I first met Carolina Irving when I had the opportunity to include her Paris apartment in my book Travel Home. We spent the day photographing her spellbinding universe. You could immediately see that for Carolina, there are many diverse interests and passions – from botany to the early adventurers in travel, when she has a passion, she goes deeply into learning everything about it. As a result, her passions have often turned into creations. From textiles to ceramics, Carolina sets the bar for her patterns and layered approach to decorating. One of her more recent endeavors has been her new line of textiles and ceramics for the home she has created with her two daughters who have seemingly inherited Carolina’s wisdom in layering a home with texture, pattern, and color. For the holidays, I have put together a tabletop using items from the Carolina Irving & Daughters line. With the help of Jordan Shaw, who recently joined my design team, we set the table in a barn on her family property in Sebastopol. As many of us are meeting in much smaller groups and outside to stay safe, this was the perfect setting. The quality of the items Carolina Irving & Daughters create are unsurpassed. In this table we used their Poppy Glasses – they are handmade and etched in a stunning poppy pattern. They worked beautifully with the Anna Plate in green. These plates are hand painted and also have a quality glaze that you don’t often find in ceramics. We combined them with linens from Les Indiennes (Mary Mulcahy, founder of Les Indiennes, was also in Travel Home). Our gatherings this year may be smaller, but maybe it’s the year we try to make them a little bit more special. That’s something I’ve been taking note of with our family - take the time to create memories with each other even though our extended family and friends can’t be with us. And the items from Carolina Irving & Daughters will surely elevate any gathering. Photos by Caitlin Flemming and Jordan Shaw

Wreath lovers - I know you're out there! I'm thrilled to bring back Blooms in Season this December with Natalie B Designs because she just launched wreath gift boxes. They are truly stunning. I was lucky enough to meet up with Natalie to shoot one at the studio to share it all with you. No detail was forgotten! What I love about these gift boxes is that it's an activity you can do on your own and with your kids in the comfort of your own home. Natalie provides all of the greenery, dried flowers, ribbon and gold ring that make it extra special. I personally have always loved making my own wreath every year. It's a way to not only be creative but also have fun and create something entirely different for our door each year. When your box arrives with all of it's goodies it has instructions and then it's accompanied with a step by step tutorial by Natalie herself. People are constantly asking me how I learned to do flowers - it's ALL because of Natalie and working with her over the past TEN years. I can't believe it's been that long. And I'm so happy for this new venture and path she's creating for herself. If you're looking to get creative this holiday season I highly recommend popping over to Natalie's site Flower Friends and checking out the different wreath options she has at the moment. You can even add on an option for your little! And if you're looking to up your flower arranging game (a perfect covid activity) I cannot stress how amazing Natalie's videos are - I've learned it all from her. Definitely check them out! For 20% off for any wreath box or video download use code CAITLIN20.

I think because we have all been isolated from one another for so long, the importance of gifting takes on special meaning this year. I want to choose just the right thing for the people I love. And since we are all spending far more time in our homes, I've been gravitating to gifts that can be comforting at home. A place I have loved to shop at for years is Jayson Home. They are experts in creating curated items they search the globe for. So while travel may not be in the cards for a while, I trust Jayson Home to have the perfect items for giving at this time of year. Jayson Home Pieces: Astier de Villatte Benoit Teapot Isle Hand Towels Crystal Cluster Ritual Incense Holder - Round Nippon Kodo Incense - Cedar I try to start each day by setting intentions. Incense or a candle lit in the morning help to center me for the day ahead. And as the days get shorter and the air outside is colder, having a beautiful coffee/tea pot can be a special way to have a little warm up mid-day. Finally, I am always a fan of using beautiful linens and enjoying them instead of saving them for a special occasion. They elevate our homes into something special. It's easy to order from Jayson Home online and I promise, their items will not disappoint. Be sure to check out my 2020 Gift Guides - it's filled with ideas for family, friends, kids and more! Photos by Jordan Shaw

When temperatures start to drop, there is nothing quite like cozying up under flannel sheets and organic layers of cotton. It's that time of year where our family brings out our Coyuchi flannel sheets for every bed. These sheets are coveted in our house and because they have a brushed and velvety finish there stay soft forever. The kids have had theirs for years and there is zero pilling (which as a mom I love). This season, Eric and I decided that it was time for us to invest in a pair for ourselves. The weather is colder than normal here in San Francisco and it seemed like the perfect time to treat ourselves to a set since we'll be staying home all winter long. The undyed flannel set is stunning! We paired it with the Cascade Organic Matelasse Blanket in White - the texture it adds is beautiful. Lastly, kept it simple with Presidio pillow - love the tassels on the ends. There is no better time to make your home as cozy as possible. We certainly took it to a new level this year! Photos by Jordan Shaw

As someone who loves to be in the kitchen experimenting with new recipes and who also appreciates well considered design, there's two challenges in particular that used to always haunt my kitchen. The first was trying to find a way to store all of my various spices and pantry items with a million different colored labels in an organized and accessible fashion. The second was running out of that one spice that seemed to disappear into the abyss of the pantry when you really needed it for a particular recipe or you found three of them because you kept buying an extra and don't have room for them all. Please tell me I'm not the only one who has struggled with these kitchen woes. Both of these problems were solved, and more, when my Evermill spice rack arrived. Not only is every single detail of the packaging beautiful and a clean, minimal design, but the rack helps keep all of my spice essentials nice and tidy and they no longer fall out of sight in the back of the pantry. Both of their countertop and drawer organizing systems make flavoring your favorite dishes so easy and convenient. The countertop rack also comes in a variety of neutral colors so they are perfect for any style kitchen, and if you have the counter space - trust me, you'll want to show them off. In addition to the beautiful, sustainable design, the spices are organic, fresh, and super high quality. The first time I opened up the jar of whole cloves I was in heaven. All of their spices smell absolutely amazing, but my favorite has become their Captain's Blend. It pairs wonderfully with seafood (and according to the helpful and inspiring recommendations on each spice package, is also great with french fries or bloody mary's - yum) and has an incredible, brightly layered savory aroma. I love the look the set adds to my kitchen but perhaps one of the biggest perks of all is the reduction of plastic in my household. Whether you're low on just one spice or several, you can get a refill, in earth-friendly packaging, delivered quickly. I feel like I've finally found the missing link to my kitchen organization, and feel more inspired than ever to create flavorful, elevated, and delicious dishes - like these recipes that I've had on repeat this season. The Evermill spice rack makes it so simple to add ease and quality to both your everyday life and those special occasions in the kitchen. I've finally found the perfect gift for the cooks in my life, that doesn't have to break the bank. Trust me, it's a game changer - and I can't wait to see what recipes you are whipping up. Photos by Jordan K Shaw #lifestyle #cooking

This year as we all hit nine months of our course changed, I’ve pared down our gift guides to smaller but better items to give to your loved ones. I encourage all of us to buy local and visit small shops where you live and some of which are featured here. Their livelihoods depend upon us. This years items are refreshing and will be welcomed to whoever you give them to. We may be unable to be with loved ones this year, but we are all going to get through this. Hope you enjoy this years 2020 Gift Guide! Vintage Rug Pillow Cover | Kado Vase | Copper Leather Canisters Countertop Candle Set | Japanese Enamel Kettle | Moroccan Candlesticks Leather Catchall | Travel Home | Alpaca Basketweave Throw Ceramic Pitcher | Dark Linen Sheepskin | Ceramic Cups Waffle Lounge Set | Rope Incense | Fog Linen Socks True Botanicals Gift Set | Saipua Soap | Vitruvi Oil Diffuser Brazilian Quartz Crystal | Suede Moroccan Slippers | Weighted Blanket Brass Pepper Mill | Cast Iron Footed Bowl | Linen Garcon Apron Birichino Sparkling Wine | Evermill Spice Rack | Mini Black Cheese Set Set of Black Spoons | Alice’s Mortar & Pestle | Ottolenghi’s Flavor Monogram Leather Coasters | Vintage Cut Glass Decanter | Pallares Solsona Utility Knives Safari Hat | Zero Waste Kit | A Garden Can Be Anywhere Cord Chore Coat | Woven & Leather Tote | Rains Backpack Wood Secateurs | Sorel Hiking Bootie | Kinto Travel Tumbler Hoop Earrings | Fanny Pack | Brass Key Chain Leather Travel Case Set | Utility Jumpsuit | Intensive Recovery Cream Temperature Controlled Mug | EDA D’Orsay Sneaker | Leather & Brass Notebook Play Tea Set | Cerise Dolls & Accessories | Wood & Leather Dollhouse Embroidered Utility Suit | Patagonia Fleece Jacket | Wooden Fire Truck Linus Training Wheel Bike | Wicker Acorn Bag | Wooden Balance Board Play Kitchen | DIY Mini Coaster Kit | Petit Leather Boot Big Sur Ceramic Candle | Speckled Waffle Robe | Noise Cancelling Headphones Leather Travel Case Set | Personalized Travel Mug | Theragun Mini Cashmere Fisherman Sweater | Leather Laptop Folio | Sherpa-Fleece Mock Espresso Machine | Allbirds Wool Sneakers | Aesop Gift Set Lead image by Jordan Shaw #lifestyle #style

I think we can all agree that this year we can use all the extra comfort we can get. Even though we're unable to gather with our loved ones as much this holiday season, it's even more of a reason for the act of cooking a beautiful and delicious meal to be extra special occasion. This season still has so much incredible produce to offer and is filled with all of our favorite nostalgic, cozy flavors and spices - there's so much inspiration all around us this time of year that it can be overwhelming to know where to start, but we've rounded up a few of our favorite mouthwatering dishes to help narrow down the decision-making process for you. We hope you'll pour yourself a glass of wine, turn on an uplifting playlist like this one, and make a special evening out of preparing one of the dishes below! Roasted Winter Vegetable, Butter Bean & Apple Cider Spiced Warm Salad Serves 4-6 Ingredients: 1 pound Brussels sprouts 2 medium fennel bulbs (keep fronds for garnish) 1 cup dried butter beans (or canned works as well) 2 large cloves garlic 10 whole cloves 1/2 tsp coriander seeds 1 bay leaf 1/4 cup sliced almonds Fresh mint to garnish Dressing: (Makes 1 cup, only 1/4 cup used for recipe - we love to use the extra for salads throughout the week!) 1 cup olive oil 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar 1 Tbs honey 1 Tbs dijon mustard 1 medium shallot (diced) 1/4 tsp ground cloves Salt + pepper This dish is satisfying on its own, or also would pair wonderfully with something like these Sage-Brined Pork Chops with Brown Sugar Glaze. Instructions: *Soak the beans the night before you plan to cook this dish for faster cooking time! Rinse beans and cover with 4 cups fresh water. Add your aromatics (garlic, cloves, coriander seeds, bay leaf, + pinch of salt and pepper) and bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cover. Cook until tender, about 45 min. to an hour. Preheat the oven to 450º. Toast your almonds in skillet on low-medium heat until golden brown and you can start to smell the nutty aroma. While still warm, toss with about a teaspoon of olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt, set aside. Chop your sprouts in half, keeping the root in tact to help hold them together. Toss lightly with olive oil and salt. Place cut side down on parchment lined baking sheet. Roast for 20-25 minutes, or until nice and golden brown and crispy. Meanwhile, prep your dressing by adding all ingredients together and blending (using an emulsion blender or food processor) until well emulsified. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Next slice the fennel bulbs into 6 equal wedges, keeping a bit of the stalk attached to help keep the wedges intact. Add about one tablespoon of olive oil to skillet and bring to high heat, until the oil is sizzling. Add fennel wedges to pan, and let cook for about 4 minutes on each side, until well charred and knife-tender. While the fennel finishes cooking, prepare your mint leaves and fennel fronds for garnishing. When your sprouts and fennel are done cooking keep warm until ready to plate. When tender, drain beans and carefully remove aromatics. While still warm, toss gently with about 1/4 cup of your dressing. Season with salt and pepper. Arrange a bed of cooked vegetables on your serving platter then layer the bean mixture, including the dressing, over the vegetables. Finish the dish by adding your toasted almonds, mint and fennel. Serve warm and enjoy! Be sure to check out some of our other favorite comforting recipes this season: Entrees and Sides: Whole Roasted Chicken with Sumac, Roasted Vegetables and Labneh Kale and Mushroom Lasagna Mushroom Gravy Pie with Garlicky Kale Mashed Potatoes Za'atar Roasted Cauliflower with Dates, Pine Nuts and Thyme Pull Apart Parmesan Sage Butter Brioche Rolls Herby Barley Salad with Butter Basted Mushrooms Soups and Stews: Instant Pot Pesto Zuppa Toscana Martha Stewart's Potato, Cheddar and Broccoli Soup Crockpot Lentil Soup Truffle Gnocchi with Mushroom Ragu Desserts: Espresso Almond Brittle Chez Panisse Apple Galette Sticky Pear Cake We hope you enjoy these recipes as much as we do and be sure to let us know which recipes you're trying and loving! Recipe and photography by Jordan Kindy Shaw #cooking

Thanksgiving is by far one of our favorite holidays - it's a time to come together, it's the start of the holiday season and it's a time to celebrate rituals that we've created as a family. This year unlike others we will be keeping Thanksgiving very small with our kids and my mama. Usually we head down the coast to my Aunt and Uncle's but we are mindful of the fact that we need to keep things small and intimate to help stop the spread of the pandemic. And I know this is the case for many families this year. It's not easy but necessary. Even though we can't celebrate in larger groups I do think it's incredibly important to still make Thanksgiving special by planning a tabletop and details that will spark joy, gratitude and hope. Even if it's two or five people at the table, think of ways you can make it special. This year l reached out to Elsie Green to collaborate on a table. It's one of my favorite brands that I think has beautiful products that can instantly elevate a table that you'll want to create memories around. From their French flatware to their linen napkins to their brass candlesticks - any of these items can be incorporated into your table with your Grandmother's china or your families cranberry sauce recipe (love mine). Products on table: Napkins (in Fawn) Champagne glasses Classic dinner plates Salad plates French flatware Brass candlesticks Candy jars (used for pillar candles) Tapers Pillar candles (in Natural) Church votives Tea lights (in Natural) Reclaimed Wood Oval Farm Table (in Waxed Pine) The important thing to remember this year is to find the traditions that bring you hope and gratitude for our future. Embrace this time as a new way to reflect on the holidays and come together in different ways. Photos by Caitlin Flemming #entertaining

Fall has definitely set in here in San Francisco. The air is cooler, the leaves are turning and there is a breeze in the air that's making it smell like fall. I'm here for it! With this change in the air it makes me excited for the months ahead. Creating rituals in our homes that will help celebrate the holiday season. Whether that's through cooking, visiting family or spending quality time with your loved ones. This year unlike any other is a little more challenging due to the pandemic but there are small things you can do to make things special. When Grove Collaborative reached out to me about this new collection with Jeremiah Brent - I jumped at the chance to be part of it. Two of my favorite brands coming together with a collection was something I didn't want to miss out on. I've talked before about my love for Grove Collaborative. With a father who is a conservationist, I have learned that having a sustainable lifestyle is essential. I wasn't brought up in a home that valued material things and I am careful to bring new things into our lives without thinking carefully before doing so. In our household we've been very focused on how we can do better within our house for the planet. Grove Collaborative carries products that are environmentally friendly. This collection with Jeremiah Brent is perfection because it truly embodies the way his home smells and feels. Since I photographed Jeremiah's home for our book Travel Home, I was able to get a sense of how he lives, what his home smells like and what home means to him. It is also inspired by Jeremiah's favorite places in Mexico. The smells he brings into these product transport you there through the smell - something that rings true to me since I grew up in Mexico. All of these pieces in his collection reflect different parts of his home - from the smell of the candle (it's AMAZING) to the color of the linens to the apron that reflects the one from his potters studio. It all embodies him and his brand. I highly recommend checking out the entire collection. I'm stocking up on the candle because it's divine! Photos by Caitlin Flemming #lifestyle

It feels as though the air has finally shifted. There is a crispness to it that has me bundling up in sweaters, reaching for an extra blanket at night and plotting how I should transition my home for fall/winter. Each season brings a new perspective to our space and having lived in this apartment for over 8 years making some small edits makes all the difference. This season I've been thinking a lot about what do to our space to make it feel cozy for the colder months ahead. As I looked for inspiration I kept going back to one project done by Fragments Identity in Texas. They worked on a project called The Prairie and I love the way they added in darker layers to the space while also keeping it light and bright. It's funny how a space can have you envision something similar in your own. I wanted to share a handful of images that brought me inspiration for the new update. Can't wait to show you want Fragments Identity and I have in store for you! Images from Fragments Identity by Jenna Peffley #interiors