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If the John Derian for Target mania didn’t tickle your fancy, let us win you back. Auntie Su is ready to dress you from head to toe for your next holiday party. She has statement pieces so good, it doesn’t even matter what else is on your body. Auntie Ku, Tablescaping Ph.D, gives a crash course on creating gorgeous table displays on a budget. Class is in session, and remember: Foundation. Function. Feeling. Fire. Aesthetics.

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• It’s our favorite time of the year with Rakuten. Get up to 15% cashback on select stores on Black Friday to Cyber Monday

• You need to see this JW PEI red cape with roses immediately

• Edie Parker is a touch of a whimsy with the Undies Pouch and Garden of Edie Tulip Bag

• For the romantics: for Love & Lemons Bethany Midi Dress and Solstice Shimmer Midi Dress

• CircusNY is the place for statement shoes. See the Zuri Stud Strap Ballet Flat, Hadie Fluff Mule Sandal, and Elaine Mary Jane Block Heel

• Some beautiful baubles to top off your outfit: This chunky pearl bracelet, pearls with a safety pin, silver heart statement necklace, and gold crystal drop earrings

• Marvel at Ku’s Thanksgiving itinerary 

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Transcript

SPEAKERS

Kulap Vilaysack, SuChin Pak

Kulap Vilaysack  00:07

Welcome back to Add To Cart, my cute little turkeys. It’s your Kuku, and your Susu.

 

SuChin Pak  00:13

Kuku, and your Susu.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  00:15

Okay, listen, we just, I just, I got it. I gotta get it off the table. I’m not apologizing for that manic John Darian episode we did, but I do just need a moment with you on Mike to acknowledge what had happened. Yes, we didn’t plan for it to be that weird.

 

SuChin Pak  00:38

I just think we sort of like the veil. You know how Halloween, like the veil between our world and the spirit world is thin. And I think for what happened was that week, the veil between our sort of what we present publicly and who we truly are, was at its thinnest. So you see what I’m saying. That’s what I’m trying to the point I want to make. And this is who we are. But I was shocked that we were like, doing it.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  01:07

Just on feeling like, just saying and hitting publish after we reviewed it.

 

SuChin Pak  01:13

Yeah, oh my God, that is the perfect summation. Because I was confused as I was listening to it, like, what? Like, I couldn’t quite figure out what I was feeling like. I listened to the whole thing, bated breath, on the edge of my seat, dying laughing, remembering I had those feelings, but I had this feeling, which was like, huh? Why does this not sit right? And that’s what it is. Sometimes it’s too much.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  01:39

Yeah, it is.

 

SuChin Pak  01:40

And I don’t know that that’s what our Carters want from us. So for those that are listening right now, no smoke up our bung holes like Was that too much? I actually, genuinely want to know that you can you can put it, you can post a comment, you can DM us, however way you want to reach out to us. Was it too much? I’m curious. Was it too much anyway? Here is another holiday launch. If that one didn’t launch it for you. Today we’re launching it.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  02:14

So I’m going to be talking about holiday decorations. I’m gonna talk about my Thanksgiving itinerary. And what are you going to be doing?

 

SuChin Pak  02:23

I am going to talk about what I started to do was dive into you got to get ready for the holidays. There’s an office party. Your friend is throwing their annual Christmas bash, Hanukkah dinner, Kwanzaa, whatever have you New Years. I’m bringing to the table some really interesting brands that were new to me.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  02:47

I love it.

 

SuChin Pak  02:48

Were surprises to me, and I’m going to dress you head to toe.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  02:52

Whoa. All right, let’s get into it. Let’s get into Su’s cart.

 

SuChin Pak  03:05

Let’s start off with a statement piece, because I often feel like you could be in a black unitard with a statement piece and whatever that statement piece is, and pull it off. JW PEI is a brand that I’ve talked about before. You know, they have really cute shoes and accessories. And I did not know, and I don’t know when they have been doing this, they make clothing. And so I was like, Huh? I wonder what their clothing they’re ready to wear looks like. And then I stumble upon this. It is called the Clara floral applique Cape coat in a rose red, and it is stunning.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  03:51

I’m actually sort of pissed that you’re sharing this, because I’m normally when it comes to clothes, I don’t care if we match, or you see me wearing it, and then you want to buy it like I don’t usually care, but I want to be the only one at a holiday party wearing this.

 

SuChin Pak  04:10

That’s the statement piece, right? That’s the you got to find something that no one else will be wearing, because if they are, then that’s not a statement. It’s a wrong statement. So describe to the listeners what you’re looking at.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  04:23

I’m I don’t know, I’m buying it. Use describe it.

 

SuChin Pak  04:27

It is a blood red, red rose, whatever red you prefer, Cape. And it has on the shoulders two matching giant fabric, roses, and the cape just closes right at the neckline, and you can drape this over, you know, a dress pants, whatever it is. I just think it’s great. It’s on sale for $205 it’s out of stock, I know, but it will be in stock. December 10, and it says, on the site, first come first served, literally, quote, unquote, I haven’t seen that realness, that honesty and a site ever so what I’m saying is, order it now, because they’re not going to be making many of these.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  05:15

But my other thought is, if it’s, it’s, that means, okay, it’s in stock December 10, it ships. This is tough. It’s tough timing for party.

 

SuChin Pak  05:24

It’s tough timing.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  05:25

You’ll have it for Christmas, but for holiday parties in December, this is tough. This is a little edgy. This is you’re taking a risk. You’re taking a risk. But man, oh man. This is a stunning cape. So I am, I’m near speechless.

 

SuChin Pak  05:40

I could make an argument for hold it for next year. You know, because at this price, you’re you can’t go wrong, you get an extra 15% off.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  05:49

I’m gonna also say, to Buoy that point is that it does feel timeless, and so you’re saying next year, but something that I would actually think that Emmy would be into when she’s older. Yes, I’m gonna say it that one.

 

SuChin Pak  06:03

And this should not dissuade you from the elegance. But should you want to be red riding hood for Halloween or the queen of roses? I mean, this is like you’re stepping it up.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  06:17

Okay.

 

SuChin Pak  06:17

Have I brought us out of the target John Darian card? Because that was a deep hole.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  06:21

I’m just saying you have stepped up your pussy as the kids say.

 

SuChin Pak  06:26

Well, that I am excited to show you the rest of my Plus post. Should we move into so now we’ve got a capelet. Should we move into a dress? Okay, what do you think?

 

Kulap Vilaysack  06:37

This is so far, my favorite episode.

 

SuChin Pak  06:40

Okay, I was on this side. I’ve never heard of it. It’s called for Love and Lemons, and I started to stumble on these dresses. And this one is a little bit pricier. It’s 389 but I just love it. It’s the solstice shimmer MIDI dress, and it’s so hard to describe. It’s a it’s a dress that is of a fabric that’s almost like an iridescent gold and pink. But it’s a brocade, a brocade Thank you, and it has like black touches, so black dress a black ribbon. So now we’re toning down the, you know, pink Brocade. And I just think this shape could be flattering for a lot of people.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  07:32

So it’s a fitted bodice with a ruffle bust detail, and it’s got a voluminous gathered skirt. Really cute. And I’d love to see our producer, Tiffany and those this is.

 

SuChin Pak  07:46

The thing, is everything I pulled is for Tiff. Strangely.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  07:49

It is for Tiff.

 

SuChin Pak  07:50

Because, well, you’re going out, I’m not going out. So I was like, oh, Tiff would look really cute in that. Now, there’s a second link, if you’ll click on that on the same site, and this is the Bethany MIDI dress that this one is the first one I looked at for myself. And this one is black and white. It’s a bit demure. It has pockets, same kind of vibe, and I like that. It’s a black dress, but it has enough kind of detail. It also is a black dress that you can wear all year long.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  08:20

All year round.

 

SuChin Pak  08:21

It’s a black dress you can layer over a sheer, I want to say, like a sheer turtleneck.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  08:28

Okay, see, this is now, this is going to be a follow up question for both, yeah, dresses. That’s the move that I knew Sujin Park was going to do, was not showing up her to task.

 

SuChin Pak  08:39

No, I’m not showing my Tatas.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  08:40

She doesn’t want to draft on the nape of her neck.

 

SuChin Pak  08:43

No, this blonde bar wench has Tatas that are still looking straight. So you put on something that you know, or again, you’d drape a rose cape over it. But I thought both dresses could be good options for holiday dressing that isn’t your typical holiday fair dressing, and that is also something you can wear later on to a wedding, to a birthday party, to a beautiful dinner.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  09:17

I think you you’re spot on this Sujin. These are these are unexpected. I wasn’t familiar for the site for love and lemons, our our fair maiden, Tiffany, she said, knows and loves it so well then.

 

SuChin Pak  09:29

I’m glad, because, you know, I’m bringing you places that that are new to me. So I don’t know if the quality is there it, you know, I can kind of tell. You know, we’re experts at this point. So now you’ve got your cape on. You have a dress on. I think what you need is a cute bag.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  09:47

Ooh, Edie Parker. I’m familiar with Edie Parker, but not with, not with these Edie Parker’s, well let’s see what such and pop wants for Christmas. Yes. Let’s see I yes. Edie Parker, I am 21 plus. Why do you need to know that I’m 21 plus for a handbag SuChin Pak?

 

SuChin Pak  10:07

Well, this brand, she, he, they have been blowing up on the Instagram. All the hottie toddy influencers are are getting some of their parkers. And I think it’s whimsical. I think it’s fun. And so I started to poke around her sight, and I found this handbag that is so cute. It’s called the undies pouch. It comes in black and silver. I’m showing you this silver, and it is literally a silver granny panty clutch with a pocket for a lighter. Okay, did you hear me? I said it is a silver granny. I heard Annie pouch. I was thinking the pocket there could also be for a lipstick.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  10:54

Sure, absolutely.

 

SuChin Pak  10:55

One BF of mine named Annie Yoon will be getting this. Hopefully she’s not listening.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  11:03

Well, look, this is gonna be so anti climatic. But you are also going to be getting this. Would you like black or silver?

 

SuChin Pak  11:13

I mean, it’s so good.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  11:15

And yes, you want black or silver?

 

SuChin Pak  11:17

Go through the carousel, okay? And when you see the pictures that they’ve posed, and these girls, because it comes also with a silver chain, and when you see these girls like posing with it, and they’ve got it, you know, sort of like a cross body, but like the underwear is in the back. It looks like they’re wearing their underwear. It’s hard to describe the visual, but I was cackling. I was laughing so hard. This person, they’re just, they just get it. This is what I think. I think when you’re dressing I realize I’m in my clown era. So I’m speaking from that era.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  11:53

Okay, so if you don’t agree with this, I get it.

 

SuChin Pak  11:55

You know, I’ve been through all the eras. Okay, so this is my era. Now, I just think that having a sense of humor about what you’re wearing, some personality, especially when you’re going to something dressed up, where everyone is just wearing a black, you know, sparkly skirt and some kitten heels, you want to just shake it up. You want to go into that party shaking your little knobby knees, and just let everybody know what time it is okay, and it is granny panty time bitch. And I love that it has a little pocket for a lighter, because, yeah, we’re sophisticated. Now go to the second link on Edie Parker. Eddie Parker, not sure how to pronounce it, but this is a more muted version. Again, I’m going with a floral theme, but I just it’s so sophisticated and so beautiful that I just, I love it. It’s called the tulip bag, and it’s almost like a satiny handbag where the handle is a bouquet of Gothic tulips. I just, I love it. And so that could also be your jam.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  13:08

It’s well crafted, whimsical, fashionable.

 

SuChin Pak  13:12

Yeah, one of a kind. No one’s gonna have this bag.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  13:16

And a price point at 150.

 

SuChin Pak  13:18

150, exactly, fantastic. So now you’ve got your cape on, you’ve got your dress, you’ve got a bag. You need a pair of shoes.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  13:27

Yes.

 

SuChin Pak  13:28

And I just, I love these shoes. They’re the Elaine Mary Jane block heel from, oh, it’s from Sam Edelman. I didn’t know that I saw circus New York. Do you see? Why that was? Is confusing. I thought it was a brand called circus New York, but I guess Sam Edelman, this is like one of their other brand company. Oh, it’s a younger brand. Thank you, Tiff. God, Tiff, you know all these she knows. So it’s a younger brand. But this is what I’m looking at. You know, the Mary Jane. She ain’t going nowhere this season. And so this is a silver Mary Jane, and the strap is Bejeweled at a nice price point of $110 it’s a sensible heel, yeah, and it’s just sophisticated. It’s two inches two. It says I get a monthly paycheck. But I can also hit you with my granny panty. That’s right, yeah. So it says both, and so this sort of younger brand of Sam Edelman, they have a very nice, uh, again, sensible heel mule with a big, fluffy puff, you know, like a, I don’t know, like, what is that like, a mink puff, faux mink puff. And the heel, it looks it’s just encrusted in glitter. I mean, if that doesn’t scream holidays, I don’t know what does.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  14:49

You’re absolutely right. This is tough for you, though, because I know you’re going through a culling of your shoes. I guess you’re providing. Service, since you’re not buying these, is what I need to wrap my head around.

 

SuChin Pak  15:04

Okay, there are two things I want to say right off the bat, which is, I have to get my wardrobe down. It’s too much stuff. We all know this. So I’m in the midst of the Great clearing. Number two, the new philosophy for me when it comes to clothes is, can I wear it tomorrow? I cannot buy one more sequin skirt that I will never wear.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  15:26

You have said in the past that you own a lot of sequins, not just skirts.

 

SuChin Pak  15:31

A lot of sequins in many sizes, like as in sequence sizes, large sequence small sequins in many colors.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  15:39

Copy that.

 

SuChin Pak  15:40

So what I’m doing is on my bended knee, I’m saying thank you for staying with us through the highs and the lows of our perimenopausal hormonal holiday ravings and rantings. And here is a gift. These are beautiful things that aren’t expensive, that I think you will actually love this holiday season.

 

SuChin Pak  17:25

And the final thing is you want some jewelry? And these are two brands that were new to me. I went with a pearl theme on this one, but it’s called Numbering, and it’s a South Korean brand, and their bobbles and jewels are so cute, they’re sort of a twist on the classical you know, like the thing I’m looking at right now is a gigantic, oversized Pearl bracelet,

 

Kulap Vilaysack  21:03

Faux pearl.

 

SuChin Pak  21:04

Faux pearl bracelet. It’s, I love it.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  21:07

Yeah.

 

SuChin Pak  21:07

I had to stop myself from getting it for 90 US dollars. It’s on sale. I like jewelry to be twists on classical because, you know, you you want to be able to wear, yeah, yeah. You want, you want to be yes, and I’m in my clown art, so oversized things are great. Speaking of oversized, why don’t you then go to the third link I sent you, which is another brand,LA based. What is that? A giant, oversized silver heart medallion necklace. Come on.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  21:43

Yes, I love it. And you’re, you’re more of a silver gal.

 

SuChin Pak  21:49

I am your gold gal. I’m a silver gal. But, you know, I figure I brought you some silver shoes and a silver granny. But this is all kind of a theme. Yes, I’m hoping that you can make a full outfit with all of these links that I’ve brought you today. And this is a brand called Mondo Mondo. She’s an LA based artisan, born into a family of artists and trained in Mexico, and she just has gorgeous, gorgeous jewelry. I think this also comes in a gold medal as well. I’m covered,

 

Kulap Vilaysack  22:25

Yeah, I’m covered because there’s another link from the same brand that you provided, called the gold flash earrings. So it’s a pair of drop earrings and 18 karat gold plated metal with crystals. They’re large, they’re statement, they’re me, yeah.

 

SuChin Pak  22:41

They’re like, chandelier, but like, yes, just so it’s like, just the right amount of vintage and just the right amount of sexiness. These earrings are amazing.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  22:52

And the model who is modeling these earrings is also modeling the same aforementioned necklace, but in a gold plated metal. And so there you go SuChin Pak, there you go.

 

SuChin Pak  23:04

Something for everyone, for the silver haired foxes and the golden Goldies gooses. Yeah, the golden goose is so I just, I, I love to discover new jewelry that isn’t gonna break the bank, but, God, just gets my goat.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  23:24

But is gonna make an impact that looks more expensive than they are. Wow, I’m going to be adding to cart a lot of these items, and I, I think I’m gonna need again, you’re going through your culling of the herd, if this is the result of it, and the service that you’re going to be providing moving forward, I’m really excited for this next phase of that to cart.

 

SuChin Pak  23:53

And then sometimes we will be John Darian, and then know that we will come back from that so.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  24:02

It’s just so nice, because now what I’m actually seeing is, like, so much of it, and we’re gonna jump into my cart, which is absolutely about me. What we’re seeing from suchin is like, it’s, you know, we’re outside of CVS now, and we’re not staring at our goods in our car and and putting it on. We’re outside of the car, and we’re talking to the people. What do you want? What do you need?

 

SuChin Pak  24:31

You mean? We’re not talking to Jada Pinkett Smith about CVS bucks.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  24:36

Will hunt me.

 

SuChin Pak  24:37

Well.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  24:37

That’s because she doesn’t want to pass us.

 

SuChin Pak  24:39

From that point on will haunt me for 12 years every time I think I have my shit together, that moment plays in my mind again, and then that’s I have to get back on this side and be normal, you know?

 

Kulap Vilaysack  24:55

Well, no matter what, you’re not normal. I mean, speaking of not normal, let’s get into my cart.

 

SuChin Pak  25:04

Let’s do it. I love that your cart starts off with we can go through as much or as little of this.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  25:10

This is what she wrote, because Su, you hit it.

 

SuChin Pak  25:15

No, you hit the Thanksgiving. Oh, no, I God, I didn’t realize that was a link.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  25:21

That’s what we call a hyperlink to Su.

 

SuChin Pak  25:23

How do I do that? Oh, Lord. So this is her 2024, Thanksgiving schedule.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  25:29

Up for everybody to look at it. We’ve talked about it every year, and sometimes I post it, but this time you’re gonna post it from the jump. You guys can see what I’m up to.

 

SuChin Pak  25:41

Okay, oh, this is again,

 

Kulap Vilaysack  25:43

This is a dive.

 

SuChin Pak  25:46

Okay, go

 

Kulap Vilaysack  25:47

The way Auntie Kuku does herds. Her mania is through planning, and that is that fair to say, That’s yeah, maybe the difference between you and I, or what makes me in particular, unique Yes, is that I need these to do lists. I need to map out.

 

SuChin Pak  26:06

Yes, you’re always on the calendar. You know the thing? Everything goes on the calendar or Google Doc, it has to, or it does get done, right? It does, simply doesn’t get done, correct?

 

Kulap Vilaysack  26:19

And so again, you’re gonna go to at Add to Cart pod, and I’m sure you’ll go into our link in bio, there will be a link for this, for you to check it out, for you to just gawk at, or maybe Co Op some things. But I hey, I’m well aware it’s gonna be just like, more of like, oh, there’s a car crash kind of thing, and that’s fine, and I accept that.

 

SuChin Pak  26:43

Okay, the first category is turkeys. So I’m assuming these are all the guests. These are the guests, 13 people.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  26:52

And then of those 13 people, we now move to the section where it’s like potluck menu. Sign up. I always do the turkey, and then I divvy it out, but people put in what they want to make, okay, so that we’re warming stuff up the day, so it’s not so crazy, you know, it’s not all on me, that’s kind of how I get through the day.

 

SuChin Pak  27:16

Okay, this is very demure. Oh yeah. This is very doable. Oh yeah, I haven’t got to page two yet. We’re still on page one, so I say that with some trepidation.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  27:28

To be fair, I think this part of me is going to see more cutesy and demure if I think about it now. Well, thank […]

 

SuChin Pak  27:34

The judge, I love that you even have the sauces. I mean, you are not messing around. You’ve really mentally picture the table.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  27:43

Also, everybody needs to understand. I think you do is that, I mean, I’ve hosted this for 10 years, plus, like, I I’m the matriarch of our family, I don’t know. So it’s always Christmas and Thanksgiving are at my house, and it’s been that way for for the longest. So, like, I have the gear. Yep, I’ve spat escape this turkey. You know what? I mean, like, that’s the other piece.

 

SuChin Pak  28:06

All right.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  28:07

Go ahead.

 

SuChin Pak  28:09

Just a few things that are just popping out on my tired eyeballs. Day before, she has a list, and it says, Put butter in

 

Kulap Vilaysack  28:17

dish. That’s right, put in dish. Is that

 

SuChin Pak  28:21

actually mean you’re putting butter in a dish the day before. Okay, that is, I don’t know what that is.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  28:29

Let me explain anything that I can do the day before.

 

SuChin Pak  28:33

The day level of detail is what I oh yes, butter in dish. So what I’m saying is, you guys are all listening. Be like, Oh, they’re gonna talk about how Thanksgiving planning this dock is down to the absolute butter in a dish. And I just wanna say, for those that loved our last episode, the cabbage stoneware, the feather stoneware, it’s all making an appearance.  She’s put down the stoneware that she’s going to be using.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  29:04

Buy the stuff, not to use it. Plus, it’s like, dad’s a cart. I mean, I didn’t buy it just for the sake of buying it. It’s all utility.

 

SuChin Pak  29:11

Oh, okay. No, I love that, because I buy stuff all the time that just, you know, doesn’t ever come out. But I loved, I loved what it went in.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  29:22

So but, let’s swing back to the day before, and that I what I do is I table scape.

 

SuChin Pak  29:28

Oh, so you okay, so you lay everything out the day before, before the guests come.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  29:33

It’s what I do. But I’ve heard from other people that they do it as well.

 

SuChin Pak  29:37

Just was wondering if this was like a duh or news to me.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  29:40

Okay, I don’t know if it’s, a duh, just like, it’s just more that, like.

 

SuChin Pak  29:45

This is what works for you. This is 10 years. Yeah, this is 10 years of expertise that you guys are getting for free.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  29:51

So I table scape the day before, because there’s just, especially when it’s like, you know, 13 people, my table is. Isn’t big enough for 13 people. So now I have, like, folding tables that are coming up, and I’m gonna have to borrow chairs from my sister, like there is some coordination that piece. But then there’s the actual sort of, what I call the artistry, and I appreciate all of you Deep Divers and all of you Carters who send me videos of State Fair competitions. I’m looking at it, I’m seeing it. I know there’s various like reality shows that are about table scaping. It is a thing for people who who like it or into it, okay? And the thing that I said on the for the deep dive, because I’m a table scaping professor there, much like suchin adorns our bodies with her holiday where I like to do that with the table you don’t have to spend money. You can absolutely you can spend money on everything and anything. But when I drop into sort of how I think about table scaping, please don’t feel like you have to break the bank. You probably own most things. You can thrift things go to Goodwill, and a lot of things are probably able to be gathered from, like your front and backyards in some city parks.

 

SuChin Pak  31:07

Do you have a theme every year, though? Do you have a different theme? I know it’s Thanksgiving, so it’s like, but like, what I’m saying is, is, does a table look different every year, or is it maybe different versions of the same table?

 

Kulap Vilaysack  31:20

Yeah, it’s definitely like the latter, because I don’t have enough storage. And I think maybe I’m not the personality that is going to do something like radically different every year, like the hero tree. I’m not doing a different theme. I’m building up on that theme, okay? Or it’s taking it in a similar direction, yes. So for me, it is always gonna look a little bit more woodland, maybe gilded woodland, if you guys have forgotten, that’s what my hero tree is, and that’s who I am, that’s who I am. I’m gonna just remind everybody and SuChin Pak as I go, look up at where I’m sitting above me as a white porcelain moose. That’s who I am. I make no excuses, no ifs ands. Gilded woodland.

 

SuChin Pak  32:15

Okay, go ahead.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  32:16

Gilded woodland. No one but me keeps a straight face when I say that, and when they hear it, and when I hear it, you know, but I have to accept Yeah, people’s reaction.

 

SuChin Pak  32:28

Yeah, when you’re breaking new ground, you’re gonna crack some stones.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  32:33

So yeah, I have some things that maybe I don’t use every year, but it’s sort of, it’s of the theme. And I always much like you, SuChin, I’m looking at things for the most part that can be used year round, but I do have a feeling and an idea and Thanksgiving, it leans itself to woodland and also autumnal colors, right? So that’s organic, atomic colors. My base is generally gonna be pretty neutral, and then I’m gonna build from there. So like my dinner plates, are the plates that I use every day. Which are, you know, a neutral beige, plus some China that my mother in law gave me that have been in the family, and that’s white with, like, a gold edge, very simple, very perfect. Then it’s like, I have various placemats that I’ve gotten from Laos, that I’ve gotten just in my travels. So I do, I am a, you know, a place mat person. Put the dinner plates on top of that, and in these holidays, I want a cloth napkin, yeah? And I’ve got a collection of cloth napkins.

 

SuChin Pak  33:41

Yeah, obviously.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  33:42

And I’m either gonna go probably classic white, or sort of French bistro, which is white with, like, blue, light blue accents that you’ve seen in your travel suit. Or I have some, I have some gold ones that could kind of fit. So I those are the three that I’m gonna play with, depending on how I’m feeling, okay.

 

SuChin Pak  34:03

Depending on how what the palette starts to look like with the canvas, how the canvas is coming together.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  34:08

It’s not unlike how I feel about skincare. I have all these elements, and then I’m gonna look what I have. I’m gonna feel how I’m feeling. I’m gonna see what is needed. It could be 10 steps. It could be three steps. I don’t know. I don’t know. I just make sure that I stay ready. These are my philosophy. I in that way I’m very consistent. Everybody very consistent. Yeah, I have this beautiful box of vintage brass wear that my in laws got as a present after they got married. It’s from Thailand. It’s Sujan. You would just you would die. What do you mean by brass wear it so instead of silverware, ah, it’s, uh, brass wear with wood handles.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  34:57

And they’re gorgeous. It’s in this wooden suitcase. It’s very, like, heavy. I’ll do a video of it at some point, but as salad forks, dessert forks, dinner forks, you know, like, just all, it’s a whole entire, whole set. Yeah, it’s a whole set. And it’s really special that it came from my in laws. They’re gonna be probably laid on top of the napkins or rolled in the napkins. I get a little creative there, and they’re either going to be napkin rings or tied somehow, okay? And then I have, we’ve talked about this before. I have these amazing laser cut wood name cards. I’ve seen these, which June got me into and so we generally have the same people over. And it’s just so great that, you know, it, Dana has her own, you know, Linda has her own, yeah, it gives it a nice, sort of like touch. So the feeling that I want you to walk into the dining room. I want you your senses to be completely overloaded. It gives you a feeling of, like, this is so beautiful, this is so pretty. And then this feeling of connectivity in like, oh, wow, I’m being thought of. This is my place setting. I am a part of this table. We are together.

 

SuChin Pak  34:57

Wow.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  34:58

Yes, and I will continue to be a part of this table.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  36:25

That’s right.

 

SuChin Pak  36:25

I mean, that’s the feeling. Listen, nothing’s guaranteed. You know what? I mean, of course, come correct and behave. But of course, for now, we’re assuming that you’ll be invited next year. You’ve got yourself right, your own name plate.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  36:39

Now the piece, which I think maybe might be my favorite, is florals and organics. Have I had flowers delivered, arrangements delivered in the past? Yes, you can do that. But as of late, probably the last five years, I just like to use, like, I say, florals are in organics, but there’s gonna be some florals. I like to put them in bud vases. I have so many vases. I can do my own. I’m talking like, go to Trader Joe’s. Get really pretty flowers. Get a lot of greenery. It has to look abundant. I just like things to look abundant. Yes, okay, got it. And as I mentioned before, in terms of like, getting stuff from around the house, like there’s greenery, leaves, these things can all be put into bud vases, into the vases of arrangements that you were gifted in the past. Magnolia leaves look beautiful, even just scattered in the middle of the of the table. You can create your own sort of runner with organics. Last year, you guys will remember I overdid it with a pumpkin patch. You better believe it, a shit ton of pumpkins from Emmy’s birthday. Those get to be put in the table scape.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  38:02

One once I’ve put all the place mats and all of the dinner plates to me, where the like, the real artistry comes is just sort of that, either creating a runner with visual interest in the middle, and putting elements of fire, which is candles and so in like, you know, taper holders, I’m putting those dairy and asparagus taper candles. I’m doing tea lights and votives. And so when you’re also walking into my house, and when it’s time for dinner, you’re getting that warm, primal.

 

SuChin Pak  38:32

We’re by the fire.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  38:33

We’re surrounded. We’re in a crowded table around the fire.

 

SuChin Pak  38:36

Yeah, nobody is going hungry, every year, you just know that every sense is going to be satiated at this table. It’s a torn aplenty.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  38:48

So again, just to call back, you know, we have our place settings. We’ve got floral and organics. We’ve got fire unfolding in this year, the John Darien mushroom decorative figures. We’ve got a little bit of whimsy. That’s always important to me, that butter dish is gonna go in the middle, because that’s gorgeous. It’s cabbage. It’s pink. I’m gonna put that artichoke three section stoneware serving bowl. So what probably isn’t clear for you in your mind, is that what’s also important to me is levels, heights. So I want things with the consideration of sight lines, so that people can talk to one another. You’ve got your fire and your taper that are is high. You’ve got, you know, there may be for me, I’ve got a couple of olive trees. Maybe I put some branches into a small picture. I’m also thinking about just truly visual levels of everything that I’m putting in too, so it looks really dynamic.

 

SuChin Pak  39:48

Wow.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  39:49

But do I make sure that there are sight lines in every which way chair so that people can talk to one another? Absolutely, I do that. I consider that. I consider that too. Do you have. Many questions for me in terms of tablescaping.

 

SuChin Pak  40:01

I mean, the whole thing is a question mark in the sense that I’ve never done anything. I mean, even remotely close to this, it is so interesting to hear a language that you don’t speak, yeah, and to hear about all the different ways that you’re thinking about this, like the height and the fire and the organics, and this is why you are, Professor tablescape. I didn’t even know that word before I met you. I’ve never heard anybody say the word tablescape. That’s vocab number one. I didn’t even know that this category. I mean, I, of course, I’ve been to beautiful tables, and I can appreciate it. I didn’t know that. That’s what it was.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  40:44

I enjoy it. So if you don’t enjoy it, don’t do it. But if it’s because you’re like, I don’t know where to start and you know, like, I don’t want to buy a bunch of stuff, the whole point for me, again, is all I want to do and be a part of is a crowded table, and I’m a Taurus, so it’s going to be about senses, it’s going to be about esthetics. It’s going to be about food, it’s going to be about comfort. And it is very much a like expression of that and of who I am, yeah, and so like I like to do it the day, the night before or the day before, because I’m constantly moving.

 

SuChin Pak  41:28

And yeah, you need. You want it’s yeah, you’re new. You need to schedule in the table scaping time, just like tree time. You want to sit with things. You don’t want to be rushed through it. You know, I come from the hay, and there’s also people like this. On the other side. I have five forks, and there’s seven of us, so we’ll yep in rotation and rinse them off.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  41:52

Yes, you’re speaking of New York. Thanksgiv friends.

 

SuChin Pak  41:55

You need this time to really use enjoy it so much that you’re aware enough to do it the day before, because it is something you enjoy.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  42:06

I enjoy. Thank you, look, I’m conscious of time, so we’ll quickly move into more of this behavior when talking about holiday decor. Okay, because that’s even happening starting you know this week, when we’re recording, okay for Christmas. So Christmas decor, for me, happens before Thanksgiving. I know that’s established, but that’s the simply, the truth and and we’re gonna, I’m gonna talk about my three, my three phases, okay, where do my threes are? Faces, okay. But again, just a reminder, before we close the door on, tablescaping, foundation function, feeling fire and also, esthetics, got it, okay? That’s RFS and N and A […] and within esthetics, color coordination, organics, metals and whimsy.

 

SuChin Pak  43:05

Taking notes.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  43:05

Everybody.

 

SuChin Pak  43:06

Taking notes. Class is in session. This is for free. People have to pay good money for this.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  43:14

Do they?

 

SuChin Pak  43:15

They do somewhere.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  43:17

Very quickly, Christmas decor phases. We’re recording on 11 five we’re feeling insane. Yep, it’s election day.

 

SuChin Pak  43:27

That’s right.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  43:28

And how do some people cope? Okay, how do some people plan that insane week? Well, some people, the one that’s super top heavy and Christmas insane in this pair plans that put up Christmas 11, six through eight, okay, and that is phase one. That’s when everything is pulled from its storage and hiding places in the in the darkness, and the darkness of my garage crawl spaces. That’s sort of the beginning. All the exterior lights and the trimmings go up. Hero trees go up, bedroom trees go up, and then we kind of see, what do we have? What do we put on the mantle? Now kind of situation?

 

SuChin Pak  44:13

Wait, so are you saying you have Christmas trees up at Thanksgiving dinner?

 

Kulap Vilaysack  44:16

Yes.

 

SuChin Pak  44:17

Oh, that’s news.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  44:19

That can’t be new, right? This is an example of how you it like, I do believe that you hear me, and I know that you hear me, then you release it. You release it. It’s not just you. Though I know, yeah, I know, and I don’t take it personally half the time. Yeah. Now you mentioned Thanksgiving. Phase two is 1129, after Thanksgiving. Believe it or not, some things are held because I just described that I’m going to be doing tablescaping, so it wouldn’t make sense for the kitchen and the dining room and the dining table to be Christmas out. That wouldn’t be on theme. That wouldn’t be. Be esthetically pleasing. That would not make sense. So some things are held until after Christmas. That’s phase two.

 

SuChin Pak  45:09

And what is phase two? For example, the tabletop tree goes up.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  45:14

Oh, okay, you want to know how many trees? I have one so, so I guess I have two and a half trees. So I have, again, just to review, I have a nine footer in my bedroom. The largest tree is my bedroom tree. I have a seven, seven and a half footer. That’s the hero tree, which is in my living room, right? And then I have, like a tabletop tree, which is about, I don’t know, two to three feet. Got it that will go somewhere in the kitchen, dining room situation.

 

SuChin Pak  45:45

Okay, got it.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  45:46

Do I want more trees? Yes, SuChin am I always eyeing, like, Where can I put another tree? Do I want a Christmas tree outside?

 

SuChin Pak  45:55

I do.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  45:56

I absolutely do.

 

SuChin Pak  45:56

Do you have a tree in your office?

 

Kulap Vilaysack  45:58

I don’t no, but there we’re talking, it’s tough, it’s room, it’s storage. The storage thing is, what kills me, it what kills me, I’m, I’m, I’ve, you know, because you’ll recall, because I said exterior lights go up phase one. That also means my giant ex, you know, outdoor Merry Christmas ornaments. Yeah? And that takes up that’s in the garage year round, you know? That can’t that there’s no nook.

 

SuChin Pak  46:29

Shove that in. Okay, all right, you’re right. You’re right. You have to also think about logistics. Yeah, she’s she’s sweating over here on the other side of the zoom.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  46:36

I want more. I know I want more, but I don’t have the space for more, you know, and I’m not ready, and I don’t think tough shed, okay, okay, that there’s that I’ve been thinking about a tough shed that’s a separate thing, but just to have a storage unit, just for Christmas stuff, and that that would be, I think, a bridge too far. I need to work with what I have. And I what I have is enough. Eco warrior.

 

SuChin Pak  47:01

Yeah, well, we say a Greta Thunberg of our time, saving the oceans here from the hills, reporting live from the edges of Mother Earth.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  47:23

Yes.

 

SuChin Pak  47:23

But also.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  47:24

Oh, she loves tinsel.

 

SuChin Pak  47:27

That’s right, a microplastic.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  47:29

She love stinsel, things that can only be used once, right?

 

SuChin Pak  47:33

All right, the dichotomy, okay.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  47:36

Oh, God. I mean, that’s it, right? That’s it. And just to end it, to finally end it is phase three. Happens. You’re like, what? How can they be phase three? I’m gonna say this year, it’s about 12 nine, and that’s when the final touches go up. Because I don’t put all of the family stockings up. They’re show stockings that go up until then suchin, because the family stockings are, it’s so lovely, but like, they’re starting to get filled. It’s not, as you know, showroom visually.

 

SuChin Pak  48:10

Oh, so you have show stockings that go up. Oh, yeah, pre, the actual stockings.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  48:16

And may have, like, four that are up, that are that have no names, yeah, gender decorative.

 

SuChin Pak  48:21

Just a, just a moose boosh.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  48:24

A moose, Boosh. But then behind me, after 12 nine, filled with dog stockings. So that look, that’s simply Christmas decor phases, you know, like, that’s it, you know. And I was gonna reveal a scandalous removed from cart. But it’s actually not true. So you know what? I can’t I’m just gonna say it. I was gonna remove from cart my annual pilgrimage to traditions and all Dick home. I felt strong about this for one week. Why? Until Casey texted me two days ago and said, When are we going? And I said, I, I’m only gonna, okay, fine, I’ll go because it’s our tradition. But I can’t buy much because I don’t have space. And then two days later, I was at a home goods and then bought, like a really sort of large Martha Stewart home gingerbread house that I’m gonna put on my tabletop. And you know, there, you know, you have intentions and you have ideas, and and then you make plans with your friends that goes against everything you thought you were gonna do.

 

SuChin Pak  49:28

No, because if you, if you start to get shaky, the whole thing falls apart. And I mean the whole thing, as in Christmas nationwide. So it’s a lot to carry. I get it, and it’s a lot of pressure, and I realize that there is that very practical side of you that’s like, Look, I just don’t have the space, I just don’t have the resources. I just don’t have I’m in the emergency room, I get all those things. But on the other side of it, so many people rely on. Your Christmas cheer.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  50:03

Yeah, all those small businesses and really large businesses that depend on on me and my influence. And here’s the truth of it, the almost clearest truth Su is that at the rate that I’m going to home goods marshals, TJ, Maxx, Nordstrom Rack like, and really, mainly home goods and Marshalls, like the frequency that started in October. That’s what my thought process was. I’m doing that. And so why travel so far to spend more? Or, you know, why do that? But then you know what it is though, there’s traditions, there’s friendship.

 

SuChin Pak  50:40

That’s right, forgot. That’s what the holidays were about. Here we are not square footage so much.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  50:46

We make room for the things that are important for us.

 

SuChin Pak  50:48

Sure, why not?

 

Kulap Vilaysack  50:52

All right, Su, now, I am self aware. I know that I am at the bottom of the of them of the cave right now, I think I started a little bit more buttoned up. But now, not only did we take the button down to the very middle, I took my bra, and so.

 

SuChin Pak  51:10

Now you’re wiggly, jam spelunking nude.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  51:15

My tits now are meeting me where I am beyond my knees.

 

SuChin Pak  51:21

And that is the journey that we are just beginning here on Add to Cart. It certainly isn’t the end of our holiday cheer. This is the beginning, right? And we’re gonna swing. We’re gonna swing with the boobies. Sometimes they’re going to be hoisted into a corset. Yeah, and sometimes they’re going to meet you at your knees.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  51:48

My promise to you SuChin If you are to ever falter and fall into some crevasse that I will lower my stops, much like Rapunzel did with her hair, and I will still you up.

 

SuChin Pak  52:03

What?

 

Kulap Vilaysack  52:04

This is love.

 

SuChin Pak  52:08

Check out at Add To Cart pod. We’ll be posting pictures of some of the things, some some holidays past, hopefully Ku, if we can get that from you? That’s it. Happy Thanksgiving.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  52:21

Happy Thanksgiving, y’all.

 

CREDITS  52:27

There’s more Add To Cart with Lemonada Premium subscribers get exclusive access to bonus content, like where we tell you about the last item we bought or returned, and why subscribe now in Apple podcasts. Add To Cart is a production of Lemonada Media. Our producers are Kegan Zema and Tiffany Bouy. Brian Castillo is our engineer. Theme music is by Wasahhbii and produced by La Made It and Oh So Familiar with additional music by APM music. Executive producers or Kulap Vilaysack, SuChin Pak, Jessica Cordova Kramer, and Stephanie Wittels Wachs. Be sure to check out all the items we mentioned today on our Instagram at @AddToCartPod. Follow Add to Cart wherever you get your podcasts or listen ad free on Amazon music with your Prime membership.