It’s Christmastime in the City
Posted on December 28th, 2016
It was hard to get on the plane in New York this morning (and not just because we had to get up at 4am). It feels so unnatural to willingly take a flight for a destination 3,000 miles away from your family—but here we are, back in Seattle.
My family officially moved to Manhattan in September, so this was our first holiday season in the city. One of my brothers lives in the city, too, and my other brother wrapped up his first semester of college to spend his break in New York, too. Rather than trying to force old family traditions in illogical or unfamiliar settings, we tried building new ones. Thanks to my dad’s meticulous planning, we had a packed itinerary and with fun around every corner.
Thursday was fairly low key as I was working remotely, but Friday I took the day off to focus on festive preparation. Ian and I went on a 12 mile run that started downtown and took us all the way up Broadway and through the full Central Park loop—we’re excited to have completed our last long run before the marathon! Hannah, one of my best friends, came over in the morning to make cookies for Santa. At Ian’s request I tried a molasses cookie that I did not execute as well as I had hoped but had a nice flavor, and the macaroons were delicious. On Friday afternoon, my mom and I did a little shopping in Soho. We couldn’t bear to leave Gracie behind, so she rode along in her trusty tote. After family dinner on Friday night, my brothers, Ian, and I went on a sibling research mission to 10 Below to try Thai ice cream rolls. Nothing brings people together like trendy desserts.
Suddenly, Christmas Eve was upon us! Ian and I picked up a bunch of bagels and cream cheese from Tomkins Square, our favorite, and we hosted a brunch in the morning for our favorite New York friends. On Saturday afternoon, we finally got to see Hamilton.
I’m one of those people who prefers not to listen to the soundtrack before seeing a new show, and I had been very patient with Hamilton, too. Given how much I had built it up in my mind, I was a little nervous it wouldn’t live up to the hype, but it surpassed even my highest expectations. So rarely are we exposed to things that are not only innovative and challenge us but that we also truly enjoy and find pleasurable. This was that perfect marriage for me!
Saturday night we visited the historic Tavern on the Green before going back downtown for Christmas Eve service at the even-more-historic Trinity Church near my parents’ apartment. Coincidentally, Trinity is where Alexander Hamilton attended services and is buried, so it was a very Hamilton-centric day.
Our Christmas Day was quiet and nice, except for an early afternoon jaunt to Madison Square Garden to watch the Knicks lose to the Celtics. With the Christmas/Hanukkah overlap this year, I made latkes as part of our otherwise traditional little Christmas dinner dinner. As a surprise, I also had our favorite holiday pies from a shop near St. Louis overnighted for dessert. It was the kind of day where we didn’t even open presents until 8pm simply because we were too busy enjoying one another. A far cry from waking up at 5:15am to see if Santa came 20 years ago!
Since Christmas was a Sunday, Ian and I had Monday off, which allowed us to get pre-marathon pedicures with Hannah and go to another Broadway matinee. A Bronx Tale had some great talent, but I confess the writing didn’t do much for me. As a final east coast goodbye, Ian’s parents and two brothers came up from Virginia for a big Rapp-Nightingale dinner at The Odeon. We were so touched by the effort they made so that we could spend just a few hours all together.
I’ll be sharing a bit more from our trip tomorrow, but in the meantime, I have to unpack and go to bed– I’m jetlagged, and I’ve been up for 20 hours and counting!
Festive Thoughts
Posted on December 23rd, 2016
I’m a pretty pragmatic and analytical person, constantly looking for the most efficient, effective, optimal approach to any situation. At the holidays, all of that goes out the window. It’s perfectly reasonable to order gifts for loved ones from afar on the websites of reputable retailers, select the gift wrapping option, and check everyone off your list within an hour. But the old fashioned way is undeniably more romantic. Collecting gifts, wrapping them with coordinating paper and hand-written gift tags, and shipping them or packing them in your own version of Santa’s sack for a cross country journey gives a TLC element with which the internet cannot compete. We proudly brought presents for my family and placed them under my parents’ tree, and I love thinking of Ian’s family opening our big box of gifts in Virginia.
To bump up the schmaltz, I wrapped the gifts while wearing a sweater my mom knit in 1978. The sweater doesn’t fit well– the sleeves are too short– and it’s painfully itchy. Also, for obvious reasons, it’s my favorite sweater.
Otherwise, here are the other festive thoughts swirling around my cluttered brain…
…if you need to bring a Christmas side dish, I tested this sweet potato dish a few weeks ago, it’s delicious, and I’m planning on making it for my family on Sunday. (and I made these cookies, among others, for Santa today, too!) Anything with marshmallows is an easy sell.
…if you need to get a gift card for that person you just couldn’t figure out, pair it with a tasty treat or a bottle of wine to make it feel more intentional.
…I forgot how much I love Love Actually. Ian and I watched it on our flight from Seattle to New York, and it’s even better than I remembered. Which one is your favorite plot line? I think I would cast my vote for the PM. “Ruthless trained killers are just a phone call away.” Nothing like that movie to remind us that love is, actually, all around.
…these shoes have been fabulous for running around the city on a zillion errands.
…if you want to feel inadequate about your creative talents, here’s a collection of this year’s best gingerbread houses. I went to the Harry Potter- themed Gingerbread Village in Seattle, and it was– dare I say– magical.
Our New York trip is off to a fun start! Can’t wait for the excitement the holiday weekend has in store.
Falling Flat
Posted on December 20th, 2016
I’ve worn heels of some kind nearly every weekday since I entered my post-grad life. Whether commuting on NJ Transit from the Upper East Side to my client in Princeton as a consultant or just trying to keep up with Nordstrom fashion trends, fancy(ish) footwear has been key. And I have to say, it’s never really bugged me…until I trained for a marathon, and some of my toenails are currently less-than-healthy and don’t like pressure being applied from an upwards angle. (It’s a thing) So I’m feeling a little flatter than usual!
Between holiday errands, parties, and general happenings, one tends to spend a lot of time on one’s feet at this time of year! Whether or not you’re looking for cocktailing respite now or have a resolution to be more comfortable in the New Year, I rounded up some great flat options for this week and beyond.
Big bow toe (amazing sale!) // Green Tartan // Gold Glitter // Striped Sequins // Mesh plaid // Red Tartan // Burgundy Suede
Leopard Calf Hair // Blue Suede Shoes // Ostrich // Red calf hair // Floral Print // Blush classic // Black twinkly toes
Your bunions can thank me later!
Pre Marathon Musings
Posted on December 18th, 2016
Three weeks from now, I hope I’m reporting “I did it!” Ian and I are starting our new year by running the Walt Disney World Marathon, our first, on January 8. We’ve been training for months and fundraising for our favorite cause, JDRF. This is my third Run Disney event, and they are so well run (pun intended!) and a total blast. Nevertheless, I’m a little anxious at the prospect. Ian is just focusing on perfecting our costumes. So basically all is as expected. Photos from last year’s half below (and more on that experience here)!
We chose to follow Hal Higdon’s intermediate plan, as even though this is our first full marathon we both had a pretty solid mileage base built up. Yesterday, we ran 21 miles in 21 degree weather. We’re just now starting to taper, which coincides well with my plan to spend the coming weeks as a bowl-game-watching couch potato.
Generally, training has been an interesting exercise in discipline, determination, and faith. It has been a key driver in our lifestyle this fall, particularly on the weekends with the longest runs. On Friday nights, we’re in bed early after a healthy, booze-free dinner so we can get up at 5:30 Saturday morning to hit the trail. Saturday afternoons often require a little recovery—napping, basically—and Saturday evening, I’m often too wiped to be much fun. Not ideal, but worth it for the accomplishment.
I still completely love running a half marathon distance, but I confess that after about two hours, the miles start to feel a little excessive. I don’t feel like I’ve had “a better workout” after 18 miles instead of 13. I’ll be happy for the personal achievement of running a marathon, and I actually anticipate that the event itself will be fun. While I will definitely continue with half marathons and distance running, and running for Team JDRF is always an honor, right now marathon training is not an experience I anticipate replicating in the near future.
But in the meantime, this. is. happening. Ready or not, here we come.
PS Does anyone have any marathoning tips to share? Any and all advice is appreciated!
Gluten Free Goodies
Posted on December 15th, 2016
You might as well preheat your oven to 300 degrees now, because you’re going to want to try these by the time you’re finished reading.
Pillsbury is currently running a commercial that makes me laugh. “It’s baking season!” they enthusiastically proclaim. As if every single day of the year isn’t part of baking season, I scoff. But even I admit to scaling up and increasing delicious output during December! At this point, I’m pretty sure my physical composition is at least 50% Christmas cookies. My stand mixer needs a nap.
Most of my trusty standbys are laden with flour and oats, but I pulled out an old gluten-free favorite this week to bake for the birthday of a coworker with Celiac. For various reasons, more and more people have gluten-free diets these days, so having a go-to recipe is handy. What I love about this one is that it stands alone, without being a traditional recipe that has to be modified. No one feels guilty that special steps were taken for them because everyone wants to eat these just as they are!
Growing up I had only tried stale grocery store macaroons, which didn’t really do it for me, but once I tried a fresh bakery variety they’ve become some of my favorite cookies. I actually use this same recipe in the spring, too, as a Kosher-for-Passover option. Just swap out the accessories (aka sprinkles and icing) depending on the season! It requires a bit of patience due to numerous steps and a longer bake time, but it’s a forgiving recipe, too.
Ingredients
- 6 large egg whites
- 1 cup sugar
- 14oz bag of shredded coconut (not angel shredded)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 scant teaspoon almond extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- Sprinkles!
Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Crack egg whites into a saucepan, and whisk lightly. Add sugar, coconut, and salt, and heat over low heat for about 10 minutes. Stir frequently to prevent burning. Remove from heat and allow mixture to cool for about two minutes before stirring in vanilla and almond flavors. Place entire saucepan in fridge for about 20 minutes. (You could use a separate bowl, but that’s more dishes. I’ll pass.)
Line cookie sheets with silicone mats. Scoop about two teaspoons of mixture, and drop onto sheets. Since they don’t spread as much in the oven, you can place them a bit closer together than you would with other cookies. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove macaroons and add sprinkles, and return to oven for about two minutes. This makes the sprinkles a bit more likely to stay put since we’re not using icing. This might not be true but I’ve convinced myself it is. Remove from oven and allow to cool a bit before transferring to wire racks to complete cooling process—avoid those soggy bottoms!
Yield: About 22 small macaroons. Less if you “need” to “sample” the mixture a lot.
The almond extract is a bit unexpected, but it really enhances the coconut flavor and adds a bit of richness beyond pure sugar. Almond can go from just right to too strong pretty quickly, so you have to be a bit careful with that measurement. These are also a great choice for a cookie exchange since they’re pretty sturdy, and taste fresh for several days. If you’re in a rush, you can skip the saucepan/refrigerator section and just mix the ingredients together, but I do think it helps the end product congeal with the right texture. I bake most cookies on silicone mats anyway, but I think it’s really necessary on macaroons and macaron. You could substitute parchment paper if need be.
Serving in a Christmas cookie jar highly recommended.
Wedding Wednesday: Christmastime Nuptials
Posted on December 14th, 2016
Ian and I were definitely destined to have a summer wedding. Emotionally, I love the sun and 80 degree temperatures. Logistically, our best man has been living abroad during the school year, so St. Louis wasn’t exactly a quick weekend trip. We never really considered any other time period, but if we had, I think we would have loved a December wedding.
There is something inherently romantic about this time of year, as we are encouraged to set aside our differences and just give to one another. People are predisposed to be more cheerful. If that’s not a beautiful way to begin a marriage, I don’t know what is. I also happen to love Christmas. Some people would surely go the exact opposite direction, but if I were to plan a December wedding, I would (tastefully) embrace the holiday elements head on.
Common themes among the design elements I particularly love in a winter wedding is an abundant mix of greenery and rich shades of red, a touch of fur, rich, romantic lighting, and (ideally!) snow! I would use as many burgundy peonies as I could dig up. For a bride with Scottish heritage, incorporating the tartan of her ancestors would be stunning, too (this is ours).
Talk about making spirits bright!
First Holiday Cards
Posted on December 14th, 2016
Exchanging holiday cards with family & friends is one of my favorite traditions each year. When I go to see my parents at the holidays, I always make a beeline directly for their basket of Christmas cards, and ooh and aah with my mom over how cute so-and-so is and how big everyone has gotten. We used to hold a contest on Christmas Eve to vote on the best card– it was a pretty big honor.
Following our wedding, this year is full of firsts for Ian and me, and we’re relishing our first holiday season as a little family. Ian and I figured now was as good a time as any to start sending cards of our own! We haven’t gotten our wedding photos just yet, but luckily we had the good sense to arrange with our photographer to send one early so we could use it on our card.
Nico & Lala’s custom cards are my favorite, and we took advantage of their early bird discount to get in on the action. We love the outcome! The attention to detail and consistency throughout the design is spot on, from the little lovebirds (nightingales, naturally) to the garland on the front, back, and liner. Having a little blank space on the back was important since every card includes a very brief handwritten note. Since Ian is Jewish, we kept the theme secular but festive. We added finishing touches with a green pen for addressing, seasonal stamps, and washi tape to seal envelopes closed.
PS I’ll be sharing more wedding photos in January!
Morning Glow
Posted on December 9th, 2016
Since I’m only human, there are things I love about myself, and areas I have–shall we say– identified for improvement. But I admit it: I am a proud early bird. I’m one of those horribly perky people who excels at mornings. I don’t even have coffee until 11am, but I accomplish more before 9am than some people accomplish in their whole day.
In retrospect, this is an innate component of my being, which I first came to recognize as a high schooler when I eagerly signed up for the (traditionally unpopular) first available singing lesson with my voice teacher on Saturday mornings. Even before that, in elementary school, I cherished watching the 6am airing of Sports Center with my early bird dad. Frankly, this behavior doesn’t make you popular in young adulthood. I’m not winning a lot of points when I suggest to friends that we meet at the hottest brunch spot at 8:30 to avoid the lines.
Recently, I’ve felt particularly grateful for my affinity for the AM. This sunrise, caught during mile 7 of a 14 mile run in San Francisco, is only one of a few reasons. A few other perks:
- The day doesn’t get away from you. What I accomplish for my day officially starts can’t be undone, and I’m never in a position of having to choose between something spontaneous and fun or some mundane task I planned to accomplish after work– mundane tasks are a pre-work activity! This is the key to my no-skipped-workouts-since-April-2013 success.
- My eating habits are better. Being an early riser gives me time to make a healthy lunch to bring to work, and also to start dinner. I get my slowcooker going in the morning about 1-2 days per week, and dinner is ready and waiting for me whether I get home at 6:45 as usual or whether something comes up and I’m out later. (This is one of my favorite recipes right now!)
- All is calm. Living in the heart of a city, I miss quiet streets and empty sidewalks. Walking around in the mornings is more relaxing, and truthfully makes me more feel more connected to the neighborhood where I live. Plus, more jaywalking. I love jaywalking.
- Potential for more hours in a day. The flip side of the first item: when you sleep in late, you can’t get those hours back. I can choose to stay up late if need be– a decision I’ve been appreciative of the chance to make in the past few weeks!
…the shorter lines at brunch aren’t so bad, either. And don’t worry, I sleep in on Sundays. Until 7:15.
Holiday How To: Bar Cart
Posted on December 4th, 2016
Ian and I are absolutely invested in our Christmas tree, but I find that decking out a bar cart is another great way to easily add a festive touch to your decor. Particularly at this time of year, we want to be prepared to welcome guests in from the rain cold with a warmer, so we’ve tried to make sure we’re well-stocked. Besides the bottom shelf of booze, we have a mix of functional fixtures and frivolous accessories adorning the bar cart. A lot of bloggers share cute posts on how to make their favorite drinks, but since Veuve Clicquot doesn’t require a recipe, I thought I’d offer a recipe for putting together a holiday bar cart, instead.
Recipe: Perfect Holiday Bar Cart
- Glassware- Like so many people, I grew up with Spode Christmas china at my parents’ and grandparents’ houses, and to have my own set (including the gorgeous stemware) makes me all kinds of nostalgic
- Striped Straws– Way cuter than stealing a fistful from Chick-fil-a
- Cocktail napkins
- Box sign– I have a couple of these– they’re cute on the wall, too
- Jar of mini ornaments– The more color, the better!
- Tabletop trees
- Faux holly berries to wrap around the outside. A string of lights would be cute here, too!
I love the two little holiday figurines we have on our bar cart, but unless you’re planning a trip to a Finland holiday market this holiday season, you may have to substitute with something else (thanks, Gillian!).
The two pièces de résistance are our menorah and our heirloom advent calendar. Back in my day, advent calendars weren’t used for bribery or daily gifts. I didn’t get a piece of chocolate or lego every day. It was enough for me to move that little cloth reindeer from one numbered pocket to the next– it was exhilarating. I still make a production out of moving it every day. The holidays bring out our inner child, no?
This particular menorah is a new addition this year, a very kind wedding gift. As you may notice, it is a dinosaur. A tyrannosaurus. A menorah tyrannosaurus. Or, you could say, a menorasaurus. Ian in particular loves a good pun, so this is just the right touch of irreverence for our holiday season.
If you’re in the neighborhood, stop by to jingle and mingle! And if not, know that we’ll get back to toasting each and every one of you as soon as I’m done moving the reindeer to the next cloth pocket.
Marketing Jingle
Posted on December 2nd, 2016
Since I started working in marketing a few years ago, I’ve become invested in following companies and campaigns that offer something special and have a strong point of view. After a year of political doom & gloom droning from my TV, this season of holiday happiness is particularly welcome! I’m a bit unusual in that I’m highly analytical but also highly emotional, the combination of which in this context means I am able to analyze exactly what emotional tactics are being employed on me even as I’m crying over a benign depiction of a bird in the snow. It happens to the best of us.
I pulled together some of my favorite videos of the holiday season thus far. They key themes: adorable kids, fun tunes. Typical. For ease of differentiating, I put an asterisk (*) next to the things that made me cry.
Ebay, The Giver- Sweet, happy, simple. The song definitely makes it! Ebay’s differentiating factor is the uniqueness of their items, and this plays into that perfectly.
*H&M with Wes Anderson, Come Together- You may have already seen this one since it instantly went viral! H&M consistently offers great product collaborations, so it makes sense that this would extend to their marketing, as well. Downside: the commercial doesn’t scream H&M to me. Upside: I wouldn’t otherwise be writing about H&M marketing, but here we are.
*Marks & Spencer, Mrs. Claus- Coming at you from across the pond, this M&S ad is exactly the feminist feel good message you didn’t know you needed this holiday season. PS I miss my brothers.
Nordstrom, Thank You- Hello, biased. But hear me out! I love this because it’s uplifting (no sadvertising here!) and so, so on brand. Nordstrom is all about the interaction with the customer, and giving real life employees the opportunity to say thank you to the ones who define their work life is genius. Also, Golden Girls.
Clearly my favorites, pictured above. “Tiny gentlemen needs”? Amazing.
To the Top, Kate Spade- Another option that favors a lighthearted flair this season, Kate Spade’s campaign features a familiar predicament. The fashion faux pas of having a “who wore it better” moment is relatable, and Miss Piggy adds the perfect dose of signature Kate Spade whimsy.
*John Lewis, Buster the Boxer- Another British high five! Everyone’s dreams can come true at Christmas, right?
I haven’t seen anything yet this year I’ve liked quite so much as Microsoft’s 5th Avenue singalong last year, but I suppose you can’t beat perfection. Any other winners I’m missing?
