Patty Cakes

Happy St Patricks Day! I love the simplicity of a holiday that asks very little of you. Wear a bit of green, pinch people and go about your day. Simple. We like to take things a little further around our house by incorporating pieces of green into our meals too. Here are some ideas for your day that would make even the Hulk proud:

Green Smoothies - Start your day with some good nutrition that's naturally green. You may even be able to get veggie avoiders to give this a go on a day when everything is green.

Green Eggs and Ham
We love this Seuss classic so much, my mom made it into an actual meal for us each year growing up. Just add a little food coloring to your scrambled eggs, mix in a little ham and you're good to go! We like to tint our milk green too or use orange juice as liquid leprechaun gold. Kids will be even more engaged when they read the story having tried it and liked it themselves.

Corned Beef and Cabbage - Go the more traditional Irish route with this yummy dinner recipe. The cabbage is green, right?

Patty Cakes - We are starting a new tradition this year of mini Patty Cakes. They're little cake bites in the shape of four leaf clovers. I had both of my kids help make these super simple desserts.

What you'll need: Baked yellow cake, frosting (I like cream cheese flavor), melting chocolate (I get pre-colored to save time) and yellow M&Ms

Break the cake into your mixer and add frosting. Mix until just blended. The result should be a doughy consistency that can be shaped or formed.

Roll four small balls of dough onto a cookie sheet. Press until flat, with inside edges combining and outer edges remaining rounded.

A little leprechaun snuck into our house while we were making ours and hid some of his gold in one of the cakes. The person who randomly picks this cake will have good luck for the rest of the year. Once the M&Ms (gold) are pressed into the balls, push bits of dough to cover and keep hidden.

Once you have all of your cake dough formed into clovers, place in the freezer for at last two hours - overnight is ideal. This will make your shapes more solid and easy to dip into your chocolate. For a quick alternative, brush colored chocolate onto the top and sides to cover well.

What fun traditions do you follow on St Patricks day?

Chinese New Year

Happy New Year! Chinese/Lunar New Year, that is. We love having another holiday to celebrate in the middle of winter, especially one that lasts for 15 days. We have lots of ideas to help you kick off the Year of the Goat (or Sheep, depending on who you ask).

First, have you heard of lucky red envelopes?

When a good friend introduced us to this Chinese tradition, we knew our kids would love it. To wish them a lucky New Year, unmarried children get 2 red lai see envelopes (red symbolizes good luck). One envelope contains a quarter to buy something sweet like candy, wishing them sweetness throughout the year. The other contains a bill for somewhere between $5 and $20 that they can use to buy whatever they wish. We love this simple way to show a little love to our little ones.

Here are a few more ways to celebrate...

Food
Like any good holiday, food is a big part of the Lunar New Year. Families gather to eat meals full of symbolism and meaning.

Make your own dumplings.
Or have a pro make them for you at our favorite dumpling house: Din Tai Fung.
Go all out and prepare a fortuitous feast.
Check out Seattle's best Chinese restaurants.

Around Seattle
The Seattle area has wonderful cultural events designed to entertain the whole family.

Seattle's International District hosts a whole day of New Year festivities on Saturday, February 21, including cultural dances, a children's costume parade, and a food walk to sample cuisine from across Asia. Get details.

Bellevue Square is also hosting an event on February 21, complete with a Chinese Dragon and Lion Parade. Get details.

Around the World
A few of our favorite links from across the globe.

See how Lunar New Year is celebrated around the world.

Get familiar with the Chinese zodiac and what the upcoming ewe year means for you.

Chinese New Year, by the numbers.

With 15 total days to celebrate, these 6 things you need to know highlight what the holiday is all about.

Did you know that Chinese New Year marks the world's largest annual migration? This heat map captures what 80 million people traveling at the same time looks like.

London hosts one of the largest celebrations around the world. Check out the details taking place this weekend around Trafalgar Square.

Check out New York City's spectacular firework display over the Hudson River.

Wishing you a very lucky 2015!

Valentine's Day Gift Guides

Love is in the air! With less than two weeks to go until Valentine's Day, we've pulled together a few fun gift ideas for your girl, your guy, or something to give to each other as a couple. Most of the items on our list are less than $50 so you can still splurge by spoiling your valentine with some flowers or chocolates too. (Wink, wink!)

1. Laura Mercier Lip Glace in Black Cherry - The perfect color for Valentine's Day, this non-sticky gloss creates just enough shine and color for the perfect pout.
2. Kate Spade "Make Me Blush" Bangle - We love the pretty pink of this simple bracelet. The secret message on the inside makes it even better.
3. J Crew Crystal Foliage Earrings - These unique earrings are fun and flirty, a perfect gift.
4. Blue Capri Iridescent Candle in Volcano - Yes, these candles were on our holiday gift guide as well, but they seriously smell that good. And the beautiful glass with bronze top make it just as lovely to look at.
5. Personalized Locket - There's still time to purchase a personalized gift on Etsy and this adorable locket is the perfect choice. So many possibilities, all hidden in a delicate floral case. This tops my personal list!
6. Jo Malone Eau de Parfum in Nectarine Blossom and Honey - Jo Malone fragrances are unique in how crisp and earthy their scents are. This one is sweet and earthy smelling; a safe bet for any girl.
7. Elle Macpherson Ribboned Lingerie Set - What's Valentine's without a little lingerie? This super feminine set looks like it was made specifically for this day of love.

1. Tie Bar Silk Bow Tie - These super affordable ties are a great way to have you guy try a trend like bowties to make sure he can really pull it off.
2. Hex Solo iPhone Wallet Case - My husband just bought one of these for himself and claims it's "life-changing." Perfect for any guy that's always on the go.
3. Nixon Sentry Watch - Love the look of this sleek, masculine watch.
4. John Varvatos Star Hipster Chukka Boot - These are my husband's favorite shoes. They're comfortable, stylish and don't even have real laces to be tied.
5. Taylor of Old Bond Street Cologne - Going into Hollister with my sisters growing up ruined me for cologne. I can't stand an overwhelming fragrance that's overly musky. This scent is just enough to make your guy smell fresh and manly without being completely overpowering.

1. Personalized Keychains - Back in the day I collected keychains like it was nobody's business. In fact, my key ring got so heavy that it would fall out of my ignition while driving. Now, I can't find cute keychains anywhere. I love how simple and meaningful these personalized ones are.
2. Indoor S'More Maker - This S'More maker uses an actual flame with sterno fuel so it's like having a mini campfire in your living room. Makes for a pretty cozy and romantic date at home!
3. Theo Aphrodisiac Chocolate Bar - Some of our favorite Chocolatiers have created a yummy bar specifically for those in love.
4. Marquee Initial Letters - These vintage-looking letters are the perfect way to add some personal flair around the house.
5. What I Love About You - You may need to buy two of these! The book is filled with easy prompts and checklists that make you think about why you love the one you're with and makes a super meaningful gift when given filled in.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Sequin Wreath

We have about a month until Valentine's day. This is great news for people like me who are already going through holiday withdrawal. As soon as I take down my Christmas decorations, I'm itching to find cute decorations to put up around my newly empty-looking home. And since I always love a little bling, I decided to make this cute and sparkly heart wreath to hang up this year. It honestly takes less than ten minutes to make and is so easy, a child could do it! 

What you'll need:

• Heart shaped wreath form
• 3 yards of two inch red sequin elastic
• Silver flat headed pins
• Pen or screwdriver

My craft store only had 2 2/3 yards left of the sequin elastic so I stretched mine out a little more but having some extra buffer will be helpful.

Mark the spot on the back of your wreath form where you'll hang the finished product. Push in and move around a little until you have a hole that goes about a half inch deep.

Use two pins to tack the start of your elastic directly above the hole you've created.

Let the elastic hook onto the bottom of the heart's pinch. Pull to the left of the hole you've created. You can use push pins as you work to secure the elastic where you'd like it to sit.

Continue wrapping the elastic around the form, slightly overlapping each time. You can increase/decrease your pull on the elastic to be sure no white shows through the sequins.

Wrap the elastic around right down the middle of the heart's point. I put a pin right at the top of the point to hold the elastic in place.

Keep wrapping until you get back to the top. Pin to finish right at the bottom of the hole. I like to keep an open spot so it's easy to find the hole fro hanging purposes.

Do another check along the entire shape to make sure the wraps are even and that there aren't any bare spots.

When done correctly, the sequins should start overlapping to look pretty seamless.

Then it's ready to be hung! I love the look right over an antique window or frame. You can also use command hooks to hang on a door or wall. Happy crafting!

A Procrastinator's Guide to Great Last Minute Gifts

Thanksgiving was way too late this year. At least, that's what we're telling ourselves as we look at our long list of people yet to get gifts for. This weekend is the last before Christmas, so it's time to get serious about wrapping things up...see what we did there?

Refreshing your ideas with our gift guides is a good place to start, but with only five days left until Christmas Eve, options for ordering online with shipping guaranteed to make it in time is dwindling. Amazon Prime still gets you your two-day shipping but if you're running out of ideas, we have some out-of-the-box options that can be used even on Christmas Day!

1. Gifts of Memories (Experiences) - A perfect way to give without adding clutter is to gift an experience. One option is to give a fun event like a tickets to a concert or Broadway show, a hotel stay, or even a mini makeover (book one at your recipient's favorite make-up counter and include a certificate for a few new cosmetics of their choice). It gives the person something to look forward to long after the holidays are over.

Another option is to make that fun event a learning opportunity by giving a class. Our area has Paint and Sip classes that let people come learn how to paint while nibbling on yummy hor d'oeuvres and treats. It's an enjoyable way to discover you may be a little more artistically inclined than you thought (or not). Cooking classes are also a great option. In the Seattle area, try Hipcooks in South Lake Union or even Sur La Table, which offers classes almost daily at their Kirkland location (and around the country). If you've got a sporty girl on your list, a punch card for yoga, bar classes (the Bar Method has printable gift cards), or spinning is a very welcome gift (especially after the holidays).

Game plan: Purchase online and print off evidence of the experience to come. You can go an extra step and add a little items that associates with the experience (paint brush for the class, CD for a concert, etc.)

2. Gifts that Keep Giving (Subscriptions) - One of my favorite gifts we received for our wedding was a Costco membership. Why? It gave us a chance to have access to something we would use a lot but may not have been at the top of our list of things we wanted to spend money on. That's what makes subscriptions and memberships the perfect gifts. Go practical (Costco, Amazon Prime) or a little more fun (Hulu, Birchbox). Magazine subscriptions are also a great way to give an affordable gift that they'll enjoy all year (check out Amazon for great deals on wide variety of publications). Whatever way you go, you're giving a gift that will make them think of you each time they use it.

Game Plan: Purchase online or in store for proof of membership. You may need a few key details (address, etc.) depending on the membership/subscription.

3. Gifts from the Heart (DIY) - Homemade gifts can sometimes take a little more planning in gathering supplies but the end result is absolutely worth it. For ideas, check out our granola and ornament posts. We also love these bracelets, apron, and jar gift ideas. Not only can you customize each as you make them but you can package everything just the way you'd like.

Game Plan: Make a label or backdrop for your homemade goodies to make them look a little more professional. It'll help make your project look a little less DIY and more My Oh My!

4. Gifts that Guarantee Satisfaction (Gift Cards) - We think gift cards get an unfair bad rap. Sure, they may not be super-personal but the gift they end up buying is! When you can't find something specific but want to show someone you still know their style, give them a gift card from one of their favorite stores. As a bonus, they'll be able to use it after the holidays as stores pile on the deals to clear out inventory. Or they can save it to buy something they really want in the months to come. Restaurant and movie gift certificates are always good too! Our favorites are Nordstrom, Anthropologie, Amazon (books!!), Target, and iPic.

Game Plan: Gift cards are easy to grab from the gift card kiosks in grocery stores. Grab one or go to the store itself to get something more specialized. Depending on the store, you can even buy online and have the gift card emailed!

5. Gifts that Make a Difference (Charity) - We've started a tradition each year of gifting our families a goat or chickens to be given to families in a developing country. The gift is helping those you love help others. There's nothing better than spreading joy, especially at this time of year. We love finding a cause that matches the recipient's interests or passion and making a donation in their name. Giveback.org is a great place to start; it helps you find a charity based on location or interest.

You can also give charity on a more personal scale by offering free babysitting, housework, or any skill you have that your recipient will find helpful. These gifts don't typically cost much (if anything) but are often some of the most appreciated.

Game Plan: Make a donation in your gift recipient's name. Places like World Vision, Oxfam, and Baby Corner have the option to donate online and print a card that explains what the donation will be used for and the impact it will have. If you're giving service, print or make a coupon and follow up to make sure it gets used.

We're all feeling the last-minute scramble. But hopefully with these ideas, you can avoid the mayhem at the mall and still find the perfect gift for everyone on your list.

What's your game plan for last-minute gifting? Share your tips!

Music to My Ears: Christmas Edition

As a kid, my favorite Christmas song was hands down, Little Drummer Boy. I wanted to listen to that song on repeat...all...the...time. (That and the Nutcracker suite so I could dance around dramatically...) But I can still remember my parents' slight cringe every time I would ask to listen to that sweet Parum Pa Pum Pum just one more time. 
Now, an an adult, I totally get it. Little drummer boy is the Christmas equivalent of It's a Small World. The repetitive drumming? The overly cheesiness? (This coming from a girl who admits to loving Hallmark Channel movies.) The made up nativity character? "Me and my drum..."? I just can't get on board anymore. Which is why I've created a holiday playlist that is full of Christmas classics, a few fun new favorites, but leaves out the Little Drummer boy. (Sorry all you drummer lovers!) Listen as you bake Christmas cookies, trim your tree or just relax around the house. Enjoy!

Top 10 Holiday Flicks You Can't Miss

Macauley Culkin, Green Monsters and House switching, oh my! This list is full of a little of everything that makes holiday movies so lovable. Now, everything on my top ten list is playing on TV sometime between now and Christmas (except one) so warm up your DVR's and make sure to fit in some movie nights to cross off as many of these cinematic gems as possible this holiday season. (You can multi-task and wrap presents while you watch!)

 10. Polar Express - Dec. 15th 9:00PM and Dec. 16th 6:30PM on ABC Family.
This film based on a magical train that takes children to the North Pole is my son's personal favorite. And while it's not quite as close to my heart as the book, I still love the story and beautiful illustrations come to life.


9. It's a Wonderful Life - Dec. 14th 8:00PM, Dec. 15th 6:00AM and Dec. 20th 5:00PM on USA. A true classic, this movie has made it on several lists as one of the most inspirational movies of all time. And if you've ever wondered how an angel gets its wings, you're in luck! By the end of Jimmy Stewart's journey you'll know.


8. A Royal Christmas - Dec. 11th 6:00PM, Dec. 12th 2:00PM and Dec. 15th 8:00AM on Hallmark Channel. Confession time: I love cheesy hallmark channel movies. Like, seriously love them. I've seen almost all of them and this is a good one for people who can't put up with too much corny. It's Gretchen Weiners and her intro into royalty. She should be pretty familiar - her father invented toaster strudel!


7. Home Alone - Dec. 13th 12:00AM and 2:00PM on TBS
This is one holiday movie on the list that even my husband likes to watch with me. It's one of those that takes you right back to your childhood either because you remember watching it as a kid or just love seeing the crazy antics Kevin comes up with.

6. Smoky Mountain Christmas - on YouTube*
This was one of my absolute favorite holiday movies growing up. Yikes, I know. But the story is pretty good (famous singer takes winter retreat to find orphans living in her cabin, falls in love with the sheriff, has a witch cast a spell on her...I mean it's practically a Disney movie. Just give it a try. Warning: the main song will stay in your head for weeks.

5. How the Grinch Stole Christmas - Dec. 20th 11:30AM on Cartoon Network
I know, you've probably read the book and seen the Jim Carrey version, but this cartoon telling of the Grinch is where it's at. The movie isn't too long (26 minutes) and is literally a cartoon reenactment as the original Dr. Seuess words are read by the fabulous Boris Karloff. Perfect to watch with the kids.

4. The Santa Clause - Dec. 12th 7:30PM on ABC Family
I miss Home Improvement. And Tim Allen. And watching this movie reminds me of how much I miss those things every year. It's also just such a cute story that I love. If it's been a few years since you've seen it, watch again. There are several funny references that I didn't fully appreciate as a kid.

3. The Holiday - Dec. 14th 8:00PM and 11:00PM on Lifetime
This movie ties in so many of my favorite things: London, movies, sappy love stories and does it all with an awesome cast. This is one of those movies that I'll gladly watch any time of the year but with the music and holiday tie-ins I especially love it at Christmastime.

2. Elf - Dec. 19th 8:00PM and Dec. 20th 6:00PM on ABC Family
I've probably seen this movie over twenty times and still manage to laugh out loud every.single.time. I see it. The story is so sweet and adorable and the jokes are so clever that it absolutely deserves to be watched every year. Don't be a cotton-headed ninny muggins and be sure to catch it!

1. White Christmas - Dec. 12th 7:00PM and 9:45PM on AMC
A big part of what makes this my top pick is my family. With three sisters (and a song in the movie called "Sisters") you can see why a movie with incredible singing and dancing is a non-negotiable must-see for us. And honestly, if you can make it through this the first time without shedding a tear, I'm concerned.


*I looked everywhere for this movie and could only find a single copy selling on Amazon for $200. Obviously this is just because it's sold out everywhere...(right?...) so in the meantime youtube is the only option.

Honorable mentions:
1. Love Actually; Admittedly, this is one of my absolute favorite holiday movies, but I couldn't find a showing on TV before Christmas. If I recommended the non-edited-for-TV version my mom would probably send me to my room so just...add this one to your must see list when it's on TV next year.
2. While You Were Sleeping; I love this movie. The only reason this one isn't in my top ten is because I never really considered it a holiday movie until a couple people mentioned to me that it's one of their favorites to watch at Christmas. Yes, it takes place at Christmastime but that never really seemed to stand out for me. And if we say that's a holiday movie, we have to include things like Sleepless in Seattle. You don't consider that a holiday movie too, do you?
3. Nightmare Before Christmas; This is a great one that's a lot less traditional in terms of holiday movies. I, personally, like this one right after Halloween since it mixes the spooky and Christmas together.

With so many to choose from, there are of course even more Holiday movies that I love but just didn't quite make the list. Do you have a must-see movie that's missing above? I'd love to hear what your favorite picks are!

Glass Dome Ornament

One of my favorite holiday activities each year is a friend's annual ornament and cookie exchange. It's always fun to see what cute ornaments people have found for one another and of course to bring one home for the tree. But it can be really hard to find something that stands out as being worthy of our event. Last year, after going to numerous places looking for the right one, I finally decided to make one myself. This cute little deer ornament was the result. And bonus: it's super easy. Like seriously, once you have the materials you can start and have this baby on your tree (or in a box ready to give) in less than ten minutes. So here's what you'll need:

• Fake Snow
• Miniature deer pack
• Miniature wire brush tree pack (also come in straw color)
• Hot Glue Gun
• Pencil
• Funnel
• Small Wood Circle (this one is 3.5" diameter)
• An open bottom glass ornament (this is the hardest thing to find. I searched everywhere online and found one here that should work but if you live near a Ben Franklin, everything can be bought there.)

First, you'll want to lay out your scene to make sure everything you want to include fits correctly on your wood. If your deer are small enough you could put a couple in there. Or maybe you've found a cute house to put instead of a tree. This gold deer is extra special which is why he is as giant as the forest trees. But I like it that way.

Then, before you glue anything down, plop that glass dome right over the top to make sure everything still fits properly and looks the way you want it to.

As long as everything is honky dory, start gluing everything down. It's ok if there are big glue blobs around the deer feet and trees because they'll be covered with snow anyway.

Channel your inner blizzard (DQ version) lover by tipping it upside down to make sure everything is held on nice and well. Check to make sure there aren't any glue strings hanging off the trees or the deer because the snow will stick to it later.

Place the glass dome back on the wood and trace lightly around the outside with pencil so you know where to put your glue.

Glue along the inside of your line, holding on to your trees to turn quickly and easily.

Place your dome on top of the glue line. Press down gently but firmly to make sure the glass sticks well to the wood.

Pull the little silver top off of your ornament and use a funnel to pour your desired amount of snow into the ornament. You may need to use a pencil to help push the snow through the little opening.

Put a little but of hot glue right on the underside of your silver top so that as it goes back on to your glass, everything is sealed up tight.

And that's it! It's ready for the tree. Excuse the cute little child hand in the background that came home from preschool right as I finished and was building his own forest scene with the leftover trees and deer.

I think you need this on your tree. And it's a great easy gift to make for friends too! Homemade gifts and ornaments like this one are always extra special. If you have any questions as you attempt this on your own, let me know and I'd be happy to help.