Ugly Sweater Party

You’re invited to a special bash And here’s your chance to make a splash: Be sure to wear a Christmas sweater, The uglier it is, the better!

So mug a grandma, trawl a thrift shop, An elegant choice would be a flop. The most obnoxious earns the praise; Celebrate the kitschy side of the holidays!

This past Saturday my BF, roommate and I went all out and turned our 1896 Mansion suite into a Christmas wonderland for our Ugly Sweater Party. With the holidays in full swing, what a better way than to spread Christmas cheer! Right?

Ahhh, and the tackiness of the holiday sweaters… oh, the sweaters {or vests}. This is the time of year when ugly is good, hideous is better and hideously ugly is truly remarkable! From reindeer and snowmen to Bill Cosby, we had an ugly sweater collection that would make Santa Claus proud.

Scroll down to see our shenanigans unfold… Ole!

I couldn’t have asked for a more spirited and entertaining evening filled with obnoxious Christmas music, dancing, laughing and voting on the ugliest sweater {definitely one of the highlights!}. With so many hysterical moments and memories, I can’t wait for next year as this will now become an annual tradition!

[typography font="Homemade Apple" size="24" size_format="px"]Happy Holidays![/typography]

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Give Thanks

Last night's Thanksgiving feast was decadent and delicious. It was so heartwarming to enjoy the company and conversation of 20 of my closest family members and friends. We did something a bit differently this year and went around our huge “Kings” table and asked everyone to say what they are thankful for. It got me thinking about all the things I’m thankful for in my life {especially today}.

Here’s a random list of little things I'm thankful for today:

Cameras My immediate family Skype Best friends *Best friend's new baby girl Adam My Mama Juanita’s Mexican hot chocolate My abuelitos Colorful leaves Feather down comforter Napa on ice {ice-skating!} Ugly sweater parties Dulce {our vineyard cat} Puss Puss {our cat} Laughing Kisses My cruiser bike Pandora Cuddling Dancing Books Movies {Breaking Dawn!} Fro-yo Sweater dresses Dresses Mac book pro Crisp mornings The color yellow Wine Tea {Jasmine + Earl Grey} Supportive, motivating & inspiring people Being able to travel the world Living my passions…

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What random little things are you thankful for?

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday! I can’t wait to have some leftover stuffing and pumpkin pie for breakfast. 

P.s. This weekend my housemates & I are throwing an Ugly Sweater Party! I'm so excited and can't wait to share pictures next week. Ole!

[typography font="Homemade Apple" size="22" size_format="px"]Have a great weekend! [/typography]

In A New York Minute

This past weekend the BF and I flew out to NYC for a friend’s wedding. New York is beyond incredible. There’s always somewhere to go and something to do. Every time I go I’m mesmerized by the nonstop energy, vibe, food culture and fashion scene. This time we took the city by storm, walking and taking the subway everywhere. We expected the weather to be much colder, but it was ideal with highs in the 60’s. Score!

[typography font="Homemade Apple" size="22" size_format="px"]I’m in a New York State of mind… [/typography]

Most of our time was spent walking around my favorite neighborhoods including the fashionable Soho and West Village area, followed by breezy strolls around the trendy Meatpacking district. A must stop is the famous Chelsea Market, where you’re captivated by the amazingly wicked bakeries, shops and local food stands. I swear, the majority of time we ate and drank and ate some more {a girl's gotta eat!}. People watching came in a close second and that was almost as much fun.

Here are a few of my favorite snapshots of the weekend… Ole!

[typography font="Homemade Apple" size="24" size_format="px"]I hope everyone has a wickedly delicious and happy thanksgiving!!![/typography]

Mussels in a Spicy Pinot Noir Broth

This time of year makes me crave hot, comfort food from my mom, Amelia. One of my favorite dishes is her spicy mussel Pinot Noir broth with longaniza {Mexican sausage}. It’s decadent, delicious and paired with a toasted sourdough baguette is simply to die for. Enjoying this dish on a cold winter night relaxing by the fire is my idea of heaven. Oh yes, and let’s not forget the glass {or bottle} of Pinot Noir to accompany the dish.

Recipe included below… Ole!

Mussels in a Spicy Pinot Noir Broth {From Amelia Morán Ceja’s Kitchen} Serves 12 people

Ingredients

• 5 pounds mussels, well cleaned
• ¼ cup olive oil
• 2 red bell pepper coarsely chopped
• 1 sweet Maya onion (or any sweet onion) thinly sliced
• 2 leeks thinly sliced crosswise
• 1 pound cleaned and sliced crimini mushrooms
• 8 finely chopped garlic cloves
• 8 tomatoes finely diced
• ¼ cup fresh basil leaves
• ¼ cup coarsely chopped cilantro
• 1 Bay leaf
• ½ teaspoon Mexican oregano
• 5 dried California chiles
• 5 dried Ancho chiles
• 5 garlic cloves
• ¼ teaspoon cloves
• 4 quarts nonfat chicken broth
• 1 cup Ceja Pinot Noir

Directions:

Briefly toast the dried peppers on a skillet or hot pan. Be careful not burn them, because if this happens it makes the dish taste bitter. Place roasted chiles in a bowl with 2 cups chicken stock and let stand until softened. In a blender, liquefy with 5 garlic cloves and ¼ teaspoon cloves – set aside.

Add olive oil to a 10 quart pot, sauté the coarsely chopped red bell peppers, onion, leeks, mushrooms and chopped garlic for 5 minutes. Add the diced tomatoes, basil leaves and chopped cilantro and continue cooking for 10 minutes. Add the rest of the chicken broth, the red pepper sauce, the Pinot Noir wine, bay leaf and Mexican oregano and bring to a boil – simmer gently for 10 minutes. Add the well cleaned mussels, mix well and turn off the stove. All mussels will open, and if not, turn the burner on and cook for two more minutes. Lastly, enjoy with a glass of your favorite Pinot Noir!

p.s. I'm in NYC this weekend attending a friend's wedding. I can't wait to share my adventures with you next week! 

[typography font="Homemade Apple" size="22" size_format="px"]I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend![/typography]

November In Napa

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[typography font="Homemade Apple" size="22" size_format="px"]With the vivid fall colors Napa is never more alive than in autumn![/typography]

I love being in the Napa Valley during the fall. The vineyard collage of gold, red and orange provides the most incredible kaleidoscope of color. The birch, elm and liquid amber trees add lacy accents to the edges of town and vineyards {where these shots were taken in Yountville}.

The month of November is filled with a whirlwind of fun events to welcome the holiday season {in addition to your standard wine tastings}. Some of my favorite events include: The Napa Valley Film Festival, Holiday in Carneros, Flavor! Napa Valley and the Festival of Lights. For travelers planning their wine country getaway, make your reservations early, as this is a very popular time of the year. Ole!

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{Kenneth Cole Boots, Urban Outfitters Dress & H&M Sweater}

[typography font="Homemade Apple" size="22" size_format="px"]p.s. Let this fall be a time to harvest and gather the things that bring you comfort and joy![/typography]