Is it any coincidence that New Years resolutions happen right about the time that I can barely look at another cheese board or glass of champagne without feeling a little queasy? After nearly a month of revelry, I am so ready to savor some lighter, cleaner meals that put vegetables front and center, and my […]
One of the best ways my mom communicates love is through carrot cake. Seriously. Her co-workers know that it’s gonna be a great day when she shows up to the hospital (she’s a psych nurse) holding the covered dish that houses her famous 3-layered orange carrot cake sandwiched with orange cream cheese frosting. It’s insanely […]
Around the holidays, adding a handmade touch to the table feels especially in keeping with the sentimental vibe of the season. Crafting your own place cards or centerpieces adds a wonderfully personal touch to the table — and they’re likely to become keepsakes, carefully unpacked year after year. For the holiday dinner party we threw […]
Most of the parties we host at our house are as casual as it gets: thirty minutes in, everyone’s kicked off their shoes (and usually jumped in the pool). If I serve appetizers, it’s something super simple like homemade guac and salsas or a good cheese with a crusty baguette. The one exception is our […]
Click right here to get the recipe for this Festive Fruit Salad with Rosemary & Vanilla Syrup from The First Mess!
’cause every night is taco night.
When Adam and I were dating, we spent our first Valentine’s Day together around the little dining table in my apartment. We were already convinced that we’d rather spend any romantic occasion with just the two of us at home instead of an overcrowded restaurant (a tradition that still holds true today). I remember making […]
Lunch breaks have never been so fun.
photos by kristen kilpatrick ‘Tis the season for stacks of catalogs to arrive in the mail each day – and while most of them instantly hit my recycling bin, it’s become a tradition that the minute my J.Crew gift guide makes its appearance, I start earmarking pages to “casually” leave out in hopes that Adam […]
Growing up, the holiday event I looked forward to more than anything else was the night we decorated the Christmas tree. We’d turn on holiday tunes, pour mugs of rich cocoa topped with plenty of marshmallows and get to work unpacking the boxes of ornaments we’d brought down from the attic. Later that night, we’d watch […]
I’ve always been a big believer that our surroundings have a huge effect on our mental and emotional state, but it wasn’t until we moved into our renovated studio space that I realized how much an inspiring environment can truly spark creativity. The light pouring in through the windows each morning makes me so excited […]
I love a party where guests do all the work. I know, it sounds counterintuitive, but stay with me because I’m not talking about taking out the trash or unloading the dishwasher (’cause no one will ever want to come to your parties ever again if you make them do that). I’m talking about the […]
Over the weekend, Adam and I sat down with our calendars, pens, and glasses of Pinot and got organized on our holiday season schedules. We penciled in dates for each of our company parties, taking the kids to see Santa, dinners with our families, and the couples dinner party we look forward to throwing each […]
Recently, I found out that a work project that I’d spent weeks preparing for wasn’t going to happen. The opportunity was scrapped for reasons out of my control, and when the news dropped into my inbox, I immediately felt that familiar pit deep in my stomach that always seems to accompany true disappointment. (Also, how […]
I’m one of those weird people who read cookbooks like novels; I can stay up into the night earmarking pages of recipes I want to try and planning imaginary party menus around them. Ever since I got my hands on the beautiful new cookbook by my friend Athena Calderone, founder of lifestyle site EyeSwoon, it’s […]
Welcome to the season of colorful leaves and scents of cinnamon wafting from the kitchen. For my latest seasonal celebration with Target, I invited my coworker besties to join me for a cozy Friendsgiving meal around the table. This fall celebration is dripping in rich jewel tones, warm metallics, and organic elements like wood, berries, […]
Since we embraced the opportunity to go a little less traditional with the food at our Friendsgiving Feast, a meatless main with major fall vibes felt like just the ticket since it made my vegetarian friends happy — and ensured that we didn’t overdose on turkey before Thanksgiving actually rolls around. This butternut-squash-pasta with spinach […]
Welcome to the season of colorful leaves and scents of cinnamon wafting from the kitchen. For my latest seasonal celebration with Target, I invited my coworker besties to join me for a cozy Friendsgiving meal around the table. Watch the video above to see it all come together, and hop right over here for the recipes, […]
The thing about brussels sprouts is – they can be so good, or so very, very bad. Depending on the preparation, you could end up with roasted sprouts that are charred and crispy-caramelized on their leafy edges, or steamed sprouts that are mushy and watery (eww.) And then there’s the seasoning to think about, because […]
There’s no question that many of us have a deeply personal relationship with our hair. Have you ever noticed that a bad hair day can equal a bad day? And when our hair feels healthy and like a reflection of who we truly are, it can help us feel at ease in our own skin […]
Spooky AND chic.
While I’m not totally freaked out by the idea of making pie from scratch (Callie helped demystify it here and showed us how to decorate it here), let’s just say that it still feels like a big production for me. One that I’d attempt when I have a long, lazy Sunday afternoon ahead of me, or maybe for […]
October always seems to be the busiest month, and this year is no exception. In the past 10 days alone, I’ve found myself in Los Angeles, Austin, back to Los Angeles, and New York City, and next week I’m headed to Cabo for a much needed vacation. Juggling so many schedules for my family, my […]
It’s easy to make fun of the omnipresence of pumpkin spice everything at this time of year; sometimes it feels like it’s hard to step outside without getting a whiff of those familiar fall flavors, much less sit in a coffee shop. But if we’re being honest, can we just all agree that it’s a cliché […]
It’s been awhile since I’ve posted my monthly book recos, but I’ve been secretly dying to find time to share a few must-reads that have really impacted me lately. So here goes! This month’s roundup includes a book that’ll totally change the way you think about vulnerability, a memoir that’ll leave you feeling both devastated and […]
