Jacket, Shell, Pants: Calvin Klein // Shoes: Ann Klein // Jewelry: Vintage

This past month I have enjoyed having Monna, my grandmother, join me on the blog every Monday to share her wisdom. This Monday she is sharing her thoughts on hosting people in her home, as well as her tips for setting a table. There is hardly a week that goes by when Monna is not hosting a dinner or party in her home. Just yesterday she hosted an early birthday lunch for me. Her lunch made the day so special and more personal than eating out at a restaurant. She started realizing that people were hardly invited into homes any more, and that an occasion could be twice as meaningful to someone by simply inviting them inside.

“It is always more pleasant to visit with friends and family in a quiet atmosphere rather than a restaurant. I don’t care how expensive a restaurant is, they are always noisy and you feel forced to leave after the meal without a chance to visit. Birthdays and holidays are more special when they are hosted in the home.”

Monna always has her table set with fresh flowers as a center piece, and for dinner she likes to add candles on either side of her floral arrangement. She still uses the Gorham Strasbourg sterling silver and white china with a platinum band that she received as a wedding gift in 1958. Nice sterling silver and white china are timeless staples according to Monna, and can be updated with seasonal chargers and table linens. She completes her table setting with crystal napkin rings, coasters and glasses (usually ice tea glasses since we are in Dallas).

When hosting dinner or a party, Monna likes to dress for the occasion but still feel comfortable in whatever she is wearing. One of her favorite outfits is this Calvin Klein set because the pants are easy to move in and the jacket is light weight enough to stand the heat of the kitchen. She also likes these Ann Klein low wedges because they give her extra height but still the support she needs to effortlessly move around the house. Shop some of Monna’s favorites for setting a table below! xoxo

Top: Chicos // Pants: Tory Burch // Shoes: Asics Kayano 22

It is hard to believe my grandmother, Monna, is 81 (almost 82) years old! Her exercise routine includes walking a few miles in NorthPark Center every morning before starting her day. Monna started walking to help maintain a healthy lifestyle, relieve stress, and improve her overall physical health. She likes to walk in NorthPark Center because it is safe, climate controlled, and the flat surface reduces her chance of falling. If you walk once around the square layout (including the short hallways), it is just over a mile. She also enjoys the ability to check her blood pressure in the mall every Tuesday at 7 am, thanks to Medical City Hospital.

“It is a safe place and climate controlled. It is pleasant because it is well kept, floral arrangements are beautiful, and I enjoy the art work. I am able to window shop all the latest trends without going bankrupt.”

When Monna started walking every morning, she knew that she needed the proper shoes to relieve pressure to her knees and hips. In order to make sure her shoes fit her needs, she went to RunOn where they recommended Asics Kayano 22 athletic shoes. Since Monna is always matching perfectly, naturally, she needed some jogging suits to go with her new shoes. She likes to buy pants with pockets so she can carry her cell phone and car keys without the hassle of a purse. Some of her favorite brands for walking clothes are Ralph Lauren, Under Armour, Tory Burch, Chicos, and Michael Kors. Shop some “Monna approved” jogging suits below! xoxo

Most grandmothers have the reputation of being a great cook, including my grandmother, Monna. Cooking has always been a large part of her life and has become one of the things she is best known for. This week Monna is sharing her favorite pecan pie recipe and her famous pie crust.

Monna always has something cooking in her kitchen, and 99% of the time she is cooking for someone else. I have always admired her willingness to help others in need and I am truly amazed at her ability to show love to others through her talents in the kitchen. She is always taking a meal to someone who is sick, preparing food for a funeral or wedding, and bakes a pie or cake for every birthday and holiday. Since there is always something cooking in the oven or on the stove, it is hard to believe that she manages to keep her kitchen spotless at all times. She somehow manages to leave her kitchen looking brand new when she walks out the door with a fresh hot meal in hand.

“I clean as I bake. Rinse dishes as I go, and then put it all in the dishwasher. I bleach my white counter tops almost everyday, to keep them looking new.”

The pecan pie recipe (below) is a little different than most pecan pies, because it uses evaporated milk. The milk makes the pie filling a little thicker and each bite is full of pecans. Monna likes to top off her pecan pie with Blue Bell vanilla ice cream and warm maple syrup. Get the recipe and shop some of Monna’s favorite kitchen accessories below! xoxo

9 Inch Pie Crust

1 1/2 cups flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup Crisco

4 to 5 tablespoons of cold water

In a large mixing bowl sift flour and salt together. Cut in the Crisco with a pastry blender until pieces are the size of small peas. Sprinkle water a tablespoon at a time on the mixture. Gather up with fingers and form into balls. Flatten slightly and roll out on a lightly floured mastery cloth. Always roll from center to edge. Tip from Monna: roll the pastry between two sheets of wax paper.

Pecan Pie Filling (for 9 inch pie crust)

3/4 cup sugar

2 1/2 tablespoons flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup dark Karo

2 eggs

1/2 cup Pet evaporated milk (another brand is fine too)

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup pecan pieces (or halves)

Mix sugar, flour, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Stir in Karo syrup, then beat in eggs one at a time. Add evaporated milk, vanilla, and pecans, then mix well before pouring into pie crust. Bake at 375 degrees for 50 minutes. Tip from Monna: top off the pie with warm maple syrup and Blue Bell vanilla ice cream.

Jacket, Shell and Pants: St. John // Shoes: Stewart Weitzman // Jewelry: Vintage

Throughout the month of July, I will be sharing the wisdom of my grandmother, Monna, in a four part series called Mondays with Monna. My grandmother has the largest collection of shoes and handbags I have ever seen and has been a huge influence in my personal style. Monna always dresses her best and matches everything from shoes, to her handbag, and even her jewelry. This week I sat down with my grandmother, Monna, to learn more about her favorite shoes and handbags, and how she find quality accessories that will last for years.

Monna has somehow managed to fill five closets in her house with close to 200 shoes, and still has “out of season shoes” that she rotates in and out of the attic. Over the years, she has found unique ways to pair her shoes and handbags, in order to keep up with changing styles. Her favorite way to pair outfits, is to base them on colors and patterns. Of all the brands that she has purchased over the years, her favorites include Kate Spade, Judith Leiber, Neiman Marcus, Ferragamo, Cole Hahn, and Bottega.

“Some of the styles have come and gone, but designer shoes will rotate back into style because of the material, same thing with handbags. If the fabric and leather can last, so can the style.”

Monna’s favorite places to find quality shoes and handbags without breaking the bank are Neiman Marcus Last Call (Inwood Village location has the best selection), T.J. Maxx (Park Lane location) and Saks Off Fifth (Park Lane location). xoxo

If you follow me on Instagram, chances are you saw a few photos this past weekend of my trip to NYC with Monna. You might remember my grandmother, Monna, from my Mondays with Monna series. Believe it or not, this year Monna is turning 85! A couple of months ago, she mentioned that she has always wanted to visit New York City and never had the chance. My mom and I thought there was no better way to celebrate a milestone birthday than with a trip to the big apple! We had such a great time that I just had to share all the details of our trip to NYC with Monna. Be sure to scroll all the way to the end for a short recap video of our adventures! xoxo

Our flight to New York took a little longer than anticipated thanks to some showers in the area. Luckily, I had already planned to have Precision NY Chauffeur and Airport Transportation pick us up at baggage claim. I do not normally hire a car service, but after our experience, I will be doing so more often. We finally made it to The Conrad Midtown, formally The London NYC, and the two-queen bed suite was perfect for the three of us. I will be sharing a full review of The Conrad Midtown later this week.

We kicked off our grand tour of NYC with a trip to the top of the Empire State Building. The VIP Main Deck Express Experience tickets (aka Fast Pass) made our trip to the top much shorter than everyone else waiting in line. There was a little rain, so we had a beautiful misty view of the city. Next, we made our way downtown to visit Ground Zero. My mom and I had not seen the memorial and it was especially special to my mom who ate lunch at the World Trade Center on September 10, 2001. The line to the museum was a mile long, so we did not have a chance to visit that part of the monument, but have I heard great things. We enjoyed lunch at Osteria della Pace in Eatly before walking through the financial district to Battery Park. Since Monna tends to get motion sickness, we saw the Statue of Liberty from the still coastline of Battery Park.

That night we enjoyed a delicious dinner at the Polo Bar before seeing the Broadway production of Chicago at the Ambassador Theatre. The Ambassador Theatre was built in 1921 and has not had as many updates as other Broadway theaters. Before turning in for the night we walked by Times Square to see all the lights at night and to make some custom birthday M&M’s at M&M World.

Past a little rain on the first day, the weather was beautiful the rest of our trip. We started day two with a carriage ride through all of Central Park. We used NYC Horse Carriage Rides and our driver shared a ton of history and was nice enough to take all the photos we wanted. We took a stroll to see The Plaza, Bergdorf Goodman, Trump Tower, The Chrysler Building and stopped in Grand Central Station. That afternoon visited the fourth floor of Tiffany & Co. on Fifth Avenue for lunch at The Blue Box Cafe. The food, employees, and atmosphere made the headache of getting a reservation well worthwhile. We enjoyed a delicious lunch and spent the afternoon strolling through the endless cases full of diamonds, silver, gold, and crystal. Before enjoying dinner at Fig & Olive, we visited Rockefeller Plaza and St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

Before catching our afternoon flight home, I made everyone visit Ralph’s Coffee Shop on Madison Avenue. The coffee shop is perfectly tucked inside the women’s Ralph Lauren store, where I could have spent all day looking at their black label. The weather was beautiful so we walked back toward our hotel along Park Avenue while admiring the towering building and perfectly placed flowers.

I received so many great restaurant recommendations on Instagram Stories but sadly didn’t have the time to visit them all. Here are the restaurants that were most recommended: 21 Club, Bacaro, Bagels & Schmear on 28th, Bubby’s, Carbone, Catch, Frenchette, Flip Sigi, Gato, Greenpoint Fish & Lobster Co., Jacob’s Pickles, Katz’s, La Vara, LAVO, Le Colonial, Osteria Morini, Palma, Sofreh, Wayan, Xi’an Famous Foods.

Need more New York recommendations? Check out my posts here:

The Conrad Midtown

Refinery Hotel NYC

Thanksgiving is only two weeks away, and I am still wondering what happened to the month of October! My grandmother (Monna) bakes the best pies for Thanksgiving, as proven in my Monday with Monna post. I realize not everyone is lucky enough to have Monna bake their pies, which is why I am sharing a simple and favorite pumpkin pie recipe. I recommend making the pie crust a day or two in advance (keep the dough in the fridge) or a store-bought crust works well with this filling too (excuse my messy crust edge in photos). I love the blend of spices in this pumpkin pie filling and that most ingredients, minus the pumpkin, can already be found in the pantry. This pie is best served with chantilly cream (recipe here) and a sprinkle of cinnamon. I hope everyone enjoys time with loved ones and this pumpkin pie over the holiday! xoxo

Images via Alex Phillips.

Print Pumpkin Pie Recipe 

Pie Crust

8 tablespoons cold unsalted butter (cut into smaller pieces)

1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

4 tablespoons ice water

In a food processor combine flour, sugar, and salt. Add the butter pieces and pulse until the mixture forms large, coarse crumbs. Add the ice water a little at a time and pulse until the dough begins to form. Transfer the dough to a work surface and shape it into a 9-inch pie plate. Pre-bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes when the recipe calls for it.

Pumpkin Pie Filling 

15 oz can pumpkin puree

3 large eggs

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 cup evaporated milk

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon ginger

1/4 teaspoon salt

Pre-bake pie crust (400 degrees for 20 mins, covered in foil). In a large bowl combine pumpkin puree, eggs, brown sugar, and evaporated milk. Slowly mix in melted butter, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and salt until the mixture is smooth. Pour filling into pie crust and bake at 350 degrees for 50-55 minutes. The center should slightly jiggle when the pan is given a gentle shake. Let cool and garnish with whipped cream.