One of the highlights of 2020 for me was covering the American Christmas warehouse sale. We saw so many fabulous decorations and people were able to bring decorations home from some of the most famous places in New York, from Van Cleef to Saturday Night Live.
Do you remember the NYC we are used to over the Holidays…….. All the beautiful displays and trees and over the top decorations. Well, they are still there and American Christmas is the company that brings most of them to you. They are offering a Walking Tour, (click HERE for the route) of their installations this year. If you are not up to walking it maybe grab a hot pretzel and drive it. Or, I have posted below my own Blog stroll of some of the beautiful American Christmas sites. Thank you to Discover NYC for these amazing photos!!
This is the second most requested gift guide throughout the Holiday season..For the past 2 years I started asking my kids and my nieces and nephews to start pages on Giftful, an online gift wish list, where you add the items that you want from all over the internet. It is such a brilliant idea. I love seeing what everyone wants and I am even encouraging the adults to do it too So this Gift Guide, which usually is very challenging is a breeze this year. I found some really fun things. Now I need to follow my own advice and add some of them to my cart to put under our tree. I hope you are finding my guides helpful this year…Next Up Mens and Stocking Stuffers!!!!
Blue Puffer//Water Bottles//Puzzle/Book//Necklace//Sweater//
Are you longing for all the fun things you use to do around the Holidays? Walking around the city? Shopping at the Markets in Bryant Park and Grand Central? Well, the ladies at 914PopUp’s partnered with The City Of White Plains, in conjunction with the event’s sponsor, White Plains BID, and opened an incredible outdoor, safe, socially distanced Holiday Market with 40+ vendors and so many unique finds. It is the first one like it in all of Westchester County. I decided to drive over last night and walk around the many stalls. It was such a fun time. I loved all of the vendors. There were some really pretty jewelry pieces. I fell in love with a multi-strand garnet necklace from the Italian brand Fego Gioielli. I bought the cutest little faux shopping tote with a fun designer logo from Roadie Couture..They also had some very cool jackets and sweatshirts!! One of my all-time favorites, Soxfords was there and my friend grabbed a bunch of whimsical socks for her college-aged son. We sampled some delicious Vegan chocolate and the most incredible Rum Cakes. I brought a raspberry one home for my husband. We met a vendor who has an extensive farm in Rockland and specializes in Hard Cider. I may or may not have bought a bottle for my husband’s stocking!! There were some really pretty Christmas cookies and OMG!! Pax Romana, was selling the freshest homemade pasta and tomato sauce. I also added a jar of their dipping oil to my bag. Melissa, of 914PopUps told me I need to get the Vodka sauce next time!!!! There was an entire area, Maker’s Central, devoted to homemade items, from bowls to soaps, to the prettiest wreaths, it was really interesting. You could also buy your Christmas Tree and Garlands there too..One of my favorite things were the beautiful velvet mules from the company Saachi. They also had beautiful bubble sleeve cardigans. I was so mad that I left without either of those terrific items!!
The market is opened until Sunday, December 13th. The hours are 11-7. It is located in the blocked off Waller Ave in the heart of White Plains. And the best part there is plenty of parking!!!
Hope to see you there this weekend!!!
PS When you visit please stop by the @WhiteplainsBID Members’ Shed:
Wolf and Warrior**Hastings Tea & Coffee**Westchester Road Runners**Gentleman’s Barber Shop**Pax Romana**Loola Doola
Today my friend Clare and I decided to make a trek to the Upper East Side to the former Cartier mansion on Madison Ave, to the insanely cool pop-up shop of tastemaker, Lizzie Tisch, LTD X Lizzie Tisch. I have been following Lizzie on Instagram for years, and I can best describe her style as classic chic with a saucy twist. I was so excited to visit the shop and it did not disappoint. I first grabbed a few gifts on the “beauty” table, the “Wakey, Wakey” and “Be Well” organic body washes. And after using one tonight..I have to say it smells terrific!! The shop was filled with so many wonderful and interesting things curated by Lizzie herself. There were gorgeous puffed sleeve Le Lion cardigans. Rainbow colored House of Fluff faux fur jackets. The most incredible jeweled bracelet gloves (hmmmmm I wonder what I went home with), show-stopping fine jewelry and so much more. I also rounded out my purchases with some peanut brittle and chocolates and Huge Vanilla Marshmallows, which Lizzie told me were so delicious. I have hidden them from myself so I can save them for a special day!!!!! I also bought my fur babies the cutest jelly dog treats. There were just so many things that I wanted to buy. I fell in love with the cutest mink hand sanitizer case that attaches to your purse. Unfortunately, I left without buying it and that little beauty has been haunting me ever since!!!
The Pop-Up Shop is located at 828 Madison Ave and is opened Monday-Saturday from 11 -5 until December 18th. If it is too hard for you to get into the city right now, you can DM LTD X Lizze Tisch on Instagram and they will face time with you around the store and ship anything you need. Here are some photos from our fun whimsical outing.
The two biggest gift guides I am asked for are gifts for her and gifts for teens. I understand why these two groups are so difficult to buy for. For your best friend or sister or mom or esp. wife, you want to BUY something special, something that she will cherish. Teens are even harder because the newest thing is always around the corner so a current gift that is not yesterday’s news is soooo hard to find. Today we are focusing on her. Here are some of my favorite picks for that person who always has your back!!!
Bronzer from Nordstrom, Plaid Blouse, Flower Ring, Circle Earrings, Journal, Christmas Trees, Capri Sandals, Cardigan Sweater, Candle, Dress, Green Earrings, Pink Shoes, Palm Crystal Earrings, Ugg Slippers
Tonight I was on a zoom presentation, benefitting the Historial Society of Greenwich, for entertaining for the holidays with two of my favorite people Style Maker, Eddie Ross, and the Fabulous Caterer, Susan Scully. They gave so many great tips, from flower arranging, to how to create a safe and fabulous buffet during Covid, to new holiday table setting ideas.
Here Eddie is showing us how to make an arrangement in a vintage wine cooler. He used a mixture of a “forever flowers” aka. faux!! amaryllis, white peonies with pine and evergreens from the garden, and sprays of berries and candy cane carnations. Now I am on the hunt for some vintage wine coolers and my own forever light-colored amaryllis.
Next, we moved onto the Holiday Covid friendly buffet. Here Susan shared with us some elegant foods that can be individually served but take everything to the next level. She had miniature cones filled with popcorn sprinkled with truffle salt and shaved truffles (because as she said, it is the holidays after all!!!!). She also uses a mini charcuterie board for each guest. Susan recommended that we mix it up from all cheese. Perhaps add figs or a crustini. I think this is such a brilliant idea. Do you see the egg ups filled with egg salad and caviar!!! And lastly, I love the mini copper pans filled with Shepard’s Pie. Susan recommends MacDuffs in Greenwich for their delicious Shepard’s Pie so you don’t even have to make your own!!!
I really loved everything in these presentations but no one sets a table like Eddie Ross. I have been following him for years and I am in awe of his creations for each holiday. He certainly did not disappoint tonight. Look at the way he places his table runners. Eddie does not like using them the long way down a table. He says it looks too much like a runway!! And you know, I totally agree…I love this idea of how he uses them across the table. Eddie also loves using footed silver dishes for arrangements, especially ones with fancy lids. He just snuggles the lids under neat halfway exposed on the table. Brilliant!!! He also scatters mercury glass bud vases around the table holding glitter leaves. And lastly, rather than using place cards, Eddie likes to wrap little gifts with each person’s name on the tag to save their seat!!!
I just love this duo. I have known them for so many years and they keep surprising me time and time again, with all of their new and special tips!!! Happy Holidays to you both, Eddie and Susan….please do another workshop soon!!! XO
