Have a Bleu Christmas... Martini, that is!

The holiday season is certainly a time of indulgence with sweet treats tempting us at every turn, but if you're like me, I typically prefer salty or savory flavors, even when it comes to my cocktails.  Although I'm mostly a red-wine girl at home, every once in a while, I'll get a craving for a classic dirty vodka martini if we're out.  The salty olive juice (the "dirty") and the chilled vodka are fine, but add some fresh blue-cheese stuffed olives and I'm all set. If you're looking for an alternative to super-sweet cocktails this season, try your hand at a dirty martini. You'll probably get a few firm eye-handshakes from strangers at the bar, plus this simple recipe is fool-proof, so you can show off your mixologist skills with confidence at your next holiday get-together. 

Stay tuned for weekly holiday-inspired cocktail recipes all month long! Cheers!

Ingredients (makes one)

3 oz. vodka (use the best you can afford, unless you're like, under 25. Trust me.)

1 tsp. dry vermouth

2 fresh bleu cheese stuffed olives

1-2tsp olive juice

To Make:

Swirl vermouth in empty chilled glass. Shake vodka with ice to chill. Pour into chilled glass. Add splash of olive juice to taste, and blue cheese olives to garnish. Enjoy!

Be merry & bright,

Hailey

HOW TO WEAR A SQUARE SCARF

Erica Floral Scarf // Everything Tote in Tan

If we've ever hung out in person, you've mostly likely seen me wearing a scarf, year round, in almost any kind of weather. For me, an outfit doesn't quite feel complete without one. Because of this, I used to have a pretty serious scarf-hoarding situation in my closet, but as I've worked on simplifying and tidying up (are you in on The Life-Changing Magic, yet?) the rest of my life, I've pared down my scarf collection to a handful of my very favorite pieces, which includes the scarf I purchased this past Spring during my trip to India. In fact, I've loved (and worn) this scarf so much, I spent nearly two months corresponding back and forth with the owner of the shop that I purchased mine from, and arranged for a small shipment of these beautiful handmade scarves for the shop. 

My favorite thing about these scarves is... everything! The lightweight fabric is comfortable and cozy, even for the most claustrophobic scarf-wearer, and the patterns are all so pretty and unique, no two pieces are the same! And each scarf is finished with delicate details like fabric-wrapped seashell tassels and buttons. I also love the square shape, although I wasn't quite sure at first how to wear it, especially with the tassels on the corners. But once I found a low-maintenance way to wrap it, it became my new go-to scarf style. 

Here is my Simple Way to Wear a Square Scarf:

1. Fold scarf into a large triangle by connecting diagonal corners

2. With folded edge facing you, drape long ends over shoulders

3. Cross one end over the opposite shoulder, bring to front

4. Cross other end around opposite shoulder, bring to front

5. All four corners will be hanging down in front 

6. Layer the corners or tuck them as you wish

7. That's it! Easy peasy mac n' cheesy.

Enjoy wearing your new square scarf!

Hailey

Five Ways to Create an Eco-Friendly Bathroom Oasis

Between loads of laundry, endless bottles of toiletries, gallons of water, and small appliances, bathrooms can be major resource hogs. They are also often the most frequently used rooms in the house so, first and foremost, they need to be functional. By making a few simple changes to your bathroom decor you can help reduce clutter and chaos while creating a clean, serene, eco-friendly oasis in your home. 

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1. Bamboo bath mats help keep water away from floors and, unlike solid mats, allow air to circulate to dry them off quickly. Plus, they can be easily rinsed-off in the shower without adding to the laundry pile. 

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2. Air-purifying plants help filter moisture out of the room to keep surfaces fresh and clean. Look for low-light loving indoor plants, or go ultra low-maintenance with a simple air plant hanger.

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3. Beautiful baskets pull double duty as convenient storage containers and decor, minimizing the need for additional clutter on shelves, counters, or floors. 

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4. Quick-dry fabrics like lightweight Turkish-towels are often made of sustainable cotton or bamboo materials and require less time in the washer and dryer. Keep hand towels or washcloths within guest's reach by displaying them in a decorative bowl.

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5. Buy bath products in bulk or DIY all-natural alternatives and decant them into decorative jars to save $$$ and reduce the amount of waste that's produced on a regular basis. Keep makeup or travel-sized items in a pretty pouch that can be easily tossed into a gym bag on the go! 

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Enjoy the process,

Hailey