Author: jackietara

Aqua + Gold

I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season with family and friends, and for those of you who celebrate it, I hope you had a very merry Christmas! Between the boisterous game nights, delicious meals, services, singing, and cocktail drinking, T and I were able to escape for a couple peaceful hours at the Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens in Northeast D.C. It’s a hidden gem on the other side of the National Arboretum [both just minutes from our apartment] in Anacostia. You would never know it’s there… and unfortunately I think a lot of people don’t. We visited on a Thursday afternoon and the entire park was empty, save for a few mallards splashing in the ponds and a couple of frisky doe romping in the woods.

It was absolutely gorgeous out. We didn’t need coats and I was glad to get outside for some fresh air in this little pocketed sanctuary of the city. T and I were heading to his brother’s holiday party later that evening, so I was already dressed in a new gold lace cocktail dress with an aqua cardigan for a pop of color. I’ve been legitimately obsessed with this color palette this season – I even wrapped all my gifts in gold paper with aqua and neutral rafia and ribbon!

Wearing: gold lace dress: ModCloth // aqua cardigan: Express // gold necklace: ModCloth

Photography by Teddy Wolff

I can’t wait for New Year’s Eve to break out some more gold… and maybe a little sparkle too!

Jackietara

Layers of Comfort

It is getting pretty darn chilly in this neck of the woods. D.C. has already experienced it’s first “real” snow storm this year, and it’s not even January! It was only a couple inches, but enough to shut down schools for two days and to give me a snow day away from the office. December is a crazy time of year. It’s holiday party after holiday party, leaving me in a daze of splendor, excitement, and exhaustion all mixed together. I do love it though: the garlands, wreathes, sparkling lights, and happy guests enjoying time with colleagues and friends lift my spirits on long work days that quickly turn into work nights. And repeat.

My lack of sleep and desire to stay warm frequently results in those days when all you want to wear is all of your least form fitting clothes, a style I have deemed “grandpa chic.” There’s just something so cozy and comforting about throwing on your significant other’s most loved sweater, a vintage jacket, a warm pair of pants, and boots. It’s hard to justify wearing anything else!

Wearing: denim collared button down: Madewell // men’s knit sweater: Express // vintage jacket: Liz Claiborne // mustard pants: Anthropologie // bib necklace: Eastern Market vendor // hat: Gap

Photography by Teddy Wolff

Jackietara

DIY Clay Planters

It’s been a while since we made these, but I promised I would post photos and a “how-to” for these cute DIY clay planters. I’ve recently started hosting a monthly “Crafty Night” at my apartment, which has been a success so far! Our first crafty theme was miniature clay planters, a project I originally saw on the A Beautiful Mess blog. They are perfect small embellishments for a hallway table or window ledge, and you can hang them too!

Here’s what you need:
Rolling pin
Wax paper
Sculpey clay (or another oven-baking clay)
Sculpting tools
Acrylic paint
Paint brushes

Directions:
1. Roll your clay out about ¼ of an inch thick and cut a long rectangle that is 10 inches long and 2 ½ inches tall. Cut out a circle for the bottom of the planter that is 3 ½ inches wide.

2. Place your long rectangle piece on top of your circle to create your sides. Roll thin tubes of clay to put on the inside bottom of the planter (where the walls meet the planter bottom), then use the clay knives (or your fingers) to smooth out the clay tube between the crack to create a water-tight seal.

4. Roll out more clay and cut out the design that will go on the sides of your planter.

5. Use a wooden skewer to poke 4 evenly spaced holes near the top of your planter. Bake your clay according to the package directions and let the planter cool.

6. Paint freely!

Christmas is around the corner, and a mini clay planter would make a great gift!

Jackietara

Leather + Fur

Recently I’ve seen two of my favorite things, faux fur and leather, being paired together. D.C. has been dull, grey, and misty in the last couple of weeks, so extra layers this time of year is a plus! I’ve also been purposefully mixing in bright colors lately with my standard black and grey wardrobe. It’s so easy to dress drably in this damp, cold, and depressing weather, so keep a few brights from your summer/fall wardrobe handy! These layers were perfect for a walk around downtown Annapolis – the sun never made an appearance, but I was plenty warm. Unfortunately, I don’t think the weather is getting any warmer, but thankfully there are plenty of cozy ways to help me cope.

Wearing: leather jacket: Zara // faux fur vest: Costco // scarf: Target // purple leather bag: Kate Spade

Photography also by Teddy Wolff

Jackietara

A New York State of Mind

There’s just something about New York in the fall that makes me feel all tingly inside. Work brings me to New York twice a year, but it’s the November trip that gives me the warm and fuzzies. Twinkling lights delicately outline branches on the trees along 50th Street all the way to Rockefeller Center, people briskly walk from store to store with loads of shopping bags in tow, and vendors line the streets on chilly Saturday mornings to sell fresh fruits and vegetables to eager customers. One of my favorite things to do during my free time on Saturday is to walk through bustling Chinatown. After a delicious dim sum brunch at Nom Wah Tea Parlor on Doyers St., we hit the streets to explore with friends. Not too long after, we were happy owners of 2 lbs of fresh bok choy and hot cups of freshly brewed coffee from Roasting Plant.

Wearing: aztec sweater: Urban Outfitters // mustard knit scarf: Zara // cognac leather boots: Frye

Photography also by Teddy Wolff

Jackietara

A Tartan Thanksgiving

Over the Thanksgiving holiday, I was lucky enough to take a little vacation and disconnect from the city life with Teddy’s family in Bethany Beach. We rented a house in a golfing community, so we were surrounded by lots of greenery and trees, and had plenty of outdoor activities to keep us busy. T was able to play tennis with his family while I could jog around the community. It was cold outside, but the sun made it perfect running weather. Sometimes I can’t believe how quickly running has become part of my weekly routine. I get disappointed when I miss running club on Tuesdays for evening events and I actually wanted to go running in the cold… while on vacation!

Thanksgiving day was absolutely beautiful, which was magnified by the calmness and happiness of being with family in a new place. We had lots of great food, contributed by several members of the family [T and I made our famous goat cheese mashed potatoes], and wine, and once the meal was over, we sat around the table playing board and card games. It really couldn’t have been any better.

Wearing: tartan dress: ModCloth // short cognac boots: Frye

Photos by Teddy Wolff

Jackietara

Pastrami Hash

As T and I gear up for the holidays grocery shopping, picking out recipes, and buying lots of alcohol, we are also thinking of ways to use up all of that wonderful leftover turkey, ham, veggies, and potatoes that will take up our entire refrigerator. After a recent trip to Harold’s New York Deli in Edison, New Jersey, we had a lot of pastrami to eat. Three days of pastrami sandwiches later, Teddy and I needed to get creative. We looked in the fridge for a few key items: potatoes from dinner a couple nights ago; onions; eggs; and of course the delicious pastrami – the perfect ingredients for a modified corned beef hash.

Recipe via the How to Cook Everything^® app

Ingredients:
2 cups cut‐up leftover pastrami
2 cups cut‐up cold boiled potatoes
1 cup chopped onion
½ cup liquid (stock, tomato sauce, milk, cream, or gravy)
3 tablespoons oil or butter

Directions:
Toss together 2 cups cut‐up leftover pastrami and 2 cups cut‐up cold boiled potatoes, all in small cubes. Add 1 cup chopped onion and ½ cup liquid—stock, tomato sauce, milk, cream, or gravy—enough to moisten the mixture without making it soupy. Put 3 tablespoons oil or butter in a heavy skillet, preferably nonstick, over medium‐low heat. When the oil is hot or the butter is melted, add the hash and cook, undisturbed, until a nice crust has formed, about 10 minutes. Turn the hash and brown the other side or flip half of it over onto the other or brown the top under a broiler.

We modified this recipe a bit further by adding poached eggs. To do this, fill a small cup with warm water and delicately break the egg into it. Cover the cup with a saucer and microwave for 60 seconds. Voila! The easiest way to poach an egg.

Jackietara

Other Duties As Assigned

Last month a friend asked me to help host her father’s birthday party to free up some time for her family to enjoy the festivities and forget about the responsibilities. I am a natural host: I love greeting smiling faces eager to enjoy a carefree evening, pouring glasses of bubbly, and dashing to the kitchen to refill quickly disappearing dishes, so this was the perfect job for me. It also helped that Teddy was asked to document the evening, so I would have an event partner-in-crime.

The family was expecting about 40 people, had prepared several entrees and desserts, and was anticipating a few additional dishes with the arrival of a few guests. Bottles of wine were stocked and ready for serving in the cellar, plates and utensils were nicely laid on the table, hot dishes were coming out of the oven, and guests began to steadily stream through the door when I realized that my previous definition of “hosting” was a romanticized version and was leaving out several other duties.

Once the majority of guests had been received, drinks were poured, and food was eaten, it was time for a long bout in the kitchen with dishes. I was wearing relatively comfortable shoes, but quickly aching feet from standing in one place had me longing for my leopard Steve Madden flats! I was running up and down stairs to fetch new bottles of wine and dashing [as I had anticipated] to and from the kitchen to clear dinner and set out hot-from-the-oven desserts.

Photography by Teddy Wolff

Although hosting is incredibly rewarding, this experience reminded me of all the work that is and could be involved. With the holiday season and it’s many occasions around the corner, here are some tips for easing your stress and labor while assisting friends or hosting your own fête:

Wear comfortable shoes. In addition to washing dishes, you most likely will be running back and forth from the kitchen with hot dishes or a fresh bottle of wine to serve!

Wear an apron. Although your hand-me-down red plastic apron might not be the trendiest look during a party, it will save you the headache of getting stains out of your lovely holiday dress down the road. There are also some super cute cloth aprons out there, like this macaron apron from Paper Source.

Know your schedule. If you’ve been asked to help friends and/or family with their upcoming party, make sure you know the plan in advance! How long will the party last? How many guests will they have throughout the night? Will there be entertainment? Knowing these details will put you at ease and free you up for any other duties as assigned.

Have fun. Hosting can be stressful, so throw on some cheerful music to keep yourself entertained in the kitchen, pour yourself a delicious beverage, and don’t hesitate to ask your guests for a helping hand!

Jackietara

I {heart} Vintage

With ever evolving fashion trends, it’s nice to know that there will always be classic pieces to fall back on. I have always had a flare for styling vintage pieces and it helps that most of them came from my mother’s 60’s and 70’s wardrobe. In addition to my mom’s fantastic clothes and collecting a few things of my own along the way, I have also received some great vintage pieces as gifts. My sister gave me this lovely camel jacket from a thrift shop two years ago, which is still a trendy color and the perfect complement to white lace. The thing to remember is, you don’t have to completely redo your wardrobe every time the next big thing is in style. Try mixing some vintage in with the modern and you can accomplish the same [or an even better] unique look.

Wearing: maroon pants: Zara // white lace top: Loehmann’s // camel jacket: vintage // ruby heart necklace: vintage // diamond heart necklace: vintage

Photography by Teddy Wolff

My [P]inspiration

Jackietara

Sweater Weather

It’s finally here! Sweater weather is here! I’ve been arguing [more like bantering] back and forth with T all week about how chilly it’s been. He went to college in Minnesota, so “chilly” for him isn’t until it’s 30 degrees outside. Nevertheless, it’s been chilly enough for me to pull out the sweaters. Inspired by a new trend I’ve been seeing lately [recently well captured on the A Piece of Toast blog], I decided to pair a cable knit sweater with a flowy skirt. I did say you would be seeing me in more cozy knits this season!

Thankfully T is a sweater ~~hoarder~~ lover, so I’m the lucky girl who gets to borrow them from his closet. If you want to try this trend too, I would stick with a mid-thigh length skirt that has volume, so it peeks out nicely from under your sweater. Keep either the sweater or skirt neutral so you can play up one or the other with a bright color or pattern. I got tons of [I must say, unexpected] complements on this outfit, which is reassurance for me to continue to take risks with my style. Where is the fun in wearing the same old thing every day?!

Wearing: sweater: Old Navy [stolen from T’s closet] // blue collared shirt: Zara // skirt: Michael Kors from Loehmann’s // necklace: Stella & Dot

Photography by Teddy Wolff

Jackietara

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