Tinsel Town

 Aluminum Christmas Trees

Now that Thanksgiving is behind me, I’ve moved right into Christmas-mode and have already started unwrapping my boxes of ornaments! This year, the big debate has been whether to get the classic Evergreen, or mix it up a bit with a retro-style aluminum tree? I have to admit, I used to think that any kind of fake tree (Christmas or otherwise) was tacky…but after flipping through this month’s Martha Stewart Magazine, I was amazed at how en vogue these vintage decorations have become! Oh Martha….if only we all had your touch. Inspired (but a bit deflated from my lack of creativity next to Martha’s) I began researching , and found that there are hundreds of amazingly chic options for decorating this faux-fir. Now that I'm a convert...I'll be purchasing this year's tree courtesy of Ebay, which has a plethora of nostalgic options! Here are a few of my favorite decorations for my new holiday look:

Recipe Rehab

In a few days, I'll be closing the offices for the upcoming holiday. It just so happens that the entire team here at 5s are Boston-transplants, so we'll all be flying to our hometowns to spend some QT with our families. This year, the Thanksgiving dinner duties have been bestowed on yours truly, so I'll be finalizing my menu over the weekend. I'm sure I'm not alone in the belief that the "sides" are the absolute best part of Thanksgiving, so I've created an impressive lineup thus far: Scallopped Potatoes, Pearl Onions in a Balsamic Glaze and my famous Chipotle Mac & Cheese with Smoked Cheddar and Panko. So...when researching recipes for ways to jazz up an otherwise pretty basic turkey, you can imagine my delight when I came across this recipe courtesy of Bon Appetit: Salted Roast Turkey with Chipotle Glaze & Carmelized Onion Gravy- yum! Finally....a bird that can live up to my sides :) Enjoy!

The Gift That Keeps On Giving

Sixx Design

The weeks between November 26th and December 25th are simply the most magical of the year in my opinion. Nightfall begins earlier (we happen to be fans of the end of Daylight Savings Time here at 5s), holiday lights begin to pop up around the city and even the poker-faced residents of Boston seem to have an extra spring in their step. Everyone, it seems, gets their much-needed emotional booster shot during this time of year. Along with the festivities of Thanksgiving and Christmas to look forward to, my mother, sister and I share birthdays that fall within days of each other beginning on November 24th, so I’ve been thinking about what gifts to give (and receive!) lately. The latest item on my list: Coffee Table Books. Affordable, entertaining and mini-works of art, they can be displayed for years to come on obvious placements like the coffee table, or my personal favorite, grouped together and stacked high on the ground. I’m proud to say I’ve acquired quite a collection! Here are a few on my wish list this year: (hint hint)

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