Blog - Saddle Creek

Last Minute Holiday Gift Ideas

It’s hard to believe that Christmas is only a few days away, and while *20% of the population have knocked out all of their holiday shopping, most of us will be out in the crazy crowds and hitting the malls from now til Christmas Eve.

Thankfully, you have the weekend to finish up all of your holiday shopping, so if you’re unsure of what to get the special people on your list, here’s a quick roundup of tried and true last minute gifts that anyone would love to receive.

Heartloom Joni Shine Fair Isle Sweater, Anthropologie, $140

Herringbone Cotton Wool Scarf, Banana Republic, $59.50

Peace On Earth Candle Jar, Francesca’s, $16

Boys Wool-Blend Oversized Snowflake Crewneck Sweater, Brooks Brothers, $69.50

Fresh Rose n Shine Skincare Set, Sephora $89

Pearlized Faux Fur Pom Pom Hat, Loft, $39.50

Pearl Layered Charm Necklace, J. Crew, $34.50

Small Backpack, Vera Bradley, $75

Flannel Tie Front Shirt, Madewell, $79.50

Wine Tasting Party Kit, Sur La Table, $22

FP One Tasha Thermal, $68

My biggest tip for shopping during hectic times like these is to go to stores that you know like the back of your hand. Have a budget and a list on hand (gotta stay focused!), and go as early as possible to beat the crowds while shopping safely.

*totally made up calculation.

2019 HOLIDAY HOURS

Enjoy extended shopping hours of 10AM – 9PM Monday, December 16, through Saturday, December 21, and Monday, December 23!

Christmas Eve | 10AM – 5PM
Christmas Day | CLOSED

New Year’s Eve | 10AM – 5PM
New Year’s Day | 10AM – 5PM

Some shop and restaurant hours may vary. Please contact our shops and restaurants directly to confirm their hours of operation.

To shop all these gifts, be sure to visit these local retailers in The Shops of Saddle Creek.

December 18, 2019/by Kim Thomas

Effortless Entertaining with Sur La Table

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Over the weekend I took an Effortless Entertaining cooking class at Sur La Table and it was so much fun! If you’re not familiar, Sur La Table offers a plethora of cooking classes throughout the week, and the options change both monthly and seasonally. With the holidays being upon us, I thought that it would be cool to learn some new recipes (while also being shown the proper way to cut and prepare certain foods so that I don’t hurt myself in the kitchen, haha), and this was the perfect class to do that.

Our menu for the day:

Baked Brie En Croute with Apricot Jam
Hearty Winter Green and Fennel Salad with Parmesan and White Balsamic Vinaigrette
Herb Crusted Pork Loin with Apple Cider Mustard Sauce
Maple Crème Brûlée with Eggland’s Best Eggs

The purpose of these classes is to teach families across the country how to make delicious meals with better-for-you-ingredients at home. I’ve never done a full on cooking class like this, and while I was initially intimidated when I arrived (my Sister-In-Law Monica joined me), that all went out of the window once our instructor began. Chef Aaron made sure to explain to us prep procedures, how to hold our knives (if you ever find yourself “sawing” while cutting, you need a better knife!), and gave hands on help if we ever found ourselves confused.

Chef Aaron took his time going through the steps while managing to keep us on track with cooking. We were newbies, but there were other people in the class that you could tell were really experienced in the kitchen, so it was fun to watch everyone interact and have fun while preparing their dishes.

Prepping our tenderloin before it goes into the oven.

All of the ingredients that we used were really fresh, so it smelled AH-MAZING! We all keep spices at home, but my main takeaway from the class is if you can get fresh herbs, use them! The recipes were relatively easy to follow, and the ingredient list was made up of herbs, meats, produce and cheeses that you might already have at home or can find at your local grocery store (no specialty shop needed).

Making the chutney for our baked brie. This would also be delicious in oatmeal.

Words cannot explain how yummy this is. If you love cheese you will LOVE this!

I love a fresh salad, and while this one was simple and had very few ingredients, the flavors make a serious impact when they all come together.

The longest amount of prep went to our Pork Tenderloin, so while we waited for it to cook those last few minutes, we chatted with each other and went through the store; because we all prepared the same dish, the items were all mixed together so you weren’t sure if you were eating your own food or what someone else prepared (though I was able to pick out our tenderloin because we were given some extra mustard for our coating and it was the “special kind” lol).

Voila!

Everything tasted delicious! We picked up so many seasoning tips throughout the class, and they can actually be used on different types of food. We were also given the recipes to what we made so that we can recreate our meal at home. I’m so glad that we were able to take this class and we’re already planning to take another one in the future!

Interested in taking a cooking class with Sur La Table? Click here to see their monthly calendar (just enter your zip code to find a location near you). They also offer private class options as well in the event you want to do something extra special with your family or friends!

Sur La Table
The Shops of Saddle Creek
7509 Poplar Avenue Suite 106
Germantown, TN 38138
901-758-3691

December 2, 2019/by Kim Thomas

Outfit Ideas For Thanksgiving

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Thanksgiving is a few days away, and I don’t know about you guys but I’m still trying to figure out what to wear. Cuteness is a must, but you also want to be comfy so that you can actually enjoy your meal(s) without fear that you’ll look a mess in those annual recap photos. I know that a lot of people treat the holiday super casual now, but I still like to look a little polished, even if I’m just wearing my denim, or a simple sweater dress.

I’ve rounded up a few Thanksgiving outfit ideas in case you’re still trying to figure out what to wear.

Cords in a fun color with your favorite sweater are a classic choice.

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Flowy maxi dresses will always be my (personal) favorite choice for Thanksgiving dinner.

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A dressier (but still comfy) option is a pleated skirt and cute heels.

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When all else fails, try a sweater dress, thigh high boots and your fave hat.

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A simple outfit with statement making boots will keep the fam’s focus on your style and off your love life.

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It doesn’t get any easier than a loose sweater, jeans and comfy ankle booties.

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Add a little sparkle to your denim based look to keep the outfit from being boring.

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IMO, faux leather leggings and a loose top is a dressier version of pajamas.

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What’s your Thanksgiving style?

November 22, 2019/by Kim Thomas

How To Prep Your Wardrobe For Fall

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It seems just yesterday we were counting down for Summer break, and now we’re officially in the first weeks of Fall. When the leaves start to change and a crispness comes in the air, I get excited. I flourish in all of the layers we can wear (and I’m all about building a better wardrobe), so it’s time to determine the look(s) I want to have, including the colors, fabrics and silhouettes that I think work well together this season.

First things first, though: before we add in anything new to our closet, we have to edit our closet, and I’m going to share a few tips that will help you prep your wardrobe for Fall. Once you have an idea of the look that you want during Fall ( I like to use Pinterest to create my own inspirational moodboards for this step), the really hard part begins: editing out your closet. Even if you don’t dislike everything in your wardrobe, this is the easiest way to help you seamlessly rework your looks.

Completely clear out your closet.
Take everything out. Doing this will allow you to truly see the space that you’re working with and reorganize things the way that you want.

Try everything on, editing by category.
Editing by category allows your try-on session to flow smoothly and quickly. Try on an item and ask yourself “would I buy this today?” If yes, keep it. If no, toss it. It doesn’t matter if it fits well or you found it on a great deal, if you couldn’t imagine yourself purchasing it now, let it go.

Compile your piles.
Once you’ve tried on everything, you should have 4 piles: what to keep, what to donate, what to toss, and what to sell. The keep pile is everything that’s going back into your closet. If you have anything that needs to be repaired or dry cleaned, pack it up now so that you can send it all off at the same time. The donate pile are items that are still in good condition, but you wouldn’t be able to sell. Take these to Goodwill or Salvation Army, or consider donating it to your local Dress for Success. The toss pile should be anything that is torn, has stains, or is seriously out of style, and your sell pile should be designer or higher-end mass retailer items (Anthropologie, Topshop, Banana Republic, Zara, etc.) and vintage pieces that are in great condition or only a few seasons old that you can take to a consignment shop or sell yourself online.

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Once you’ve edited down what you already own (and you have a clearer idea of what items you will need this season), the fun part – shopping! – can begin. You’ve figured out your style, made room in your closet, and you can now shop with a lot more purpose!

October 23, 2019/by Kim Thomas

3 Tips For Waking Up Your Wardrobe

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You can have a closet full of clothes, but that doesn’t mean you won’t ever say to yourself “I have nothing to wear!”. Shopping your closet and remixing your favorite pieces can be fun, but sometimes you really do need to add in a few new pieces to wake up your wardrobe.

When this feeling hits, instead of going out and buying any and everything, take a moment to take stock of what you have, what you need, and what you should try differently so that you don’t get bored. If you still find yourself at a standstill while standing in your favorite store, remember these 3 tips:

Bet on denim
Denim is always a good choice. A medium rinse straight leg skinny is safe bet, but flares have made a resurgence this season so don’t be so quick to skip over it. Denim, sweater, handbag: Indigo.

Choose rompers for “One and Done” looks
Rompers (or jumpsuits-which ever one you want to call it) are so easy to wear this season. They are a great alternative to dresses, can be dressed up or down based on how you accessorize them, and can take you to so many different settings in a day. Wear alone or top with your favorite cardigan or jacket once temps start to cool. Romper + necklace: Threads Memphis.

When all else fails, wear a dress
Sometimes, a girl just needs a cute dress. This season, try the slightly babydoll dress trend; it’s a looser fit than your normal shift dress, but it’s still just as versatile. Wear with sneakers when running errands and then switch to mules or heels and a cute cardie for dinner. Dress + cardigan: Threads Memphis, Bracelets: Kendra Scott.

Don’t forget the cool accessories!

To shop these trends, be sure to visit these local retailers in The Shops of Saddle Creek!

October 8, 2019/by Kim Thomas

3 Pieces To Wear Now + Into Fall

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The first day of Fall was September 23rd, and even though it’s still a little warm, that doesn’t mean we aren’t itching to break out some cozy knits and grab a Pumpkin Spice Latte #sobasic. If you live in the South, it won’t completely cool down til at least October, but you can still break out some of your favorite Fall fits to get you in the mood.

You might have to think “cooler” thoughts during the day so that you don’t overheat, but we all own a few pieces that we can wear now into early Fall.

Gauzy Knits
Is anything better than a gauzy, lightweight sweater? Pair your favorite shorts with a cozy knit in a dreamy, autumnal hue for a look that’s perfect for brunchin’ with friends. Shorts, Sweater, Earrings: American Threads.

Snakeskin Prints
Snakeskin prints are h-o-t for Fall, and you can make the fun trend more accessible(but still edgy) by rocking it in a mini skirt style with your favorite elevated tee and denim jacket. Jacket, Tee, Skirt, Jewelry: Indigo

Lightweight Trousers
Swap out your skinny denim for lightweight trousers that can easily take you from workwear to weekend warrior. A crotchet sweater works for casual Fridays, but pair with Chucks and a henley tee for an off-duty look. Sweater, Trousers: American Threads. Earrings, Bracelet: Kendra Scott

To shop these styles, be sure to visit these local retailers in The Shops of Saddle Creek!

What are your must-have Fall pieces?

September 30, 2019/by Kim Thomas

Outfit Inspiration For Rush Week

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Sorority recruitment (also known as Rush Week) can be a little confusing when it comes to deciding what to wear because based on location, sorority house and the weather, the outfit possibilities are endless. You want to dress to stand out, but you also don’t want to look like you’re trying too hard (mixed signals, I know).

Each day of Rush will be different, and most likely, your instructions on what to wear will fall somewhere between something super generic, to specific you’ll wonder if they’re going to provide you with the outfit. As a rule of thumb, if you set looks aside that are elevated versions of what you wear you’ll do fine, but if you need a little guidance, these cute styles from Indigo and American Threads should give you some style inspo.

Casually Cute
The first few days of Rush are usually the most “casual”, but that doesn’t mean that you have to stick to denim. A cute patterned dress that can be dressed up or down with different shoes and accessories are a sweet option for these activities. Dress, necklace: American Threads.

Sweetly Detailed
Festivities that require you to step it up a notch call for a look that’s all about the details. You want to stand out, so a shift dress in a bold hue with statement neckline will help you do just that. Dress: Indigo, Earrings: Kendra Scott

All Out Glam
Cocktail attire doesn’t have to mean breaking out your go-to LBD (little black dress). Try a flirty frock with pleated details and sleek jewelry. You’ll live on the dance floor (seriously, how can you NOT want to twirl in this?), while channeling your inner Serena van der Woodsen. Dress, Earrings: Indigo

What’s Your Rush Style?

To shop these styles, be sure to visit these local retailers in The Shops of Saddle Creek!

September 13, 2019/by Kim Thomas

4 Pieces Every College Girl Needs For Her Fall Wardrobe

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School is back in session, and while there will be days where sweats and a top-knot will be the go-to uniform for class, some days you’ll have the time to get uber cute and step up your style. There are so many trends that you can try for Fall, but there are a few essential pieces that all college girls should have in their wardrobe to help make getting dressed so much easier.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the 4 pieces every college girl will need for Fall.

Lace Kimono
Cardigans are cool, but lace kimonos are so much more stylish. They literally go with everything (over dresses, shorts and band tees, your favorite denim and a ribbed tank), so stock up on them in fun colors when you can. Kimono, Dress: American Threads.

Pleated Skirt
Whether you go for a midi length or rock a mini length like Karen, pleated skirts are such a fun alternative to your standard pencil skirt. Pair with a gauzy knit sweater and booties for a cali cool look, or wear with your favorite graphic tee and sneakers so that you can get to class in a flash (but still be cute!). Sweater, Skirt: American Threads. Bracelet, Earrings: Kendra Scott.

Flare Denim
70s vibes will always be a good look for Fall, so stock up on your favorite wash in a flare style. Wear them with chunky knits, bodysuits, and band tees for a modern boho vibe. Denim, Sweater: Indigo.

Beaded Headband
Who knew that headbands would make such a comeback this year! Instead of piling your hair into a pony with a scrunchie, take 5 more minutes to blow it out and wear with a beaded headband. A neutral color goes with everything, but make your look even more fashion forward by picking one with pearl accents. Headband, Earrings: Indigo.

To shop these trends, be sure to visit these local retailers in The Shops of Saddle Creek!

What are your must-have pieces for Fall?

August 28, 2019/by Kim Thomas

Back To School Must-Have Styles For Adults

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Summer has begun to wind down, and with school starting within a few weeks, “what to wear?” will be at the forefront of everyone’s minds again. With retailers beginning to shift their styles in preparation for Fall, even if you don’t have to actually go back to school, you’ll notice all of the new clothes in stores and may want to test out some of the new style trends and update your wardrobe as well.

The best thing about shopping for “back-to-school” styles as an adult? You don’t have to go into trend overload when you shop; instead, search for upgraded, more elevated versions of your favorite wardrobe staples that will easily take your style to the head of the class.

Detailed Button Down
A crisp white shirt is always needed when you wear a school uniform, but a chicer, more sophisticated option for adults is a lace trimmed blouse with a more feminine fit. Lace-Trim Pullover, Chico”s.

Must-have Denim
New jeans are always number one on the shopping list, but instead of sticking with your tried and true skinny fit, vintage inspired denim with a kick flare is such a fun trend right now that will transition beautifully into Fall. Mother Denim Hustler Ankle Fray, Indigo

Too Cool for School Bomber
Varsity Jackets are one of those classic back-to-school “trends” for guys that will never go out of style, but once you get past a certain age they can look a little juvenile. A great alternative that gives you a similar silhouette with much more style is a bomber jacket. Keep it elevated by getting it in a vegan suede material. Vegan Suede Bomber Jacket, Banana Republic

The Carry-All Tote
Kids have backpacks + messenger bags, moms and career women have carry-all totes. Whether you’re carrying around your work files and ipad or need a cute bag to store all of your junk for errands, now’s the perfect time to upgrade to a quality made tote that you can use every day. The Medium Transport Tote, Madewell

Cool Kicks
New shoes are a given on your kid’s back-to-school list, so why not snag a stylish pair of sneakers for yourself as well? Doing the whole dad shoe trend can be a bit much, but you can easily rock a sleeker pair with your favorite skinnies or a pleated skirt and a fresh button down on the weekends. Saturday Sneakers with Leopard Calf Hair Detail, J. Crew

Embroidered Blazer
Most uniforms include a classic blazer, but to keep your look much more fashion forward, try a fun embroidered style with your favorite trousers instead. Sally Embroidered Blazer, Anthropologie

To shop these trends, be sure to visit these local retailers in The Shops of Saddle Creek!

August 5, 2019/by Kim Thomas

Easy Recipes To Try This 4th of July

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The 4th of July is one of our favorite holidays to celebrate. We get to spend time with friends and family, but also we get to nosh on so much yummy food! Whether you’ll be grilling out for a crowd or chilling on your patio with just a friend or two, here are a few easy recipes to add to your lineup (cocktails included!):