things i love // easter

Hi lovelies. Happy Easter. It’s so nice to see the bright sun and feel the warmth. My guys are SO excited to hunt for eggs and eat too much candy and to finally get to spend the day with grandma + papa IRL. But I feel like I’d be remiss not to recognize on this day of rebirth and renewal the unspeakable horror that my beloved hometown endured while our little family was away for break and that other communities continue to face with each passing week. My heart is so broken.

We did have a lovely break, tromping through the Utah desert in the sleet and snow and rain, but there was an unshakable cloud that hung over the adults in the group as we tried to forge ahead and enjoy the moment despite the suffering of our community. The kids were blissfully ignorant of the news until we got home and they had the best time on our trip, fully unplugged with no TV, tablets or laptops to distract them from the company of their friends and the goats and weather systems moving in and out of the stunning valley where we stayed. It was wonderful to hear their easy laughter and see the relaxed bliss on their faces.

So, the only thing I know how to do in the aftermath of what happened in my favorite place on earth is to even more fiercely celebrate life and love and the living the best I can, knowing that other families no longer have that privilege. I’m making Confetti Pancakes with Sparkle Syrup for breakfast and am taking LOTS of big, deep breaths outside with my face to the glorious sunshine. I’m stealing lots of hugs from my guys and trying harder to be present for them. Hug your own babies extra tight today and all of your loves and send just a little stash of your good Easter vibes and healing mojo to Boulder for the journey ahead. Thanks, lovelies. It means a lot. xo

In the very first Things I Love post, I introduced you to Lisa Congden’s new book, You Will Leave a Trail of Stars. Well, I finally got my copy this week and I’m here again to tell you just how awesome it is IRL. It’s a book full of GORGEOUS, whimsical, colorful and downright stunning illustrations, yes, but it’s also jammed with such profound wisdom. There are excellent quotes from some expected places, but also Lisa’s own sage advice and reminders (like “Embrace the Suck”) from lessons learned by overcoming her own adversity and challenge. This book would be a truly gorgeous and heartfelt gift for any grad, teacher, friend, sister, daughter or really anyone you know who is facing a transition, a challenge or just needing a bit of encouragement as they make their way. I can see myself using it as a super helpful parenting tool as well when my own words fail me as they did last week. Her words are concise and not fluffy, but meaningful and impactful and could bring about a true change in perspective for someone ready to receive it. Plus, it’s so beautiful to look at. You Will Leave a Trail of Stars will def be a new go-to gift for me.
// YOU WILL LEAVE A TRAIL OF STARS $15.95//

Ok, and while I am having a Lisa Congdon love fest, have you guys seen the new Mondo Llama line of art supplies at Target?! AAAAGH! I had to exercise my most severe restraint to keep myself from pulling at least one of each thing into my cart. It’s SO FUN and so reasonably priced and they have an exceptional variety of materials and kits for kids and adults alike. AND Lisa Congdon designed the rad packaging (and you might as well just throw some of her crazy adorable Method hand soap in your cart while you’re at it). You could put together a seriously bonkers gift from their awesome selection. I made off with the Paint-Your-Own Wood Pets Kit for an upcoming school give-away and the Give it a Swirl Tie Dye Kit for a fun sunny day activity for my boys (plus LOTS of white tube socks to dye). The Kickin’ Kaleidoscope Paint Pouring Kit and Paint By Number Canvas Kit would be amazing for older kids or t(ween)s. I had to back away super slowly from the 3D Multi-Surface Paint (really ALL of the amazing paint) and Bright Glitter Washi Tape, but will def be back for my little’s birthday. From beads to chalk markers to glitter glue, you could never go wrong making a seriously RAD gift out of anything in this line for any aged artists you love.
// MONDO LLAMA ART SUPPLIES from $2//

Oh you guys, this HOKA x Cotopaxi collab makes me so happy. I’ve been wanting to try a pair of Hoka’s forever and this might just be the push I need. The colors are so happy and fun and summer-ready. And I’ve admired Cotopaxi for years, drawn to their colorful aesthetic, but after listening to the How I Built This episode about their founder, Davis Smith, I liked them even more. The company’s “Do Good” creed is executed at every turn. One of the tenets of Cotopaxi’s super thoughtful and impactful business model is to give their employees full creative control over the pieces they sew; the employees get to choose the colors they use from the remnant fabric for every single piece they put together so that no two are the same, which I love. So if you order this Cotopaxi x HOKA ONE ONE Batac Del Dia Pack, you won't know exactly what you’re going to get, but you can be sure it’ll be colorful and so fun. Plus a portion of the proceeds from this collab are going to Big City Mountaineers, an organization committed to getting kids from disinvested communities into the outdoors. Both pieces from this drop are unisex and would be a fantastic Mother’s or Father’s Day gift for the outdoor lovers you love who appreciate a rad pop of color. This stuff will be gone in a flash, so think fast and bring ON those summer adventures.
// HOKA x COTOPAXI from $65//

JaxKelly handcrafts delicate, pretty and super affordable gemstone jewelry and candles out of San Diego. I picked up a pair of their Clear Quartz Mineral Points at Favor the Kind in Crested Butte a few months ago and have been wearing them a lot lately. They’re almost invisible on my ears from a distance, but I love how they refract the light and Quartz is said to have cleansing properties, which just feels right for me these days. I’ve been waiting patiently for them to restock their Mineral Points in other stones and they finally have, but… now I’m having trouble choosing. The Amethyst (healing), Amazonite (hope) and Rose Quartz (love) all look so pretty and I love the mojo they’re putting out. I also love the simplicity of these little Minimalist Hexagons and Moons. JaxKelly’s Crystal Candles are hand-poured in their studio and have different stones embedded in them that each carry a different intention, like Inner Peace (peach quartz), Calming (blue chalcedony) or Balancing (Dalmatian jasper). Just lighting a simple scented candle is said to have therapeutic benefits, so adding some intention and earthly energy might just kick it up a notch.
// JAXKELLY MINERAL POINTS $34//

If you have space in your heart and your wallet, please consider donating to the Colorado Healing Fund. This nonprofit was founded in 2018 by victim advocates and the Colorado AG’s office to give people a safe and efficient way to support victims of mass tragedy. I’m just so sad that their important work continues to be relevant over and over again. The CHF provides both immediate and long-term support to victims and their families, including their financial, emotional and physical needs. They work with community partners to effectively disperse the funds, so you can feel confident that your donation will get to the people who need it most.
// COLORADO HEALING FUND //

All images via @bouldercolorado

Hey! Just a heads up that this post includes affiliate links, but rest assured that I stand by all product recommendations 100%. Questions? Reach out, I’m always here for you. xo

things i love // spring forward

Happy Daylight Savings, lovelies! I love the ‘spring forward,’ it’s just so hopeful. It feels like we have more and more to feel hopeful about with each passing day, which is such a nice change from the chaos and uncertainty of the last year. The prospect of having a semi-’normal’ summer with friends and family being able to gather + more relaxing travel is almost too exciting to process. I just can’t wait to have everyone over for a big BBQ and to be able to HUG the people I love. I’m going to be running around like Scott Campbell’s Hug Machine just as soon possible, so look out, you might be my next unknowing victim.

And on another note, I just got my Runamok Sparkle Syrup in the mail and it’s even better and more sparkly IRL. It looks like there’s still availability from their limited release, so if you were hoping to glam up your breakfast, there’s still a chance. They also just released two brand new infusions that sound incredible.

I hope you’re all feeling the same optimism this week that comes with the changing season [and the prospect of mass vaccination]. The light is near, we can totally make it. xo

When I was a single gal, dinner for me was whatever looked good in the Whole Foods prepared case that night or maybe, if I was feeling ambitious, a pot of spaghetti. When my husband and I met and started to merge our lives and then grew into a family, my cooking repertoire slowly started to grow, too. Cooking is now obvs an everyday part of my life (more like 3-5x a day) and probs fueled 70% by love and 30% by necessity depending on the day. I’m super passionate about food and health and want to share that with my family, but I’m for sure still learning how to be a ‘good’ cook. I’m not a creative chef or adept at adding just a little pinch of this and a splash of that to whip up something amazing. But I can follow a good recipe and am a FIRM believer that having the right tools for the job is key, be it your go-to kitchen supplies or the best ingredients you can get your hands on. It’s something I’ve been slowly and intentionally honing over the years, swapping out big piles of mostly useless gadgets for a few of the RIGHT ones. It’s the reason I buy organic when I can and the inspiration for finally splurging on some truly gorgeous Brightland Olive Oil.

I’ve honestly always just bought a simple, inexpensive olive oil believing that anything coming from the Mediterranean was probably pretty good and basically all the same. Um, no. It turns out I could NOT have been more naive. When you dig in, you find out that much imported olive oil sold in the US as ‘extra virgin’ is actually nothing of the sort. It can be [and often is] rancid, moldy, contaminated with larvae and filled up with a bunch of other super junky types of oil. EEW. GROSS. It’s apparently a massive global scandal and actually super fascinating (I now want to read this book for the juicy details). The oil I was buying may not have even had the powerful polyphenols and other awesome health benefits that I was using it for in the first place. So I took the leap to something SO MUCH better. If I’m super honest, my leap started more like a casual wander fueled entirely by Brightland’s stunning branding (I’m like a barracuda drawn to shiny objects), but after learning more, I didn’t hesitate to jump and will never look back.

Brightland produces small-batch, high quality, gorgeous olive oils with only locally-grown fruit straight from the rich Cali soil. They source all of the little gems from a family-run farm and know exactly what they’re putting into their final product. So you can rest knowing that you’re not putting mold or larvae into your Taboule. And the flavor is spectacular. It’s bright and herbaceous and so super delicious. I started with their ‘basic’ oils, Awake and Alive plus pretty Spouts for both (quickly now some of those ‘right’ kitchen gadgets). I have been using them each for different recipes and have noticed such a difference in the flavor. I use Awake for soups and chicken and Alive for all the veggies. I am now coveting Rosette (garlic), Ardor (chili pepper) and Lucid (lemon), especially as the weather gets warmer. They also make two gorgeous vinegars, Parasol (champagne) and Rapture (balsamic) made with the same high standards. And they have stunning sets that would be truly spectacular gifts for anyone on your list who loves to cook or eat fabulous food. I know it seems like eons away, but Mother’s Day will spring up before you know it and a set of Brightland oils would be gorgeous.

There are a few other really notable companies that are part of this small-batch [gorgeous packaging] California movement. Both Wonder Valley and Pineapple Collaborative also have a line of olive oils that are super high quality and likely equally as delicious. Wonder Valley also makes luscious skin care that would be a stunning self-care gift (the Hinoki Body Oil is on my short list of ‘mama wants’). So, while I still have plenty of days when I’d rather just grab something from the prepared case at Whole Foods, on all of the other days when I’m excited to chef it up, I’m so happy that I made the leap to something better.
// BRIGHTLAND OLIVE OIL from $37//

About four days *before* we went on lockdown last year I finally decided that it was time to tackle my multiplying gray hairs and found the exact product I wanted to do it with. And, about 4 days *after* we went on lockdown, my first Hairprint delivery arrived at my doorstep. I was like “oh, great, just what I need” and shoved it under my bathroom sink. I mean, I didn’t see the point. A few months later, when the sun started to shine, I found the rejected box and pulled it out. I didn’t want it to go to waste and figured being stuck in my house with only my family was actually probs a good time to practice coloring my own hair. I got some advice from a friend, gathered all of my supplies, watched a SUPER helpful Youtube video and set to work. I’m not gonna lie, that first go was long and messy and I was super hangry at the end, but OMG was it worth it.

My hair is thick, dark and naturally curly [frizzy] and I don’t have tons of grays, but the ones I do have are wiry and stick straight up at the crown of my head like a lighthouse on a hilltop. I have so much love for women who choose to embrace the transition and let it come in naturally, but I’m just not *quite* there yet. I need those wild suckers to lay down. I’ve never dyed my hair before (except that one time in college, but we don’t talk about that) and I didn’t want a bunch of grody chemicals. I also didn’t want to start going in with full dye coverage that will grow out and leave me with roots, because that sets you up for a years-long commitment and I’m bad at commitment. So, when I put all of those criteria together, it lead me gracefully to Hairprint.

Hairprint is NOT a dye, and as such it doesn’t provide complete coverage; I still have some grays after treatment, which is okay with me (the extra step in Hairprint Plus makes a HUGE difference). But there are significantly fewer and they lay down much more gracefully. Hairprint IS a [miraculous] formula that encourages a chemical reaction that restores pigmentation of grey hairs to their innate light brown, brown or black hair color; it’s not covering anything up, it’s actually reverting hair to its original state. It was developed by an esteemed green chemist and I don’t want to make your eyes roll to the back of your head, but suffice it to say, Hairprint is totally free of ALL the stuff that you don’t want in/on your body (dyes, PPD, PTD, coal tars, fragrance, gluten, sulfates, PEG, silicone, parabens, high levels of ammonia or peroxide). And it’s cruelty-free. PHEW! Plus, it REALLY works for me, so there’s that. It also improves the health of your hair, making it stronger and shinier and all around better.

Now, before you hit “buy” on their site, take a deep dive into their FAQs to make sure it’s a good fit for you because it doesn’t work with ALL hair colors. For example, my beautiful blond and redheaded friends are out of luck, likewise those who’ve gone full white. BUT… everyone can enjoy Hairprint’s line of luscious natural shampoos, oils and hair regrowth products specially designed to give your hair the royal treatment that it deserves. I haven't tried them yet, but given my recent beauty product shopping bender, they might be next on my list [HIDE my credit card, please, it’s getting serious]. If you want to get serious about blending those grays into your natural hair color and you don’t love the idea of using a bunch of toxic chemicals to do it, check out Hairprint. I’m going in for another round, but this time I’m so bringing snacks.
// HAIRPRINT TRUE HAIR COLOR RESTORER from $42//

I was a SUPER girlie girl. I was all about clothes and makeup and Barbie and princesses. I took ice skating lessons just so I could have a Dorothy Hamill dress. I paraded around the house in my sequined dance costumes. And I would have thrown my best friend to the wolves without second thought for some Super Smalls bling. It’s shiny and stylish and adorable and made just for kids who like to rock the hardcore sparkle.

Founded by a legit fashion industry veteran and certified girl mama of three, Super Smalls mimics the look, feel and presentation of serious luxury jewelry and accessories, but is made just for all-out fun. It’s intended to spark the imagination, power up the the play and straight up wow its wearers. They make over-the-top adorable jewelry, accessories and hair bling that all take glitz and shine to the next level. It’s just plain fun and would make a seriously SHOW-STOPPING gift for any little or t(w)een that’s dazzled by sparkle. Their BFF Twin Stars Necklace Set comes with matching blingy necklaces, one for each pal, along with a super sweet guide that explains what each colorful stone represents about being a good friend. It’s so stinking cute, especially now when it’s tough to see our BFFs as often as we’d like.

And if you’re searching for wowee Easter basket filler, Super Smalls has you covered. Honestly any of their beautifully packaged goods would take your basket to the next level, but they also have Super Bundles that would make you MVB [bunny] for life. Grandmas and cool aunties take note, this would seriously BLOW your cutie little’s mind. The Easter Bunny will get mad props for delivering the blingiest loot your little could ever dream up.

So if you love a little that’s super wowed by big time sparkle, Super Smalls is a serious no-brainer AMAZING gift option. I guess it’s a good thing for my elementary school best friend that it wasn’t around when we were kids.
// SUPER SMALLS BFF TWIN STARS NECKLACE SET $43//

I have sort of a depressing [embarasing] confession. Though our beloved old dog passed away in December, his dog beds are still scattered around the house. It feels a bit like their absence leaves a bigger hole than absentmindedly tripping over them everyday. I’m used to seeing them there in the middle of the floor and not seeing them feels much more conspicuous. I know I need to get rid of them (and soon), but I’m just not quite ready. I’m glad all those years ago, I decided to buy handsome beds so that, ratty as they are now, they’re at least not a complete eye sore.

I don’t mean to be all gloomy (gah, sorry!), but it’s a good reminder that you have to look at the things your dog uses every day, so you might as well choose gear that you like. Fortunately, there are so many options for just about any style you fancy. If last week’s pretty floral and modern motifs aren’t really your thing, The Stately Hound’s elevated style might be just your jam. It’s a fantastic company out of the UK that hand-makes stunning collars, leashes and soft wool blankets for your pups.

The Stately Hound’s leather collars are handmade from Italian vegetable-tanned single grain, so there are no toxins used in the tanning process and it allows for a wide range of true bright colors that are all really stunning. All of the beautiful brass hardware comes from one of the oldest foundries in England and adds such a noble touch. They also make the collar with your own dog’s measurements, so you know it’s going to be a perfect fit. You can add a matching leather leash in varying widths to suit your preference for a beautiful set befitting a best pal. And if you need something a bit more rugged and waterproof for your pup, they also hand-make awesome, colorful webbing collars and leashes, as well as marine-grade rope leashes. And lastly, they make awesome dog blankets from super soft recycled Welsh wool. You can use it in a basket, on the couch, in the car or for travel to keep your pup cozy and protect your surfaces. All of this shipped FREE from the UK. And if you need some ridiculously cute dog porn in your life, check out their Insta feed, it’s a truly beautiful tribute to [hu]man’s best friend. If you love a dog lover, The Stately Hound’s gorgeous handmade line of products would make a stunning gift.
// THE STATELY HOUND LEATHER COLLAR $57//

As we mosey past the one year mark with this whole “safer at home” thing, we’re starting to lap some quarantine birthdays. A few of my peeps are coming up on COVID birthday number 2 and it’s just a bummer. Somehow a standard text to mark the day doesn’t feel like enough, no matter how many cake and balloon emojis or partying cat giphys you add to the end. If you want to get serious about making your special people feel REALLY special, you need Punkpost. For about the same cost as a blank letterpress card, you can have a super talented real-life handwriting artist personalize a card for your special person and deliver it snail-mail style from you. It’s absolutely brilliant.

Punkpost has 400 different insanely clever card designs to choose from for literally ANY occasion. Some are hilarious, some are sweet, some are straight up dirty, but they’re all incredible and exclusive to Punkpost. And they have more than 150 handwriting artists around the country who will handwrite your personal message on the card you choose. You can even add photos, gift cards or a confetti bomb to your card with a simple click. You choose the card + type style you like best, type up your special message and that’s it - the handwriting artists do the rest and have your completely personal, amazingly creative card in the mailbox and off to your special person within 24 hours. It will completely blow their mind and def make them feel SUPER special.

Plus any company who’s most popular product says “Just wanted to remind you that I love you and your butt is perfect” is tops in my book. So, whether it’s another trip around the sun or some encouragement or “just because,” find an excuse to send someone a Punkpost card today and spread some serious joy. And if you’re already an amazing handwriting artist, find an excuse to make your OWN dang amazing card and send it off to someone who could use a little pick-me-up this week.
// PUNKPOST CARDS $7//

things i love // launch

Wow, that was a week. It feels like the light was turned on; like the sun came out. The collective feeling of hope and strength that’s emanating feels so good (please please let us hold on to it). The world met Amanda Gorman and will now never forget her words and her exquisite, mesmerizing reading of them. My son is already studying her poem at school and I’m so proud that his rad teacher seized this moment to teach the kids about the power of language. I heard Amanda Gorman interviewed and she said she doesn’t draw inspiration from pictures, but from snippets of phrases and words, which is so fascinating to me because I’m such a visual person.

And, in other *slightly* less profound news, it’s almost Valentine’s Day! If you missed my posts about Love Bombs and Galentine’s Day, check them out for some awesome gift ideas. And if you celebrate the day with your sweetheart and need a little help choosing THE perfect thing, reach out, I’d be so happy to help give them heart-eyes on the big day.

Here are a few things that caught my eye this week. I come across too many awesome things along the way not to share them, so this is a little expansion of the “things i love” section of the website. Let me know if there are categories of things you’d like to see more of in future. And thanks for hanging with me, lovelies. xo

This Mushroom Cauliflower Rice from Primavera Kitchen is so good and satisfying. I have made it a few times and it has never disappointed. It's really savory and hearty, like healthy comfort food, and it’s super easy. I usually serve it as a side, but you could easily add some protein or put an egg on top and make it a full meal. You can also sub brown or white rice if you prefer - just add the cooked rice to the skillet at the end and skip the broth (this time I actually used Trader Joe’s frozen brown rice, which made it crazy quick!). I have her Sheet Pan Shrimp Boil recipe pinned for when corn comes back in season, it looks so YUMMY.
// PRIMAVERA KITCHEN MUSHROOM CAULIFLOWER RICE //

This Oli & Carol collaboration with iconic Spanish designer Agatha Ruiz de la Prada is just the cutest AND a portion of the proceeds from the sale will be donated to pediatric cancer research, which is such a win-win. The bright heart can be used as a bracelet or teether or toy for your littles and Oli & Carol is a gorgeous Barcelona-based company that you’ll feel great about supporting. It’s run by two beautiful young sisters who use sustainable, 100% natural rubber to create their adorable bath toys and then hand-paint each one using food-grade dye. And if that isn’t enough to sell you, the sisters also use a portion of their proceeds to fund a school in northern India. I just love it when I find a company that makes super high quality products AND does good in the world. You’ll also find their awesome toys in Bubbles & Joy subscription boxes.
// HEART BRACELET BY AGATHA RUIZ DE LA PRADA FOR OLI & CAROL $18.99 //

I learned about this facial oil from Lisa at This Organic Girl (if you don’t follow her, you def should, but prep your wallet because you’ll want ALL the things!). My skin is pretty sensitive, so I’ve been keeping it super simple for the last few years. But Colorado’s 300 days of gorgeous sunshine and dry air take a serious toll on a mama’s skin. So I took a chance on this super natural not-at-all-oily facial oil and I AM IN LOVE. In just a few days of morning and night use, I can totally see and feel a difference in the hydration level and look of my skin. My cheeks feel like I’m back in the PNW, all dewy in the middle of January. That’s a serious feat. The Essentialist is a Canadian company that’s dedicated to minimalism in every way, using only natural, sustainably sourced ingredients. Plus they’re Leaping Bunny certified, which is, well, essential as far as I’m concerned. Now if I could get my over-washed sandpaper hands to feel like my face, I’d be all set.
// ESSENTIALIST DAILY RENEWAL FACIAL OIL $110 CAD //

Our whole family loved Wolfwalkers on AppleTV+. The animation is truly stunning and magical. It’s so layered and has incredible movement and depth and so much beauty that I want to go watch it again just to see the details that I missed the first time. And the touching story is also gorgeous. Even if you don’t have kiddos it’s well worth a watch (and it might be a bit dark for super little littles), it was just a real pleasure. They also have a graphic novel that’s equally stunning.
// WOLFWALKERS ON APPLETV+ //

If you follow along with me, you might’ve seen a post earlier this week about 10-year-old Dana and her awesome non-profit, Cookies 4 Cures. Dana bakes cookies to raise money to help fund research into rare pediatric diseases. One of Dana’s sweet friends and fundraising recipients is little Sophie, who loves to dance and has a super rare condition called MCTO that will basically slowly cause her bones to dissolve. Yeah, let that sink in for a minute. There are only around 30 other people in the entire world with this same condition, so it’s just not the focus of a lot of attention or funding. Taking action on behalf of their beautiful daughter, her parents started the non-profit, Sophie’s Neighborhood, to raise money and awareness in hopes that research will catch up and help find a treatment for Sophie and other extra special kids like her who have similarly rare devastating genetic illnesses. Please check it out and help or give whatever you can. And, Dana will is baking some sweet Valentine’s Day cookies for another pop-up on February 13th at Santo in Boulder, so grab a bag of homemade treats for a friend and bring double smiles while you do some good.
// SOPHIE’S NEIGHBORHOOD //

Portland-based artist and illustrator, Lisa Congdon, crushed it this week. She was asked by the Biden Inaugural Committee to recreate the official invitation in her own sunny, happy, bright style and it is truly awesome. She also has a new book coming out in March and I already preordered it because I know it’s going to make me smile. “You Will Leave a Trail of Stars” is a collection of her inspiring, magical artwork, quotes and advice and it looks like a spectacular gift. I’ll def keep you posted on that one, I’m happy to take one for the team.
// YOU WILL LEAVE A TRAIL OF STARS $15.95 //

Hey! Just a heads up that this post includes affiliate links that could earn me a small commission, but rest assured that I stand by all product recommendations 100%. Questions? Reach out, I’m always here for you. xo