Recently Spotted: Staub Pumpkin Cocotte

It's time for yummy comfort food and fall decorations.  If you follow me on Instagram, you probably saw my pumpkin centerpiece this past weekend.  I have a deep and abiding love for all things pumpkin, which is why I'm obsessing over this Staub Pumpkin Cocotte.  I've already been into Sur la Table to look at it...twice.

Staub Cast Iron Pumpkin Cocotte
$149.95
Image Source: Williams-Sonoma

Isn't it the stem gorgeous?  I realize that this is a specialty item, but if I had the room and the moo-lah, I would totally buy it to use from now until Thanksgiving (and for many fall seasons in the future).  Although it's styled as a soup pot, you can still use this pot to roast and braise meat and veggies the same way you would with any Staub pot.  Briana and I each have a Staub pot and grill pan that we love and use quite regularly.  The Staub line is made from high quality materials, performs well, and cleans easy!  Which is why I seriously want to add this pot to my kitchen...one day.

Equally as adorable and festive are the coordinating Staub Mini Pumpkin Cocottes!

Mini Pumpkin Cocotte
$19.95 - $24.95 each
Image Source: Sur la Table

Mini Pumpkin Cocotte
$19.95 - $24.95 each
Image Source: Sur la Table

These come in .5 and .75 qt options.  They are made from porcelain enameled ceramic and can go in the oven, broiler, microwave, freezer, and most importantly...the dishwasher.  These are so fun...I wish I could do a little hocus pocus and get myself some more cabinet space.

If you love decorating for fall as much as we do, send us your photos and we may feature them on the blog!

***We were in no way compensated by any of the companies mentioned in this post.  We just love to share our wish list with our readers!***

Posh Purpose Tip: Get the Most Out of Your Aeroccino

Briana and I are both huge fans of our Nespresso machines and I loooooove my Aeroccino milk frother that Mr. 3 bought me for Christmas.  The Aeroccino is capable of making both hot and cold milk froth which is awesome for lattes!  BUT I also like heating up milk in the Aeroccino for hot chocolate because it makes the perfect amount at the perfect temperature.

Nespresso Aeroccino
Image Source: Nespresso

This past weekend, I really wanted some hot tea.  I typically use a tea kettle which takes a bit of time and usually makes the water too hot to drink my tea right away.  I got the bright idea to heat the water up in the Aeroccino instead since I knew it had made the milk the exact temperature to immediately enjoy hot cocoa.  I know this isn't exactly rocket science, but, honestly, I had never thought to try it before!  It worked perfectly to make my little cup of tea and I certainly like getting the most out of my kitchen gadgets!  Anyone else have any uses for the Aeroccino or suggestions for other double duty kitchen gadgets?

Mixin' & Matchin' - Tory Burch China

Y'all know I dearly love to mix and match beautiful china and my dream closet would look similar to the inside of a Tory Burch boutique, so I was super exited when Tory Burch debuted her new line of mix and match china, barware, and table linens last week.  I'm a big fan of Tory Burch's shoes, handbags, and especially her clothing, so I was expecting to have a similar reaction to her newest additions to her home collection.

Image Source: Tory Burch

At first glance, I loved all the elements of the abstract pattern of the china with the blue flowers on the linens and the pretty glassware.

Image Source: Tory Burch

However, as I kept looking at the individual pieces I just didn't find them quite as exciting on their own.  

I feel like I've seen this before!
Mackie Highball
$60 for set of 4
Image Source: Tory Burch

Jardin Place Mat
$98 for set of 4
Image Source: Tory Burch

Spongeware Salad Plate
$100 for set of 4
Image Source: Tory Burch

I found the prices to be reasonable and on par with Kate Spade china, but I'm a bit concerned about craftsmanship.  While other designers have come out with their own china, most of them partner with established and reputable china manufacturing companies - Kate Spade and Marchesa are with Lenox, Monique Lhuillier is with Waterford, and Vera Wang is with Wedgwood.  Tory Burch has not disclosed her manufacturer or even the country of origin...which makes me uncertain about the quality.  Generally speaking, if the manufacturer is special or the goods are made in a country known for quality (USA!, Italy, France, England, Scotland, Spain, Portugal), designers looove to call it out.  For example, Williams-Sonoma has a line of barware called Dorset that is unique to WS stores, but in their product descriptions they note that the barware is hand-cut and produced at an 80 year old Slovenian glasswork factory.  Tory Burch notes when products are hand-blown or hand-painted but doesn't say where or by whom.

Another issue I have with the line is that it is billed as everyday entertaining, but the glassware is hand wash and, although, the place mats say you can wash them on the gentle cycle they also suggest dry cleaning.  In my experience, if dry cleaning is suggested it's probably best for the long term care of your items.  Now to keep it real with y'all, I have plenty of hand wash only items, but that's because I'm using crystal glassware and fine china everyday (yes I'm cray-cray)....not because I picked out and purchased something that was marketed as "everyday."  I wouldn't want to pay a weekly dry cleaning bill for place mats and napkins.

Finally, my last complaint is the $395.00 plastic ice bucket (it says acrylic, but that's code for nice plastic).  It's so pretty and the square shape is different from most ice buckets, but the price tag on this super fun piece of plastic is just too high and acrylic can be easily scratched.  I can only imagine what they might try to charge for crystal.  I also can only imagine what I would do if someone scratched my $400 ice bucket (a simple "bless your heart" would just not cut it my friends).

Rae Ice Bucket
$395
Image Source: Tory Burch

With all my complaints, I still love the line when it's all paired together.  Overall, the price point is reasonable and it surely does make for a cheerful table!  What do y'all think?  Fans?

Coconut Oil: A Girl's Best Friend, Part 1

Briana and I have been using coconut oil over the past few months with great success!  We have added coconut oil to our daily routines, but in different ways.  So far, I've:

1. Used it as a day moisturizer
2. Used it as a night moisturizer
3. Used it to preserve my spray tans as an all over body moisturizer
4. Integrated it into a protein smoothie and other recipes
5. Used it as mosquito repellent

You can read about my protein smoothie and spray tan success here and here.  I really like using the coconut oil as a night time moisturizer.  It makes my face super soft and I'm saving a bunch of money by using this home remedy rather than buying expensive night cream.  However, I did not like it at as a day moisturizer up underneath my makeup.  I'm not sure if it's because, typically, I use a liquid sunscreen and mineral powder foundation on top of my moisturizer (which just may mean that the coconut oil doesn't mix well) orrrr if it's the fact that D.C. is a sweat box of sticky humidity and heat.  For those of y'all that don't know, coconut oil liquefies at about 77 degrees, which may explain why my face starts sliding around 10 AM.  Either way it was no bueno for me for this time of year.  I may try again when it cools off in November.  So, for now, I'm still spending money for a great moisturizer for daytime, but I haven't bought any night creams in 4 months.  If it still doesn't work out with my makeup, I'll be ok with it because I think it is important to diversify your moisturizers so that you can get different anti-aging goodness.  So, I will get coconut oil nutrients at night and Dr. Dennis Gross Age Erase Moisturizer with Mega 10 Plus for day.

I've also been using it as an all over moisturizer and my skin feels so much softer.  I put a good coat on pretty much every night and then I repeat on my legs in the morning.  I was having lots of dry skin problems after we moved last year, but this seems to be working to get rid of the issue.  My spray tan is also lasting longer and fading more evenly!

I can't report back on the health benefits of the coconut oil protein shake other than to say it is delicious and very filling.  I've also used it to cook chicken for an Indian dish and put it is some baked goods for church.  Yummy all around!

Finally, and probably most surprising, I'm using the coconut oil as the base for natural mosquito repellent.  I can't take the credit for this one.  A friend handed me her homemade mosquito repellent at her barbecue last summer after a big ol' nasty mosquito sucked practically all the blood out of the back of my leg .  Basically, you take a mix one tablespoon of coconut oil with 3-4 drops of lemongrass oil and 3-4 drops of peppermint oil and then you rub in the mixture on your exposed skin (mix up more using the same formula).  I used it twice last summer and had not a single mosquito bite.  I've used it this year with the same results.  It smells amazing, is all natural, makes your skin feel soft, aaaaand it works (shout out to AnnaMarie for introducing this remedy to me!)!  I bought the essential oils off of Amazon and the little bottles will last for quite some time.  NOW, I will say that this repellent has only been tested in the backyards and patios of the greater D.C. metropolitan area.  I'm not sure it would stand up to strenuous activity in the wilderness such as hiking, camping, trail running, rock climbing, or mountain biking.  Luckily, I don't do those things so I won't ever have to find out that I should have hosed myself down with DEET, 50 billion bites in the woods later.

Overall, I'd say that coconut oil will be in my healthy regimen rotation for some time to come.  No need to try purchase fancy pant coconut oil.  I've been really happy with the Trader Joe's brand and I just recently purchased the Whole Foods 365.  Both run between $6-$10 for 16 oz.  The most important part about buying coconut oil is to get organic, virgin, and cold pressed.  Since you may be eating this or slathering it on your skin, I prefer it to be as toxin-free and minimally processed as possible.

$5.99
Trader Joe's Organic Virgin Coconut Oil
Image Source: Trader Joe's

Check back this afternoon for Briana's post on how she is using coconut oil in her life!  Be sure to share any useful tips for using coconut oil!

$13 Happiness: Jam, Honey, & Butter

I've done a few posts on little upgrades that I've put in around my apartment, but we are starting a new series called $15 Happiness.  If you've read our post on what the Purpose of Posh Purpose is, you know that one of our beliefs is incorporating little bits of luxury into your daily life (you choose how to define what is luxurious to you).  While little upgrades are focused on improvements in housing or decor, $15 Happiness is dedicated to things or experiences $15 or less that make you feel pampered, less stressed...or simply make you smile like this jam jar, honey pot, and butter keeper from Crate and Barrel for $13 that I purchased over the weekend while shopping for a friend's wedding present.

I love the way this cute dishes look together and while they are all useful items, they weren't absolute necessities.  BUT they make me immensely happy and I plan to use them quite a bit for future brunches.  The butter keeper is getting put out immediately at my upcoming Easter Potluck this Sunday (be sure to check in next week for a How to Host post).

Isn't this jam jar sweet?  It makes me happy on the inside every time I look at it.

The honey jar has a removable silicone dipper, which will put a bright pop of yellow on the table.

I just love how cheerful the dishes look together!  While this post focused on material items (although useful!), not all of our $15 Happiness posts will be about items we purchased...for example, when D.C. is blowing nasty sideways rain a $10 cab ride would certainly bring me a lot of happiness over walking. Aaaaand although our Thrift Store Finds are definitely below the $15 mark, we will not be including them as a part of this series.

PS - If you are wondering where I picked up that pretty placemat, you can read about it here and here. 

Kitchen Organization in the Tiny Apartment

After I was married and moved out to Las Vegas, I came to the realization that I had no clue how to unpack and organize my kitchen. I called my mother immediately. She gave me wonderful advice that I applied to two different kitchens in less than six months (yay moving). The general idea is to place your kitchen items in cabinets near the area you will use them. Before we get into the organization details, let me share with you what all I have packed into my 147 square foot kitchen.

In my mind, the kitchen revolves around the oven and stove so that is where I start when organizing a kitchen. I usually put the pots and pans to the right since I am right handed, but any lower cabinet near your oven will work. I like to put the glassware either by the fridge or by the drying area; it was more convenient in this kitchen to put them above the drying area. That cabinet was also perfect for my bowls and coffee cups. I save the tall cabinets for J's things since I can't reach that high without standing on a chair.

I don't like to waste floor space with a trash can, so we store ours under the sink along with cleaning supplies. I have my nespresso machine out for easy morning access and the pods are stored in the shallow drawer right there. The large cabinet under the drawer is on the outer edge of the kitchen but near prep space and an outlet, so that is where I store my appliances. J and I can just reach into the cabinet and put the appliance directly where we will be using it without taking any steps.

You can see in the picture above that I have stored my flatware in the drawer under the drying area. This allows for convenient "putting up" (J makes fun of that phrase every time I say it). The flatware and glassware are also right next to my casual dishes. Mom says to store your dishes near where you are plating your meal, which means right next to the stove in this tiny kitchen. I have the casual dishes on the right near the drying area since we use those most often, and the formal dishes to the left. The cabinet above the stove is perfect for keeping my empty glass jars since it is a bit high for me to easily access every day.

I am lucky to have two skinny cabinets on either side of my oven. On side is for cutting boards, near my prep space, and the other is for cookie sheets and pizza stones. I keep my cast irons inside the oven.

My main prep area is to the left of the stove. I find it convenient to have my measuring cups, trivets, food storage, and baking stuff all on that side. I keep my kitchen aid out because it is too heavy for me to lift it from a lower cabinet. When I want to bake, I just pull it forward while in use and my baking stuff is right underneath where I need to work. This side of the kitchen has more storage space, so it catches all the random pieces (hence disaster zone).

Having colanders and mixing bowls either near your fridge or prep space makes it easier to get your cooking done quickly. After the meal, the prep space turns into the cleaning up space so I also keep my food storage on that side. And of course, oven mitts near the oven makes perfect sense.

 Here are some closeups of my counter space. I don't like carrying big bags of flour and sugar out of the pantry whenever I want to cook or bake, so I have three canisters (thanks, Melinda!) to keep those two items and rice near my prep space and stove. The knife block stays out, as does the bread basket and produce bowl. I haven't found a home for my dutch oven, mostly because it is so pretty I love to look at it. I will probably put it into the oven if I ever need more prep space, but so far it's placement hasn't gotten in my way.

I keep everything I need for stovetop cooking to the right of the oven (this is a good thing for right handed people). I keep my vinegars, cooking red wine, and olive oil in old wine bottles with pourers. These bottles are better sized for my hands than the containers these things come in. I have canisters for my wooden spoons and other cooking utensils. I also use my jelly container for garlic. It bothers J that the word doesn't match the contents, but I don't mind it. If I need more space, I can put up the second drying mat but usually I don't need to do that.

I do have a small pantry (not pictured) on the other side of the fridge, which allows all my cabinets to be used for kitchen stuff. The space may be small but I have found a way to make it work for my kitchen habits and belongings. I shifted things around slightly after the preliminary unpacking and organizing as I discovered my most common uses of the counters, and you should too. It really doesn't take that much time to totally swap two giant cabinets full of pots/pans/baking stuff. Trust me, I have done it. If you have an kitchen organization tips, share with us!

Sale Alert: Nespresso Machines for 40% Off

For those of you who don't know, Briana and I are obsessed with our Nespresso machines.  My aunt (aka Briana's mom) introduced me to them when I was down for a visit and Briana got one as a wedding gift.  I came a little bit later to the game and didn't purchase one until this past fall.  Nespresso machines aren't your average coffee pot and they are a bit different from other pod-based systems like the Keurig.  The Nespresso pods come in a variety of strengths which is great for entertaining.  I have one girlfriend who gets a shot of espresso added to her Venti iced Starbucks coffee and then drinks it...black.  Clearly, we are not cut from the same cloth as I prefer a high milk to coffee ratio with a ton of cinnamon tossed in.  HOWEVER, because I have the Nespresso, when she comes over for coffee I can give her a Nespresso with a 8 or 9 intensity while I drink my much more mellow 3 or 4 intensity espresso.  I know this is Briana's favorite feature, because people can choose how intense they like their caffeine (I barely like to know that I'm getting hit with mine, I can tell you that!) and she has a big family with lots of different tastes.  You can also pick how much water you use to brew your drink (small amount, larger amount, or even make a custom setting).  Mr. 3 doesn't drink coffee so it's a lot easier to make myself the one cup I drink everyday rather than brewing up a pot of coffee that goes to waste.  I can also make fancy pants drinks with the milk frother that Mr. 3 got me for Christmas like lattes (hot and cold) and cappuccinos.

That said, Nespresso machines are a bit of an investment and range from $150-$700 depending on the model you choose.  That's why I'm happy to report that Williams-Sonoma Outlets are offering 40% off this weekend on all Nespresso Machines!

Nespresso rarely go on sale more than 20%, so this is a great opportunity.  For those of you who aren't located near an outlet, call up the outlet and ask them to ship you one (shipping fees are based on the dollar amount of the purchase - so, the more you buy, the higher the fee).  I bought my Nespresso when Williams-Sonoma outlets were offering 30% off from the Nashville location.  You may also be able buy one that comes bundled with a milk frother (which also rarely go on sale).  

If you want to save even more moo-lah, ask if they have any refurbished machines.  Refurbished products from well-regarded companies are a great way to get what you want at a drastically reduced price (refurbished products are supposed to be restored to factory-line quality and may have only been originally returned for small defects which are corrected at the factory before hitting the shelves again).  I actually wanted a Nespresso Citiz in a cream color which was discontinued and the only place I could locate it was at the Williams-Sonoma outlet.  They had one at the regular price and a refurbished one that was discounted. I decided to go with the refurbished product since Nespresso has such a great reputation and save some money.  I've had absolutely no problems and I'm super happy I got the color I wanted!  Purchasing the refurbished product, at the 30% off price, including all shipping (about $20) and tax, got me the $250 Nespresso Citiz for $165, which saved me about $40-$50 over the non-refurbished Nespresso (shipping would have been much higher).  I should note that this machine will also probably wind up saving me money in the long run...my Starbucks habit has drastically decreased to maybe twice a month (unless it's Pumpkin Spice Latte season, where I can't control myself...but that should be a given).

Briana and I definitely recommend the Nespresso to anyone to upgrade their coffee machine, brides filling out their registries, or those of you who love to entertain.  This is one of those items that we believe it is worth the investment because there is such a big happiness pay off!

*This is not a sponsored post and we aren't receiving any Nespresso or Williams-Sonoma swag (sadly).  All opinions are our own...we simply love love love our Nespresso!  

We're Lovin' Olive Wood Spoons

Since my wedding over a year ago, I have been eyeing high quality wooden spoons to replace J's $1 each spoons from his pre-Briana days. I used his wooden spoons almost every day despite the ratty appearance. When this past Christmas rolled around and I still hadn't bought my own wooden spoons, I decided it was finally time to make it happen. My little sister loves cooking and is quite happy buying cooking stuff even when it isn't for her, so I took my opportunity and asked her to give me these beautiful spoons from Williams Sonoma.

olive wood cook's spoon

olive wood blunt end spoon

If those of y'all who clicked on the links were a bit shocked by the price, I won't judge. These spoons are not cheap. However, they have improved my life by about 300%. I actually enjoy using them. The wood is sooooo smooth and the angles of both spoons are perfect. No longer do I have to bend my wrist when I am cooking pasta sauce with my blunt spoon. This new one is angled so that it fits right into the corners of the pot while I hold my wrist comfortably. And the cook's spoon is just as well designed. The pointy end of that spoon gets every teeny bit of food out of the corners of the pot so you can fully incorporate your ingredients. Could you get the same results with a cheaper spoon? Possibly, but I haven't bothered to check because these spoons are just perfect.

This post is not sponsored nor do we have an affiliate program with Williams Sonoma. I just thought I should share my new spoon love with y'all after I proclaimed for the millionth time that I love these spoons. 

Recipe: Posh Purpose Easy Oven Baked Chicken Wings

Mr. 3 is a huge fan of chicken wings and would eat them 3 times a week if he could.  I tried to figure out a way to make chicken wings at home without frying them, but keeping the skin a bit crispy so we could have them every once in awhile.  Mr. 3's birthday is tomorrow so I made up a batch of my oven baked chicken wings.

First, you'll need to preheat your oven to 425.  Grab a ziplock bag and your favorite spices.  I used a mix of Williams-Sonoma Memphis Rib Rub and organic red pepper flakes from World Market.  I absolutely love the spice mixes that Williams-Sonoma sells, but I wait until they go on super clearance or I make a trip to the Williams-Sonoma outlet.  In this case, I got the Memphis Rib Rub for $2.63, originally $10.50.  I've asked the WS sales lady before about the clearance food at WS and she told me they mark it down the month before the expiration date.  While this might be concerning for some food products, spices generally don't "go bad" they just start to lose some of their potency.  As for the red pepper flakes, I picked those up at World Market because I happened to be walking down the spice aisle when I remembered I was out.  I do like organic spices better...they seem more potent to me, which is very important for spices like cinnamon and red pepper flakes, but probably less important for things like garlic salt or onion powder.  I've used a lot of different combinations like lemon herb, chipotle seasoning, and plain old salt and pepper, so just use what you have on hand and sounds appealing.

I threw the chicken wings in the ziplock bag putting in enough spices to coat the chicken.  I used the same bag, but coated the chicken in two batches so the wings were evenly covered.

The other prep you need to do is what really makes these wings great.  Take a jelly roll pan if you have it (if not, use a cookie sheet with a lip on it) and line it with aluminum foil.  Place a wire rack or cookie cooling rack on top of your pan (I got my jelly roll pan and wire rack from Williams-Sonoma Outlet - try to make sure that your rack fits exactly inside your pan so things aren't sliding about).  Coat the rack with a spritz of Pam cooking spray.  Place your wings on the rack.  I like to use tongs to put the chicken in the ziplock bag and again to arrange them in the pan.  For those of you who hate touching raw meat (that would definitely be Briana y'all), this is an easy trick which also helps keep your hands clean to do other things.

There are two big advantages to using the wire rack which make it worth the purchase.  First, unlike other baked wings, which are just made in a 9 x 13 Pyrex dish, the wings aren't sitting in their own juices or grease which allows the skin to get slightly crispy all the way around...and we all know the skin is the best part!  The second advantage, is that because the wings are raised off the pan, the excess grease drips out and lands on your pan and NOT on your hips!

After you've arranged your wings, put them in the oven for 20 mins.  Take them out, flip them over, and put them back in for another 10-15 mins.  You want them to be  browned and slightly crispy, but not dried out. Here's the finished result (if you look closely, you can see the grease that has landed on the tin foil below).

Don't they look great?  Besides having no added oil (people please, that spritz of Pam hardly counts), this recipe has very easy clean up!  Put your wire rack in the dishwasher and throw the foil away.  Done! Time to enjoy!

If you can't imagine having wings that aren't covered in hot sauce, you can melt one tablespoon of butter (so that it will stick to the wings, olive oil will NOT work) and dump half a cup of hot sauce (I like a mixture of Frank's Red Hot, Tapatio, and Valentina) in the pan.  Put the cooked wings in a bowl, cover with sauce, and toss.  Remove from bowl so that wings do not become soggy from sitting in sauce.  Although we are trying to avoid added fat with this recipe, I think in the case of events like the Super Bowl it's definitely a less fattening option.  Think of it like this: one tablespoon of butter is about 100 calories...evenly spread over 24 wings that's only about 4 additional calories per wing.

What do you think?  Easy and definitely less fattening right?  Mr. 3 loves loves loves his wings this way, so I can definitely say that they have been husband tested and approved.  These are definitely a fun treat while I'm working on beating the winter weight gain (for more on that, see here, here, and here).  Have any fun recipes? Send them our way!

Store Review: JC Penney Home

Over Christmas, I had to run in to JC Penney for a hot sec to make a return.  I hadn't been inside a JC Penney since under grad.  I went to a large school in the mountains of North Carolina, but the shopping selections were tragic.  We had a one story mini-mall that had maybe 20 stores in it?  Needless to say, I only walked in JC Penney if I was looking for cheap t-shirts I could put sorority letters on and home stuff I could paint pen the crap out of for my little.

If you've been following me on Instagram (and you should!), you might have noticed my surprise to find a Sephora pop-up shop inside my JC Penney.  While they don't have nearly the amount of brands available at your regular Sephora, they do have a several of their most popular makeup lines and perfumes (sadly no hair care, body products, or cool gadgety things like this personal teeth whitening device, which Briana is not allowed to purchase because she would never turn it off).

Sephora Pop-Up Shop @ JC Penney

What I was also surprised to find what JC Penney had in their home section - Michael Graves, Martha Stewart, and Jonathon Adler!  JC Penny is also carrying small appliance brands like Cuisinart and KitchenAid, as well as, cookware brands Calphalon and Le Creuset.  I didn't have much time while I was in the store to jot down all the prices (almost everything was on sale), but here are some of my favorite things I spotted (I've put links in where I was able to find them online at JC Penney):

Bella Crock Pot/Michael Graves Toaster/Michael Graves Coffee Pot/Michael Graves Trivet

Martha Stewart Celebrations Paper Products/Gold Foil Glasses/Michael Graves Wine Decanter

Jonathan Adler Happy Chic Measuring Spoons & Jonathan Adler Happy Chic Chloe Studded Tray

I was really surprised to see the cute selection of goods.  The original prices were a bit high, but everything seemed to be on sale, so I bet you hardly ever have to pay full price.  If I were a college student or living by myself for the first time, I would totally be using this as a resource!  Most people are hitting up Ikea or Target and don't seem to know about JC Penney as an option (I certainly didn't!).

I would still use JC Penney as a source for cute hostess gifts (hello pretty giraffe spoons!) and unique entertaining pieces (like that decanter above). I'm also totally in love with those gold glasses and the fun design of the trivet.  The Michael Graves line should also appeal to the men in your life (stainless steel and copper with funky retro/Jetsons style design).  JC Penney's is also selling Martha Stewart Celebration products, so it would be really easy to pick up gift wrap if you are going to the party or paper products if you are hosting the party.

JC Penney also has a monogram shop online if you want sheets and towels monogrammed (JC Penney carries Royal Velvet sheets in 400 and 600TC made from Egyptian, pima, and supima cotton, as well as, turkish cotton towels...which if I remember correctly from my days working for Linens N' Things was a pretty decent brand)!

Verdict: Totally surprised, but sold.

Anyone else checked out JC Penney lately?  What did you think?  If you spot something cute, send it our way!  We love reader photos!

Stocking Stuffers

I love stockings.  I think they are such a great tradition and give people the opportunity to buy fun gifts.  However, stocking stuffers can wind up being quite expensive and it's easy to get carried away buying a few $10, $15, or $25 items.  Next thing you know and you've bought the equivalent of another really nice $50 or $75 gift!

I think $25 - $30 is an appropriate amount to spend on filling a stocking, but you can also do it for far less (example: a box of oatmeal cream pies costs $1.92 and will fill up an entire stocking).  I would try to avoid gag gifts or things that just aren't going to be useful or enjoyed.  Money is still money even if you are only spending $5...if it's not going to get used, then it's been wasted.  My strategy for stocking stuffers is to buy one item that is in the $10-$15 range and then fill the stocking up with food items.  Men seem to universally like summer sausage and beef jerky.  My dad loves Werther's Originals and Lifesavers candies.  For women, herbal teas, coffee, and chocolates are always a good choice.  My mom loves chocolate oranges and they fit perfectly in most stockings.  I find a lot of these items at Trader Joe's, Home Goods, Marshall's, and TJ Maxx (you can often find high end food brands at these discount stores).  For people who are on a diet or have health concerns, think about buying small, useful gifts like hair clips, cute socks, or a pack of pretty pens.  For children, I would suggest crayons, markers, stickers, or coloring books. Chances are Santa or you have gotten plenty for the little ones already, so go with items that they can use but are still fun and exciting (I don't know any child who doesn't like a set of new crayons or a pack of stickers). 

If you have to buy for the entire family, I think the best resource for stocking stuffers is Amazon.  They have lots of cool "add-on" items that you can get for a really low price if you are ordering $25 or more from Amazon.  You can also save money by buying gifts in multi-packs.  

Here are a  few of my favorite things that are all $20 or less so that you can finish filling up your stockings with the items I've mentioned above:

Premium Nail Art Quality Manicure Crystal Glass Nail Files Set of 5 by Cheeky
$10.99
Image Source: Amazon

Briana gave me a glass nail file as a part of my bridesmaids gift and I will never go back to your average emery board.  Split up the multi-pack to save money (put them in with gifts you are giving to other girlfriends or if you have multiple women in your family divvy them up in the stockings) or give the whole lot to one person.  I know Briana likes to stash hers all over the place so she doesn't have to hunt one down when she needs it.

Party Starter Brush Set
$16
Image Source: Sephora

These makeup brushes are by far the most fun and fab I've seen.  These would work for women of all ages from your teenager to your fantastic granny.

Mediterranean Essential Mini Tin
$9
Image Source: Illume

I love the pretty design on this mini candle.  It's made from natural beeswax and essential oils and has 25 hours of burn time.  The whole website is filled with beautiful and reasonably priced home fragrance gifts, so check out Illume for more ideas.  They are also offering free matches and a sample with any purchase, free shipping for orders over $100, and 20% off of any order of $40+ (use code GIFTS13).

Metrokane Rabbit Aerating Pourer
$19.99
Image Source: World Market

Perfect gift for a wine drinker - an aerator that you can put into a wine bottle rather than having to pour a bottle of wine into a decanter.  We use ours all the time.  It's much easier to clean than our decanter.

Sphere Ice Molds
$10.95 for a set of 2
Image Source: Sur la Table

These ice molds make a great stocking stuffers for men.  Mr. 3 has two different types of ice molds for his fancy pants triple old fashioned glasses, but he may be getting these as a future gift.  I love the way they have put orange peels and mint in the spheres - fun and yummy!

Kuhn Rikon Plaid Pairing Knife
$11.95 each
Image Source: Sur la Table

These knives are another great option for men stocking stuffers.  Mr. 3 and I bought a three pack of Kuhn Rikon paring knives and we absolutely love them.  We liked them so much we bought my Dad a set as well and we are adding to his collection this Christmas with a small serrated knife and a small santokus because he raved about them after last year.  I love the plaid and think they are extra fun while still being manly...but you could certainly give them to women as well (I know I would love a cute green one!).

Bow Key Clip
$16.50
Image Source: Banana Republic

Super cute leather key ring with a bit of glam gold and a great price for durable leather (Banana Republic has been consistently running a sale every day this Christmas season, so you should be able to save money on this one).  Especially great if you are lucky enough to be getting a new car for Christmas!

Cookie Stamps
$7.98 for a set of 2
Image Source: World Market

Cute gift for anyone who likes to bake and give out cookies. These are made from ceramic and say "Homemade" and "Made with Love."

What do you think?  Splurge or save on stocking stuffers?  Let us know if you agree or if you've spotted anything else small and awesome!

Beating the Winter Weight Gain

I've talked a bit before about dieting and weight loss in the past when I was trying to get in shape for my wedding.  Since getting married, I've put about 5 of the 20 lbs. I lost back on.  Which in the space of the year isn't awesome, but isn't tragic either.  I always get nervous this time of the year, because I'm already susceptible to weight gain let alone when there are Little Debbie Christmas Tree cakes lurking at the register, the red Oreos are out, and those peppermint M&Ms haunt me everywhere....not to mention the dinners out with friends, increase in alcohol consumption, holiday dinners, and general lack of time to prepare a healthy meal.

So, I've been thinking about what my tactics are going to be this year during the "season of eating" (which for me begins Halloween and runs through Mr. 3's birthday which is January 15th - I never turn down birthday cake, even if it isn't my own).  My main goal is to just maintain the weight I'm at and let my standard January 1st New Year's Resolution (which is always to lose those last 15 lbs.) go into effect, but hopefully without the mass panic of saying I need to lose 15 lbs. PLUS all the weight I put on as I got merry with all my nearest and dearest.   I've heard all the tips and tricks that Weight Watchers and magazines like Self put out. Some are good, some don't do diddly for me.

My least favorite tip has to be the one about eating your dinner before you go to a party so you don't eat while you're at the party.  Um, news flash...I don't have to be hungry to eat a cookie or drink a pint of egg nog.  It's like jello...there's always room.  Plus, who wants to be the person who deprives themselves of all Christmas treats?  Um, not this Posh Purpose girl.

So, I've been thinking about what will work for me and hopefully these tips will help you too!  I told Briana about my article and she said I should promise to report back on the results in January.  Tricky cousin, wanting accountability.  BUT, I told her I was in.  While you will not be getting actual numbers, (Mr. 3 is a regular reader of this blog and some things should just remain a mystery in a marriage as far as I'm concerned) I will say whether I'm up, down (hahhahaha, good one!), or meeting my goal of just maintaining the weight I'm at now.  Here they are:

Posh Purpose's Kindly Suggestions on How to Still Fit in Your Pants Come January

1. Religious calorie counting on days you don't have parties/events - 1600 calories* and no more (I use an Android app called Fat Secret...horrible name, but decent app).  Weigh in daily to keep yourself honest.

2. Eat something healthy before a party - soup and salad if you have time or yogurt and nuts are both good options.  Although I don't believe in eating before you go to a party in order to not eat at the party is a good idea, I also don't think I want to have my blood sugar drop and find myself face first in a cheese platter either.  Been there, done that.

3. Eat 3-4 small servings of things you truly want to eat at the party - things that are special for Christmas time or you know are a specialty of the hosts....then don't eat them again at any other parties.  For example, I love egg nog, rum balls, and peppermint bark.  I could have a small cup of egg nog, 2-3 rum balls, and a piece of peppermint bark at a party.  At the next party, I would bypass these items and perhaps choose a scoop of hot crab dip, a small cup of apple cider, and a slice of pie.  Then bypass all of those items at any other parties.  Fill up on veggies and lean protein for the rest of your food selection.  Cold shrimp is a very good choice that you will often find this time of year.  My theory on this tip is that I will get to have all my favorite things without overloading my plate at each and every party.

4. Cut back on your everyday treats -  ex. if you are putting half and half in your coffee, switch to 2% for the next month.

5. Eat seafood at corporate events - My nutritionist once said that if you have to go into an event blind or without any ability to customize your food, go for fish.  Even if the fish is deep fried or sauteed in butter, the calorie count for fish starting out is lower than any of the other proteins.

6. Stick to wine or hard cider - Lots of taste, less calories than a mixed drink, classier than a shot, and no fat.

7. Plan out where you can eat when you are running errands or Christmas shopping now - For me, I know the meal combinations I can have at Chick-Fil-A (grilled chicken nuggets and small fry or spicy chicken sandwich - no bun - and small fry) and Panera Bread (bacon turkey bravo half sandwich and half salad or bowl of soup) which are readily accessible.  Other options for a sit down meal, are Olive Garden (soup, salad, and bread sticks) and Seasons 52 (no item on the menu is over 475 calories).  I would suggest looking at your local area where you plan on doing the most shopping and coming up with a game plan.  My nutritionist told me successful dieters have plans and people tend to gain weight the most when they are rushed for time and don't have a plan set in place.  That's how you wind up pulling through the Taco Bell line and ordering a burrito and two tacos with extra nacho sauce.

8. Add on 15 mins to your work out time or another workout a week.  If you can't do that, try to go for a walk at lunch during your work days.  Also, try and have a nice walk (so relaxing!) or jog (if you feel so inclined, I rarely do) on the major holidays - Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's.  It will help you digest post-meal and it's a nice way to either spend time with family or get away from them (depending on your situation).

9. Take none and leave all - If you are having a party or hosting Christmas dinner, stock up on to-go containers.  If it's not healthy, it must go.  If you are attending a party, refuse to take anything.  You can "accidentally" leave it behind.  Whoopsies.

10. Plan a non-meal event for your girlfriend get togethers -  I usually go out to eat with my North Carolina girlfriends to exchange gifts and catch up.  This year, I will be suggesting coffee.  You can get a small drink (non-fat latte with cinnamon on top - caffeine & protein!) and if you can't stay away from the bakery case, split something with your friends. You'll save money and calories.  Other options would be to go bowling or ice skating.

11. Eat what you want on the main days - Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day.  Chances are you probably won't be eating more than one big meal each of those days.  Even if you are eating 2,500 calories, you are doing it all at once and not three times that day.  You should also be able to rebound from 1-2 days of poor eating....it's the week long time frame of Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve to New Year's Day that I've noticed really make an impact.  I also don't see the point in eating low-cal versions of traditional foods - pumpkin pie with splenda is just not the same and my father would disown me if I asked him to use something like agave in the cranberries.  If you must exercise some sort of self control or you are attending multiple meals in one day - fill up on whatever main protein there is (ham, turkey, etc.) and the healthiest side (usually green beans).  You can have small scoops of all your favorite things and only eat the best offerings at each meal if you are going to multiple places (i.e. if your Aunt Gertrude's sweet potatoes are better than your granny's...don't tell, but don't eat either).

12. Get back to your regular groove as soon as possible and don't beat yourself up - I think even with these tricks I'm going to try, I may still gain 1-3 lbs between now and the New Year...but that's much less to beat myself up about and far fewer pounds to work off compared to the 20 billion people who join the gym and take all the parking spots/machines post-holiday 15 lb. binge.  I'll just go back to my regular schedule - I hope without having to buy new pants.

These are just some things that I've thought up that I think are going to help me...I'll let you know in January how it all worked out.  If you've got any great tips, feel free to share them!!!


I wrote a status update December 16 - so far no weight gained! And on January 2, I announced that I survived the holiday season without gaining any weight! Check out that post to see which of my tips above I found useful and which ones I abandoned.

* I'm not a licensed professional, so you should consult your doctor before starting any nutrition plan or exercise program.

Recently Spotted: Kate Spade Pierrepont Place Line

During one of my recent trolls on the Bloomies website (looking for all things luxe aaaaand on sale) I came across a new Kate Spade servingware line.   I'm seriously obsessing over all things with black trim and I love, love, love the look of these pieces!

Kate Spade Pierrepont Place Bowl
$125
Image Source: Bloomingdales

Kate Spade Pierrepont Place Chip and Dip
$150
Image Source: Bloomingdales

Kate Spade Pierrepont Place 2-Piece Serving Set
$60
Image Source: Bloomingdales

Kate Spade Pierrepont Place 2-Piece Bar Set
$50
Image Source: Bloomingdales

The line is nickel-plated with enamel accents...which means hand washing (evidently I shall be forever chained to the sink for my love of all things not-dishwasher safe).  Unfortunately, at this point in my life, I don't have the budget for $400 in servingware, but I love that the black enameling has become a trend in housewares! Bloomies is the only one carrying Pierrepont Place in the area I think, so I will have to check it out in person so I can sigh over it and picture it in my black and white dream house (which is one of many dream houses I have going on).  These pieces would look great in this fancy pants kitchen:

Image Source: Unknown

This fancy pants dining room:

Image Source: Ana Antunes 

Or either of these two fancy pants houses:

Image Source: Lisa Price Inc.

Image Source: Houzz

What do you think of the black and white color combo?  Check out our other dream homes by following Briana and me on Pinterest!

Yummy Morning Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal

Mr. 3 usually handles breakfast duties in our house (the man makes a mean goat cheese omelette), but he hasn't been feeling well this week, so I decided to make him a nice, warm, filling breakfast.  Through my regular trolling on Pinterest, I found a recipe for Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal that required a bit of extra effort and time to make for a regular week day morning but sounded super yummy.

Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal
Image Source: Mint Design Blog

The best part about the recipe is it is easily modified to adjust the serving size for 1-2 people or increase depending on how many people you need to feed.  I halved all the ingredients (except the spices, which I always tend to use a ton of) and used two ramekins.  I also omitted the walnuts (didn't have them and Mr. 3 isn't a fan anyways).  I didn't have any baking powder so I threw in 1/3 of the amount of baking soda in (I read online that if the recipe calls for baking soda you can use 3 times the amount of baking powder, so I figured the inverse might be true for this recipe, but I wouldn't recommend doing this for something like cookies).  Since I only made two servings, I used ramekins for baking instead of the baking dish.  I would highly recommend taking a cookie sheet, lining it with tin foil, and baking the ramekins on cookie sheet in case they overflow.

Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal
serves 4-5

DRY
2 c. uncooked oats (quick-cooking or old fashioned work)
1/2 c. packed brown sugar
1/2 c. craisins or raisins
1/4 c. chopped walnuts
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
dash of nutmeg
dash of cloves

WET
1 1/2 c. milk
1/4 c. applesauce (jarred or homemade)
1/4 c. pumpkin puree (canned or roasted)
2 tbsp. salted butter, melted
1 large egg beaten

1. Preheat oven to 375°. Lightly spray 4 individual ramekins or an 8-inch square pan with olive oil. Set aside.
2. Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl.
3. Combine wet ingredients in a medium bowl. Mix well.
4. Add wet ingredients to dry and stir until combined.
5. Pour mixture into baking dish or ramekins and bake for 20-25 min.
6. Serve warm.

It took me about 35 minutes from start to finish.  After they were done baking, I picked up the ramekins (using mitts) and put them on our bread and butter plates to carry to the table (be careful not to hold the plates on the bottoms, they still heat up!). This recipe turned out delicious!  More like a souffle than an boring bowl of oatmeal.  It was warm, hearty, and filling.  Next time I will try reducing the amount of brown sugar...even 1/8 of a cup seems a bit much.  I think this would be a great recipe for serving a bunch of people.  The individual ramekins make a cute and unexpected presentation...perfect for visiting guests!

Emile Henry Ramekins
$36 for a set of four
Image Source: Emile Henry