Christmas Come Early

Monday, November 18, 2013


Some of the year's biggest shopping days are right around the corner, and I've put together gift guides for everyone on your list! Inspired by my own present plans, you'll find guidance on gifts for the ladies, gourmets, gentlemen and party planners in your life–and maybe you'll even find a goodie or two to add to your own holiday wishlist!

Between the two of us there'd been quite a few late nights at the office this week, and we were both looking forward to a relaxed evening at home with plenty of Indian food and Netflix selections. Though John was hard at work cleaning stills by the time I made it home, he walked in the front door just a few minutes before the chicken tikka masala and prawn vindaloo arrived. We dug in, then curled up with an action movie we made it about three-quarters of the way through before falling fast asleep.

I don't know what unearthly time John started banging around on Saturday morning, but we were both up, dressed, and washing breakfast dishes well before 9. I settled in with my laptop and to-do list while John changed his strings and practiced some Schubert. Our usual Friday night date (who was too busy singing to join us for Indian food) swung by that afternoon and we made a trip to our local beer store where we stocked up on yeast, bottles and food grade buckets. After consulting this Bold Italic piece about the best pork buns in the Inner Richmond, we disregarded their advice and practically dove headfirst into Xiao Long Bao, whose window full of steamed buns proved irresistible. We ate an enormous lunch, and then John and I headed home to do the only reasonable thing after eating so much dim sum–nap! We had a relaxed afternoon and evening, and after a few more hours of practice, picked up groceries at our local co-op and sushi from the restaurant just down the street. We curled up with a few episodes of Amazon's new comedy, Alpha House before crawling into bed early.

I woke up on Sunday morning to our front door opening; John had woken up just before dawn to start loads of laundry and fuel his early start with espresso. I roasted fingerling potatoes with garlic and fresh rosemary while John loaded the dryers, and over soft herb-scrambled eggs, we talked about our upcoming holiday plans and finalized our shopping lists. I played the domestic–folding towels, making the bed–while John played Schubert, and before we knew it, it was time for him to head to work. I gave myself a mani-pedi while watching Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf's, a charming documentary about the legendary New York department store, then dove into emails and my editorial calendar. After running a few errands, I enjoyed a long yoga practice, and just as I was rolling up my mat, my baby brother arrived to pick up his mail. We caught up on everything going on in each others' lives, talked holiday plans and when John got home I started supper–a simple paella, enjoyed with a glass of white wine. Char's had enough dinners with us to know that Sunday's usually a pretty early night, so he bid us adieu with just enough hours left in the evening for a few episodes of Frasier in our pjs.

Tell me, what were you up to this weekend? Drafting your holiday shopping lists, pulling out decorations or ordering a turkey for next week's big feast?


Image by Brooke Holm, styling by Anne Weir and Kelly Joyce for kikki.K.

8 comments:

  1. Your Sunday Times always relaxes me. I spent my weekend teaching, Twittering, and soaking in big bubble baths. It was fantastic.

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  2. Can't wait to see your holiday gift guide, Lena!

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  3. Ah sounds like the most amazing weekend...been wondering about that new Amazon show!

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  4. I can never get enough of Xiao Long Bao - so delicious!

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  5. I spent my weekend finishing up my christmas shopping! Don't tell anyone, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. ;)

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  6. Eee I can't wait for your gift guide! Christmas is getting so close!

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  7. I just started my Christmas shopping so I can't wait to see your gift guides!

    always, koru kate

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  8. Ah, how lovely. It truly is the best season of the year!

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