Friday Flotsam

Faaaaaaaaah-raaaaaaaah-heeeeeeeee-deeeeeeeeeee.

I have something to tell you.

And this might be a deal breaker for us. Catastrophic even.

It’s one of those things that I’ve tried forever to get on board with. Every year, I try. And every year, I can’t. And truthfully, it’s something I’ve known about about myself, I think my whole life, but I’ve never quite been able to face it.

Until today.

I HATE POMEGRANATE.

Hate it! Hate it, hate it, hate it.

Those disgusting seeds are Satan’s hemorrhoids.

First of all, they taste like donkey. Bitter, slimy turd pods. Nope.

And you know how people slice them in half with a perfect smile on their face, and then they gently tap the hemorrhoids out of fruit with a gorgeous wooden spoon? And they fall like a delicate snow shower into a giant bowl in less than 10 seconds? You know what happens when I do that?

NOTHING.

NOTHING HAPPENS. I end up looking like a wolf chewing on a deer in the night, trying to get those dern things out.

This is the year. This is the year I’m proclaiming NO POMEGRANATE AT THE HOLIDAYS. STOP IT.

Wow, I feel better, you guys.

Yesterday I went to a cute little holiday styling workshop at my favorite lifestyle store in town (WAY TO CHANGE GEARS THERE, BEV.), and so I thought it might be fun to share with you what I learned!

You’re like, if you even tell me to put away my giant inflatable Santa we are THROUGH. (never, dude. never.)

Much of the style philosophy shared yesterday is already something that runs through my blood like a tsunami, BUT – I didn’t know one thing. Plaid is back! PLAID. IS. BACK. I can dig this.

Here’s what the cute hostess who’s probably in her early 30s because she zero jowls shared:

Think shine, fresh, and cozy.

YES YES AND YES.

She shared that you don’t to necessarily change your entire house, because that’s stupid and obnoxious. (just kidding she didn’t say that.) But concentrate on three areas – your lounge area (like, coffee table and sofa), dinner table (just for the big meal), and your entryway. (AND THE MANTEL, duh.) Something simple like swapping in pillows with extra texture can cozy up your couch for the season. And then like, put something minimal but festive on your coffee table, just to change up the look. (like wooden stackable gnomes or a bowl of vintage ornaments that your kids will shatter. Yeah, I won’t be doing that part.)

For the fresh, she said anything real, from nature will add that perfect festive touch. Yep yep yep. I always go outside and mangle our pine tree with rusty scissors, JUST SO I CAN HAVE A PRETTY MANTEL. #fact

And for shine, something obviously like candles. Tealights, monochromatic pillars, anything that keeps the feel cohesive. I would even go a step further and say that with SHINE, add MUTED TONES. Like eucalyptus, homemade beeswax candles, anything pale and faded is just beautiful next to shine.

And plaid! Who knew. Who freaking knew.

Now I’m going to be obsessed with plaid.

(this isn’t sponsored, by the way. just me telling you girlie stuff, LIKE WE’RE IN A PILLOW FIGHT.)

Okay, matcha update.

I’ve made THREE matcha tea lattes so far. I think they’re lattes because I’ve been adding almond milk and honey to them. Because listen, if I don’t add that honey, it tastes like death and regret.

I think I’m liking it! BUT HERE’S MY QUANDARY. The bamboo whisk isn’t getting me the froth I want. So I followed the one main tip that lots and lots and LOTS of you gave me in Stories. And that is to blend it. In a blender. And I’ll say, that worked perfectly. Five seconds in the blender and it’s gorgeously frothy.

BUUUT, that means lugging out the blender. Das a lotta work for TEA, yo.

Tell me, will a frother give me the same result as the blender? Like this thing! Handheld, not huge, doesn’t make me hate life.

You just stick it in the mug, right? Flip the switch and it goes, right? Doesn’t spew froth all over your counter and face and hair, right? Stays in the mug, right? Works like a charm, right?

Right?

Weekend plans?

I have a giant holiday shoot today (NO POMEGRANATES), and then I’m going treadmill shopping tomorrow morning! Per your suggestion, I’m gonna run on a bunch FIRST to see what I like. And go from there. Then after that I’m heading straight to the nail salon to meet my birthday bestie with a bottle of wine because I’m sure to be super stressed out after all that treadmill testing.

Oh! One final question. I’ve got only two (2!) open spots on the blog for the rest of the year. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE? Obviously I’ve got cheesy holiday appies coming, some roasted potatoes, a beefy pot pie with biscuits, some cheesy no-knead bread, the Christmas mixtape (!), and some other fun stuff. But – what do you want to see (and eat) before the end of the year? I welcome all suggestions.

EXCEPT POMEGRANATES. #satanhemorrhoid