Styled and Savored #004
Your weekly curated guide to great finds that make your home life easier, fuller, richer, and happier.
Love is in the air!
That’s right, dear readers. It’s officially Valentine’s Day. Of course, you already knew that because the last two editions of Styled & Savored mentioned Valentine-themed home decor items as well as Valentine’s Day gift ideas for that special someone in your life.
Now that the holiday is actually here, we wanted to help you make the day even more exceptional for you and your significant other. We’re getting things started with a fun post from the Chris Loves Julia blog as they share The Perfect Valentine's Day Menu for Every Meal of the Day. Let your sweetie choose their own mealtime adventure from a list of tasty options for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert.
The possibilities range from a carmelized onion frittata for breakfast, to poke bowls for lunch, to crab cakes with remoulade for dinner, to lemon-blueberry cheesecake parfaits for dessert.
Whip something up for your love, or better yet spend some quality time cooking a delicious meal (or two, or three) together on this special day.
Improving your relationship
Mixing it up a little, we’re also including two links from the Art of Manliness blog and podcast to help you work on your relationship.
The 80/80 Marriage by Nate and Kaley Klemp
In the first link, podcast host Brett McKay talks with author Nate Klemp about his book titled “The 80/80 Marriage: A New Model for a Happier, Stronger Relationship.
The pair discuss how cognitive biases can “skew our perception of our contributions to a relationship, what happens when couples get stuck in the 50/50 mindset of domestic scorekeeping, and how shifting to an 80/80 model of “radical generosity” can create an upward spiral of connection and appreciation.”
Give it a listen and pick up the book if you’d like to improve your relationship with your significant other.
Lookin’ for love in all the wrong F.A.C.E.S.
Who hasn’t been attracted to that complete psychopath who you know is terrible for you but stirs your passions because of how they flutter their eyes at you?
The second link we’re featuring from the Art of Manliness tries to help you avoid getting involved with someone who’s not right for you by discussing Questions to Ask to Avoid Falling in Love With the Wrong Person.
How to Avoid Falling in Love with a Jerk by Dr. John Van Epp
The article focuses on the research and clinical observations of Dr. John Van Epp, the author of How to Avoid Falling in Love with a Jerk. Van Epp says there are five areas every couple should know about each other before they fall head over heels and make romantic commitments that could be a mistake. These areas are represented by the acronym F.A.C.E.S and they stand for: 1) family dynamics and background, 2) attitudes and action of a mature conscience, 3) compatibility potential, 4) examples of previous friendship or relationship patterns, and 5) skills for relationships.
Having discussions with potential long-term partners about these areasThese five areas can provide insight and answers about the individual and relational character of the person you’re dating to help you decide whether you want to get more involved with them or avoid them like the plague because they just aren’t right for you no matter how cute you think their eyes are.
An now for something completely different…
Not everyone enjoys the hoopla that surrounds Valentine’s Day. Maybe it’s because they’re just getting over a bad breakup, they’re in a dating desert and have no romantic relationships to celebrate, or they just get icked out over the syrupy, sticky sweet sentiments that get spewed out on social media when February 15 rolls around.
If that’s you, why not spend the day doing something different? Like maybe taking a trip to the Magic Kingdom to enjoy the Pinch of Yum blog’s Best Foods at Disney World.
The self-admitted food snobs point out that not every dining experience at Disney World is going to be a magical experience (Fact check: TRUE), but there are some hidden treasures if you know where to look, and thankfully they share their treasure map with finds including cheeseburger egg rolls in Adventureland, brisket grilled cheese at Woody’s Lunchbox in Toy Story Land, rice bowls, tostadas, and margaritas at La Cantina de San Angel in Mexico at EPCOT, and bomboloni at Le Petit Cafe in the Riviera Resort. YUM! indeed.
On a somewhat related note, I’d like to make a personal recommendation if you’re looking for a fabulous meal and an equally fantastic dining experience while at the Mouse House. Of course, you’ll need to plan at least six months in advance because that’s how long it takes to get reservations at Victoria & Albert’s at the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. But the wait is SO worth it.
My wife and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary there and we had such a tremendous experience that we took my in-laws there to celebrate their 50th anniversary as well. Those meals were easily in my top 5 dining experiences ever, and it’s no wonder because the restaurant has piled up a stack of awards over the years including:
AAA Five Diamond Award since 2000
Forbes Travel Guide Five Star since 2018
Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence
Florida Trend Golden Spoon Hall of Fame – American Regional
MICHELIN Star
2024 MICHELIN Guide Florida Service Award – Maître d'Hôtel Israel Pérez
There are three dining options – the standard dining room is a Victorian-inspired room reminiscent of a tranquil garden, Victoria’s dining room, which is an ultra-elegant and intimate dining experience with just 4 tables for the 10-course, multi-hour meal, and finally the chef’s table just steps from the kitchen which can be reserved for a single party of six for the evening.
Three things you should know before you go:
Getting reservations for Queen Victoria’s room and the chef’s table can be a cutthroat affair. As stated earlier, plan six months in advance and call the reservations desk every day until you’re able to secure your spot.
There is a dress code. The Grand Floridian is an upscale resort on Disney property, so attire in the restaurant is equally hoidy toidy. From the restaurant’s website: “Guests are expected to dress accordingly in semi-formal/formal attire that respects the restaurant’s elegant and opulent aesthetic.”
It’s pricey. When we hosted my in-laws for their 50th anniversary 10 years ago, the final bill with tip and round of alcohol was over $1,200. I don’t imagine that price has come down in the decade since. But again, if you love excellent food and fantastic dining experiences the dollars spent will be well worth it.
That’s it for this week. Let us know your thoughts about any or all of the featured posts in this edition of Styled & Savored, and tell us what you’d like to see us cover in future editions as well.
