be my galentine

I SAW this thing the other day that said ‘Does anyone have directions to that village everyone says will raise my children? It sounds wonderful.’ Have you seen it? It made me laugh out loud. And then I immediately sent it to ‘my girls.’ You know, the ones who actually DO help me raise my boys with kindness, unyielding support, fun and love. The sister wives. The besties. The ones you can ugly cry with and tell about your less proud parenting moments without judgement. Or those odd bodily functions. The ones I am supremely and profoundly grateful to call my Galentines. And though Galentine’s Day is a totally fake holiday, it’s a very real excuse to shower ‘my girls’ with the love and affection I feel for them every day of the year. Plus I’m a giddy fool for a good heart motif.

YOU REALLY can’t go wrong with any sweet little treasure for your nearest and dearest. After all, these are the people you know and love best, so trust your intuition and keep things simple. Homemade gifts created with love and experiences you can share together are always sweet and heartfelt and so appreciated. The possibilities for beautiful gifts for your lady loves is kind of endless, but these are some that I ador and think most gals would be smitten with. Check out the Gift Guide for Women or My Clean Beauty + Self Care Favorites for a few more ideas. Happy Galentine’s Day to all of you, lovelies, I’d ‘love’ to celebrate with each and every one. GIFT A LITTLE HAPPINESS. xo

Galentine’s Day Gifts

XO / Geometry Tea Towels, Fitness Towels and Yoga Towels are my fave and come in a zillion beautiful prints / XO
❤︎ Code DarcieC15 for 15% off

XO / Oooh I love this Heart Boucle Cozy Knit Blanket / XO

XO / Christy Lea Payne’s Tab Letter Necklace is super special and so pretty / XO

XO / Keep your gals super cozy with a pair of Alo Plush Lush Socks / XO

XO / Inspire your creative gals all year long with an Open this Box and Make Some Art prompt deck / XO

XO / How about a jar of YUMMY Coop’s Salted Caramel Sauce, a pint of vanilla ice cream and two spoons? / XO

XO / These iconic Marimekko Notecards are perfect for your dedicated snail mail lovers / XO

XO / These little Yeti Stackable Mugs are a perfect pair just like you + your bestie / XO

XO / Nourish lips with all the good stuff with Mara Lip Balm in pretty tints / XO

XO / You could never go wrong with a super gorgeous bottle of Brightland Olive Oil, Vinegar or Honey / XO

XO / Oooh, this Vuori Restore Half Zip Hoodie is so cute and such a pretty color / XO

XO / A Moglea hand-painted Undated Weekly Planner is so versatile and so beautiful / XO

XO / These pretty Smudge Sticks will clear out any bad juju that might be lingering / XO

XO / A Cadence Skincare Set is the perfect way to introduce a bestie to my very favorite travel hack / XO

XO / Love my All Balm for parched hands, lips, feet, elbows or anywhere else that needs soothing / XO

XO / Love these Paint Anywhere Paint by Numbers Kits in a ton of different pretty scenes created by female artists around the world / XO

XO / What to Cook When You Don’t Feel Like Cooking pretty much sums up why you want this book, plus it’s pretty / XO

XO / Pop a plant or some homemade treats into one of these stunning handmade Rwandan Planter Baskets / XO

XO / Bixby Creek is one of my very favorite candles from one of my very favorite local Boulder shops / XO

XO / This Kosas Wet Lip Oil Gloss will help your gals glow on the outside like they do on the inside in 11 pretty shades / XO

XO / Elevate their favorite cocktail or simple glass of ice water with a gorgeous Estelle High Ball Glass / XO

XO / My sis gifted me a Fellow Carter Everywhere Mug that I love so much and I’ll bet your Galentine will, too / XO

XO / Tuck some of your gal’s favorite treats into a pretty and endlessly useful Stasher Sandwich Bag / XO

XO / Put some pretty springy flowers in a Haand x Vivian Howard Small Driftwood Vase for a double gorgeous gift / XO

XO / I love my Nodpod Weighted Sleep Mask for taking a moment, the pressure feels amazing / XO

XO / Your passionate foodies will love For the Culture: Phenomenal Black Women and Femmes in Food / XO

XO / Rose Quartz is the ‘love stone’ and your gals will feel it with these Jax Kelly Mineral Point Studs / XO

XO / This Alpyn Beauty Wild Huckleberry 8-Acid Polishing Peel is super gentle and leaves my skin smooooth / XO

XO / Alexa Allen’s gorgeous hand-formed leather catch-all bowls are stunning / XO

XO / East Fork Pottery Mugs are gorgeous and handmade by a small Ashville business hit hard by hurricane Helene / XO

XO / It doesn’t get much better than a Cup of Love from Big Heart Tea / XO

XO / Nopalera’s Hibiscus Cactus Flower Exfoliant is heavenly and pampering / XO

XO / A sweet little Clare V Coin Clutch will keep your lady loves organized in style / XO

XO / These Anecdote Candles are super sweet and pretty / XO

XO / Elevate your game with these pretty Liberty London Maxine Playing Cards / XO

XO / Add some sparkle with handmade Leela Inspired Bracelets / XO

XO / I think just about everyone could use Herbivore’s Calm Soaking Salts right about now, don’t you? / XO

XO / Stash all the essentials in a flirty but practical Baggu Crescent Bag / XO

XO / Inspire your gals with Wild Interiors: Beautiful Plants in Beautiful Places / XO

XO / This Ha Ko Japanese Paper Incense Gift Box is so delicate and gorgeous / XO

XO / Ooh this Skida Cashmere Sherburne Knit Hat looks so cozy and it comes in pretty neutral colors / XO

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my favorite clean beauty from the detox market

THIS is a big ol’ list of some of my top clean beauty favorites from one of my favorite sites. If you want to read more about WHY I love them, take a deep dive into My Clean Beauty + Self-Care Favorites or My Day + Night Clean Skincare Routine. And if you have any questions about my experience with these products, don’t hesitate to reach out, I’m always here for you and I LOVE chatting clean beauty. GIFT A LITTLE HAPPINESS [to yourself]. xo

My favorite clean beauty from The Detox Market

On my wishlist

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a few of my favorite kitchen tools

AS THE school year gets under way and our ‘normal’ routine starts to settle in, I’m easing back into cooking each day for my cutie family. I had gotten a bit out of practice over the summer with our very un-routine schedule. Summer is SO fun, but I do enjoy a good day to day rhythm and cooking is def a big part of that. The amount of effort and energy I want to put into meals fluctuates of course, but I’m in a good flow right now and it got me thinking about the really key kitchen tools that I use EVERY DAY. I’m not talking about the pots and pans and super utilitarian stuff (do you want to see that in another post?), but the ‘little’ things that I pull out just about every time I cook a meal.

THESE AWESOME kitchen goods are the essential super hero bits that I rely on day in and day out and am always so glad to have close at hand. I’m obvs no pro chef, but these things make me feel like one. And they all make really fantastic gifts for the chefs and bakers you love, some on their own and some as toppers or even stocking stuffers [gasp, yeah, it’s coming…]. And if you have little chefs you love to cook with, check out my Gift Guide on Baking Stuff for Kids + Teens for more fun ideas. Enjoy settling into the routine, lovelies. And bon appétit. xo

A few awesome Kitchen Tools that also make great gifts

>> Geometry Tea Towels are my hands-down favorites. Not only are they pretty to look at, but they’re also super duper soft, quick-drying [ie. not stinky] and so absorbent [they don’t just push the water around] AND they’re made entirely from recycled post-consumer materials. Because of the GIANT selection of prints, these Tea Towels are a seriously gorgeous gift for almost anyone. Love the Dish Cloths, too. Use DarcieC15 for 15% off your order every day of the year. << $16

>> This Oxo Mini Angled Measuring Cup is one of the greatest things I bought in 2021. I use it constantly, especially when making dressings and marinades that call for 2 Tbsp of this and 3 Tbsp of that. It’s simple, tiny and brilliant. << $6.99

>> The thing I love about this little Joie Citrus Juicer is the measurements on the side of the reservoir. It has both Tbsp and Ounces so you know that you have exactly the right amount of liquid gold for your recipe. << $8.99

>>These Duralex Lys Stackable Bowls are the greatest bowls ever [no hyperbole, honest]. I use them every day for every meal for mixing, serving, prep, marinating and whatever else you need a bowl to do. They nest perfectly so they don’t take up much space and the glass means they’re super hygienic, clean so easily and don’t stay stinky no matter what you mix in them. I LOVE them so much. I have these and these too and use them all on the daily. << $55

>> If you’re going to use something everyday, it might as well be pretty as well as totally functional, right? My Great Jones Holy Sheets fit that bill perfectly. Pretty? Duh. Functional? Totally. The nontoxic, non-stick ceramic coating never ceases to amaze me. Even when I think I’ve really done it this time, all the burned mess just sloughs right off. Love my Stud Muffin, too. << from $30

>> I have a tenuous relationship with meat. I like to eat it, but I’m kind of grossed out cooking it, especially raw chicken. So my Thermapen ONE is absolutely essential to my piece of mind. It’s the only meat thermometer I trust to be accurate. It’s easy to use, easy to clean and quick. My husband loves it too because I no longer look sideways at his grilling mumbling ‘are you sure that’s cooked?’ And it comes in 10 pretty colors, making it a truly fantastic gift. << $105

>> And for the very same grossed-out reason, I always use kitchen shears for cutting bacon, chicken, shrimp or anything else that needs to be seriously manhandled. I love them for the ease of use, but also because I can just stick them in the dishwasher when I’m done and not feel like I’m splashing raw meat juice everywhere when I wash them. I have a Kuhn Rikon pair that work great, but I’ve been eyeing these Material Kitchen The Good Shears for a while now because they’re so pretty and I’m into the rubber grip. << $35

>> I love this Bamboo Colander and Pour Bowl Set for a bunch of reasons, including that it’s made from sustainable materials. The nesting feature is awesome, especially for saving pasta water, and I love that the colander holes aren’t so big that everything just slips out. It comes in two really useful sizes and 4 pretty colors. << from $35

>> I have a thing with bowls. I love so many of them. But this Emile Henry Storage Bowl is special. It has holes in the bottom for air flow and an insulating cork lid that together create a little root cellar for your onions, garlic, shallots and potatoes. The top is storage for other fruits or veggies, like bananas. It’s brilliant. The ‘cellar’ keeps everything fresher for sooo much longer, meaning that I can stock up a bit and not have to worry about it sprouting. Plus it’s gorgeous. It comes in 2 sizes and 7 colors [I have the Deep in Cream] and makes a beautiful gift. << from $110

>> The first thing I do when I’m getting ready to make dinner is put on my Hedley & Bennett Essential Apron. It makes me look super legit, like I know what I’m doing in the kitchen [fake it til you make it, right?]. It keeps my clothes clean and I use it to wipe my hands in a pinch [good thing I can just pop it in the washing machine]. And it’s so comfortable I often forget I have it on until it’s time to put on my pjs. I have this pretty Rifle Paper Co x H&B collab print, but there are so many awesome ones to choose from and they make a PERFECT gift for almost anyone. << $105

>> GIR stands for Get It Right and boy did they with these silicone Suction Lids. I have a set of 5, plus a few extra 4” ones [for my tea] and I use them all of the time to keep butter or spaghetti sauce from splattering all over the microwave, keep things warm or keep the flies out. I could use one or two more of the 6” size, too. They're totally brilliant. << from $7.95

>> Ok it might sound a bit dramatic, but this Shun Chef’s Knife changed my [cooking] life. I had 13-year old dull knives that made chopping a bit frustrating. This baby is SHARP and precise and is perfectly weighted. I love it so much it’s basically the only knife I use now [I have the Santoku Knife on my list next]. This is def a case where having the right tool for the job makes all the difference. << $184.95

>> Everything mini is cute of course, but these Oxo Mini Tongs are also crazy useful. They’re absolutely perfect for serving and I use them so often, especially for salads and family-style meals, that I now have 3 pairs and use them all. << $8.95

>> I used to hate chopping herbs for some reason, but these 5-Blade Herb Shears make it so easy. I use them all of the time for cilantro, basil and parsley. And they’re easy to clean, too. << $13.99

>> I use this classic Microplane Zester all of the time for some of my favorite recipes. It does the job at hand perfectly and I’ve never scraped my fingers on it [bonus!]. I have the boring black version, but there are so many cute colors now and even a few prints. << $17.50

>> Yeah, it’s another mini [aaw, so cute]. These Mini Whisks are just so perfect for whipping up dressings and marinades in smaller batches. I use them all the time. Plus they are just undeniably cute, so there. They’d make an adorable topper for a larger kitchen-themed gift. << $5.99

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GIFT GUIDES… foodies + chefs + bakers

gifts i love: great jones

I LOVE when something just perfectly embodies the stunning balance of form + function. If you throw in some awesome pops of color, then it really just ticks ALL the boxes for me. And Great Jones ticks ALL of those boxes. They make GORGEOUS cookware and bakeware that’s both stunning to look at AND a chef’s dream to use. ‘The Duchess’ dutch oven has already reached near-cult status for her good looks and even cooking. She comes in 8 sunny colors and moves effortlessly from stovetop to oven to table, looking just lovely at every stop.

GREAT JONES’ bakeware collection is equally stylish and efficient. I have the Sheet Show in Raspberry [in my photo above] and it just makes me smile. It’s *almost* too pretty to use. They also offer a whole range of stainless pots and pans that are completely non-toxic and easy to use and clean. We have a Small Fry for eggs and stuff just slides right off. My sweet husband has a habit of turning the burner on high and wandering off for a bit, so we’ve gone through a bunch of non-toxic, non-stick pans and this one is really awesome. It has survived a full year of his breakfast-making and still looks basically brand new. Great Jones’ goal is to empower home cooks with the right tools for the job and they do it with gorgeous style. Anything in their beautiful collection would make a fantastic gift for chefs + bakers of any age.

gifts i love: anyday

I HAVE just a few words for you… crispy bacon in 4 minutes. In the MICROWAVE. Yess! When we got our first microwave when I was little, my mom made us stand in the other room while it was on so we didn’t get our brains fried or something. The microwave still has a bit of a bad rep as a sort of pedestrian tool for people who can’t be bothered to make food from scratch. Or as a tool good only for heating up leftovers. BUT Anyday Cookware is out to dispel that myth once and for all and I’m here for all of it. They have designed cookware that’s not just ‘microwave safe’ but that fully harnesses the incredible power of the microwave to make entire gourmet meals in one bowl. Really fast.

WHEN I saw that you could make crispy bacon in 4 minutes, I knew that my paleo-eating dad and bacon-loving son both ‘needed’ this thing. And it has not disappointed. I have used mine so far to make that perfect crispy bacon in 4 minutes and beautiful fork-tender potatoes in 6. I’ve also made Shrimp Scampi in 9. Yep, 9 minutes. The pasta that I made to go with it was the most labor-intensive part. You can also make Kimchi Tofu and Mushroom Stew or Sticky Toffee Pudding Cake with the same ease. And then you just plop the whole thing in the dishwasher and call it good. They have 5 different sizes and 3 colors to choose from, or just go with a set. Anyday has also continues to develop an impressive, diverse catalog of recipes that sound super amazing. And if you’re still skeptical, maybe world-renowned chef, David Chang, can persuade you... Even if your special people are the most staunch make-from-scratch chefs, this thing will impress.

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