Giving thanks

Thanks
by W. S. Merwin
Listen with the night falling we are saying thank you we are stopping on the bridges to bow from the railings we are running out of the glass rooms with our mouths full of food to look at the sky and say thank you we are standing by the water thanking it smiling by the windows looking out in our directions back from a series of hospitals back from a mugging after funerals we are saying thank you after the news of the dead whether or not we knew them we are saying thank you over telephones we are saying thank you in doorways and in the backs of cars and in elevators remembering wars and the police at the door and the beatings on stairs we are saying thank you in the banks we are saying thank you in the faces of the officials and the rich and of all who will never change we go on saying thank you thank you with the animals dying around us our lost feelings we are saying thank you with the forests falling faster than the minutes of our lives we are saying thank you with the words going out like cells of a brain with the cities growing over us we are saying thank you faster and faster with nobody listening we are saying thank you we are saying thank you and waving dark though it is

Last minute Thanksgiving tips...

I've had back to back stress dreams these past two nights.  As a daughter, a wife, and now a mother, my subconscious has plenty of material to pick from for these nightmares.  Ugh.  Hopefully, the stress dreams will end on Thursday (because I won't be so much sleeping as passing out from all the food and drink).

Anyway, here are some of the calming last minute things I do the night before/morning of  Thanksgiving to feel like I've got everything under control, and to help relieve the pressure of the big day:

The night before

1.  Lay out your serving dishes (including the silverware you're using to serve with) and label what is going in each.  It might sound a tad OCD, but trust me, it's super helpful to a) make sure you have a place for everything, and b) let your kitchen assistants to know where things should go instead of them asking you while you're trying to make the gravy or carve the turkey.

2.  Set the table.  Put it all out there - don't just stop at the napkins and utensils, put out the plates, water and wine glasses, candles, flowers, salt and pepper shakers, wine coasters, etc.  If you're having candles, put the matches nearby, so that you can direct a guest to light the candles before you all sit down.

3.  Fill up your water pitcher and put it in the fridge to chill.   It is so annoying to have everything on the table ready to go and then realize that the water glasses are empty...as you spend the next five minutes waiting for your water dispenser to fill the gaping maw of your pitcher.  In the same spirit....

4.  Bag ice out of your ice dispenser and store it in Ziploc bags, so that you have extra on hand for your guests.  If you don't have an ice dispenser, consider picking up a bag of ice to have on hand.

5.  Prepare the bar.  Whether or not you plan to serve alcohol, it's still a good idea to assemble glasses and any liquids that don't need to be refrigerated somewhere other than the kitchen. Set an ice bucket up on a side table, if you don't have a bar, and line up some glasses alongside it. Display whatever drinks you're planning on serving.  Lay out some cocktail napkins and slice any garnishes the night before and stick them in the fridge.

6.  Plate any hor d'oeuvres that can stay out.  If you're serving crackers, chips, etc assemble them on their serving trays and cover them in plastic wrap.  Spoon any dips into serving bowls and put in the fridge.  Arrange cheese plates and layout the little serving knives so that in the morning you can plop the cheese right where it needs to be.  If you're serving nuts, put them out.  Be sure to have cocktail napkins laid out already or next to the serving trays.

The day of Thanksgiving

1.  Eat a good breakfast! This might seem counter intuitive because you'll be gobbling down a veritable feast later in the day, but there's a bit of road to travel before you sit down to lunch.  It's easy to forget that you'll be doing a fair amount of cooking, last minute cleaning and organizing, and getting yourself and your family presentable for guests.  Don't do it on an empty stomach or you'll be in a less-than-thankful mood when your guests arrive.  Be sure to eat something filling to get through the morning.  Make it easy on yourself and have a bowl of oatmeal with fresh fruit, or some scrambled eggs and an English muffin. 

2.  Don't wait to primp.  I used to make the cardinal mistake of waiting till the last minute to shower and dress, figuring that way I would be fresh for my guests.  Well, I might have been freshly made up and dressed, but often I was running down the stairs from primping to open the front door to the first guest - and feeling frazzled.  Shower early, primp, and invest in a good apron.  That way you can be perfumed, serene, and in control when that first guest rings the doorbell one minute early.

3.  Enjoy the pomp and circumstance - turn on the Macy's Day Parade coverage! For me Thanksgiving morning is not complete without the sounds of Matt Lauer covering the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in the background.  The good cheer and wholesome fun of the parade puts a smile on anyone's face, and reminds you that this is a holiday to celebrate, not a time of reckoning in the kitchen.

4.  Pump out the jam.  Stick your iPod or smart phone in your sound dock and turn on your party music.  Do this well before your guests are set to arrive.  It'll gear you up for the party, and it provides a nice welcome for your guests.

And last, but certainly not least...

5.  Take a moment with your family before the party starts. My parents always used to pour their Old Fashioneds into their silver tumblers and toast each other, my brother and me and wish us a Happy Thanksgiving.  Kisses were exchanged and we savored a brief moment of quiet and love as a family before the doorbell started ringing and the merry cacophony of the party began.

I wish you all a happy Thanksgiving, my dears.  May you have a wonderful, filling and fabulous day with your loved ones.

xoxo,
MF 

Brine time

Getting my (non-perishable) brining ingredients gathered together for tonight!

The Modern Femme Entertains...preparing for the feast

Prepare y'all.  The day of giving thanks is nigh. 

I was up with Bebe at 4am this morning, and my mind started frantically scrolling through all the things that I have left to do before Thursday.  My out of town relatives arrive Tuesday night, and the house is still a mess; Christmas presents that have to be sent back with the relatives are still unboxed, un-tissued, and unwrapped; I totally didn't get around to making the creamed onions and cheddar crackers this crazed, hectic weekend (full disclosure, I'm just keeping it real); all, and I mean ALL of my orange Thanksgiving napkins are crinkled up like fans and waiting for me to iron them; little tumbleweeds of dog and cat hair greet me at every turn; I have to still make butternut squash and plum purees for Bebe before the ingredients spoil; and Mr. MF has to move the Christmas decorations that are blocking our basement fridge, cause I got nowhere for the turkey to go but there.

And this is after a jam-packed weekend that left everyone exhausted.  I've never been so glad to escape to the office on a Monday.  Seriously.

So, when faced with this kind of a to-do list, my mind does two things.  1: Strategically plans for what must be done and what can be discarded.  2: Takes a vacation from reality. 

Let's address #1 first. In the next three nights (and morning of T-G), this is what I'm going to do:

1. Monday night:  Make creamed onions and freeze them.  Make butternut squash for Bebe. Wrap gifts.
2. Tuesday night:  Make cheddar cheese cracker dough.  Clean bathroom.  Gather serving pieces for Thanksgiving meal.  Brine turkey. Relatives arrive - order take-out Thai for dinner.
3. Wednesday afternoon/night:  Clean kitchen. Vacuum and dust.  Iron napkins. Set table.  Run dishwasher. Take turkey out of brine and leave in fridge to dry overnight. Make pumpkin cheesecake. Put frozen creamed onions in fridge to defrost. Kick everyone out of the house and hide in a corner with a bottle of wine.
4. Thanksgiving pre 12:30:  Bake cheddar cheese crackers.  Put turkey into oven.  Make stuffing.  Make ginger punch. Sample ginger punch.  Re-heat creamed onions.
5. Thanksgiving post 12:30:  Drink, eat and be merry! What's done is done!

And item #2.  In the next three nights, this is where I'm going to go, mentally, when it all gets to be too much:

Even though you and I both know I'll be too dang tired to do something as energy-consuming as take a bubble bath. 

Onwards into the festive fray my dears.

xoxo,
MF

Thanksgiving Countdown

I can't believe it, but it's here.  We are facing down the last weekend before Thanksgiving.  If you are anything like me, you're staring at the calendar in shock and asking "How did that HAPPEN?"  Year in and year out, I'm always suprised by how fast Thanksgiving creeps up on me. 

Whether you're rocking back in forth in a corner, terrified because you are hosting Thanksgiving and feel underprepared; or you're feeling glum and unspired by your Thanksgiving routine, take heart my dears; I've gathered some of my favorite things for Thanksgiving and scattered them below.  I hope you find inspiration if you're in need of it, or simply a fun diversion if you don't.  

Let's talk Turkey:

For anyone still trying to think about what to make, or for people like me who have to work right up to Thanksgiving day, I have below three delicious recipies that can be made this weekend and frozen: an hor d'ouevre and two side dishes. But before I go there, I HAVE to share the BEST turkey EVER. (Seriously, those caps are neccessary.)

If you haven't tried brining a turkey before and are up for a little change, do yourself a solid and check out Nigella Lawson's Spiced and Super Juicy Roast Turkey.  I have been using this recipe for the past three years, and it always turns out the most amazing, juicy bird with swoon-inducing gravy.

Brining involes submerging the bird in heavily salted water for up to 12 hours.  The salt forces its way into the muscle fibers, pushing them apart and letting the flavors of other aromatics in the water - spices, oranges, parsley, etc, - get right into that bird.  Don't worry about the turkey turning out salty, through some mysterious magic, it doesn't.  Promise.  Oh, and by the way, I brine my turkey every year in a (clean) Homer Bucket from Home Depot.  They're cheap, and you can always find a use for them over the course of the year.

 

Okay, now onto the stuff that you can make ahead and freeze:

 

Spicy Cheddar Cheese Crackers:  Make these crackers in advance , freeze them, then defrost them in the fridge the day before you want to make them, slice them and bake.  Presto!  They are great for whetting the appetite (and go great with Old Fashioneds - see below).  This recipe is adapted from the Barefoot Contessa's Stilton and Walnut Crackers. 

 

• 1/4 pound (1 stick) unsalted butter at room temperature
• 8 ounces sharp cheddar, grated and at room temperature
• ½ teaspoon cracked red pepper flakes (adjust for your spice preference, this amount gives a nice kick)
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 extra-large egg beaten with 1 tablespoon water for egg wash

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and cheddar together for 1 minute, or until smooth. With the mixer on low speed, add the flour, crushed red pepper, salt and pepper and mix until it's in large crumbles, about 1 minute. Add 1 tablespoon of water and mix until combined.

Dump the dough onto a floured board, press it into a ball, and roll into a 12-inch long log. Brush the log completely with the egg wash. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or for up to 4 days. (If you want to freeze the dough, be sure to defrost it overnight in the fridge.)

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Cut the log 3/8ths-inch thick with a small, sharp knife and place the crackers on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Bake for 22 minutes until very lightly browned. Rotate the pan once during baking. Cool and serve at room temperature. Makes about 24 crackers.

 These next two side dish recipies are from my mama.  She brought them down last weekend, pre-made and frozen, and gently reheated them in a 350 degree oven.  They were delicious and you never would have known they had been frozen solid.  As with the crackers, it's best to defrost these overnight in the fridge:

Photo: A Cooking Life

Creamed Onions (serves 8-10) 

 

4 cups frozen pearl onions (do not thaw before cooking)

1 cup low-sodium chicken broth

1/4 cup dry sherry

1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme

1 bay leaf

11/2 teaspoons cornstarch

1 cup whole milk

1 cup heavy cream

Salt and pepper

1/4 cup minced fresh chives

2 teaspoons lemon juice

Pinch nutmeg

Bring onions, broth, sherry, thyme, and bay leaf to boil in 12-inch nonstick skillet over high heat. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until liquid evaporates, 12 to 15 minutes.

Whisk cornstarch and 1 tablespoon milk together in small bowl until combined. Stir cream, remaining milk, cornstarch mixture, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper into onions and bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally, until sauce is thickened and onions are tender when pierced with tip of paring knife, 8 to 10 minutes.

Off heat, stir in 2 tablespoons chives, lemon juice, and nutmeg. Remove bay leaf. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Transfer to serving bowl. Sprinkle with remaining 2 tablespoons chives. Serve. Note: can be made ahead of time and frozen. Thaw overnight in refrigerator and reheat in 350 oven. 

 

Carrot and Parsnip Mash (serves 8-10 people)

Photo: Recipes to Nourish

1lb carrots

1lb parsnips

2 pieces fresh ginger, peeled

1 tablespoon butter

1 tablespoon heavy cream

Salt and pepper

Peel and chop carrots and parsnips and steam separately (parsnips take longer to cook). Add a piece of ginger to each steamer basket (discard when vegetables are tender).

Starting with parsnips, puree to a smooth mash in food processor. If dry, add a little butter. Then add carrots to processor and puree until smooth and blended with parsnips. Add remaining butter and cream, adding salt and pepper to taste. Serve or freeze, thaw in refrigerator overnight, and then re-heat in covered saucepan on top of stove.

 

Something to Wet your Whistle:

 

From top: the classic Old Fashioned (photo by Beth Hontzas);
Martha Stewart's Apple Cider Cranberry and Ginger Punch.



I love having seasonal cocktails at holiday meals. My family is a big fan of the Old Fashioned cocktail, and it wouldn't be Easter, Thanksgiving, or Christmas without one of these in my hand. Old Fashioneds are whiskey-based drinks, garnished with orange slices and cherries.  Don't they look tres festive?  Here's a handy dandy recipe - but be warned, it's hard to just have one.  

 

For those of you who would prefer to keep your beverages non-alcoholic, Martha Stewart has a wonderful Apple Cider Cranberry and Ginger punch (try saying that three times fast) that is truly, evocatively, delicious. If you can find Goya Ginger Beer, I would recommend using it for this recipe - it has a gingery peppery kick that stands up to the other flavors.



 Serving Pieces to Suit the Day:

 

I love using simple white serving pieces to show off my Thanksgiving spread.  Since the Thanksgiving menus already include a riot of red, orange, yellow, and bronzed brown colors,  I get out of the food's way and let it shine center stage. 

You can get great white serving ware at places like Target.  They have a great collection of basic white serving pieces at very reasonable prices. 



I love this Patch Feather Serving Tray from Target!



 

World Market also has great serving pieces, like this whimsical turkey platter and the divided serving bowl - perfect for your side dishes!

 

 

World Market's white serving pieces are both clever and practical - with prices that are hard to beat!

 



You look pretty, Pilgrim

 

Last but not least, I love this time of year, because you can wear orange with impunity.  I've worn the same tangerine wrap dress for the last three years to Thanksgiving, and I always get compliments on it.  If you haven't given any thought to what you're going to wear come Thursday, check out these great dresses:  



Upper row, left to right:  Devotedly orange dresses for the 20, 30, 40 and 50 something sets.
Lower row:  Dresses for those who have an orange crush, but aren't ready to go steady, for 20s to 50 somethings.

So there you have my assorted thoughts on items and recipes I can't do without on Thanksgiving day.  Hopefully you've been inspired, reassured or just entertained. And really, for those of you still rocking back and forth in stress, take heart - it's just one day, and every little thing will be all right.  Especially if you make enough Old Fashioneds.
 
I hope you all have a restful weekend, and I will see you Monday, bright and early.
 
Gobble, gobble my darlings!
xoxo,
MF

Stay tuned...big Thanksgiving post on the way

Hello dears!

I'm in the process of finishing up a mammoth post on ideas and recipes for Thanksgiving. I might have gotten a bit carried away...or you could say that in the spirit of the season it's a bountiful post. Either way, it will be up later today.

Be sure to check back around mid-day, you won't be disappointed!

xoxo,
MF

Embracing Change - Being your own Change Agent: Lucy’s story

Life is either a great adventure or nothing.  – Helen Keller

Our second post in the Embracing Change series features Lucy, a vivacious Florida native who decided she was tired of her day-to-day status quo and wanted a new experience.  She did what many of us may dream of doing and took on the exhilarating challenge of moving to a new city, far away from her devoted network of friends and family.  

Lucy, who holds dual Masters Degrees in Criminology and Criminal Justice, and Public Policy and Administration, worked in the juvenile justice field for state government in Tallahassee, FL for a little over a year before deciding to move to Washington DC.  Within months of arriving in DC she had found a new job at a prestigious consulting firm, an apartment in a cosmopolitan neighborhood, and started forging new friendships.  She lived in DC for three years before moving back to Florida in December 2011.  Lucy talked with us about trusting your instincts, the importance of a positive outlook, and why it’s hard to beat the beach.

MF:  Hi Lucy!  Thanks for agreeing to be part of this series.  You moved from Tallahassee FL to Washington, DC.  Those cities are not close to each other.  Why did you feel the urge to move? Why DC?

I moved to DC because I wanted a new life experience.  I wanted to move to a city where I knew virtually no one to test my abilities to make it completely on my own, and reinvent myself as a “city” girl.   I also wanted to work on criminal justice policy on a federal level - having worked in state government I felt I would be able to make a bigger impact working in the federal space.  Additionally, there were numerous aspects of my personal life that I was not content with and wanted to change by proxy, and, I had wanted to live in DC for some time!

From top: the iconic GW monument, towering over the mall; traffic entering Georgetown, with the National Cathedral in the distance.

After living in DC for a few years I realized that although I loved the city and the friends I had made there, I wanted to be closer to my family and live by the beach in warmer weather, so I made the decision to move back to Florida.



From top: In Florida with friends and family; the newest addition to Lucy's family.



MF:  Was there a decisive moment that jumpstarted the move, or was it gradual?  If the former, what was it?

My move to DC was precipitated by a series of difficult events in my life, including, unfortunately, violence in the workplace that resulted in an extremely hostile work environment, a car accident in which my car was totaled, and an incident with a person with whom I was in a relationship that broke my heart.  I had wanted to try living somewhere new for a while, and the combination of those events led me to believe it was the right time to make a change.

The change agent herself, on the mall for President Obama’s first inauguration.

The decision to move back to Florida was more of a gradual process during which I came to realize snow boots weren’t for me and the beach year round was much more enticing!  Once I had come to that conclusion I began to research the possibility of moving with my company, looking for new jobs, and deciding where in Florida I wanted to live. When I sorted that out, I packed my things up and was on my way home to Florida.

Lucy back home on her beloved beach with friends.

 

MF:  How long did it take you to make the move to DC, once you decided you were ready?

The move to DC, from decision time to a packed car on the road, was about a week and a half to two weeks. I handed in my resignation letter at work and used my accumulated PTO to plan and get ready for my move. I told my significant other it was time I move on; I was tired of waiting for things to change between us and that the status of our “relationship” was unacceptable. I sold anything that I could part with, had an awesome last night in Tallahassee with my friends, and hit the road.

Once I decided to move back to Florida, I moved within a few months.  At that point, I had more invested in my career and knew that it would no longer be as easy, or financially intelligent, to quit my job and move without having a new position.  I also wanted to savor the city I had come to love before leaving, so I made sure to spend lots of time with friends, eat at restaurants I had always wanted to try, and leave no happy hour unvisited!  I left knowing I had experienced a lot (though certainly not all) of what DC had to offer!

MF:   What challenges did you face in trying to make the change, and how did you deal with them?

When moving to DC I moved within such a short time frame that I did not have my own place to live (thankfully my cousin and his wife took me in!), I did not have a job, I knew very little about the area, and I did not have much of a reserve saved up to move and support myself.  I had to believe that everything would work out.

I’m not going to say I never missed Florida, never missed my friends or family, never thought I had made a huge mistake, and I am definitely not going to say I never wanted to turn around and run right back home, but a bigger part of me was excited each day I woke up in this new city.  I took one day at a time, and tried my best not to get discouraged.  There were days I had to dig deep to stay positive, and there were certainly days where I am sure Trader Joe’s Two Buck Chuck is the only thing that got me through, but I persevered and in the end was rewarded with a great job, awesome friends, and amazing experiences!

From top: Van Gogh meets DC during cherry blossom season...and the real thing.

When moving back to Florida I had no idea where I wanted to live, and I needed to determine how I would manage my career in the difficult economy while moving and making decisions about my personal life.   I was lucky enough to work for a company that supports non-traditional work schedules.  I was also able to find a project that allowed me to travel for work, which meant that my home base could be moved back to Florida with minimal impact to my job. 

From top: Florida beaches are hard to beat; the view from Lucy's apartment.

MF:   Did anything surprise you in this process?

Although I trusted that things would work out the whole time, in both instances, I was a little surprised at how easily everything fell together. In DC I was able to find a job in a month and a half, I was able to move into my own apartment after a couple of months, I made some of the most amazing friends of my life, and I discovered and fell in love with a new city.  When moving to Florida I wanted it to work so I found a way for it to work. I looked for opportunities that would allow me to move and knew not to rush the timeline.

I was also a bit surprised at the resistance I encountered from some people in my life. I think others were more scared that things wouldn’t work out than I was and were inclined to try and protect me.  But at the end of the day while others may have many opinions on how you should live your life, only you have the final say – it’s your life! Happiness is fleeting, so take every opportunity to manifest happiness for yourself.  Hopefully, those in your life will smile and support you or at least keep mum if they don’t!  

MF:  Anything you would have done differently?

I’m not sure I would have done much differently. These experiences have shaped who I am today, but I can admit that more thorough planning would have made each process much smoother.

MF:  What advice do you have for people considering making a similar change in their lives?

Overall, I would say that you should trust your gut. If your instincts are telling you that you need to make a change, then I think you should listen to that.  The fear of the unknown can seem overwhelming and make it hard to initiate change, but I found that everything comes together once that precipitous first step is taken.

On a practical point, in today’s economy it is important to remain flexible and think outside the box as much as possible when making a move that affects your employment.  Review all your options – can you work with your employer to modify your workload, schedule, status, and/or locale?  If so, determine what option makes the most sense for your end goal.  Be sure to present how this change would be beneficial to your employer (you will be more productive, you will save resources by working from home, you will be able to tap a new market, etc) – make it a win-win situation. Employers will be more likely to accept your proposal if there is a benefit for them as well. Make sure to do market research and have a solid plan and definite decision (no matter the outcome) before approaching anyone in your company.

MF:  Any other thoughts you’d like to share?

Change is a necessary part of life. We may not be able to control what changes happen to us, but we are always in control of how we approach it and handle it!  Positivity and knowing that you have the strength to handle whatever change is presented to you are paramount – face the change in your life with the right attitude and I believe the result will be nothing short of your own manifestation of destiny.

Sunsets in DC (top) and Florida (bottom.)

Thanks to Lucy for sharing her story - and beautiful photos - with us.  For those of you contemplating making a similar change in your life, I hope Lucy's experiences inspire you to take that leap of faith!

xoxo,
MF

Today's Modern Femme: Jennifer

As I walked to work this morning, I despaired of finding any Modern Femmes to interview.  The streets were empty, dotted with only the occasional male pedestrian.  I had resigned myself to a femme-free day, when like a beacon, Jennifer’s cobalt blue coat caught my eye.   And boy, do good things come to those who wait: Jennifer, a law student, has an eye for detail that makes her a sartorial standout and no doubt will serve her well in her future career!  She spoke with me about her love of all things vintage, what her go-to holiday gifts are, and how law students unwind.



Style AND substance: Modern
Femme Jennifer



MF:  Good morning Jennifer! Tell me, what are you wearing?

Jennifer:  Good morning! I’m wearing Zara flats and Elie Tahari slacks.  My gloves are from H&M, and the coat, interestingly enough, is J.C. Penny Worthington. The bag is Urban Outfitters’ Kimchi brand.   

MF:  You look great – and your gloves are so cute!  Is there anything for the winter that you can’t live without or that you’re really into this season?

Jennifer:  I have a lot of must haves!  I wear a lot of vintage clip earrings, and I love vintage wool skirts. I also love J. Crew’s double serge wool pencil skirts.  For more casual looks, I love the Asos UK website – especially their high waist jeans. 

MF:   For the upcoming holidays, what are your go-to gifts that work for you?

Jennifer:  I give my sisters – I have three sisters – Bath and Body Works products.  You can never go wrong with bath and body products!  I’m also into organic beauty products now – there’s so much out there to try.  And you can get nice little gifts at the Limited Corporation’s stores.

MF:  Can I be on your Christmas list, please?  Finally, because winter break is coming up - what would be your ideal way to relax on a day off from school?

Jennifer:  I love Lucky magazine, I’ve had a subscription to it for over 10 years, since Kim France was the editor.  That’s my escape – that and vintage shopping. There’s a really interesting thrift shore in Woodbridge, Virginia that I love to get away to visit.  Or I’d go home to Georgia – that’s where I’m from! 

Not only was I impressed with Jennifer’s attention to detail – but I couldn’t resist getting a close-up of her fabulous gloves.  Jennifer told me she got them at H&M recently – so guess where I’m headed on my lunch break?  How great would these be as stocking stuffers? (That is, if you can resist keeping them for yourself!)

$7.00 wool blend gloves from H&M - love the bows and key hole detailing.

As always, if you covet Jennifer's style, take a look at these pieces:

Today's Modern Femme: Jennifer by modernfemme featuring pointed shoes

The beauty is in the details!

xoxo,
MF