-
a valentine’s day love door
this is just a really simple little sweet tradition i wanted to share. we started doing this a couple years ago after i copied a girlfriend and i love it so much.
every night in february, i hang a heart on my sons door leading up to valentine’s day with a handwritten compliment, so that every morning he wakes up and gets to see a new one. you could obviously do this in a lower-key way like every few days, or just do them all at once on valentine’s day eve as an amazing surprise to wake up to.
two years ago when we started doing it, arlo was really struggling with low self-esteem and i swear this helped so much. you can go as shallow or as deep as you want – i did both. i complimented him for being brave, generous and a loving brother, but also for having so many valuable pokémon cards (watch that be the favorite lol).
it took me less than 30 minutes to make all the hearts at once and to make things even easier, i pre-taped the back and secretly hung them on the back of our closet door so we can easily transfer every night. once my daughter can read and i have to do two doors, that’ll be when it gets harder haha.
i just used construction paper along with a pretty red envelope i got in the mail – use whatever you have on hand!
just a simple little gesture that can make your kid feel so loved!
this is the kind of thing they’ll remember me for, i hope.
sources
here are the pens i used / tablecloth
light pink ribbon / dark pink ribbon -
my favorite purchases of 2024
as always, in january i love to reflect back and pick out my favorite things from the year — the things that were the most helpful to my life and house and here they are, a bit late based on everything that’s gone down this month – but i’ve basically just decided that 2025 starts in february this year.
my fave water bottle
owala water bottle
until you’ve used an owala, you can’t understand the hype. what i love about this bottle is that it has both a straw and a spout, the handle is easy to hold, the colors are so fun and it’s just a great water bottle!!
my new flatware
sabre ivory 20-piece flatware set
i have been yearning for this flatware for ages now, and i finally got them and it feels so grownup. they are just so gorgeous and elevate every meal so much.
prettiest tablecloth
gardenia ruffle border tablecloth
this tablecloth was in my cart forever and i finally went for it when it was on sale a few months ago. it’s SO SO beautiful and i always get compliments on it.
arlo’s stop motion kit
stop motion kit
arlo got into stop motion at camp and this kit has been so fun for him to create little lego videos all by himself!
my fave sunglasses
moonglade round sunglasses
i wear these every single day lately. they’re my absolute fave.
my fave dry shampoo
amika perk up dry shampoo
i have never truly liked a dry shampoo until this one! it doesn’t have that dry shampoo scent where people know your hair is secretly dirty, and it revives my greasy hair so much it feels like i can go weeks without washing!
prettiest cord box
rattan cable organizer
we have power strips everywhere, so these have saved my eyeballs.
my portable lamps
cordless mini lamps (set of 2)
i love that these add light and ambience to any empty little corner or nook without an ugly cord, but also when we lost power recently i was so happy to have them around the house for light.
folding chairs
cane folding dining chairs (set of 2)
we’ve had such limited dining space for years, but i had no idea that folding chairs could look basically like real chairs!! this was a life changing purchase.
arlo’s lunchbox
omiebox bento box
hands down the best lunchbox we’ve ever had for arlo. we’ve been through so many! the size is great for him, nothing spills or leaks, the thermos insert is so convenient, just no complaints. we did have a hinge piece break but they immediately sent us a replacement part, i’m very happy with it!
my fave lipstick
bisou balm
my girlfriend introduced me to this bisou balm and i looove it. the colors are sheer and buildable, and look like what your perfect natural lip color would be!
my jean jacket
weston denim boyfriend jacket
i haven’t had a boxy jean jacket in years but i looove having one now. it’s comfy enough to travel in and i feel like it looks cute with every outfit.
tinted spf
mineral tinted crème
the best tinted sunscreen! i love the smooth texture and the light coverage it provides, i’ve gone many days without wearing makeup because of it! it also has zero pore clogging ingredients 🙂
stitch gun
micro needle sewing gun
i didn’t realize how much i’d use this until i owned one! i’ve used it to hem and pinch pleat our curtains, as well as adjust clothing – i swear it comes in handy so much once you play around with it!
diaper rash spray
boogie wipes diaper rash spray
to not have to rub your finger on any holes is seriously life changing haha!!
my daily perfume right now
l’eau sézane
i’m so picky with scents and wasn’t sure what to expect with this one, but i really like it! is it THE ONE? i’m not sure about that but i’ve worn it pretty much daily since i got it so that’s a good sign!
my bucket bag
farrow mini bag
i also love this sezane purse – i have a micro which is much smaller, this mini size is a great everyday bag because i can still fit a bunch of crap in it. i feel so fancy wearing it!
nasal spray
antiviral nasal spray and immunity boost
this stuff is seriously a miracle – i spray it every time i feel like i’m getting a cold and it always seems to help! i’ve barely gotten sick since i started using it. (the more it stings the more we think it’s working!)
kids snack bowls
stacking pinch bowls (set of 6)
the perfect snack bowls for the kids – cute colors and just exactly the right size for chips or nuts or apples, i was stoked to find these.
my new fave bathing suit
tie one-piece swimsuit
i’ve worn this suit a dozen times in the last few weeks and it’s just my favorite now. the top is so flattering and not too revealing, the suit itself doesn’t ride up my butt too much like other suits. a lot of times i end up removing the pads because they look weird, but on this suit they are just right.
my fave candle forever
aloe + bergamot candle
i’ve included this candle other years but i just truly love this scent. i find it SO relaxing and i’ll never stop buying it until they stop making it!
my fave blush
merit flush balm cream blush
i use this on my cheeks and lips – it’s so versatile (like all merit!) and the colors are all so pretty.
life changing foot lotion
bare august foot butter
i have the driest cracked heels and using this stuff has improved them SO MUCH that sometimes they don’t even offer me callus removal at a pedicure.
electric nasal aspirator
noze bot
when gid bought this i thought it was such a waste of money, little did i know how much we’d come to rely on it!! we use this many times per day when izzy is sick and it has helped so much getting her nose clear. also it broke once and they happily replaced it for us!!!!
jeans that feel like pjs
the colette cropped high rise wide leg jeans
they have so many styles of the colette pants i’m guessing because they are so comfy and so flattering! i have the denim but i want more styles.
our pretty vent cover
air vent cover
i wasn’t sure what a difference these vent covers would make until we replaced our old ugly dingy ones in the living room and WOW! it’s like night and day. easy to install, i’m so happy we swapped!
an amazing moisturizer
la roche-posay lipikar moisturizing cream
i have struggled for many many years with dyshidrotic eczema (it seems to be super uncommon and took me years to even get diagnosed), i discovered this specific cream on a subreddit and it’s been life changing for me. most lotions cause worse breakouts but this hand cream has just been perfect. if you are lucky enough to just have dry skin, i highly recommend!!
the kids hair detangler
sun bum curls detangler
we use this on both kids hair and love it – it has totally tamed arlos tangles (we don’t brush his hair ever really) and has also helped enhance his curls.
arlo’s bank
electronic money bank
arlo just loves this bank so much i couldn’t not include it. he loves that it has a code and a little safe style wheel to open.
our new kitchen rail
brookside rail system
i found the area above my stove to be so boring and bare and idk what took me so long to put up a rail system. my future kitchen will have an even bigger one!!
our new kitchen curtains
striped cafe curtains
another dramatic change to my kitchen was adding cafe curtains!! it drastically improved our lack of view while adding charm to the kitchen and i sort of now think all bare windows need them? (here are the rods i used and the clips)
my first ipad
ipad mini
i’ve actually never bought an ipad before this year, we’ve inherited them from other people or company gifts, i debated which one to get for a while but ultimately chose the new mini because i have small hands and i could fit it in my purse.
i love it and use it more than i expected, i also got a keyboard case and an apple pencil pro which was so worth getting the pro for me because i can charge it by just sticking it onto the ipad directly!
i still feel like i missed things i loved but i could just keep going on a post like this forever and it wouldn’t be done till 2026 so i’ll stop myself now!
ps – do you miss the monthly versions of this post?! lmk and i’ll bring it back if so.
-
printable valentine’s fill in the blank cards
i’ve made some printable valentine’s in the past, but i thought some simple fill in the blank cards would be fun for this year– easy prompts for little kids who say the darndest things, and short enough to keep their attention too!
click here to download the printable
printables are for personal use only, not for redistribution of any kind.
for best results, download the file to your computer and print versus printing from your browser window. -
valentine’s day : for kids and grownups
rounded up a bunch of cute finds for your valentines day decorating, dining and lounging at home.
click on the images in the collages directly to shop!
cute valentine’s day things for adults
cute valentine’s day things for littles
this year i opted not to do v-day gift guides for him and for her like i have other years, if you miss it — please let me know! i feel like these days i’m really only gifting things to my kids.
you can also find lots more valentine’s things on my amazon storefront. happy love day!
-
cute valentine’s day pajamas for baby and kids
valentines day is right around the corner now, we put together some really cute festive PJs for your kiddos.
click on the images in the collage directly to shop!
-
cute organizing products from Wayfair’s Weekend Clearance sale
this post is sponsored by Wayfair
’tis the season for all the organizing! more than ever, my house is feeling overwhelming full of clutter so i put together a big list of beautiful things from Wayfair to help inspire you to tame the clutter this month too. Wayfair’s Weekend Clearance sale is up to 70% off and fast shipping!!
click on the section you want to jump to
for your kitchen
for your laundry room
for kids rooms and nurseries
for your home office
baskets for anywhere
hope this helps you tackle your organizing!
-
cozy dinners to make when it’s cold out
there is no season that inspires me more to get in the kitchen and cook a cozy sunday night meal for the family! i have googled “cozy dinner recipes to make in autumn” or “cozy dinners to make in winter” or some variation of that countless times, so i decided a little list of cozy recipes to inspire your cozy cold weather dinners was in order (and as a place i can come back and reference when i’m also in need of inspiration!)
you’ll notice this list has a lot of chicken on it, because – chicken is cozy. duh.
you may also notice a plethora of alison roman recipes, because also duh!and ps – i made an autumn spotify playlist and a cooking playlist that are perfect music to cook to if i do say so myself!
sausage & butternut squash pasta
this pasta could not be cozier! i’ll forever put fried sage leaves on top of almost every pasta i eat when it’s chilly out.
recipe here
dilly bean stew with cabbage and frizzled onions
one of our go-to’s, it’s easy enough to make on weeknights and the leftovers are just as tasty.
we just love this soup so much, we even refer to autumn as dilly bean stew season!recipe here
roast chicken
obviously there are a million ways to roast a chicken, i am a sucker forever for one with some roasted carrots, onions and stuffing.
but ever since i made this anchovy butter chicken, i can’t see a scenario where i could make a more delicious chicken using a different recipe! my anchovy hating relatives were literally fighting over the carcass (don’t tell anyone about the anchovy if they’re squeamish! they won’t know!)
anchovy-butter chicken with chicken fat croutons
steamed mussels with white wine
a big vat of mussels with some crusty bread (or fries!)?! what’s cozier than that?! i used to make mussels all the time pre-kids because they’re shockingly easy to make but feels so fancy and festive.
recipe here
chicken pot pie
i mean what is cozier than a warm chicken pot pie!? i am obsessed with (you guessed it) alison romans version where she uses storebought puff pastry – it’s sooo good. i always make pot pie with a rotisserie chicken to save myself the time.
recipe here
chicken with buttered onion rice
so this specific recipe was delicious but i found it a little time consuming, so i’ve started doing it with pre-chopped onions instead to save time. i loooove this rice! it’s like grown up rice-a-roni!
recipe here
turkey chili
i never really make chili often even though i love it (arlo has an aversion to beans!) bu6t this recipe has INCREDIBLE reviews!
recipe here
winter squash soup
i have been making this soup for years – it’s SO easy and always delicious (totally easy enough for a weeknight, especially if you use pre-prepared butternut squash). i love it with crème fraîche, some fried sage leaves and homemade crusty croutons.
recipe here
bolognese
while i loooove a good meaty bolognese, i’ve actually yet to find MY perfect bolognese recipe (i’ve tried a few but still searching for the one). people love this one but if you have one you absolutely love i’d love to know about it.
recipe here
thai meatball soup
this recipe has been on my list forever, hoping i’ll finally try this winter, it looks amazing and is so highly reviewed.
recipe here
shalloty tarragon chicken thighs
another one that’s easy enough to make on a weeknight, it’s so delicious and french and my whole family loves it so much.
recipe here
one pot chicken with caramelized lemons and dates
the first time i ever made this, my husband actually freaked out about how good it was. i love to make it with way extra dates and extra shallots.
recipe here
tangy brisket with fennel and herbs
OOOOOMG. this. brisket. recipe. we couldn’t deal with how good it was. it is absolutely going to be our go-to brisket for every jewish holiday from here on out. it’s incredible! and of course it’s by the one and only alison roman.
recipe here
leek galette
i’ve never met a leek galette i didn’t love, this one looks amaaaazing, trying immediately. (i’ve also made this one a couple times but it’s paywalled now!)
recipe here
i will continue to add to this list, but i hope this inspires your cozy dinners 🙂
-
brands providing free products for those impacted by the LA fires
the la wildfires are sadly still going and to say it has been beyond devastating for so many is an understatement. i don’t know anyone that lives here in la that doesn’t know someone personally that lost everything.
if you have friends or family that were victims of the fires, you’re also probably feeling like you’re at a loss on how to support them.
so many companies are generously providing products to the families who have been impacted, but the friends i know don’t have the bandwidth to retrieve any of it. so if you’re looking for a way to help, doing it for them seems like an amazing way.
i’ve seen spreadsheets with this info, but my brain can’t personally handle them, so i thought a simple concise list would be helpful.
sending love to everyone in LA right now.
lalo
will replace lost baby/kids’ products
cybex
donating strollers and car seats to affected families
nanit
will replace lost baby monitors
chatbooks
will reprint lost photos
artifact uprising
will reprint lost artifact uprising prints and photo books
shutterfly
will reprint lost photo books, canvases, prints or any shutterfly product
made by mary
will replace lost jewelry
asher bingham
an la based portrait artist who is offering beautiful sketches of lost homes for free.
smol
if you or someone you know has lost a smol product.
babyletto
donating cribs to those impacted
avocado
donating bedding
clare v.
100% of profits from their los angeles je t’aime collection will be donated to the american red cross, which is providing safe shelter, food, essentials and support for those affected by the fires.
woolgrass farm
woolgrass farm created the sweetest limited edition bear named “Monarch” to represent the strength of california. if you or someone you know has lost everything in the fires you can get a free bear using the coupon code CALIFORNIA.
mochi kids
mochi kids partnered with amanda janes jones to create this fundraiser tee to benefit the survivors of the fires. all profits will be donated to people from historically marginalized communities who were affected by the fires through a gofundme. the shirt is available in both kids and adult sizes.
tubby todd
providing a $50 credit
great jones
donating kitchenware
z supply
donating women’s clothing
donni.
donating women’s clothing
reformation
donating essentials like men and women’s clothing, personal care items, baby supplies and shoes.
rylee and cru
donating baby/kids’ clothing
kyte baby
donating baby/kids’ sleep bags and sleepwear
bobbie
donating baby formula
merci milo
donating baby/kids’ toys
a.l.c.
donating clothing packages
credo beauty
donating beauty care packages
roz
donating haircare essentials
facile
donating self-care kits
marea
donating clothing
show me your mumu
donating women’s clothing
slumberkins
donating a “sprite” snuggler, their doll supporting grief and loss
hexclad
donating 10,000 frying pans
coterie
partnering with perelel health and bobbie to donate diapers, formula and women’s essentials.
beautiful by drew
donating a small kitchen appliance to every family who has lost their home
additional resources
katie marble
offering free family photography sessions
kelsee pietz
offering free family photos
the expert
offering free one-hour video consultations with a designer to those who have lost their homes
boll & branch
offering a safe home and additional support through the organization helping from home
lugg
offering free moves, including transporting belongings, donating items or relocating to safety
free uber and lyft rides
uber and lyft are helping evacuated residents by providing free rides to shelter locations.
- for uber — evacuees can redeem a free ride up to $40 by applying the promo code “WILDFIRE25” in the wallet section of their uber app before requesting a ride to a shelter location.
- for lyft — use code “CAFIRERELIEF25” for a free ride worth up to $25. each user can use the code for two rides maximum.
u-haul
u-haul is offering 30 days of free self-storage to victims across southern california. the u-box container disaster relief program is also available to assist evacuees and affected families.
furnished rentals
a spreadsheet with furnished rentals.
and another list of furnished leases, via ali jack with compass.
moms helping moms
matching moms with other moms who have clothes, gear or toys with moms who have been impacted by the fires.
i hope this helps in some small way. ill add more as i find them and let me know if theres anything i missed.
featured image from daydream under the stars
-
shalloty tarragon chicken thighs
this is one of my favorite weekday chicken dishes to make – and both kids even love it! i’ve been making it for years now and what i love about this recipe is how it seems like a fancy french dinner, but it’s actually very few steps and very few ingredients and totally easy enough to do while you sip some wine and make your sides.
while we love chicken thighs, but you could obviously make this with any chicken cut of your choice!
i also said 5 shallots, but honestly the shallots are my favorite part and i could always eat more of them. try this recipe and you’ll see it’s very low key and adaptable!
shalloty tarragon chicken thighs
Ingredients
- 4-6 bone-in skin-on chicken thighs
- 1/2 cup butter
- 5 shallots, peeled
- 1/4 cup dry white wine
- 1 tb dijon mustard
- 2 tbsp fresh tarrgon, chopped
- 3 sprigs fresh thyme
Instructions
- season your chicken thighs on both sides with salt and pepper while you heat a large skillet over medium heat
- melt your butter and then brown chicken thighs on both sides until a meat thermometer reads 160℉
- remove the chicken thighs from heat and rest on a plate, while you add the peeled shallots to the pan. cook for about 10 minutes until they're softened and carmelized.
- deglaze the pan with your wine and add the fresh herbs along with the dijon.
- whisk together and if you need to thin out the sauce a little, use starchy water (if you're making a starch on the side) or if you don't have any and need to thin it out – you can mix a little water and flour or cornstarch.
- add the chicken thighs back to the pan and cook on low heat for another 5-10 minutes.
this is such a cozy fall or winter dinner, i hope you love it as much as we do!
-
printable letter to santa
now that arlo’s at the age he can write, i thought it would be so cute to make a little printable letter to santa for him to fill in — and your kids too! i kept it simple but fun and lots of prompts to make it personalized. i hope you enjoy 🙂
(and to be clear, he’s only 4 so i spelled out the words for him haha)
