Top: Nordstrom [wearing size M, go up 1 size!] | Jeans: Shopbop | Shoes: Ann Taylor [went up half a size as I do that in mules] | Bag: Gigi New York | Sunglasses: Ray Ban | Bracelet: Julie Vos [c/o] | Belt: Ann Taylor | Earrings: Gorjana | Lipstick: Pink Moscato Liner, Cameron
Photography by: Angie Garcia
Choker tops are all the rage lately. I’ve really liked seeing this trend roll out because I’ll take anything that fancies up a look without making it fussy. However, A LOT of these tops are way too low cut. You end up fidgeting with your top 24/7 and all of a sudden it becomes the most high maintenance thing you own. What happened to avoiding fussy?
I picked up this top and that wasn’t the case. Now note, this top runs smaller so I went up a size. It is currently 33% off and costs you $39. [If you’re reading this later after the sale I’m sorry!] I did a little front tuck situation to wear this to a birthday dinner two weeks ago. This top can also transition into spring and summer with shorts or a little skirt.
Now switching gears to Christmas Eve…
Choker tops. Christmas Eve. Same thing. I’m in charge of Christmas Eve dinner for our family. My mom makes Christmas dinner but we are having Christmas Eve dinner at our home, so I need your generous help. I’m at a loss! We do prime rib for Christmas so what’s something different for Christmas Eve? My mom is gluten free and I spent a good hour rocking Maxi this weekend just googling Pinterest gluten-free recipes. But so much of it was very “quick dinner on a Tuesday” and not all that special. Please tell me you have some fabulous holiday recipe you can share! This is what I make for Christmas morning! I’m off to go finish addressing Christmas cards. I can’t wait to show you ours. 🙂
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I love bags by GiGi New York! Perfect color choice <3
BlondieintheCity.com
Gorgeous outfit. I love choker tops but you’re right, most of them are too low-cut!
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
Happy Holidays Katey! In my family we do tons of different finger foods/appetizers on Christmas Eve. It’s really fun and different!
I am cooking gumbo! I adding a salad and French bread for a simple yet flavorful meal! We are doing Christmas brunch and staying in pj’s all day Christmas, playing games and watching Christmas movies!
We always have beef on Christmas too and try to do different things on Christmas Eve. This year we are going out, but you know what is so fun when you stay in? Fondue!! It’s different but you still get a lot to eat and can easily make it gluten free. The cheese with different fruits is so yummy and of course, the chocolate is to die for, but you can also do meats and seafoods too! 🙂
Hi Katy! Another blogger that I read daily is PaleOmg – She is a Paleo blogger, and so all of her recipes are completely gluten free. She even has a “holiday” tab on her website under recipes. I hope you can find something there to make Christmas Eve special with your family! http://paleomg.com
xoxo
Tamales are always a part of our Christmas Eve dinner! I’m guessing they are gluten-free? Also a charcuterie board always…loaded with fruit, olives, various cheeses, crackers (you can do gf), etc… Hope this helps 🙂
We love beef tenderloin with asparagus, twice baked potatoes, and corn but obviously substitute what you can to make it GF.
On Christmas Eve we do beef tenderloin along with heavy appetizers, like shrimp cocktail, homemade queso and chips, veggie trays with hummus, etc. We also do prime rib on Christmas day!
Merry Christmas!
http://www.styliniowan.com
Look at Against All Grain’s (Danielle Walker’s) Celebrations cookbook! There are loads of GF recipes that are “traditional” for holidays 🙂
I need to get that for her!! Thank you! xo
Our long time family tradition on Christmas Eve is Oyster Stew that my 82 year old Papa still makes every year. We lost my Mama last year so the holidays are tough this time around. But we’re still keeping those family traditions alive that have meant so much to our whole family for soooo many years. I always pick up a ham, so we have also have little ham sandwiches, with cheeses, etc. ENJOY and I’m sure your Christmas cards will be PRECIOUS!!! XOXOXO
I am so sorry for the loss of your Mama! 🙁 I cannot imagine how tough this season is for you. I will be thinking of you! I truly love that your Papa still makes that stew! What a blessed tradition! xo
Thanks, Sweetie. Tough, but Blessed, indeed!!!
What about a few different pastas (including gluten free) and a few different sauces? Tomato based, something creamy, and a pesto? Could do chicken or other proteins as well but everyone can kind of make their own! Add with a hearty salad and some garlic bread! My family is in Dallas so i’ll be spending the holidays up there and I was looking at the forecast and it’s supposed to be pretty chilly! A pasta dinner just sounds cozy especially since you’ll have more of a meat-centered meal on Christmas! Merry Christmas, Katey!
She loves pesto so this sounds amazing!! Thank you girl! Merry Christmas to you and yours! xo
I’m a fan of casual yet elegant for hosting family gatherings. Fondue can be delicious and so fun, especially if you choose gourmet cheeses, meats and breads for the special occasion. Merry Christmas!
We always do Fondue on Christmas Eve!
I am gluten free and I use a flour called Better Batter, that way you can make your regular recipes. My family actually likes meals with that flour better. If you are making something with noodles, the best noodles are from Trader Joe’s. Trader Joe’s almost has a wonder Pumpkin muffin mix that is so good too! I’ll put my thinking cap on for other suggestions!
Thank you so much!! I will go grab that muffin mix! You’re the best! xo
I love those jeans! Going to try to recreate this outfit this weekend!
I’m trying to convince my family to do breakfast for dinner for Christmas Eve. We do SO much food on Christmas Day (very similar to what we do thanksgiving) I think the idea of doing a pancake bar, pastries, fruit, bacon all the goodies in kind of a buffet style would be easy for after Christmas Eve service, not too heavy, and fairly simple. You could do GF options for a lot of those things. Ok I’m rambling. Can you tell I was trying hard to sell this idea today?!
LOVE this idea!! and so easy!!
xoxo
We have beef tenderloin on Christmas Eve and then do brunch Christmas Day. When I was growing up Christmas Eve was usually soup with finger sandwiches and other appetizers.
We do prime rib for Christmas dinner as well!! On Christmas Eve we do Italian food, i.e. chicken/veal parmesan, caprese salad, and bruscheta! You can substitute the pasta in the chicken parmesan with gluten free pasta!
My mom is gluten free too so we always do Salmon Oscar for Christmas Eve with roasted potatoes and asparagus. It’s not too heavy but still feels special because of the crab!
In years past we’ve done seafood like scallops, lobster, shrimp and crab just to keep things less heavy knowing that on Christmas and NYE we do meat heavy dinners!