Ski-ya Later
Over the holidays we bought a ski condo in Canada! So our holidays were appropriately themed “Ski-mas” around our house. I made custom stamps to make custom wrapping paper to commemorate the occasion. Now I’m working on turning those stamps into decor for the condo - and you if you’re interested.
We bought the condo furnished, which was a great because we didn’t have to buy a bunch of furniture - but also challenging because usually other people’s style is not my style. And that was the case here.
Once we can be up at the condo more often, I’ll fully decorate the whole thing. Until then, I’m collecting a few bits and dreaming of what the future will look like.
Let's Shop | Fall
Fall is not my favorite season. I feel like I’m the only one who is passionately obsessed with summer, comfortable with winter, delighted by spring (it means summer is coming) but I dread fall. I don’t love when school starts, things get way too hectic. I don’t love the cooling temperatures. I don’t love the leaves changing. But it’s what it is - fall comes every year.
So I embrace the fall. I buy things that make me happy. I make soup. And stew. And slow cook weird cuts of meat. And I entertain! I love having friends over and making elaborate dinners that impress. Entertaining and making fabulous dinners makes the season pass so much nicer.
Le Creuset Braiser | Candle | Cute Glassware | Candle Holders | Parks Playing Cards | long basket | Soup Bowls | Hand Mixer | Cocktail Napkins
How and why I’m using it all
I cannot get enough of the shape of the braiser and Le Creuset’s new peach color is actually the perfect color of pink. I’m making these Pork Chops with Apples tonight in one!
I’m obsessed with my house smelling good. I have three teenagers and a dog. It’s not easy. I burn candles endlessly.
Every night we have a cocktail. It’s the moment at the end of the night that’s the most delightful. The dishes are done, homework is done, we’ve turned on a show and are relaxing. Turns out cute glassware goes a long way to elevating the moment too.
I can’t imagine fall without lots of candles. And when I’m hosting a dinner party I can’t get enough of candle holders.
I play bridge at least once a week. My new obsession is cool playing cards. I’m loving these right now!
Our dining table is really long and thin and a long thin tray has been perfect most of the year - but for fall I’m obsessing over a basket. It seems warmer for the season.
SOUP SEASON! Everyone loves soup season. Soup bowls are an amazing addition to your pantry. Highly recommend.
Sometimes the smallest change makes the biggest difference. I love a hand mixer once in a while - it’s a delightful change from the stand mixer.
Let's Shop | Fourth of July
The Fourth of July in my family is basically Christmas. The Fourth is the only time of year when my entire family gets together. A significant number of my cousins stay at the beach house and we all hang out together for the entire week. We play wiffle ball, catch crab, walk on the beach, swim in the Puget Sound, play a ton of croquet, and drink way too many cocktails.
It’s my favorite time of year and my favorite color palate. I collect things all year long for our annual celebration at the beach! How do you celebrate the Fourth?!
Salad Servers | Silicone Coated Glassware | Croquet Set | Red Stripe Napkins | Dream Team T Shirt | Wiffle Ball Set | Waffle Maker | Le Crueset Pan | Old Bay Goldfish | Volcano Candle
How and Why I’m using it all
We usually have anywhere from 12-40 people at our Fourth of July celebration which means we serve A LOT of food. Nice looking salad servers are always needed
Cocktails start when ever we feel like it and end long after the sun goes down. Something non-breakable, like silicone coated glassware, is so helpful.
Cocktail croquet! We love to play croquet every night that we can - ideally at cocktail hour.
Serving a million people means we need napkins! Usually we use paper napkins, but how cute would red stripe napkins be?!
What’s a holiday without a cheeky t-shirt? I’ve ordered a handful of quirky clothes for all of us to wear - and over the years we’ve created quite a collection!
Home run derby happens every year! To prevent all of us from (just Kevin) ruining a car or a window, we use wiffle balls and bats instead of the usual.
Again, we have so many people at the house and can’t make enough food! Waffles are a hit at every house - and this year since we have so many extra days of vacation around the long holiday, we’re making more breakfasts than ever before! Waffles are absolutely on the menu.
Our Fourth of July dinner is always a clam bake. Every year! It’s so perfect for the summer holiday and easily my favorite food. We need to make it in a giant pot usually - but when I make it at home, this Le Creuset pan is the perfect size.
Snack time! Cocktail time! They go hand in hand. And I can definitely say Old Bay is my favorite flavoring - so a cocktail snack that’s Old Bay + Goldfish?! Yes please.
This is my favorite candle. I buy it every month - sometimes more often. Capri Blue Volcano is absolutely coming to the beach this summer!
Let's Shop | Summer
School is out! Summer is here! It’s the best time of year at our house because there are no schedules, no definite plans, and no responsibilities. My kids used to do swim team so we were home all summer - at least Monday through Thursday - and we could only go to the beach on the weekends. Now that the kids are older and out of summer scheduled events, we can be at the beach and live our best summer life for all three months.
I’m always on the hunt for the best things to make my summer the best summer ever - these are my new favorite things.
Cordless Outdoor Lamps :: Stripe Bag :: Supergoop Sunscreen :: Oyster Cast Iron Grill :: Yeti Ice Bucket :: Tower 28 Lip Gloss :: Pink Stripe Umbrella :: Wood Handled Clippers :: Super Cool Blue Weber Grill :: Business & Pleasure Beach Blanket
How & why I’m using it all
The cordless outdoor lights are perfect for eating outside. As soon as it starts to get dark, parties tend to break up. But if the lights are still going - then the party is still going!
A pink stripe umbrella is just about the cutest thing you’ve ever seen! It comes in several colors to match your outdoor space - and take it up a notch.
Wood handled clippers just look like they’re so much nicer than my plastic coated handled ones. And I clip A LOT of flowers.
Do not go outside without sunscreen. So use a good one.
I live in this lip gloss. It’s the perfect shade of red and it looks shiny and fresh which is what I’m going for in the summer.
All of everything fits into this cute bag. My general routine is to put all of the random bits that I need for the day in a big bag like this, then drop my cute purse on top!
I am working on some wood burning grilling this summer - a Weber is the perfect way to make that happen! I cannot wait until I can share what I have up my sleeve on the grill.
Baseball games are so much more fun when you can roll out a blanket and sit on the grass to watch it. This is such a cute way to do that - and I love when blankets have handles too.
In the summer, we bake or grill our oysters at the beach. The whole “months without an ‘r’” thing makes me nervous. Fill the oysters with an herb-y butter and pop them on the grill in this pan and they will bubble up and be EPIC.
Summer in the PNW is generally not hot, but it’s getting warmer and keeping drinks cooler is mandatory.
Let's Shop | Mother's Day
It’s almost Mother’s Day! Is Mother’s Day something you get excited about? Care about? Hate? It’s such a fraught holiday. Some people have lost a mother, some people want to be a mother and aren’t, some people have a strained relationship with their mother. And then there’s a group of us who just don’t care.
I’m a mother all the time. I don’t do it because one day a year I might get breakfast in bed. But I do use it as an excuse to buy myself something. Are you looking to buy yourself something this May? Mother’s Day is a great excuse - if you aren’t a mother, we all had a mother - buy something in honor of that.
5 quart braiser :: Westman Atelier Lipstick (I wear Bright Tomato) :: Capri Blue Candle :: Sisal Handbag with Sequins :: Gardening Shears :: Yoga Mat :: Games!
I personally go to Palm Springs with my best girlfriend and her husband every Mother’s Day. If Mother’s Day is hard for you, I highly recommend jetting out of town for the event. ESPECIALLY somewhere like Palm Springs. We have been out to brunch at a grown up hotel the last few years and it has been delightful.
Pink Lemonade Mint Julep
The perfect easy drink to match your brunch!
Beach House Dream
We have had a family beach place as long as I can remember. When my kids were little we spent the entire summer up there with family and had the best time. Not only was it a great way to entertain my kids all summer and have plenty of babysitters around BUT we also made memories. The first part felt more important than the second part at the time. Now I’m so grateful for the second part.
The beach house has become a favorite place for so many of us. My cousin had his rehearsal dinner there, my sister was married there, we’ve celebrated birthdays, anniversaries and LITERALLY every Fourth of July.
Every spring I start craving beach house days. It’s time to be up at the beach, it’s time for no schedule, it’s time for crab cakes and rosè at noon. Join me in dreaming about beach days at the beach house.
World’s Best Crab Dip
You cannot have a summer cocktail party without the best crab dip you’ve ever eaten!
Let's Shop | Golf Ladies
I grew up on a golf course. I took golf lessons. I live on a golf course. My kids play golf. My grandpa took his best naps watching golf. Golf was on TV every Easter at my grand parents. We’re a golf family. It’s in our blood.
This time of year, when the Masters comes on, I get so excited about golf again. Up until April, there is no way I am playing golf. In Seattle, it’s raining, it’s cold, and the grass is super muddy. But April is the turning point. The weather is getting better! It’s going to be sunny soon! It’s going to dry out soon! My kids will be out of school soon and will golf with me!
It’s time to start thinking of summer golf days. Possibly the best part is shopping for summer golf days. Aside from cocktailing on summer golf days…
Let's Shop | Easter for teens
Teenagers can be so hard to buy for. I rounded up a handful of things that my kids like that may help you too! I’ve bought a few things for my teenagers for Easter this year from this list - and taken inspiration from things they have either purchased in the last few months or told me they wanted. I hope this helps!
Walk it out
I still cannot believe these nurses shoes that I only wear when I’m at the beach - AND the kids used to make so much fun of - are now popular. But here we are. At least there are cute new spring colors.
Tune me out
My teens listen to music or books 24/7. Listen in style with these - and they are great for airplanes too.
Sassy bracelet
Pearl makes these! And sells them! Click the picture to buy them from her on Etsy. And she’s sassy, just like whatever teen you’re buying for.
Go bold
Again, the music. Pearl likes these when she’s falling asleep - she listens to her books then.
High MAINTENANCE
The reputation for the teen girls taking care of their skin is no joke. Even my low maintenance daughter is still using all the product. These are delightful - and cute spring colors!
Ball boy
Jud hits one million balls a night. More balls are always needed. Any kid who plays baseball always needs another baseball.
Game night
We love a good game night when we can squeeze one in. But as they’ve gotten older, we are looking for more games that we all want to play. Obviously, the real Cards Against Humanity is a little riské for teenagers, but this one is perfect!
Put it on ice
This got teenager girl approval - and teenage boy approval - for their iced coffee obsession. Since I refuse to pay $5 a day for their Starbucks habit, we’ve been making it at home. In cute cups, they seem to tolerate it - and me.
Let's Shop | St. Patrick's Day
St. Patrick’s Day was made for girls like me. It’s a little bit goofy, has a fabulous theme, a color scheme, AND some built in menu items that are delicious! I can’t wait for it every year. Shopping for a few items that are thematic, but not cheesy is critical for me. Here are my picks for the year - click through and purchase them for yourselves.
Slainte!
Even a glass of milk looks festive when it’s in a green glass. Garnish with whip cream and sprinkles and you’re the mom of the year.
Throw in some green
Decorating for the holiday doesn’t have to look tacky. Pop this over your throw pillow - an easy upgrade for your sofa!
Pop it on a tray
Serve drinks on it, put it on the coffee table, serve charcuterie on it, how about cupcakes?
Swizzle it up
Glass swizzle sticks class up literally everything. Even green beer would look classy with one of these beautiful swizzles!
The good stuff
Just the marshmallows! These are perfect when you make Rice Krispie treats and add a little extra something.
Let's Shop | Spring Cleaning
photo by Lara Swimmer for David Coleman
I have three kids and a 100 pound dog. My house needs to be cleaned far too often. And it looks unclean far too often. I’ve found some products that have tremendously helped me to not look like a complete slob when people stop in - even though there’s still usually some dog hair somewhere…
The very Best
Friends of mine make this surface spray and it’s literally the best. It cleans exceptionally well - I use it on my stove, counters and windows - and it smells really really good.
daily duty
I have to mop my floors daily - especially right now when the dog park is a muddy disaster. This has been game changing! It takes a few minutes to vacuum and mop the house. Its not a perfect job, but the floors look (and feel) a million percent better.
The Deep Steam
This is definitely a better steam clean than the daily mop above, but it’s also more of a ‘weekly’ or ‘monthly’ job vs. what you’ll pull out daily to not feel gross.
Dog Hair Be Gone
Literally the only way I can get the dog hair out of my car. I tried one million things before this - and this is IT. I cannot recommend it enough.
Put it away
I have these bins all over the house. I’ve found that if there’s a designated space for something, it’s so much easier to tidy up quickly. I love them in the pantry because then I can actually see what we’re out of!
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