Simple Fancy Fan Garlic Potatoes

I really love yukon gold potatoes & usually use them to make mashed potatoes but recently I tried making hasselback potatoes with them instead. A hasselback potato (or what I’m calling a fancy fan potato) is simply a potato that is cut in very thin slices almost to the bottom (but not quite through) so that the potato still holds together like a fan. All that really means that these potatoes look really pretty & you can stuff yummy ingredients in between the slices (like lots of garlic!). They were a hit (read: Chris loved them) so they’ll be making more guest appearances on our dinner plates in the near future. Although these taters look fancy they’re pretty easy to make once you get the slicing down.

Dress to Impress (& Eat) on Turkey Day

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We all want to dress to impress especially around the holidays. But I think we can all agree that we need to dress to eat, too! Some bad news, friends, if your sweats have pockets in them - that does not make them dressy - leave them at home.  Good news, there are dresses that will give your sweats a run for their money in comfort, earn you a compliment (or ten) & leave room for seconds.

Here are some of my tips for holiday dressing:

1. Pretty patterns are your friend:  If you are prone to wearing your dinner no matter how hard you try to get it in your mouth opt for patterns - they hide stains better.
2. Classic shifts & color blocking are chic & comfy: If your eyes are bigger than your stomach, opt for soft fabrics with either elastic waist bands or go uber chic with a shift (read: loose around the waist!) If you can find something with slimming color blocking like dress #2 - you'll have your fellow party-goers confused when you reach for seconds while maintaining your slim silhouette.
3. Consider the temperature where you're going: Is it always hot at Grandma's even if it's 30 degrees out? Then that sleeveless #3 is suddenly not a crazy idea but a good one.  If it's traditionally as chilly inside as it is outside opt for a sweater dress like #2 or another long-sleeved option like #1.

What are you wearing for the holidays?

DIY Holiday Gift Bag

I love packaging, an occupational hazard you might say.  I work on a team to create packaging for beauty products at Shobha. So I know the hours it takes to create & approve even the smallest details that go into the packages that you carry home with you in a shopping bag.  Shopping bags follow the same suit as packaging & is probably why I tend to hoard the 'good ones' & hate to just toss them.

This holiday season I repurposed a shopping bag from Anthropologie (you know a 'good one') for my secret santa at the office.  It was pretty quick & the results were pretty cute.

What you'll need:

• a 'good shopping' bag, one that isn't too well loved
• wrapping paper scraps
• scissors
• clear tape (or glue or modpodge)

Make it!

1. Cut a shape out of the wrapping paper.  Cut the shape into strips.
2. Lay the shopping bag on a flat surface.
3. Lay the strips out, evenly spaced on the bag in the desired position.
4. Seal the strips in place by covering them with clear tape, or use glue or modpodge.
5. That's it! Wrap your gift in tissue & tie a gift tag on the bag & you're ready to gift!

Photo GIft Ideas

Cameras are everywhere in all shapes & sizes. Mine (the best Christmas gift ever! from the hubs) is never too far away to capture goofy moments or yummy dishes.  If I don't have it with me I rely on my phone camera.

I have tons of photos on my hard drive that, well, sit on my hard drive. I did a quick search for giftable items to make with my photos & was thrilled at the results.

Aside from the classic photo album, these are my new top three faves!

1. Smartphone Case: gelskins.com has virtually every kind of case you can customize & put fun photos on of your loved ones... like this one of Chris! (suprise, you're on the blog today!)
2. Memory Game: (most possibly my favorite of the bunch) pinholepress.com allows you to make a classic card game your own with photos of loved ones or whatever you choose! This would make a great birthday gift of housewarming gift for homes with children or adults wanting to sharpen their memory skills.
3. Christmas Ornament: decorate your tree with your favorite photos with these great ornaments from shutterfly.com. Also, a great housewarming gift for new homeowners.

What other customizable gifts are you giving this holiday season? Please share!

Thanksgiving Sandwich

There's a deli in NYC that serves a "thanksgiving on a roll" sandwich. I love it. So I recreated my own that I think was a bit healthier yet totally indulgent at the same time. 

What did you do with your Thanksgiving left overs?

Click through for the road map to make your own rendition of a thanksgiving sandwich.

Cyber Monday Steals & Deals

shop my cyber monday steals & deals: myShobha.com, Kohls.com, BestBuy.com, Macys.com, Sephora.com