Today on weekend meanderings, it’s autumn and I’m ready to get cozy with an Apple Cider Aperol Spritz, a structured fall cardigan, a central coast road-trip inspired cookbook, and a new British detective series.
Happy Saturday, friends!
It’s time for the weekend post with Kim and Elizabeth, our weekly roundup of inspirations and goings on.
It’s autumn! Finally. At least it will be on Monday and I’m ready which is evident from my inspirations this week.
All products and links included in this post are selected by me and some may be affiliate links.
First things first, have you seen Downton Abbey:The Grand Finale? We went last weekend and loved it. I got emotional at the first glimpse of Downton when the theme music begins to play. Same during the closing credits. Why does this have to be the final chapter?!
Welcome Home, Kyle & Melody!
In exciting news Kyle and Melody bought their first home. And it’s just a few minutes from us (Jim timed it and says it’s six minutes!). We’re super excited to have them so close – don’t worry, we won’t be bothersome show-up-unannounced type of parents. It feels like their wedding was yesterday but it’s been nearly four years.
Huge thanks to the Dana Green Team and mortgage broker Deanna Smith (I shared her beautiful backyard baby shower here) for helping them navigate their first home purchase.
Apple Cider Aperol Spritz
It’s autumn! Or it will be on Monday. A few years ago I joined favorite blogging pals for an Autumn Progressive Dinner. I was assigned to the drinks course and my Apple Cider Aperol Spritz remains one of my most popular and pinned posts. In fact, if I didn’t know it was autumn by the calendar, I’d know because Pinterest alerts me that the post is trending.
In the Autumn Progressive Dinner post I shared the Apple Cider Aperol Spritz recipe as a batch drink to serve 10. Here’s the recipe for a single spritz.
Ingredients
Method
- Mix cinnamon and sugar together. Dip rim of glass in cider, then into cinnamon sugar to create pretty rim. Fill glass with ice.
- Add hard cider and Aperol. Top with Club Soda and stir.
- Garnish with apple wedge and thyme sprig.
Fall Sweater
The algorithms know what we like. At least they’ve got my number. And I couldn’t resist Quince’s Mongolian cashmere structured sweater. The only dilemna … what color to buy? After a lot of hemming and hawing I chose brown. Chocolate brown. Brown is big this fall, and I don’t have much of it in my closet so it will be a welcome change from my typical beige safe zone.
Back in the day I wore this style of sweater to the office over pencil skirts or trousers. In my current stay-at-home-blogging era I’ll probably wear it with jeans or, since we’re in that in-between summer and fall weather period, my favorite cropped linen pants. It should also pair nicely with my new Frank & Eileen twill pants. I shared all my new fall Frank & Eileen pieces here.
Recipes Inspired by the Central California Coast
I added a new cookbook to my limited but expanding pied-à-terre library, Coastal: 130 Recipes from a California Road Trip by Scott Clark with Betsy Andrews and gorgeous photography by Cheyenne Ellis.
Last week I talked about our road trip to Oregon which bears no resemblance to this breathtaking coastal California journey. Not to say Oregon isn’t beautiful. If we’d had time to drive up the California and Oregon coastline it would have been stunning. Sadly, we drove up the I5 which holds little appeal, culinary or otherwise.
But back to the book, Scott Clark is a Washington D.C. to San Francisco chef who chucked the high pressure restaurant kitchen life to open Dad’s Luncheonette – in a train caboose – in Half Moon Bay. I’ve never been, but clearly need to remedy this oversight.
Coastal is full of fresh, locally inspired recipes … think just-out-of-the-ocean seafood, seasonal produce + more. The 130 recipes, including cocktails like a Chamomile Pink Peppercorn Spritz, celebrate California’s central between Half Moon Bay and Santa Barbara. To be totally honest, the recipes are foodie-forward (I made that up) meaning made for a more sophisticated palate than mine (which is more reflective of 13-year old girl). And in some cases the level of cheffy-ness required to bring them off may exceed my limited culinary skills. Nevertheless, I’ve earmarked quite a few that I’d like to try including this roasted corn and smoked blue cheese salad. I never met a corn recipe I didn’t like – unless it involves mayo (gross). Jim complains I add corn to everything but that doesn’t stop him from gobbling it up.
Image by Cheyenne Ellis via Goop
Lynley
Some things change and others stay the same. In the world of television, much has changed … the big networks have been obscured by streaming and appointment TV replaced by binging. But fall remains the time for new series debuts and the high anticipated return of our favorites. We’re looking forward to Only Murders in the Building (already started but we’re waiting until there are a a few episodes to binge), Slow Horses, The Morning Show and Emily in Paris. And so many more.
A new favorite is Lynley, a detective series on Britbox. Season one is comprised of four, (short) movie length episodes starring Leo Suter as the aristocratic – Earl’s son – DI Thomas Lynley and Sofia Barclay as his partner, DS Barbara Havers. I love how frequently familiar faces appear in British TV shows and Lynley is no different. Daniel Mays plays DCI Brien Nies, their obnoxious boss. He’s very good at playing unlikable and/or bumbling characters … like Sargeant Waldron in Line of Duty and DCI Hudson in The Thursday Murder Club (so good!).
Lynley is a remake of BBC’s The Inspector Lynley Mysteries based on the Inspector Lynley novels by Elizabeth George. The first three episodes are available on Britbox with the fourth is coming September 25th … this week.
Odds & Socks ~
Breaking news … demolition of the little house is happening on Monday! It’s been a year and a half in planning and I won’t believe it until I see it. I’ll share the process in my Instagram stories if you’d like to follow along. Oh and coming soon, a ‘before’ tour of the little house property which I’ll post once the project is officially underway. In the meantime, Snowberry’s YouTube home tour is up and running.
Versed sent me their Rich Barrier Cream. I’ve been using – and loving – it all week. I’m a fan of the price point too. It’s not heavy, soaks in nicely, with no detectable fragrance which hits all my must-haves for a moisture cream. More later after I’ve used it a bit longer.
Coastal Cookbook | Rich Barrier Cream | Cozy Cardi |
Plain Doormat | Baskets (similar here) and here)
Current Favorites ~
That’s what I have for you today.
Juliet,
I will keep my fingers crossed for the demolition of the little house! This is the start of a new and exciting adventure. By this time next year you will be celebrating Fall in your new place.
Speaking of new house, congratulations to Kyle and Melody, how exciting to have their first house and to have you and Jim so close.
Fall is the best season in my opinion, cozy weather, comfy clothes, tasty treats. Your spritz and new brow sweater are perfect.
I may need that very same brown sweater! It looks beautiful.
Don’t you just love cookbooks? In addition to the recipes, the photos and stories are always a highlight.
Have a wonderful weekend Jiliet, happy Fall!
xo
Elizabeth! Thanks for the kind words of encouragement. Fall is my favorite season too and to think that next year we’ll be enjoying it in our new house … well, it’s what’s keeping me going right now. Cookbooks are the best, I take after my mom and love to read them like a novel. I think the brown cardi is perfect for you … let’s just hope the weather cooperates soon so we can wear our sweaters and revel in the most wonderful season. xo
I had my first cider aperol spritz just yesterday! My daughter treated me to a wonderful lunch at my favorite restaurant. It was delicious.
Lyn! Cheers to that … I’d say your first Apple Cider Aperol Spritz officially kicks off fall! xo
For some reason I no longer get your Instagram. Maybe marked as spam???
That’s very odd. Maybe search Make Mine A Spritzer and double check you’re following … or send me a direct message and we’ll see if we can’t reconnect. xo
Great post, as usual. I enjoyed!
Linda! Thank you and happy weekend! xo
We too have family in Oregon and I have two tips: 1. On the drive up… stop at Ellie’s Espresso & Bakery in Weed. Great baked goods and wonderful sandwiches. Secondly.. when we were up there for Graduapalooza (three grands graduating over 10 days) we had some spare time and went wine tasting in the Willamette Valley. I have an amazing itinerary organized by my step son’s sister (life is complicated) who works at Dobbes as an assistant winemaker… happy to share it… although with Jim’s contacts you may not need it…we stayed at the Allison which was fantastic. Did I get that from you?
Leila! Graduapolooza!!! I love it … and it must have been fun. I’d love your step son’s sister’s itinerary … sounds wonderful. And I know about the Allison – we learned about it on our trip to McMinnville, although we stayed at an Airbnb – which looks totally amazing and is on my radar for an Oregon wine country getaway. Glad to have your seal of approval. I think you’ve mentioned Ellie’s bakery before … and I’m adding it to my list for our next road trip which really needs to be more leisurely. Probably next summer … maybe up the coast and back I5?! Thanks for chiming in, I appreciate the recommendations. Have a wonderful weekend! xo
We have the same taste in British tv. Love Lynley. I told my friend the lead character is so handsome he could play Superman! Also loved Code of Silence and excited for slow horses. I don’t think Gary Oldman showers between seasons, but he is so fabulous.
It will be fun watching the transformation of your new home.
Warmly
Mary
Mary! You’re right, Gary Oldman really lives his character! And yes, the future Earl is Prince Charming handsome. xo
Hi Juliet,
Thanks for a lovely post I will definitely be watching Linley! Loving the series Unforgotten right now on PBS and Amazon if you need something new and there are many seasons.
The chocalate brown sweater is gorgeous! Have a lovely weekend!
I am loving Linley, wish they had more episodes for season 1.
Many years ago, I watched the original Detective Lynley Series; now I am going back and watching series 1 of that. It explains more about his past and the girlfriend from college who he still loves. Must watch to get more of the detective’s history.
Juliet SO excited for fall too. Love how Kyle and Melody’s porch looks with the sunflowers! Wishing them the best in the new place. I felt the same about Downton. So good….Thank goodness for BritBox and detective and murder shows. I don’t know how I would cope with the current state of things without that escape at night. I am putting this new one on my list. Right now we are watching Death Valley, and I can’t wait for Slow Horses. Race Around the World – also on B Box is good as well.
I have to make a fall Aperol Spritz. You made these look do good. I love the Quince sweater you chose. It’s so pretty and a good price versus a similar one… I adore that color.
Love hearing more about that cookbook! I keep seeing it. I had no idea about the trailer either.. We need to get to Half Moon Bay.
Hope you have a great weekend! xo
The cocktail sounds delish and that salad…I have to try that. Yum
You must be so excited that demo is starting in the first day of fall. It’s a sign of good things to come.
And very exciting the kids have bought their first house. They must be very excited.
Hi Juliet,
I meant to comment on your road trip to Oregon. You two are road warriors. Lived seeing your mother-in-law. The table setting and everything was beautiful. You have a nice family.
What great news that Melody and Kyle just bought their first home and it’s so close. How nice is that. Nothing beats having family so close by. When is their baby due?
The sweater you purchased from Quince will look pretty on you.
It’s finally a little under 100 degrees. Az is hard, AC saves the day. Me too, I love Spring and Fall.
Take care, and stay safe out there.
Juliet! Your Apple Cider Aperol Spritz looks so beautiful! Pinned to fall recipes!
So exciting about your breaking ground on the first day of fall! Can’t wait to follow along!
xo
annie
Another fun post, Juliet! When I saw “spritz” in the title, I was thinking of the cookie, ha. Shows you where my mind is. But the drink sounds fun too — I will have to give it a try! Excited to see your new home move forward! Happy fall!
I pinned that salad…right up my alley…I am similar to you add corn to anything I can this time of year. I am also on your no mayo team. A good aoli no problem, but regular mayo…yuik!
Cindy! Same. Aioli fine, mayo no. Ha! xo