Thanksgiving: FOOD and GRATITUDE!

In honor of Thanksgiving, I am thrilled to present this guest post from my friend Lisa Adams, an actress and personal chef. I needed a little inspiration in the kitchen this week so turned to Lisa for advice. Here’s what she said, “In the kitchen, I find I get to tell stories. Making things up as I go along or interpreting someone else’s recipe, I am speaking to your senses. I am speaking to your soul. I cater special events as well as drop off weekly meals for families. It is an honor to cook for my clients. Some I have been feeding for the past 11 years and it is my pleasure to contribute to their nutritional wellbeing.”

Being 37 weeks preggo I’d love for her to cook this up for me this week! Thank you Lisa for sharing with us today…

I am lucky enough to be part of a Gratitude group here in New York City where we email a list of things for which we are grateful every day. This has been our practice for nearly 4 years. So when Thanksgiving season comes around we are already 10 months into our year of Thanks. This makes it really easy to focus on the Giving.

My childhood memories some include hand traced turkeys and construction paper pilgrim hats, but they mostly include FOOD! My family participated in the Knights of Columbus Annual Turkey Dinners at my hometown church in Joplin, MO. We were always on some committee: cooking, serving, cleanup, or delivering turkey dinners to shut-ins. Coming together as a family to give all those years ago created a thread of generosity that runs deep with me today. I am so grateful to my parents for providing those opportunities for my Sister Jules and me each year.

(Photo: MarthaStewart.com)

Nearly every year, the actual Thanksgiving holiday was spent seven hours away in DeQueen, Arkansas at Ms. Ora K. Adams’ house aka Mamaw (pronounced Maa’ ma) As a little girl, the drive was endless. I can make myself carsick just thinking about those twisty roads and hills we traversed to get there. We were always rewarded with the loving and delicious fruits of Mamaw’s labor. Looking back, the food really wasn’t all that special, but the tradition of the smells and tastes, and the ritual of sharing them were special indeed.

(Photo: David Loftus)

The highlight was never the turkey; it was the wishbone that my Sister and I wished upon. (To this day she still tries to cheat when we snap them.) There was gizzard gravy with hardboiled eggs that I hated but was one of my Dad’s favorites. There were plates full of Parker House rolls with sorghum and butter, traditional cornbread stuffing, we ate the famous green bean casserole, canned cranberry sauce (my favorite!) Libby’s pumpkin pie with cool whip, and chocolate cream pie finished our feast. Looking back, I don’t think the menu ever changed. My Grandmother passed when I was 18 and that Thanksgiving was the last time we saw her.

(Photo: MarthaStewart.com)

As a personal chef in NYC, I have created my own food culinary traditions for my clients. In fact, I have prepared the same meal for a very special family for the last 12 years. It is my favorite meal of the year to prepare because of these traditions I have created and shared. The preparation actually ‘stirs’ up those childhood memories and I offer up my time in the kitchen to Mamaw as well as my parents and Sister. I am my very own Knights of Columbus committee of shopping, cooking, cleanup, as well as delivery.

(Photo: NoRecipes.com)

I’d like to extend a warm thank you to Jill for inviting me to her blog space and community. Also in the spirit of thanks and giving, I’d like to thank you for indulging me in my treasured memories by giving you a recipe from my NYC Thanksgiving menu! Perhaps it will inspire your own holiday meal.

• Butter Roasted Turkey
• Port Wine Gravy
• Blackberry Brandy Challah Bread Stuffing with Apples and Sage
• Traditional Cornbread Stuffing
• Green Bean Casserole
• Pear, Ginger, and Cranberry Chutney
• Sauteed kale and spinach with Caramelized Garlic

(Photo: GalloWebCentral.com)

Port Wine Gravy

1. After roasting your turkey, reserve all of the pan juices and browned bits stuck to the bottom of the pan. Separate the pan juices from the fat by pouring them into a degreasing cup with a spout at the bottom. If you don’t have one, you can pour the drippings into any container. Chill the drippings in the container, and then scoop off the congealed fat and set it aside.

Add ½ cup of the reserved fat to a skillet. As it melts, whisk in ½ cup flour and create a roux. Stir until golden, about 3 minutes. Generously salt and pepper this mixture and slowly whisk in ½ a bottle of port wine. Keep whisking to smooth out the lumps and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer.

1. Add the reserved juices, and 4 cups of chicken stock. Or if you can find it, demi glace will make it extra decadent (like the port isn’t enough!) Taste and add more port if you are inclined and continue simmering about 10 minutes to thicken. Taste again to see if it needs more salt and pepper.

A couple of tips:

You can swirl in a bit of butter right before you bring it to the table to make it extra glossy and smooth.

Lumps? Strain them, no one will know.

Have a wonderful holiday season!

You can find out more about me at LisaAdamsInNewYorkCity.com

***

Thanks Lisa! I’m so hungry just dreaming of all of these savory dishes… I especially love green bean casserole. YUM!

Modern Rustic Glam in the Dining Room

As I watch the leaves change color this season,  I’m inspired to keep changing things up in the home. This week, why not  concentrate on your dining room?

I recently met with a client who wanted to make some updates in the dining room area of her loft. Her chairs were old and shabby and stained. She’d had them for years and they’d served their time. The dining room table, which was used as a buffet for large family gatherings over the years, was also in need of updating.  We decided to go for a new one that made a sculptural statement. 

The overall theme for the room? Classic but with an artistic twist. In other words, modern rustic glam.

Here are a few examples… let’s get those creative juices flowing!

A “slab” rustic table. Even its imperfections are perfect.

                  

                   

Now, on to dining room chairs. Pick chairs that are light so you can easily move them to another room in the house for entertaining and that will accommodate the shifting needs of the room. Big and clunky chairs have no place in the dining room.

 

Modern yet classic. And more importantly? Lightweight.

Love how this looks like a marshmallow!

And what about this fab light fixture to brighten things up?

Shopping tip: This is a great time of year to update the decor in the dining room because many stores are changing up their showrooms, which means many things are on sale. Woohoo!

You’ll be ready for holiday entertaining!

How to Create a Romantic Modern Dining Room

A dreamy and romantic cloud light fixture can complete any room.

Do you have a blahzay dining room? Does the thought of having a dinner party stress you out? Do you feel unmotivated/bored/clueless about how to improve this bland room? I recently encountered a dining room that had very little architectural detail so I transformed into one that personified modern rustic glamour!

Featured on NBC’s LXTV and Taxi TV in NYC (see video here), I made-over this plain space in just one day thanks to my very own barnwood wallpaper and cloud light fixture and some signature accents like hot pink flowers, blue water bottles and artwork to create a room that screams for a dinner party. Here’s how you can transform your dining room in a day or less.

Barnwood wallpaper makes for the perfect accent wall!

1. Create an Accent Wall. Wallpaper creates dimension, texture, and spaciousness to a room. For this room, I used faux barnwood wallpaper with vertical lines from my product line that gave the room depth and made it feel longer since it spread across an entire wall. It also gave the room warmth and coziness that couldn’t be achieved with regular paint.
2. Add Dimension with Flowers. Flowers are an easy, affordable way to brighten up a room. To make your arrangement unique, pop them into a white ceramic vase to bring personality and color on the tabletop.
3. Soften Hard Corners with Art. Artwork can really make a room vibrant. To soften a room, add large colorful artwork for a dramatic statement. For this dining room, I rolled in a fun and flexible bar cart with wheels that provided visual harmony and grounded the room while also being functional. For added décor, I included an assortment of bottles as well as blue water bottles.
4. Let Nature Be Your Teacher. Having the right lighting is critical to set the mood. For the light fixture, I wanted something that looked like a big cloud floating above the table to create a dreamy feeling. With some help from my friend Vince, my cloud light fixture was created, which gave the room an amazingly romantic and ethereal feel.
5. Mix and Match Styles. Design works best when you mix and match styles. For this segment, I had to work with a rustic dining table that I decided to pair with modern white chairs for the perfect mix of modern glam.
6. Keep it Simple. Decorating a room isn’t about buying a bunch of stuff  – it’s about refining and placing just a few key things to set the mood. You don’t have to over-stuff a room with a clunky sideboard. For small rooms, I love to open them up by hanging a large mirror to create a more expansive and brighter room.
7. Use Decorative Accessories. For this piece, I had a very boring door to transform. I gave it life by installing whimsical decorative accessories to bring the idea of nature inside the room. I choose an antiqued brass oak leaf pull and an acorn pull that can be easily mixed up – depending on the season.

It's all about the details! Check out these amazing oak doorknobs that can given any room a "back to nature" feel.

For more information about ordering the Cloud Light Fixture and the barnwood wallpaper, please email me at jill@jillvegas.com I’m in the process of enhancing the features and tweaking production.
I’ll email you when it’s ready.  

 

Pushing Positive

Pushing Positive

There never was a house so bad that it couldn’t be made over into something worthwhile. – Elsie de Wolfe

The Inspiration.
The fabulous Elsie de Wolfe wrote, “I think it will give you as great a satisfaction to re-arrange your house with what you have. The results may not be so charming, but you can learn by them.”

The Challenge.
Last Saturday my friend, Barry, the miracle worker, came over to help gussy up my home working with what I already had. Even a PRO needs help seeing a room with a fresh perspective, and that person should not be your spouse. Just saying. We completely transformed my space in a day and the only thing I spent money on was $43 at the hardware store for bulbs, light, globe, extension cord, and closet rod. Ah-mazing!

living room before— what a sad, chaotic, space.

The result.
So I was all revved up to share all the photos (before and after) and then when I went to download them on my computer (I decided to use my fancy camera instead of my iphone) and accidentally deleted all the pics. Nuts! Okay so I’ll just list all the projects that I highly recommend tackling because seriously, you can do them in a day. One. Day!

living room after - cozy, bright seating areas in a warm, welcoming space.

One Day.
This is it! It’s time to j’love your home, no matter what. No excuses. Never complain, never explain. I’m pushing the positive so that everyone has a home that they love. Just because you don’t live in your dream home or whatever silly excuse you have, doesn’t mean you have to live in squalor (clutter!). Create beauty with what you have right now.

Here’s a list of things that can be done in ONE day:

1. Go shopping in your house. We “shopped” the other rooms in the house to create 3 areas. #1 “social” seating area with white sofa, coffee table, rug, floor lamp, side table. #2 “lounge” seating area with Eames lounge and ottoman, hung a brass light fixture. #3 kid’s play area with a rug, play table, and just moved all the toys into this space.
2. Park the toys in a “garage.” Toys should not dominate the adult areas of the house. Clear out a utility closet, outfit it with fun posters, hooks to hang toys, and install an inexpensive LED closet light w/a five-minute timer to create a space just for the toys. At the end of the day, simply make sure the toys are all put away and shut the door. Bam. Children love small spaces and will have fun hiding out in their “garage.”
3. Hang a mirror. My favorite places to hang a mirror is in a dark corner to bring in natural light and also make the room feel more expansive. Another great place to hang a large mirror is in the dining room right by the table. It’ll pick up ambient candle light for a romantic feeling whether you’re having a dinner party or dining solo.
4. Re-hang (or hang) all the artwork. Take down all the art and see what you have. You might be surprised and find something you really love and decide to hang it in a new space. Get rid of artwork that you don’t like. Hanging artwork brings character and personality to a room.
5. Go for small. Instead of hanging a large statement piece in the foyer try a series of smaller prints installed as a horizontal line to make the room feel bigger. In this foyer we hung 12 small paintings on 4 walls at the same height.
   

   foyer installation. hang a series of smaller paintings instead of one large statement piece.

Speed Decorating is here!

Fall is here, and so is my NEW BOOK!  Speed Decorating: A Pro Stager’s Tips and Trade Secrets for a Fabulous Home in a Week or Less.

It has been quite a whirlwind adventure — it took 3 years to write, photograph, and edit the book. Last summer over 200 photos were shot on Shelter Island, the Hamptons, and in NYC.

Last week’s book launch at Design within Reach was a blast! So excited to report that all the books sold out that night! (If you weren’t able to get a book that night, click here to order on amazon.com)

Loved seeing you. I’m so grateful for all of you that have helped me to get this far! Thank you!  Check out pics from the event. (Click here for the Photos)

The goal of this blog is to share my enthusiasm for creating a beautiful home— this is the perfect place to find inspiration and get motivated to have a home that you love. It doesn’t have to be a massive overhaul, it simply requires a daily commitment to having a beautiful home. It doesn’t have to be perfect. For example, here’s where I’m at today — I have a two month old baby boy, Max, and as a new mom I’m learning how to juggle work, book, baby, family. I didn’t make the bed. But I did receive a bouquet of sunflowers from my hubby which I put on the dresser. It’s the first thing I see in the morning and it makes me happy. So even though the bed’s a mess and I didn’t pick up my clothes, I still have the flowers that make me smile. Flowers are a very quick and easy Speed Decorating tip!

Check back again to find more ideas and inspiration!

xo
Jill