This 'n That Thursdays: A Trip to the Santa Fe Plaza

Santa Fe Plaza (from The Monumentous)

The Sunday before last my husband and I went to the Santa Fe plaza for a day of sightseeing and shopping.  The plaza is a must-see destination for visitors, with its unique shops, excellent restaurants, great museums, and many historic sites.  Although most of the items in the plaza shops are way out of our price range, these places are great for window shopping.  One of my favorites is the rug room at Malouf on the Plaza, which is packed with colorful woven rugs in a vast array of patterns.

I just love all the colors in this room!
(image from TripAdvisor)

My husband's favorite plaza shop is Andrea Fisher Fine Pottery.  Pottery collecting is my husband's passion, but we do try to restrict his purchases to one a year as these fine pieces are not inexpensive!  We found a gorgeous pot that both of us loved, and my husband made his annual purchase that day.

 

Images from Andrea Fisher Fine Pottery.

One goal we achieved while in downtown Santa Fe was the discovery of the best bagels in town!  Boultawn's Bagelry, Cafe & Gallery advertises themselves as being the "Home of New Mexico's Best Bagels" and as far as we are concerned they are right!  They are not on the plaza, but close enough to be convenient, and they are also just down the street from The Cheesemonger's Shop, another favorite food establishment of ours in Santa Fe.  We stocked up on bagels as well as a few specialty cheeses, and then headed for home well satisfied with our day.  If you ever come to Santa Fe, make sure that a visit to the plaza is on your to-do list!
                

Wish List Wednesdays: Loon Peak Switzer China Cabinet

Our new house here in New Mexico has a lot less storage than our Georgia home.  Since I have an extensive tableware collection, I have decided that I need a large china cabinet to store many of the kitchen items that have not yet made the move to Santa Fe.  These furniture pieces are not cheap!  I would prefer to buy something locally so that I can actually see it in person before making up my mind, but if I had to buy online I would consider something like the Loon Peak Switzer China Cabinet ($4,599) in Artisan Oak available from Wayfair (like I said, a large china cabinet is not cheap!).

I like the simple lines and all of the closed storage, top and bottom, because I have so much dinnerware that there would be no room for artful arrangements on open or glass-fronted shelves.  The color is close to that of the wood floor in our dining room, and the dining room is big enough to fit such a large piece of furniture.  Shipping is free, as is in-home delivery, and full-service delivery plus assembly is available for an additional $120.  The reviews have been excellent for this china cabinet, but I would have to think long and hard about ordering such and expensive piece online.  Maybe if I wait a while Wayfair will have a fantastic sale on this piece - not likely, but I can dream, right?
               

Weekend Wardrobe: 2020 Outfit of the Week #2

White Stag Paisley Print Long Sleeve Top

This week's outfit, inspired like last week by another White Stag long-sleeved top, was worn last Sunday when my husband and I finally made a trip to the Santa Fe plaza for a bit of sightseeing and shopping.  This historic heart of downtown Santa Fe is a tourist mecca, and is full of excellent restaurants, shops, and historic locations, all within relatively easy walking distance (although parking can sometimes be a problem, there are parking garages, and street parking is free on Sundays!).  I will describe this fun outing in another post later this week, but here is the outfit I wore that day:

Clockwise from top left: J. Crew Women's Cotton V-Neck Sweater in Black (similar to mine); L.L. Bean Women's Primaloft Packaway Jacket in Black; James Avery Twisted Wire Link Necklace with Turquoise (similar to my much less expensive faux turquoise one); Bomba's Women's Merino Wool Calf Socks in Black; Dr. Scholl's Women's Wide Width Marci Gel-Pac Zippered Loafers in Black (no longer available); L.L. Bean Women's Performance Stretch Slim Jeans in Black Plum (similar to mine); White Stag Paisley Print Long Sleeve Top (no longer available).

As mentioned in the outfit description, my necklace is a very inexpensive one made of faux turquoise and silver.  Even though I paid less than $20 for it, this necklace is one of my favorites, and I found it quite by chance.  I was at a feed store in Georgia to pick up some supplies for my horse.  I made my purchases and was on my way out the door when a sudden violent storm sprang up.  Not having an umbrella with me, I decided to wait out the storm at the front of the store.  While waiting, I happened to glance at a display case next to me, noticed this little necklace, and was immediately smitten.  I took a closer look and saw that the price was quite reasonable, so back to the register I went to add a new piece of jewelry to my collection.  I now wear this necklace more than any other piece of jewelry I own!

This past week has been extremely busy as I have been putting new furniture together, getting ready to host some neighbors for dinner over the weekend, and gearing up for my husband's departure back to Georgia in a few days.  I plan to get back to posting as usual this week, and of course there will be another outfit of the week included!
                

Weekend Wardrobe: 2020 Outfit of the Week #1

White Stag Long Sleeve Turtleneck Shirt

Until I have a bit more free time, I have decided to put together brief Weekend Wardrobe posts of a favorite outfit I wore for the week rather than more extensive wardrobe ensembles.  This week's outfit is one I wore to lunch at the Boxcar, where my husband and I met his second cousin and her husband for lunch (for some reason several women that my husband has known over the years have decided to retire to Santa Fe, just like us, and we have been getting together with them over the past couple of weeks before he has to return to Georgia).

The turtleneck top above was the inspiration for this outfit.  I love tops that feature animal designs (as opposed to animal prints like leopard, although I have nothing against these patterns).  The above turtleneck features little polar bears in bright red scarves and hats, as well as tiny white snowflakes and pine trees, so it is seasonal without being too much of a holiday print.  I added a bright red pullover sweater with a deep V-neck and comfortable jeans, plus heathered red wool socks for warmth and sturdy shoes with good tread to deal with snow and ice.  I tend not to add accessories like jewelry to an outfit like this one since there is already enough bulk and the print of the top adds enough interest at the neckline.

Clockwise from top left: Faded Glory V-Neck Sweater in Red (similar to mine, which is no longer available); Calvin Klein Packable Down Hooded Long Puffer Coat in Shine Wine (similar to mine, which is more of a deep red color but is no longer available); Wigwam El Pine Socks in Red Heather (very similar to mine); Dr. Scholl's Women's Wide Width Marci Gel-Pac Zippered Loafers in Black (no longer available); Red Kap Women's Straight Fit Jean (similar to mine); White Stag Long-Sleeved Turtleneck Shirt in Light Blue Polar Bear Print (no longer available).

Since it was a rather cold day, I wore my new coat (found at the local TJ Maxx) in a lovely deep red shade that is down-filled and rated to temperatures down to 0 degrees!  The Boxcar is a relaxed sports bar setting, so this casual and fun outfit felt like just the right choice.  We had an excellent lunch and great conversation with my husband's relatives, so overall it was the perfect way to spend a chilly winter afternoon.  This retirement lifestyle is looking better and better all the time!
             

Foodie Fridays: Hot Artichoke Green Chile Dip

Our new neighbors here in Santa Fe invited us over for dinner on New Year's Day.  I decided to bring an appetizer dish and immediately thought of my favorite Hot Artichoke Dip.  As I mentioned yesterday, my husband and I are currently obsessed with a type of jarred green chile called 505 Southwestern Flame Roasted Green Chile and have been adding it to all sorts of dishes, so I decided to add them to the dip.  The result was so tasty that I may never make this dip without green chiles again!  This recipe is quick and easy to make, and I love to serve it with large Scoops! corn chips, but celery sticks make a great healthier alternative for dipping.  Don't be surprised if you see more recipes featuring green chile in the near future here, because we truly are obsessed!

Hot Artichoke Green Chile Dip

1 can (14 oz.) artichoke hearts in brine, chopped
1 C. mayonnaise
1 C. grated or shredded Parmesan cheese
1/4 C. flame roasted green chile (or to taste)
juice of 1/2 lemon

Combine all of the ingredients and stir until well blended.  Place in a small lightly greased casserole dish and bake at 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes until hot.  Serve with large corn chip scoops and celery sticks.
             

This 'n That Thursdays: Some New Products I Am Loving Right Now

Since moving to New Mexico I have discovered a few new products that I cannot seem to live without now, so I thought I would share my finds.  First up, you may recall that I was searching for a butter substitute that would replace my favorite butter/canola oil blend in an effort to reduce my saturated fat intake.  The avocado oil spread I tried was good, but did not have the true buttery taste I was looking for.  I tried the spread by Earth Balance, and while the flavor was better the texture was too crumbly and it did not melt easily on toast the way my favorite butter spread did.  Recently I discovered Country Crock Plant Butter with Almond Oil, and it is perfect!  The taste is so similar to butter, and it melts just the way it should when spread on toast.  I also purchased it in stick form so that the next time I bake I can substitute it for real butter.  I will let you know how successful this substitution is when I try it!

New Mexico's climate is much drier than that of Georgia, of course, and when the temperatures drop my skin can get really dry.  For my lips, I discovered that the best treatment is Aquaphor Lip Protectant with Sunscreen (the sun is also very intense here).  I find that I only need to apply it once a day, in the morning, and my lips do not dry out and crack at all.

For my hands, I need an emollient-rich cream to prevent the skin from cracking and bleeding, since I am outdoors several times a day to care for my horse and often must remove my gloves to get my chores done.  The first time it got very cold here I ended up with four bandaged fingers at once thanks to deeply cracked and bleeding cuticles that took quite a while to heal.  The best cream I have found is one my husband got for me a while ago but was too rich for me to use in Georgia.  The Soap & Paper Factory Classic Hand Cream in Lavender has worked so well that I have had not problems with dry hands since I started using it, and the lavender fragrance (my favorite scent) is an added bonus.

New Mexico is known for its southwestern food, and that means chiles, so I have been learning to love chiles!  I got here a little too late for peak Hatch chile season, but I have found a favorite bottled variety that is a good substitute when the fresh chiles are not in season.  I have added 505 Southwestern Flame Roasted Green Chile to my favorite chili recipe as well as soup, corn muffins, and dips, and my husband has been adding them to just about everything!  We both love the smoky, earthy flavor and subtle heat they add to any dish.

If you do make green chile corn muffins, you may want to save some for breakfast and spread them with Heidi's Raspberry Red Chile Jam.  I was afraid that the jam might be a bit too hot for me, but the heat is subtle, not overpowering, and complements the green chile in the muffins quite well.  (As you can tell, we are eating quite well here in Santa Fe!)

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As I continue to settle in to our new location I am sure I will discover more useful products, and I will continue to post my finds here.  I still have some unpacking to do, but hopefully I am back on a more regular blogging schedule now!
             

Wish List Wednesdays: Pretty Tops for Zebra Lovers

As a lover of all things equid, how could I resist a colorful zebra print top?  The Knit Mock Neck Top  ($58.00) from Anthropologie shown above is made of a cotton spandex material in a warm maize hue that would be great for layering under a cardigan or blazer during the colder winter months. And the Sugarhill Brighton Look on the Wild Side Button-Up Top ($59.00) from ModCloth, in a rich teal viscose fabric, is also perfect for layering.

Is anyone else feeling the zebra love like I am?  These pretty tops just might be cantering into my closet soon!