things i love // let me entertain you

Happy Super Bowl Sunday! All of my guys are big football fans, but my oldest is also a huge Patrick Mahomes + Chiefs fan (sorry, Broncos!) and my littlest is writing a biography about Mahomie at school, so they are PUMPED. My husband is rooting for Brady as a fellow “old” guy and just to spice things up because my boys are seriously down on the GOAT. I’m making Killer Chicken Thighs (aka Everyone’s Favorite Chicken” in our house - if you make it I recommend cooking it at 425 for about an hour and fifteen unless you have some very petite thighs) and Mushroom Cauliflower Rice, probs with a side of gooey nachos just because. I always love the Super Bowl commercials, of course, and am pretty excited to see The Weeknd perform. Though in my true heart, I desperately wish we could host our friends for our annual(ish) Super Bowl Party. You’ll notice in my selections this week that I’m pining for spring and just dying to entertain friends and family, it’s one of my favorite things to do. But alas, we’ll have to keep our family-only party going for a bit longer (thank GOODNESS I love our family-only party). Whatever you have on the roster today, enjoy it. I’d love to hear what kind of awesome [slash gross] things you make for the big game. I’m glad to have you all on my team, lovelies. xo

Hygge Life in the Vail Valley is everything you’d dream of in a space designed to celebrate warmth, coziness, togetherness and gorgeous Scandinavian design. It’s serious beautiful eye candy and I would basically like one or two of everything they have. But in particular, my eyes keep coming back to these stunning Danish Brass Twinkle Candleholders. Each teeny tiny hole is hammered by hand to create a magical twinkling effect that would be so pretty on a dining table. They have 3 different sizes that could be mixed up into a gorgeous little cluster. I also love these Swedish cast-iron candleholders that have 2 concentric circles that can hold 3 different sized candles depending on your mood or the ambiance you’re trying to create. Or these gorgeous tall solid brass Dome Candleholders that would be super dramatic and beautiful. Um, can you tell that I’m dreaming about entertaining someone in our house besides my cutie boys?!

If you’re ever in the Vail Valley, Hygge Life is def worth taking the small detour to find (it’s tucked away in an industrial strip mall off the frontage road). They also have a truly lovely cafe with coffee and sweets, so you can take a break and thoroughly enjoy the hygge.
// DANISH BRASS TWINKLE CANDLEHOLDERS $44.95 //

In addition to my passion for entertaining, I am also a bonafide cheese lover. And since there’s no better way to get a party started than with a heaping plate of cheese, I am now also a lover of Marissa Mullen and her brilliant cheese-plate-building method. She has developed a sort of paint-by-numbers way to build incredible, overflowing boards of cheese, meat, fruit, veggies, spreads, dips, nuts, herbs… you hungry yet? They’re dreamy and so appealing, but also totally accessible and something you could actually make with her streamlined method. She offers virtual classes + recipes on her site and some of her most popular plate builds to get you started. She even shares some of her favorite serving pieces for inspiration (spoiler alert: they’re super reasonable and not fancy).

That Cheese Plate Will Change Your Life is Marissa’s drool-worthy book and it’s just fun to look at her dreamy photographs even if you only ever end up creating a mini plate for yourself (aka what I would *like* to eat for lunch EVERY darn day). So, if you love a cheese-lover or a hostess [or host] with the mostess, think about gifting them one of Marissa’s classes or books. It just might change their life. And when we can have piles of kiddos over again, I’m dying to make one of these char”treat”erie plates. Just fun goodness.
// THAT CHEESE PLATE WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE $28 //

I LOVE a cup of hot tea (or two or three) in the afternoon. It feels so good to warm up your body from the inside out and to just take a minute to breathe. I crave it and start looking forward to my little after-school ritual by about mid morning. But I stopped drinking caffeine regularly like 12 years ago when I got pregnant with my first babe and even the mildly caffeinated green tea that I love is starting to mess with my sleep (sigh, getting older). I also have a seriously fussy constitution, so I skip out on some of the more popular herbs like mint and ginger. SO I’ve been on a really dedicated mission to find a tea that I can drink to my heart’s content without upsetting any of my *delicate* little systems. Well, shout it from the South African mountain tops, I have found my true love!

Honeybush is a super delicate, slightly sweet tea that is naturally decaffeinated and is delicious as a single-ingredient brew. It comes from a shrub in a specific area of South Africa and its yellow flowers smell a bit like honey, hence its name. As a happy added bonus, it also has several incredibly beneficial health properties, including polyphenols that help combat heart disease and inflammation. It has been used in South Africa for centuries for everything from coughs to menopause to a digestive aid and I can’t get enough of it (my little adores it too, it’s super mild and has no tannins, so no bitterness). I’ve been really enjoying the Numi Organic Honeybush that I picked up at Vitamin Cottage, and I’m going try this Smith Teamaker version, too, just to mix it up (I know I’m getting super wild over here). If you love a good cuppa, give it a try, it’s divine.
// SMITH TEAMAKERS HONEYBUSH HERBAL INFUSION $12 //

To know me is to know my loving dedication to Baggu Reusable Bags (and to find a least one long strand of my hair in all the food I serve you. Sorry.). I think they’re the bees knees for so many reasons and they’ve just dropped some springy new prints that are so breezy and sunny, I might need to add a few more to my already, um…‘impressive’ collection. In fairness, I do share and before you judge, indulge me for just a sec… For starters, Baggus are hands down the cutest reusable bags you’ll find. So, right there, they’ve got me. I’m such a sucker for a great print + color combo and they continuously just nail it. I get so many compliments when I pull them out and the grocery baggers always pop a big smile (one asked me once if I owned the company because I had so many, which was *slightly* embarrassing, so…maybe do judge).

They’re also the most durable reusable bags around. I’ve had some for like 7 years and they look brand new. They can be machine washed and hung to dry, which I’ve done literally 100 times in the last 12 months, and there’s nary a tear or pull in a single one of them. Also they hold SO MUCH stuff and pack down tiny for travel. They make awesome gifts all by themselves (hello teachers, yoga instructors, galentines therapists…) or as the fabulous and eco-friendly wrapping for another gift. And maybe best of all, I use them all the time when I deliver meals to friends in need. It always makes them feel extra special to find their dinner wrapped up in a bright, happy bag that they can use when they’re feeling better (especially the Yellow Happy print).

See, not crazy, right?! They also have a ton of other awesome goods (I’m eyeing the Puffy Earbud Case and Laptop Sleeve) that would make excellent gifts. So, check out their new prints and you’ll feel just a little warm glimmer of the sunshine coming our way.
// BAGGU REUSABLE BAGS from $10 //

While we’re on the subject of springtime, among all of the other refreshing virtues of the season comes the promise of new outdoor adventures (yay!). VSSL is a very cool outdoor survival kit company with a unique product and they’ve just released their newest must-have gear piece to the lineup.

VSSL kits pack tiny canisters of essential outdoor gear inside a top-of-the-line flashlight and compass unit, creating a sort of Swiss Army Knife of survival necessities. You can either choose from one of their already well-though out versions, like First Aid or Camp or Flask (obvs a necessity for some), or you can customize your own with the tools that are most relevant to your particular adventure. It’s brilliant. I gifted a Camp Supplies kit to my husband for Christmas and he keeps it in the truck for all of the ‘just in case’ scenarios that run through your mind when you’re adventuring WAY out in the boonies. It has things like Fire Starter, Rope + Razor, a Fishing Kit, a mini First Aid kit and tons more that just give you a little peace of mind and are actually useful. It easily moves from truck into daypack and is super lightweight so you’ll never know it’s there until you need it. VSSL kits are waterproof, virtually indestructible and can be restocked so you can reuse it forever.

And now, they can solve all of your pressing (get it?!) coffee emergencies, too. With the new VSSL Java Coffee Grinder, your die-hard, adventure-loving coffee nerd can have freshly ground beans even 15 miles deep on a backpacking trip. It’s a burr grinder with 50 unique settings to get everything just right for your brew. It’s incredibly durable (made with aircraft grade aluminum) and also super lightweight. Pair it with the compact Aeropress GO and a Miir Tumbler and you are set up for a great morning, either in the far reaches of the wild or your backyard. If you’re still looking for a Valentine’s gift for your sweetheart, this could be a fantastic answer.
// VSSL JAVA COFFEE GRINDER $150 //

one hit wonder gifts

WHEN friends ask for gifting advice, I start with a few questions to try to get to know their lucky gift recipient. Of course I want all the details about what kinds of things they love, but almost more importantly, I want the dirt on what they don’t. It’s such good insight and helps ensure we don’t fail before we even start. One of the things I’ve heard over and over again is that their people don’t like CLUTTER. Chotchkes. Trinkets. Stuff. Call it what you will, but basically people just don’t want a bunch of extra junk in their house. Which is where The One Hit Wonder Gift comes in so beautifully.

JUST LIKE Milli Vanilli, The One Hit Wonder Gift is meant to be THOROUGHLY enjoyed and then simply fade away. It’s something just as thoughtful and meaningful and beautiful and heartfelt as any other gift, except it’s designed to disappear so that your special person doesn’t have to find a place to put it. This is not to be confused with a useful or utilitarian gift, but something really awesome that just happens to have a single or limited use. Cool experiences def fall into this category and can be a really special gift, especially if you can share in it together. That could mean a Moroccan cooking class, tickets to a livestream symphony or concert, a luxurious spa treatment, skydiving OR a beautiful hike or meal together, depending on your budget and your special person. Making their favorite homemade treat can also be an excellent One Hit Wonder if you know it’ll bring a big smile.

ONE HIT Wonder Gifts are a great choice for that someone who ‘has everything’ or new moms who don’t need more stuff to keep track of or kids who already have WAY too many toys. And the fact that you know and respect that your special person doesn’t want a bunch more ‘stuff’ is a gift in itself.

THERE’S absolutely nothing wrong with flowers or a bottle of their favorite spirit, but there are SO many other great things out there that could also add a little element of thoughtful surprise for an extra wide smile. How about having a Milk Bar Pie sent from the famous bakery in NYC? They call it ‘Crack Pie’ because you’ll eat the whole thing in one sitting and then want another. Or a bundle of Lush Bath Bombs, which are, well, the bomb. Each one is like a little party for the bath, spiraling in a crazy-fun frenzy of glitter and color and wonder. They’re one of my favorite gifts for kids that either have a lot of stuff or whom I don’t know *that* well (and my own boys who still totally love them). You could gift the crafty ones a Creativebug Subscription so they can learn to knit or paint or make jewelry in their own time. Then maybe they’ll make you something amazing for your birthday, so win-win there I’d say.

SO, NEXT time you have a minimalist special person to shop for, think about mixing it up a bit and surprise them with something different. Like a “Girl You Know It’s True” serenade at their kitchen window. GIFT A LITTLE HAPPINESS. xo

1. Lush makes hands-down the MOST amazing bath bombs // 2. Knot & Bow’s Birthday in a Bag will fun up the day, especially if you can’t be there IRL // 3. Food Lab Boulder offers awesome cooking classes // 4. Le Patch Incense Paper literally just goes up in smoke // 5. Lovely Butter & Me self-care treasures melt into your skin // 6. Any home chef would love Brightland’s gorgeous CA-grown oils and vinegars // 7. Send a unique craft cocktail recipe kit once or monthly from American Cocktail Club // 8. Wish Paper from Tops Malibu is sweet and fun and literally burns up // xo

MORE IN… home + garden

things i love // sparkle

We finally got some gorgeous, sparkly snow this week. I mean it IS winter and all, but it has been sunny and warm and absolutely gorgeous for months. I’m not complaining for one hot second, but we need the moisture and I’d much rather see it now than in April when I want to be busting out my sandals and not pulling on my snow boots. Plus, one of the best things about Colorado is that we don’t hang on to dreary for long. The sun always comes out and lights everything up with its happy, healing warm glow. I hope you were able to bask in some happy this week, too. xo

I spent like 5 hours the other day cleaning out the drawers and cabinets in our bathroom, purging all of the stuff that doesn’t ‘spark joy,’ like the expired makeup that’s been sitting there abandoned for a year. It took m u c h longer than I expected, but I did feel pretty great afterward. And, now I maybe have a *wee* bit of space to fit these gorgeous Among the Flowers treasures that I’ve been eyeing. Among the Flowers is a northern California small-batch skincare line that’s as clean as clean can be and just so delicate and pretty. The Raw Honey + Sugar Face Polish looks heavenly and I’ll bet it smells divine, too. It only has 4 simple, totally natural ingredients, so you don’t have to worry about anything grody. The Lip + Cheek Tints are also formulated with just clays, roots, petals and oils. Which color? They all look too lovely to choose.
// AMONG THE FLOWERS RAW HONEY + SUGAR FACE POLISH $25 //
// AMONG THE FLOWERS LIP + CHEEK TINTS $9-16 //

Oh, and one more thing while we’re chatting beauty… I realized this week that they’ve stopped making the perfume that I’ve been wearing for years. I like to fancy it my “signature scent,” though in real life, my signature scent is, well, um, a bit more…natural I’d say. In any case, I’m on the hunt, so if you have some recommendations for a super light, natural scent that can be my new go-to, please share. I do like a little spritz to make my sweatpants feel fancy.

The Smitten Kitchen catalog of recipes is so vast and amazing that I would normally find it actually impossible to choose just one to share. BUT, she just recently posted this recipe for Parmesan Oven Risotto that’s such a revelation, I CANNOT WAIT to try it and I couldn't keep it to myself. She’s developed a way to make perfect risotto in the OVEN instead of stirring it forever on the stovetop and I’m so intrigued. I love a good risotto, but I admit that when I make it at home, it usually comes out just a bit gluey. So this idea that you can cook it in an easy and foolproof way and have it come out perfectly creamy, but not gloppy is super exciting. Plus that butter and parm, I mean…tell me if you try it before I do!
// SMITTEN KITCHEN PARMESAN OVEN RISOTTO //

Meri Cherry is a magical process art teacher in LA and I have been ogling her happy creations for years. I am consistently blown away by her never-ending flow of truly enchanting creativity. It’s so inspiring. In “normal times” she teaches coveted classes and camps in LA for a select lucky few. But, happy for us, she has added some downloadable classes and kits so everyone can participate in the magic. I’ve been eyeing both the Resin and Crazy Contraptions classes for my guys, especially my oldest. They’re just right up his alley. She has also paired up with Kid Made Modern to create an epic monthly Craft Club SUBSCRIPTION (be still my heart), so you can get a beautiful project and all the parts in your mailbox each month. And finally, she has also written a gorgeous book, "Play Make Create," that has an impressive collection of super fun and magical projects to do on your own. Surely there’s something for everyone with all of those awesome options. Whether for a rainy day in your own house or as an AMAZING gift for other littles you love, everyone needs a little Meri Cherry in their life.
// MERI CHERRY DOWNLOADABLE ART CLASSES $18 + art materials //

So… adventure looks a little different these days, but I’ll take it where I can get it. On a gorgeous, foggy sparkly, snowy morning this week, I set off on an epic journey, driving 13 whole miles SE to… downtown Lafayette. C’mon, that totally counts. Sometimes a mama just needs a beautiful change of scenery and some quiet time alone in the car. Plus, I’ve realized that in addition to being a very visual person, I’m also SUPER tactile. I NEED to touch all the stuff in the store and I’m really missing that sensory element in my life. Kind of like somehow you can’t hear as well with your mask on, I can’t see as well without touching stuff. For real. Tell me I’m not alone. Anyhoo, I allowed myself a wee field trip to check out the sweetest shop on the whole downtown block called Thalken Mercantile.

Thalken is the creative love child of Hana and her husband, William, who have made a beautiful tiny space with delicate handmade jewelry + candles + artwork, plus a really lovely curated little collection of other small-batch home goods and self care treasures that would make wonderful gifts. They even had a little stash of gorgeous Mortar and Stone Ceramic goodies, which are nearly impossible to get your hands on. I picked up a few things for my own sweet Galentines (Obvs, I can’t show you them yet) and *maybe* a little something for myself, too (one for you, one for me only seems fair). It was all a really lovely, peaceful little respite for a very few brief minutes and well worth the journey if you’re in the area (they also have curbside pickup and ship nationwide). It totally satisfied my need to see and touch beautiful things IRL (in a very safe-feeling environment, of course). And while you’re in Lafayette, stop at the Tip Top Savory Pies window and pick up a yummy savory or sweet pie for the cherry on top of your totally epic journey.
//THALKEN MERCANTILE IN LAFAYETTE, CO //

I just discovered the Smartless podcast and am totally hooked. Does everyone already know about this and nobody told me? Old pals Jason Bateman (heart emoji), Will Arnett and Sean Hayes surprise one another each week by bringing on a guest that’s a mystery to the other two. Honestly, I could just listen to those 3 banter like all day anyway, they’re so dang funny. But when you add in people like Kamala Harris, Megan Rapinoe, James Corden, Stacey Abrams (fave episode so far) and on and on with the great lineup, I’m there for it. It’s pure entertainment. I mean, I’ll tell you upfront that when you’re done listening you still won’t know how to assemble a space rocket or anything, but I CAN almost guarantee that you will have laughed out loud or learned something a bit quirky about their guest that you didn’t know before. And that’s enough for me to keep showing up. Now I’m desperate to watch Arrested Development in its entirety from the beginning because I totally missed that bandwagon when it was on IRL. What other awesome podcasts are you listening to that I don’t know about?!
// SMARTLESS ON APPLE PODCASTS //

sweet distraction

MY LITTLE guy was NOT feeling home school Monday today. He lost steam mid morning and staged a full boycott. So we took a little break and made some valentines to tuck into our Love Bombs. I got out ALL the stuff and we had fun creating some imperfect, perfectly heartfelt cards for our friends (shield your eyes local friends, it’s supposed to be a surprise).

I ESPECIALLY love his red guy with the giant heart eyes. You can’t really go wrong if it’s made with love. Here are some of the materials we used and some that we’d *love* to add to our collection in case you need to freshen up your supplies. Now back to making volcanoes out of PlayDoh for science! Check out the Gift Guide to Art Supplies for Kids + Teens for TONS more creative supply ideas. GIFT A LITTLE HAPPINESS. xo

// 1. Meri Meri has the cutest stickers // 2. Yellow Owl Workshop has adorable Rubber Stamps // 3. Pipsticks has TONS of amazing Valentine Stickers // 4. Ooly has the cutest art supplies for ANY time of year // 5. All the cute Heart Washi Tape // 6. Heart Doilies are super fun // 7. Make lots of valentines with these Paper Cut-Out Hearts // 8. Rhinestones add ALL the sparkle // xo

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