More Fall Table Inspiration

Inspired by cool, crisp, cobalt blue sky and the bright orange of pumpkins and fall leaves. Cheery, cozy, and an incredible contrast. Where to buys coming soon....

Apothecary Bar

I love this idea for a Halloween party bar. Take the various bottles of alcohol and mixers and replace or cover the labels with apothecary-inspired potions like "Truth Serum" and "Embalming Juice." If you're the designer type, you can DIY (the Celtic or Horror fonts from 1001freefonts.com would work well) or print these ready-made ones from Eat Drink Chic. Try double-sided tape or rubber cement to adhere to bottles.

Note: You may want to include in very small print somewhere on the label what the potion "really" is--if you do want your guests to actually drink :)

Plum + Lime Wedding Inspiration

Does anyone else out there use Polyvore? Its "Create" tool is an instant online inspiration-board maker...mostly for fashion, but there are housewares, florals, paper, etc. that can be used to create event themes and inspiration. I just made and am loving this one....the combination of vibrant plum and lime, the Indian-inspired patterns and elephant elements, and pulling in limes in the bouquet and food. And I REALLY love the Catherine Malandrino pleated wool dress--perfect for fall bridesmaid's attire!

Happy Halloween Shopping

As I am working on Halloween decor inspiration boards, I came across so many budget-friendly candle finds at IKEA that I thought they deserved their own post. Each is cheap enough to buy in multiples, and, when clustered together, can create a spooky, modern, haunted, or vampy-glam vibe. Plus, they're not so holiday-specific that they can't be recycled, repainted, or repurposed for everyday decor...

Clockwise from top left:

1. VAGHULT Pillar Candle, $2.99 / 8 pack: Basic pillar candles in every color at a ridiculously low price.
2. DAMAST Lantern for Tealight, $12.99: Hang these sconces down a hallway for haunted-house appeal.
3. SKIMMER Candlestick, $9.99 Cluster varying heights on a table with black pillar candles for a gothic-inspired centerpiece.
4. BJORKEFALL Candlestick, $5.99: Add dripping colored pillar candles and displayed throughout the house, this candlestick feels so Haunted-Mansion!
5. BORRBY Lantern, $14.99: Create a dim and spooky entrance by lining a staircase with these tealight lanterns in purple and black.

Modern Autumn Table Decor Inspiration

For a modern take on fall table decor, replace leaves and pumpkins with other outdoor elements, like tree bark, pinecones, and kitschy-cool animals. Update the usual warm shades of red and orange with lighter, brighter hues such as terracotta, burnt orange, and light sage green. The overall effect still feels warm, cozy, and natural, but the woodsy elements and adding white to the palette makes this setting feel totally different from traditional tables.

1. Urban Outfitters Owl Serving Pitcher, $18.00
2. Etsy Green Rustic Trivets from ArtWallah, $19.95 (Love these for chargers, trivets, or coasters--seriously, scoop these up before they're gone.)
3. Pier1 Imports Pinecone Napkin Ring, $3.00
4. Pottery Barn Sausalito Dinnerware in Amber $32.00-139.00
5. Crate and Barrel Birch Plate, $9.95
6. West Elm Recycled Glass Drinkware, $4.49
7. Crate and Barrel Outlet Linden Tablecloth in Aloe, $24.95-49.95

Keep it Simple

"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." Leonardo da Vinci

"Simplicity and repose are qualities that measure the true value of any work of art." Frank Lloyd Wright

To me, early fall is about simplicity. Workdays seem to pick up to a more frantic pace, so easy evenings at home with loved ones or friends seem all the more delightful. And what more perfect meal to complement the mood of a relaxed evening than a simple pasta--made from just a few ingredients that can be pulled from the pantry. Delicious yet comforting, my favorite relaxed autumn pasta dishes have a flavor that is absolutely greater than the sum of their parts.

Orecchiette alla Rustica (from Women's Day magazine)

Serves 6

• 1 lb. orecchiette pasta
• 2 T olive oil
• 3 large garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• 1 can (15 oz) cannellini beans, not drained
• 1/3 cup pitted kalamata olives, cut in half
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley (or basil)
• 1/2 cup diced bottled roasted red pepper
• Freshly ground salt and black pepper, to taste
• 1/4 cup grated Romano or Parmesan cheese

Cook pasta in a large pot of lightly salted boiling water as package directs. Meanwhile, heat oil in a large, deep skillet over medium heat. Add garlic, saute until just golden. Immediately add beans with their liquid, the olives, 1/2 the parsley, and all the roasted pepper. Stir to mix, then cook until hot.

Transfer 1/2 cup cooking water from pot to skillet. Drain pasta, add to skillet along with remaining parsley, salt, and pepper. Toss to mix and coat. Remove to serving bowl or plates, sprinkle with cheese.

Lemon Spaghetti (from one of my top three favorite cookbooks, Eat Drink Live)

Serves 4

• 10 oz. dried spaghetti
• 1 garlic clove, chopped
• grated zest and juice of 2 lemons
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• a bunch of flat-leaf parsley, coarsely chopped
• sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Bring a saucepan of water to boil, add the spaghetti, stir, and cook for about 9 minutes.

Put the garlic in a bowl and mix in the lemon zest, juice, and oil.

Drain the pasta well, then return to the pan, add the lemon mixture, Parmesan, parsley, salt, and pepper. Toss well and serve.

Red-Wine Spaghetti with Walnuts and Parsley (from Food and Wine magazine)

Serves 4

• 5 cups water
• 3 1/4 cups dry red wine
• salt
• 3/4 lbs. spaghetti
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 4 small garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• 1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper
• 1/2 cup finely chopped parsley
• 1 cup walnuts, toasted and coarsely chopped
• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
• freshly ground black pepper

In a saucepan, combine the water with 3 cups of the wine and a large pinch of salt; bring to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook, stirring, until al dente. Drain, reserving 1/4 cup of the cooking liquid.

In a skillet, heat 2 T. oil. Add the garlic and red pepper and season with salt. Cook over moderate heat for 1 minute. Add the remaining 1/4 cup of wine and the reserved cooking liquid and bring to a simmer. Stir in the pasta and cook until the liquid is nearly absorbed, 2 minutes. Add the parsley, nuts, 1/2 cup of cheese and the remaining 2 T. oil and toss. Season the pasta with salt and pepper and serve with grated cheese for passing.

My Challenge

It’s been three years—nearly to the day—since my last blog entry. Wow. In that time, I’ve moved across the country…and back again. I’ve changed jobs…twice. I’ve gotten engaged, married, and had a one-year anniversary. Perhaps I’ve used these as excuses. They shouldn’t be…nothing should be. I’ve realized recently that excuses serve absolutely no purpose. They only put obstacles in the way of the end goal—be it a project, a deadline, or a dream. I just came across something I had written years ago—a sort of introduction to or inspiration for stirred:

In a way, the urban dweller must be creative with entertaining—much more creative than a homeowner in a 4-bedroom home with a dining room table, 12 sets of china, and ample street parking. As urban dwellers on both coasts, at different stages in our lives, my friends and I have entertained without a formal table, backyard, place settings, or even, in some distressed years of our lives, a dishwasher. But that didn’t stop us. We entertained—sometimes dinners for 4, sometimes cocktail parties for 40 in apartments that really couldn’t safely hold 14. But real life doesn’t wait for perfectly matched flatware. Life, friends, and family entertain on the floor, on the roof, around a coffee table, or in public parks.

My inspiration with stirred was the idea that anyone could enjoy inspired entertaining—that excuses such as lack of space, time, or kitchen accessories didn’t have to stand in the way. So, today, I’m challenging myself—and putting it out for the world to see—to stop making excuses. To embody the unabashed heart of stirred and to make this site what it was meant to be.

Falling for Autumn

Typically, I mourn the anticipation of autumn. To me, fall means shorter days, milder sun, and saying farewell to the lazy days of summer. But every year, when October trickles into my calendar, I have to smile at the crisper air, falling leaves (OK, OK, I know there are no leaves of any kind in LA. But I just got back from DC, so don't ruin my fantasy), and scents of cinnamon, nutmeg, and sage in the air. This year is no different. It's FALL, and for the first time, I couldn't be happier!

Here are some ideas for you to help you enjoy the early autumn season as much as I am:

1. Nibble on the flavors of fall by making Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars.
2. Did you know? The Halloween custom of bobbing for apples began as a Celtic matchmaking game. The first person to bite into an apple was deemed the next to marry. So have your single friends over and bob away!
3. Indulge your inner Martha and make a festive fall centerpiece.
4. Sip on this month's featured drink at Starbucks: the Maple Macchiato.
5. Make Roasted Butternut Squash with Red Grapes and Sage, one of my favorite fall side dishes. Or, toss it with pasta and chicken for a main course and serve with.....
6. Eberle 2004 Vineyard Selection Cabernet Sauvingnon is a full-bodied and flavorful fall wine. Pick a bottle up at your local wine store for $17.