Welcome to our weekly “walk and talk,” where we bring our weekly walks to you. Our walks are a time to catch up on family life, share online shopping hits and misses, exchange recipes, discuss our newest Netflix binge — all the stuff that friends share with each other. And now we’re sharing with you!
Don’t miss any of the good stuff! Click here for previous editions of our “Walk and Talk.”
As an Amazon Associate and member of ShopStyle Collective, we earn from Amazon purchases and qualifying clicks made through ShopStyle links in this post, at no additional cost to you.
WHAT WE’RE WATCHING
CHRISTA : It’s been a while (if ever) that we shared a network TV show! There’s good stuff out there now that they’re all back for the fall! New Amsterdam (NBC) is one of my favorites on my DVR, and if you love medical dramas, you need to watch this one starring Ryan Eggold (you may know him from Blacklist). Sadly this is the final season of the series, so if you start binging now, maybe you can catch up to the current episodes!
MEGAN : Have you watched the new Mila Kunis movie for Netflix, Luckiest Girl Alive? A 30-something writer in NYC has her life called into question when a true crime documentarist questions her about a traumatic event that she was associated with at her elite private high school. Not the best, not the worst. I give it a B-, I bet the book was better.
A HEAD START ON THE HOLIDAYS
We’re back with more helpful holiday tips to get a head start this season! Last week we shared holiday card ideas and reminders – does everyone have an updated address list and stamps for their cards? If you have a good pic from the summer, order now! We’ll be sharing more tips and reminders throughout October and November. Tackle your to do list bit by bit and you’ll be sipping wine by the fire this holiday season!
Pro tip: If you’re not a subscriber to our blog, you’ll want to subscribe now to get your weekly holiday to-do’s right in your inbox.
THIS WEEK’S CHALLENGE: CHECK YOUR DECORATIONS
Today we’re doing a decoration inventory. This can feel a bit overwhelming, but breaking it up into smaller steps and doing one step every few days (or on weekends) makes it much more manageable.
TREES
The tree, real or fake? If your family goes into the forest and chops down a tree and that’s your tradition, I’m jealous, but skip ahead. If you’re like many of us and last year half the lights went out on your fake faux tree and you tossed it to the curb with all the wrapping trash, then now is the time to order up a new one. Pick your pleasure from Home Depot, Target, Grandin Road, Frontgate, etc. Megan’s Tip: Our last one was selected based on the fact that it did color and white lights. Crowd pleaser. Christa’s tip: I ordered this one last year and love it, but the flocking is a bit messy during the decorating process! Pro tip: Don’t wait until Thanksgiving weekend to order your tree or garland — the pick-ins will be slim.
GREENERY
Speaking of greenery, while you’re down in the basement looking to see if you still have last year’s tree, check on your garland. Did those lights go out, too? Or did all of the luscious plastic needles fall out creating an unsightly bald spot? Time to order. Pro tip: At the end of the holiday season make a calendar reminder of what you need to replace for next year.
THAT REAL TREE SMELL
If you don’t have a real tree but want the amazing cedar smell, you’re in luck! Nest makes these great scent sticks that can be tucked near the tree and fool even the most discerning noses. Pura also makes a great fragrance for the holidays. Order these now, they tend to sell out by Thanksgiving.
STOCK UP…
On your next trip to Michaels or Hobby Lobby or Amazon, order more command hooks and ribbon for decorating. Command hooks are like little magic elves when it comes to hanging stockings, garland and wreaths. Ribbon is also a great way to change your color scheme without a huge financial commitment.
And last but not least for this week, stock up on batteries, flameless candles, holiday scented candles (get a few extra for hostess gifts!) and votives. Pro tip: Costco is always a great source for these seasonal items.
Pour your self a glass of wine or an extra cup of coffee because you are well on your way to being ready for the holidays. Well done, our stylish holiday elves!
ADVENT CALENDARS
It’s not too early to pick up your Advent Calendar. And they’re not just for kids! Look at all these fun advent calendars we found for grown-ups…and pets! Pro tip: #4 is a countdown between Christmas and New Years! That might be the new tradition!
1 – DIY // 2 – Tea // 3 – Candles // 4 – Beauty // 5 – Beauty // 6 – Puzzles // 7 – Candy // 8 – Dog // 9 – Cat
More Advent Calendars…
Clearly we LOVE advent calendars. Here are some more options! And if Megan’s husband is reading this, she loves this one.
RANDOM STUFF WE LIKE
CHRISTA : Turns out our trips to Target for paper towels (and twenty other things we didn’t know we needed!) are really just what the doctor ordered. Read about how wandering the aisle at Target is a form of self-care for many of us. Who knew Target was such a “therapeutic experience.”
FRIENDS SHARE THE GOOD STUFF
Have something you love or can’t live without? Did you find a great deal? Well, do tell! Share with us and we’ll pass it along…because friends share the good stuff!
MEGAN : My stylish mom went to Walmart to get the sweatshirt we recommended and she came home with 2 new pairs of pants! She said they wash and iron up just like Madewell. Her pro tip: go down a size (who doesn’t like that?).
WHAT MEGAN’S COOKING
Wacky Cake
www.StyleAmongFriends.com
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 4 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tbsp white vinegar
- 1 tspn salt
- 1 tspn baking soda
- 1 tspn vanilla extract
- 6 tbsp olive oil
- 1 cup water my granny's recipe card says "cold water"
Vanilla Frosting
- 1 stick butter MUST BE room temperature
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tpsn vanilla bean paste (or extract) vanilla bean paste currently available at Trader Joes.
- 1 splash whole milk or heavy cream add this last and just to consistently so the frosting isn't too soupy.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350In an ungreased glass or ceramic 8 inch square pan (do not use metal) add Flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt. Stir to combine with fork
- Make 3 wells in the mixture, in the first well add the vinegar, the 2nd gets the vanilla extract and the 3rd is olive oil. Pour cold water over entire mixture and mix with fork until thoroughly combined and no dry ingredients remain.
- Bake 30 min. Check with toothpick. My granny says to frost it in the pan still warm and that helps it stay moist.
Vanilla Frosting
- While the cake is baking, in a mixer combine butter, powdered sugar and vanilla. Once it's combined slowly add the milk/cream until the frosting is the right consistency.
Notes
SAVE VS. SPLURGE
MEGAN : Clogs are back in and I’m not mad about it. I have the Sam Edelman Hilda and they are great. I’ve even marched through an airport in them. Save (Sam Edelman) vs. Splurge (Gucci)
WHAT WE’RE LISTENING TO
CHRISTA : Another concert this week that was another fantastic show! This time we saw The Killers perform and they were amazing. My daughter and I were surprised that the crowd was generally closer to my age and not hers! If you’re not familiar with their music, here are The Killers on Spotify.
Shackets must be “the thing” to wear to concerts. They were everywhere paired with some Chelsea boots. I might need to up my concert look before the next one in November. Here’s a cute shacket and some chelsea boots if you’re looking to try the trend. And if you missed the link last time, this bag is perfect when the venue has a “no bag” bag policy — it fits all the essentials.
MEGAN : One of my favorite things when I was a teenager (well, even now if I’m being completely honest) was the mixed tape. Remember spending hour and hours and borrowing tapes from friends to curate the best music sound track? My college friend, Lindsay, always made the best mixed tapes. Well my stylish friends, you’re in for a treat. I made you the 2022 version of a mixed tape.
WHAT WE’RE DECORATING
CHRISTA : If you’re still enjoying your pumpkin spice everything, here are some fall decorating ideas just for you. And they’re all available on Amazon Prime (and most of these are from my own Amazon order history!). Order now — many of these will arrive in just a few days and you’ll be enjoying them until you carve the turkey.
AND, HERE’S WHERE WE WALKED
The leaves are changing and Megan forgot her sunglasses. What a difference a week makes, the last few days have been quintessential fall days. Hope you are out enjoying it with your walking bestie or at least window shopping.
CHRISTA’S WALK AND TALK LINKS
- New Amsterdam (NBC)
- flocked Christmas tree
- Advent calendars – 1 – DIY // 2 – Tea // 3 – Candles // 4 – Beauty // 5 – Beauty // 6 – Puzzles // 7 – Candy // 8 – Dog // 9 – Cat
- wandering the aisle at Target is a form of self-care
- The Killers on Spotify
- concert look: cute shacket and some chelsea boots
- black sweaters: cashmere crewneck // oversized turtleneck sweater // cashmere hoodie // v-neck balloon sleeve
MEGAN’S WALK AND TALK LINKS
- Netflix, Luckiest Girl Alive
- trees: Home Depot, Target, Grandin Road, Frontgate ; Nest great scent sticks , Pura
- Walmart sweatshirt
- Walmart pants
- Save (Sam Edelman)
- Splurge (Gucci)
- Style Among Friends Fall 2022 Playlist
WHAT’S HAPPENING ON THE BLOG
We’re busy elves at Style Among Friends! Every Friday, we’re sharing tips to help you get ahead on your holiday to do list. (Last week’s challenge was holiday cards. Have you created an updated address list and purchased stamps?) We’re also starting to plan holiday gift guides to help you shop. Is there anyone that you find hard to shop for? Let us help!
On Tuesday we shared what we really wore from the last month. Workout clothes, jeans and cute tops, a little bit of everything. Time to shop your closet and find some new looks. Hope our outfits are some inspiration for you to put together something new.
Walking is always so much better when you go with a friend! We hope you’ll share our blog with your walking bestie. And let us know in the comments what you’re watching, wearing, eating, planning or shopping for.
Sign up for our emails! As a subscriber, you’ll receive our new blog posts right in your inbox on Tuesdays and Fridays. Plus, we also have a monthly “subscriber only” newsletter just for you! Sign up today!
If you’d like to follow along with us for more style, decor, recipes and walks, you can find us @styleamongfriends on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest. And you can shop our Instagram here.
Hi Megan…
Yes, I agree – I also watched the Luckiest Girl Alive. I did not like the rape violence nor the fact that they sensationalized school mass shootings. We have enough of these tragedies in the real world.. Hollywood shouldn’t be reenacting these horrifying events.
I was surprised there were not trigger warnings before the movie started. Would have been nice to know.