With the biggest awards show of the year just days away, I decided to kick off my new Dressed to Entertain series on Channeling Contessa with an Oscars night bash. All the celebrities will be decked out in diamonds, so I say it’s the perfect opportunity to add a little festive sparkle of your own. For a simple viewing party at home with friends, no need to overthink it. Just throw a glittery tinsel garland across the length of your coffee table and place “dressed up” popcorn in mercury glass or silver bowls. My favorite trick is to spritz plain popcorn with olive oil and sprinkle with this truffle salt, which is unexpected and downright delicious. Then pull out some fancy glasses and pop a little champagne! Anyone hosting an Oscars viewing party this weekend or heading over to a friend’s to watch? I can’t wait to gather in front of the TV, watch for the red carpet fashion of my favorite celebs, and root on Argo for Best Picture–it was such a nail-biter! Who are you rooting for? Be sure to pop on over to Channeling Contessa for what to wear!
One of my family’s travel secrets is to rent when staying in a single city for an entire week. We’ve rented apartments in Paris and Barcelona, a flat in London, a cottage in Cape Town. Although I do love a chic hotel or charming B&B, when timing allows, there’s really nothing better than having a home away from home. Case in point: Casa Catalina. My mom and sister discovered this colonial gem on VRBO, and we were thrilled when it was available for Christmas week in San Miguel. We were even more thrilled once we arrived. Keep reading for a full house tour, and I’d love to hear—do you rent when traveling? Any fab places you’ve stayed?
The magic of Casa Catalina is apparent from the moment you walk through its unassuming doors and are transported into a private, lush courtyard surrounded by rich, rusty red walls. It’s truly an oasis. Inside the home, the architectural details had me taking lots of mental notes…warm yellow walls, arched doorways, tiled stairways and sinks, steel-framed windows and doors, stunning lanterns that created patterns on the ceilings.
In the kitchen, we ate homemade Mexican cuisine every day thanks to our amazing cook Carolina. From migas for breakfast to chile rellenos for lunch, to the fresh pineapple juice and green salsa she showed us how to make—all SO delicious. With three bedrooms and baths, two living areas and a study, there was plenty of space to lounge about, but we mainly loved gathering on the stunning rooftop terrace. I loved all the flowers and citrus trees in pots scattered around the terrace spaces. A lot of reading, napping and enjoying 360-degree views of the city while sipping cocktails happened up here all week…
Last but not least, the location—it was fantastic. Truly a perfect place for our daily strolls to San Miguel’s numerous shops, restaurants and churches. We loved San Miguel, and this home made our experience even better. I highly recommend Casa Catalina if you get the chance to visit San Miguel with a small group of family or friends!
With gray skies and snow on the ground, I start to find myself in a slump this time of year…anyone else? This salad I put together for Made By Girl is pretty much like sunshine on a plate: refreshingly bright and colorful, and packed with good-for-you citrus that’s plentiful at the market right now. Serve it alongside grilled fish and veggies for dinner or as part of your next brunch spread—it really works any time of day! The recipe is super simple…
Winter Citrus Salad
For the salad:
1 ruby red grapefruit
1 blood orange
1 cara cara orange (or navel orange)
1 clementine
1 meyer lemon
Handful of unsalted, shelled pistachios, finely chopped
Handful of dried currants
A couple leaves of fresh mint, cut into very thin strips
Lime zest
For the dressing:
1 teaspoon good maple syrup
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
Juice from half a Meyer lemon
1/4 cup olive oil
Kosher salt
Freshly ground pepper
Cut off the ends, then remove the peels and as much membrane as possible from all the citrus. Cut each into thin rounds and layer on a plate. Sprinkle pistachios, currants, mint and lime zest on top. Combine maple syrup, Dijon mustard, red wine vinegar and Meyer lemon juice. Slowly whisk in olive oil, then season with salt and pepper. Drizzle a small amount of the dressing over the salad.
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