it's beginning to look a lot like...

Her fabulousness herself, Tirzah Wanlass, will allow us to peek into her own house this month

CHRISTMAS!  Ahhhh... the crispness of the air, the bustling shoppers, the twinkling tiny white lights- it's enough to make even this old, embittered and too often humbugged retail crony feel festive!  Yay.  After Black Friday (or, as it is known to most boutique owners, "Friday"), and a well deserved weekend of rest, relaxation, and nearly 40lbs of left overs (don't even ask about the mashed potatoes debacle- suffice it to say, such things MUST be refrigerated!!!), I am officially ready to take on Christmas '09.  But before I traipse down that decorating path, I thought it important to note a much loved reader's recent question: where's your December/Christmas Inspiration House?  It is coming peoples, its comin!  And this time, our featured home will be even MORE especial than per ush because... eh hem... I am pleased to announce, I have berated my lovely partner in crime and sister dearest (does that hold quite as much weight when your dearest sibling also happens to be your only sibling... hmmm... whatev) into allowing us to shoot her own abode for all of you prying and nosey peeps (Ha! I keed, I keed, you know who loves ya!).  That's right Miss Gorgeous (of Filthy Gorgeous) herself will let us tour her home, all gussied up in its Holiday finest!  So, stay tuned...  and y'know Ima have a comment or two along the way, tee hee :-D 

-J

Half-Off Full-On Goods

Happy “Black Friday” folks. In honor of this glorious holiday, I thought I’d share a little secret with you on how to save money all year long on live entertainment. That’s right! There will be no waking up at three am, no standing in line braving the cold and no need to temporarily suspend your personal values and dignity all in the name of a five dollar blender.

Though I have several websites that I frequent when buying tickets, I stand firmly behind www.goldstar.com. If you have heard of this, then you are fortunate and may now continue to roll around in the pile of fleeces you got this morning when Old Navy took a page out of The Dollar Store’s book.

Here’s what you’ll find. A full listing of all discounted tickets specific to your locale of choice. Goldstar is great at including a wide variety of events in several metropolitan hot spots. Everything from live theatre to sporting events. Discounted spa packages to unique ideas. Who knew San Francisco had an underground vampire scene, let alone a guided tour for such?

Discounts are generally half-priced. Occasionally, in order to get the word out, several comps (that’s FREE to the layperson) are offered. Much like the clearance bin at Nordy’s, you gotta pull fast and pray you come up for air with your “size” in hand. Often times, a discount becomes unavailable the day of the event. A little forethought won’t kill ya.

Membership is free though you do have to surrender your email address. Please utilize the link below to join. By referring friends to Goldstar, you receive a one dollar credit to you account. “Hello, my name is selfish and I am addicted to cheap!”

Get crackin’! Once you are logged in, you will be able to generate a list of events that you would like to see. That way the next time a Friday night rolls around and you and yours can't quite find anything to do, you’ll need only to revisit said list in hopes of finding something mutual.

Your life-altering link…

https://www.goldstar.com/join?p=F331106RB

Happy discounting!

-SMA

The day after.

It really is cruel, unfair and just plain wrong that the best shopping day of the year begins only hours after we have all ingested our weight in excessively rich foods. BUT, it is what it is. Wake up, get outa bed and go get those deals. Then, when you've exhausted your thirst for ridiculous sales and insane retail demands, come to my store and snap up some real treasures. Hee hee...!

-J

HAPPY TURKEY DAY... HA!

Well tomorrow is the big day. By now, you should be done with running around like a turkey without a head, but we both know that this is really just the calm before the storm. Ha! Well, once again, I am here to help, yes ma'am! I have taken the time from my own running round to post some pics to, hopefully, stir some last bits of inspired holiday cheer. So, when your mom (or, lord help you, his mom) walks in your door and the critical quips and smirks start flying harder and faster than the cashmere sweaters this Friday morning at Nordy's, you can inhale, exhale and transport yourself to a place of Thankful tranquility and fall time bliss... ahhh, so why don't you go get your WoodWick candle (that we all have by now, right? Right!), light 'er up and cozy down into your favorite chair while we look and fanticize together (cue harp strum, now)...









Beyond the har-ruh of the Laura Ashley-esque wall paper... dont you just want to sit right on down? I do, I do!!! Chocolate velvet, tufting AND nail heads...??? >insert quivering moan sound effect here<

Ok, so, to be honest, not my cup of tea. BUT, I know how some of you (especially you Real CC County Housewives types, you know who you are) loves a country look, STILL! So, in honor of y'alls here is Thanksgiving Country done right.

You know, this is just real. But its still hot! Not like the designer sort of hot, but the real, someone lives here and when I say someone I mean a normal person who enjoys their home lives here. The table cloth adds cohension to what could otherwise be a hodge podge combination of tables and the stream line chairs are functional without adding clutter. Simple dinnerware continue the crisp look. Nice job, gold star! The resta yous, take note!












Swanky... no? I love the idea of thinking outside of the box (duh). I mean, who said that Thanksgiving HAD to be done within the confines of a particular color pallette?

SOME are lucky enough to be able to have their meal out of doors. Isn't that beautiful? Just think of the easy clean up and the saved wear and tear on your own lovely dining room!!! Sigh... Anyway, inside OR out, considering the aesthetic of your table IS as important as how and when you cook your bird. So put some effort forth, give 'em a reason to give thanks!

Remember the good old KISS system? Say it with me now, Keep It Simple Stupid! Very good, I couldnt have expressed it better if Id have set the table myself! Just wonderful, and Im not just saying that because of those lonely looking glasses of half drank wine... mmmmmm... wine.
















You know, usually I just like to mock Martha (yes, I said it, MOCK MARTHA). BUT, from time to time, her talented staff acutually does pull one off right. I hear this one. I think its the black tapers... every space could use a touch of black!

Ok, so there's no Thanksgiving table here. No. What can I say? I needed something to fantasize about too!!! Its not all about you you know! Sel-fish.

Aight then, eat up, enjoy and Ill see you Friday... Happy Holiday luvies!

-J

Mmm stuffing...

So the big day of cooking is here.... and although I would love to tell you about my family's entire menu for the day, I don't think we have the time! But what I will tell you is the delicious stuffing recipe my sister made up. Here it is!

Cornbread and Sausage Stuffing

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 onions, chopped
• 6 large cornmeal muffins, cubed
• Handful fresh sage leaves, chopped
• 1 egg
• 1 cup pork sausage
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 cup chicken stock
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Melt the butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and sausage, cook, stirring, for about 10 minutes, or until it becomes soft and caramelized.

Add the sage and then put it all into a large mixing bowl. Add the cornbread pieces, pre-seasoned with salt and pepper, and fold it all together until it's well combined.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg, cream, and stock, and pour it all over the cornbread. Stir the stuffing together.

You can either stuff the stuffing into the turkey, or you could also spoon it into a buttered baking dish and put it in the oven with the turkey. We usually cook it by itself but it's up to you!

Bake until hot and crusty on top, about 30 minutes.

- G

Photo from: Thanksgiving Postcards

Saul's Deli

If you like traditional Jewish food (I know I do) then you should take a trip over to Berkeley for a bite to eat at Saul's Restaurant and Delicatessen. The place is decorated in a retro fashion but still manages to feel clean and modern.


We had our hearts set on potato latkes so we ordered them right away. They tasted fresh and hot, just the way they should.

The lighting was bad...sorry!

To accompany our latkes we ordered the special drink of the day- mandarin soda. The juice was freshly squeezed into the soda, and boy could you tell. They were great!



The comfortable setting and friendly staff made this a very enjoyable dining experience. I will definitely be going back!

- G

Mommy, I see icicles.

You know I will never give this branch up!  I will dress it up for every occasion including my own funeral and even then, dress it in black lace and take it with me!  But seriously, use icicles in applications beyond the Christmas Tree.  BUT use them sparingly and realistically and in varying sizes.  

When I was a little designer-to-be, I LOVED to decorate my mom's tree every Christmas. And when I say, I loved to decorate it, I mean just that, me loved it.  No, I most certainly did not let my sisters help (although they inevitably managed to get one or two things hung here and there which I would, inevitably, have to re-place to the back side of the tree where only those entering the room through the wall itself would be able to appreciate their ornament selections) I did it for everyone else, what can I say, Im a giver.  In aaaany event, my absolute favorite ornaments were the glass icicles that she, through some miracle, had.  Maybe it was the way that they sparkled as the tree lights reflected off of them (lord knows I loves a sparkly), or perhaps it was the fact that in comparison to the remaining gawd-awful assortment of paper-mache santa heads, fabric covered styrofoam balls and ornaments sent as "thank you's" for pledging $20 to Pat Robertson and his 700 club, OR maybe it was that she just had tons of them (and we all know how much I favor aesthetic statement through a collection) whatever the reason, the simplistic icicle just seemed... right.  I would cover the tree with them.  All right I MAY have gone over board (MAY have).  But, I couldn't help m'self!  Fast forward to, umm, now and let me tell you why you need to know about icicles.  Gurl, they are cheap!  And not that you are concerned by the trivialities of money, but who doesn't love a bargain?!?!?  So, for the bargain shopper in alla you... I give... the icicle!  

-J