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Friday, November 10, 2017

The Friday Files



Hello, dear friends.  I hope that you had a good week.  The highlight of mine was yesterday when I attended my buddy, Anne's needlepoint luncheon.  Anne is one of the best cooks I know and entertains with style and grace.  She was kind enough to let me snap some pics on my phone.





As always, Anne's table looked beautiful.   There were about ten ladies that attended.  They are all lovely, and I was so happy to reconnect with them.









Anne made the best soup I have ever had.  It was an acorn squash soup with bacon.  





I asked Anne for the recipe, and she got it out of this cookbook.  Anne loves cookbooks and has a collection that rivals the Mister!
I tried to take a pic of the recipe but it didn't come out on my phone. 



Along with the soup, Anne also prepared a fabulous salad with her homemade dressing.  For dessert, she served homemade melt-in-your-mouth macaroons. 





I always walk away from Anne's gorgeous home with a full tummy, a happy heart, and a good idea.  This picture does not do justice to the arrangement in the silver vase.  When I asked her about it, Anne told me that she cut the branches from her backyard.

I'm going to be spending the remainder of the day in my backyard searching for beauty.  If I can't find it in mine, I'm sneaking over to Anne's.



Last but not least, Anne shares my good taste in men.


If you are interested in a home tour and living room renovation that I posted on Anne's home, you can find them here and here.
















Here's a peek into Hawaii's most expensive home.
Btw... it's for sale.


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Here's a look at Los Angeles' most expensive apartment rental.













Table setting and etiquette tips can be found here.
Btw... I sent this link to my girls.


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Inspirational tips for the holidays can be found here.


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Easy-peasy Fall centerpiece ideas can be found here.


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I fell head-over-heels in love with this gorgeous French-inspired Maryland home.


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Now, this is what I call a lakehouse.









Can you think of a better way to begin your day in fabulous NYC than here?


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We've heard the good news that chocolate can lower blood pressure.  More research shows that it is good for this too.

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If you are looking for a fabulous Fall signature cocktail idea for your Thanksgiving celebration, there are 41 recipes right here.











Here is one more reason for me to love T.J. Maxx.


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Do you need to start getting organized for the holidays?
Here's a checklist that can help you.


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The good news:  you can spend the night in this beautiful department store.  The bad news:  (most of you) are going to have to travel to do it.



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Are you flying somewhere over the holidays?  
Here's the inside scoop on how to get upgraded to First Class.
Let's face it... we belong there.


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Did you grow up reading Nancy Drew books?  I just loved them, and I'm pretty sure I read every one.  Here is a short essay which is written by an accomplished attorney and one of my favorite authors detailing her reasons for choosing Nancy Drew as her role model.



Until next time...








This is Bandit, the beloved fur baby of Ayers, one of the sweet ladies I spent time with yesterday.  Here, Bandit is waiting for his Dad to come home.
Bandit is spoiled rotten by his two empty-nester parents and gives the term lucky dog a whole new meaning.

Preppy Empty Nester
Preppy Empty Nester

Thanks for stopping by my blog. Feel free to contact me through comments and email. I love to hear from my readers!

24 comments:

  1. Such a fun Friday Files today...I have my sisters Nancy Drew books and what a treasure they are! Looks like it was a beautiful luncheon!!!

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  2. Hold on, did y'all have lunch and then needlepoint? Sounds fun!

    Can you believe I didn't read the Nancy Drew books? I don't know why!! With our sons, we read every single Hardy Boys Mystery. I guess I got a similar experience that way. :)

    Have a great weekend!

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  3. What a lovely way to spend the day. And now, I am hungry!

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  4. What a wonderful post, so full of great ideas. Would you believe I have a few of the Nancy Drew books that I read as a young girl...my mother had saved them. :)

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  5. Love the Maryland home - the sconses over the mantle are to die for! I can't wait to return to NYC to have breakfast at Tiffany's!!

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  6. You know, Katie, I love/hate your Friday Files. I love them because there is so much information to take in---hate them because once I open our post I lose at least an hour of time and almost forget to come back and leave you a comment. LOL Keep it up---I love it more than hate it. xo Diana

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  7. I got anxiety just thinking about clicking on the link for a checklist about getting organized for the holidays. How come I was more organized and ahead of schedule before I was an empty nester?? I think that I need to spend less time on the computer each day (excluding your enjoyable blog)- haha.

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  8. Fun to read your Friday Files. Lovely luncheon, soup sounds delicious. Yes, loved the Nancy Drew books when I was a young girl, wish I had them now! I visited Tiffany's while in NY, can't imagine having breakfast there. Hope your Saturday is a good one......

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  9. Oh, you put bacon in anything and I am SO THERE! Fun files today -- loved all the ideas (what a pretty napkin/ornament/bow idea and the wooden plank with the candles!) I, too, loved Nancy Drew... Oh, getting to be the season...

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  10. There's some great stuff in this FF post. Your luncheon - bet the Mister was jealous over your comment on the soup! And I hope they didn't ask you about your unfinished project, hehe. Love that MD home, and I remembered it from a past TH issue. The table, the drinks, the planning....it all makes my pulse go a little faster than its normal 90 beats a minute just thinking of my Christmas hosting....
    I want to be somebody's lucky dog. But hey, I'd settle for that cute hairdo on that squirrel at the top of the post too.
    Have a great weekend.

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  11. Great Friday files, Katie! I still have all of my Nancy Drew books. I passed them on to my daughter. I also read the whole Trixie Beldon series. Do you remember those? I honestly think Nancy and Trixie are the reasons I love mysteries so much as an adult. -Jenn

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  12. This is a fabulous selection of links for me to spend the morning or frankly all day exploring. I am in love with the lake house! And staying overnight at John Lewis! Yes, I want to! Love that store.

    Have a great weekend.

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  13. Wonderful blog post, as always, Katie! Homes in the northeast have such charm and detail. I love the glimpses you provide for us. Thanks so much, and have a wonderful weekend. Love on your pups for me.

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  14. As usual I love perusing your Friday posts. That luncheon is so elegant and a picture of the delightful Cary on a side table...Swoon! I was more of a Trixie Belden reader when I was a girl, I never got into Nancy Drew. When not reading Trixie I was reading about Donna Parker. Oh the memories of afternoons with a good book!

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  15. I am a huge Cary Grant fan as well! The luncheon looks so good!

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  16. LOVE this post!!! Love every single thing about it and then I go to the DOG! Wonderful! I used to needlepoint, really a long time ago. Tell me more about what you guys are doing, please? I think I would like this idea for our group here in Houston.
    Sending love, darling Katie.

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  17. I have a pillow that I want to needlepoint. Now that the days are colder and shorter and think I will pull it out of the basket that is by my chair. xo Laura

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  18. Love the Nancy Drew! I was laughing at your idea to go into your friend Anne's yard and clip her pretty things. There's a lady I know _ actually many of them around here who feel fine running into neighbor's yards and "sharing" their bounty!

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  19. Oh, what a lovely luncheon! I love the ribbons tied around the napkins and wondering if she collected the ribbons after the guest removed then. I can't imagine that they were sitting randomly on that pretty table. I'd love to think that I could place some limbs and twigs in a vase and they would look as put together as hers. Happy weekend!

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  20. Love how Anne placed pumpkins on top of her blue and white vases . . . clever! Her home is lovely. Absolutely charming, inviting and the screened front porch is everything!

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  21. I read about the pop up apartment in John Lewis department store awhile back. Intriguing idea. I've always thought we should be able to spend a night in a home before we decide to buy it...same idea I think! Happy Weekend even tho it's almost over!!!

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  22. hi fun well rounded post..yes did grow up with Nancy Drew, had a big collection. Your friends home looks so cozy and inviting. Have fun creating your fall arrangement...enjoy your week!

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  23. Love the pink package table! And wait, you needlepoint?? Entertaining at home seems to have gone by the wayside around here, all we do is gather for game day parties or meet at restaurants. Lunch at Emily's was the first time I've dined in a friends home in years, and it was so incredibly lovely!

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