heart day wish list.

it's hard to believe it will be february this week (?!) how did that happen?! i thought it might be fun to share a little valentine's day wish list with y'all (my sweet husband also asked for some ideas!). valentine's day has become a holiday where we give each other one thing for our home/yard -- usually for ryan that means a new tool (lowes is his favorite place to head on the weekend...) & for me it's something that will make our house a bit cozier. here are some ideas:

1. these new cannisters from west elm are so clean & simple, just my style.

2. i've been looking at this weekender bag from everlane for MONTHS, the bag i've been using since high school is falling apart & this looks so sophisticated & grown up!

3. in the good cause category, i love this j.crew t-shirt for one of my favorite nonprofits of all time, teach for america.

4. let's be honest, beautiful return address stamps always get me.

5. this has become my favorite cookbook -- the pork loin, fish cakes & turkey chili are oh-so good! (plus kind of a sweet valentine's title!)

6. you're never too old for pink heart stickers.

7. a friend just ordered these shams & i haven't stopped thinking about how beautiful they are!

8. i recently did a big kitchen cleaning/purging -- it was one of the most rewarding cleaning projects i've ever done & i smile each time i open a cabinet (nerd alert). it also gave me a chance to see if there was anything i don't have that i seem to need quite often -- the only thing that made the list was a small cookie sheet. when i have something small to stick in the oven, it's so cumbersome to use & clean our big cookie sheets, this would get a lot of use!

we don't make a big fuss on valentine's day, usually exchange cards (i can never choose just one), a small gift & make a homemade meal together. i know this day gets a lot of grief, but if you think of it as one more day you can be intentional about your marriage/relationship & have a little fun together, i promise it won't be so bad :) & for all your single readers -- plan a dinner party for your closest friends, host a movie night, and then let me know how it goes!

p.s. valentine's days past here & here, plus a post for all the single ladies!

my wish list this christmas.

earlier, i shared e's first christmas gift list & explained how we're doing four gifts for christmas in our family. i thought it might be fun to share my wish list!  here are my picks: kinfolk to read, this chambray shirt to wear, some wood cleaner (e has added some new challenges to keeping our kitchen floors clean!) & a really sweet farmer's market basket. what's on your list this christmas! hope you're finding some joy in the hustle & bustle of the season! xo

gifts for ellie's first christmas!

one of the secrets of parenthood, we've found, is to borrow good ideas from families you absolutely love being around. as ryan & i were thinking about ellie's first christmas & how we want to do giving in our family, we merged two ideas we loved:

the first, which has made the blog rounds, is a simple way of categorizing the four gifts each child receives: something you're wishing for, something you need, something to wear & something to read. by keeping that consistent, we'll be able to keep both quantity of gifts & sense of "fairness" a known thing in our house. these categories work for all ages (i'll share my four later this week!). it was so, so, so fun to pick ellie's first four Christmas gifts!

secondly, under our christmas tree, three of the gifts will be from santa, and one will be from us. we're doing this so we can do some biblical teaching with "santa" -- we'll use the three gifts from santa as a moment to talk to our kids about the wise men and revisit the real meaning of Christmas.

a bit on e's first christmas gifts (thank goodness she doesn't read blogs yet, so i can share these with you early!). 1. all ellie wants to do these days is walk around & she often drags a toy along with her. we think she will go bananas over this alligator she can pull around. 2. e & i have read olivia, and love the whole story, but didn't yet have our own copy. i know this will be a well worn book in our house. 3. i've been eyeing these moccasins since before ellie was born. as she's on the move & needs shoes more than ever, we splurged (thank goodness they had a black friday sale!!). 4. & my winter baby needs some lotion.

how did you do gifts in your family growing up or what are your traditions with your kids now? the nice thing about a one-year-old is we can still make tweaks before next year -- so we're all ears! i'd really love to hear about your traditions.

thanksgiving day at our house.

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weekender.

i'm swooning over this weekender bag from everlane! feels like you could have some grand adventures with this bag in tow. would make a wonderful christmas present!

gift giving.

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hostess gift rule to live by.

a sweet friend came to visit last weekend & when she arrived, she presented me with a bottle of mrs. meyer's dish soap. i told her it was the PERFECT hostess gift & she said she tried to follow her mother in law's rule -- bring gifts that go away. instead of more stuff to clutter their homes, she tries to bring something her hosts will use & then it will go away -- i LOVE that. it is officially is a yonkman family rule for hostess gifts! i'm going to go out on a limb & say people from the south just get hospitality/generosity SO right (my friend is from birmingham & her MIL is from louisiana).

i started thinking back on some of my favorite hostess gifts i've received -- the four above took the cake! it's always helpful to have these around for last minute visits, dinners, etc. my mom has a shelf of thoughtful gifts at the ready & i've tried to do the same. so, if you're looking to stock up, here are my recommendations:

1. lovely notecards

2. fancy dish soap (the honeysuckle scent is so wonderful!)

3. gourmet baking (thanks ash!)

4. a fabulous candle

i'd love to hear your favorite hostess gifts! aren't we so glad when we get to do life with others & be welcomed into their home?

gift giving: registry vs. personal

 

today's post is another wonderful reader question!

"My best friend is getting married, and I'm her MOH. The shower is in a few weeks, and I'm struggling with the registry vs off the registry gift question. Was wondering if you had any brilliant/cute ideas that you've either given or received? just want it to be really special for her."

my two cents:

so, i'm a big registry fan. i know it feels like the equivalent of giving a gift certificate & totally unoriginal, but it's not. the couple has taken time to select the things they want to begin their married life with or what they think will help them best welcome their little one & you're helping them piece that life together. i came to this realization after getting married, and now feel even this is more true with baby gifts (i have a gazillion outfits for her, and yet didn't have a humdifier or a bottle....) -- but that said, like any rule, it's meant to be broken.

so, if you know something they'd love and that no one else would know to get them, that's super thoughtful, then go for it! some of my favorite personal gifts are: a calligraphy copy of a reading they chose for their wedding (contact your favorite calligrapher for a price quote), a gift certificate to an awesome restaurant for a date night in their newlywed days, or something they can do on their honeymoon (massages, zip line etc.). i think especially when you're in the wedding, it's neat to add a personal touch. one of my bridesmaids got me these amazing mugs & dessert plates with our initials & wedding date! (they totally matched our rehearsal dinner invites!)

another way is to combine the two: so, get them their bowls off their registry, and enclose your favorite soup recipe. or do a place setting & then some monogram napkins.

sweet readers, what do you think?

p.s. click on images for links!

christmas presents.

 

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gifted.

holy moly. do not pass go, do not collect $200, go immediately to this gift guide. it is beyond incredible. my jaw just kept dropping -- there was something for EVERYONE on my list and it would be hard to find something in there that i wouldn't be thrilled to find under the tree. i'm all about thoughtful gifting, and this guide is full to the brim with wonderful ideas. xo

p.s. for your wrapping needs, adorable (free!) tags to download here!