Memphis Indie Holiday Market This Saturday

I can't wait to meet you this Saturday at Muddy's Grind House for the Memphis Indie Holiday Market. The patio weather will be absolutely gorgeous for a December day with 50-degree sunshine. But if you're chilly, you can head inside of the Grind House for a hot tea or coffee. If you're hungry, sizzling hot slices from Rock N Dough Pizza Co. will satisfy your taste buds.

While I am sponsoring the overall event, I have been crafting late into the evenings to bring you a booth of my own! I don't want to give away too much of the product, but I'll fill all of your cocktail garnish needs on Saturday. You'll swoon over the tiny mason jars wrapped in twine.

The vendor line-up is phenomenal. If you haven't heard, the 25 selected booths were curated by a successful ceramist in Omaha, Nebraska, The Object Enthusiast. Be prepared to walk through gorgeous displays of jewelry, prints, vintage watches, apparel, ceramics, baked goods, textiles, fine art, and food products.

See you there. Look out for this hand-lettered logo, and you'll find me!

Memphis Food-Lover Gift Guide on StyleBlueprint

"I’m willing to bet that you have at least one foodie on your holiday shopping list. And since Memphis is such a food-centric city, there are plenty of locally found gift options that will bring a smile to your loved one’s face. Where to start? No worries, we have you covered! Here are five great ideas to get you started..." Read more on the StyleBlueprint website!

Items include my favorite salted caramels, bloody mary mix, recipe cards, and more...

See You Tonight at Madewell Saddle Creek

Let's celebrate! Stop in between 6:30 and 8 p.m. and join me in the special evening. Beyond Madewell's beautiful winter line, you can taste a few of Muddy's Bake Shop's specialties and toast with a flute of champagne in honor of the holiday season and Caramelized's second blogiversary. Plus, the first dozen shoppers will find an extra special surprise in their shopping bags, handmade by yours truly. Scroll down to see...

See you tonight!

A Caramelized Gift Guide

We've recently been bombarded with gift guides galore, and here I am handing you another. I apologize. But it's a small one! And, in fact, it's all of my current obsessions (hint hint, family members). My number one coveted item right now is the adorable new Madewell sleepwear line. I'll most likely be purchasing these sweatpants and this sweatshirt tomorrow night at my Madewell holiday party! I hope to see y'all there, Memphis. Keep scrolling for my other favorite finds...

1. Triangle tea towels from Sunday Supply Co.

2. Cup & saucer from Paper & Clay

3. Wish Bone necklace from Jennifer Zeuner

4. Nina two-piece skimmer from Vince

5. Piper sunglasses from Warby Parker

6. Coconut Bath Soak from Amelia

7. Schmidt Brothers Knives from West Elm

To Sweet Beginnings, and a Sweeter Journey

I began Caramelized two Thanksgivings ago. My first post, entitled "Sweet Beginnings," introduced my effort to "make life a little sweeter." It started as a simple mindset, and it has since turned into the mantra of my twenty-something life.

I have met immensely talented chefs, writers and role models around the country; I have experienced incredible events and collaborative opportunities; I have developed my passions of writing and photography; And I am still finding my voice. Thank you for reading and letting me experiment.

I look forward to continuing this journey -- my heart is full, and I hope your stomachs are, too!

Join me in celebrating at Madewell Saddle Creek next Thursday from 6:30-8 p.m. We'll toast with bubbly, shop with exclusive discounts, and enjoy sweets with Muddy's Bake Shop. RSVP (rsvpsaddlecreek@madewell.com) or send me a note that you'll be there. Can't wait to see, meet, and celebrate with you!

photo via camille styles

How to Sweeten the Season with Nature Nate's

As holiday desserts consume our Pinterest boards, and menu planning for holiday feasts become a top-of-mind task, I cannot think of a more appropriate sweetener to a holiday moment (or meal). Nature Nate's is a 100% pure raw and unfiltered honey from my good 'ole stopping grounds of Texas, and I've quickly found myself craving the simple sweetness in each drop.

I personally adore Nature Nate's relevance to my blog mantra, "sweet touches to everyday experiences." Its delivery, first of all, is quite charming; the hand-written label is enough to convince me to choose Nature Nate's over the generic product on my grocery aisle...before even tasting it! After adding the bottle to my pantry shelf, I have found countless reasons to use it: in my nightly cups of tea, in the scones recipe I'm trying out before Thanksgiving travels, and in a new vinaigrette I'm concocting for a kale and pomegranate salad. If you're in need of honey-infused recipes, look no further than the BeeSweet blog, which lists dozens of seasonal dishes, especially beyond desserts.

When I picked up a loaf of fresh pumpkin bread from The Fresh Market this past weekend, I drizzled a bit on each slice before serving to friends. And you bet I'll be adding the blueberry honey syrup to my next batch of buckwheat pancakes!

How will you sweeten your holiday season?

This post is in partnership with Nature Nate's, and ingredients were made possible by The Fresh Market. Thank you for being supportive of my sponsors!

featured image courtesy of Nature Nate's