Have you gotten your tree yet? Or are you one of the types that waits until Christmas Eve to dress your house? If so, I have a treat for you.
The Christmas Tree Mat keeps your floors safe and scratch free. I asked besties Crystal and Teague to be the test subjects for this product since we didn’t put up a tree this year. Teague reported that it was swell. Made for easy moving and didn’t scratch up their lovely hardwoods. Teague also said it was very absorbent – doesn’t get the floor all wet when you go to water your tree. And it was the perfect size for adding the tree skirt.
It’s also reversible, with red on one side and green on the other. Super! And it is available at many hardware stores including Ace, Lowes and The Home Depot.
Wouldn’t it be fab not to worry about scratching and getting water all over your floors or carpet? This is just for you!
xoxo, Patti
Today blogging to Aretha Franklin – Oh Christmas Tree
Still haven’t decided where you should go for Christmas? You suddenly have some time off and want to warm up?
I have just the thing for you!! Our dear friend Christine DiRocco has just informed me of a last minute getaway to Palm Beach (you can read how fab it is here). It is WARM there darlings! You could pack your bikini and sarong and be there in 2 hours from Atlanta. Let The Ritz-Carlton handle everything once you arrive. Tired? You have got to try those otherworldly beds. I am not kidding. You will sleep like a baby. A tired baby. And awake a happy beach babe.
Lets get all the deets from sweet Christine:
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PALM BEACH, Fla., December 20, 2010—The Ritz-Carlton, Palm Beach partners with Mother Nature this holiday week for gloriously warm and sunny weather for celebrating Christmas, New Year’s and 2011. The holiday spirit in South Florida rang loudly with chilly weather and a blast of the North Pole this past week, but the magic of sunny Palm Beach returns with swaying palm trees, splashy waves and balmy temps!
Take a vacation from the cold, wintry weather of early December – grab your bikini, significant other and leave your jacket and gloves behind! Melt into the holidays Ritz-Carlton, Palm Beach style and experience the barefoot elegance of our oceanfront resort.
Our Escape the Chill Package provides holiday cheer with:
Overnight accommodations starting at $619, based on double occupancy
Warm welcome amenity upon arrival; hot chocolate, hot toddy, tea or coffee
(2) 60-minute Eau Spa by Cornelia treatments in a Couple’s Villa.
Select from: Self-Centered Massage or Signature Essence Facial per night stay
All day garden access to swings, dipping pools, Eau Zone and Bath Lounge
Soak in the sun, hang out for the holidays and leave your winter worries behind. Escape the Chill rates start at $619 USD based on double occupancy. For more information and to plan your holiday escape or to make reservations, please call (561) 533-6000 or visit www.ritzcarlton.com/palmbeach.
Good heavens – Eau Spa is like nothing you have ever experienced. I would not steer you wrong.
And Santa knows you have been so good this year. Treat yourself.
The winner of our CSN $65.00 gift card is Clint! Hooray for Clint! I will email you the code so you can get to shopping. I would love to hear what you picked out.
Well, I’m not sure what CSN stands for, but they have everything! From leather messenger bags to large appliances and everything in between. And, they have been so kind to offer one of my adorable readers a $65 gift card to use as you wish. Merry Christmas!! Just leave a comment and I will pick a winner on Monday, so you don’t have too wait long.
Lets take a look at some of the goodies (one for you, one for me! and maybe one as a gift…or not, your choice).
I know it’s cold outside, but how about pretending it’s spring inside with this gorgeous robin egg’s blue pasta bowl by iitala Teema?
iitala's Teema Pasta Bowl - $17.00
And to feel uber chic while sipping soup, hot chocolate or a late afternoon latte, how about this fabulous set of 6 Venice Soup Cups by Ten Strawberry Street?
Pretend you are Sophia Loren and look super glam. Set of 6, $38.94
Oh, I know you will love this next one. Again, from Ten Strawberry Street, these black and white striped cereal bowls will have you clamoring to eat the most important meal of the day. Love love love!
Set of 6, $38.74. Um, Santa, are you listening?
And for those of you throwing a little ‘do at the homestead for New Year’s Eve, how about an electric fondue set? You don’t have to worry about the little candle going out and gooping up all your cheese. Or chocolate. I don’t judge. This one is from Cuisinart, so you know it’s going to be swell.
Cuisinart Electric Fondue Set $54.95
Did you know that tradition dictates that if you drop something into the fondue you must kiss every guest of the opposite sex at the party or buy them the next round of drinks? Isn’t that a fun fact?
Okay, my sweeties, comment away. I can’t believe I’m giving this away and not keeping it for myself, but that’s how much I love you.
xoxo, Patti
Today blogging to Mariah Carey – Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
My wonderful husband, Eric, is taking the reins today to share the recipe for the scrumptious White Bean and Chicken Chili he made this weekend. It is perfect for these cooler nights. Enjoy!
This chicken chili hits the spot on a cool evening.
White Bean and Chicken Chili
Ingredients
One whole chicken, in parts
12 tomatillos
Two large poblano chiles
Two medium jalapeño chiles
1 1/2 cup diced onion
3 12oz cans cannellini beans
3 cloves garlic, sliced
2 beers
1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
2 1/2 tbsp olive oil
2 tsp Adobo
3 tsp sage
2 tsp basil
Salt & black pepper
Debone the chicken. Season evenly on both sides with salt, pepper, adobo, sage, and basil. Reserve.
Peel and rinse the tomatillos. Cut the smallest in half and the larger to roughly that size. Put in a medium saucepan, and add the cider vinegar and one beer. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 20 minutes or until the tomatillos soften.
Roast the chiles and wrap in plastic to steam them, 15 minutes. Rub or peel off the skin, then remove the seed pits and dice.
Heat the olive oil in a large pot to a shimmer. Add the chicken, skin side down, and brown. Remove before the chicken is cooked through, about 15 minutes. Drain on paper towel.
To the pot, add half of the liquid cooked with the tomatillos and deglaze. Add the chiles and onion to the pot and sautée* with a pinch of salt. Once toasted, add the garlic and toast, stirring often 5 minutes. Add the tomatillos and liquid, then the cans of beans, with liquid. salt and pepper the beans before you stir them in. Add the other beer.
Dice the chicken and return to the pot. Bring to a boil, then simmer for an hour. Taste frequently to correct the seasoning.
Serve with white corn tortilla chips and a dollop of sour cream.
* If you started with a whole chicken and have giblets, dice them and add them with the onions and chiles. Skip the kidneys and neck.
Arriving from Atlanta on flight 46, Air Tran’s 717 touched down in West Palm Beach in what seemed like minutes from take off to landing.
We stepped out of the airport and were greeted by a warm, steamy breeze, indicative of Florida summers.
As we exited the taxi at The Ritz-Carlton Palm Beach, we were greeted by even more warmth, this time of the human variety. Dustin and crew handled our bags and Lexi at the front desk checked us in and made us feel very welcome.
Steve, our tourist guide/bellman, gave us the low down on every aspect of the property before we ever reached our room. And the room – although standard, was anything but as we gazed at the Atlantic Ocean from our ample balcony. This private spot would continue to be our own respite from the world during our stay.
I’m sitting at the kitchen table in my red flannel pajamas, watching dreamily as snow flurries outside the window like sprinkles of white glitter, still basking in the glow of Saturday night’s party.
If you were not here, I wish you could have been. Because, if I do say so myself, it was astounding. Truly. But I cannot take credit for it all. First, I must thank Holland, our balloon designer for turning our house into a twinkling wonderland of lights and ribbons and balloons.
Leave it to our girl-about-town, Caren West, to come up with something to warm you up and something to cool you down, at the same venue. Tonight.
What? There’s an opening in your party going schedule? Let me help you pencil something in for tonight.
Yacht Rock. That’s right. Yacht Rock. You know, cover bands that do all the fun music from the 1970s. Like Christopher Cross and Seals & Crofts and whatever else was popular back in the day. It’s fun! And…you can get all cooled off before the show by ice skating at Park Tavern.
Honey, we’ve got you covered. Miss Caren, details please!
PARK TAVERN HOSTS THE SECOND ANNUAL YACHT ROCK HOLIDAY SPECIAL ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10TH
Featuring Three Levels of Entertainment and Performances from the Yacht Rock Revue, Yacht Rock Schooner and DJ MP3PO
Atlanta, Georgia (November 29, 2010) – The second annual Yacht Rock Holiday Special will be held at Park Tavern in Piedmont Park on Friday, December 10, 2010. Revelers are invited to attend an early show at 8 p.m. or late night bash at 10 p.m. The festive evening featuresthree levels of live entertainment including the Yacht Rock Revue, fireside performances by the Yacht Rock Schooner, ice skating at The Rink with DJ MP3PO, and the PleaseRock Carolizers! Two cans of food for the Atlanta Community Food Bank will get guests a picture with Santa at the Mixtape Atlanta photo booth. Advance tickets are available for $20 for both the 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. shows at https://www.xorbia.com/rsvp/yachtrock/extravaganza/tickets.cfm.
This should be a blast – go on, buy some tickets. You know you want to…
You all know how busy we all get during the holiday season. Great googly moogly there are a lot of parties and get togethers happening.
One must take it easy or one might….catch a cold and be on the couch for a few days. Like I have been earlier this week.
So my greatest piece of advice this holiday season is to stock up on echinachea and orange juice and get plenty of rest where and when you can (go ahead, use up those sick days – you have parties to rest up for!)
Now, full speed ahead for this year’s Black Tie Christmas Party – there’s two pork shoulders to cook and shred for bbq pork sliders, turkey to chop and mix up with dill, mayo and other ingredients for dilled turkey salad sliders, potato chips to drizzle with chocolate for that one bite of something sweet. Our decorator will be here at 2:30 on Saturday, just passing me as I leave to get my hair done, which will mean we will be passing each other when I return to have my makeup done by Richard at 5ish. Champagne needs to be chilled and the table needs to be dressed. So much to do!
My dress is picked out and Eric’s tux is ready to go (I think…), shoes have been matched perfectly and accessories gathered.
Should be a perfect night. I am also debuting a little surprise of my own…
xoxo, Patti
Today blogging to Mary Poppins – Stay Awake (go ahead, take a nap, Darlings)
