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gillian

abercrombie round up part ii

lifestyle

abercrombie round up part II

High Rise 4 in
Mom Short

Multiway Cotton Seamless Bodysuit

Off the Shoulder Twist Sweater Top

These mom shorts are the perfect length. The four-inch is so so good. It’s comfy and casual, yet the high-rise allows you to really dress up this look and an amazing pairing is with the cotton seamless bodysuit.

The ability to tie in several ways adds versatility to your wardrobe and it is extremely flattering. The thick fabric and slimming cut make this a must for anyone looking for a versatile top for going out on the town or dressing up a casual outfit for every day.

For fall, everyone needs a transition sweater and this off-the-shoulder option is the perfect addition. This pairs well with shorts or pants and because it is cropped and off the shoulder, it is great for transitional weather from late summer to fall.

Elevated Knit Slim Lace-Up Cardigan

Long Sleeve Slim Zip Polo Top

Relaxed Poplin Shirt Dress

I love the neutral color of this cardigan, and the thickness is amazing with such good quality material. It is truly lace up, so the bra situation needs to be figured out or an undershirt will be needed.

The duo zip polo top is the most gorgeous warm brown/orange color that is so perfect for fall (especially since these are my colors) and the warmth is light yet substantial for the changing weather. This can be zipped for an appropriate work outfit or unzipped at the bottom for an attractive and sexy look.

My favorite from this recent haul is the relaxed poplin shirt dress. It is the perfect length and can be dressed up or down. Leaving unbuttoned with a slip underneath or layering with a cardigan and options for transitioning from summer to fall, and throwing on some tights and a leather jacket for winter. Can you tell that the possibilities are endless with this piece?

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Simple Thanksgiving Recipe Roundup

lifestyle

Simple Thanksgiving Recipe Roundup

Thanksgiving is only about a month away and it can be overwhelming if you are hosting. Thankfully this year I will be traveling to be with family and we will split up the tasks but having delicious staple recipes can make the day go much smoother.

Anything that can be prepped or made ahead of time is my favorite because the day is hectic enough and the true purpose of the day is to appreciate time with family, and if you’re stressed in the kitchen all day how are you going to have time for that?

By the way, a majority of the recipes I have included below are from Half Baked Harvest. If you are not following her on Instagram or have her blog bookmarked…please just go do that. You’ll thank me later.

I have pulled together a roundup of my favorite Thanksgiving recipes from all different sources. Let me know which is your favorite! Stay tuned for a post on setting the table for Thanksgiving and some of my favorite Pinterest tablescapes at every level of complexity!

Cheesy Baked Mashed Potatoes

@thekitchn

Ingredients

  • Butter or cooking spray, for the baking dish
  • 3 pounds Yukon gold potatoes (about 8 medium)
  • 3/4 cup whole milk
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more as needed
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 cup sour cream (8 ounces)
  • 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (about 2 cups)
  • 1 ounce Parmesan cheese, finely grated (about 1/2 firmly packed cup grated or 1/3 cup store-bought)
  • Finely chopped fresh chives or parsley, for garnish (optional)

Find the full recipe here

Ina Garten’s Make Ahead Cranberry Sauce

via homeiswheretheboatis.net

Ingredients

  • 12- ounce bag fresh cranberries rinsed and picked through, discarding any that are bruised, shriveled or soft
  • 1 3/4 cups sugar
  • 1 Granny Smith apple peeled, cored and chopped
  • Grated zest and juice of 1 orange
  • Grated zest and juice of 1 lemon

Full recipe here

Easy Thanksgiving Stuffing

via I Wash You Dry

Ingredients

  • 12 cups dried bread cubes, *see notes
  • 6 tbsp butter
  • 1 1/2 cups onion, diced
  • 2 tsp minced garlic
  • 2 cups mushrooms, chopped
  • 1 cup celery, diced
  • 1 cup chicken stock or broth
  • 2 eggs, lightly beaten
  • 1 tsp poultry seasoning
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper

Full recipe here

Creamy Green Bean Casserole

Via Sally’s Baking Addiction
  • 1 Tablespoon + 1 teaspoon salt, divided
  • 1 pound fresh green beans, rinsed, trimmed and halved
  • 2 Tablespoons (30g) unsalted butter
  • 8 ounces mushrooms, sliced into halves or quarters*
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced (minced roasted garlic is great here)
  • 2 Tablespoons (15g) all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup (180ml) chicken or vegetable broth
  • 1 and 1/4 cups (300ml) half-and-half*
  • Fried onions

The full recipes includes making your own fried onions but I favor the store bought for ease and simplicity as well as the taste 🙂

Full recipe here

Bourbon Sweet Potato Casserole with Sweet ‘n’ Savory Bacon Pecans

@halfbakedharvest

Ingredients

Sweet ‘n’ Savory Bacon Pecans

  • ▢4 slices thick-cut bacon, chopped
  • ▢3/4 cup brown sugar
  • ▢1/3 cup all-purpose flour
  • ▢1 1/2 cups raw pecans roughly chopped
  • ▢6 tablespoons salted butter melted
  • ▢1/2-1 teaspoon cayenne pepper using more or less to taste
  • ▢2 tablespoons fresh chopped sage
  • ▢1-2 teaspoons fresh chopped rosemary (optional)

Full recipe here

Herb + Butter Roasted Turkey with White Wine Pan Gravy

@halfbakedharvest

Simple, classic, and fool proof.

Ingredients

  • ▢1 (14-16) pound turkey, giblets and neck removed
  • ▢2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • ▢2 tablespoons fresh sage, plus more for stuffing the bird
  • ▢2 tablespoons fresh thyme, plus more for stuffing the bird
  • ▢3 tablespoons fresh parsley
  • ▢zest of 1 lemon
  • ▢3 teaspoons kosher salt
  • ▢1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper
  • ▢1 piece large of double lined cheesecloth
  • ▢2 lemons, halved
  • ▢1 garlic head, tips sliced off
  • ▢1 onion, halved
  • ▢7-8 cups low sodium chicken or turkey broth

Find the full instructions here

Make Ahead White Wine Gravy

@halfbakedharvest

Ingredients

Find the full instructions here

Shredded Brussels Sprout Bacon Salad with Warm Cider Vinaigrette

@halfbakedharvest

This is something new I want to try this year. I’ve never done a salad like this before but I think it will compliment all of the other dishes but provide a contrast to the warmth of the other staples.

Ingredients

Find the full instructions here

Chai Pumpkin Pie with Maple Whipped Cream

@halfbakedharvest

Ingredients

Maple Whipped Cream

Full recipe here

Salted Caramel Apple Pie

Via baker by nature

Ingredients

  • (2) all-butter pie crusts
  • 1 cup salted caramel sauce
  • 3 pounds baking apples, peeled, cored, and thinly slice (I suggest using granny smith apples)
  • 1/3 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
  • 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
  • 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 large egg plus 1 teaspoon water, beaten
  • 1 tablespoon Turbinado sugar, for the crust, optional
  • 1 teaspoon flaky sea salt, divided

Full Article Here

What are some of your tried and true, go-to recipes for the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons?

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Things To Do During Deployments

lifestyle

Things To Do During Deployments

I am by no means an expert in coping with deployments, but over the past eight years I have learned some tips and tricks that help me manage. To clarify, I started out my army spouse journey without kids and have now had two along the way so I can share tips for both situations.

Get a Pet

If you like animals and don’t already have a pet – get one! I got a puppy just before my husband left for his first deployment. It filled a lot of my free time and got me out on hikes, to parks, and dog-friendly restaurants throughout the deployment! I was in a new city and making adult friendships is HARD so anything that helps get you out and about is so helpful!

Gym Membership / Exercise Routine

Get a gym membership. You may not get gung-ho about working out but it is a social place that you can go to and decompress. Whether that’s just jumping on the treadmill (my go-to) or doing a full circuit workout and relaxing in the sauna after is a way to fill excess time that you would normally spend with your significant other S.O. See how I maintain this now with kids below.

DIY / Design 

House projects! I re-tiled our fireplace during our first deployment. It was a PROJECT and one that I had never done before. But, it helped me mentally and physically do something productive. I love DIYing and it is satisfying once you are done. I learned a TON during the process that I ended up getting to teach my husband at our next house when we retiled that fireplace. It was stressful but it gave me a purpose, direction, and killed a lot of time when I would get home from the office.

Work

Get a job! I worked full-time at a doctor’s office as a receptionist while I was waiting to get my MCAT results and decide if I truly wanted to pursue my MD (in the end I decided against it. I will publish a post about this later.) Whether you want to work full-time or just part-time, a job will help you establish your independence, particularly when you have a lot of free time during deployments if you don’t have kids or if all of them are in school already!. Also, and most importantly, it can help you make friends outside of the military! I love my military family, we are very close even with the attrition on my husband’s team, but having a separate group of people to interact with helps you escape the army bubble and get involved in more activities!

Explore Hobbies

Try out new things! You have so much free time, especially without kids. Try not to sit around watching Netflix with all of it. Try gardening, painting/drawing, woodworking, photography, DIY, crafting, scrapbooking…even blogging!

Standing Weekly / Monthly Get Togethers

It is arguably so much harder to find extra time when you have kids during a deployment. You literally never get a break. Even as a working-mom, I find it hard to find time to do even the little things, and activities just take that much longer because you are doing everything. Changing all of the diapers, getting everyone dressed, packing the diaper bag with diapers, wipes, bottles, snacks, drinks, toys…the list goes on. BUT, what I have done for the past couple of deployments is create a standing “pizza night” with my girlfriend whose husband is also on the same schedule as mine. So the guys deploy together and then we get together every Friday night with our kids and hang out, have a cocktail and eat pizza. We both look forward to it and it helps set us off for the weekend. 

Also, my husband is on a team of roughly twelve so we have a small group of ladies to hold get togethers. Typically, during deployments we plan to get together as a larger group with all of our kids about once a month. It helps us all feel a little sane, share information (everyone hears something different usually) and get support with anything you need! So many of the amazing women I have had the pleasure of knowing through this have been so helpful if I need a sitter for a bit, someone to vent to, plan playdates, and we all try to return the favors when we can. 

Church / Weekend Activity

Depending on the time of year the deployment is during (our deployments are only 6 months) filling weekend spaces can be difficult. I try to bring the kids to church every Sunday. That is something that gets us out of the house and is our main activity for the day (sad but true). Taking two under 2 to church by yourself is hard, but the community is typically so amazing and helpful/understanding that you feel an overwhelming sense of support. We don’t make it every week, sometimes naps just aren’t aligning with mass times and inevitably, you will be in survival mode for most of the deployment. Give yourself grace with what mentally makes you feel better. If you can make it one week but don’t make it for 5 months after that, I think that is absolutely okay. Solo parenting is HARD! You can’t always do it all, but taking some time to reflect on what you’re grateful for, maybe read a passage out of the bible, or even listening to a self-growth podcast if religion isn’t your thing! You can find some comfort in feeling like you reflected on yourself, others, your family, as well as things that you are in control of and things you are not. 

Self-Improvement Challenges

While I was pregnant during one of our deployments, I took full advantage of lent and set an exercise and reading challenge. I told myself I had to get on the treadmill for a minimum of 20 minutes every day (I also did a 30-day challenge with my SIL and some of her friends to do a 30-day pregnancy workout challenge) or go on a long walk outside, as well as read every day (even if it was just one page!). I ended up enjoying it so much that I have continued to set 30-day challenges or just general challenges for myself whether it is during a deployment or not.

Wat do you do to pass the time during deployments?

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2022 Holiday Gift Guide: The Entertainer

gift guides, lifestyle

2022 Holiday Gift Guide: The Entertainer

  1. Cocktail Shaker Every entertainer needs a classy cocktail shaker and this one is just that.
  2. Tumblers These gorgeous glasses will leave guests in awe with their beautiful design and the size is perfect. It also comes in a shorter glass for a full set.
  3. Copper Pitcher Copper brings warmth and this pitcher is no difference. Whether using it to serve drinks or as a vase for a beautiful flower arrangement, this pitcher has no shortage of uses.
  4. Caraway Nonstick Ceramic Cookware Set A great quality cookware set that looks great out on the stove top. It’s non-toxic and the non-stick is perfect for everyday use.
  5. Marble Serving Board Who doesn’t love a great serving board? Hosting for a group and want to put together a beautiful charcuterie board? This is the perfect board and would look amazing on display in a kitchen or dining room.
  6. Decanter If you’re serving whiskey during a dinner party, there’s no better way to up the class than a gorgeous decanter.
  7. Coffee Mugs and Spoons Hosting a breakfast or brunch, or even an after dinner coffee? You will want to serve it in these gorgeous mugs, and the gold spoons are icing on top of the cake.
  8. Cuisinart Fondue Set Who doesn’t love cheese or chocolate? This is the perfect gift for someone who is a true entertainer. This is also a great option for a family that enjoys game nights since everyone can enjoy.
  9. Bocce Ball Set Although the weather is bringing people indoors more now, a bocce ball set is a great addition to a hostesses repertoire. Pull it out for barbecues or family game nights in the summer, it is a simple game that can bring out the competitiveness in anyone. This set is also beautiful.
  10. Glass Beverage Dispenser Whether you’re concocting a cocktail to serve a large group or simply some flavored spa water, this glass dispenser is beautiful and would look gorgeous for any party.
  11. Honey Jar Tea party anyone? This would look great out on the counter for any honey lovers but also darling for hosting a tea party.
  12. Acacia Large Wave Bowl with Servers You always want to serve a delicious salad at any party and the bowl and servers should be a statement and this set is no exception.
  13. Space Heater When hosting outdoors it’s always nice to have a heat source after the sun goes down and the portability of a space heater gives much more flexibility over a fire pit!
  14. Hammered Metal Pitcher Another pitcher because a true hostess always has more than one beverage being served and this one brings warmth in a perfect size.
  15. Potted Flower Arrangement Fresh flowers are great, but flowers that never die are even better. This arrangement is beautiful and would add character to any dining table, coffee table, or shelf.
  16. Wine Decanter What’s a wine party if it’s not coming out of a decanter? Whether it’s two-buck-chuck from Trader Joes or a classy bottle of cabernet, pouring out of a decanter as beautiful as this one from Crate and Barrel will make it taste that much sweeter (or drier…whichever you prefer).
  17. Utensil Holder If you’re hosting a large party and you have to put out all of the plastic silverware, a beautiful utensil holder is exactly what you need and this one fits the bill.
  18. Serving Tray A gorgeous brass and black tray to host a number of trinkets / decor, or to set up a beautiful beverage or hors devours display.
  19. Bronze Table Fire Bowl Create an outdoor ambiance on an outdoor dining or coffee table with this fire bowl. A little bit of heat, but a lot of mood with this little addition.
  20. Copper Casserole Donga Bowl This is so beautiful, great for serving a warm dip or simply just having it on display.
  21. KitchenAid Stand Mixer The ease of tossing all of your ingredients in and letting the stand mixer do the work without holding a hand mixer while it runs around the bowl is truly a luxury you never want to give up once you’ve had it. With so many different color options and styles to choose from, and don’t even get me started on all of the add-on attachments.

Additions

Graze: Charcuterie Cookbook

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2022 Holiday Gift Guide: The Homebody

gift guides, home

2022 Holiday Gift Guide: The Homebody

  1. New Zealand Wool Throw Blanket For the homebody who loves to cozy up with a good blanket, and of course, a lover of neutrals.
  2. Copper Large Bowl To add warmth to a space and can be used for anything. Comes in two different sizes!
  3. Kindle Paperwhite With this ability to house thousands of books, they can get all of their reading done, summer to winter, with these sleek and easy-to-travel with Kindle.
  4. Made for Living A perfect coffee table book with the most stunning interiors. It will bring warmth and style to any space.
  5. Coaster Set This set has beautiful tones and pairs well with essentially any other home gift!
  6. Pura Device For the individual who loves a beautiful smelling home and the option to adjust the settings via an app! There are so many amazing scents to choose from. Anyone will find one that they love.
  7. Wood Serving Board Perfect for an at-home charcuterie board by oneself or with family/friends. A beautiful bottle of wine or some assorted cheeses would wrap this present up perfectly.
  8. Apple TV Apple+ is coming out with some of the hottest shows right now. For the movie / tv show buff an Apple TV is a great gift that keeps on giving every day.
  9. Breville Espresso Machine Latte anyone? For an aspiring barista, or someone who loves to make a good cappuccino. This classy and robust machine will make anyone’s coffee dreams come true.
  10. iRobot Mop You love your home. And you’d love it even more if it could clean itself. Well, have no fear, your home can be spotless everyday with this robot mop. Paired with a robot vacuum, you’ll hardly ever have to clean your floors yourself again.
  11. Copper Tea Pot A beautiful accent piece for the home that brings warmth and functionality. For the person who loves a good cup of tea or some festive hot cocoa, this tea pot brings form and function.
  12. Shark Navigator Vacuum I swear by this vacuum. A Dyson handheld is great for hardwoods and quick pickups, but this Shark Navigator lift away is great for carpets, upholstery, and stairs. Super easy to clean and maintain. For the person who loves to clean, admittedly or not.
  13. KitchenAid Stand Mixer Every homebody needs a stand mixer. The ease of tossing all of your ingredients in and letting the stand mixer do the work without holding a hand mixer while it runs around the bowl is truly a luxury you never want to give up once you’ve had it. With so many different color options and styles to choose from, and don’t even get me started on all of the add-on attachments.
  14. Ember Coffee Mug and Warmer How many times do you heat up your coffee throughout the morning, or even the afternoon? This coffee mug with warmer is a luxury gift for anyone who wants to keep their coffee warm, in a stylish cup, without having to continually put it in the microwave. Busy mom, hard worker, literally anyone could enjoy this gift, and the color is stunning.
  15. Robot Vacuum with Self Cleaner Another great gift for someone who likes to keep a tidy home with minimal effort. The vacuum is a go-to and the self-cleaning option takes away even the most minimal of hassles that comes with this device.
  16. Bissell Little Green Machine A spot cleaner anyone would enjoy using. Amazing for upholstery and smaller stains, this easy to use stain cleaner is a must-have for any homebody.
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2022 Holiday Gift Guide: For Him

gift guides, lifestyle

Holiday Gift Guide: For Him

Gift ideas for any man in your life, husband, brother, son, father, father-in-law, brother-in-law, uncle, you name it!

  1. Fossil Watch A masculine watch for the man who doesn’t need the smartwatch capabilities or for dressing up on a night out. A great addition to the watch collection at an amazing price point.
  2. Bose Portable Speaker Who doesn’t love to listen to music? This great quality speaker is perfect for anything you can imagine. Throwing it in the golf cart, bringing along on a camping trip, or setting it up in the backyard, you can listen to high-quality sound anywhere.
  3. Garmin Fenix A smartwatch for the active adventurer with high quality navigation through GPS, VO2 Max, and so many other tracking measures. You will know exactly how your body is functioning and will guide you through your recovery. My husband has this one and has influenced so many friends and family to get one.
  4. GoPro Hero The adventurer that wants to capture epic moments from cliff jumping to surfing and everything in between.
  5. Cuts T-Shirt A splurge for a t-shirt but the quality just can’t be beat. Thick, soft material that fits perfectly you won’t want to take it off. The women’s options are so. good. too.
  6. Battery Organizer A small gift with a big impact. Battery storage can be a pain, but with this organizer you can keep everything organized, know what battery types you need to pick up as soon as you run out and can test your batteries. Doesn’t get better than that!
  7. NordicTrack Dumbbells The minimalist athlete who likes to exercise with minimal equipment but maintain strength. This is a great option for anyone with a small home gym who is looking to up their game.
  8. Carhartt Oxblood Checkered Flannel A great quality flannel from Carhartt for the cooler seasons and a festive look. You know this one will last and your man will turn heads.
  9. beats Headphones The noise-cancelling quality of beats headphones are amazing and the over-the-head product has the style to match. With so many different colors to choose from any style can be matched.
  10. Cuisinart Grill Set Great quality grilling requires the tools to match and this set will keep your grill master happy and your stomach full.
  11. Dollar Shave Club Let’s be honest, once you find a quality razor you don’t want to lose it. The Dollar Shave Club is a great way to keep up with your clean look with great quality razors at unbeatable prices. If a man in your life is in the military and has to maintain a clean shave, this is going to be a great gift.
  12. Fossil Overnight Duffel A solid, quality weekender bag with the style to match. Great for a weekend getaway or a quick work trip, this bag can hold all of the essentials and more in a compact package. The leather look adds class but with a rustic wear that any man would love.
  13. Death Wish Valhalla Coffee For your coffee lover. Trying out new coffee brands and roasts is like trying different wines. There is always something new to find and enjoy and this one will be a great addition to the palette.
  14. Carhartt Knit Cuffed Beanie Who doesn’t love a great beanie for the colder seasons? The high quality fabric and stitch will have this beanie lasting years to come and with so many color options!
  15. YETI Hopper Backpack Cooler A great quality, easy to carry cooler that can hold up to 20 cans or 26 pounds of ice. Bring it out on the boat or to the campsite, or simply over to your friends for the next BBQ, this will keep your drinks cold far longer than you will even need!
  16. Dewalt Drill Set A must-have for any workshop, whether you are a big time DIYer or not at all. Great for any sized project around the home.
  17. DraftPour Beer Dispenser A great addition to any mancave or bar area in the home. Get that smooth nitro taste from any bottle or can of beer. They also have a black and copper one and it is stunning, not that he’ll care, but you might!
  18. Formula 1 The Pursuit of Speed For the hotshot NASCAR fan or race car enthusiast for the mancave or coffee table. A fun flip for the family and guests.
  19. Sentry Safe Whether this is for important documents, precious family items, or firearms, a safe is a great way to provide peace of mind.
  20. Greenworks Spot Light Kit For the handyman who likes to work on projects at all hours of the day and night, or simply to have one on hand in case something needs to be fixed late at night or in a dark crawl space. Battery operated and quick to charge.
  21. Solo Stove Yukon A must for the outdoorsman in your life. Perfect for roasting marshmallows outside as a family, portable, and easy to use, he’ll wish you had gotten this for him sooner!
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