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.”
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WHAT WE’RE WATCHING
CHRISTA : Ghosts (CBS/Hulu) is a cute and cleverly written comedy on CBS. A couple inherit a new house only to find it inhabited with the ghosts of previous residents — that only the wife can see. It’s an enjoyable little binge when you’re looking for something light to watch.
MEGAN : An oldie but a goodie, Sneaky Pete on Prime. Pete is a con man that steals the identity of his cell mate and joins the family bail bond business. Great cast and the stories are crazy good. Old school crime/family drama.
A HEAD START ON THE HOLIDAYS
Friends, we hope you are following along and checking off your to do list like a pro! (Find all our previous lists linked at the end.) At this rate, you’ll be coasting through December with wine in one hand and a frosted sugar cookie in the other! We’re not done yet! Our tips and checklist will continue through November, so check each week in the walk and talk for more ways to get a head start on the holiday season
THIS WEEK’S CHALLENGE: MENU PLANNING
MEGAN : Does your family have any meal traditions they follow for the holidays? Ours do not, one year I served tacos for Christmas Eve because, well that’s what everyone wanted! Don’t feel locked into any commercial peer pressure.
If you are making a turkey for Thanksgiving now is the time to order it from a farm or Whole Foods, or just pick up a bird the week of at the grocery store. Do you know what size you need? How many people will be eating? A good rule of thumb is 1.25 lbs per person for your turkey. Here is a great article about pound per person for serving/eating purposes. Once you have your turkey under control the rest really just comes together.
When someone offers to bring something, say YES! Assign them a specific item: salad, rolls or pies are probably the easiest to transport. That leaves you with cranberries (are you a homemade or from the can family?), gravy, potatoes and a veg. Not too bad, especially if you have two ovens. While the turkey cooks, you can work on the sides. Gravy and potatoes are on the stove top (get the children – of any age) to peel the potatoes for you. Most grocery stores sell a pre made gravy and cranberries in their deli departments and truthfully they are good enough.
Thanksgiving is typically the largest meal you make in a year, so take the help – buy some of the things and make what you like or want. No shame. The greatest gift is feeding those you love. And just remember the most important thing, the cook does NOT do the dishes!
- turkey (size and cook time)
- gravy (let the grocery store make for you)
- potatoes (let the kids peel)
- salad
- cranberries
- veggies
- dessert (pumpkin pie from a local bakery)
- Don’t forget the wine!
COOKING A BIG MEAL? TREAT YOURSELF!
CHRISTA : Cooking for the big day? Then we say treat yourself to some new stuff for the kitchen and dining room!
1 // 2 // 3 // 4 : Add a few new kitchen tools that are essential for a big meal, including this chef’s mandoline for easy slicing and dicing, the Our Place always pan that cooks anything and everything, a shiny new roasting pan to prepare the centerpiece of your meal, and some new carving knives.
5 // 6 // 7 : Update the look of your table. We recently shared a Thanksgiving place setting in our 5 steps to a perfect place setting post. Here are a few more items to create your Thanksgiving tablescape – a brass “thankful” trivet, pumpkin bowls for individual soups or small side dishes, and some beautiful “thankful” embroidered napkins.
8 : Don’t forget an apron – one for you and one for your helper.
9 : And lastly, a fun game to play around the table to get the conversation started.
WHAT WE’RE SHOPPING FOR
CHRISTA : We’re heading into cold and flu season. Don’t get caught without cough medicine when it hits you hard at midnight! Now is a great time to check your medicine cabinet — toss the expired stuff and replenish what you need. (In our house, we never seem to have ibuprofen and acetaminophen when we need it! Where does it go?) Check out this list of ten items nurses keep in their own medicine cabinets. We’re also adding plenty of tissues and some shower steamers to our list. Megan’s tip: Check expirations on your Covid tests — they don’t last as long as we wish they did.
And once you’ve restocked, here are some ways to keep it organized so you can find it when you need it!
MEGAN : Back in the olden days, (well, the 1990s) my girlfriends and I lived for Oprah’s Favorite Things to come out. Back then you had to wait for the episode of her show that revealed the list AND she gifted the audience with one of everything. Always so jelly. Now we just google the list and oogle all the treasures. The list came out this week and I thought I’d share. So many good gift ideas. Great place to start if you are looking for holiday shopping inspo.
RANDOM STUFF WE LIKE
CHRISTA : If your family does a real tree, then you should consider ordering it! My stylish friend Kim told me about Walddie last year and we were so impressed with their service. I think we got the best tree we’ve ever had from them last year. Not only was it beautiful and perfectly shaped, but they delivered it AND set it up. Our tree was big — over 9 ft! — so the setup part was a back-saving bonus! No more struggling to get a giant tree from the car, then into the house, then into the tree stand.
Delivery is free, but there is a fee for setup — well worth it, ladies. Walddie has locations in the NY, Philadelphia, DC and Boston areas. Don’t delay — order yours today!
p.s. The tree stand they recommend on their site is THE BEST stand — if you just need a tree stand, you can find it on Amazon (of course).
WHAT WE’RE READING
MEGAN : I had some down time and read this book last week. It was good, a bit predictable but cute in a Hallmark Movie kind of way. IYKYK.
FRIENDS SHARE THE GOOD STUFF
Do you have a tasty Thanksgiving recipe we should try? Have something you love and 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!
WHAT MEGAN’S COOKING
Winner, Winner Chicken Dinner AKA Instant Pot Chicken Curry
www.StyleAmongFriends.com
Equipment
- 1 instant pot
Ingredients
- 6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (about 1.2 lbs) I've used breasts and thighs
- 1 tbsp curry powder
- 1 can rotel tomatoes
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 can full fat coconut milk (divided)
- 1 tbsp garlic oil new to me, I found in the Asian section of my market
- 1 tsp ground ginger
optional:
- 1/2 bag frozen peas
- 3 potoatoes cut in cubes, roasted added at the end
Instructions
- Put chicken in the IP and add: curry powder, ginger, tomatoes, salt and milk from the coconut milk (reserve the cream).
- Stir all ingredients together and secure the lid. Hit "MANUAL" and reduce the time to 8 min.
- Once done cooking, quick release by hitting the "CANCEL" button and release the pressure valve. Once pin drops, open lid and remove chicken to cutting board. Add the coconut cream (from the can used above) and the garlic oil to the liquid in the pot. Press "SAUTE" for 10 min to reduce and thicken. While that cooks chop or shred your chicken.
- Add chicken back in and stir to coat. Hit the "CANCEL" button and serve.
Notes
MEGAN’S KITCHEN UPDATE
We are measuring for countertops this week and the old windows are officially gone. I can finally “see” what it’s going to look like. Now I’m down the bar stool rabbit hole. Anyone have leather stools they love?
WHAT WE’RE WEARING
CHRISTA’S OUTFIT : WHBM Jeans, Treasure & Bond Sweater (similar), WHBM Necklace, Earrings (similar)
MEGAN’S OUTFIT : Coated Denim, Rails Sweater from the Best Of October list, ballet flats (same but in black)
AND, HERE’S WHERE WE WALKED
A peek along our walk…today felt more like an early March day than an early November day!
CHRISTA’S WALK AND TALK LINKS
- Ghosts (CBS/Hulu)
- list of ten items nurses keep in their own medicine cabinets
- Walddie Christmas tree delivery — if you just need a stand, you can also find it here
- fall outfit — WHBM Jeans, Treasure & Bond Sweater (similar), WHBM Necklace, Earrings (similar)
MEGAN’S WALK AND TALK LINKS
- Sneaky Pete on Prime
- great article on how much turkey to buy
- Oprah’s Favorite Things
- this book, Nora Goes Off Script
- fall outfit — Coated Denim, Rails Sweater, ballet flats (same but in black)
WHAT’S HAPPENING ON THE BLOG
November means another edition of our favorite post. We’re sharing your favorites and ours from the past month, along with a recap of what was on the blog (in case you missed anything).
Our holiday checklists and tips will keep coming through November. If you need to catch up, we’ve shared tips for your holiday cards, decorations, gift wrap, and making reservations.
Gift guides start next week! But if you want to start shopping now, check out some of our past gift guides we’ve shared for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and graduations — all filled with great ideas for gifting this holiday season.
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.
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