christmas spirit

I held out long enough, we officially broke out the Christmas decorations yesterday. D and I picked up a few things at Ikea in the morning - they have a great selection of festive decor right now and as you could expect, its all very well priced. We combined our new things with what stuff we already had saved and our place is starting to look a lot like Christmas...  

 Having our own space to decorate has made it so much more exciting and I definitely want to go all out for the holidays. We plan on getting a small tree and there's a few DIYs that I have in mind... But more to come on that later. We snuggled up on the couch and enjoyed ending the weekend off relaxing in the candle light.

 

music monday

Hope you enjoyed your weekend. Here are a few songs to start your week off of the right foot...

All of Me by John Legend

Congo by Bear Mountain

Team by Lorde

You Make Me by Avicii

paired up

Picked up this leather and copper bead wrap bracelet at Club Monaco over the weekend and I loved the look paired with my MK watch today.


Sorry for the lack of posts this week. My most loved people are taking up all my attention during their short visits. I have a fun restaurant post coming up on Friday, so be sure to check back before the weekend. xx

foodie friday: la cubana

We're no longer the newbies in the neighborhood. La Cubana opened up about a month ago just up the street. We had tried to go right after opening but were too hungry to wait it out. Last Friday Drew and I walked up and managed to score two seats at the bar, overlooking the kitchen. At first, the temptation of getting to check out all the food was almost too much - everything looked so darn good. But we got to ask what everything was and we got to watch the two young, hip chefs work it out all night long. I've never been to Cuba so I don't know if the diner-esque feel is in any way reminiscent of a real Cuban restaurant - all I know is the staff was super friendly, the food was awesome and I'm pumped to have such a great joint just up the street.

{ The mojito was strong and flavorful. Not too sweet }

{ We started with habanero calamari that was drenched in a honey sauce that had a delicious sweet heat. The coconut shrimp were not what I expected - but some of the best I've ever had. The batter-less shrimp instead highlighted the other ingredients on the plate - showing special attention to the coconut flavor }

{ We both tried sandwiches for our mains. I got the fish sandwich- the piece of fish was perfectly grilled and seasoned and complimented with nicely with pinapple salsa and avocado smash. D tried the Pressed Cubano Sandwich which was gooey and filled with flavor from the cheese and sauces }

{ Any restaurant that offers key lime pie is a restaurant that I can get behind. The sweet little jar did not disappoint and I had to stop myself from licking it clean. D enjoyed some Cuban caffeine with a smooth espresso }

a little light reading

Incase you're in the mood for some blog reading this weekend, here are some links I enjoyed this week...

Don't say goodbye - going to have to try this during the holidays!

A fun DIY project - perfect for market shopping

I've already picked out some ideas for Xmas gifts from this list

My excitement is growing... a sneak peak before Isabel arrives on November 14

Next time I'm craving a sweet treat, I'm definitely making these

These designs have inspired me to get working on our 2014 holiday card - I'm thinking I might make them this year!

Lastly, another DIY that will help you have the most beautiful presents under the tree

have a wonderful weekend

Do you have anything fun planned for the weekend? My best friend is coming into town tonight and I can't wait to see her. She's a friend you can tell anything to and were almost constantly in hysterics when were together - and she hasn't seen our new place yet! My little sister is also arriving home from vacation in Australia tomorrow! I haven't seen her since February! Weekends don't get much better when all your favorite people are in one place :)

I hope your weekends are filled with people you love too! xx

coconut curry

Curry - one of those flavors that often produces mixed reactions when mentioned. I really couldn't say that I had a set opinion on it and while I'm not sure I'm a fan of intense curry flavors - I loved the sauce we tried for dinner earlier this week. It was a simple jarred sauce from the grocery store that you add to vegetables, chicken and rice. We followed the directions on the jar, added in a few extra vegetables and tried to add some nutritional value with brown rice. Dinner ended up being a warm, hearty meal with delicious bursts of flavor in each bite. 

fall cozies

One of my favorite parts of chilly fall weather is getting an excuse to bundle up in cozy, knit sweaters - all day, every day. I so enjoy the little details of my new knits that feel modern and stylized without  feeling frumpy. Paired with jeans and a leather boot - it's been a perfect fall wardrobe.

{ Cable Boyfriend Sweater : Gap $59.95 }

{ Forever Cool Zippered Sweater : Forever 21 $33.80 }

how to: a cheese plate

One of my most favorite things to serve (and eat) when having people over is a cheese plate. It's super simple to throw together and it's always a hit. Sometimes the cheese counter can be a little overwhelming. There's not much to it, but I thought I would walk you through my thought process when putting mine together. 

{ Start off with a pretty platter or dish big enough to fit all the tasty bits }

{ Pick your cheese: I like to pick a soft/creamy cheese (brie or goats cheese); a strong/robust flavor (blue or gorgonzola cheese); and a hard cheese (pecorino, asiago or aged cheddar) }

{ Tip: Save your rappers with the cheese names incase you or a guest really like one or all of them! }

{ Pick your meats: Prosciutto and salami are my favorites, and I always like to pick one spicy one }

{ The end bits: I always add one 'topping' - either a honey, jelly or chutney. Nuts (walnut, pecans) pair nicely with cheese - make sure to check for allergies before mixing them in with everything. Finally, cornichons (pickles) or grapes are a refreshing crunch to enjoy in between the richness of the cheese and meats. }

{ Crackers finish things off. I prefer to serve lighter crackers, so that we all get to fill up on the good stuff. Water crackers or low-sodium triscuits are my favorites }

Happy Hosting!

music monday

At the request of some friends, I'm going to be starting back with some regular weekly posts, beginning with Music Monday. I don't know about you, but music is always streaming through my brain. Whether I have a song stuck in my head replaying over and over, or I'm singing along to a tune on the radio, or I'm dreaming back to the experience of a recent concert - I'm a big music lover. Monday's can be a bit of a drag, so I hope you enjoy starting your week off with some songs that have been on repeat on my Ipod lately. I can't promise the most hip and current music, but more so tunes that I'm enjoying right now...

Hold On, We're Going Home by Drake

Temple by Kings of Leon

Another Love by Tom Odell

Do I Wanna Know by Arctic Monkeys

Walking On a Dream by Empire of the Sun

Scared by The Tragically Hip