Mother's Day Gift Idea: Make a Memory

When I think about my Mom and our relationship over my lifetime, I have realized that the thoughts that pop into my head are never about the actual gifts we have bought for one another, but rather all of our time and experiences together.  This Mother's Day I have decided that instead of sending her some sort of merchandise, I would surprise her with a special DC Weekend Trip (*If you are friends with my Mom, please help me keep this a surprise.  She has been instructed not to read to today's post until Sunday).  

This idea came about a few weeks ago when my Mom had mentioned wanting to visit me over the Summer to see my new house, my brothers apartment and take a trip out to Marjorie Merriweather Post's Hillwood Estate (yep, lots of houses on her DC to-do list).  After hearing wish list for her next DC trip, I thought that it would be fun to surprise her with a trip to DC to not only fulfill her wish list, but also create a few memories beyond just the house visits.  

After giving the weekend a lot of thought, I have come up with a list of activities that I think my mom will  enjoy during her stay in DC.  While I would definitely consider this activity list to be the ultimate weekend itinerary, these are different memory making ideas at different price points that would be great gifts by themselves or as bundled packages to give your mom this Mother's Day.  This is honestly the first time in my life that I have been able to afford to do something like this for my Mom, so I can certainly appreciate the need for gift ideas at various price points.  Added bonus- even with Mother's Day being this Sunday, there is still more than enough time to schedule any one of these gifts.    

Weekend Itinerary

• Making Dinner at Home-  The first night my Mom is in town, I am going to be making dinner at home for her, my brother and my husband. This will be the only night she will see my husband, since he has very thoughtfully decided to give us a girls weekend and head home to his parent's house in New Jersey.  I will probably make my Lemon and Herb Pork Tenderloin with either Cous Cous or these Roasted Sweet Potato Discs and a Summer vegetable like asparagus or green beans.  
• Touring All 3 Homes-  Since my Mom will be staying with me, touring House #1 will be accomplished immediately.  The first full day that she is here we will drive out to Hillwood Estate and stop by my brother's new apartment on our way back.
• Mani/Pedis- This may be surprising, but I am actually not a big fan of getting my nails done.  Reason being, I am constantly working with my hands (cleaning, housework, etc..) and it never fails that I end up chipping the paint within a day or two of having my nails done (yes, even with shellac!).  However, my preference is not what is important here.  This weekend is about my Mom and she enjoys getting her nails done, so that is what we are going to do.  Plus, I enjoy spending time with my Mom regardless of the activity, so it is really a win-win.  
• Exercise Class-  There is a new Pure Barre Studio that has just opened next to my house, so I have signed us up for an early morning class to get our blood pumping before we head out to the Hillwood Estate tour.  A fun and different exercise class is a great way to spend time together and start the day feeling energized. 
• Cooking Class-  After my recent Date Night experience at CulinAerie, I am totally hooked on cooking classes.  The weekend my Mom is in town, I have signed us up to take a class on Summer Raw Food Basics, which we both will enjoy since we love to cook and learn about new healthy recipes.  
• Sunday Brunching- Before her flight departs on Sunday, I will be taking her to brunch at one of my favorite local restaurants with my brother.  This restaurant offers a wide array of brunch options (both healthy and indulgent), and is the perfect way to conclude an action-packed weekend filled with all sorts of new memories and experiences.  

In preparation for the unveiling of this big surprise, I have mailed my Mom 3 Mother's Day Cards in blue envelopes and then one card in a yellow envelope that reads "Open this card last!"  This yellow envelope contains her plane ticket and a note that briefly explains the trip, but then tells her to go to my blog for the full scoop.  It has been so hard to keep this secret, as I have been bursting at the seams with excitement.  My Mom has done so much for me over the years/my entire life, been completely selfless and unconditionally loving, that this is the least I could do to show her my appreciation.  

I hope this post has given you a few ideas on how to celebrate the Mom in your life.  Whether the gesture is big or small, it really is the thought that counts.  

Happy Mother's Day, Mom! (Can't wait to see you!)

Date Night Idea: Take a Cooking Class

This past Saturday my husband and I took a cooking class at CulinAerie, a local cooking school company, for our weekly date night.  The last time we took a cooking class was on our honeymoon in Bermuda.  We had a great time and had said that we definitely wanted to take another cooking class, but of course one thing led to another (buying a new house, moving, renovations…life!) and a year and a half passed before we started looking in DC for a class.  

My search for a local cooking class was extremely fruitful (thank you Google!) and I was able to put together a list of cooking class options.  From there I started asking around for feedback from my friends on any experiences they had had with any of the cooking classes on my list.  A few of my friends suggested I try out CulinAerie, as they had all had wonderful experiences there.  I shared this information with my husband and we decided to go for it!  

A close friend of mine, who had taken a few cooking classes at Culinaerie before, recommended that we arrive early in order to secure seats in the front row for the best view.  Let me just say, that I am so glad we did!  CulinAerie has video monitors throughout the classroom to ensure everyone can see what the teacher is doing, but I loved having the ability to watch the teacher's demonstrations up close.  

Once we secured our seats and got settled, a kitchen assistant came around with a tray of the most delicious Hibiscus Margaritas.   I wasn't able to obtain the exact recipe from the teacher, but I did track down a similar Hibiscus Margarita recipe on the web.  This a fabulous cocktail recipe to consider trying during the Spring and Summer months.  I am actually planning on serving this tasty cocktail for Cinco de Mayo tomorrow night!  

After we had enjoyed a round of very tasty margaritas, it was time to start cooking!  The theme of the evening was Vegetarian Mexican Cuisine.  Here is a recap of what we made:

The Menu

• Hibiscus Ceviche- I had always assumed that Ceviche had to be made with a raw fish or a similar meat component.  Boy, was I wrong!  Rehydrated Hibiscus Flowers are actually quite meaty in texture and work beautifully in a ceviche recipe.  
• Mexican Lentil Hash- This recipe was super easy to make and very healthy.  I loved the rainbow of colors used from all of the different vegetables and the overall flavor profile was excellent.  My favorite part about this dish was actually when my husband remarked "Hey, this is pretty easy to make.  I can definitely make this for you sometime."  Music to my ears!!!  (Picture of this dish is featured below)  
• Roasted Poblano stuffed with Potato, Corn and Queso with Roasted Tomato Sauce-  this was another delicious dish, but honestly the highlight was learning a new kitchen technique.  I had previously roasted my bell peppers in the oven, which always took a long time.  Learning how to char poblano peppers over an open stove top flame was so much faster and the charred skin was a cinch to remove.  (Finished product is also pictured below)
• Granita de Pitaya (or Red Prickly Pear)- This is a great dessert idea to consider making during the Spring and Summer.  It's light, refreshing and also easy to make!  Here is a similar granita recipe from Martha Stewart for Mango-Lime Granitas. 

Of course there are the obvious benefits of taking a cooking class for date night- learning a new recipe and having a delicious dinner with your significant other.  However, what I loved the most were all of the additional benefits I reaped from taking this class.  

Benefits Beyond the Dinner

• Flavor Inspiration- Until this class I would have never had the guts or know-how to use hibiscus or charred poblano peppers in a recipe.  Now that I have had the experience from this class, I cannot wait to start incorporating roasted pablano peppers and hibiscus flowers into my culinary repertoire.  
• Knife Skills- One of my favorite parts of the evening was when the teacher gave us a lesson on knife techniques.  Learning how to dice an onion like a pro, quickly chop cilantro and easily de-seed and dice a jalepeno was absolute GOLD.  I cannot tell you how much time I will save in the future when preparing dishes just from knowing these simple knife techniques.
• Flavor Enhancers/Brighteners- Another great tip we learned during this class was the power of adding acid to a dish.  The addition of an acid (ex. lemon juice, lime juice, vinegar) can really bring out the flavors of the dish.  
• Meeting New People- Lets face it, its not always easy to meet new people these days.   My days are spent blogging in the morning, going to work all day, coming home and spending time with my husband, and then repeating the same schedule the next day.  There is not a whole lot of time left over (or energy) in any given week for going out and meeting new people.  During this cooking class we were paired with another couple, who my husband and I both enjoyed meeting.  While I am not totally sure that we will become long term friends with this couple, I did realize that taking a class like this is a great way to put yourself out there and meet other people in your area with similar interests.  
• Quality Time- This was probably the best benefit of the evening.  I had honestly grown so tired of the standard Movie and/or Dinner Date Nights.  Movie date nights have always made me feel silo-ed from my husband, since we are sitting in a dark theater for hours unable to talk.  In addition, dinner date nights at restaurants while nice, were tough places to have a conversation (since you are in a heavily populated room) and short lived (1-2hrs tops?).  I loved this cooking class because it involved teamwork, learning something new, enjoying a delicious meal and going outside of our traditional routinized date nights. 

My husband and I had the best time taking this cooking class at CulinAerie.  Not only did we learn something new and get to spend quality time together, but my husband has now offered to cook me dinner this weekend (yay!).  We have already been back on their website trying to decide on which class to sign up for next!  I have also realized that cooking classes are great for double dates, so we are planning on coordinating with another couple for the next class.  

After taking this class I am done with constantly defaulting to the standard dinner and a movie date night.  I have been completely re-energized when it comes to planning creative date nights and cannot wait to start researching new ideas.  Do you have any favorite date night activities?  

Spring Entertaining Essentials

Now that we are well into Spring, I wanted to share some of my favorite entertaining essentials for the season.  It was not easy creating this list, as I have found so many fabulous entertaining accessories.  With that said, I have selected the following items not only because I frequently use them, but they are also unique, aesthetically pleasing and under $30!  

3- Tiered Serving Piece 

This is a piece that I actually acquired during the "Lilly-palooza" event at Target a few weekends ago (see here for my complete story).  Originally I had come across this multi-tiered stand in the serveware section and thought it would be great for serving petit fours, desserts, etc… Upon arriving back at home, I called my mom to tell her about my newest acquisitions.  It wasn't until she asked me to send her a link to the new serving piece that I realized it was actually a jewelry stand!  Learning this interesting bit of information didn't phase me.  I have used this piece multiple times for serving food and have yet to use it for jewelry, but apparently this piece is multipurpose! 

I love the elegant aesthetic of this 3-tiered piece.  The gold and cream color combination goes beautifully with most of my serveware pieces and looks great when paired with a variety of brightly colored Spring flowers.  In addition to the aesthetic, this piece is also a great space saver.  My favorite use for this piece is to hold all of my cheesescape crackers and accompaniments.  

Paper Table Runner 

I first debuted this accessory in my post on Spring Cheesescaping.  Since this post, I have used this paper at least half a dozen times.  I absolutely LOVE disposable table runners.  Why?  

1. They come in an assortment of bold colors and textures, which are perfect for framing your neutral serving dishes  and other entertaining accessories.
2. The roll of paper actually lasts a long time.  As I mentioned, I have used this paper at least half a dozen times and still have what appears to be a very full roll of runner paper remaining.  
3. Post party clean-up is a cinch!  Instead of having to collect all of the crumbs and sticky food particles from the table after a party, I simply roll up the paper and throw it in the garbage.  
4. This roll of table paper is under $30.  Considering how many uses I have gotten out of this paper so far and all of the other benefits, I consider this price to be very reasonable.   

Gold Cheese Knives 

Gold flatware has been all of the rage lately.  I am certainly a huge fan of this look, however I haven't been able to justify the price (especially since I already have a full set of everyday flatware).  My solution?  Gold Cheese Knives!  These cheese knives are an updated look at an affordable price.   In addition, I love that this gold cheese knife set comes with a spear for serving pre-cut charcuterie and a flat paddle, which is perfect for using to serve chutneys and/or fruit preserves.  

Edible Flowers 

Nothing screams "Springtime" like floating a flower in your cocktail!  As you may have seen in previous posts (like this one), edible flowers are my latest go-to cocktail garnish.  Unique, natural, pretty and at a cost of $1.69/container you really can't go wrong incorporating these little gems into your next party.  

Bud Vases 

Spring means flowers and lots of them!  Since flowers are my go-to decor accessory this season, I have decided to get creative with the way they are displayed (both arranging and vessels).  My favorite vessel as of late is the bud vase.  Why?

1. Versatility- Bud vases allow for a floral pop of color in a variety of spaces.  Instead of just using one large arrangement on my coffee table when I am entertaining, I will arrange 4 small bud vases interspersed with votives.   I am also a fan of using bud vases to adorn my kitchen window sill, bedside tables, dining table, bar and even my bathroom countertops!
2. Affordability- I have bought the majority of my bud vases from my local flower supply store at a cost of roughly $2.49/vase.  What is not to love about that?  

As I mentioned at the start of this post, it was a challenge to keep this list of Spring entertaining essentials to only 5 items.  The possibilities for Spring entertaining are endless and there are so many fabulous products/entertaining accessories on the market at the moment.  My best piece of advice is to look beyond the face value of any item you are considering buying.  Thank goodness I didn't look at the label of my latest cheesescape serving piece in the store.  If I had looked at the label of my 3-tiered "Jewelry" Stand prior to purchasing, I don't know if I would have gone through with buying it.  As always, I hope this post has provided you with a new perspective and inspiration for hosting your next Spring soiree.    

DIY Gift Basket

Earlier this month my younger brother moved to DC for a new job.  He recently completed graduate school and is now living in his first apartment.  As most first apartments go, there has been lots of set up work to get his new pad feeling more like home.  While I have been helping him get settled, I was reminded of all of those little home details that I had long since forgotten about (i.e.- like needing a flatware drawer divider and a paper towel holder).  Lots of little but necessary expenses that certainly add up quickly! Of course as his older sister, I wanted to make sure that his transition to grown-up living was as seamless and comfortable as possible.  

Thinking more about his initial apartment set-up gave me an idea to create the ultimate "Welcome to the Neighborhood" Gift Basket.  Creating a Welcome Basket would be my way of helping him get set up and feel more at home in his new place.  I will be the first to admit that the gift basket you are about to see is a bit extravagant.  The reason for this extravagance is two-fold.  First, this basket is for my brother. Second, I wanted to show you all of the various options for creating your own gift basket.  Any piece of this ultimate gift basket would make for a lovely Welcome to the Neighborhood gift/gesture.  

Local Goods 

The first local good I have included is baseball hat from our local team.  Moving to a new city in the Spring means baseball season is in full swing, so as the expression goes "When in Rome!.."  The second local gift is a map.  I love this gift idea because not only is it a map of the city, but it also includes the metro routes, parks, memorials and notable public buildings.  An overall great resource for someone new to the area.   

Breakfast Foods

This is a practical idea and great for someone who has just moved in and may not have had time to get to the grocery store.  Granola and a box of Cliff bars are easy pantry items to have on hand and the cliff bars are a great snack/breakfast to take on the go.  

Entertaining Items

Last year when my husband and I moved into our new home, we had quite the increase in visitor traffic.  People wanting to come by and see the new place, or just to say "Welcome to the Neighborhood."  With the influx in visitor traffic to our house, I found it extremely helpful to have certain entertaining items on hand.  Crackers and chutney (another favorite local item) for cheesescaping of course.  I also included a bag of Somersaults as an easy to serve nibble option.  For more ideas on entertaining essentials to include in a gift basket, check out this previous post.   

Practical Items

When I moved into my first place, I was so exhausted after the move that all I wanted to do was have a glass of wine and relax.  I had the bottle of wine, but of course it was just my luck that I would be without a corkscrew (tragic evening for sure!).  In addition to including a corkscrew, I have a nice bar of soap for his guest bath/powder room (similar here) and a package of cocktail napkins (both of which were finds from Home Goods and Marshalls). 

Sweet Treats

Who doesn't love a little something sweet?  There are so many great dessert options that could go into a gift basket.  For this particular gift basket I chose to include three of my brother's favorite indulgences: Chocolate Covered Pretzels, his favorite cookies and Milk Chocolate Sea Salt Caramels.  

Beverages 

A bottle of water is always a great addition to a Welcome Gift Basket.  Again, I remember all too well how purchasing the Brita Water Pitcher was necessary, but of course not apparent until I needed a glass of water!  In addition, a bottle of wine, champagne or some type of spirit is a great secondary beverage option to include in a gift basket.  

When assembling a gift basket (here is a great basket option), I recommend having a package of tissue paper on hand to aid with the placement/display of your basket goodies.  I like to wrap gift baskets with cellophane paper so that the gift recipient can easily identify that the package has perishable items (and I also think the cellophane paper has a pretty aesthetic).  To finish off this gift basket I added wide ribbon and a personalized note using one of my DIY Gift Tags.  

This basket has some elements that are customized to fit my gift recipient, but the concepts can be applied to almost any recipient and/or situation.  Maybe you have a neighbor who just had a baby or a friend who recently purchased their first home. Regardless, a thoughtful gesture like a gift basket of any size is always a much appreciated gesture.  I hope that some aspect of this monster gift basket has given you ideas for assembling your own gift basket in the future.  

Cocktails Served in the Garden

This past Sunday I participated in the Lilly for Target frenzy.  It was a total last minute decision.  I woke up at 6:30am on Sunday and turned on my television to hear one of my favorite local News anchors talking about the Lilly Pulitzer for Target hype.  I grew up in South Florida (aka the land Lilly Pulitzer), so naturally I was curious to see what this collection was all about.  It took about five seconds of reviewing the adorable collection online to realize that I needed to get dressed and get to Target ASAP!  

I arrived at Target at 8:04am (the store opened at 8am) and ran to the back where they had set up the Lilly Pulitzer Home section…it was already wiped CLEAN!  I was totally bummed that I had missed the opportunity to purchase fabulous cocktail stirrers and wine charms, however I will say that the people watching ended up being a decent consolation prize.  Customers were running through the store wearing the merchandise (including very pregnant women) to free up their hands to grab additional items.   I also think that they were wearing the merchandise to secure their acquisitions (but that's just me).  It was crazy!  

So how did this Palm Beach-inspired post come to be?  At around 8:30am when the people watching started to die down at Target, I was about to head over to the cleaning products section when I saw my friend Jane talking to a couple of Lilly Pulitzer enthusiasts.  She had fared much better than me because she arrived at the store at 7:30am to stand in line (if only I had been so wise).  Fortunately for me, Jane had grabbed more items than she had wanted/needed, so she graciously offered up her overflow to me.  I was ECSTATIC!  It really didn't matter to me what item I ended up with as long as I got my hands on something to serve as a momento from this crazy morning.  

I ended up selecting the Lilly Pulitzer beach blanket.  I live in DC, what was I going to do with a beach blanket?  Well as it turns out, I have this wonderful picnic area right next to my condo and this beach blanket was the perfect picnic blanket.  Totally inspired by my new beach blanket I started perusing the rest of Target for additional picnic accessories.  It was a very fruitful trip to Target this past Sunday that resulted in the creation of a beautiful Strawberry Thyme Lemonade set up al fresco.  Here are the details of my Garden Cocktail Party Setup:

• Beach Blanket - Lilly Pulitzer for Target
• Tray- Decorative Tray with Cane Detail, Mint
• High Ball Glasses- Reed & Barton SoHo Highball Glasses, Set of 4
• Cocktail Napkins- Caspari Entertaining "Garden Follies"
• Vase- Threshold Conch Shell Statuary
• Small Glass Cups- CB2 Low Rider Tasting Glass
• Pitcher- CB2 Double Edge Pitcher
• Stirrer- Williams-Sonoma Cocktail Spoon
• Drink Recipe- Real Simple's Strawberry-Thyme Lemonade

*This drink recipe can be served with or without the addition of alcohol.  I would recommend using a Citron Vodka if you choose to add alcohol. 

Overall, this day was a lot of fun.  Not only did I end up creating a beautiful and delicious impromptu cocktail party al fresco, but I also learned a very valuable lesson.  The next time Lilly Pulitzer (or equivalent) releases a special collection at Target…GET THERE EARLY!