I cant think of anything better than cuddling up in flannel pajamas, with Winston, next to the Christmas tree and watching a classic Christmas movie! Earlier this year I shared my Quarantine Approved Movie List and since we are still in a global pandemic (boo) I am expanding my list. I started listing out my favorite Christmas movies and quickly realized I only like Christmas movies prior to 2006 (whoops). Maybe it is because I watched these movies as a kid, but my list of Favorite Christmas Movies really makes me seem an old lady. If you have a hard time finding these older movies  Vudu has most for free with ads and Reelgood is a great source to find where to stream. Please share your favorite and hopefully more recent Christmas movies so I can check them out! xoxo

Image via Alex Phillips.

A Christmas Carol (1938)

Holiday Inn (1942)

It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

Miracle on 34th St. (1947)

White Christmas (1954)

Babes in Toyland (1961)

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)

A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)

How the Grinch Stole Christmas – animated (1966)

Frosty the Snowman (1969)

The Year without Santa Clause (1974)

A Christmas Story (1983)

A Christmas Carol (1984)

Scrooged (1988)

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)

Home Alone (1990)

Home Alone 2 (1992)

The Santa Clause (1994)

Miracle on 34th St. (1994)

Jingle All The Way (1996)

I’ll Be Home for Christmas (1998)

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

Love Actually (2003)

Elf (2003)

The Holiday (2006)

Dress: J.Crew // Boots: Nordstrom // Handbag: Tory Burch (similar) // Headband: Shopbop

I am not sure why, but long sleeved dresses are always so difficult for me to find. When I saw this Black Jacquard Dress not only had long sleeves but paired well with knee high boots, I couldn’t pass it up. This dress is the perfect solution for casual but warm winter attire. I love the subtle black on black jacquard pattern of the material and the matching buttons on the font. This Black Jacquard Dress fits oversized, I am wearing a small but wish I had ordered an extra small for sleeve length. This dress pairs perfectly with knee high boots or tights and heels. Since the shape of the dress is more loose fitting, it pairs better with heels than flats. I paired the dress with knee high boots and my favorite black puffy headband for an all back winter look. Shop this entire outfit below! xoxo

Images via Alex Phillips.

My favorite dish on Thanksgiving day has always been cranberry sauce, well second to the pie of course. My dad always makes the most delicious Thanksgiving cranberries and his recipe is so simple! Use 1 pound of cranberries in the sauce and it serves 4-6 people, so if you have a larger crowd you might want to double the recipe. I also like my cranberries a little more tart so I cut the amount of sugar in half (the orange juice is plenty sweet for me) if you like sweeter cranberry sauce, use a full cup of sugar. The Grand Marnier is also optional, but it does add a great sharp orange flavor to the tart cranberries. Check out my Pumpkin Pie and Pecan Pie recipes to complete your Thanksgiving meal. Enjoy! xoxo

Images via Alex Phillips. 

Print Cranberry Sauce Recipe. 

Juice of 2 large oranges 

1/2 cup sugar

1 pound of cranberries 

Zest of 1 orange

1/2 cup chopped pecans

2 tablespoons of Grand Marnier

In a saucepan, bring the orange juice and sugar to a boil. Add cranberries, reduce heat and simmer for about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and add orange zest, peans, and Grand Marnier. Best when served warm.

Honestly, the second Halloween is over all I can think about is Christmas… and because 2020 is going so well I might have started shopping before Halloween. Alex is trying to encourage me to embrace fall a little longer, at least in the kitchen. About a year ago I decided to try my hand at making homemade pesto since we were buying it so often. After I discovered how simple pesto really is, and that it is slightly fool poof, I started getting creative. I remembered trying pumpkin seed pesto on a sandwich at True Food Kitchen. I took a stab at swapping pine nuts for pumpkin seeds and boom it was really that easy. This pumpkin seed pesto is the perfect addition to a toasted chicken sandwich, bruschetta, or any pasta dish. Enjoy! xoxo

Images via Alex Phillips. 

Print Pumpkin Seed Pesto Recipe. 

Bedding: CB2 // Euro Shams: West Elm // Decorative Pillow: West Elm  // Flush Mount: West Elm // Lamp: Kate Spade (similar) // Clock: West Elm // Bedside Carafe: West Elm // Mirror: Ikea // Curtains: West Elm // Curtain Rod: West Elm // Curtain Rings: West Elm // Picture Frame: West Elm // Marble Tray: West Elm // Longhorn Print: Minted // Tom Landry Print: Etsy // Willie Nelson Print: Etsy // Big Tex Print: Etsy // Frames: Framebridge

Today is the first official day of fall and football is in full swing. I can’t think of anything better than a new season to give a little relief to a year of quarantine. The Cowboys game this past Sunday was the perfect excuse to throw on my new Gameday Retro terry and heat up the crockpot. Since the Cowboys escaped the game with a win, I am claiming this super comfy Gameday Retro terry as my new lucky Cowboys shirt. If the shirt isn’t lucky this incredible Bob Armstrong Queso might be. You can thank Matt’s El Rancho in Austin and former Texas land commissioner Bob Armstrong for creating this fantastic Tex-Mex dip. I took my own spin on the famous Bob Armstrong queso using ground beef, extra sharp cheddar, and fresh guacamole. You can also add sour cream or pico de gallo on top of piping hot queso for extra flavor. Enjoy! xoxo

Images via Alex Phillips.

Print Bob Armstrong Queso Recipe. 

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1 pound ground beef chuck (20% fat)

1 medium onion, chopped

1 green bell pepper, chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

3 tablespoons taco seasoning

3 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 large poblano chile, chopped

3 jalapeños, finely chopped

2 medium tomatoes, chopped

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cups milk

1 pound Monterey Jack cheese, grated

1 pound sharp cheddar cheese, grated

Heat oil in a large skillet over high. Add half chopped onion, bell pepper, and garlic, and cook until slightly brown about 2 minutes. Add beef, breaking it up until fully browned. Add taco seasoning and simmer until well combined. Transfer meat to crockpot and set to low heat. 

Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook the remaining half-chopped onion, poblano chile, jalapeños, and tomatoes. Cook for about 8 minutes or until most juices have evaporated. Stir in flour and whisk in milk and cook until the mixture comes to a boil and thickens. Reduce heat and gradually add cheeses and cook, stirring often, until cheese is completely melted and queso is smooth. 

Pour queso into the crockpot and stir into the beef. Add top with fresh guacamole and with tortilla chips.