It really is the holiday season!!!!!!! I kind of forgot. Except that I’ve been to really fun parties two nights in a row. And that’s partly what this time of year is all about.
This afternoon I sipped my new teas I ordered from Adagio. They have 14,000 custom blends in their store and they all sound SO good. I had $100 in my shopping cart before I decided I had to cut them back. My very favorite tea has been – surprisingly – the Chestnut. I didn’t even know what a Chestnut was, but it reminds me of a chocolate hazelnut.
These are the three teas I decided on this time – a Decaf Dessert [vanilla crème], Cookie Mint Cream [self explanatory!] and Chestnut Love [chestnut, honeyblush chocolate, crème and everything I hoped for!!]
VIDEOS
I had a cup this afternoon with some milk and then some beer from the keg while I made dinner and did a little gift giving
Tonight we went to our friend Natasha’s birthday party and I made her a set of my latest project: homemade cards.
I bought a bike stamp at Michael’s, an acrylic block, a big stamp pad and these cards from Hobby Lobby.
I absolutely love how they come out! And totally customizable for any personality with the right stamp.
I stamped, dinner cooked.
I made a Smoked Warm Lentil Salad with brussels, bacon, lentils, kale and cheese
The lentils simmered on the stove top for 30 minutes at a 2:1 water ratio.
The brussels baked at 400* and reduced to 350* after 20 minutes. Rubbed in olive oil, salt and smoked paprika.
The bacon was sliced and sauteed.
And the kale was cooked in the bacon grease.
=warm lentil salad! Cheese for garnish!
Matt and I bundled up in our big Montana coats for the walk to Oliver + Natasha’s.
Their house is amazing – a historic house that they’ve been renovating with so many cool features – like a loft with this view!
Although I was satisfied with dinner, the holiday spirit got the best of me and I munched on cheese and crackers, Faith’s ganache tart and lots of these delicious wines.
The walk home was cold, but brisk in that refreshing chilled way. Thanks to Faith + Tate for the partial company!!
Nite!
I love your cards. I’ve been mourning the loss of handwritten correspondence lately (hahaha I sound like I’m 80), with all of our fancy-schmancy technological advances. Letters, gift cards, notes- miss ’em!
I am going to write cards this year. What I will write will be a yearly “report”, what happened to me during 2011 and what will be my New Year’s (2012) “resolution”. Handwritten cards make it so much more “real” than typing it all up.
It’ll affect everyone in my social circle, and a with better “me” it’ll be a great year!
All of those teas sound so fancy! I love tea, but all of the flavors I’ve tried recently have been pretty horrid. Pumpkin tea = blech!
Adagio really takes tea to the next level!
LOVE LOVE EOVL those cards!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Looks like fun, LOVE the homemade cards. It’s funny last night for dinner I made a lentil dish but was sad I didn’t have cheese to top it off. Glad you did 😉
I looked into having those teas (Adagio) delivered, and it’ll cost me a bundle! So I guess I have to scour the natural food stores and see what kinds they have there!
from tea with milk to beer from the keg….ahhh, love it!
and those cards with the bikes: cute!
the brussles in your bowl have just the perfect amt of caramelized edge on them…perfectly cooked. yum!
I love those cards!!! I’m all about earthy, simple and cute designs~I’m totally “pinning” this 😛
love the stamped cards – i need to find one w a jack russell on it!
FIRST — what camera do you use. I am most likely getting a DSLR Christmas for myself and need a steer in a good direction.
SECOND — you would have a keg. made my night.
i “bought myself one for christmas” last year, and i love it!!! haha. i got a canon rebel t2i… i think kath has a camera in the same line.
I have a Canon Rebel XSI – I’d get the T1 or T3!
What a great idea for those cards – love them! The teas sound gorgeous too 🙂 Ohh I love lentil salads, with brussel sprouts too would be beautiful..
Dinner looks way delicious! And I love the bike stamp on that card stock. Perfect!
You can even afford to spend $100 on TEAS?! Teas. Wow. Sitting here stunned.
She can afford it, she walks EVERYWHERE…it’s her gas money! Caffeine = Fuel. 🙂
No you misread. I HAD $100 in my cart because there were so many I wanted to try and then I cut back to $30 with free shipping!
$100 worth of tea would last quiiite a while, even if that was what she bought, as I’m pretty sure Kath isn’t chugging a gallon a day 😛 I buy a $4 coffee almost every day, but people don’t typically freak out about it or judge me. Most people have things that they spend their money on that are completely relative that way- I don’t know a single working adult who doesn’t.
exactly! as long as i’m not giving someone money under the pretense of them needing it, i really don’t care what they buy or how much it costs!
I am going to try those teas. $100 on tea makes a lot of cups. I drink kcups coffee and the new Starbucks ones cost $.90 per cup. You probably spend less than half that on healthy gourmet teas. If we treat ourselves to something, let it be healthy organic foods and beverages. You only live once, you have to appreciate the things you enjoy, be it coffee, tea, beer or wine. Depriving yourself little pleasures is saying, “I’m not worth that”, and you are, we all are! Drink up and smile. You are worth it.
I think thats the best attitude to have, if one is going to have an attitude- heh 😉
I agree totally. I have a Keurig Platinum and I enjoy it tremendously. I put off purchasing one cause I felt I was not worth it. It is my Christmas and Birthday present to myself this year.
That tea sounds amazing! What neat flavors! I love the architecture in that house… so unique!
i like the homemade cards! i made my own christmas cards, this year as a new experience…it was fun, but i don’t think i’ll do it again!
I love the make your own card idea. So simple and super cute. Genius!
I had never bought a chestnut before and then I made a chestnut soup this fall – it was amazing! When blended together they are so thick and creamy so it makes a really hearty soup without having to add any cream! If you’re interested: http://www.simplylifeblog.com/2011/11/readers-challenge-chestnut-soup-with-prosciutto/
Oh cool! I need to do more with chestnuts 🙂
Those cards are great!!!
We did the same DIY project last year for Christmas. Looks like we even selected the same cards, just a different stamp!! They were a huge hit in our family so I am sure they will be well received on your end… they look great.
I love the tree, the teas you picked and the cards! They all look and sound ahmazing 🙂
Awesome post! Dinner looks wonderful, your cards are adorable, and those teas out fantastic! What a fun day Kath!
I’ve decided I need to hire you to make my meals during finals.
I love your cards, and am going to make them with all kinds of stamps!!! Once again, you inspired me to do something that I did not think of 🙂
http://faithfulsolutions.blogspot.com/
Warm lentil salad sounds great! So cozy!
Your house looks so warm and cozy with all of the decorations. I love the homemade cards! What a great (inexpensive) gift idea. 🙂
Still lusting over those teas. Maybe I will treat myself…
i have a funny story about that Menage A Trois wine… over the summer we were having a mother-daughter pool party and we had been sipping on some wine when my friend’s mom asked “Molly what do you think about menage a trois?” and i was COMPLETELY caught off guard! Everyone was looking at me and i was like.. “well i’ve never had a menage a trois so i wouldn’t really know..” trying to think of a way to say “YUCKY!” without maybe offending someone..?! i wasn’t sure! WELL she just DIED laughing and said “I MEANT THE WINE!” it was brilliant. 🙂
hahah!
Nothing better than a homemade card…the personal touch is much appreciated!
I love old homes…they have so much character…all those nooks and crannies…so great your friends are taking the time to lovingly restore it. Love the shot from the rafters!
All their teas sound so cool. I usually just buy Stash tea though. Your homemade cards are SO cute! I really want to do that!
Those teas look amazing! Another great website for reasonably priced, good quality loose tea is http://www.teasource.com
TeaSource is a small business (2 locations I think…) out of Minnesota. So small that your orders come with a handwritten address label! So adorable, I order from them all the time.
Thanks for the link! Another one we use at the bakery is Light Of Day teas – they are all great too
I love those cards! What a great idea. 🙂 I am tempted to buy those teas too! Are they easy to brew, since they come in loose leaf form? Do you think they’ll work with a small French press?
I have the Ingenuitea teapot and LOOOOVE it! It has changed my loose leaf life. The little steepers never worked as well – the tea was always week, but this thing is great:
http://www.adagio.com/teaware/ingenuiTEA_teapot.html
Ahh, I need to get Adagio teas!
ps. The cards with the bicycle? So cool!
I really like the homemade cards with stamps! That’s such a cute idea. 🙂
I just bought Italian Chestnuts from the grocery store this week! I’m planning on roasting them in the oven and enjoying them while watching White Christmas. I don’t think it gets anymore holiday than that! Chestnut flour is really yummy too, by the way. I made pancakes with it and they tasted like spice cake. Very festive.
I love seeing you use bacon grease for your kale- it makes me feel better. I grew up in Alabama and all of my veggies were cooked in bacon grease. It makes everything taste better. I just have to remember- moderation!