Friday evening I went to my friend and former co-worker Melanie’s birthday party. Melanie lives in Jamaica Plain and has the most wonderful and thoughtfully decorated condo. I’m trying to convince her to snap some pictures and submit them to Apartment Therapy. If she doesn’t do it I’ll take matters into my own hands and, at the very least, write a blog post about her home on We are not Martha so you can all see it She also made the above ombre cake. The recipe can be found here. If you’re wondering how the cake tastes, well, let’s just say I took my piece home and it was my breakfast Saturday morning.

Oh, and this is Melanie:

Isn’t she fancy and fabulous?

Saturday afternoon I surprised my mom at her hair salon. We grabbed an impromptu and delicious lunch at my favorite local bakery, Treats on Washington.

Saturday evening I took a stroll through my neighborhood and met up with my friend Becca.

We grabbed dinner at Jimmy’s Bar and Oven, a newer restaurant in the ‘hood. They have fried pickles so you better believe I’ve been there multiple times. They’re the best fried pickles I’ve had so far in Boston and the closest to the originals I’ve had down south. So, that’s saying something.

Jimmy’s is a really sweet space with high whitewashed ceilings, and a window-filled garage door that opens up in the summer. It’s the perfect addition to the neighborhood.

After dinner, Becca and I walked up to Emack and Bolio’s for some ice cream, even though it was freezing out. It’s never too cold for ice cream in my book My most favorite flavor from Emack’s is Deep Purple Cow which is black raspberry ice cream with white and dark chocolate chips and blueberries. I get cravings for this like you wouldn’t believe!

After ice cream I watched the Patriots WIN. Woop.

Sunday I worked at Paper Source for a few hours. I pretty much get paid to craft, have fun, and help people design fun things like wedding invitations. No complaints

On Monday I did a bunch of running around and finally checked things off my to-do list. Like dropping off proofs to a client for Save the Dates. Here they are all packaged up. Well, in the box

And meeting up for a frozen yogurt date with my friend, Judith. Yes, spending time with friends is often an item on my to-do list In the fro-yo mix: blueberry and plain tart yogurt, kiwi, strawberries, skittles (!!!!!!!), rainbow jimmies, and white chocolate chips. This was lunch.

After “lunch” I dropped bags of old clothes off. One of my friends, who’s moving to San Francisco next month, told me she sold clothes at Buffalo Exchange and got cash on the spot for them. I was intrigued. I brought in two big bags, not knowing at all what to expect. They ended up buying about a bag’s worth of clothes and accessories and I made about $50. It was definitely an interesting experience having someone pick through my old clothes but it felt good to make some money off of everything! If you’re looking to sell clothes here the girl who worked there gave me some tips. Plus, I thought it was a good idea to ask questions since I’ll probably be doing this more often! But they look for more “current” pieces like darker washes of denim. I had a brand new Vera Bradley bag and a pair of Paige jeans that she didn’t take and it was because, while the bag was new, it was from a few seasons ago. And the jeans were in great condition but they weren’t dark denim. I probably could have tried to consign the purse and jeans at another store but I ended up giving them to my roommate and her friend, haha. Sometimes it’s not worth the hassle!

Monday night I went to dinner and the Celitcs game with my dad. Stunk that they lost but it’s always nice spending time with my parents

I also started reading a new book. I was so oddly interested by the Clark Rockefeller case that when my friend Tarryn told me she bought this book, I just about demanded she let me borrow it when she finished reading it. Don’t ask why I’m so weird.

And finally, my new jeans arrived this weekend! Before the holidays Sues and I attended an event at Bloomingale’s put on by Blogger’s Night Out and J Brand Jeans. Each guest entered a raffle for a free pair of J Brand Jeans when we first arrived. Right when we were about to scoot out, one of the PR girls caught us and told us to stick around for a few minutes since they were about to pull the names of the winners. Thankfully we did because my name was pulled. I legit screamed “I NEVER WIN ANYTHING” as if I had won an Oscar. Very dramatic. But very appropriate. Girl loves her denim. I ended up ordering the Love Story style in Pure. Fun fact? I might sleep in them.

Hope you all had happy long weekends, too

[Chels]

I find all of these questions to be funny because the truth is, I really don’t do a whole heck of a lot when it comes to keeping my skin in good condition. It’s something I don’t even think about too often. I take a less is more approach to beauty. I’ve found that the more fragrance and gunk I pile on my skin, the worse off it is. So years ago I decided to keep it simple when it comes to beauty products. But the real truth is, I actually kind of despise taking a long time primping and pride myself on the fact that I can get ready to go just about anywhere, work, weddings, events, etc., in under 20 minutes. It’s sort of my thing. I have my routine down to a science and the best part? I keep it cheap and I don’t feel guilty if I splurge once in a while on my Kiehl’s lotions or Chanel eye makeup

In no particular order, here are my favorite inexpensive beauty products:

Vaseline/Petroleum Jelly

Yes. Vaseline. It’s been one of my go-to products since forever. When we were younger my mom would put a thin layer on our faces before we went out to play in the cold to prevent wind burn. Ever since, I’ve sworn by the stuff. I use it on dry patches of skin, in place of lipgloss, and a huge secret, every night before bed I put a very thin layer of it on my face, in the corners of my eyes, and around my nose. It might sound kind of gross, but my sister and I swear by this! It keeps my face well-moustrized while I sleep. On the nights where I forget to use it I can definitely tell a difference when I wake up since my face feels tight and dry. The first facial I ever got a couple year ago, the aesthetician told me I had “the perfect amount of oils on my face”. I debated on whether or not I should share my secret with her in fear she might yell at me and say I shouldn’t put vaseline on my face! I ended up telling her and she said that’s probably why my skin was so balanced! Woop. You just have to remember not to glob it on since you don’t want to completely clog everything. If you have oily skin, this might not be the trick for you, but if you have little dry patches or combination skin, using petroleum jelly could be the fix you’re looking for.

Aveeno Anti-Itch Cream

Aveeno Anti-Itch Cream is one of my favorite products and has been for about the past 10 years. I have eczema (wonderful topic to discuss on a food blog, yeah?), and when and if I run into a situation where my prescription cream runs out or I just want to give myself a break from it, I buy this cream. It’s really the only thing that works as well as my prescription to fight itchy spots. I’ve found that for under $10, this is one product I can’t live without.

Grooming Scissors/Comb

Okay, so bear with me. The above photo is of a mustache/beard scissors and comb set. No, I don’t have a mustache or beard. Go me. But I use this set to trim my eyebrows. I promise you they’re the best tools you can have when you don’t have time to get your brows waxed and for under $5 they’re quite a steal. I don’t even know how I decided to buy the set, but it’s been in my bathroom vanity for years and I use them all the time. Using the comb, I brush my eyebrows up (you’ll probably look a little crazy after doing this, but it’s cool). When you brush all the hairs up, you’ll see which are uneven and above the “natural line”. That’s in quotes because I don’t know if it’s an actual term in the eyebrow waxing/tweezing world. I guess at these things half the time because they sound right. I use the top of the comb as a guide and use the scissors to trim the uneven hairs. This is my favorite little secret. I once saw my sister immediately after doing this and she was all “OMG, who did your eyebrows?! They look sooooo good”. She nearly fell over when I said I did them myself. And for the record, my sister doesn’t really say “OMG”. I can see her emailing me after reading this saying I made her sound like a ditz

Bright and Shine Lux Glossing Spray

Every once in a while, especially if you’re a brown lady like myself, you need a little gloss/shine/pick-me-up kind of sheen added to your hair. The problem is, most sprays add build up and extra weight to your tresses. Or they smell weird. The salon where I get my hair blown-out uses Alter Ego Hasty Bright and Shine Lux Glossing Spray after blowdrying it and I’ve been loving it. I loved it so much that I asked if they sold it and, to my surprise, they did. I bought a bottle for $13.50 but just discovered, if you do a little digging, you can get it for less on Amazon, naturally. It adds the nicest shine without weighing my hair down. Plus, it smells delightful. The last time I saw my sister she asked what I was using because my hair looked and smelled so lovely. As you can tell, all my sister and I do is talk about beauty products. It’s kind of our hobby.

Olive Oil

Mmm, olive oil. Not just for cooking. Don’t get me wrong, I love me my Kiehl’s Creme de Corps Soy Milk and Honey Body Polish that I discovered recently, but before that I always relied on olive oil. Making my own body scrubs is one of my most favorite activities. Mostly because I’m just proud of myself for not spending $30+ on a scrub elsewhere when in reality it’s the same thing. I feel kind of cool whipping up my own concoctions. I usually mix some olive oil and some sugar. Or I’ll do sea salt if I’m looking for a coarser scrub. If I want to get fancy I’ll add in some peppermint or lavender oil. Just be extra careful when you’re showering because the olive oil can make things slippery. Read more about my homemade body scrubs here.

Pumice Stone

I think part of the reason I get awkward compliments on my feet is because I pumice and scrub the heck out of them when I shower. Pumice stones are generally just a few dollars at any drugstore and are probably one of the most necessary tools to keep your feet in shape.

Faceclothes

I don’t clutter my shower by with fancy loofahs or brushes. A simple facecloth (or washcloth? Whatever you want to call it!) works just fine for me to scrub away. Since my skin is so sensitive all of the other things are often too rough anyway.

Nail brushes

I keep a nailbrush in my shower or on my bathroom sink at all times and scrub my cuticles and fingernails like there’s no tomorrow. I even use it on my toe toes sometimes. There’s nothing I love more than clean feet and hands! I also don’t know why I’ve used the phrase “toe toes” twice in one week on the blog.

EOS Lip Spheres

I just wrote about EOS lip spheres in my holiday gift guide, but I must reiterate. This is my most favorite product in life. I’m probably exaggerating a tad but it’s a top 5, for sure. Before I put any gloss on, I use this as the base and I swear it’s the secret to silky smooth lips. I mostly use the lip spheres alone since I never feel the need to add anything else on. It adds a nice subtle shine and protection that lasts all day. I haven’t had chapped lips in fo’evaaaa. Plus, it has SPF in it so that’s an added bonus!

What are your favorite inexpensive beauty products? Do you have any beauty secrets people would be surprised to learn? I’m actually kind of oddly intrigued by people who use mayonnaise in their beauty regimens. Anyone?

[Chels]

Also, right now I’m so tired, I’m tempted to just take a photo of my bed and label it my number one favorite thing in the world. Thank you and goodnight.

Erin Condren Life Planner (WANM-style!):

Though I’m an electronic girl through and through, I’m also a bit of a mess online. I always have a million tabs open at once and I’m constantly jumping from project to project. Keeping my schedule organized online? Not an option. Plus, as a writer, there’s something that’s always felt so gratifying about picking up a pen and writing stuff down. I know a lot of you can relate. Type a to-do list and I’ve got no motivation. Write a to-do list and I’m checking things off like nobody’s business. So, I was pretty excited that my sister and Adam got me an Erin Condren Life Planner for Christmas. I mean, this thing is the beast of all schedules. It’s like 20 different calendars in one, plus to-do lists, plus pretty colors and inspirational quotes, plus stickers. Yes, I was obsessed with Lisa Frank in 4th grade and may not have fully grown out of that phase. OH and PLUS, the one they got me looks like this:

Yup. IN LOVE! And here’s to a very organized 2012.

My New Starbucks Mug:

I consider myself very, very lucky that Starbucks sends me a delightful gift box full of goodies from time to time. For the holidays, they sent me a fabulous box filled with Christmas Blend Coffee, the She & Him holiday CD, notecards, and this absolutely perfect mug. When I first got it, I instagrammed it and no fewer than 12 people commented on it, something along the lines of “that is amazing.” I KNOW it’s holiday-oriented. But only really because it says “Falalalala” all over it. And I mean, some go us are perfectly content to go about our day happily singing, “Falalalala” even when it’s not the holiday season. Therefore, I will be using this ceramic mug all year round. Blame me?

Cole Haan Shoes:

I’m a girl (duh) so, therefore, it’s only natural that I’m a shoe lover. I’ve never had a very large shoe budget and I’ve always been more of a TJ Maxx and Marshall’s shoe shopper. Well, I still don’t have a large shoe budget, but now that I’m working in an office I wear shoes way more than I used to. That may sound weird… But what I mean is that I used to wear my slippers a lot. As in, putting on an actual pair of shoes was a big deal. Unfortunately, I can’t wear my sneakers to work (cry me a river). But I can wear Cole Haan shoes, which are basically like slippers. But way cuter. And more socially acceptable.

I honestly don’t know if I’ll ever buy another brand of shoes. Besides my wedding shoes, which is a whole other story all together (sparkly Jimmy Choos, please?). My point is, Cole Haan shoes are the most comfortable shoes you will ever find. Many of them have a Nike sole in them, which obviously means comfort. But I just wore a new pair today sans Nike sole and was feeling fine by the end of the day. And that’s saying a lot since my feet ALWAYS hurt. I can run around the city in Cole Haan shoes and don’t get the urge to throw my shoes off and run barefoot though the Boston alleys. Also, you should know that Cole Haan has outlets. Since the shoes are a bit pricey, this is totally necessary. And clearly dangerous for me. But I’m pretty sure comfortable feet are one of the keys to happiness in life. So… Justified.

Promise I didn’t buy these all at once. I’ve been collecting… Also, Cole Haan leather goods are heavenly as well. Chris got me a new CH bag for Christmas and I just want to snuggle it and smell the fresh leather. Speaking of Chris, he just got his first pair of Cole Haans and he’s now officially in love, too. And now he kinda has to support my addiction.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks:

I always want to start a “what I’m reading” series here on We are not Martha, but I constantly have so much food stuff going on, it never seems like there’s space. But that might be one of my goals for 2012. I read A LOT. Like a ridiculous amount. I’m really not happy if I don’t get at least a little reading in every day (which really isn’t much of a problem since I’m on the T for so dang long).

Anyway, I just finished a book I’ve been wanting to read for a long time: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. It was a seriously awesome and enlightening book. It’s about Henrietta Lacks, an African-American mother of five who died in 1951 from cervical cancer. When she was sick, a sample of her cancerous tissue was taken without her consent and this tissue spawned cells that could live forever. From these cells, called HeLa, the polio vaccine was developed, AIDS treatments were devised, and so much more was done in the world of medicine. Basically, every scientist was using HeLa cells (and still are!) and people were making massive amounts of money off them. Meanwhile, Henrietta’s family was living in poverty and had NO idea their mother’s cells were aiding in so many awesome discoveries. Rebecca Skloot does a really outstanding job telling Henrietta Lacks story and it brings up a lot of interesting points. Like that most of us have our own tissue floating around in some lab somewhere. Also, even if you’re not a “science person,” you can totally follow along and learn a lot. I’m the girl who took nutrition for my science requirement in college because uh, chemistry? Did not agree with me so well. And I got this book and loved it. I absolutely love a book that is engrossing and extremely educational. Read this!

I have about a million more favorite things that I could go on and on about, but like I said, my bed might be #1 right now. Really, my favorite things are not “things” at all, but the people in my life. Chris deserves a million bucks for putting up with me and my ridiculous schedule the past couple weeks and, of course, I absolutely love my family and friends to pieces. And am so, so thankful for everyone good in my life. But stuff is fun sometimes, too. And shoes. Oh, how I love shoes.

What’s your favorite “thing” right now?

[Sues]

Not to get all Time Magazine on you, but for me, this was the year of The Good People. You see, for the most part, I’ve had the same group of friends since I was negative three years old. I don’t typically let new people in because what’s the point when I’ve been blessed with near-perfect friendships and a family that I love and adore?

But for some reason, 2011 was the year it clicked for me that it’s okay to let people in. I encouraged myself to spend time with “new” people and build different friendships, while of course maintaing the ones I’ve had my whole life. Working at Healthworks and at Paper Source helped, too. I’m like 110% sure it’s a prerequisite that you have to be a good friend to work at both places. I’ve built phenomenal friendships with unbelievably supportive co-workers. We’re each other’s cheerleaders and advice-givers. I go to work and laugh more than I’ve ever laughed. These people are quirky, fun, and lack filters. Which I also lack at times so that would explain why I get along with them because we all say what we really mean. To me, that’s just plain refreshing.

Of course, nothing in the entire world compares to spending time with my old friends. Traveling to St. Augustine in the Spring with one of my best friends, Melis, to visit her family remains one of my most very favorite annual things to do.

Goofing around with my siblings happens every year.

And sharing the goofiness with my roommate and her brother could become a new tradition.

The Andover girls were always around in 2011. You know this girl:

And we all got together in June to celebrate our friend Erin’s wedding. We haven’t had a photo like this since college, probably!

June also brought the whole family together for my grandmother’s birthday.

Hugs from my cutie pie cousin, Colin. Precious.

This was also the year that I spent more time with blogging friends. Who I can now just call friends.

This was also the year I fell in love with my fniece (fake niece). There were plenty of brunch dates with her. These are her toe toes and she’s the most stylish little lady I know. She gets it from her mom.

It was also the year that my lil’ brother graduated from college. Such a fun family weekend!

I think the actual graduation fell on the hottest day ever recorded in history so we got creative and made ice bags for our heads in an attempt to cool down.

Seeing New Kids on the Block and Backstreet Boys at Fenway Park (while dressed up in our best 80s/90s gear) was, um…. every kind of wonderful imaginable.

I went clamming for the first time ever and realized I want to do it professionally.

Mostly so I can eat fresh clams and sip red wine all day. Every day.

My sister had a milestone birthday.

Becca and I waited in line at Anthropolgie to get the Decorate book signed by Holly Becker. I mean, worse things have happened. I also saw Becca nearly every week this Summer. Example of a blog friend turned real-life friend. She’s the best.

One of the very best things to happen this year was taking a family trip to Mississippi in August to see where my grandmother grew up.

We were like little city folks wandering around the deep south and it meant the world to me. It was so simple but so full of love and silly memories.

Seeing my grandmother so excited and proud to share her home state with us was the best part.

Besides jumping around like goofs with the siblings, of course.

There was also a stunning Rockport wedding in October.

And Butterball will always be a favorite. Turkey, wonderful talk-line ladies, and a business trip to Chicago with one of my dear friends. Everything is right with that picture.

And no year is complete without a cute puppy. I think that’s a fact, right? This is me with my cousin Sasha on Thanksgiving.

Hands down the best news I got this year was a phone call from my absolute best friend in the entire universe, Kate, telling me she was engaged! Not only is she engaged, but she’s marrying a good, good man which makes me tear up just thinking about it. It’s like magic when two people work so well together. Then the second best news was when she asked me to be her Maid of Honor last week. I feel like I want to forget everything else in life and dedicate 2012 to helping them with all of their wedding details to ensure the day is perfection. Kidding. But I’m not kidding at all. When I excidetly told my brother the Maid of Honor news his response was “That’s awesome! I’m not surprised though. You’re like sisters”.

Between Sues and Chris’ wedding in June and Kate and Paul’s next Fall, this just makes me want 2012 to get here immediately so we can get this party started!

While looking at a photographer’s website today, I read this in her About section:

I like hugs and I probably hold on a second too long… that’s the best part. Try it.

I tried this today and I plan on doing it lots more in 2012. When you surround yourself with good people, it’s definitely a wonderful feeling.

I wish for you a healthy and happy New Year filled with more good people, lots of awkward lingering hugs, and as always, plenty of love.

[Chels]

2011 was filled with food. And I love doing posts of all of my favorite photos from the year because, not only are they fun to look at, but I have a better understanding of why I needed to buy the next size up when I bought pants last month.

Here’s why:

Plenty of hearty brunches and loads of eggs. Yum!

(Mango Chicken Omelete)

LOTS of sweets:

(Milky Way Smores Granola Bars)

(Homemade Baked Glazed Doughnuts)

(Carrot Cake from Treats Bakery for my sister’s 30th birthday)

(Blueberry, Lemon, White Chocolate Chunk Cookies. My favorite cookie of the year!)

(Turned into an ice cream sandwich!)

(Key Lime Pie for my dad’s birthday)

(MIni Peach and Raspberry Pies. A happy accident)

(Salted Caramel Cupcakes)

(With caramel filling!)

(Apple Pie Ice Cream)

(Spicy Popcorn Balls)

(Momofuku Milk Bar’s Cornflake Chip Marshmallow Cookies)

Summer Foods:

Snacks, Cheeses, Meats, oh my!

(Healthy Black Bean Dip)

Don’t even get me started on the fried pickles. 2011 was the year I discovered this lil’ heavenly snack and life will never be the same

(Garlic and Herb Sweet Potato Fries)

(Fried plantains from my sister and brother-in-law)

(Spinach, Onion, and Bacon Dip with Garlic Toasts)

The foods that somehow managed to appear in my dreams at night:

(BBQ Chicken Pizza)

(Chipotle-Rubbed Grilled Salmon Tacos with Apple-Cucumber Salsa)

(My Bristol Lounge burger with garlic mayo, mushrooms, bacon, Swiss cheese, lettuce, and tomato)

(Pasta Ponza)

(Crispy Fried Fish Tacos)

(Noodles with Peanut Sauce)

(The broccoli rabe, olives, and anchovy pasta Tom Colicchio served us)

(Turkey Meatballs Stuffed with Brie)

(Layered Taco Salad)

(Open-Faced Prosciutto and Plum Sandwiches)

(Quick Vegetable Fried Rice)

(Turkey White Bean Pumpkin Chili)

(Sausage Cheddar Balls)

And every memory made at Butterball University is always a favorite. Clearly. Check out the mug below:

What a wonderful and drool-worthy year this has been! Stay tuned for my favorite {regular} photos of 2011 post on Friday!

[Chels]

It’s no secret at all that I love shopping. And clothes. And dressing other people. So when Eddie Bauer contacted me recently and asked if I, along with some other local bloggers, wanted to participate in their grand opening event last week at the South Shore Plaza, you know I wrote back in a heartbeat to say “YES!”. But as the day got closer, I realized there wasn’t any way I’d be able to swing driving down to the South Shore during a crazy work week. Plus, the night the event was held, bridesmaid duties called. I, along with Kate, went to preview Sues’ wedding venue, so that obviously came first!

I was a little bummed to have missed the event, mainly because I had never stepped foot into one of their stores before and was excited to learn more about the brand and what they’ve been up to. I guess I always just associated the store with a more rugged lifestyle, which I, the girl who fears camping, clearly do not know a thing about

Now, in comes Mario, my roommate’s friend. Mario’s around our place quite a bit. And at one point I may or may not have told my roommate, Liza, that I thought it would be fun if I could take Mario shopping and give him a lil’ makeover. You see, he’s tall, funny, and super nice. But his wardrobe didn’t really speak for all of the positives that he possesses. With such good qualities, why not help spruce up the man’s wardrobe a bit?! Liza ended up telling Mario about my idea, and to my surprise, he was actually all about it. Yay!

After spending some time thinking about where we’d go shopping, I decided to email the PR girls who invited me to the grand opening event. The short version of the email I sent went something like this: “Hi, Lainee! I want to give my roommate’s guy friend a wardrobe makeover and I think Eddie Bauer would be the perfect place to bring him! Thoughts?”. The girls got back to me and said Eddie Bauer LOVED the idea, so Mario, myself, and Liza hopped in the car yesterday after work, pouring rain and all, and drove down to the South Shore to do some shopping.

When we arrived at the store, we were greeted by the friendly Shelly, who gave us a quick tour, told us about the product lines, and set us free to roam the store. The company is actually running a 12 Days of Christmas promotion where each day, they give a different gift to their customers. Yesterday’s gift was 50% off all sweaters. WOO! I kind of want to go back every day to see what the other gifts will be

After browsing for a while, I got busy pulling armfuls of clothes of the shelves for Mario. But, before we get into that, here are a couple “before” snaps of Mario.

It makes me sad when people don’t wear COLOR so I was set on bringing some brightness into this man’s life!

And I definitely wanted to see him in a nice wash of some nice dark jeans. My, I look a bit mischievous in the above photo, tee hee!

“I am clay – you shall mold me.” -Mario. Yes, he really said that. You don’t have to tell me twice!

To make the process run as smoothly as possible, we organized countless amounts of sweaters, shirts, and pants into a dressing room and I made them into outfits, so Mario would know what belonged with what.

And then played peak-a-boo.

Look One:

I paired the Classic Fit Rugged Twill Shirt with one of Eddie’s thermal long sleeved shirts. I always love layering (and Eddie loves it, too!) and I especially love having pops of color show through the layers, so we rolled the sleeves up on the flannel to show a bit more of the red thermal.

And tossed on the 1942 Yukon Classic Model Down Wool Vest. While striking Blue Steel, of course.

Look Two:

When Mario first put this sweater on, he said “This is a Tom Brady sweater!”, which I clearly agreed with. It should be called the “Tom Brady post-game sweater” as TB often wears warm cozies like this during press conferences. The scarf collection at Eddie Bauer was also quite impressive.

Look Three:

Next up was the Classic Fit Marl Fatigue Sweater, in navy layered over the Classic Fit Legend Wash Poplin Shirt in Reed Yellow. Classic and casual, while still looking crisp and put together.

Look Four:

The Classic Fit Cotton/Cashmere V-Neck Sweater, in Chill over the Relaxed Fit Patterned Signature Twill Shirt, in Cloud.

In between Mario’s outfit changes, I roamed the store for things that I liked for myself. Hello, did you really think I could be in a store for 2.5 hours and not look for anything for myself?

I was pleasantly surprised at the creative collections I found! There were so many classic pieces from sweaters, to belts (sparkly ones, too!), to basic button down shirts, and outerwear. But there were also some fun pieces that can be used to make a more dressy version of an outfit by layering. But the best part? The company stands by their brand. You can return any item and get a full refund if you’re not fully satisfied. Brilliant.

And newsflash, Eddie Bauer has jewelry. Who knew? I certainly did not. But now that I do, I will most definitely look here the next time I’m on the market for some fun bling. Which is always.

Oftentimes I like to pretend I’m outdoorsy and rugged, and I do love a Fair Isle sweater, so I bought the one I’m modeling in the photos. I also snagged this Flannel Cargo Shirt, in Sugar Plum. It was love at first sight and I can’t wait to dress it up with some fun colored denim! Plus, I haven’t owned a flannel shirt since middle school. Liza is wearing the Cloud Shawl Collar Sweater, in the pretty shade of Cloud. And Mario is modeling a tweed blazer he found (and refused to take off). Didn’t he clean up well?! It always amazes me how clothes can transform people. Per my “request”, he’s going try and start incorporating some more color and dark denim washes into his wardrobe

Shelly graced us EACH with an Eddie Bauer RipPac backpack, The Legend of Eddie Bauer book, and $50 gift cards, which we all obviously used to shop last night

Thank you so much to Eddie Bauer and Shelly at the South Shore Plaza store, for all of your help! It was a fantastic night and I’m excited to have another store to visit. And I’m positive I’ll be back soon to buy people some cozy sweaters and scarves to give as Christmas gifts! And a special thank you to Mario for being such a great sport and letting me drag him around for the sake of a fun blog post

[Chels]

Owl Measuring Cups from West Elm:

File these Owl Measuring Cups ($19 for a set) under “kitchen essentials” for everyone in the world. I mean, can you think of anyone who wouldn’t be thrilled to measure out flour with these. Also, file these under things that are going on my Christmas list ASAP. Also, file under why the heck does West Elm not have a wedding registry option?!

Recycled Glass Containers with Cork Lids from West Elm:

For any chef that strives to be more organized (read: everyone), these Recycled Glass Jars with Cork Lids ($14-24) are a must. Sure, they seem like a super simple gift, but they can make a world of a difference in the kitchen. Bonus points if you fill them up with your favorite grains and nuts before gifting them, allowing your gift recipient to try something new and be super organized.

Sunburst Tea Towel from West Elm:

Yes, it’s just one tea towel. And yes, it’s a pretty pricey tea towel at that, but this Sunburst Tea Towel from West Elm ($9) is a great add-on for any gift that’s not quite complete. Perhaps you have a few dollars left over and want to make your gift really impress. This tea towel will do the trick. Heck, I’d be thrilled if someone gave me this tea towel and only this tea towel. And I never say heck. I love Sunburst, but West Elm has lots of other fun patterns, too.

Illustrated Tidbit Plates from Kate Spade:

There are few designers that I’m really truly loyal to and Kate Spade is one. Not only do they make what I consider some of the most fabulous handbags, but they also have some pretty stunning home decor. I’m especially loving these Illustrated Tidbit Plates ($50 for a set of 4). I think they’re absolutely adorable and something most people probably wouldn’t buy for themselves. They make me want to immediately whip up some finger foods and invite some girlfriends over. But I’d also be very tempted to hang these on my wall.

Molecular Gastronomy Kit from Think Geek:

This is what you get the cook who has everything… But still wants more. I mean, molecular gastronomy is SO in right now, but it’s nothing most of us home cooks really contemplate much. Until now. This Molecular Cuisine Starter Kit ($79.99) has everything you need to get started (that you didn’t know you needed to get started), including 50 individually proportioned chemicals, essential tools, and a DVD. This is awesome.

Digital Spoon Scale:

Now, I can’t speak to the functionality of this, but I have to admit it’s a pretty incredible idea. You want to measure your flour with a measuring cup, but you also want to weigh it, right? Well, this Digital Spoon Scale from Admetior ($19.99 from Bed, Bath, and Beyond) does both! This is the perfect gift for any bakers in your life.

Obol, the Never-Soggy Cereal Bowl from Brookstone:

OCD? Take forever to eat a bowl of cereal? Or just like to keep your food compartmentalized? This bowl is perfect! Obol, the Never-Soggy Cereal Bowl from Brookstone ($19.99) keeps your cereal away from your milk, until you’re ready to combine them. Then again, you could also serve up a nice bowl of clam chowder and oyster crackers. Or chips and salsa. Or milk and cookies. The options are endless. And this bowl, which comes in tons of colors, is pretty fabulous.

Willowherb Rolling Pin from Anthropologie:

I roll a lot of dough. Seriously. I have a flatbread-making problem and I’m in love with making bread, pastries, and more. Plus, I’m obsessed with the idea of perfecting the chocolate croissant. So, I think a pretty rolling pin is needed. Actually, I think it’ s pretty much a requirement of anyone who does much baking. These are the things that make spending time in the kitchen even happier. This Willowherb Rolling Pin from Anthropologie ($18) is one of my favorites because of the cheery colors and Scandinavian print.

And you probably need the matching muffin pan ($36), too, yes? Um, I mean your gift recipient will need the matching muffin pan.

Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream:

What do you get for the person who has everything? Ice cream. And from what I’ve heard, Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream is the top of the line amazing. If you know someone who’s been crying themselves to sleep at night because Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream isn’t available where they live, you will make their holidays very happy. Jeni’s website allows you to purchase and ship their ice cream. I think this Sublime Holiday Collection ($70) is perfect as it includes Cumin and Honey Butterscotch Cake, Smoked Tea and Plum Pudding, Vanilla Cedar Wood, The Black Forest, Black Currant Lambic Sorbet, and Frankincense and Almond Cake flavors. Can you say unique?

Of course, you could also pair it with the Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream cookbook ($13.61). I have this and it’s an insanely beautiful cookbook with the most unique ice cream recipes ever.

Black Pepper Body Wash from Molton Brown:

So, it’s not really food. And it sounds a little odd. But I’ve heard absolutely amazing things about Molton Brown’s Black Pepper Body Wash ($28). Yes, it’s body wash that is made with black pepper oil. But something tells me if you’re a food lover, you’re a fan of black pepper. It will help relax your muscles, remove toxins, and wake you right up. The body wash is unisex, so it makes the perfect gift for everyone in your life.

Eat Boutique Gift Box:

Want to make your gift recipients swoon? Of course you do! Eat Boutique is the perfect way. The incredible Maggie (a blogging friend in real life!) started Eat Boutique for food lovers to celebrate local and handmade foods. Not only can you purchase her gift boxes to give as gifts (prices vary), but you can even purchase a subscription, which means your recipient will get a handmade food gift box every month. Maggie sent us the Holiday Breakfast Box and I’m absolutely in love with it. It has six local products (New Harvest Coffee, Whimsy and Spice Honey Lavender Biscotti, Lark Fine FOod Teacakes, Sweet Brook Farm Grade A Maple Syrup, Quince and Apple Orange Marmalade w/ Lemons, and Cown and Crumb Granola). We’ll be posting more about Eat Boutique soon, but for now, you should know the gift boxes make the perfect totally fun, unique gift for any food lover. Plus, the presentation is BEAUTIFUL!

Meat T-Shirts from Wooster Meats:

I mean, does it get any better than a t-shirt proclaiming your love for Italian meats? I don’t think so. Wooster Meats offers meat t-shirts ($25) for everyone in your life. Well, the meat-eaters anyway. Particularly the ones who love Italian meats like prosciutto and soppressata. But they even have a Kosher matzo ball soup tee!

Chalkboard Spice Rack from Etsy:

Maybe it’s not the most practical thing in the world, but this Chalkboard Spice Rack from Etsy shop Salt City Spice ($23) sure is cute. Spices are beautiful and it’s fun to display them. Plus, this chalkboard would be perfect to write your nightly dinner menu on, adding character to any kitchen.

Core Bamboo Bowls:

These Core Bamboo Bowls ($12-$45) are my new obsession and you’ll probably see them making multiple appearances on the blog in the future. They’re fun, they’re beautiful, and they can really jazz up any table or meal. In fact, I truly believe these bowls could make even a boron romaine lettuce salad more exciting. Try it. Plus, they come in so many colors, you can definitely find one (or four) for everyone on your gift list.

Bodum Pavina Double-Wall Thermo Glasses:

I’ve talked about these glasses before, but I’m saying it again. Bodum’s Pavina Double-Wall Thermo Glasses ($17-$30 for sets of 2) are a wish come true. They keep coffee hot, but don’t burn your hand. They keep water cold, but don’t give you the chills. And they come in all different sizes. Plus, they’re more fun-looking than the average glass.

Aerobie AeroPress:

Again, you’ve seen this contraption on We are not Martha before (read the post to learn more), but I highly recommend the Aerobie AeroPress ($25.95) as a gift for any coffee drinkers in your life. It’s super inexpensive and makes what I believe is some of the best coffee ever. Talk about value!

Contigo Travel Mug:

Another gift for the coffee-lovers out there. Anyone who takes coffee to work likely knows how annoying it is to a) get to work and have the coffee be cold and b) go to take a sip of coffee and have it spill all over you (and your white coat when you’re on your way to work… Not that I would know…). Well, the Contigo Travel Mug ($17.99) solves both those problems. It seriously keeps coffee hot for HOURS. Like so hot you won’t believe it. Plus, the autoseal lid actually automatically seals between sips so there will be no danger of spilling. Oh, and if you prefer cold drinks to hot coffee? Contigo keeps those cold for 12 hours.

Bloody Mary Gift Basket from GourmetGiftBaskets.com:

You must know someone who has a healthy obsession with bloody marys. If so, this is their dream gift. This Bloody Mary Gift Basket ($79.99) comes with everything (and much more!) you need for an amazing bloody mary. If you don’t know any bloody fans, there’s always the Mojito Gift Basket and many more.

Sign up for Fab.com:

OK, this isn’t a gift, but more of a demand from me. Because you’ll find lots more holiday gifting inspiration here. You probably think the last thing you need is a daily deal site to send you emails. But Fab is, well, fab. That’s all. It’s filled with design inspiration and will make your heart melt. In a good way. You can sign up with my invite code and I’m pretty sure you’ll become as obsessed as I am.

I could keep going. Forever. Really. But, even though it’s December 1, the holidays are coming upon us quickly and I know you want to finish up your shopping! I hope you found a gift idea or two on this list… And remember to check out last year’s Holiday Gift Guide because I still highly recommend everything on there!

What’s your favorite holiday gift for food lovers this year?

[Sues]

After much discussion about what to do for our next Butterball-related post, we decided the best option was a step-by-step video on how to prepare a turkey. We came to this conclusion for many reasons:

1) Cooking a turkey is easy. But it’s much easier to get the hang of it when you actually see the steps in person. We were often intimidated by cooking a turkey but after three fantastic years working with the people at Butterball we felt so confident sharing this with you!

2) Videos are fun to watch. Not always fun to edit but fun for our readers to see us in action!

3) We haven’t done a post together in a while.

4) We always say “Hey, we should do more videos on the blog!” then never do them. It’s actually become a ridiculous joke between the two of us and almost every time we hang out one of us sarcastically says, “We should videotape this for the blog!”.

5) After our Project Food Blog series last year we got a lot of comments from people saying they loved seeing us cook and in the kitchen together.

5) After blogging for almost 4 years we realized our readers probably don’t know what we’re like “in person” since we’ve only done a handful of videos on here!

6) Outtakes. Keep watching the video and you’ll see how goofy we really are. Woah.

Sues came over to my place Monday night and we got to work preparing our very basic turkey. You can obviously go above and beyond with how you prepare your turkey, but we wanted to keep it simple just for the sake of showing you just how easy it really is! It was a fun night and I think it took us far longer than it should have because we were laughing and goofing off half the time. And we had many “do-overs” from giggling on the video so many times. Needless to say, by the end of the night, my abs hurt from laughing so much.

Butterball’s website is also a wonderful resource for tips and tricks, so be sure to check it out as well!

The Butterball website offers information on:

How to Select a Turkey

How to Carve

How to Know When Your Turkey is Done

How to Properly Store Your Turkey

How to Stuff Your Turkey

And many other useful tutorials!

If you have any questions at all about preparing your turkey this Thanksgiving (or any time of year!) please feel free to ask us! And more importantly, the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line is officially taking calls for the season so call 1-800-BUTTERBALL for any and all turkey-related questions you have. These women are turkey geniuses, not to mention some of the sweetest people we’ve ever met, so don’t ever feel nervous to give them a ring! They’re here to help

What are your turkey plans this Thanksgiving? Are you preparing it or is someone else? Do you have any fancy turkey recipes?

[Chels]

While we are being compensated and working for Butterball this holiday season, like always, all opinions are 100% our own. As you know, we only work with and talk about companies on We are not Martha that we love and support.

Have you heard of the AeroPress coffee maker? I hadn’t. But when I got an email from Aerobie asking if I wanted to try it out, I happened to be reading it out loud in my living room. Chris was in the room and literally jumped up off the couch. “THEY WANT TO SEND YOU AN AEROPRESS!! OMG OMG CAN I HAVE IT?!” Woah. I wrote right back telling them I’d love to try it out. Chris was still asking if he could have it. “Could you let me try it first, please?!” I finally responded. Clearly, he was a tad bit excited.

And how could I not be excited to try it out after hearing his reaction? So, I received the product and opened up the box. My first reaction was that it was a bit complicated. But no, Chris assured me it would be a breeze to use and agreed to help demonstrate it.

Here are all the pieces of the AeroPress set out, along with our coffee of choice, water, and our favorite Bodum double-wall glasses. We can talk more about those later. Swoon.

We decided to use one of my favorite coffees from Starbucks fall line; their Italian Roast (which Starbucks lovingly sent me!). Everyone knows you need to start the coffee-making process with a good high-quality coffee…

But not everyone knows that the method in which you make the coffee is also extremely important. But after they use the AeroPress, they will!

Chris kindly demonstrated the various parts. Including the cute little microfilters that keep your coffee particle-free.

You simply place your microfilter in the bottom cap and twist it closed.

Place two scoops of coffee (with the lovely Aeropress scoop) into the chamber.

And then stand the chamber on your mug and and pour hot (175 degree-ish) water into the chamber.

This takes a lot of concentration.

Now, stir the water for about 10 seconds. And insert the plunger into the chamber.

Gently press down about a quarter of an inch for about 20 to 30 seconds, maintaining the same amount of pressure.

And watch in wonder as your coffee slowly drips into your glass or mug.

And then sip away and enjoy some of the cleanest-tasting coffee you’ve ever had. This coffee was seriously strong and awesome. I was literally stunned by how much better this tasted than the coffee we make in our drip coffee maker (and we have a really nice coffee maker!). Oh, and you can also make a pretty fantastic espresso with this, too.

So, why is the AeropPess better than other coffee makers? For lots of reasons! Here are a few: All of the coffee grounds contact the same water temperature and the brewing process is short and sweet. This means no bitterness is extracted from the coffee grounds.

Also, I always notice if I’m making coffee in my drip maker and I want a cup quickly and pour it before it’s done brewing, the coffee is SO strong. But the coffee that brews at the end of the process is incredibly weak. The AeroPress uses total immersion, which means all of the grounds come into contact with the same water temperature and the brewing process is super short. AND furthermore, the pressure from the AeroPress extracts extra flavor from the coffee grounds. Perfection!

Clearly, I am a fan. The other amazing thing? The AeroPress is SUPER easy to clean, unlike a typical French press. To see more about the wonders of the AeroPress, check out their Amazon page.  And their rave reviews! Many claim it’s the best cup of coffee they’ve EVER had! In the meantime, I should tell you I’m also obsessed with our Bodum Double Wall Glasses. They keep coffee hot (and cold drinks cold!), but because they’re double walled, they don’t burn your hand at all. Even better, they don’t sweat! Which means Chris can stop anxiously following me around our apartment with a coaster. Also, they’re pretty. And I’m pretty sure I now need them in every shape and size.

After we made our coffee, Chris asked me about a thousand times if he could bring the AeroPress to work. But, you know, I want to be able to make good coffee in our home, too. So I purchased a 2nd AeroPress right away and included it in his already coffee-oriented birthday present (his birthday was yesterday!). And today at work? He took this photo:

Yes, that is his desk at work. And no, he does not work at a coffee shop. Clearly, I’m marrying someone who loves a good cup of coffee as much as I do. Life is good.

AeroPress Giveaway!

So, now that you’ve heard me rave and have seen how amazing the AeroPress is, you probably want one for yourself, right? I mean, think about how much brighter your mornings could be! You could even have a desk set-up like Chris’s if you’re really obsessed. I’ll be picking one lucky winner to receive an AeroPress of their own! All you have to do is leave a comment on this email letting me know your idea of the perfect cup of coffee by Tuesday November 22 at 11:59 p.m.

For an extra entry, follow us on Twitter. And for another one, tweet about this giveaway! Make sure you come back to leave another comment letting us know.

Good luck!! And if you don’t win? The AeroPress is only $25.95 on Amazon, which is a small price to pay for the best coffee maker ever (think about how much a good drip maker costs!). And I speak from experience when I say the AeroPress makes a very good gift. And the holidays are coming up!

[Sues]

There are a few things about me you probably don’t know. Like the fact that I get really infatuated with certain celebrities/persons of interest. Like, um, Donny Osmond. Ugh, I know. But that’s not what we’re here to talk about. If you’ve been reading WANM for a long time, you’ve probably noticed I talk about Cook’s Illustrated and Chris Kimball quite a bit over the years. I actually wrote about him in one of my very first blog posts! In my eyes, Chris Kimball is a God. Ever since my dad introduced me to Cook’s Illustrated and America’s Test Kitchen when I was in college, I’ve held Chris Kimball in incredibly high regard. And when I was in grad school and contacted a random email address on the ATK website to see if I could ask an editor some questions for a paper I was writing… And Kimball himself invited me to call him; I became obsessed. Can you blame me? He gave me a fabulous interview and I got an A on the paper Kimball is definitely on my favorite person list!

Though America’s Test Kitchen is practically in my neighborhood, I’ve never had the opportunity to visit. Until tonight. We were invited to the launch party for their new cookbook; the one that compiles recipes from the last 20 years of Cook’s Illustrated. How exciting!

If you don’t know a lot about America’s Test Kitchen, I’ll let you know that they publish my absolute favorite magazine, Cook’s Illustrated. It’s the magazine I’m most excited to get every month because, though it’s pretty short, it’s absolutely packed with quality material. The basic idea behind Cook’s illustrated is that the cooks in the test kitchen test each recipe over and over and over until they absolutely perfect it. That can mean making a recipe once with 1/2 C sugar and the next time making it exactly the same way except for using 3/4 C of sugar instead. They want to make every recipe as perfect as possible, while also making sure the recipes are completely accessible for home cooks. They explain everything they do exceptionally well and have a reason for everything. Plus? There are no ads!

Of course, America’s Test Kitchen also has an incredibly successful PBS show, tons of cookbooks, and another magazine called Cook’s Country. They get A LOT done over here in Brookline, MA!

There was so much incredible food at the party (all dishes from the new cookbook!), but I failed to photograph most of it because there were too many completely fabulous people to talk to… and I do not do well talking, eating, drinking wine, AND photographing.

Chels and I met Steph, Social Media Manager for ATK at TechMunch over the summer. She does an amazing job with social media for the entire brand and one of my favorite things tonight was her Wall of Awesome. When a reader cooks an ATK recipe and posts a picture on Twitter, Steph often prints the photo of their dish out and puts it on the wall. This way, all of the wonderful cooks, who who busy in the kitchen, can see their own dishes that readers are recreating. I love this idea, especially since the ATK cooks don’t have a lot of time to leave the kitchen and hang out on the internet. It’s like a Twitter stream come to life

My other favorite thing? America’s Test Kitchen is my All-Clad heaven! It’s literally EVERYWHERE you look. I contemplated putting a piece in my purse (they’d never notice it was missing! And my purse is HUGE!), but then I realized I wanted to be invited back at some point. Plus my purse was already really heavy. So I just drooled over it, instead

That’s not even the half of it. Oh, and it’s a Le Creuset heaven, too!

Need a whisk?

Chris gave a short but very sweet talk, welcoming us to his “home” and thanking us for celebrating their new cookbook with them. He admitted he once didn’t quite get blogging and social media, but is now fully supportive of it. Yay!

Before we left (you should know Chelsee and I are always the last people to leave every party… beware if you invite us somewhere!), we headed out into the library, another heaven.

We enjoyed some pecan bars.

And pots de creme.

Of course, we also snapped a photo with Chris and BostonTweet! (Um, please excuse my roots. Whoa!).

I also had the opportunity to talk to Julia Collin Davison from the America’s Test Kitchen show, and she was just as nice in person as she is on television. Oh, and we also got to take home the best gift bags ever, including 2 cookbooks- the new one and the Kitchen Menu Cookbook!

Thanks for inviting us into your home, America’s Test Kitchen! We already have plans to return for a full-blown tour, and probably to ask everyone in the kitchen a million questions! I might hide in the refrigerator or something this time, so I never have to leave. Just kidding. I promise…

Are you an America’s Test Kitchen/Cook’s Illustrated fan?

[Sues]