few days, because Ryan has a last-minute trip to NYC planned for work which means I get to tag along!  And when I say bursting, I literally mean breaking out into spontaneous song and dance {in particular Frank Sinatra's "New York, New York" and Annie's "NYCCCC"...I know, real mature}.  I love New York 365 days a year, but during the holiday season?  That is almost too much excitement for me to handle!

So I wanted to ask, do you have any recommendations of must-see places, shops, neighborhoods, restaurants, etc?  I will be there for almost six days {four in Times Square and the rest with my sister in Brooklyn} and will have the days to myself so I plan on doing lots of exploring with my camera in-hand {my favorite!}  Any tidbits would be greatly appreciated :)

Image via Pinterest

Inspiring Interiors :: Home in a Converted Public Library

A few weeks ago I was looking on Design to Inspire, when I came across this gorgeous Portland home inside a converted public library.  I absolutely love their kitchen, and how awesome is the little nook turned office space?  Personally I would prefer furniture that is a little more classic and whimsical, but I do love how they decided to decorate with a modern approach that serves as a nice contrast to the traditional space.  And I mean, how amazing would it be to live in an old library? 

Wanderlust :: Patagonia, Chile

As many places as I have traveled, I still have not yet visited the Southern Hemisphere.  So when I do, I might as well head down, down, down to the tip of South America -- to the beautiful and rugged region of Patagonia, Chile.  I cannot get over how absolutely stunning the landscape is -- lush and alive yet lonely and barren, it is so remote that it has not yet been completely taken over by buses and tour groups like many other natural wonders in the world.  Adventurers go to see electric-blue lakes, massive glaciers, otherworldly sunsets, craggy mountains, and endless land unpopulated for hundreds of miles except for perhaps a lone gaucho on horseback.  When we go, I would most certainly stay at one of the amazing domes at the fully sustainable Ecocamp Patagonia {it even has a yoga dome!}  But, I'd also love to spend a few days at the award-winning eco-friendly Remota hotel -- famous for it's architecture and sweeping views of the fjord and glaciers.  It amazes me how much beauty we have on this earth and I want to see it all.  For as St. Augustine once said, "The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page."  

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