With my dairy and wheat allergies I often miss out on some of the best holiday dishes-especially dessert. This year I decided I wasn't going to settle for cranberry sauce and fruit as my dessert yet again for Thanksgiving. I created a gluten free, dairy free chocolate bourbon pecan pie recipe that tastes like I'm not missing out...

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In case you haven't already found all your Thanksgiving inspiration from Pinterest, here are a few tips and pics for styling your table setting.  Colors: Choose a color palette that brings you joy. I was inspired by Midcentury Modern colors and wood tones when creating my tablescape.  Use What You Have: Don't feel like you need to buy a...

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Thanksgiving is all about friends and family coming together and spending quality time with one another-typically over an incredible and large meal. Feeding groups of people is task enough, but then there is the question of, "WHERE DO I PUT EVERYTHING?" Enter the sideboard: every hostess' best friend during the holidays. Whether you have a formal one or...

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I am so excited for Thanksgiving this year! The food and company is going to be incredible and I could really use the mini holiday. To make things easier this year, everyone is in charge of bringing a part of the Thanksgiving menu-potluck style. My boyfriend, Mr. Darcy, is in charge of the bird and I am delightfully...

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Rather than your standard vase + bouquet combination for a centerpiece, I like to get creative around the holidays. Thanksgiving is the perfect time to leverage the seasonal elements of pumpkins or cornucopias as vessels for your floral arrangements. Typically, I hollow out pumpkins and use them as a vase (see similar from Good Housekeeping). However, this Thanksgiving...

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I love flower stands and searching for just the right mix of florals and branches to make the perfect bouquet for my home. If possible, I prefer these "boutique" style florists over grocery store bouquets any day. Often the selection is better, fresher, and the local florists are there to help you with all their skilled knowledge. Besides,...

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There has been a lot of ups and downs this year in my life and I think even for America and most of the communities I am a part of. Sometimes it can be easy to focus on the negatives rather than what we have and are grateful for. In the spirit of Thanksgiving and striving to focus...

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Halloween is well over, stores already put out their Christmas and Hanukkah goods, and women everywhere are finding every excuse to wear scarves and take Instagram photos with Starbuck's holiday cups. But what about Thanksgiving??? Fall is my favorite time of year and often gets skipped over in favor of the holiday season. Fortunately, you can easily transition...

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California continues to refuse to admit defeat and concede to fall or winter. In the meantime, I am rocking my summer clothes just a little longer, pretending I don't desperately miss fall weather and being able to wear layers. As a quiet protest, I am layering my summer clothes in an attempt to remind myself of east coast...

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With all my travels a common question I get asked is what I pack (especially since I only do carry on) when I go to different locations for myriad occasions. Whether I'm going to Vegas for work or to Chicago for a friend's wedding here is a list of 10 things I almost never travel without.   1....

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"Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall." - F. Scott Fitzgerald This fall moodboard is all about embracing California's fall. It's not the bright oranges, yellows, and reds mixed with plaid while apple picking in the Northeast but it's beautiful and cozy in its own unique way. California has taught me so much about...

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The Story: Everyday when look out my window and see the Diablo mountains and Lick Observatory it makes me smile. After a little more than a year of this view, with my curiousity of the Observatory growing, my boyfriend surprised me with a day trip up Mount Hamilton. It was truly remarkable.  The Journey: Lick Observatory was built on top of...

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California seems to want to skip fall altogether this year and that just breaks my heart. So before the whole world is taken over by "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas," I'm putting together my fall bucket list for my favorite season. Let me know if I'm missing anything! (PS: Anything I've already done that was on my...

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