It’s time to kick off the weekend (again!), let’s Warm Up with A Classic Hot Toddy! It’s seventeen days until Christmas and twenty-three days until NYE. We are definitely in the home stretch of 2023 and fast approaching 2024. How’s everyone feeling? Was it a good year? Not so great? Or somewhere in between? Life is a mixed bag of triumphs and tragedies, highs and lows, happy and sad. While we can’t change the circumstances life dishes up, we can control our attitude. I’m a big believer that our attitude influences our inner world, our thought life, and our self-talk. When we cultivate a positive attitude filled with gratitude and joy, and full of hope our life is so much better. What we think is who we are. If we want positive results, it starts with a positive attitude. Henry Ford once said: “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t—you’re right.”
Today we are warming up the weekend with a classic hot toddy
Our outfits are shoppable via text and image widgets
Plus, find a simply delicious recipe for a ham and cheese savory danish
(J. Crew)
There’s no better time to reprogram our brains than the start of a new year. I’m already thinking about 2024 and ways to make it the best year ever. It’s time to get rid of the old and make way for the new. What about you? Is it time to learn a new skill? Cultivate a new friendship? Start an exercise program? Healthy eating? 2024 is not going to be your best year ever by accident! It’s going to take laser focus, quite a bit of effort, and maybe even some tough decisions. But quality thinking leads to a quality life. Let me know what ways you’re going to make 2024 a quality year.
But let’s finish up 2023 with a bang! I’m ready to kick off the weekend with my best buddy Oscar by my side and my lovely daughter-in-law, Kelly, who is whipping up Ham, Swiss, and Apricot Savory Danishes and a Hot Toddy. Yum! Y’all know if it’s Friday, I’m slipping into something comfy and cozy. A cable knit cardigan from J. Crew and a sleeveless turtleneck from Veronica Beard I purchased to go with my white tuxedo (affordable option here and here) go perfectly with off-white denim from Frame. For a festive touch, I reached for gold metallic kitten heels from Frances Valentine (I love, love, love their shoes) and gold hoop earrings from Monica Vinader.
Beth’s Outfit: Winter White Turtleneck (affordable option here and here) | Cable Knit Cardigan | Ivory Denim | Gold Kitten Heels | Earrings | Bangle | Watchband
Kelly’s Outfit: Fairbanks Pant | Cashmere Classic Fit Crewneck Sweater | The Greta Ballet Flat
Beth’s Outfit: Winter White Turtleneck (affordable option here and here) | Cable Knit Cardigan | Ivory Denim | Gold Kitten Heels | Earrings | Bangle | Watchband
Kelly’s Outfit: Fairbanks Pant | Cashmere Classic Fit Crewneck Sweater | The Greta Ballet Flat
(Madewell)
The Fairbanks Pant made it on our Readers’ Favorite list last week and I hope y’all are happy with your purchase! I absolutely love these pants. They are so comfortable and are the perfect pants for highlighting the current silhouette of a relaxed, yet sleek pant. For reference, these pants are meant to sit right below the belly button. I wanted the woodrose color (which isn’t offered in petite) so I opted for the regular size. I had them altered for length, but the rise on me is higher, so the pants sit at my natural waist.
A Cashmere Classic Fit Crewneck Sweater from J.Crew is an easy go-to for me. I have a few neutral colors that are on style repeat all winter. My ballet flats are old, but Madewell currently has a similar version, with The Greta Ballet Flat.
Beth’s Outfit: Winter White Turtleneck (affordable option here and here) | Cable Knit Cardigan | Ivory Denim | Gold Kitten Heels | Earrings | Bangle | Watchband
Kelly’s Outfit: Fairbanks Pant | Cashmere Classic Fit Crewneck Sweater | The Greta Ballet Flat
Call it a cocktail, call it a cold remedy, the classic hot toddy is on repeat at our houses! So warming, and comforting the classic hot toddy is such a wonderful drink to sip while cozy on the couch, binge-watching Christmas movies.
Makes 2 Cocktails
3 oz. Bourbon
2 tbsp. Honey
1 oz. Lemon Juice
2 Cups Boiling Water
Lemon Slice, Cinnamon Stick, Star Anise Pod, for garnish
Combine all but the garnishes in a mug. Stir to melt the honey and garnish with Lemon Slice, Cinnamon Stick, and Star Anise Pod.
A long time ago, I worked at a bakery in Homer, Alaska and every day we made two kinds of savory danishes. They always sold out and ever since, I have a love for the perfect hand-held savory danish! Today we are combining the classic flavors of ham, Swiss, and apricot to complement the sweet and warming flavors of our classic hot toddy.
Makes 4 Danishes
1 Sheet Puff Pastry, thawed but very cold
4 Slices Swiss Cheese
4 Sliced Deli Ham
4 tbsp. Apricot Preserves, divided
Egg Wash (one egg yolk beaten with a teaspoon of water)
Preheat oven to 400º F. On a sheet of parchment, roll out the puff pastry dough to about 12”x12”. Make two cuts to create 4 rectangles of the dough. Then slide the parchment onto a baking sheet.
Lay one slice of cheese on each rectangle of dough. Top the cheese with a folded slice of deli ham – lay the ham diagonally. Spread one tablespoon of apricot preserves over the ham slices.
Close up the danish by folding one side of the dough over the center, then fold the other side over the top. Brush with egg wash and bake for 15-20 minutes, until the dough is puffed and golden brown.
Oscar, Kelly, and I wish you a lovely weekend!
Beth’s Outfit: Winter White Turtleneck (affordable option here and here) | Cable Knit Cardigan | Ivory Denim | Gold Kitten Heels | Earrings | Bangle | Watchband
Kelly’s Outfit: Fairbanks Pant | Cashmere Classic Fit Crewneck Sweater | The Greta Ballet Flat
Beth’s Outfit: Winter White Turtleneck (affordable option here and here) | Cable Knit Cardigan | Ivory Denim | Gold Kitten Heels | Earrings | Bangle | Watchband
Kelly’s Outfit: Fairbanks Pant | Cashmere Classic Fit Crewneck Sweater | The Greta Ballet Flat
Yesterday, I shared a super fun outfit for the holidays. Click the title or image below to read the article.
Cute and casual outfits both of you. Hi Oscar.
I never buy pre-made pie crusts, I make my own so can you make these pastries homemade and get great tasting results? They sound yummy!
Hi Sherry, The dough is store-bought pastry dough, rather than pie dough. So the results with homemade pie dough won’t be as flaky as the pastry dough, but I bet little savory hand pies would be delicious! Give it a try with your pie crust recipe and report back how they turn out! Thanks for stopping by, xo Kelly
Happy “in the Holidays” Friday! You both look so adorable, and hello to Oscar! Beth, thank you for the inspiring messages. Kelly, the savory danishes look delicious. I will make them — thank you. You worked in Homer, AK, for a while? I had the good fortune to interview Iditarod sled-dog racing champion Susan Butcher and stay on her property in Manley Hot Springs, AK, for a magazine article I was writing. What a place (AK), what a woman.
Hi Carolina Girl! I lived in Homer for a few years, and I also lived in Anchorage. In Anchorage, the street I lived on downtown, was where the ceremonial start of the Iditarod took place. The dog teams would run down our street, and everyone would gather in their yards to cheer on the teams. It was so cool! What a special experience you must have had staying with Susan Butcher. She was quite a woman! Thank you for sharing your connection with AK! xo Kelly