a wish for you....

Merry Christmas, everyone! I hope your day is full of love and laughter. 

We will be listening to Bing Crosby, sipping hot cocoa, bonding over a sibling gift exchange, making Christmas candy, and savoring (both!) mamas' cooking.  Very excited!

What traditions make up your Christmas?  May all be warm and bright wherever you might be on this special day. :-)

All my love,

Jordan

Images via: Style Me Pretty

wrapped with love....

Just 7 more days till Christmas! Are you excited?! I know I am. A more challenging question--are you ready? Yes? Man, you're a superhero. No? I've got good news--the holiday season is a fluid experience.

There will probably always be some last minute details, like the ingredients you have to purchase at the latest possible moment so they are fresh, or the special gift you have to snag on the fly because you didn't know that person was coming to Christmas dinner until 5 minutes ago.  My advice? Do what you can ahead of time and then be flexible and go with the flow. It's going to be wonderful no matter what. :-)

Just in case you might still have some gift wrapping to do, here's a little inspiration and a few tips and tricks to make the process go smoothly. Enjoy!

Ever notice that the prettier the wrapping paper, the more expensive it seems to be? Get some "wow" factor on the cheap by wrapping your presents in an inexpensive "base layer" (like Kraft paper or a simple solid color, and then make a "belly band" around your gift using your prettiest paper as an accent around the middle.  Garnish with some pretty ribbon and a bow and voilà! you have a beautiful package for a fraction of the cost.  This is especially helpful with your larger gifts--there's few things more disheartening than using an entire roll of wrapping paper on one present.

Speaking of garnishes, if you are looking for some creative options, look to the great outdoors. Greenery is something you may be able to scavenge for in your own backyard (Home Depot and Lowe's also offer clippings from their Christmas trees for free--great for presents and holiday decor alike!). Other fun items to utilize include pine cones, berries, feathers, and twigs.

Make it fun! Have a gift wrap gathering with friends where you can socialize, swap materials and ideas for more variety, and share some tasty appetizers (some wine never hurt either). It's always easier when there are some additional fingers around to help you tie bows too. :-)










Although it's great to be able to bust out all the wrapping in one fell swoop, it can often become an ongoing process. If you can, find an out-of-the-way space to spread out and have a "wrapping station" (my mom stakes a claim on the family ping-pong table each year, which, of course, is a fabulous working surface, but not everyone is so lucky).

If you are like me and the only uninhabited open space is a cold, dark, unfinished basement, I suggest using a large Rubbermaid bin to contain everything* between wrapping sessions so you can tuck it away until it's needed again.












*Have lots of unwieldy rolls of wrapping paper?  Use a small, cute trash bin to hold them all!

Let me know if these hints were helpful and good luck with all of your holiday endeavors!

xo

Jordan

Images via: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Cozy Butternut Squash & Chicken Stew

I swear, this time of year is actually conspiring against me.  There are so many wonderful holiday treats about and yummy (heavy!) meals.  Add that to the fact that it's dark by late afternoon and the walk from the car to the gym induces shivers, and you have one entirely unmotivated me.  Do you feel that way too?

If you've been craving some cozy comfort food but feeling like you need to behave now and then, this recipe is it! Tasty? Oh my, yes. Healthy? At a little over 300 calories per serving, you better believe it. Aroma? I’d say it gets a “15” on a scale of 1 to 10.

It all started with the butternut squash I had lounging on my counter and my deep love for stew when there's a chill in the air.  Even though it's low in calories and fat, a bowlful of this hearty stew easily satisfies my craving for comfort food. Also, butternut squash is high in Vitamins A and C, and quinoa gives it an extra punch of protein and fiber, so you know you're getting a well-rounded meal. The kicker was a burst of freshness from a handful of chopped parsley. For us, it is a cold-weather favorite!

FYI, this stew keeps really well, so if you want some leftovers for the week, go crazy and double the recipe!  :-)

Ingredients

1½ lb. butternut squash, peeled, seeded and chopped into ½-inch pieces
3½ cups chicken stock
1½ lb. boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts (or use a rotisserie chicken!)
1 tbsp olive oil
2 medium yellow onions, finely chopped
½ tsp kosher salt
4 cloves garlic, minced
1½ tsp dried oregano
1 can (14 oz) petite diced tomatoes
⅔ cup uncooked quinoa
1 can (15 oz) red kidney beans
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
¼ cup minced fresh flat-leaf parsley

Instructions

Steam the butternut squash until barely tender, about 10 minutes. Remove half of the squash pieces and set aside.

Steam the remaining squash until very tender, an additional 4 to 6 minutes. Mash this squash with the back of a fork. Set aside.

In a large saucepan set over medium-high heat, bring the chicken broth to a simmer.

Add chicken thighs, cover, and cook until chicken is cooked through, about 15 minutes (if you are using rotisserie chicken, you can skip this step!).

Transfer the chicken thighs to a plate and allow to cool. Pour broth into a medium-sized bowl.

Return the saucepan to the stovetop and lower heat to medium. Add olive oil.

Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is starting to turn brown, 8 to 10 minutes.

Add the salt, minced garlic and oregano. Cook, stirring, for 1 additional minute.

Drain and rinse kidney beans.

To the saucepan, add tomatoes, kidney beans, butternut squash pieces, mashed butternut squash. Stir to combine.

Stir in reserved chicken broth and quinoa. Bring to a simmer, cover and cook until the quinoa turns translucent, about 15 minutes.

Shred the chicken with your fingers or a fork.

Stir the chicken, olives and pepper into the stew and simmer, uncovered, to heat, about 5 minutes.

Stir in parsley and serve.


Enjoy, my friends (and let me know, what are your cold weather favorites?!).

xo                          

   Jordan

stockings 'n stuff

Hey there, everybody!  What are you up to this week? I chose "Let It Snow" as my holiday theme, I think because it's my subliminal Christmas wish--there's nothing like a blanket of white to truly get in the spirit.  I don't know though, it's still been feeling like autumn still.  Guess we'll see!

Have you thought about stocking stuffers yet?

Those can be the little detail that gets overlooked until the last minute. Just in case that's still on your to-do list, here's some fun, unique ideas:

For the Adventurer - Ultimate Survival Kit (this would be a great DIY too!)

For the Glam Girl - Gold Office Supplies

For the Chef - Stackable Measuring Cups

For the One on the Fly - Travel Phone Charger

For the Techie - iPhone Camera Pro Lens Attachment

For the Bookworm - Booklight

For your Caffeinated Companions - Beverage Frother

For the Littles (and the Young at Heart!) - Roll-up Dart Board

What are some other clever stocking stuffer ideas?  What are you hoping to find in your stocking this Christmas?!  I'd love to hear your ideas!

    xo                          

   Jordan

lovely links

Happy Friday, my friends!  Do you feel ready for the whirlwind of the holidays?!  Less than three weeks to go.  Cue the excitement and maybe a smidge of anxiety--do you have any shopping left to do, gifts to wrap, or guests to prepare for?  I feel like I'm going to blink and it will be January already.

If you're the same way, don't forget to take a deep breath and savor little moments along the way. That's something I work on every day and it's hard!  Pinpointing your most important priorities can help.  It's possible to make your house a winter wonderland, go to three ugly sweater parties, send out 200 Christmas cards, host one side of the family for Christmas Eve, travel to celebrate with the other side of the family for Christmas Day, and throw a New Year's party--but you may drop from exhaustion and not wake up until the 4th of July.

Focus on what's truly important to you and make some amazing memories this year instead of running yourself ragged.  And remember that the more priorities you have, the more organized you need to be!

If you're feeling like you need a little stress relief or a five minute escape from whatever you're doing, here are some fun and interesting links from around the interwebs:

How baby giraffes sleep.
For any ballet lovers out there--my current favorite documentary on Netflix.
German breakfast is my favorite!
The truth about ladies' night out.
Models and their mamas.
A hockey moment that made me smile.

Have a wonderful weekend!

xo

Jordan

Image Source

a little new year's glam!

Things are a little quiet around the blog this week, but don't let that fool you--behind the scenes, it's been a whirlwind!  I'm working on getting the house decked in everything bright and merry (some fun holiday decor ideas are headed your way!) and for Long Ago Love, I'm getting all of the details in place for a fab New Year's masquerade bash.

The theme this year? Glitz and glam all the way.  There is no better time of year for it!  Throw in a few masks for a little mystery, some dance-worthy music, and plenty of delectable finger food, and we've got ourselves a fabulous fete!  I've also added some chic art deco elements for some chic vintage 20's flair. :-)

What are your plans through the holiday season?  Is your house a winter wonderland?  Are you baking Christmas treats?  Hopefully your days are full of friends and family and the chaos that make this such a special time of year.  I'd love to hear all about your December adventures!

Stay tuned for more Long Ago Love sneak peeks and lots of fun holiday hints, tips, and general shenanigans!

    xo                          

   Jordan

Images via: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

happy thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!  I hope you have much to be thankful for this year and many loved ones to share the day with. It doesn't hurt if there's some amazing food or fiercely competitive family games either, as long as no one gets hurt.  :-)

What are you up to on this lovely day? Traveling? Hosting family?  We had Casinelli family Thanksgiving last Sunday (where ravioli is enjoyed right alongside the turkey!) and now we've made our way down to Durango for Thanksgiving Hardy-style.  This means we will be enjoying the Nebraskan delicacy of strawberry jello with marshmallows with a side of fierce family bowling competition.  What are your unique Thanksgiving traditions?

I have so much to be grateful for this year! Since last Thanksgiving, Kyle and I moved into our first home, we were able to enjoy the company of  many of our loved ones at our wedding, and I have taken the first big steps towards launching my dream business, Long Ago Love.

It's so easy to get caught up in how busy things have been!  Do you ever have that issue?  Today, I'm going to slow down and take the time to really enjoy spending time with family and making memories.  What are you thankful for this year? How are you celebrating today? I'd love to hear!

Have a safe holiday and thanks for taking the time to stop by and chat!  :-)

    xo                          

   Jordan
 

Image via Rifle Paper Co

are you ready for thanksgiving?!

To pull off the perfect Thanksgiving feast, you need a plan. Here are my work-ahead tips that can make this special Thursday less stressful:*

*Want a completely stress-free holiday event? Long Ago Love can help with everything from the big stuff (arranging catering, guest invites, and menu planning) to the little details and designing your table (centerpieces, name cards, plate chargers,etc.).  We have a large inventory of entertaining items available for rent and various levels of planning services catered to your specific needs.  Want more information? Contact us!

Okay, back to the helpful hints!

• Create your guest list. Get an idea of how many people are going to come, just so you can start figuring out the quantities you need.
• Purchase your turkey. This way you don’t have to panic and worry about finding the right size or trying to defrost at the last minute. Depending on the size, start defrosting the turkey now (allow one day for every 5 pounds of meat: a 15-pound turkey will require three days to thaw thoroughly).
• Make your pie dough. Pie dough is something that can freeze really well so you can enjoy delicious homemade crust for your Thanksgiving pies without having to stress the week of. I find the best way to store the dough is to form individual pie discs, store in a seal-able plastic bag, and freeze. Then when you are ready to assemble your pie, let your crust set out for 20 minutes and it's ready to go!
• Make and freeze your gravy. Making gravy while everyone is hovering over the turkey ready to eat can be pretty stressful.  It's one of those last-second details that would be so much easier if you can just heat it up and go. 
• Prep your linens and serving pieces. Make sure you have everything you need and that all linens are cleaned and pressed. Also check your drinking glasses for water spots and wipe down any pieces that need a touch up.  Don't forget to find your carving knife if it's tucked away for most of the year!
• Clean house. Not the most exciting part, but it is a great feeling to be proud of your home  when you're welcoming in your friends and family. 
• Write out your menu. This will help with grocery shopping and coordinating who is bringing what if others are contributing. 
• Make sure you have a well-rounded drink selection.  Alternatively, having your guests bring beverages is a great way to share the load and insure that everyone has a drink option they enjoy.
  
• Create a grocery list. I like to organize mine by categories: produce, dairy, meats, bakery, etc. I know the layout of my grocery store well, so I list my categories according to how I walk the store. You won’t believe the time this saves!
• Create a schedule. Use the prep and cooking times of your different dishes to determine when you should start each item.  This is especially important when you're working with one oven and limited burners on the stove--you need to make sure everything fits in at some point during the day!

• Do your grocery shopping. When you get home, organize the groceries in your fridge.
• Chill wine. Place the wine you’re serving in the refrigerator, or if you’re out of space and it's chilly outside, keep it in the garage or on the back deck.

• Chop and dice your ingredients. For storing all your diced veggies, you might want to use sealable bags instead of plastic containers because they take up less space.  
•  Sauté stuffing ingredients. Cook the celery, onions, sausage, etc., and once cooled, place the combination in an airtight bag in the refrigerator. The next day it only takes a few minutes to put the stuffing together and into the oven for baking.
• Bake your pies. This way they'll be cooled and set for the next day and that's one less thing to fit in your oven on turkey day!  Looking for a good apple pie recipe?
• Prepare any side dishes you can. Prepare the dish in a container that can go directly from the fridge to the oven (and if it's pretty, from the oven to the table). 
• Decide where dishes will be served. It can be really challenging to fit all of Thanksgiving dinner on the table--especially if you have a centerpiece or a smaller table.  A good solution is to serve some items buffet style (those things that might be a struggle to pass around the table due to size or temperature) and serve other items family style (bread, salad, etc.).  If you don't have a buffet server, the kitchen counter can work just as well!
  

• Set the dining table. My favorite part!  The final task is setting the table complete with floral arrangement, candles, and whatever else you have envisioned this year. This is a nice way to wind down the day. Enjoy a nice glass of wine as you go and then get a good night's sleep before the excitement and celebration begins!

Best of luck (let me know how it goes!).  Happy Thanksgiving!

xo                          

   Jordan 

Images via: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

lovely links

TGIF, my friends! Have you thawed out from last week yet? Forty degrees feels positively balmy these days--isn't that amazing? Sigh. I suppose it's better than being buried in five feet of snow in Buffalo, New York though.  I'm experiencing sympathy shivers....

If February weather in mid-November gave you some winter blues, here are s few fun links to spread some cheer!

Because the rich and famous are humans too.
An alternative to Dumb and Dumber 2--if you're looking to mix it up a little.
Middle class problems.
The perils of ordering a croissant.
How well do you and your significant other know each other, really?

    xo                          

   Jordan

Image via thelonggoodbye.wordpress.com; cartoon by Roz Chast for The New Yorker.

what makes the holidays?

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, I've been pondering that question lately.  The primary answer is, of course, family. And friends. Let's be serious, everyone together is what really makes it.  However, following closely behind that is most certainly the food. Oh the food.

The holidays are when you can eat yourself silly on the treats you've loved since you were little and, if you're feeling adventurous, try a new mouthwatering recipe.  Just don't forget to savor your mama's cooking, if you have the chance.  Mothers' recipes always do taste a little better than all the others.  Must be the love.  :-)

My holiday food passion this year has true vintage flair--homemade pies. Pumpkin pie, pecan pie, most importantly, apple pie.... I'll try not to drool on my keyboard. Finding the perfect pie recipe can be  a challenge, and sometimes you have to meld together several  yummy ideas you come across. Tweaking to make it your own can go a long way.

So, without further ado, here is my favorite version of rustic apple pie (with plenty of tweaks!):

Homemade Crust (for the Purists)

1-1/2 cup Crisco 

3 cups Flour

1  Egg

5 Tablespoons Cold Water

1 Tablespoon White Vinegar

1 teaspoon Salt

Prep

In a large mixing bowl, incorporate the Crisco into the flour with a pastry cutter, until you have consistent small crumbles (takes about three minutes). In a smaller bowl, beat an egg with a fork and then pour it into the flour/shortening mixture. Add 5 tablespoons of ice cold water, along with 1 tablespoon of white vinegar and 1 teaspoon of salt. Stir together gently until all of the ingredients are mixed.

Separate the dough in half. Form two  balls of dough and place each ball into a large Ziploc bag. , Begin to flatten each ball of dough (about ½ inch thick) using a rolling pin to make rolling easier later. Seal the bags and place them in the freezer until you need them. (If you will be using it immediately it’s still a good idea to put in the freezer for about 15 to 20 minutes to chill.)

Apple Filling

8 cups peeled, cored, sliced apples* 

2 tablespoons lemon juice

3/4 cup sugar

2 tablespoons  All-Purpose Flour

2 tablespoons cornstarch

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon allspice

1/4 cup  apple juice concentrate

2 tablespoons butter, diced in small pieces

*sidenote: my Uncle Jaye swears by using canned apples--it makes for a more gooey filling, if that's what makes your heart beat faster.  It's equally delicious--Mmmm!

Prep

Combine the sliced apples and lemon juice in a large mixing bowl.  In a small bowl, whisk together the sugar, flour, cornstarch, salt, and spices. Sprinkle the mixture over the apples, and stir to coat them. Stir in the apple juice concentrate.

If you're using a store-bought crust (because sometimes simple and quick is what's needed so you don't lose your mind) go ahead and transfer it to your pie dish.  If you're using homemade crust, remove your dough from the freezer and allow to thaw for 15 minutes.  Roll out half of the pastry to a circle slightly larger than your dish. Just a head's up, this dough is somewhat crumbly--that's what makes the crust so flaky later. Smooth out any cracking around the edges with your fingers and all will be well. It can help to do this part on floured parchment paper, since then you don't have to pry the crust off the counter when you're done.  Transfer it to the pie dish, and trim the edges so they overlap the rim of the pan by an inch all the way around.  Spoon the apple filling into the pan. Dot the top with the diced butter.  

Roll out the remaining pastry to the same size. Cut decorative vent holes (if you're feeling artsy), and carefully place the pastry over the apples (fun hack: use your rolling pin to gently "roll" your top crust over the pie--much easier than using your hands!).  Roll the overhanging bottom crust up and over the top crust, pinching to seal the two (or make a simple pattern around the edge with the prongs of a fork.  Lastly, I do an egg wash and sprinkle a little granulated sugar on top, but that's just gravy. :-)

Preheat the oven to 425°F and place the pie on a baking sheet to catch any bubbling over. Bake the pie for 20 minutes at 425°F, then reduce the oven temperature to 375°F and bake for 40 minutes more, until you see the filling bubbling inside the pie. Check the pie after half an hour of baking time, and cover the edges with foil to keep them from browning too quickly.  The key here is to just be vigilant.

When the pie is done, remove it from the oven and let it cool before slicing.  Pair it with your favorite vanilla ice cream and give thanks--it's nearly Thanksgiving, after all.  :-)

xo                          

   Jordan 

P.S. - what makes the holidays for you? And what's your favorite holiday treat?  I'd love to hear! :-)

a huge thank you!

I just wanted to thank everyone for being so supportive of my big announcement yesterday.  This is a dream I've been holding on to for a long while now and I'm so excited to finally be taking the leap!

Any feedback, thoughts, or questions are welcome--I'd love to hear from you! This would be impossible to do without the love and support of the people in my life.  You are truly the best.  :-)

      xo                          

   Jordan  

P.S. - something to make you smile, courtesy of the ever-fun Ben and Bonnie--nominated as cutest couple of the year, proven kitty lovers, and henceforth known as "Bonjamin." Meeting adjourned. :-)

Image via: Rifle Paper Co.

long ago love new website preview!

I have some incredibly exciting news to share today--it's taken a year to work through the details, grow my inventory, and build my portfolio of work, but finally the new Long Ago Love website is nearing launch!  We are working through the final elements (drawing up client/vendor contracts, photographing all of our rental inventory, and securing advertising), but we are hoping to have the website live by the start of the new year.

Here's to an amazing 2015 filled with a (crazy!) new adventure. Stay tuned! :-)

lovely links

Happy Friday, everyone!  We've officially survived a downright teeth-chattering week. Nice work team. Here's to temperatures above freezing. Hopefully.

In case you're in the mood to stay cozy this weekend, here's some interesting links to keep you entertained:

a good Thanksgiving laugh.
how babies used to fly on airplanes.
seriously cool, minimalist coasters.
beard study my handsome hubby would approve of.  :-)
logos with hidden messages.

Have a great weekend!

xo

Jordan

Image via: http://mariabonitany.com/mb/?p=326

brrrr!

Are you staying warm today?  All I want is some hot cocoa and a good book.  What's your favorite way to hunker down on a wintery day?

Check out the 4 hour time lapse over campus today--yikes!  :-)

Stay cozy!

xo

Jordan

polished & cozy

Neutrals can be such a powerful tool when building a wardrobe because their versatility is endless!  Sometimes though, especially in the depths of winter, wearing a lot of neutral colors can leave me feeling washed up and faded out (ugh.).  My solution? Infusing my outfits with some warm, vibrant colors along with my neutrals to create balance.

I love this outfit because of its versatility—I can head to work confident that I look put together (and the layers insure that I won’t freeze or roast, depending on our temperamental heating/cooling system) and if I go out to dinner with my hubby, I feel like a million bucks (is it just me or is a hint of red subtly sexy?).  And honestly, with this cozy cardigan, I wouldn’t be opposed to curling up in an overstuffed chair with a mug of cocoa and a good book.  So basically, this outfit fits all parts of my life with ease.  Win!

Top: LOFT

Cardigan: Target

Bottoms: American Eagle

Booties: Nordstrom

Bag: Anthropologie (similar)

Necklace: Forever21 (similar)

Ring Stack: Madewell (similar)

Hair Clip: Pluie

A couple extra thoughts just for kicks:

This bag is SO great—I love being hands-free at the store and it gives me a classy way to take my lunch to work (grocery bags and cartoon lunchboxes just ain’t my thing).  Even better?  I snagged it during a “Sale’s on Sale!” promotion at Anthro. That feels super good.  :-)

Can I say it?  LOFT is my jam.  Their pieces are, in general, perfectly suited to a minimalist wardrobe—clean lines, amazing sales, beautiful neutrals with fun pops of color (e.g. the cranberry shift featured in this outfit!)….  If you haven’t checked it out recently, get going!  LOFT is magical….

Final thought?  These booties are my favorite item in my ENTIRE wardrobe.  The heel is solid wood, they are a comfortable height, and they are made in a richly-colored real leather for under $100.00.  DOUBLE WIN!

xo

Jordan

setting the stage

Getting ready to entertain during the holiday season?  Your table setting can really create a "wow" factor for your guests--it allows you to set the tone of your event and infuse the space with a little holiday spirit!  Want to know the secret to an amazing tablescape?  Layers!  Use linens, runners, placemats, napkins, plate chargers--whatever you have on hand to add depth and interest.

Yesterday, in true Long Ago Love fashion, I had the opportunity to style a "Friendsgiving" event. The focus was a harvest color palatte utilizing browns, golds, and rusty orange.  On the menu--Apple and Onion Braised Pork Roast, Balsamic Roasted Asparagus, Wild Rice, Crusty Bread, Harvest Salad, and Apple Pie (yum!).

Take a peek at our "Friendsgiving" tablescape below!