Holiday Home Tour

Now that Thanksgiving is over, we can set our sights on Christmas. Time to listen to that holiday playlist (I do my very best to leave my holiday playlist(s) alone until the day after Thanksgiving - any time before that and I'll be sick of it by Christmas Eve.), start thinking about gifts, and pull the holiday decor out of the attic. Each year I know I need a bit of inspiration before I dive into turning my home into a winter wonderland... and this year was no exception. But, instead of my usual internet scouring and magazine rifling, Mom and I decided to check out the Beaufort Holiday Tour of Homes in Habersham, South Carolina. We've always wanted to check out a holiday home tour, but keep missing them somehow. But, this time the start were aligned and we went. It was FABULOUS! The homes were stunning and the decor style in each house was different - offering many ideas for our own houses!

Now, I realize you are probably feeling a bit jealous at this point. Why weren't YOU invited to this holiday home tour? Well, count yourself lucky that you weren't there - it was very disorganized and confusing... and lots of wandering around aimlessly was required. So, we did it for you and I took photos of our favorite ideas to share with you! Enjoy!

The first house:

I'm in love... using old crates/boxes as planters
for Christmas greenery? Perfection...

Great entrance to one of the homes - very natural
and casual... yet, elegant. I love
the painted wood star attached to the balcony!

I was mildly obsessed with this entire house... not only the simple holiday decor,
but the furnishings and style as well.

I love the simplicity of adding a few pieces of greenery, a couple of giant pinecones,
and some votives. It really can change a space without cluttering it.

Again, simple and elegant. Love.

This candle was burning in a few of the homes and
it is quite possibly the best "Christmas Greenery" scented
candle I've EVER smelled in my life.
Too bad it's SO dang expensive.
But, here it is anyway: Aquiesse Monterey Pine Candle

Cool idea! :)

Onto the next home...

Why didn't I think of that?
Wrap a twig ball with ribbons to create a beautiful ribbon ball-like tassel!

Beautiful and modern arrangements at the door

Not sure where I could get a sleigh like that, but I want one...

Peacocks seem to be the new thing, but I think they can easily be too much.
This is just the right amount of peacock in my eyes.

I swear this looks like a table runner tied to a chair.
I love it.

A very Nell Hill display

This fireplace was outside on their screened porch.
If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands...
(CLAPPING)

Again... Clapping.

The grand finale...

This house's theme was A Coastal Christmas.
So beautiful and beachy!

I love the use of the pine cone garland! So simple and effective!

Not a bad place to relax on the porch...
(notice the detail on the pillow... precious!)

One of these were one each side of the door.
Stunning!
(P.S. that greenery was FAKE!)

Perfect mix of glitter and coastal

Inside the house... sigh.
Can you imagine a more calming Christmas?

Lovely colors!

I love this idea for mistletoe!
Just glue some greenery and faux mistletoe to the top of a giant
pine cone and add ribbon to hang it!
(I especially love the little shells dangling from it as well)

Hanging ornaments from a chandelier using hemp cord.
Rustic meets sophisticated.

Stunning wreath above the stove!
(and how about the color of those cabinets?!)

A simple display in the kitchen with baskets and lit glass blocks.

This would be a great display for a party!
Can't you picture some Christmas cookies cascading out of the basket?

Add a touch of Christmas to the screened porch
with a teensy tree and some shells

I love this idea for on top of an armoire or cabinet

Simple and, of course, gorgeous!

Loved how they used plain brown paper with very elegant ribbon to dress up the package!
And how cute is that little guy on the right?
Burlap... oh the possibilities!

Wow! If you're not inspired by now to go decorate your home, I'm not sure what will do the trick! :) So, get decorating! I know I am...

~ Mari

Fake Thanksgiving

Happy Fake Thanksgiving, everyone! It's a special time of year when you can't go home for Real Thanksgiving, so your parents meet you and you eat Thanksgiving food and think Thanksgiving thoughts... on November 18th (or really any day other than Thanksgiving itself).

Ryan and I just returned from Beaufort, SC where we celebrated this most joyous of newly-created holidays. Our tummies are full and we are oh so happy. It was a group effort and everyone pitched in to the feast! We had enough food for about 15 people, but, somehow the four of us managed. ;) (Leftovers are the best part of Real or Fake Thanksgiving)

So, without further ado, the menu:

Maple-Brined Turkey

(recipe here)

Roasted Fresh Ham

Stuffin' Muffins

Turnip Greens

Cranberry Relish

(recipe here)

Apple Chutney

Gravy

Sweet Potato Pecan Pie

(recipe here)

Black & White Cheesecake Bars

That's one moist, flavorful turkey...

Ohhhh yeah....

Best. Turkey. Ever.

Semi-Healthy Pecan Pie! (it exists)

So, there you have it! It was delicious and (kinda) nutritious! I would HIGHLY recommend brining your bird this Thanksgiving. It was moist and flavorful, without the cost (and danger) of deep-frying. Plus, it was SUPER easy! Don't be afraid of it. I followed the recipe to a T and it came out fabulous. 

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving, be it real or fake. ;)

~ Mari

Thai Colada

I know it's been a while since my last post, but I promise this will make up for it. Summer is over, which makes me so very glad because Fall is here! Yahoo! And this, my friends, is the perfect drink to toast to Fall. How is a Pina Colada the perfect Fall beverage? Because it is reminiscent of Summer (without it tasting light sunscreen smells), you can sip it outside where there's a cool breeze, and it's downright delicious.

Thai Colada


1 can coconut milk
1 stalk fresh lemongrass
1/2 fresh pineapple (peeled and cored)
1 frozen banana
1/3 cup simple syrup
1/2-3/4 clear rum (we used Bacardi)

In a small saucepan, heat the coconut milk on medium high heat. Chop the lemongrass into pieces (it doesn't matter what size - as long as they are large enough to strain out of the liquid) and add it into the pan. Turn down the heat and allow the liquid to cool. Dice the pineapple and put about 1/2 of it in a blender. Add some of the rum (the fruit will puree better with some liquid in there) and puree. Add the rest of the pineapple and puree. Next, slice the frozen banana and add it. Pour the simple syrup into the blender and add a few ice cubes. Puree until smooth. Finally, once the coconut milk has cooled, strain it and add it into the blender. Blend and pour into glasses to enjoy! We garnished ours with a piece of pineapple and a lemongrass stalk.

Enjoy! (We did!)

A Little Skirt Style

I don't usually post about fashion or style here on my blog (mainly because I'm neither fashionable or stylish), but I found these little photo tutorials from Anthropologie to be quite helpful. I own some cute skirts for sure... I just am never quite sure what to pair them with. So, here is Anthropologie's solution:

Pencil Skirts:

According to Anthro, "Pair this belted-and-buttoned pencil with a tucked-in silk blouse, booties and a satchel for a sophisticated look." I think it's pretty cute. In fact, this, out of the six looks, is the one I would be most likely to wear. Too bad I can't afford any piece of this outfit...

Here's what they said about this little number: "A slim belt really accentuates the high waist, while a knit top and skimmers keep things demure." I'm not sure how "demure" this outfit is, but I do like it. Love all the pops of color... especially those shoes!

Mid-Length Skirts:

"To keep the outfit from being too saccharine, throw on a statement necklace and menswear-inspired brogues." Haha... don't want to look too saccharine, do we now? Gotta love marketing-speak. I don't hate this look, but I would be much more inclined to wear a cute gray flat or something like that rather than those "brogues."

There's the flats I was looking for. And dang... those are adorable. What they said: "An orange pullover and a stripy scarf add just enough color to complement black flats and a navy bag." I'm going to be honest... though I love the color combo of orange and eggplant as much as the next gal, I just don't think I would wear it.

Maxi Skirts:

I'm a wee bit short to pull off a maxi as it should be pulled off, but I definitely like this outfit. LOVE the necklace for sure. According to Anthro, "Long and lean, this skirt works well with form-fitting tops that counterbalance the voluminous waves of ombre. Rugged boots, while perhaps an unexpected pairing, help to toughen up the feminine silhouette." See... I am neither long nor lean. 

Well, hello there blazer! This is quite quirky and I like it... but, where the heck would I wear this? It's a little glam for Kroger. Maybe I should get a life and then purchase some skirts. Le sigh. What they said: "For day, wear it with heeled boots and a comfy (but somewhat fitted) tee. For evening, a slouchy blazer is all you need to play up this piece’s drama."

So, there you have it. A little Skirt 101 from my favorite store in the universe. This makes me wish it was a bit cooler outside... and that I lived in a cool hip apartment in NYC and had cool hip places to go.

~ Mari

New Favorite Thing: Agua Fresca

You may remember a previous post where I gave a recipe for cucumber, lime and mint agua fresca? Well, now I've found another: watermelon agua fresca. OH MY GOSH it's so delicious! I can't even tell you... you just have to try it. I like both of the recipes equally, so you should try them both. I just (literally about 4 minutes ago) made the watermelon agua fresca and am sipping it happily right now. Talk about refreshing!

So, here is the recipe, courtesy of the "Yummy Supper" blog:

Watermelon Agua Fresca with Fresh Mint and Lime

Ingredients:

4 cups watermelon puree ( approximately 1 medium watermelon)
1/4 cup fresh lime juice (approximately 4-5 juicy limes)

1/3 cup chopped mint leaves

1/4 cup, plus 2 teaspoons sugar

1/2 cup water

Make a simple syrup. Combine 1/4 cup sugar and 1/4 cup water in a sauce pan. Heat until sugar has dissolved. Let cool. (Note: The simple syrup you don't use for this recipe can be refrigerated and and put to other uses in cocktails or to sweeten your iced coffee or tea.)

Next, Cut off watermelon rind and dice into large pieces. Place approximately 2 cups of watermelon flesh into your blender. Using a spoon, push down the watermelon chunks until they release a bunch of juice (this released liquid will help make the blending easier). Blend thoroughly. Do another batch until you have yielded 4 cups of pureed watermelon.

Juice limes and add lime juice to blender. Coarsely chop mint leaves. Crush mint with 2 teaspoons of sugar. Use a mortar and pestle if you have one, otherwise use a wooden spoon in a bowl to pulverize the mint and sugar. When you are done, you will have a well-integrated mint/sugar paste. Add paste into the blender.

Blend pureed watermelon and lime juice with the sugary mint). Add 2-3 tablespoons simple syrup. How much simple syrup you use will depend on the natural sugar content of your watermelon and your own personal preference for sweetness.

Served chilled. Always give the punch a stir before serving to integrate the ingredients.

P.S. If you want to transform this punch into a cocktail, I suggest adding 2 tablespoons rum to every cup of punch.

Hello lover.

If you're on the fence about this and just don't know if you'll like it... make it. It's the most refreshing, tasty, tangy, beverage that I've had all summer. Enjoy!

~ Mari

The Big Apple

The Hubb-ster and I just returned from our vacation to NYC... and boy, did we have a great time! Usually, when we go somewhere for a while, we're looking a little forward to coming back home by the end of the trip. Not this time. We wanted to stay in the city where dreams are made of: New York. (Thanks Jay-Z and Alicia Keys).

Some of the highlights of our time in the Big Apple:

On the very first day of our trip we got to see history being made. How freaking cool is that? That's what I love about NYC! You're there for a few hours and you see something you can't see anywhere else: Pop-Up Wedding Chapels in Central Park in honor of NY's new law allowing same-sex couples to marry.

Holy guacamole, that's awesome!

Pop Up Chapel is an organization that provides FREE marriages to anyone wanting to get married. (I love that I can now type "anyone" and really mean it) According to their literature, "We provide the wedding! And the photographer! And the officiant! And witnesses! And cupcakes! And everything you’ve always dreamed of! A free and legal wedding, for anyone who wants to get married." So very cool. And we got to watch some of these long-awaited nuptials. Again, very cool.

One of the very nifty and artsy arches that couples could marry under...

After witnessing a bit of history... we strolled through Central Park and I snapped this adorable photo of Ryan and my great-aunt Ruth. She is the whole reason we went up there - to hang out with the coolest lady I know!

Ryan and the coolest lady we know ;)

Then we had some delicious lunch at our favorite sandwich place! (name is escaping me now...)

The best is their curried chicken salad sandwich

I'm so glad we're related ;)

Then we checked out the Museum of Art & Design (MAD) that's right there in Columbus Circle. At first, I felt kinda guilty... I knew that only I would enjoy the museum while Ryan sat on a bench near the door surfing the net on his iPhone. But, I wanted to go anyway. (Mwahaha) Turns out, this was the one museum exhibit that he liked! It was one of the coolest exhibits I've ever seen in a museum. It was called "Other worlds" and was an exhibit of dioramas and miniatures. Squeal! If you did not know this about me before, well... here it is: My name is Mari Bland Smith and I am obsessed with miniature things. Dollhouse furniture? Obsessed. Magnets of mini kitchen equipment? In love. So, this was so far up my alley that I could barely contain myself. The best part? I could take pictures and share them on my blog for the world (Ok... the 14 people that read this blog) to enjoy! So, here we go...

Check out this nifty diorama.

Now... check out the photo that the artist took of it HERE

Artist: Matthew Albanese

Oooo... what's in there?

Amazing! Each of those little roses was attached with tweezers!

Click HERE to see some of Patrick Jacob's other work.



This one had a pretty fantastic impact.

Click HERE to see how large the building is.



And this is what you saw when you look through the window!

Artists: David Lawrey and Jaki Middleton

Even if you're not obsessed with dioramas like myself, you have to admit that was pretty cool, right?

Ok... next on the agenda

Ohhhhh yeah. You know it.

We walked to the Al Hirschfeld Theatre to see that precious boy wizard wonder, Daniel Radcliffe in "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying."

Ready to see Mr. Potter Mr. Radcliffe!

Inside the theatre
(shhhh... I wasn't supposed to take this photo!)

The show was HILARIOUS and fabulous: everything you want from a Broadway musical. John Larroquette and Daniel Radcliffe were funny just by standing next to each other (Radcliffe is a little short; Larroquette is quite tall). The sets were amazing... brought you back to the 1960s (whether you were alive then or not) and the costumes were great. Radcliffe was precious and he could sign, by golly! You could tell he loved every minute of it by the redness of his face, the sweat pouring off of his brow, and the goofy grin plastered to his face at the end of the high-energy musical numbers. Adorable. We all loved it and it was definitely worth every penny!

(I just had to throw this picture in... haha)
The quintessential New Yorker ;)

Ryan in the front seat of a NY cab

For lunch, we wanted to try Mario Batali's "Eataly."

It was a pretty intense experience... it's a huge marketplace full of all kinds of Italian produce, cheeses, pastas, etc.

Just a few tomatoes...

We wanted to sit down and eat (novel concept, right?), but it was going to be a 45 minute wait... at 2:30 in the afternoon! There were swarms of people everywhere and you could barely walk through the dang place.

Needless to say... we didn't eat there. Lol. We ate at a little cafe that was quite tasty... and there was no wait.

As we were walking down the streets, I noticed two people wearing "Pan Am" name tags. I just kept walking and then I thought to myself, "Hmmm... Pan Am hasn't been around for quite some time... why would people be wearing name tags for a defunct airline?"

They would be wearing Pan Am name tags if they were shooting a scene for the new ABC show "Pan Am!" And that's what they were doing!

Don't you love the 2011 cab next to the old cab?

They were powdering-up an actress (the one in green).
Even the bell-hops were in costume!

Love that car!

In the evening, we went to the famous Radio City Music hall to see "Zarkana" - the new Cirque Du Soleil show.

Radio City Music Hall

Inside the Radio City Music Hall

A pretty impressive stage!

The next day we went to the Harry Potter Exhibition at the Discovery Times Square Museum. Sadly, we couldn't take pictures inside, but it was so neat! All the props from the movies were there: everything from Harry's glasses to Buckbeak herself!

And there's the car!

After the exhibit, we went to "Junior's" for some BLT's and cheesecake (a very healthy lunch)...

(I did take some of that bacon off before I ate it...)

Times Square

Enjoying NYC

That night I met up with some of my Girls State friends who live in NYC at a very cool South African restaurant - Xai Xai. It was delish!

Ostrich Burgers!

Allison and her goat cheese stuffed pepperdews
YUM.

On our last day we hopped on the subway and headed to the South Street Seaport!

Waiting to board the subway...

We had a nice stroll through the seaport. There was a nice breeze and it wasn't too crowded - the perfect end of our trip! (not that we wanted it to end...)

View from the seaport

So, after lunch down by the Fulton Fish Market (or what was The Fulton Fish Market), we headed back to Columbus Circle.

The Time Warner Building

One of Ryan's goals for this trip was to have real NY pizza. And so we did:

It was delicious and tasted nothing like any pizza we could get in Kathleen, GA. Boooooooo. But, then what would be the fun of NY pizza if you could get it in Georgia, right?

So, we packed and left the next morning. :( Very sad day.

Aunt Ruth packed us QUITE the lunch for our trip home!

You can't really tell from this photo, but we were delayed in boarding our flight because they couldn't get the electronic walkway thingy hooked up to the plane. It was like watching someone try to kiss a wall blindfolded. (If that person's face and lips were faulty electronic equipment...)

"Yes! Right there... just hook the walkway up there and we'll hack through the
side of the plane with an axe. It will totally work."

Hilarious. We didn't even have the heart to be annoyed... it was so pathetic.

So, now we're back in Georgia where it's a billion degrees and there are no movies being shot on the street or boys marrying other boys. Boring. But, it's where we live and so we do!

Stay tuned for this coming week... I'll be getting another farmer's basket!

~ Mari