Designing My Bed

Today's post is all about my bed.  Why?  I have noticed that in the pictures I share of my bed on instagram, you can get an idea of how I have created the overall aesthetic including where certain pieces of bedding can be purchased, but assembling my dream bed has taken way more thought and effort than my photos can detail.  There are so many factors that need to be considered when making decisions regarding the comfort, longevity and decor of your bed, so today I am diving into this topic and sharing my most important tips for assembling a dream bed.  

Bedding Basics

• Feather Bed or Mattress Topper- My mattress has a built-in pillow top but that didn't deter me from purchasing a featherbed!  Featherbeds are a great way to give the surface of your bed that pillowy/fluffy look.  In addition, if you are currently sleeping on a mattress that is just a little too hard or maybe it's an older mattress, a featherbed or mattress topper (hypoallergenic alternative to the feather bed) can work wonders!  I purchased my featherbed from Pottery Barn and absolutely LOVE it, but here are a few other options to consider if you are looking for a hypoallergenic alternative (Option 1 and Option 2).
• Pillows- My husband and I both prefer firm, down feather pillows.  Note- if you are going to purchase good quality down pillows they are definitely an investment (but in my opinion totally worth it).  Since we have a queen size bed at the moment we are using standard sized pillows, but if you have a king size bed, I would suggest looking into king size pillows as they tend to fit the scale of the bed much better.  For more economical pillow options, I would suggest looking into down alternative and memory foam pillows.  There are so many  options to pick from when it comes to pillows, my best advice is to go to the store and test the pillows (even if it's just touching them) before you buy them.  
• Duvet Inserts- Just like pillows and mattress toppers, duvet inserts are available in both down and down alternative.  My one piece of advice here is to buy a duvet insert and NOT a comforter.  Why?  It is so much easier on you and your washing machine to wash a duvet cover as opposed to a big bulky comforter.  Bedding should be washed every 1-2 weeks and having to tackle cleaning that comforter with that kind of regularity is not easy.  

Linens

• Sheets- There are so many facets to selecting sheets and I will be honest with you all, I am not an expert when it comes to the various ins and outs of bed sheets.  What I do know is that it is absolutely critical to know the depth of your mattress plus featherbed/mattress topper (if you have one) before you go and purchase sheets.  Fitted sheets come in an array of depths and the last thing you want is to find out after you have purchased and washed the sheets is that they are too small for your bed.  In addition, like pillows I think it's important to go in person to see the sheets before purchasing in order to feel them yourself and determine which are the most comfortable.  You really can't trust thread counts as an indication of the sheet's comfort since they can vary so drastically in feel depending on where you go to purchase.  I am personally in love with the Wamsutta Dreamzone Sheet Set from Bed Bath and Beyond.  They are comfortable, deep, easy to wash and with a Bed Bath and Beyond Coupon I can buy them for 20% off!
• Pillow and Mattress Protectors-  Pillows and mattresses really only need to be cleaned every 6 months.  The reason?  Pillow and mattress protectors cover them and most high quality protective bedding covers are water and dust resistant.  Washing these covers regularly will keep your pillows and mattress in better condition and require cleaning only every six months.  
• Blanket-  My husband and I are both fans of sleeping in subzero temperatures.  As a result of this preference, we have opted for a cotton blanket (here) as the middle layer between our flat sheet and blanket cover.  If your are someone who prefers additional warmth, I would suggest looking into a wool blanket (like this one).  Wool blankets are also a great way to "winterize" your bed, as they add an exceptional layer of warmth.  Personally I am a fan of white blankets because a) you can't see it and b) I wouldn't want a red blanket (for example) giving my matlesse a pink tint.
• Matelasse, Coverlet, Blanket Cover, Quilt- I have always grown up having a matelasse covering my bed.  I love the classic clean look and that it affords me the ability to have the duvet folded at the end of my bed (as opposed to always being pulled up).  It is a great alternative top cover during the hot summer months and a definite must-have for my bed.  The matelasse I ended up selecting for our bed is the Marcus Collection Cane Matelasse Coverlet.  To add additional continuity to the bed I also purchased the matching european sham covers.  The european pillows also give the bed a little extra height, which I am a fan of as well! Tip- If you sign up to receive Horchow emails, you can get a 20% off your entire purchase coupon (yes please!).
• Duvet and Pillow Shams- My duvet cover and standard shams are my pop of color.  While perusing various catalogues and websites last year in preparation for our move, I came across the most fabulous duvet and standard sham set from Dwell Studio.  Since the base color was citrine, it was a slightly daring move, but since the rest of my bedroom color palette was so neutral and subdued I felt ok being a little daring with this particular pattern.  

Decorative Accents

Pillows and throw blankets are essential for giving your bed a completed "look."  For my bed, I opted to include a bold pop of regal blue with these velvet studded pillows from West Elm.  I have also included images of my bed when we first moved in and our bed was decorated with a monogrammed boudoir pillow.  I love the look of a boudoir pillow on a bed, however this pillow had to be retired due to out of date initials (my maiden name).  At the foot of my bed, I have draped this Sferra Brushed Cotton Herringbone Throw on the diagonal to give my bed that perfectly imperfect touch. 

While it may seem silly to think that there are so many different components to building the perfect bed, they are all aspects that are worthy of consideration.  Next week I will be sharing my tips for how to care for the various aspects of the bed and ultimately increase your bed's lifespan, so stay tuned!

July Kitchen Tools

This month's selection of kitchen tools are a few of my latest favorite bar tools that have been great for making drinks, serving water and even saving wine!  As you may or may not remember I posted an article featuring my list of must-have bar tools back in May, well these tools should also be included on that list.  This month's tools are highly functional, easy to use, affordable (all cost under $20) and some tools are even multipurpose!

Zoku Ice Ball Mold (set of 2)

I have been seeing the sphere ice molds for some time now.  My hesitation into learning more about the sphere ice molds in the past has always been the price.  The first sphere ice mold I saw on the market cost a whopping $700!  While it was very fun to watch the video of the ice being made…it wasn't something that would ever be in my budget.  So I held off on thinking about sphere ice until recently while watching a Magnus Nilsson episode from the the series Mind of a Chef.  During one of his featured episodes he made a cocktail by placing an ice sphere in a double old fashioned glass, then added a jigger (or two) of a bourbon, topped with a drizzle of locally sourced honey and garnished with fresh dandelion petals! It looked beautiful and the sphere ice cube suddenly peaked my interest again.    

The Zoku Ice Ball Maker is my new go-to for serving both specialty cocktails and water at my various dinner and cocktail parties.  Each box comes with 2 silicone molds that only require adding water and then placing in your freezer.  The spherical ice cubes keep drinks cooler longer and create minimal drink dilution.  In addition, these ice molds are dishwasher safe, BPA free and cost under $20!  Spherical ice cubes have become a new way of life for me when it comes to serving beverages and I highly recommend trying this fabulous product. 

Funnel

Having a funnel in my arsenal of bar tools is something that I have found to be extremely helpful.  There have been plenty of nights where I have wanted a second glass of wine, my husband pours it for me, I have a sip, we start watching a movie and I fall asleep.  Since wine is particularly inexpensive, it is not something I like to waste (especially if it's a good bottle that only my husband and I plan on sharing).  A funnel affords us the ability to pour leftover wine (i.e. an entire glass) back into the bottle to enjoy another night.  Funnels are also transferring spices from store bought containers to display worthy containers or even just transferring food and beverages.  Inexpensive, practical and potentially cost saving are all great reasons why the funnel is worthy of my bar tools must-have list. 

Ice Pick

Our ice maker has been out of commission and as a result I have had to purchase bags of ice when hosting parties at my house.  I do love the way the clear party ice looks in a cocktail, so it hasn't been too terrible having to take this extra party prep step.  The one issue however that has been slightly frustrating is the melting and clumping of ice while in transit from the grocery store to my freezer.  Ice clumps result from the melting and refreezing process during transit and for a while I found myself having to bang ice chunks on a hard surface (like my countertops) to break up the clumps.  Finally I came to my senses and invested in an ice pick.  Now instead of smashing blocks of ice on my countertops (which creates a lot of noise and mess), I have an ice pick on hand to easily break apart the ice clumps and serve normal sized ice pieces in each beverage.  Ice picks are inexpensive, practical and boy have they saved my countertops! 

Muddler

Summer is all about the fruit infused water and cocktails (i.e. Fresh Lime and Mint Mojitos!).  One of the best ways to infuse fruits and herbs into a beverage is with a muddler.  This tool extracts the oils and essences quickly and easily. Depending on the material of the vessel you are muddling your fruit and/or herbs in you should consider using a nylon covered muddler to protect your fragile drinkware.   Regardless of whether you opt for the steel or nylon muddler, both are dishwasher safe, under $20 and will aid in creating fabulously flavored cocktails!

Williams-Sonoma's Recipe of the Day App

Recently I was contacted by Williams-Sonoma and asked if I would be interested in trying out their new Williams-Sonoma Recipe of the Day App.  As a major Williams-Sonoma fan, it took all of 2 seconds for me to happily oblige.  I was able to easily find the app in the App Store, downloaded it and immediately started perusing the assortment of recipes they had to offer during my new user trial period.  

Selecting one recipe to make from this app was not easy!  There are so many delicious recipes to choose from, but in the end I opted to make the Rustic Nectarine & Almond Galette.  It looked so delicious and my husband has been asking me to make a summer fruit pie for some time now, so this was the perfect opportunity. 

This app requires either a monthly ($1.99/month) or annual ($11.99/year) subscription.  However, as I just mentioned, with the initial free download of the app, you are granted access to the 2 previous weeks recipes, the current week and then the following week (a total of 28 complimentary recipes!).  

Shopping List

One feature of this app that I am particularly fond of is the shopping list.  If there is a recipe within this app that you decide you want to make, you can click on the icon next to each ingredient to have those items added to an organized shopping list.  The best part about the Williams-Sonoma shopping list feature?  The grocery list can be organized alphabetically or by grocery store aisle!  In addition, you can check off list items as you acquire them, email the list and even print the list out on paper! 

Timer

The second feature of this app that I am absolutely in love with is the timer.  Throughout the recipe, there are various steps that require timing.  For example, my flaky pie dough needed to be chilled for 30 minutes prior to rolling out the dough and assembling the galette.  There is a timer icon next to each task that requires timing, so all you have to do is click on the icon press start.  When the timer is up, your phone will alert you with a message alert, beep and vibration.  It also allows you to have multiple timers going at once.  When a timer goes off, it explicitly states which cooking step has been completed so you wont lose track.  This app makes juggling different courses of a meal at the same time infinitely more manageable.   

Rustic Nectarine & Almond Galette

This was the first time I had ever made a galette and I have to say that the process was pretty seamless thanks to this app.  From the very explicit cooking instructions to the built-in timers, I had all of the proper support tools needed to ensure galette making/baking success.  And as for taste?  My husband stated after tasting a piece that this pie was ranked in his top 2 favorite pies of all time (his favorite pie is a pie we enjoyed on our 1st anniversary, so the first place pie is more sentimental than anything).  

Williams-Sonoma only asked that I try out one of their recipes using this app.  However, after having such a fabulous experience with this app, there was no way that I could refrain from sharing this recent culinary endeavor with you all in a blog post.  In addition to honing my cooking/baking skills, using this app has also yielded a very sweet reward.  This app is a definite must try! 

A Few Thoughts on Houseguest Etiquette

Earlier this week I was chatting with a girlfriend about our weekends.  I was telling her all about my mom's visit to DC and she shared her weekend experience with a less than perfect houseguest.  I firmly believe that you "do better when you know better," so I have decided to share my thoughts today on a few etiquette musts for being a houseguest in someone else's home.  These have been staple rules that I have followed as a houseguest and boy have these rules served me well!   While I have certainly spent a lot of time on this blog discussing all of the ways to make your guests comfortable, I think that it is also important to take time to share my thoughts on the opposite perspective, the guest!  So without further adieu, here are my 6 essential rules for being an exemplary houseguest. 

Don't Arrive Empty Handed

Whether it's a bottle of wine, a small gift or homemade coffee cake, you should always arrive with some sort of small thank you token in hand (click here for a few housewarming gift suggestions).  Chances are that your host when to quite a bit of trouble to clean and prep the house for your arrival, so arriving with a token of appreciation in hand is both warranted and appreciated.  In addition, the size of the gift/gesture should also reflect the length of your stay.  If your trip is only for a night or two then a bottle of wine or homemade coffee cake is more than adequate.  However, recently I stayed at my sister's house for a week which called for sending a more substantial housewarming gift (plus she is my sister).  So I ordered her a set of cheese knives to say thank you, which are actually still on backorder, so I included a printed out picture of the gift in a card that I gave her when I arrived.  

Treat your Host and/or Hostess to a Meal

When you are staying at someone's house for a weekend, chances are that your host is picking up the tab for the majority of the food and beverage that is being consumed.  It is an extremely nice and appreciated gesture for the guest to chip in for at least one of the meals.  So whether you are treating your host/hostess to dinner at a restaurant or even making breakfast for the host/hostess at the house.  The point is that you should be responsible for at least one meal to remove some of the burden from your host/hostess.  On my recent trip to San Francisco to visit my sister and brother-in-law, we took them out to dinner one night and then I cheesescaped another night since we were staying at their home for a week.  Both events were great fun, very much appreciated and made my husband and I feel like we were doing our part to contribute during our extended stay.  

Pick up after yourself

Hosts/hostesses tend to say things like "make yourself at home," when guests arrive…don't take that literally.  Yes you want to feel comfortable, but keep it within reason.  Meaning, you should still make your bed every morning, don't leave an explosion of clothes on the floor of the bedroom or bathroom and do not leave your used dishes in the sink (the dishwasher is probably a whole 6 inches from the sink, so rinse the dishes and put them in the dishwasher!).  In addition, offer to help out.  If your host has served dinner, offer to help clear the dishes or if they are tidying up a space, maybe offer to take out the trash.  Regardless, be helpful and make a conscious effort to refrain from being a messy guest.  

Don't Overstay Your Welcome

Before you book your trip to stay with someone, I would recommend talking to your host or hostess about your length of stay.  It is always a good idea to run your arrival and departure dates/times by your host or hostess before firming up plans.  An ideal weekend stay is to arrive after work on Friday and leave after brunch time on Sunday.  Leaving on a Monday can be an inconvenience to a host or hostess, especially if they have to work.  The same goes for arriving before they are finished with work for the day (like on a Thursday or Friday mid-day).  In those situations, I would suggest that you assure your host or hostess that you are self sufficient (ex. can get yourself to/from the airport, can keep yourself busy with activities around town until the host/hostess is home from work).  In essence, you want to think of your stay as an addition that enhances the weekend and does not create a burden.  The same goes for a longer stay (more than a weekend but maximum of 1 week).  

Strip the Bed

One of the first things that a host or hostess will do when a guest departs is to clean the house and get everything back into working order.  One aspect of the cleaning involves washing the sheets that were used by the guest during their stay.  Stripping the bed is a simple thing that you can do when packing up to leave that will really be a huge help to your host or hostess.  On the day of your departure remove all sheets and pillow cases from the bed you had been using and ask the host or hostess where they would like for you to put the dirty sheets (ex. leave them on the floor in the bedroom or take them to the laundry room).  Fold the blankets and comforters at the foot of the bed and stack pillows neatly.  In addition, collect all of your used towels and add them to the pile of dirty sheets.  

Thank You Note

A hand-written thank you note is an absolute MUST after staying at someone's home.  This should be written within the week post stay, but honestly the sooner you write that note and get it mailed the better!  Notes that are sent after a week are still appreciated but tend to lose their "oomph," because the moment in time has long since passed.  Be sure to include a couple of sentences detailing your favorite parts of the trip, but refrain from being overly wordy.  People want to be thanked, but they do not need to receive a novel.  A nice and thoughtful note that expresses your appreciation for their hospitality will go a long way and will close out your visit on a very positive note.  If you are in the market for personalized stationery, I highly recommend checking out the American Stationery Company.  They have a wide selection of high quality stationery at very reasonable prices.  I am a huge fan of their products.

In addition to these tips on etiquette, my final piece of advice would be to just enjoy your visit and the people you are visiting.  Weekends and trips go by quickly, but keeping these etiquette tips in mind during your stay will help to ensure that a return trip invitation is extended to you in the future.  

Host a Healthy Breakfast: Greek Yogurt Parfait Bar

As you all know (see here), my mom came to visit this past weekend for her special Mother's Day gift.  She arrived Thursday night and was welcomed with an intimate dinner party.  Friday morning we got up and went to Marjorie Merriweather Post's Hillwood Estate.  We toured the grounds, had lunch at the cafe, then went to visit Arlington National Cemetery (my great grandparents are buried there) and finally, ended the day with a cocktail party at home.  Saturday morning I signed us up for a Pure Barre class.  It was a fabulous workout, but HOLY MOLY!  I didn't know much about Pure Barre prior to the class and had just assumed that the class would consist of a few aerobic ballet moves and maybe some stretching.  Boy was I wrong!  I kid you not, 5 minutes into the class my mom and I were both "puddles" (of sweat!).  It was an excellent 55 minute workout and I am now totally hooked on Pure Barre.  

After the Pure Barre class, my mom and I went back to my house for breakfast.  On the menu- Almond Milk Lattes using my Nespresso and Aeroccino Milk Frother,  Morning Crunch Muffins and a DIY Greek Yogurt Parfait Bar.  The menu was delicious, healthy and the perfect way to refuel post Pure Barre.  Below is a list of what I used to create this delicious spread:

Ingredients

• Fage Greek Yogurt 0%
• Light Agave Nectar
• Organic Honey
• Roasted Flax Seeds
• Toasted Unsweetened Coconut Flakes
• Fresh Blueberries
• Fresh Raspberries
• Fresh Pomegranate Seeds
• Organic Wheat Germ
• Granola
• Ground Cinnamon

Serving Pieces

• Williams Sonoma Open Kitchen White Snack Bowls
• Crate and Barrel Lulie Stemless Martini Glasses
• Crate and Barrel Shell Sugar Tongs
• World Market Bamboo Cocktail Spoons
• Pillivuyt Basketweave Salad Plates
• Linen Cocktail Napkins

This past Saturday morning was the perfect way to start my day.  I felt healthy and invigorated thanks to the Pure Barre Class and delicious DIY Greek Yogurt Parfait breakfast.  I am currently loving this pairing so much that I have invited different groups of friends over the next couple of Saturday mornings to join me for a Pure Barre Class and then head on over to my house for a healthy post-workout breakfast.  This is a great way to entertain because it not only shakes up the standard entertaining routine of either hosting a cocktail or dinner party, but it also includes a fun (and heart healthy!) activity.  Suffice it to say, my friends and I are certainly looking forward to the next couple of Saturday mornings!