Gifts in Gold (HwK's Holiday Gift Guide)

By now you've probably seen at least a dozen gift guides.  If you are like me, you've missed Black Friday, and Cyber Monday and you are already anxious about the shipping windows for a timely holiday delivery.

So, why not make things easy and absurd and get all of your gifts in one color? This year, HwK going for the gold, well gold gifts that are under $100 dollars.  Because who would complain about opening something with a little sparkle?

Gold Magnetic Polaroid Frames- Perfect for the new parent that wants a little glam on the fridge or in the office.
Annie Glass Heart Bowl- Tiny but elegant
Jonathan Adler Zebra Stacking Dish- For the temptress
Monogram Throw Pillow- Good for grownups, recent college grads and babies
West Elm Tray- Available in other colors and looks good in any home
Agate Coasters- Because if you are going to gift coasters they should be gorgeous
Jonathan Adler Gold Candle- 40 dollars for a candle?? I know, but they smell and look great.
Mikasa Flutes- For the newly engaged or cohabitating couple
Growler with Gold Moose- For your  mountain friend who is into homemade brewing. (You know who you are) 

HwK's Washington, D.C. Holiday Guide

There are less than four weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Lots of people let the holidays take over their lives. All the merrymaking can lead to some negatives: feisty relatives, rowdy shoppers, upset tummies, terrible flight delays etc. etc.

To counteract the hard parts of the holiday season, I've compiled a list of things to do between Thanksgiving and Christmas, with an emphasis on free and a de-emphasis on shopping.

Baby's Breath (Go Big or Go Home)

A good friend of mine from grad school got married last month. The bride and groom are a gorgeous couple (inside and out) and a their wedding was one for the books. Connor Studios took wonderful photos of their wedding and they can be found HERE.

When guests entered the reception area, everyone was collectively blown away by the scene. The bride chose baby's breath as her primary flower. This wasn't baby's breath the filler flower this was baby's breath the WOW flower. I'm still thinking about what it must have looked like when the baby's breath was being taken out off delivery truck (cue swooning lady). 

If you want to make an impact with baby's breath, you need to go big or go home.  Don't use it as your secondary flower, use it as your only flower, and use it en masse. 

If you see a  Subaru overflowing with baby's breath sometime next month, that would be me.

Keeping On

Picture via the New York Times

My husband's family has been saying goodbye to one of its dear loved ones this fall.  The jury's still out, my brother-in-law might pull through but the doctors say otherwise. 

Life has a way of pausing when you are in the hospital, while the hustle and bustle of our lives outside continues.  It's made it hard for me to do much besides the very basics and asking Dr. Google lots of very scary questions. Calls don't get returned, plans are cancelled, and blogs go unwritten for weeks.

I've wondered how we will celebrate the holidays given all of this uncertainty.  But we have a really happy little one that demands smiles, and dancing, and joy.

So just like that, we are doing the holidays.  Thanksgiving dinner is arranged, Christmas tickets have been purchased, and to-do lists are getting done.  We are all hoping the holiday season will lift our spirits, and help us to build some new happy memories to counteract the sad ones.

How do you stay positive during times of uncertainty?

Baby Boos (Baby Halloween Fashions)

1. Monster Romper 2. Cat Set 3. Ghost Socks 4. Orange Elf Suit 5. Gap PJ's 6. Booties 

 

Last week I had a post on Halloween fashions. I realized after I selected the items that there wasn't much on there for bitty babies.  

 

It's funny how quickly I've forgotten about my daughter's early days.  Less than a year ago she was in that cuddly, pj's are appropriate all day phase. She seemed so tiny at the time that I wondered if we should even go through the hassle of dressing her up for Halloween.  

 

Here are some picks for you parents want to be festive but might not want to deal with selecting a costume.  They also make great gifts for any Fall baby. 

 

P.S. I really wish I had known about these elf suits last year.  

Mother's Day Tablescapes

There's something nice about hosting your mom to lunch or brunch in the comfort of your own home, away from the crowds and the chaos that is Mother's Day Brunch.  Here are some nice Mother's Day inspired tablescapes from around the web. Just be sure to do all the clean-up afterwards.

Oh and, you might also like: My Mother's Day Gift Guide, How to Throw a Mother's Day Picnic, and Real Images of Mothers.



Blue gingham tablecloth with a hydrangea centerpiece for the preppy Mom via Shop Sweet Things

Easter Inspiration

After a cold, long winter, Easter has a way of creeping up on you.  We are staying in town this year, heading to church and then having some friends over for something simple afterwards.  Hopefully I will have time to get some flowers and maybe dye a few eggs. 

Below are some photos of pretty but understated Easter tablescapes.  It's possible to be festive without using Easter Bunnies!

Oh and, check out these tips on how to organize an easy and fun Easter Egg Hunt.

My Favorite, Daffodils and Dyed Eggs from the Scout Blog

How to Organize an EASY Easter Egg Hunt

Ombre Eggs Photo from Country Living

This weekend the parents in my building got together to host an Easter egg hunt for our smaller residents. I had no idea how easy it is to put an Easter egg hunt together. Everything you need can be purchased at your local drug store, and if you are on the craftier side, you might have some things lying around your house.

 

You could spend all night looking at all the beautiful Easter egg hunts on Pinterests, but really, kids don't care about beautiful yard signs and dessert bars.  They just want to run around and search for treats.   

Pancake Tuesday (Light and Fluffy Pancakes with Lemon)

Mark Bitmann's Light and Fluffy Pancakes with Lemon. 
If you have any tips for how to make pancakes look pretty, I'm all ears. 

Today, in Ireland, it’s Shrove Tuesday (A.KA. Pancake Tuesday).  I learned about Pancake Tuesday from one of my favorite professors in graduate school.  One day, we were discussing Carnival and I asked him how the Irish typically mark the day that precedes Ash Wednesday.  He responded that the Irish celebrate it by having pancakes as a meal, and they call the day Pancake Tuesday. 

I was intrigued and at the same time underwhelmed by this tradition.  I’m sure there’s also a lot of merrymaking that goes on in addition to the pancaking.  But, where I come from, you prepare for six weeks of atonement by dressing up in crazy outfits, and drinking and eating yourself silly.  Most Pan-American countries are shut down this week because the revelry is taken so seriously. 

For a long list of reasons, Carnival is not happening por moi this year:

• I live in Washington
• I have to go to work
• It’s cold outside

So in honor of my staid life and my Mother’s Irish Germanic roots, I decided to observe Pancake Tuesday, by trying Mark Bitman’s recipe for light and fluffy pancakes.  I added lemon juice and lemon zest to perk them up.  The pancakes taste like soufflés or mini-Yorkshire puddings.  If you try this at home, make sure to have some of the egg whites in each pancake. 

How do you celebrate the day before lent begins?

The recipe can be found here and in Mark Bittman's book, How to Cook Everything.