It’s hard to believe that we are already at the end of October and making our way into November this upcoming week. There are still so many things that I am looking forward to this season that I have yet to do. Among them are things like visiting the art museum for the Vienna and Ottoman Empire exhibits, visiting the arboretum to see the trees with their vibrant colors, even more autumn reading, and also having a day off in November to do a little Christmas shopping for the new apartment. Speaking of autumn reading, I am loving all of the food themed books for this season. I am currently reading Ina Garten’s new book, Be Ready When the Luck Happens, then after that will be The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore, then Nigel Slater’s new book, A Thousand Feasts. The lineup will be perfect to enjoy Nigel Slater’s book in November just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday. As we also move closer into the holiday season, I will start mentioning more Thanksgiving and Christmas items to peruse here on the Curated Weekly posts.
SHOPPING, BOOKS, MEDIA, ETC.
If you really liked the cashmere poncho that I use while traveling, but are looking for one on a budget, then look into J. Crew Factory’s cotton blend color block poncho. I really love the detailing on this item and may even get it for myself as well. It looks very elegant in the black color and white detailing.
If you are a fan of the Stuart Weitzman knee high boots, but didn’t want to spend $300 for them, here is a great alternative also from J. Crew Factory which are the knee-high boots with stretch. They look exactly the same and also offers that stretch detailing on the back for ease and comfort.
If you live in a temperate climate like I do where it can be as low as 40 degrees in the morning but heat up to the mid-70’s by the afternoon, then a good piece to have as part of a fall wardrobe is a sleeveless turtleneck and this soft luxe turtleneck top from Banana Republic Factory comes in many colors to choose from. Not only is it an elegant piece, but you can wear it with a coat or blazer in the mornings when it’s cooler and simply remove the top layer when it heats up in the afternoon. It makes for a great transition piece.
For my Nespresso lovers out there, Nespresso has come out with another Advent Calendar for both the vertuo and original line of machines. This line is described as, behind each door lies a new taste adventure, with a daily coffee pod from the Vertuo/original coffee line, including three evocative new flavors co-created with chef Jean Imbert. The calendar is an elegant centerpiece in the festive season with a graphic foil relief depicting the Nespresso Festive Odyssey, inspired by Belmond’s art of travel, and it contains a limited-edition porcelain mug behind the 24th door to continue the journey of taste long after the festive season has ended.
With Thanksgiving right around the corner it’s now a good time to look into anything that may be needed for the upcoming holiday. If a baking dish is on your list, then this scallop stoneware baking dish is at a great price for only $19.99. Not only is it a beautiful color, but it is also quite large at 12 W x 10 D.
If napkins are what you are needing for the upcoming holiday season, then H&M home has 4-pack patterned napkins for $9.99. These would not only work for the holiday season, but year-round too.
It’s no secret that I love a beautiful mug and will always share them here on the blog when I see one that I really like. This one comes from Williams-Sonoma and is designed by Rory Dobner. Rory Dobner is a London-based artist and is internationally renowned for his fantastical ink drawings. His original rendering of a 19th-century building facade depicting three stories of windows creates a wonderfully rhythmic pattern around this mug. It’s crafted of solid porcelain with a hand-applied decal and clear glaze.
Pasta is one of my favorite foods, so it’s no surprise that The Pasta Queen: The Art of Italian Cooking caught my attention. Being released on November 12th, this cookbook comes with over a hundred delicious recipes and stunning photographs that will transport you to the heart of the Mediterranean, this cookbook also delves into Nadia’s food philosophies, including the importance of using seasonal ingredients, following a balanced diet, and celebrating cultural history through food.
This new contemporary romance novel from Rebecca Yarros looks to be a good read for this season. Being released on November 19th, Variation: A Novel is about the summer a celebrated dancer returns home and unearths years of family secrets and deep regrets with the Coast Guard rescue swimmer she never forgot. A lovely sounding romance book for some escapism to cozy up to next month.
Growing Brave: Words to Soothe Fear and Let in More Life was released this past Tuesday and is a powerful collection of wisdom and poetry that inspires strength and courage during life’s most challenging moments. This book is a guiding light for anyone seeking to overcome fear and self-doubt, embracing life and love in the process.
And because it’s bake-off season right now on Netflix, The Great British Baking Show 2024: Comforthis new book being released on November 5th showcases 80 wonderful bakes inspired by the show’s most popular signature themes – Cake, Biscuits, Bread, Pastry, Patisserie, Dessert, Chocolate and Free-from – celebrating the very best in comfort bakes.
Martha Stewart has been around for many years and is unofficially known as the original influencer (I agree!). In this new documentary on Netflix, Martha Stewart pulls back the curtain as one of America’s greatest self-made icons, from her start as a teenage model to her stint as a Wall Street stockbroker to her reign as the grand dame of entertaining and good taste. I will be certainly tuning in for this one.
Released two years ago, but still full of great advice, Ina Garten does a Thanksgiving Q&A for Williams-Sonoma. From brilliant make-ahead tips to expert entertaining strategies, W&S partnered with the Barefoot Contessa to help you host the perfect Thanksgiving feast.
Comfort cooking season is here, and this healthy maple-braised butternut squash soup recipe is on my shortlist to try this season.
Is Lindsay Lohan the new queen of holiday movies? I am thinking she may be as Netflix gives a glimpse into their holiday lineup of movies for this season.
articles of interest
I find that buying frozen veggies is a more convenient way to buy them when I don’t plan on eating all of it in a week, and here is a good article about 6 vegetables you should always buy frozen which is also a helpful guide.
If you like to make your own afternoon teatime like I do, here is a list of picture-perfect tea sandwiches that you can peruse for inspiration.
The School of Self Image just released a free resource called the 4D Framework. In this free guide Tonya Leigh walks you through a powerful four-step process to delete tasks that don’t serve your true priorities, delegate responsibilities to free up your time and energy, delay non-urgent tasks to create mental space, delight in your work by injecting joy and purpose into every task.
If you are looking to decorate for the holidays on a budget, here is a list of Timeless and Affordable Holiday Decor Pieces and honestly, they were all quite beautiful.
Here is an article about Everything We Know About Prince Harry’s Netflix Polo Show on Netflix. The docuseries, which will film in Florida, will “pull the curtain back on the grit and passion of the sport.”
I do love a beautiful house tour and this Tudor home in Hertfordshire that has been restored to its ancient origins was a cozy read.
And since the holiday season is nearly upon us, here are some Dinner Party Tips Inspired by the French Art of Hosting.
WHAT I PINNED THIS PAST WEEK ON PINTEREST
The autumn months and leading into the holidays is probably my favorite time to use Pinterest. There is always so many good ideas and inspirations to be found and this past week I really enjoyed pinning some holiday home inspiration as well as style inspiration. I can also still see where Charleston is also influencing my style tastes for this week as well.
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