Couch Potatoes

I’ve made no secret of the fact that we’ve been watching our fair share of TV lately. I can’t help it though—there’s just something so intoxicating about settling in on the couch with your friends or family, popcorn or ice cream sundae in hand, and getting into a really good series. Though the Oscars are sure to occupy my Sunday night, the forecasted dreary weather, coupled with the addictive quality of Netflix, may encourage me to expand my horizons and start a new show. Then again, I wouldn’t mind revisiting one of my old favorites. Suggestions are welcome! 

Layered Love

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The other night, while shamelessly watching The Carrie Diaries, I think I was subliminally messaged. Is it just me, or are nameplate necklaces suddenly very in vogue again? Well, that’s supposing that they ever went away and, in my case, they most definitely did not. Be they gold, silver, full name, monograms or initials, there’s something incredibly charming about personalizing your neck with delicate, layered chains of words, and I’m very happy to see that other ladies feel the same.

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Homebody

New flavors of loose tea from Tea Guys, in cute canisters designed by Molly Hatch

Is this winter ever going to end? I mean, really, I’m starting to wonder if I have a mild case of Seasonal Affective Disorder. That, or I may be suffering from Groundhog Day syndrome. Every day seems to bleed into the next, which is only amplified by the fact that it’s dark when I wake up and go into work and it’s dark again by the time I leave the office to head home. I don’t think that I’ve ever looked forward to the spring time change more. In the meantime, I’m slogging through, mostly indoors, by fixating on the things that are currently bringing me joy... 

Lots of exciting planning/booking for our upcoming trip to the UK, Ireland and Paris

Decadent gold-wrapped Fuhgeddaboudits from Bouchon Bakery

A forceful reminder of Saturday morning yoga class at the front door

Clustered candles on every surface to ward off the dark winter nights

Hugs & Kisses

Have a lovely Valentine's Day and a chocolate-covered, wine-tinged weekend. I'll see you next week....

XOXO

Rocky Road Brownies

My aunt gifted us with this delicious dessert-in-a-jar for Christmas, but we only recently cleared the pantry of all the holiday food so I didn’t get around to using it until now. I’m glad I waited because these things turned out to be the perfect Valentine’s Day treat. Whether you give the jar and accompanying recipe as a gift or whip up a batch for yourself, you will want to make time for them this week.

Ingredients included in the mason jar:

1 cup sugar

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/4 cup coarsely chopped walnuts

1/2 cup all purpose flour

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 cup miniature marshmallows (wrapped in plastic wrap and put in as the final layer in the jar, reserved until after the mixture has baked in the oven)

To this, you add the following wet ingredients:

1/2 cup melted butter

1/4 cup buttermilk

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
• Lightly grease an 8” x 8” baking pan
• Remove marshmallows from the jar and set aside
• Add the wet ingredients to the remaining jar ingredients and stir until well mixed
• Spread batter evenly in the prepared pan
• Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until set
• Sprinkle the top of the brownies with the reserved marshmallows
• Place the pan back in the oven for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the marshmallows puff up and slightly melt
• Cool in the pan on a wire rack
• Pour a big glass of milk and enjoy!

Adrift

Frigid, glacier-like conditions on the Lake

This weekend, we continued our spree of filling in the vacant winter hours with lots of indoor time and a few spur-of-the-moment activities, including a quick trip to check out the ice mounds skirting Lake Michigan and grab giant cinnamon rolls at our favorite local bakery. I otherwise spent far too long on the couch, alternating between Netflix binges on House of Cards, reading binges on The Night Circus and the Sunday New York Times, and Twitter binges on Fashion Week and Grammy coverage. Thankfully, the weekend wasn’t entirely anti-social, as it wrapped up with a leisurely brunch with my two baby-bumped friends. 

Not quite perfect after the hurried car ride home, but delicious nevertheless

Anticipating Valentine's Day with a sequin ban.do heart

Anticipating warmer weather with new Elizabeth and James Holly Platforms scored on a major sale at Shopbop

Twin arrangements for our bedside tables