Our Go-To Autumn Family Recipes

Cooking for the entire family is harder than we expected, right? It seems most family friendly dinners are all crock pot wonders that, I’ll just say it.. all kinda taste the same. I’ve found over the past year or so, we have gotten into the hang of (and as soon as I type that, I feel the karma coming…) cooking things that all four of us love, so I thought I’d share some of our favorite recipes for the upcoming cozy season. I’ll be sure to add to as we come across others!

Tortellini Soup with Kale & Sausage

Shrimp & Corn Chowder

Turkey Chili

Ratatouille

Roasted Chicken

Beef Stew

Shop Our First Home

All the links of frequently asked about pieces in our first home!

Kitchen Rug

Pitcher

Dining Table

Marble Catch-All

Firewood Holder

Wood Board — similar here

Tabletop Basket

Napkins

Wooden Bowl

Kitchen Shelves

French Guinea Hen

Mudroom Mirror

Lamp

Living Room Rug

Mirrors (Bedroom & Living Room)

Wooden Tray

Throw Pillow

Belly Baskets

Outdoor - Deck Furniture

Outdoor Side Table

Sofa

Lounge Chair

Stair Runner

Bolga Baskets

Custom Silhouette

Outdoor Side Table

Christmas Tree Collar

Tree Topper

Wooden Christmas Trees

Faux Mini Wreaths

Kids Room Updates

Somehow, we are about 6/7 weeks out from meeting the newest addition to our family, and we are farrrrr from anywhere near ready. While yes, we have everything from Harry’s newborn days in pretty good condition — everything is currently in storage as we finish our basement into a finished laundry room/guest suite/playroom…

That being said, the current guest room is still… a guest room — plus home office for my husband since he’s been working from home since March and will be until further notice.

The plan is to have the basement finished by mid/end July, and in the meantime I’m making steps to bring things out of storage to organize/clean and figure out what we’re getting rid of and what we need.

I wanted to share our plan for the nursery, along with new things we’re buying for baby number two, as well as big boy updates to Harry’s room! We debated and went back and forth on Harry keeping his crib (which has been converted to a toddler bed since March) or getting him a new one and passing the crib along to the baby. We decided to not get a new crib, so the baby will be getting Harry’s and that’s kinda where I started design wise. While I don’t LOVE his crib anymore, I think in the new room with some different pieces might change my mind and make me love it again.

Harrison’s Room

Since the crib will be moving into the nursery, I went back and forth with refurbishing a beautiful solid wood bed we have in storage (my moms from her childhood), or getting Harry a new one. We decided on this adorable wooden house bed, which is the main element of the room I designed around. It feels adorable and young still, I was worried putting him into too grown up of a bed would make his room seem too old for me to handle. We’ll most likely be moving him into that one when he’s 10/11ish.

As for new/refurbished items we’re adding to his room:

• New wooden house bed from Purveyor15 — love that they’re handmade in the USA and too adorable.

• New bedding — Pehr’s gingham duvet cover & throw pillow, Oeuf apple pillow

• Repainting his current Ikea Hemnes dresser, since I love it space wise but it just needs some TLC — most likely in Farrow & Ball ‘Lichen’ with brass hardware

• Serena & Lily Dot Basket for a hamper

• Putting his PBKids bean bag in the basement play room, and replacing it here with Gathre floor cushion in Fog in his reading corner, which is already equipped with shelving

• Replacing his construction rug with a simple jute

• Replacing the glider (which will be moved into our master bedroom) with a refurbished/re-caned Bentwood wicker rocker from my childhood

Nursery

I wanted to keep this space neutral (shocker), not only for my own design taste, but also because we obviously don’t know whether it will be a little girl or boy. My style has definitely evolved since I designed Harry’s nursery, and I’m happy to introduce more color and dimension other than just shades of grey which he had. The nursery is small, so keeping it airy with a soft rug to ground the light woods and wickers will hopefully accentuate the space.

As for new items for the nursery:

• Furniture:

  • RH Laguna Dresser

  • Willaby Hand-Loomed Rug in Ivory

• Decor/Storage:

  • Oeuf Apple Pillow

  • Ferm Living Pear Braided Basket for a hamper

  • Cam Cam Alphabet Poster

  • Rattan Storage Tower

  • BlaBla Rainbow Wall Hanging

  • Leander Changing Mat in Cappucino

  • Wooden Push Wagon

  • Pehr Pom Pom Storage Set in Natural

  • Piggy Bank

  • Wooden Stacking Tower

As for refurbished baby products from Harry:

• PotteryBarnKids Kendall Convertible Crib

Holiday Entertaining At Home

One of my absolute favorite things about the holiday season is entertaining at home. While I love hosting all year round, there is something special about entertaining during Christmas, when your house is decked and it’s cold outside and you have a fire going and it’s just the ultimate cozy atmosphere. Now that we have a baby, hosting at our own home is even more our favorite thing, because we still get to spend time with friends, but while Harry is safely asleep right upstairs — it’s really a win-win.

Our kitchen was finished just in time for the holidays, about 3 weeks ago, and since then we have hosted 2 dinner parties (well 1 lunch party and 1 dinner party..). I know a lot of people find hosting, especially during the holidays, to be a stressful experience — which it absolutely does not need to (and shouldn’t!) be, so today I’m going to share my tips and tricks for making at-home entertaining during the holidays beautiful, easy and delicious. This time is meant to enjoy spending quality time with each other, not stressing about cooking times..

Make your guest list

Whether it’s a small dinner party for 4, or a cocktail party for 30, start with your guest list. Once you know who’s confirmed this will determine your menu and overall tone for the night. Big drinking crowd, foodies, vegetarians, competitive card game-ers.. it all makes a difference in how the night is planned.

Prepare your menus

The first thing I do once my guests have confirmed is make my menus — drinks, appetizer, main and desserts. I like to choose items that present beautifully and can be made ahead of time, to alleviate any stress the day of. While you’re creating your menu, also take this time to imagine how the food will be presented — plated, buffet, or family style? This is important to finalize before you decide what to make — as many items look better plated, and others are much prettier BEFORE they’re dished out, and should be served family style! A few of my go to items:

• Cheese Board: It’s easily put together, with no cooking time just some prep and can be put out up to an hour before guests arrive. I like having a cheese board out when guests arrive because it’s a conversation piece and gives me time to prepare and present the main meal and ensure no one goes starving…

• Punch: Can be made ahead of time, alcoholic or not and does not require someone to be standing there mixing drinks all night long.

• Champagne: I always have 2-3 bottles chilled and ready to pour, usually during the cheese board course for easy mingling.

• French Onion Soup: I always make this soup day before, and then just re-heat and pop in the oven with sliced baguette and gruyere cheese.

• Slow Braised Lamb Shanks: A new favorite this season. So delicious, easy to prepare and can be made the day of and just cooked until guests arrive.

• Store Bought Desserts: I am no baker, and I have fully accepted this. I love picking up some fresh pastries the morning of and presenting them on a beautiful platter.

Set the design tone

I like for each party I host to look and feel different, not only for my guests but for myself. It excites me to create different tablescapes, depending on the menu, crowd and overall tone of the night. I like to keep it simple, to not overpower the environment, and plus I hate when tables look busy and cluttered. Your tablescape will also be guided on whether your food will be served family style, be sure to put platters down as placeholders to ensure there is room and space.

I usually mix fresh and dried stems and fruit, and mix in some seasonal bit of decor, whether it’s something I find around the house (ornaments as napkin holders), or purchase for the night — I re-use things so often, so I don’t see the waste in picking up some inexpensive pieces here and there from the craft store. I picked up some great faux grapes from Michael’s for my Thanksgiving tablescape, and have already used them twice since.

Make your lists (and print them!)

My iPhone Notes app is without a doubt the most used app in my phone. I use it to make my lists for everything — but especially when it comes to entertaining. As I start to plan, I start to list…

• Menu

• Grocery List

• Decor

  • Write down each decor item (garland, candle sticks, napkins, napkin settings, etc.), so nothing is left. Then, expand to what you’ll be using for each. Create your next list from that.

• Decor List - To Buy & Put Together

Be sure to print your recipes if needed, as it’s always easier to reference printed menus on the frige rather than scroll through your phone or computer when your hands are dirty!

Select a playlist

Spotify takes all the hard work of creating holiday playlists. Some of my favorites to have on shuffle all night:

The Everygirl Listens: Holiday Magic

Jacey Duprie’s HO HO HO

Magnolia’s The Most Wonderful Day Of The Year

Set the scene

I always work on my table scape the night before, or morning of. That way it gets the calm time it deserves, and isn’t thrown together frantically in the last minute. This also gives you time to look at it over the day, and make any tweaks you’d like to. The key to my tablescapes is layering. I take it step by step:

Heart Of Our Home | Kitchen Update

Like so many people, when we were looking at houses, the kitchen was one of the most important aspects to me. I wanted a casual, eat-in kitchen environment that would double as a great space to entertain. I wanted our kitchen to be inviting, cozy, and still modern and chic.

When we walked into our new home, the kitchen was not that. It had good bones, the previous owners had removed the wall separating the dining room and small galley kitchen, but it left the space feeling disconnected.

I wasn’t crazy about the cabinets (felt too traditional for me…) or the backsplash color (green glass..) but we made the decision to keep the style instead of starting over. We removed the makeshift breakfast bar, all shelving, and lighting and prepared the space for additional cabinetry around the refrigerator. The goal was to create more counter space and storage, all while connecting the two former rooms. The new woodwork around the refrigerator would add a full sized pantry, upper and lower cabinets, drawers, and a custom Boos butcher block counter top — the perfect space for all my cheese board creations.

We selected a large, modern dining kitchen table, that would span the space and have enough room to host larger dinner parties for up to 10 people. While the cabinets were going to keep traditional, that meant I needed to update the other pieces to my modern, simple liking, but I needed to be careful to avoid a clash of design.

We decided to keep the palette neutral (no surprise there..) with Modern Grey by Sherwin Williams on the walls, light walnut wood, white marble accessories and black hardware + fixtures. I felt this would update the traditional feel, without looking out of place in the classic home.

Above the table, we selected a mid-century modern chandelier from West Elm, which turned out to be one of my favorite things about the kitchen.

I couldn’t be happier with the finished product — we have already hosted 3 dinner parties, in the 3 weeks it’s been complete…

Our Home | Progress + Plans

I have been struggling for a while on how and when I want to share our home buying/re-design progress. So, I guess I’ll start at the beginning…!

We started looking to buy our first home last summer, about a month before we found out we were pregnant with Harrison. We were living in Boston at the time, and really wanted to lay down our roots. We had no clue what part of Boston/surrounding area, so basically just started going to open houses anywhere and everywhere. We saw so. many. houses/condos/townhouses for months and months and months ALL over. Debating city live vs. burb life, neighborhoods, etc. Fast forward to January. I am 8 months (aka VERY) pregnant, and we finally find our perfect home. It was in the suburbs of Boston (we decided we want burbs vs. city for the yard, garage, and overall SPACE) in the cutest little neighborhood that feels like we’ve stepped back in time (everyone TALKS to eachother and is so friendly and neighborly and wonderful).

We had to move quick, since property in the greater Boston area moves SO quick. The house was on the market for less than 4 days…! Our offer was accepted, Harrison was born, and we closed a week later. Easy! Not stressful at all!

As soon as our offer was accepted, I got to work. I made a comprehensive renovation/re-design plan with EVERYTHING we wanted to do. Of course, it’s not all being done at once (why is everything $1 million dollars?), but piece by piece we are slowly getting there.

I realize if I wait until the house is “done” this post may not come for another 10 years. So! Here we are. I’m sharing some before photos I took at the open house, and where we are today, plus what we have in the works.

Having a house and creating a home is no joke. It is SO much work, but it feels SO good to put your time, energy, and love into a place that becomes your home — especially now with Harry. To know he is going to forever have memories around spaces we have made and created around him means everything.

So before we get started on the before and afters (so far..! small steps..) here are the BIG projects we have going on/planned:

Big Projects in Progress:

• Replacing all windows/sills/casings (Current status: 30%, still need to replace the upstairs windows, re-patch/re-paint)

• Adding upper + lower kitchen cabinets around fridge (Current status: 20%, they’re being made…)

Big Projects Planned for Future:

• Leveling back yard and adding full house length deck with outdoor entertainment area (tv, wet bar, grill) and two sets of french doors (living room entrance and mud room entrance). Aiming to start this in the spring!

• Landscape… oye it’s a mess. Post deck finishing.

• Finish other half of basement, including laundry room (currently unfinished side of basement) with additional full bath.

• Extend 2nd floor bathroom to include double vanities, steam shower and overall more room (fun fact: with each move, our main bathroom gets smaller…!)

Entry Way

We also have a mudroom, which is our main way of entrance and one of my favorite rooms in the house. I am currently working on perfecting it, so it is NOT ready for “after” photos quite yet.

This front door entry way is opposite our stair case, and between our eat-in kitchen and living/family room!

Before | Entry Way

After | Entry Way

Runner | Annie Selke ‘Birmingham Black Woven Cotton’

Frames | Frame It Easy

Planter | Modernica Case Study ‘Table Top Cylinder’ in Ceramic Mustard with Wood Stand Base

Paint | Sherwin Williams ‘Modern Grey’ Eggshell

Living Room

This family room/living room is the room we spend the most time in. Half the space has now been allocated for Harry’s play area. We wanted this room to be family-friendly, but still cozy, inviting yet simple and modern. It’s also super important that Harry’s area is comfortable, accessible and fun for him, but also everything can be stored away at the end of the day!

Before | Living Room

After | Living Room

In the next month we will be replacing the fireplace insert (black iron) and painting the brick white. Once the window sills are painted, we’ll be installing white wooden shutters on the two windows on the fireplace wall.

This window will be removed, and replaced with a set of french doors onto the deck. Harry’s play area will be moved to the other side of the living/family room. Since this area is not permanent, we’re keeping it simple!

Sofa + Arm Chair | Restoration Hardware Extra Deep ‘Maxwell’ in Linen Fog

Floorlamp | A&G Merch (Local spot in Brooklyn that is now closed! So sad..)

Baskets | Williams Sonoma Home

Gallery Shelves | Pottery Barn ‘Holman Shelves’ 4’ in Modern White

Gallery Frames | Target ‘Gallery Perfect’

Playmat | Little Nomad Roam Free Play Mat in ‘Feather’

Storage Bench | IKEA ‘Stockund’ Bench

Paint | Sherwin Williams ‘Modern Grey’ Eggshell

Kitchen

The kitchen is so interesting. The plan is to make it a full eat-in kitchen. Right now, it’s a galley kitchen with a random fridge on the side with a dining table. With the new cabinets/pantry around the fridge it will feel much more cohesive and intentional. Plus, more storage. We have BOXES of entertaining “supplies” still packed away in the basement with no where to put them.

Before | Kitchen

After | Kitchen

Still on the hunt for the PERFECT light fixture. All other fixtures have been replaced in the house.

Rendering of matching cabinets in progress! Includes a full pantry and chopping block countertop.

Still on our list — replacing backsplash + hardware

Dining Table + Bench | IKEA ‘MÖRBYLÅNGA’

Dining Chairs | AllModern ‘Chastain Side Chair’

Rug | Willey Boston Swedish Vinyl Indoor/Outdoor Rug

Paint | Sherwin Williams ‘On The Rocks’ Eggshell

Master Bedroom

Before | Master Bedroom

After | Master Bedroom

Shelves | Hubsch ‘Leather Strap Shelf’

Bed | CB2 discontinued

Nightstands | West Elm ‘Lacquer Storage’ Side Table

Console | West Elm discontinued

Accent Chair | IKEA ‘Radviken’

Planter | Modernica Case Study ‘Large Cylinder’ in Ceramic Pebble with Wood Stand Base

Mirror | IKEA ‘Stockholm’ in Walnut

Paint | Sherwin Williams ‘City Loft’ Eggshell

Guest Bedroom

Before | Guest Bedroom

After | Guest Bedroom

Bed | IKEA ‘Leirvik’ Bed Frame

Rug | Pottery Barn Kids ‘Pearl Dot Border’ Rug

Linens | IKEA ‘Nyponros’ Duvet Cover Set

Custom sketches from England

Paint | Sherwin Williams ‘Modern Grey’ Eggshell

Harrison’s Bedroom

Before | Harrison’s Bedroom

After | Harrison’s Bedroom

Dresser | IKEA ‘Hemnes’ Dresser in Dark Gray Stained

Curtains | Target ‘Aruba Linen’ Blackout Curtains (still need to be hemmed..)

Sketch | The Birth Poster

Lamp | West Elm ‘Ceramic Nature Rabbit’ Lamp

Crib | Pottery Barn Kids ‘Kendall Convertible Crib’ in Simply White

Breathable ‘Bumper’ | Breathable Baby

Animal Sketches | The Animal Print Shop + Frames | Frame It Easy (my favorite trick!)

Elephant | Fiona Walker

Paint | Sherwin Williams ‘Modern Grey’ Eggshell

Thirst for Inspiration | September Moodboard

SEPTEMBER

September has always been one of my favorite months of the year. As with most New England-ers, it's when we feel that fall symbolically begins (even though temps can still be in the 80s/90s). It is also the month we got married, so it has now taken on a new special meaning not related to foliage and cooler temperatures.

While I'm definitely not a pumpkin spice latte girl, I do love the muted earth tones that fall brings, and incorporating them into our home and a few new pieces to update my wardrobe for the season. I love the cool, crisp mornings and the new light that comes with the shorter days. I love the dried out stems and organic tonal palette that this time of year brings.

Thirst for Inspiration | August Moodboard

August

This month, I am drawn to the natural colors of summer fading into fall -- both in the home and in my closet. I love this time of year as the days start to get shorter, and it starts to smell like fall, but still with the hot sun of summer. 

I am using this palette in the seasonal details around my house -- dried stems on my fireplace mantle and muted textures throughout.