where there's a will

...there is a way. Yesterday we had 24 guests inside our house for a sit down dinner, a feat I never thought possible and yet it worked.  Cold drizzly weather left us no choice.  It was cozy to say the least.  These are the before pictures, I was too tired to take afters.

I clipped foliage from the trees outside.

We had to move the refrigerator in order to squeeze in a table for the food.  That essentially cut off a good portion of the house.  So instead of being in 970 sq ft, we were in about 600.

The black and cream toile is a drapery panel.  The napkins are just cut fabric, I didn't have the time to sew them but no one seemed to care.  The flatware is from my childhood.

The stuffed portobello mushrooms were a big hit even with the meat eaters. All in all it was a success.  I'm exhausted but giving thanks that I don't work today.  The linens are being washed as I type and the house will slowly be put back together.  How was your day? x

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autumn stuffed portobello mushrooms

Hello from crazy land.  I honestly cannot remember when I've been this busy and I want it to stop. I also feel bad I haven't posted any good vegan recipes in a long time.  Also, this will be the first year in a long time that turkey will be served here.  I won't be preparing or eating it but we have about 25 people coming and for some reason that's what they want to eat.  I'll be ordering most of the meal from a local market.  I'll make the vegan main though and this is it.  It's so easy you can do it in about 30 minutes, unless you follow the recipe Stephen Andrew Jones gave me for prepping the mushroom caps.  Have you been following his Thanksgiving preps? They have been so good and hilarious at the same time.  I think we should all band together and try to get him on TV somehow. Can you even imagine how great that'd be?

Autumn Stuffed Portobellos

6 Portobello Mushrooms (I used mini ones here but the large ones will work)
1 1/2 cups cooked rice (I used brown here but wild rice would be pretty)
1/2 cup fine dice onion
1/2 cup fine dice celery
1/2 cup fine dice apple
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup sunflower seeds
1- 2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar


Saute the onion and celery til soft in a little olive oil
Add the apple, cranberries and sunflower seeds and saute for about 3 minutes
Add the rice and mix thoroughly
Drizzle in the balsamic vinegar - add more to taste if needed
Season with Salt and Pepper

Stephen Andrew Jones mushroom prep in his words, "make them totally vegan and do an herb/garlic "butter" of olive oil, salt, tons of thyme, cayenne, and like 25 cloves of garlic in the food processor. I rub that all over them, roast in hot oven for a few min to evaporate moisture"

Or you can brush the inside with a little olive oil, salt, pepper and put them in the oven for about 5 minutes.

Stuff each portobello with 1/4 to 1/3 cup mixture and bake in 350 degree oven for 20 minutes and serve.  They are good hot or at room temp.  The mushroom is soft and delicious and there is a nice crunch from the celery, apple and sunflower seeds.  These will go well with mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes and green beans so you will not feel left out.  xo

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everlane drop shoulder tee review

The Drop Shoulder Tee is a great tee.  It's only the 2nd Everlane tee I've tried but I like it a lot. You can read my Ryan tee and tank review here.  If you recall my only issue with the Ryan was that I preferred to wear it backwards. You don't have to wear this one backwards:)  My favorite part about this tee is the sleeve.  It goes all the way down to the elbow and is finished with a nice wide hem. The bottom is finished with the same hem.  The neck is not huge either which is good if your decolletage looks anything like mine.  They call this color Clay but in real life it's a pretty brown.  I should have fancied up the styling here but I was in a hurry and honestly this is how I look most days.  I've washed the tee twice and hang to dry and it seems quite durable.  The cotton is even produced here in the USA.  I ordered a small and like the looser fit.

Other details...

The Madden Girl Krespo bootie is pretty much sold out everywhere but This boot, also made by Madden Girl is quite chic and on sale.  It's such a comfortable shoe if you are on your feet all day.

The handbag is also vegan, made by Deux Lux - similar here.   This handbag will last forever, it's so well made and does not look cheap/flimsy like some vegan handbags can.  It comes with a long detachable strap so you can wear it crossbody style if you want.  I wore it all through Europe and it was perfect for travel.

I was able to purchase this tee with credits I earned from you!  If you'd like to use my code here it is...

Click Here

If you'd rather not, go directly to their website Here.  Everlane has really upped their game making beautifully made and downright luxurious clothing but still keeping the price low because they've cut out the middleman.  If you'd like to read about how the tee's are made, click here.  It's pretty impressive.  

So that's it.  Happy Friday to you all, enjoy your weekend.  I'll be working.  x

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