You know that person who has all their Christmas cards sent, gifts bought and presents wrapped to perfection under the tree by the first week of December? Um, yeah…THAT is not me. I wish it were. I so want to be that person who doesn’t procrastinate and gets the holiday prep done way ahead of schedule, but every year the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas feel shorter and shorter. I’m
Read MoreHomemade Salt Dough Ornaments
Salt dough ornaments are one of those crafts that look easy and fun to make…and they actually ARE. They also keep my kids occupied for hours, which feels like a major parenting win during the chaos of Christmas. In between sports and school they plop down at the table and pick up a brush and paint the ornaments. I’ve been letting my OCD guard down and leaving the drop cloth
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December Lit List: Books for Gifting
If you’re still in need of some last-minute presents, I’ve got you covered. This lit list is full of giftable reads—from children’s picture books to luxe coffee table tomes and cult-favorite cookbooks. I especially love giving books because they can be used over and over, talked about and shared with others long after they’ve finished reading. A gift that truly keeps on giving! Simple by Yotam Ottolenghi I’m a huge
Read MoreSimple Christmas Craft: Orange Pomanders
I’d completely forgotten about these until I came across a drawing in one of Odette’s illustrated books of a beautiful Christmas fireplace mantel adorned with old-fashioned clove-studded oranges. Could we make a fun activity out of making these together? Is this even achievable?? Google to the rescue and YES! Turns out the word “pomander” comes from the French term “pomme de ambre” which means, eloquently, amber-scented ball. Centuries ago, citrus
Read MoreChristmas Gift Guide
It’s officially gift-giving season and I am officially WAY behind on my Christmas shopping. In hopes of getting organized and inspired, I pulled together 50+ ideas for all your gifting needs. Some are splurges, some are steals. Some we already have in our home and others are things I wouldn’t mind finding for myself under the Christmas Tree (hint hint, Jared). I hope you’ll find some unexpected gifts you can
Read MoreDecorate Your Christmas Tree Like a Pro
Ever wonder how magazines and department stores decorate a picture-perfect tree? I turned to my dear friend and designer extraordinaire, Virginia Davidson, for answers. Her impeccable taste has never steered me wrong. And I love that she proves that you can still have a gorgeous tree without ditching all the sentimental, sometimes kitschy, things that make Christmas trees so special in the first place. Because while sparkling glass ornaments are
Read MoreHoliday Clothes Shopping With Amazon Fashion Prime Wardrobe
With three small kids and a husband who works the week in a foreign country, clothes shopping can be a bit of a challenge these days (and probably explains why Odette mainly wears her brother’s hand-me-downs). Lugging the kids to the mall to try anything on kinda feels like the tenth circle of parenting hell. And it inevitably leads to a sympathy purchase after one of my children accidentally breaks
Read MoreThe Ultimate Vanilla Cupcake, with Sprinkles’ Candace Nelson
There are only a couple of food personalities that I’d get truly starstruck meeting in person: Martha Stewart, Ottolenghi and Ina Garten (and maybe even her husband Jeffrey), to name a few. Candace Nelson, the founder of Sprinkles cupcakes, is one of them, too: I’ve been a huge fan of hers ever since having my first fluffy, perfectly frosted cupcake several years ago, and now my kids can’t get enough
Read More6 Ways to Encourage Outside Free Play
I’ve always been drawn to the freedom of the outdoors. When I was a kid, we moved to Montana, and later Idaho, to spend more time in nature. My dad wanted to make sure we had the type of upbringing where we weren’t scared to get our hands dirty, to explore freely and even learn to fend for ourselves a bit. My siblings and I were always playing in the
Read MoreNovember Lit List
Oops—I’ve been so focused on running the Seattle half marathon that I forgot to post my November Lit List. I think I’m still on a runner’s high. The adrenaline rush I felt crossing that finish line was incredible and I’m already fantasizing about where to run my next race. But first, I’m ready to give my body a break and curl up on the couch with a good book. Here
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