Pretty + Posh Pumpkins

If you are ready to embrace something other than the traditional Jack-o-Lantern this year, here are some creative DIY techniques to transform your pumpkin into something way more posh! 

Drilled Pumpkins

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Decoupage Pumpkins

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Argyle Pumpkins

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Fabric Leaf Pumpkins

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Push Pin Pumpkins

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Patterned Pumpkins

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City Lights Pumpkins

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Southwest Pumpkins

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Do you have a favorite non-traditional way to display your pumpkins? Make sure to leave a comment below and share it with us! 

xx JN

Gluten-free Goodness: Chocolate Pear Tart

Chocolate Pear Tart at Jason & Hamad's apartment in Park Slope

I stopped over to see my lovely friends, Jason & Hamad, on Sunday morning. As always with these two, nothing within their home is anything less than amazing: the food, interior design, or the hospitality.

When Hamad offered me a slice of his freshly baked Chocolate Pear Tart, I immediately responded with, "No, thank you. I can't eat it." Jason quickly recalled the fact that it was gluten-free - yes, my lovelies, it is made with almond meal!

Cut to: Jenn + Chocolate Pear Tart + iPhone + Instagram + happy soul!

CHOCOLATE PEAR TART

Ingredients:

1 cup whole, blanched almonds (may use an almond meal substitute)
3/4 c. sugar
1 stick butter, softened to room temperature
3 large eggs
1/3 c. unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp. Kosher salt
1 Tbsp. brandy
1 tsp. vanilla extract
3 ripe Bartlett pears
1/2 lemon

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Prepare a 9-inch removable bottom tart pan with either non-stick cooking spray or brush with butter. Set aside.

Combine the almonds and sugar in a food processor and pulse until they are incorporated finely and evenly. Add the butter, eggs, cocoa, salt, brandy and vanilla; process until combined. Spread the mixture evenly in prepared pan.

Core the pears and slice into thin, even slices. Rub with lemon slices to help prevent discoloration. Arrange the pears atop the chocolate mixture, slightly overlapping, without pressing them in.

Place tart pan on a baking sheet for approximately 45-50 minutes, until the top is puffed and a toothpick comes out mostly clean with a few crumbs attached. Remove from oven and cool completely.

xx JN

Souper Sunday: Kale & Black-Eyed Pea Soup with Sun-Dried Tomatoes

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On a rather hurried lunch hour last week, I popped down to Fresh & Co. to grab some soup. Although I am a huge fan of their Turkey Chili, another offering looked too delicious to resist: Kale and Black-Eyed Pea Soup with Sun-Dried Tomatoes.

Gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegetarian, I knew this was something I couldn't have only once. So, in an attempt to recreate it, I adapted a few recipes and came up with the following:

KALE and BLACK-EYED PEA SOUP with SUN-DRIED TOMATOES

Ingredients:

2 cups of dry black-eyed peas
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
2 carrots, peeled and finely chopped
2 celery stalks, finely chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
6 cups of stock (vegetable or chicken)
1 14-1/2 oz. can diced tomatoes
1/2 cup sun dried tomatoes, drained (either chopped or julienned)
2 bay leaves
4 cups of fresh kale, ribs removed and remaining kale torn into pieces
salt and pepper to taste

Garnish:

freshly grated parmesan cheese, optional
red pepper flakes, optional

Directions:

Soak dry beans according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.

In a large pot, heat olive oil and saute the onion, carrots, and celery until the onions are translucent and the carrots and celery are tender. Thoroughly salt and pepper the mixture. Next, add the garlic and saute for about 30-seconds - do not burn the garlic.

Add the stock, soaked beans, diced tomatoes, and bay leaves and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until the beans are soft - about 20-minutes.

Remove lid, add the fresh kale and sun-dried tomatoes, and continue cooking for another 5-minutes. Salt and pepper the soup to taste.

Serve immediately. Ladle into soup bowls and sprinkle with freshly grated parmesan. Note: if you wish to keep this dairy-free, omit the parmesan.

Looking for an added kick? Sprinkle red pepper flakes in with each individual serving.

Can't wait to hear what you think!

xx JN

Tip: make sure to keep your carrot & celery pieces approximately the same size when chopping - this will make for a more evenly cooked mixture.

When Trina Met a Trench

One of the things I love most about vintage & second-hand shopping is coming across a designer I adore and experiencing a piece from their collections past. This Trina Turk shirt dress was no exception! It has happily played in both my closet as well as Stylist Amy's. Now with the fall weather in full swing, the time has come for the lightweight coats to make a daily appearance - and this Coach trench fit the bill perfectly:

Shirt Dress: Trina Turk / Trench: Coach (similar here) / Belt: Coach (old) / Necklace: LOFT (old, but great alternative here) / Bracelet: Railroad Spike Cuff Bracelet by Giles & Brother / Watch: Fossil (old) / Shoes: Nine West (last season) / Nails: Armed & Ready by essie

Styled by: Amy Keller

Photographed by: James Newman

Weekly Speaking: October 21st

{images by James Newman}

This last week I ...

• realized that being a gluten-free & refined sugar-free gal as the seasons change and holidays approach is harder than anticipated! I'm about to hit the 9-month mark, and have far less migraines to prove it. However, not being able to partake in homemade pumpkin bread and chicken pot pie is definitely a bore to my taste buds.
• couldn't resist making this recipe again. But now I've simplified it to just the chicken, stock, and green salsa ... and it is so beyond amazing.
• had an incredible appointment at Devachan - and my curls are grateful! Have you embraced your inner Curly Girl?
• participated in a live chat with Nate Berkus about his new book, The Things That Matter. I cannot wait to share more about it with you.
• saw the leaves really begin to turn ... and that magic never ceases to amaze me!
• watched one friend move away to start a new chapter in her life, and another one suffer the loss of a grandparent. Someone else lost a parent, another announced her pregnancy. One is dealing with divorce, another one celebrated an anniversary ... just like the seasons, our lives change. How do you deal with change?

I'm sending you so much love & light as we start another week!

xx JN

Fall Florals

I must admit I'm not always one to associate floral prints with the fall season, but this dress was one that was impossible to resist! Besides, once the cowl neck sweater and knee-high boots were added to the mix, I was hooked:

Dress: stylist's own / Sweater: LOFT (last season) / Boots: Guess (as seen here)  / Bracelet: Wanderlust + Co. / Watch: stylist's own / Earrings: Antoinette in Smoky Topaz by Julie Collection

Styled by: Amy Keller

Photographed by: James Newman

Moment of Reflection

Ever since we returned from vacation, I have found myself thinking a lot about the importance of quiet time, reflection, and introspection. Now that summer has been ushered out, and fall welcomed in, everything is back to the hustle and bustle. So in every possible way I can, I am trying to channel the softness and restfulness vacation brought me. And sometimes, it comes merely in the form of clothing for the day. Whatever I can do to keep myself reminded that deep breaths are vital, quiet moments are a necessity, and being still is of great importance - not to mention, all of those things give me the fuel to go, go, go! If it's going to be a crazy day, then why not be dressed in something that feels decadent and rich? That is what I felt with this:

Blouse: stylist's own / Skirt: Joe Fresh / Boots: Guess (last year - similar here) / Necklace: vintage (personal collection)

Stylist: Amy Keller

Photographer: James Newman

Prelude to Fall

It may not be Fall quite yet ... but my color palette is already thinking along those lines! Stylist Amy & I are extremely ready to embrace Fall florals, oxblood red and my closet of capes. But until then, the weekend allowed us to - at the very least - allude to the impending season:

Dress: Ruffle Collar Poplin dress by Marc New York / Perfume Print Framed Coin Purse by Coach (from original fragrance launch) / Earrings: M Chandelier by Julie Collection / Scarf: stylist's own 

Stylist: Amy Keller

Happy Thanksgiving Week!

Happy Thanksgiving Week! Even though we are already hearing "Jingle Bells" in the background, this really is the ultimate week to celebrate Fall, harvest, abundance and gratitude. (Alright, and pumpkin pie!)

Once the dishes are cleared from the table on Thursday, our entire world will shift to St. Nick, gift receipts and wrapping paper. It becomes a countdown to the end of the year.

But this week, let's remember that without Fall there would be no Winter. Without Fall, there would be no change. Without Fall, there would be no future growth. It is the season of transition. So let's salute it together, and then welcome in the next chapter.

Here's to a very special (short) week!

xx JN