Gifts for Him.

If the guy in your life is anything like mine, he’ll tell you he doesn’t need anything for Christmas. So I gathered up a list of things that I think any guy whether he’s your dad, your husband, your bestie or your brother might like.

His favorite team always deserves a spot on his list, whether they’re doing well or not in his favorite sport.

The very best mug to keep his drink properly warm or cold on his way to work.

My sister in law got us one of these last year for Christmas and it is actually so fun. We’ve used it so much more than I thought we would. We even brought it on vacation with friends for an after dinner s’mores dessert, no bonfire necessary.

The Singapore Sling is the best I’ve had, just saying.

As if he needed another excuse to go out and tend a kitchen project with a beer. I want one badly, and I want my husband to want one too.

Again, tools of the trade – a necessity. Love the case for them.

Why mess up his outfit while he’s being manly?

Just an all around great pair of sneaks. Goes with everything from a work happy hour, to Saturday soccer games with the kids.

Festive socks because how could I not include some?

A sweater is the easiest go to gift I can think of, and I love the quilted texture on this one.

Every guy needs a great leather wallet. You just have to figure out if he’s more of a bifold or trifold kind of guy.

Love this whole set, and that waxed leather travel bag is a classic.

You guys have to get these if your guy likes beer. They keep your mug cold for HOURS. They come in can size or in bottle.

The best slippers ever, the end.

A few other ideas not pictured:

  • A great deal on a crate of wine if he’s a wine guy.
  • My sister does an advent calendar of beer for her husband every year. She does it with a few of her friends and they buy four or six packs of fun beers and split it so they end up with a full calendar of different kinds. So fun.
  • For all his bedside clutter, I mean gadgets.
  • A magazine subscription is a go to suggestion for those hard to buy for. I asked for one last year from my in-laws and I get irrationally excited every month when my Food & Wine comes in the mail.
  • The only actual thing that’s on his list. Lol

Dreaming about…a Cozy Reading Day In.

All I can think about this week is cooler breezes, hot drinks, and chunky knits to wrap myself up in while reading a good book. It’s been ages since I’ve sat down to just enjoy a book for the day. We’re a waysssss off from chunky knit season down here, but that’s why this is called “dreaming” after all. I can see the light at the end of our interminable summer tunnel though!! I swear it’s been breezy lately.

My new favorite couch blanket,

the coziest chunky knit I’ve ever seen,

a simple airy tank to layer,

comfy neutral leggings to lounge in,

a book you’ve been dying to read,

cookies to munch on,

a fresh mug of the best coffee,

a candle that smells amazing and is nice to look at,

and cushy slippers to warm your feet.

Our Home in Lights.

If you’ve been following along on Instagram with our home renovations – you know that the ceilings have been a top priority. And ok yes, also the fireplace and taking down the wallpaper and, and and. But mostly the ceilings. We lived for years with our popcorn ceilings and lights that I hated in our previous home. When we finally got up the motivation to have the work done, I realized that they should have been our top priority to begin with. The ceilings you live with make such a gigantic difference in the feel of your home. So in our new home, they’ve been the first thing on the list. We removed popcorn ceilings before we even moved in (the dust it creates is – phew!!), the ceiling fans came next, and finally we decided we should just go for it and replaced the rest of the lights while we had someone coming to work on the house anyway. And let me tell you – I am so happy we did it. Our ceilings make me so happy now! So if you too are on the hunt for some new lights for your home – I’m here to share our picks. Maybe you’re ready to replace those boob lights that have been haunting your dreams?? I don’t know about you, but once I knew their nickname, I couldn’t bring myself to look at them for another moment.

  1. My favorite affordable Schoolhouse Light. We installed these in our old kitchen and entry and I’m just gonna say that you can’t go wrong with this classic. We installed them in the entry in this house and I love them so much. I also really love this one if you had a small hallway that you’re looking for. If you’re on the hunt for hallways – we installed these small ($10!!) acorn lights in our last house and I loved them too.
  2. Our beloved ceiling fans. The only fan I would put on a ceiling. We live in south Florida and neeeeeeeeed fans in our house. These blend into the ceiling and aren’t at all an eye sore. They pack a powerful breeze too!
  3. A ruffled pendant for over the sink. Just vintage style and cute.
  4. Flush Mount lights for over the island. These are right next to our rather eye catching table fixture. I wanted something to tie in with the pendant and the dining table light. I felt like these worked without being distracting. I didn’t want too many things hanging down from the cetiling and having flush mount lights over the island really opens up the space.
  5. A double light sconce for over our dresser. The only light that I really splurged on. I wanted something special for this little nook in between our bathroom and closet. This one is perrrrrfect. I thought that three lights would feel too much like a bathroom, and one light sconce wouldn’t fill the space right. I’m glad that I spent a little extra on something I felt was really perfect.
  6. Finally – our dining table light. I saw this on display at Home Depot and I was immediately like “YES” that’s the one. And then I chose the other kitchen lights to tie in with this one because I love it so much. It just fits the style of our new home, and I think it looks so pretty without being too MUCH for our open floor plan. I love the classic black chandelier that we put into our old house, but I just think this one goes a little better in this home.

There you have it! Our home in lights!

Meal Plan This Week.

We had the sweetest weekend with the best Mother’s Day a mama could ask for. On to a wonderful week where it’s all about the food, as usual.

Sunday – Steak, Brussels Sprouts, Scalloped Potatoes, and Bitter Greens & Orange Salad.

Monday – Sheet Pan Shrimp and Asparagus with Rice and Aioli.

Tuesday – Lemon-y Linguine with Garlic Bread. (adding peas and spinach to the pasta for some extra veg)

Wednesday – Warm Grain and Vegetable Bowl.

Thursday – Leftovers (or Meatballs in the likely case of – no leftovers left over) Going to post that meatball recipe here this week so it’s easier to find!

Friday – Pizza!!!

Saturday – Grill Party! Hot dogs, burgers, potato salad and all good grill food.

Bake – Mother’s Day Angel Food Cake with Vanilla Sugar Whipped Cream and Berries.

Treat – Blueberry Hand Pies with Buttermilk Ice Cream.

The Friday Post. [vol 7]

A fun new format for this weekly update – This week in categories and the best of’s:

Snacking: Ice cold watermelon

Eating: Carrot Soup with Sharp White Cheddar Grilled Cheeses – will share the recipe next week!

Reading: Just finished Happy Place (SOOO good) and immediately started Daisy Darker

Drinking: Mint Juleps on Saturday for a sister cocktail Kentucky Derby

Pondering: The grey hairs that keep popping up all over my head

Watching: We’re in the midst of Florida Man on Netflix. It’s not amazing, but it’s also not bad!

Gardening: Planting lettuce this weekend with the boys!

Weekending: We got ourselves a sitter and we’re hitting the town on Saturday!

Home-ing: New doors that we’ve been talking about for two years.

Teaching: 15 days left!! Just trying to get all the books back from students and wind the library down. Free choice centers for the upper grades and simple story times for the lower grades.

In other, more link-y news: