Secret Home Essentials

Girls can be snoopy. And I mean this in the best possible way. I simply find myself curious about the items that other people deem as their favorites - the things they can't live without, whether it's their go-to nail polish colors or what they lug around in their purses. So here's my list of essential items that I need {or just really love} at home.

1: Since I cook at home, having great serving dishes is crucial. This opaque white Heath bowl adds a homemade element to the table and makes whatever you're serving look even more appetizing.

2: This bottle stopper can work for any open bottle of wine but is especially useful for champagne. For those nights when you just want one glass, but don't want the entire bottle to go to waste, this will keep drinks tasting good {and bubbly!} for up to three weeks.

3: These king cubes are ideal for cocktails since they melt slowly and make you look like a professional-ish bartender. The container is also silicone, which makes them easy to get out.

4: My marble slab was a more recent purchase, but is a must-have for bakers. It helps keep dough chilled while I work with it and is also a beautiful background for food styling.

5: I love these little salt and pepper grinders because they pump out just the right amount of seasoning and look sleek on the table at a dinner party.

6: I always use a candle snuff instead of blowing out candles so the room keeps its scent instead of the smoky post-burn smell.

7: Coasters are a necessity in a living room. I particularly like these cool Los Angeles neighborhood cement ones or these stone ones.

8: Alexandra Von Furstenberg makes the most magical trays that look illuminated and add an unexpected pop to the living room {I have the pink one}.

9: I like how plants bring life to a room and larger plants are the best solution to filling vacant corners. I personally have a fiddle leaf fig tree, but also love the idea of a cactus for a desert-inspired vibe.

10: In the bathroom this sleek hook is ideal for hanging my robe without being too intrusive.

11: I always have black hand towels for washing my face so that I don't ruin our other towels with makeup.

12: The only hand soap I keep in our bathrooms.

13: Pharmacy jars are my favorite way to organize random bathroom clutter.

14: Given the nature of bathrooms, I always keep a room spray around. This Diptique Baies one makes the entire room smell amazing.

Five Things

The Best Cookies Ever I brought to my friend Emmy's party}

The older I get, the more I appreciate my weekends. Not in the same way that I did when I was younger - when a Friday night was a major production {getting ready, going out, where to go next, etc.}, but with a slightly more refined, appreciative perspective. This evening I couldn't be happier to sleep in my own bed tonight. And who knows - maybe after tomorrow's dinner date, we'll find ourselves in a dimly lit bar for a nightcap, just for old time's sake.

{Scouring the flea market for some of my favorite records - came home with Bruce, naturally}

{The cutest wax seal stickers by SimpleSong Design}

{Estée Lauder's stunning Bronze Goddess collection in Popsicle pinks and corals}

{I'm not big on cars, but this pink Cadillac reminds me of my first Barbie's ride}

Links I Love

1. Coffee and espresso drinks explained. (huffingtonpost.com) 

2. I totally get caught in the 'busy' trap - do you? (nytimes.com)

3. The sweetest bento boxes. (leifshop.com)

4. Love this 5 minute tutorial, especially the rosy cheeks. (oncewed.com)

5. Quick tip: how to keep lipstick off your wine glass. (realsimple.com)

6. Apparently I've been tying my shoelaces the wrong way the whole time. (ted.com)

7. Golden closet DIY idea. (apartment34.com)

8. Operation become-Amy-Poehler's-best-friend starts now. (vulture.com)

9. Five fall bread recipes + how to write on a loaf. (asubtlerevelry.com)

Rhubarb Streusel Pie

Makes 1 9-inch pie

Ingredients:

• ½ recipe Double Crust Pie Dough, chilled
• 2 Tbsp    Rolled oats
• 6 cups Diced fresh rhubarb
• 1 ¾ cups Sugar
• 3 Tbsp    Tapioca starch (also called tapioca flour)
• 1 tsp Vanilla extract

Streusel:

• 1 cup All-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup    Rolled oats
• ¼ cup Packed light brown sugar
• 1 tsp Ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp Salt
• ½ cup Cool unsalted butter, cut into pieces

1. Pull out the chill pie dough 30 minutes before rolling. Preheat the oven to 375 F. Lightly dust the bottom of a 9-inch pie plate with flour and place it on a parchment or foil-lined baking tray.
2. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the pastry to just under ¼-inch thick.  Lift the rolled dough and line the pie plate.  Trim away any excess dough that hangs more than an inch over the edge of the pie plate.  Tuck this outside bit of pastry under and pinch this crust into a decorative pattern.  Sprinkle the oats in the bottom of the pastry and chill it while preparing the filling and streusel.
3. For the filling, toss the rhubarb with the sugar, tapioca starch and vanilla. Spoon this into the prepared pie shell.
4. To prepare the streusel, stir the flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt to combine.  Cut in the butter until the mixture is a rough crumbly texture. Sprinkle the streusel over the rhubarb, then bake the pie on the prepared tray, for 20 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 350 F and continue to cook the pie for 40 to 45 minutes more, until the outside crust is evenly browned and the rhubarb filling is bubbling at the edges.  Cool the pie for at 3 least hours before slicing, or chill to serve cold.

My New Favorite Vintage Find

Flea markets can be overwhelming, but a midst all of the random objects and questionable smells, you can find some really special pieces. This past weekend my friend found this vintage gazelle bust and couldn't wait to get it home {it was well worth the long trek to my car where we nearly speared three people with its antlers}. Despite its large size, I was fairly certain it would be a versatile piece that could work in several different places.

In the bedroom, I used the antlers and ears for hanging bracelets and hats. Since space in the bedroom is limited, it was nice that it not only added dimension, but also served as a great place to store accessories.

The piece also worked well on the mantle. The ceiling in her living room is exceptionally high, so it helped create a nice sense of space by adding some height a midst framed photographs, geode candlesticks, and a single rose.

When decorating the coffee table, I made sure to cheat the gazelle to the side, so that it wouldn't interfere with people trying to talk. To balance the table a bit, I placed a stack of books on the opposite side and peppered in essential items like coasters, matches, and a candle.

Loving Right Now

There's something appealing about two pieces that aren't supposed to work together - but somehow do. And I'm not talking about wearing your winter coat with flip-flops. It's about downplaying a sequined skirt with a cozy knit, playing with proportions, wearing complementary patterns, or combining two crazy colors in one look. Here are some unexpected combinations that I've been loving.

Chocolate Babka

I love giving people presents, regardless of the occasion, and feel homemade gifts are often better than anything you can purchase in a store. A few weeks back, my friend received an amazing homemade chocolate babka for her birthday and it was so decadent and delicious, I had to try and replicate the dish. This Gourmet recipe produced a rich and chewy bread, which is essentially a cinnamon loaf, swapping the spice for chocolate. It's not a quick recipe {about 6 hours from start to finish}, but if you have some spare time on the weekend, it's definitely worth the effort.

Fall To-Do List

Fall has always been my favorite season. I love how you don't need an excuse to bake every weekend, cozy up with friends to re-watch old movies, all while knowing the holidays are just around the corner. Since yesterday was the first official day of fall, here's a list of things I'm planning on doing this year.

1. Learn to make apple cider donuts.

2. Do a house purge where every weekend we tackle a different closet.

3. Cabin for a long weekend with friends.

4. Master three new soups.

5. Compile a list of scary movies to re-watch.

6. Host a baked potato bar party.

7. Visit a real haunted house.

8. Make pumpkin butter and package in jars for gifts.

9. Go to a watercolor and wine night here.

10. Zombie run.

Five Things

{Amazing black sticky rice with avocado}

Perhaps it's because the seasons officially change this coming Monday, but there was definitely something in the air these past few days that kind of threw things off a bit. It also might be due to the fact that I had one of the most memorable weekends, which kind of made everything else pale in comparison. Regardless, I'm looking forward to recharging, which includes some way-too-early Halloween party planning and watching the Emmys. Hope you have a great weekend. 

{A stunning monogramed bag from Valentino}

{Already stocking up on items for Halloween}

{Dying over these leather/gold Super sunglasses}

{Crack caramels that are as good as they sound}