Pajamas, loungewear, and athleisure are really winning the “most worn” award of all the clothes in my closet right now, and I won’t pretend that I’m upset about this side effect of working from home. I go from pajamas to workout clothes, back to pajamas – often accenting my “outfit” with a very dirty apron for the meal portions of the day (I really need a new apron). The rest of the EHD team said they were feeling pretty similarly about their current wardrobe choices, so we though it would be fun to do a “night to day” (to night to day, to day to night – GET IT?) fashion story. Which would have essentially been a story about pajamas that you could slightly dress up for a “daytime look.” But that would have required putting on denim or something else which didn’t have an have an elastic waist. That would offend my new outfit philosophy of “cotton and elastic only, forever.” For example, I put on an underwire bra the other day, in an experiment to see if I was “ready” to start wearing them again. Not surprisingly, the constricting metal cage imprisoning my love pillows felt really rude. I just don’t want to be wearing the fashion forward, constructing jeans and underwired bras of my office going days right now. So I pulled the plug on our original story idea, and instead we pivoted to a general story theme of COMFORT. What I actually want to be wearing while sitting in my home office all day (aka sitting at a desk propped up on paint cans shoved into guest room). Still, I didn’t need too much, nor did I feel like curating a ton of these comfy outfits on my own, so Sara and Veronica volunteered to also show off their loungewear. But I’ll kick things off . . . . Only being able to shop online these days has made me think way more about what I need. And I really want pieces guaranteed to fit, fill a hole in my wardrobe, and be totally comfortable. Everything in this story is from Nordstrom, and I genuinely love it all. The first things I needed were workout clothes (you know, for all the serious home workouts I’m doing these days), and my new workout running cape has a shape that makes me very happy. The one thing I am doing really regularly is going for walks/runs, and when I wore this out on a recent walk in the neighborhood I almost felt pulled together. I love how boxy and wide the cape is, with more fitted arms (and a hood should I want to go incognito up here). And those are my first pair of vans, which is weird, but I am enjoying them thus far and finally feel cool for the first time in my life. Although I think the “cool” way to wear them are with, like, a floral prairie dress (so unexpected!). But I wouldn’t take fashion advice from me right now, I think “matching pajamas” is a cohesive outfit. I finally tried the brand Eberjey (the blue top) and it’s very soft and flattering. The matching pants that look SO CUTE just sold out, but I think they have them in different colors. I feel like a broken record when I say this, but I like the silhouette of a boxy top with fitted arms. It’s apparently a thing for me. Those long john joggers, with the droppiest of drop crotches, are extremely comfortable and breathable. Please be careful attempting a drop crotch, once you go drop it’s hard to go back. Like I’ve said before, wearing matching pajamas is like making your bed, but for your body, and at night. This set sold out yesterday (I’m sorry), but if it comes back in stock know that it’s a really nice mid-weight/warm set and extremely comfortable with a good drape. It’s almost a flannel. I’d also like to note that this is Brian’s first time taking shots of me “modeling” and it was equal parts fun and painful for both of us – he did a good job, but staring at an empty coffee cup with that peaceful look on my face while he was taking photos of me was harder than it looks (and I think I like the unposed photos so much better these days anyway). My next high fashion look is another PJ set, but in a summer weight – with a short sleeve top and pants with a little ruffle at the hem. These are a little see through (you might see panty/bra lines), but still have a good drape. I also think it’s important for you to know that the “flowers” on my nightstand are 9 months old – dried perfectly from the photo shoot and I have no intention of refreshing them. Now onto Sara and Veronica, who also like to only be comfortable these days in lounge-y clothes and athleisure. It’s a team experience. Take it away, Sara. Honestly, I never quite understood the whole “go for a walk” thing, but now that it’s really my only chance to get outside, I GET IT. I love going for a walk now. I’ll listen to loud dance music and do some speed walking (and dancing), or play some jazz and take photos of all the pretty plants around the neighborhood that I want to put in my own front yard. Recently it’s gotten WILDLY hot, but this is what I was wearing every evening when I went for my long walk. That fleece pullover is the single most comfortable item of clothing I own. It’s soft on the outside AND inside, is so cozy and warm, and I really like the colors. It just happens to match these active wear leggings – which have an ultra high waistband, super soft fabric, and a phone pocket which is essential for holding my phone and house key while I go strolling. I’m still wearing these leggings for my walks, but I’ve opted for a t-shirt on top these days. This is pretty much my every day work outfit. I’ve decided that putting on jeans every day is unnecessary, and I’m much more comfortable in a pair of joggers, a sweat shirt, and some slippers. Em and I are both big fans of Uggs, and I especially appreciate how well they keep my ankles warm (is that just a me problem?). These joggers are perfect for lounging at home or running errands. They’ve got a really cute, subtle stripe pattern and texture, and are gathered at the ankles so they don’t drag on the ground. And finally, I love a graphic printed tee or sweatshirt, and that super soft one with a Los Angeles reference was an instant favorite. Finally, this is what I’m wearing all weekend long. I love a coordinated set, but I also love simple neutrals. This sweatshirt and sweatpants lounge set give me both. And the material is light enough that they aren’t too warm to wear for a full day of lounging. But my favorite part about this outfit are those slippers. They are SO. COMFORTABLE. I don’t think I’ve ever loved a pair of slippers more – they’re soft, warm, easy to slide on, and keep my toes amazingly toasty. I’ll be buying these for the rest of my life, and if that’s not an endorsement I don’t know what is. Alright Veronica, you’re up next . . . . First of all, these pants are so soft it’s insane. It feels like I’m strutting around wearing clouds for pants!! Secondly, I am a huge fan of cute pjs sets and this gal is a goooood find. The top is a little boxy which is perfect for sleeping – not too tight and not too lose. But I would recommend sizing down! Again, I am 10/10 all for a cute & cozy pajama set and this one checks both boxes. It’s ultra comfy and I think it could pass for a good grocery story or running errands outfit without looking too much like pajamas. The size runs a little big, but I think it’ll shrink a bit in the wash. Ok, back to me (Emily). That’s it for our looks, and we KNOW that a lot of those items are sold out (good stuff goes fast, thanks to your quick fingers!), so I rounded up a few of the pieces I almost bought which are still (hopefully) in stock. And to be honest, I’m thinking about moving a few more of these into my cart still. 1. Sneak Peek Sleep Shorts | 2. High Waist 7/8 Leggings | 3. Long Sleeve Active Tee| 4. Cragmont Fleece Jacket | 5. Short Pajamas | 6. Short Jersey Pajamas | 7. Linen Jogger Pants | 8. Stripe Pullover | 9. Dry Tempo Shorts Who else is loving the lounge wear life right now? Or do we have anyone who is working from home, but still putting on jeans everyday? We applaud you and your fortitude. Now if you’ll excuse me, it’s time for me to go change into my afternoon sweatpants. The post Night To Day Lounge Wear – Our New WFH Uniforms appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/2YhG41r
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Hey all, Mallory is back and ready for more apartment action. This is Mallory, I’m just talking about myself in the third person for some reason. I already showed you guys my initial studio apartment design plan + shared all of my “stupid” questions that I needed answered by a professional (aka Julie), but I still have one more major question that haunts me in my sleep. It’s a question we all face when designing anything, but especially me as a new designer. It’s that bratty blank white wall behind my bed. What the heck do I do with it?? Yes, I probably could just add some cool art eventually, but I’m greedy and want more. I want it to be a loud, fun statement and I’m striving for my before and after photos to have two things: 1. Shock and 2. Awe. So HOW do I achieve this when I’ve never designed anything before in my life? After staring at thousands of inspiration photos I realized the missing link between my apartment and the rooms I want my apartment to look like – COOL ARCHITECTURE. Let’s address the elephant in the room…I live in a rental. BUT I think there are ways to add a totally unique, brilliant, never before seen, showstopping, feature wall (if you’re confused why I have so many adjectives in this sentence, click here). We’re ready to go balls-to-the-wall (and even to the ceiling) to figure it out. Trust me, I’m not just going to show you 1,000 different moulding options, but prepare yourself for this post to get a little wild. As Emily would say, let’s get weird. Before I forget (again), I realized in my last post, I showed you photos of our naked studio apartment, but I never introduced you to the people living in and (trying to) design said apartment – HOW RUDE OF ME. So here it goes, I’m Mallory and this is my boyfriend, Chase, and here are photos of us to prove that we are real people: I picked photos of us in Palm Springs since the design vibe we’re going for is very much Jonathan Adler’s Parker Palm Springs and Martyn Lawrence Bullard’s The Sands Hotel (these photos were taken at The Sands) –– gotta stay on brand, you know? Now that we know each other a little better, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty. Here’s the LATEST version of the main room design plan (the last one you saw was pretty different and here’s where we’re at now…please note I’m sure this will change again before I show you the final plan). Bar Cart |Art |Dining Chairs| Dining Table | Pendant | Nightstands | Bed | Bed Area Rug | Lamps | Sofa | Living Area Rug | Credenza | Ottoman | Sofa Pillow | Throw | Pendant Light Shade Okay now, let’s talk about the reason we’re all here…what are our feature wall options for behind the bed? Let’s start with what Julie suggested: Box PanelingThis option is super solid. It has a lot of texture without being too distracting, plus it easy for renters because you don’t have to shove nails in the ENTIRE wall. Just build it off of the wall then just use a couple screws in the middle + edges and badabingbadaboom, you’re done. I’m sure it’s not actually as easy as I just made it sound, but it’s also not overly hard.
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Julie informed me that the wood has to be a skinny lumber because if you go too thick on the moulding it would require a lot of nails and therefore wouldn't be as renter-friendly. PVC Pipe WallRemember at the beginning of this post when I said it was going to get wild? This is the beginning of that. I saw this DIY on Design Sponge a while back and I came into an editorial meeting basically screaming “HAVE YOU GUYS SEEN THIS” and then I told Emily I wanted to write a post about unique and “easy” feature walls. Then everyone laughed at the fact that I called this “easy” and they were right, but we all agreed it’s VERY cool. So as you can see I didn’t end up writing about super easy feature walls, but instead, I think this post is more like “the ballsy renter’s unique feature wall” post. Maybe easy feature walls will come later. But I digress. You guys. Seriously how cool is this??? I think this photo is what originally sparked the need for me to create my first design plan mood board for our apartment. When I showed Chase our first-ever future “bedroom” design with a wall full of PVC pipes, he was utterly confused. But, I still think it’s a contender and this idea catapulted our collective strong urge for a feature wall. Retro Midcentury WallLet me be honest about something, I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen this fully fleshed out and executed in a studio apartment, but I think that’s why I’m so interested in maybe trying it out. I found this idea from Sugar and Cloth, and it seems super easy since it looks like it only requires a couple of nails on the corners of each panel. Also if you’re not into this exact panel style, there are a bunch of options over on Inhabit you can check out. Overall, this option seems the most in theme with the palm springs vibe, but Chase and I are worried it’s a little TOO retro for our style. When it really comes down to it, we don’t live in the 60s or in Palm Springs, so we don’t know how far to lean in there. What do you think? Cane Walldesign by mandi gubler of vintage revivals After I wrote this post about the best DIY bloggers which featured this DIY cane wall, Jess personally called me to say this could be the one. Jess, I like it and I agree. I mean, it’s basically the box moulding with a lil something something. If we were going to go for it, I think going for the caning with the little tiny circles in it would be more my speed, and then maybe we could paint the wood part white? Or all of it white?? Check it out below and let me know what you think… Wood Slat WallWE ARE VERY INTO THIS. It feels very contemporary, and we like that. Not to mention all of the common areas throughout the apartment complex has this sort of stuff EVERYWHERE so we think it might be fun to incorporate this. Should we paint this too?? Or leave a wood kinda texture? Again…the photoshopped version is down below!! Faux Beam CeilingIt’s about to get even crazier now, guys. Our apartment complex name has the word “Bungalow” IN IT, so when we were trying to get some design inspo, we searched “hollywood bungalow” on Pinterest and we got incredibly jealous and obsessed with what we found. THEY ALL HAVE THESE VERY CUTE AND BEAUTIFUL BEAMS. We too would like some cute, beautiful beams. I thought it was impossible (it still might be), but as we were looking through these photos and I was feeling discouraged, Chase convinced me we should keep this option open because he thinks it can be possible. He’s very persuasive and also very right about me having an ego sometimes when his ideas are better than mine, so Chase, I’m publically sorry for shutting you down about this beam idea at first. We started doing some more research about the beam concept and came across this video about faux beams. In the video, this girl literally describes these beams to be “light as foam.” This could work because if it comes crashing down on our heads there’s likely to be no death by beams, right?? There’s a high risk for this to go very wrong, but if it works, it’s going to change the space drastically like it did in this apartment therapy blog post. But do we think it will even look good? There are white and black beam options photoshopped below… DRUMROLL PLEASE… The Photoshopped OptionsBox PanelingAll I’m going to say is Julie is always right. This is the option I’m definitely leaning toward since it looks clean and has a ton of texture. I just like that it’s not too much (but is still a wow:)). PVC Pipe WallThe amount of vertical stripes in this makes me feel straight overwhelmed. I still love this idea and concept, but I’m not sure if this is quite right for the space. Do you guys agree?? Retro WallShe’s fun, flirty, and VERY palm springs retro. I think this option is very cool and unique but is it too much? Does it beat out the box paneling option? Cane WallThis is definitely leaning into the “bungalow” idea like I mentioned before. Plus, it’s very similar to the box paneling, it’s just a little warmer since it’s a natural color…is it sleek enough though for the overall vibe we’re trying to achieve? Wood Slat WallAgain with the vertical stripe thing…I’m not sure if I 100% love it, but this is why we photoshop and try things online so we can figure out if it’s worth pursuing. The wood slat thing might be my least favorite. What do you think? The Faux Ceiling BeamsPlease enjoy these renderings that I unprofessionally created on top of a regular photo in photoshop. If we can swing this without ruining the ceiling, I’d be all in. What do you think? Should I attempt it? And which color…white or black? So many questions and I desperately need your help. PLEASE COMMENT BELOW WHAT THE HECK WE SHOULD DO!! El Fin. Opening Image Credit: Design by Anne sage and Caroline Lee | via Design Sponge The post Unique Feature Wall & Ceiling Ideas For a Rental + Help Mallory Decide Which One To Choose appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/2VSiqHj Mother’s day is a couple of weeks away, and as a daughter myself I never really know what they want (besides a card saying how we owe our entire lives to their generosity, love, and beauty). For one of my holiday gift guides I asked my boomer MIL what her friends want or don’t want for Christmas and what came out of that text chain was pure honest gold – we all learned so much about what that generation of women really want* (spoiler – gift cards for new experiences, not things). But now what?? The world has changed and that fly fishing school that Suz so desperately wanted to take lessons at might be closed for a while. So I texted her and my mom and said: “do dish – what do our moms really want?” Their direct answers are below. *Don’t worry, last year Jess reminded us that quality time will always be the most valuable gift our children can give us, and that we can give the mother figures in our lives. NOW IS THE PERFECT TIME TO HELP THEM START A NEW HOBBYThis is the category we probably got the most recommendations in, and it’s probably because we’re all finding we have a little extra time on our hands while staying home. GARDENING
Bloomscape Aromatic Herb Collection ($65) – This collection of three herbs (rosemary, sage, and thyme) arrive already potted, and sprouted, so all mom has to do is keep them alive. Amazon Vegetable Growing Kit ($25) – This is a beginner’s kit that comes with everything someone would need to plant and grow four different veggies: purple carrot, lemon cucumber, romanesco broccoli, and black corn. Verishop Herb Garden Basil Grow & Glow Kit ($35) – Not going to lie, I want this cute little kit for myself. The pot, packaging, and idea are all super cute.
The Sill Blooming Plants Gift Set ($125) – This gift set comes with a petite white orchid and a pink anthurium both potted in their own well designed and stylish pots already. But, unlike sending a bouquet, these will keep living. Modern Sprout Chamomile Growing Kit ($50) – This kit comes with everything needed to grow a little chamomile plant, and drink the tea your mom can make once it’s blooming.
Terrain Garden Gloves ($32) – Your mama’s hands have done so much for you over your life, so now it’s time to take care of them. These gardening gloves have miles of style over the bulky ones she has from Home Depot. Terrain Carry-All Garden Stool ($48) – This is a foldable chair and tool carrying bag all in one, and it’s actually exactly what Caitlin from our team got her mom this year (because it’s exactly what her mom asked for). Terrain Watering Can ($22) – If you’re thinking of getting your mom some indoor plants then make sure to get her a watering can to go with them. Target 4-Piece Planting Kit ($20) – This is the budget option for a collection of essential gardening tools that will serve your mom well for years to come. Food 52 Essential Set Of Two Garden Tools ($110) – And here’s the splurge-worthy set. As beautiful as they are functional. Cooking
Williams-Sonoma Sushi Kit ($32) – All your mom will need to provide is the fish (or whatever filling she prefers). Otherwise, this kit has everything she needs to take a stab at making her own sushi (plus the directions). Food52 Handmade Sushi Serveware ($90) – And then she can set the table for a sushi dinner using these pretty ceramic chopstick and soy sauce serveware. Food52 Wood Slotted Spoon ($25) – This is a spoon to last generations and become an heirloom piece. Plus it’ll scoop out homemade ravioli or tortellini with style. Food52 Solid Wood Pasta Cutter ($54) – Learning to make her own pasta is as easy as mixing up some dough, rolling it out, and taking this pretty pasta cutter to it. Amazon Pasta Maker ($50) – While rolling out dough and cutting it with a knife (or that pasta cutter from above) is about as easy as you can get, this Italian made pasta maker is the next step in achieving pasta perfection. Sara can attest to its ease and efficiency since she owns this exact model.
Half Baked Harvest Super Simple ($18) – This is one of my favorite cookbooks, so I can only hope that either of my moms would love it too. It’s got so many delicious and healthy recipes, and so far we haven’t had a bad one. Food52 Genius Recipes ($28) – If your mom is really into cooking, then she might enjoy this cookbook, which is filled with classic recipes that also happen to have pretty genius twists. Jamie Oliver’s 5 Ingredients ($25) – But if your mom likes to takes things easier in the kitchen (and is trying to be a little more pantry conscious these days), then this might be the book for her. Like the title says, each recipe only takes 5 ingredients, and they’re all super easy to follow. ONLINE CLASSES
Ron Finley’s Gardening Master Class – No matter what size garden, patio, or indoor pots your mom might have, this online gardening course is going to teach her how to make the most of gardening wherever she can. Alice Water’s Cooking Master Class – Alice Water’s literally seems like the nicest, most soothing woman I’ve ever seen, and I want to take this class myself just to listen to her talk about cooking. Not to mention, it looks like the dishes she teaches would be delicious. Emily Henderson’s Styling Skillshare Class – LISTEN, we really did put a lot of thought and work into this online course. So if your mom just happens to be interested in design and styling (and maybe needs an excuse to move around all the throw pillows in her home), my online class might just fit the bill. Calm App Subscription – This subscription app works on smartphones, tablets, and computers with tons of guided meditations. It also has these really awesome sleep stories, and a great collection of sleep sounds (like a noise machine) if that’s something you think your mom would enjoy. Aaptiv App Subscription – I talked a bit about this app in our recent workout post, but it also has a ton of guided meditations. Sara is getting this for her mom this year – She already knows her mom uses a running app so she’s got the tech know-how and interest to use a health app, and she’s been lamenting about missing her weekly yoga classes. Problem solved. LITTLE PROJECTSThese are just a few other ideas for fun project-based gifts that might be the perfect gift for a creative mom who needs something to work on. Embroidery Kit ($13) – This was actually a gift idea from someone on our team’s grandma, who loves doing little creative projects, but likes having guidance to do them. This cute succulent embroidery kit comes with everything needed, and the finished project is ultra sweet. Scrapbook Album ($119) – My love for scrapbooking is no secret. But even if your mom isn’t a hardcore scrapbook devotee, they might still like the idea of putting together a well-curated, beautifully designed scrapbook.
Custom Puzzle ($54) – Indeed there are, and with Shutterfly you can upload your own photo to have it be turned into a puzzle (you also get to decide how many pieces your puzzle will be). I’ve never been a “frame a puzzle when it’s done” kind of person, but if it was a super cute photo of my kids I might reconsider. Also, imagine how fun it would be to put together a puzzle of your grandkids WITH your grandkids when they’re little? SOMETHING A LITTLE EXTRA SPECIAL . . .TO WEARABLE Phrase Necklace ($68) – I love this little necklace, and even though I don’t NEED a piece of jewelry for Mother’s Day, I wouldn’t say no to something this cute. ABLE Mama Necklace ($58) – This is also very cute . . . . Etsy Mama Necklace ($40) – I love this too! There’s just something about being called “mama” that makes my heart happy. Le Papier Studio Silhouette Necklace ($68+) – GUYS, silhouettes are in STYLE right now, and I’m feeling very on trend. These little silhouette necklaces are so cute, and a creative take on the custom charm necklace. Stacking Name Ring ($35+) – Another cute take on customized jewelry. I’d happily wear Charlie and Elliot’s names stacked on my finger. Mama Sweatshirt ($35) – I actually just bought this for myself, and I’m so excited to get it in the mail. It looks like the perfect casual sweatshirt, and I love the graphic print. TO PAMPER
Living Libations Seabuckthorn Oil ($17+) – This was recommended in one of our recent beauty posts, and since then about 4 people in the office have bought it. If you think your mom needs some healthy skin indulgence, this facial oil (and literally anything from this site) are a good bet. It’s all-natural and organic. The Ordinary Hydration Bundle ($20) – As skin ages it’s even more important to keep it hydrated and cared for. This bundle from cult skin care company The Ordinary is a good jumping-off point if you think it’s time for your mom to up her skin care game. Replica Under The Lemon Tree Eau De Toilette ($30) – This bright, citrus scent is the perfect summer perfume. It’s light, happy, and not all stuffy. Olive & June Nail Kit ($80) – Listen, I know from personal experience that right now a lot of us are missing our access to a nail salon. Now most of us go to a nail salon for a reason (I couldn’t paint my own right-hand nails if you paid me), but this kit comes with a cool tool that makes painting your own nails a lot easier. And the quality of the polish is top-notch. L’occitane Hand Lotion ($29) – Is anyone else’s hands extra dry right now because of all this extra hand washing? There’s something about a good, creamy hand lotion that feels so luxurious. And honestly that what all moms need a little more of right now. TO ENJOYSuper Soft Throw ($25) – This isn’t fancy, but boy is it GOOD. And the value of a good blanket for cuddling can’t be underrated.
Artifact Uprising Photo Book – I too am a hoarder of family photos, and can’t wait until I can rely on my own children to collect and curate them for me. Until then, I’ll keep making these photos books. They take up a lot less room than framed photos, but they are so fun to go through. Ceramic Oil Diffuser ($28) & Essential Oils ($25) – A small departure from the traditional candle (don’t worry, we’ll get to that below if that’s your jam), an oil diffuser is the pretty styling accessory that also makes a room smell amazing. And with all the essential oils out there, your mom can choose her scent based on her mood. Anthropologie Capri Blue ($32) – A cult favorite, all the amazing reviews on this candle have to mean something. Otherland Mom Gift Set ($36+) – Sara wrote about Otherland candles in her ode to why candles are the best gift ever, and right now they have a really pretty box set available just for Mother’s Day.
Personalized Stationery ($20+) – Staying connected right now could be even cuter on personalized stationery. I personally love this buffalo check style. Kindle Gift Cards – A lot of people are doing a LOT of reading right now, and Kindle gift cards were recommended two or three times. I get it, I’m reading a lot too. GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TORight now a lot of favorite gifts options – trips to an exciting show, dinner at a favorite restaurant, visit to an indulgent spa – are off the table. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t give your mom something to look forward to in the form of a gift card. Here are our ideas: gift cards to a salon or spa, gift card to a favorite or extra special restaurant, a sweet letter with the plans for a weekend getaway once traveling is back on the table, season tickets to a theater. Plus, this has the added benefit of supporting local businesses during this time! BUT IN THE END, WHAT THEY ALL SAID THEY WANTED WAS JUST MORE QUALITY TIMESo, in case you are able to spend quality time with your mom/mom figure, or you just need some ideas for when you finally can, here are some amazing requests straight the mouths of the boomer moms in our lives.
This is an actual quote, and it’s equal parts sweet and hilarious. But mostly SO SWEET. The only question is, what kind of pie? In case you’re not able to spend Mother’s Day together how about a zoom cooking class date. Think of your favorite dish that your mom makes, and have her teach you how to make it live over video chat! We love using our Facebook Portal for these sorts of things.
CUTE, yes ok we will go on a bike ride and bring sandwiches. Can’t wait.
This just really hits home right now. We’re all feeling a little more lonely, isolated, and helpless than usual. And honestly, the most important thing is to let the people we love know how important they are to us. A great twist on this could be having grandkids handwrite out a letter and then framing it. So there are ALL of our Mother’s Day ideas, with a lot of help via direct requests and recommendations from our own moms. But we know there are so many more ways to get creative out there, so if you have something special you’re doing for Mother’s Day this year please let us know in the comments. And for any of you “boomer” moms and grandmas in the audience, do any of these requests ring true? The post Best Gifts For Mother’s Day – What Boomer Moms Really Want appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/2VO8Ll5 These days it would seem safe to say that we are all accumulating endless amounts of hours sitting, working, lounging, binge-watching & let’s admit it probably eating most of our meals on our sofas. So we figured that now is the best time to share all the tips and tricks of what to look for in finding your most comfortable sofa for your lifestyle (if you need one). If there is one person that has been on the hunt for the sofa that is both stylish and comfortable it’s Emily. She has finally found ‘the one’ and fingers crossed can hand out her metaphorical final rose. Hey Bachelor fans, did I use that correctly? It’s been a sofa saga. I am personally so excited for it to arrive since I’ve seen the floor model in the store with her 3 times now but have yet to see her’s in the pretty powdered blue Crypton Fabric. So now that Emily and I have acquired all the comfy sofa secrets from our extensive research, I am giving them to you today (and yes that means dimensions!). We have also included EHD’s tried and true favorites that we keep coming back to and talking about what makes them special to the people who own them. Let’s just say we have a lot of nappers on our hands:) But if all those don’t hit your style spot, we have a bunch more options at end for you. Hope you are as excited to read this post as I am to write it. But before we get into our recommendations, let’s take the time to figure out what type of sofa will work best for your lifestyle and the way you like to lounge… Questions to Ask Yourself BEFORE You Shop:
The Dimensions to Consider:The dimensions you choose for your sofa will not only play a factor in the style but also the level of comfort it will offer. One with a higher seat and back height and shallow seat depth tend to lean on the more traditional side and a better fit for a formal setting. On the flip side, a really low to the ground, deep-seated sofa will feel more relaxed, casual, and looking like it’s straight out of the 60s/70s era. In the middle of those two lies the more modern, contemporary style and is one most of us are on the search for… sophisticated yet cozy. So what exactly are those dimensions you should be looking for you ask? Sofa Length: This is the one dimension that will be determined more so by the amount of space you have rather than your preference for comfort. Standard sofas will come in sizes anywhere from 72″ – 96″ while love seats are more in the 48″ – 72″ range. Emily believes that if you have the space for it an 84″ long sofa is ideal because even someone that is 6’4″ will be able to comfortably fall asleep to their next binge-worthy show. Seat Depth: In my opinion, this is the most crucial dimension of a sofa, too shallow and you feel like you can’t relax but too deep and you’re a little kid again with your feet dangling in the air. The average seat depth is between 21-24″. If you like to sit upright then 20-22″ is ideal for you. Those of you who like to lounge/lay down then 23″ to max 26″ is what your searching for. Any more and you might as well just buy a daybed. Seat Height: Most sofas, accent chairs, and dining chairs have a standard seat height of 18 inches. A sofa can be anywhere from 15″ to 20″. The main factor you should consider is how much is your seat depth? If you have a deep and low to the ground sofa it will make it very difficult to get out of it. So if you like your sofa to be 24″-26″ deep try adding an inch or two to make it easier unless this isn’t an issue and you like the style over everything else.
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The softer your foams density is the more it will compress and lower when you sit down so take this in consideration when choosing your cushion construction & preferred seat height. Back Height: The worst feeling is to sit down on a comfortable sofa only to lean back and feel it stop too short with little to no support. That’s why a good rule of thumb is to find a sofa with a back height of 30″ – 36″. The deeper the sofa the lower it can be in that range since you will naturally want to sit in a more relaxed position and need less height. Arm Height: Last but not least the place where we lean and lay our heads upon, the armrest. Look for a sofa with an arm height between 7″ – 9″, this is measured from the top of the seat cushion to the top of the armrest. How Many Cushions Do You Want? 1, 2, or 3…
Once a two cushion fan Emily has now opted for a single topstitch cushion cover with a 5″ soft foam density wrapped in a down feather filler on her Moreno Sofa from Lawson-Fenning. Let’s finally take a peek at this dreamboat! Moreno Sofa by Lawson-FenningAfter the first time I went to Lawson-Fenning Emily asked if I saw her dream sofa (the one above but coming in a different fabric:)). The Moreno Sofa is sleek, modern, and yet with a traditional touch thanks to those curved arms. With a little help from the LF team, Emily was able to tweak it to the ideal dimensions for her: 96″ Length, Seat Height 17.5″, Seat Depth: 23″ – 24″, Arm Height 26″ (about 8.5″ above the seat cushion) and a Back Height of 31″ just enough for support but low enough to lounge. She’s perfect and I think Emily is very excited to finally see her in person. And now let’s revisit our other favorites… Henderson Sofa by Cisco BrothersThis sofa has been in an on-and-off-again relationship (currently: on) with Emily’s LA living room for over three years now but there is a reason it keeps finding it’s way to one another. It’s pretty cozy just ask my boyfriend who is napping on it as I write this, for real. Maxwell Sofa by Interior DefineFrom Arlyn: “I love a deep sofa because if I had my pick of positions to be in for life, it would be horizontal on a pile of pillows. But it’s not so deep that you feel like the sofa is eating you. It’s squishy and fluffy but just firm enough to support you and the arms are at the perfect height to lay my head on during day naps.“ We also used this beauty’s neutral friend in the media room of the Portland Project. Our very own, Sara, slept on it when the whole team took over the house for our reader event. I can confirm that she got a very restful sleep cause it was very hard to wake her up the next day then again that lady loves her slumber. Caitlin Sofa by Interior DefineFrom Jess: “Let’s just say I have fallen asleep on my sofa more times than I would like to admit. It’s the perfect amount of plush to curl up on but not too plush that you sink in and have a hard time getting off of. Plus it’s held its shape so nicely (and I am on it A LOT). Let me also say, that I am now and probably forever a pro single cushion-er. I love that there isn’t an uncomfortable dip in the middle of my sofa when I lay down. Now I have a hard time getting comfortable on a multi cushion sofa. One and done “ Burrard Sectional by ArticleFrom a first glance, you might think this sectional doesn’t look squishy enough but then I would be glad to say you are wrong my friends. It’s one of those deceivingly comfortable sofas, there is just that right amount of ‘cush’ on the seat and a little extra on the back so when you fall back onto it, it gives you a slight hug. I mean Emily has used it in three different houses now for a reason. Sven Sofa by ArticleFrom Sara: “I love this sofa so much I got it for our first living room (which now lives in my brother’s apartment), then I got one for my mom’s living room, and then we got the velvet one for our TV room. If that’s not a solid recommendation, I literally do not know what is. The leather is so nice and gets really soft and wonderful with time. And the velvet one we have in our TV room right now is the perfect size for Mac and I to cuddle up on and watch TV.“ Texada Taos Sofa by ArticleFrom Ryann: “When I chose this sofa for my living room, I was willing to sacrifice comfort if need be because it was so beautiful. My boyfriend and I joke that it’s like having a piece of art as furniture so when the decision was made, in the back of my mind I thought “if it’s not the most comfortable sofa in the world it’s still worth it. I’ll love it just as much.” But luckily this love story has a happy ending. This sofa is SO comfortable you guys. The depth of the cushion is deeper than normal sofas (or at least the ones I’ve come across) so when you sit on it it’s like sitting on a day bed, plus the back cushion is shorter in height so if you want to lean back and slouch a little, the top of the cushion supports your neck perfectly. The leather was extremely soft when we first got it, but it’s only getting softer as the days go on. My boyfriend slept on it the night it arrived because he believes it’s more comfortable than our bed. True story.“ Neva Sofa & Sectional by SixPennyFrom Brady: “After 2+ years of having this sofa (and getting lots of love via TV show binging and movie marathoning), I have to admit that it is still just as comfortable as the day that I got it. The single-seat cushion has been a game-changer for us as it means that no one has to sit in a cushion crack and the down back pillows give you all the comfort and support that you need to really relax while being able to fluff them up over and over again. Beyond comfort, the lines are timeless and tailored which means that it works with so many different styles. I’d buy this sofa over and over again if I could.“ As if this sofa couldn’t get any better there is a sectional version. Disclaimer: This is a big kid coming in at a minimum of 120″ (remember the average is 72″ – 96″). But if you have the room for it than the more the merrier! Selma Sofa by Clad HomeYears ago, Emily had the opportunity to design a sofa with the help from Rosa and the Clad Home team. Inspired by her favorite elements of a traditional style sofa, the end result was this custom low and deep sofa. The perfect spot to curl up with a good book for the night. Plus the soft velvet fabric isn’t too bad either. Cole Sofa by Clad HomeFrom Sara: “This is the sofa we got for our living room, and to be 100% honest I wasn’t sure how comfortable it was going to be. When we were sofa shopping I was looking for stunning pieces and was definitely in the mindset of form over function. I figured we’d be hanging out in the TV room most of the time anyways. Fast forward to now, and this couch is my favorite place to take an afternoon nap. I didn’t even opt for the pricer cushion inserts, and just went with their “premium foam.” It is SO comfortable, that when I told Em it wasn’t down filling she was surprised. We got the smallest size of this sofa (70″ wide, 38″ deep), but still something about the curved shape of the sofa and the depth make it the most comfortable place to sit/nap for my 5’2″ height. Though I will point out that we’ve had two different people stay overnight with that couch as there bed, and we didn’t get any complaints. That’s a pretty good endorsement.“ Now that we have gone over our favorites we hope to help you find yours… If any of the above sofas aren’t quite what you’re looking for we have rounded up a few other options that fall within Emily’s go-to dimensions (we also checked the reviews). But as a general friendly reminder, be sure to always read the helpful reviews from others on a retailer’s site when purchasing any sofa (or furniture for that matter) as we have not personally sat in all of these. 1. Mirren Reversible Chaise Sectional | 2. Shelter Sofa | 3. Ever Slipcovered Sofa | 4. Jake Leather Sofa | 5. Leonelle Sofa | 6. Bolinas Slipcovered Sofa | 7. Lewis Sofa | 8. Nixie Grey 2-Piece Sectional Sofa | 9. Jake Leather Sofa | 10. Claire Modern Sofa | 11. Harmony Sofa | 12. Noah Sofa | 13. Hoxton Black Leather Sofa |14. Denver Indoor/Outdoor Sectional | 15. Lounge II Sofa I hope this post was as helpful for you as it was for me since I am starting my search for that stylish yet cozy sofa of my dreams. As of now, I don’t own any living room or dining room furniture since moving back to Los Angeles so I am ready if you are to continue this comfy series. What would you want to talk about next? An accent chair to pair with that sofa? Or shall we move onto the dining room and we can all have matching cute yet cozy chairs? Let’s chat about it in the comments below! xx Opener Image Credit: Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: My Friend’s Kid and Pet-Friendly Family Room Reveal The post The Rules To Picking The Most Comfortable Sofa (Plus The One’s We Can Guarantee) appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/2VNZglL We had our first broken bone this weekend, and it really gave us some excitement. My little Birdie fell off her huge tumbling blocks while in ninja training with her brother. Somebody might have kicked the block as she was standing on it and about to jump and she landed wrong, fracturing her elbow. Charlie, her ninja master, felt AWFUL and many lessons were learned (mostly about the intensity that one needs to train their ninja proteges). Generally, we want them to take physical risks, learn how to fall, understand their body, physics/gravity, blah, blah, blah, so this is the first time we are wondering if maybe we should be more cautious. But like I said, I think lessons were learned and it’s also going to be fine. Here are the questions that my friends keep asking so I figured you might, too:
Brian’s brother is an orthopedic surgeon, too (and he knows Oh Bob!) and he helped us throughout which was just so amazing. Thanks, Pat! Look at that little warrior. She is SO proud of herself. Also if you need to convince your children that breaking a bone is a positive thing you can tell them what my brother Ken told both my kids years ago (and they have retained). He said that when you break your bone it grows back together stronger. He knows this because that’s what MMA and Thai fighters do in the offseason. Uncle Pat (orthopedic surgeon) didn’t agree when Birdie told him that, but I shut him right up, concurring with Uncle Ken’s MMA story. So for now, she is going to have a VERY strong right elbow, which will come in handy (!!) as that will be the new handshake for a while. Meanwhile, a lot of you asked about our masks on Instastory. I ordered mine from an Etsy seller who I had collaborated with before on projects – Bramble workshop out of Portland, and they are hand-dyed shibori and so cute (kinda expensive, but if you can afford to shop small please do). We also linked a bunch of others that we like on the interweb down below. But before you go – any tips for broken bones? Our neighbor came over and brought watercolor paints (having just took a cast off of her son) and told us to tape paper to the table and it’s so much easier. So any other tips like that would be awesome. She’ll be fine, we’ll all be fine – I’m obviously just glad it wasn’t worse and so grateful for those working on the front lines. 1. Organic Cotton Face Masks | 2. Fabric Face Mask With Filter | 3. Face Mask | 4. Eco Adult Mask | 5. Protective Mask |6. KES Sustainable Washable Face Mask | 7. Summer Picnic Fabric Face Mask | 8. Linen Face Mask | 9. Cloth Face Mask | 10. Cherries Adult MasQini Face Mask | 11. Reusable Cotton Mask (2 Pack) | 12. Bow Face Mask | 13. The Wake Up & Fight Mask | 14. Sentry Face Mask | 15. The Sustainable Mask Okay, that’s all the excitement the Henderson’s have for you today. Again, if you have any tips for broken bones let me know in the comments. xx The post How Birdie Broke Her Arm + Where To Buy Cute Face Masks Since Everyone Asked appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/2yaVsSD It’s safe to say that when you finally fulfill your dream of opening your own event space/photo studio, the last thing you think is going to happen is a national order for everyone to stay at home and forbid events. The same idea goes for debuting your first furniture line like EHD alum, Ginny did. This is where photographer and owner of DTLA’s The Revery, Monica Wang, is at. She is navigating this truly unimaginable time with patience and figuring out how to temporarily pivot so that hopefully someday soon she can share this wonderful space with the world…in person. But for now, we are lucky enough to get a VERY special sneak peek. Here is a video, courtesy of Monica, that gives you a real understanding of this awesome undertaking (just wait for the ad to play then enjoy:))… But before we move on, let’s rewind for a minute. A few weeks ago Anne Sage, whom you probably know, (and if not check out this post), emailed me about featuring Monica’s new space (including a studio she helped design). She and Monica have been friends/collaborators for the past 5 years and Monica actually shot Anne’s “nursery” that we posted about last month. To make this even cooler, I found out that about 7 years ago Monica was Emily’s photo intern in the midst of a full-time career in finance. Like I said, COOL (and inspiring).
I love getting to hear and see how small the world is AND how someone can truly create their career path with hard work and dedication. So, I asked Monica (and Anne later in the post) a bunch of questions about her journey and this new venue. Let’s get to it. Let’s start with your professional background. When did you make the switch from finance to your now very creative career? What was the moment that you knew it was the right decision? For a few years, I had a full-time finance job in the tech industry and I photographed part-time on the weekends. I don’t recommend doing that long-term because of the sheer number of hours that I was working, but it worked for me. I had the energy to explore and the yearning to learn more about photography. Eventually, I knew I wanted to find a way to blend both my creative and finance backgrounds together and that is what led me to The Revery. I didn’t fully quit my steady finance job until we found a location for The Revery. While working simultaneously in finance and photography, I mapped out my business plan, created a financial model, figured out how I was going to fund the project, raised the money, and assessed the property to see if it was feasible for my business plan. There was a lot of homework that needed to be ironed out before I even presented the idea to a prospective business partner and/or investor. I had done similar work in my full-time finance job for other companies and watched first-hand what the fundraising and due diligence processes looked like, so I soaked in as much I could and eventually figured out how to do it for myself. Why did you start The Revery? I truly saw a need in the market that wasn’t met and I thought there was a way to do things better! I wanted to find a location that had both an indoor and outdoor space. More photographers were shooting in natural light vs. artificial light and our location gets a ridiculous amount of amazing natural light. I also found an opportunity to design the space to be versatile enough for two separate uses — it functions as both an event venue and photo studio. In the venues I encountered as a photographer I saw these two uses being melded together rather than treated separately and thought there was a huge opportunity to create a space that never existed before. Jess here, back for one sec! So now that you have a little intro, let’s dive into this dreamy space of truly limitless transformative abilities and more of its journey. If you missed the video go back and watch and you will see that they started with nothing (i.e. no plumbing, electricity, AC, the list goes on). Ok back to the interview. The Common AreasQuartz Countertop | Limewash Paint (Kingdom) | Art Work | Pot | How long did this project take? From start to finish, it took 2 years. It felt like 5 though! Ha! What was the thought behind the design plan and did you have any specific inspirations? I gave Venn Studio (the main architecture and design firm involved) adjectives of what I wanted the space to feel like vs. specific design instructions. I wanted the space to feel editorial, collaborative, sophisticated, calm, inclusive, urban, airy, and inspirational and they used those to draw up the design concepts! They also understood the objective of the space very well — it needed to function as both an event venue and photo studio as seamlessly as possible. I hired them for their vision and their design and architecture background, and trusted them wholeheartedly throughout the process. What were some of the biggest challenges in creating the space/working with collaborators in creating your vision? We had so many subcontractors, engineers, architects, designers, etc. involved every step of the way. I had little to no understanding of the construction process and didn’t realize just how many different little steps I had to take to get to the end result. It was an eye-opening and life-changing experience. When mistakes were made, it had a domino effect on everyone involved and created scheduling delays; and time is money. I have experienced firsthand how painful and expensive it is when you hire the wrong person, so if I were to tackle another project like this in the future I would go through a more thorough vetting and interviewing process before selecting my team! Woven Window Treatments | Stools | Stove | Black Vase | Footed Bowl With the installation of that truly stunning and yet welcoming kitchen, was it your intention to have the space feel both warm/homey as well as airy/grand? That was exactly what our vision was — to create a kitchen that felt elevated, but warm and approachable. After photographing so many beautiful kitchens on different photo assignments, I was finally able to create a dream kitchen in our lifestyle photo studio. I’m hoping for many cooking shows and TV commercials to be filmed in it! And if people want to incorporate the kitchen as part of their event, they can easily do that as well. Is there a design element that you are most excited about in the space? I absolutely love how the wood reeding turned out on our kitchen island and dressing room vanity. The craftsmanship is incredible and something I cherish every time I see it! Quartz Countertop | Brass Lighting Fixture | Travertine Side Table | White Pedastal | Chair | Andorra Rug | Ceiling Lighting Fixture We know all too well that despite how beautiful a space is, mistakes are inevitable. What were some the mistakes that were made and how did you adjust? I did catch a few oversights in our electrical plan — we forgot to add outlets for hair dryers and curling irons in the dressing room. Luckily I was on site almost all day, every day, so I was able to keep a close eye on all of the details. Could you imagine?!! Haha! Before our drywall went up, I did a thorough walkthrough with my general contractor, City Constructors, to review the electrical work and we were able to coordinate with our electrical team and fix the problem right away. I know that most people have terrible experiences with their general contractor but I have nothing but good things to say about mine. They were amazing from start to finish. Brass Lighting Fixture | Sahara Entrance Mat | Candle Holders | Vase | Wood and Marble Tray Did your designer have to talk you into anything that you now love? Venn Studio had to talk me into the green onyx in our luxe restroom island vanity! I love it now, but in the beginning, I was trying to stick to neutral colors only so I’m glad I listened because the green onyx came out stunning! That vanity is truly a work of art. Lighting Fixture | Floor Mirror | Towel | Vase Jess again! Julie and I both gasped when we saw that vanity. We are SO happy Monica went with their suggestion:) What a DREAM. The StudiosHow many studios do you have within the space? Are they any full-time tenants or are they meant for more temporary use like photoshoots? We have two large photo studios, designed to be temporary locations rented by the day or week, that can also be used as a single large space. We have a foldable partition that can be used to break up the studios, but most production crews in Los Angeles are anywhere from 40 to 80 people deep for filming and commercials so I wanted to have a large photo studio for filming and still have space for a “base camp” set up. Jess here! Let’s now pass it over to Anne to talk about the beautiful studio she designed… Daybed | Coffee Table | Leather Chair | Floor Lamp | BESTA Wall-Mounted Storage in High-Gloss Beige | Rug | Art Work Anne, I know that you and Monica work together regularly but were there any new challenges with designing this very personal space? What is your collaboration style? I have such fond memories of all the work Monica and I have done together over the years—including the first time we ever collaborated back in 2015! We were shooting engagement rings together (not an easy subject!), and it went so smoothly that I knew I had found my perfect match. She and I are both methodical and exacting, willing to spend hours tweaking every detail to get the perfect shot. For this project, we poured over every round of designs, going back to the drawing board as many times as needed to achieve our shared vision. And honestly, that meticulous design process wasn’t a challenge at all. We had a blast letting our inner perfectionists out to play! The hard part was meeting my own high standards and designing a space I felt was worthy of this woman who inspires me so much as a photographer, an entrepreneur, and a friend. I’m proud to say, I think the final result exceeds both our expectations! Candlestick Holders | Tall White Vase | Round Vase | White Terrazzo End Table | Dining Area Rug Were there any challenges in designing this studio specifically? There were plenty of considerations I took into account when designing this studio. We knew we wanted it to be a place where people could buckle down and get work done, but also feel homey and stylish enough that it could be used for meetings and intimate gatherings. I, therefore, avoided furniture that felt too “office-y” and instead chose comfortable pieces that could just as easily be found in a living space. I’d been itching to use a daybed in place of a sofa in a lounge setup—it’s such a chic look that feels very current—so I was delighted when Monica was open to the idea. The open-backed seating nicely echoes the airy, open feel of the lofted room. (Sadly the exact Living Spaces daybed we used is no longer available, but the brand has an equally lovely daybed in the same color). The silhouette of the daybed also allows the graphic construction of the background storage cabinets to shine through. I adore the look of built-in cabinetry and we were able to get the look on a budget using several IKEA BEST units mounted next to each other on the wall! Dining Table | Side Chair | Woven Globe Pendant | Footed Bowl For the floor plan, we created three separate functional zones: a kitchenette, a large work table that can be used by up to 8 people as a shared desk, and a cozy seating area suited to breakout sessions. That big gorgeous wood plank table is from Living Spaces too. It’s actually one of their outdoor tables, which is fantastic because it means it’ll be up for the wear and tear of a high-traffic space like this one. Then, I’d recently used Design Within Reach’s Hoffmann Side Chair in my husband’s office design—he loves it!—so I felt confident using it as a work chair in this setting as well. The woven globe pendants from Serena & Lily provide overhead lighting as well as an organic touch. Kitchen Runner | Sconces | Faucet | Quartz Countertop | Kitchen Cabinets | Zellige Tile In the kitchenette, our goal was a streamlined area where Monica’s employees could prep a quick lunch or make TGIF cocktails—but that also could be used to style and shoot recipes or kitchen products. We kept the backdrop simple yet really elegant, using a foundation of richly grained cabinetry in reclaimed Douglas Fir from Reform Copenhagen. Engineered quartz countertops and backsplash by Mikado mimic the look of Calacatta marble without the upkeep – I’m absolutely obsessed with the narrow display ledge made of the same material. It’s an extra element that takes the kitchenette to the next level! For the fixtures, we chose sconces and a faucet from Rejuvenation, one of my favorite sources for timeless finishing accents. The luster of the brass fittings softens the honed stone and planed wood surfaces.
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To ensure that each functional zone felt distinct, we used three different overdyed rugs from Jaipur Living to ground each space. They bring a vintage, timeworn feel into the office that subtly contrasts with the modern lines of the furniture and nicely dovetails with the raw architectural envelope of the warehouse. I especially love the quiet splash of blue in that pretty kitchen runner! - Anne Sage The neutral space you created is so layered yet serene. What are some tips for people to do the same in their home? Whether at home or in an office, when you’re working with a neutral palette, a strategic blend of textures and materials is key for achieving a dynamic look. I group materials into categories—fabric, leather, wood, metals, stone, glass—and make sure I’m pulling from at least three or four as I design. The leather Living Spaces chairs in the lounge are a great example of a piece that adds tons of personality while still maintaining a quiet vibe. The supple leather injects warmth, and the slim brass legs have a luxe sensibility, yet the overall clean lines and taupe hue gel perfectly with the rest of the decor! Thanks Anne! Jess one last-ish time:) As most of us are trying to adjust to what our hopefully temporary way of life I wanted to chat with Monica about how she is holding up. Monica, I know that this is likely hard to talk about but I don’t want to ignore the fact that this is undoubtedly a difficult time to open an event venue. How are you pivoting any part of your business plan or just doing your best to ride it out? It’s very challenging and hard but I am hopeful that people will be able to safely gather again after the curve flattens, starts to decline, and more testing is widely available. Ultimately, I don’t foresee digital content going away any time soon and after the quarantine, I expect people to cherish gatherings and celebrations more than ever before. I am doing my best to ride it out but at the same time, I am exploring different ways to rent out the space that I didn’t consider before and we will be offering in-house photography services very soon! That way brands can send us their products and we can photograph them for them. We have also experienced an incredible amount of support from other businesses in the industry, so the help we’ve received in spreading the word about our space has been instrumental in getting us through this difficult period. We have all experienced huge setbacks and struggles from COVID-19, and I am hoping and praying for the best outcome possible so we can get back to sharing The Revery with others. Ok now it’s Jess for the actual last time and all I can say is that we cannot wait to come to some wonderful event and see all of this beauty with our own eyes. Thank you SO MUCH to Monica and Anne for talking with me and sharing this space with us. We hope you are staying as safe and healthy as possible. What is your favorite part of the space? Dare you to choose just one. Can we also talk about the return of the glass block wall trend? This space has me pretty into it. See you wonderful people in the comments! Love you, mean it. Credits: The post EHD Photo Intern Turned Creative Power House – Tour Monica Wang’s Stunning New Space (Plus a Design Cameo From One Of Our Favs) appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/2VXLcEY This post will garner some eye-rolls, as it should. But if you are here it’s probably because you, too, care about style and aesthetics and get joy from, say, the FRONCH washed linen shibori tea towel. No one is more of a perpetrator of “the love of the beautiful” more than stylists, truly. Although I have to defend myself and say I’ve gotten highly more practical over the years. In the last few weeks I’ve been taking note of the more beautiful things I’m opting away from, and the more practical version that my hand is grabbing for more often. Here’s what those things are. But first here’s a video so you can seem them in action (just need to wait for the ad to play first:))… THE CUTTING BOARDThe cutting board. We have so many pretty wood boards, the vintage french board, the walnut cheese board with the leather handle, or the simple carved round loop. But I think subconsciously don’t want to scratch them up (what will my guests!!?? think?). So last year I bought a pretty high-quality butcher block – a classic, never-go-out-of-style-board and I thought I would leave it on the counter all day as the sandwich making, lemon cutting day-to-day go-to. And while I love it, it’s super heavy and annoying to wash, so every time I go to chop anything all I want to use is THIS. And so does Brian. It’s extremely lightweight but durable. When it’s cut on it doesn’t look scratched up and the black really works in our kitchen so it’s not like it stands out (I like the black so much more than the one that is trying to look like wood, by the way). OUR FAMILY BLANKETNext up. Stylists love a blanket or throw and generally I have a lot – over the backs of sofas, draping over a chair but the one one that my family wants to snuggle with (and is big enough for us all while we watch Nailed It) is this one. OUR LIGHTWEIGHT DISHESYou know what else we typically love? Super heavy handmade rustic-ass plates and serving bowls. I really do. But right now because of the sheer volume of meals and dishes (3 x 4 = 12) I’m so glad that I have these thin, light, hard to break plates. The kids can set the table very easily because they are so light. And while I did bring my pretty heavy pottery Heath serving bowls up here (the ones I’ll hand down to my kids and will forever use for dinner parties or special occasions), I just use these for everything every day. A PRACTICAL FLUFFY BATHMATNow even I’m too practical for a white linen or cotton bath mat (maybe in my guest room). I have some that we put in a locked closet for “shoots” but I didn’t want to ruin them by actually using them, imagine that. But I’m dying for a fluffy big even dare I say suburban-style bath mat, one that I can wash in the washing machine. The kids bathe in our bathroom with our black floors. So while the sheepskin we had there looks great in photos, I’m going to buy this one now that we are using this tub so much (currently I lay down a towel every night before they get out). FYI I’ve seen this mat in person many times and she’s fluffy and cozy and washable and not precious at all. THE DISHTOWELSI guess the “dish towels” that I bought for up here technically might be linen napkins and Brian Henderson is not happy. We have two good drying rags and he wants more. I guess the ones that really dry things well are thinner (goes against any logic) and I think there is a thing about them needing to be washed a few times to really get absorbant. I couldn’t find the exact old rags that he is so drawn to, but I found these that look like classic dish towels. DRINKING GLASSESOh, we all love a Marta glass – that thin straight glass that I’ve used in no joke 50-60 shoots. It’s affordable and lovely to drink cocktails out of. It does, however, break SO EASILY (we are down to 3) so instead, I’m opting for thicker glass. The ones we have a good, but I’m thinking about ordering some good old fashion pint glasses for water. I like this whole set a whole lot and $39.99 for 18 glasses looks good. Hoping they are durable. I’m telling you, it’s a new Emily that is being born and I like her. But don’t worry my love for truly beautiful things will NEVER disappear:) Have you guys also made some practicality switches or did you always know the secret. Also if you have any other recs please let me know in the comments xx The post The Practical (But Less Stylish) Things We Are Opting for Right Now appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/2Y8pMIc With gyms and parks closed (and if we are lucky most of us are staying home) working out is both harder (you have to motivate yourself) and yet more convenient. You can go from pajamas to athleisure with clear intention of a workout at some point and without commutes and rushing kids to school, schedules are a bit looser. I have a particular workout philosophy these days… I want my workouts to be fast, enjoyable and more for mental endorphins and maintenance than getting into shape – not that I don’t want to do that, but it’s not the goal. And there is no shame if you aren’t feeling it, I just find it drastically effects my happiness so I have to – I NEED the endorphin hit to keep my spirits as high as possible. But most of my workouts are 20-30 minutes. Sometimes i’ll just do a micro sprint (like 5-8 minute run) and call it a day – its not about huge workouts right now, just getting those endorphins. But there are a lot of apps, youtube videos and IG glasses out there, so we did a bunch of research and crowdsourced from the EHD team what are our go-to at-home workouts. Here are all of our picks… CARDIOFrom Emily: Aaptiv – A big #nonsponsored endorsement is coming your way. I’ve been using this app for almost two years and after trying many others for this post, its still HANDS DOWN my favorite. I consider Akeem my personal trainer (although there are others I really like). Here’s why its so great – 1. It feels like a personal trainer in your ear. They speak conversationally (not robots) and keep you motivated the whole time. 2. There are a million different types and lengths of workouts (cardio, stregnth, HIIT) in all different levels. 3. It’s set to good music (Lizzo, Dua Lipa, really good hip hop) and that makes it go so much faster. There are so many apps that have no music or sure you can use your own, but then it’s not timed to the workout and it can be hard to hear the voice. For a lot of the cardio workouts, they’ll time it so that when you’re about to do a high interval or a sprint, the chorus of the song drops at the same time, so you just feel extra motivated. They also have guided pilates, indoor cycling, elliptical, yoga, stretching, and meditation. I’ve mostly done the strength training, indoor cardio, core, and outdoor running, (I don’t know why I haven’t tried the yoga). Sara has (see below) and Brian started doing it with me and he LOVES it, too. It’s the first time in like 15 years that he and I have worked out together (mostly the cardio strength classes that are Tabata or HIIT) and it’s pretty fun. I love it just being audio because generally the moves are so easy – like jump squats, but if you need help you can look at the app and they have examples of the moves. With videos, I either get confused about what side I’m on (are we supposed to mirror or do the side they are doing?) and then I look at their bodies and get distracted and end up watching them. Anyway, I’m a big fan of just having it be audio so I can pair with our speaker system or just use earbuds. My favorite actual cardio classes are these: “Fartlek cross Training” with Akeem, “I’ll Be The Run” with Akeem, Cardio Fat Burn, with Kenta, Intervals of Pace and One Step is All It Takes (both Akeem). From Sara: I’m a big Aaptiv fan, too (I’m the one who introduced Em to it cough), and I’m a huge fan of a 9-minute workout called Ab Assassin. In just 9 minutes your abs are going to be ASSASSINATED. We’ve been doing this almost every night and think the coach is hilarious, but also endearing. Another favorite quick Aaptiv workout is a 9-minute one called Pop That Booty. My booty does burn after I do this one. From Sara: Nike Training Club – NTC is giving away premium for FREE right now, so if you’re looking for some good workouts, this is a great one to try, too. From Mallory: Boxing with Kev – THIS IS MY FAVORITE WORKOUT TO DO RIGHT NOW. You guys. I cannot stress this enough. My friend, Kevin is a boxing instructor and does IG Lives + Zoom classes ON THE DAILY. Before I continue, let’s get something straight, I do not consider myself a “boxer” in the slightest, but this is hands-down my favorite workout on the list. It’s basically a quick 30-minute cardio boxing blast and by the end of it, you feel like you’re on top of the world. The class is donations-based, requires zero equipment, & Kevin is the BEST instructor/motivational speaker (plus, he’s easy on the eyes which never hurts). Take this class if you want to break a quick (but hefty) sweat and feel the best you’ve ever felt in your life. He accepts donations via Venmo From Mallory and Emily: The Fitness Marshall – I like the Fitness Marshall but it’s too advanced for me and you feel ridiculous. BUT if you don’t care what you look like, it’s so fun because you are dancing to songs you know and it can be a fun 3-4 minute break in your day. Here’s a 3-minute dance to Yummy by Justin Bieber if you want to give it a try. From Mallory: Barry’s Bootcamp – I had never tried Barry’s before the ‘rona, but I had always wanted to since it seemed like a fun, trendy LA thing that everyone was doing. Then we all got stuck in our houses and they started doing FREE! IG! LIVES! They’re 20 minutes long (so they’re an easy lunch-break activity), super fun, and will definitely make you break a sweat. If you miss their IG live videos, no worries because they’ve been adding them to their IGTVs which is GREAT because you can put it on a laptop (IG lives can only go on phones). HUGE WIN FOR BARRY’S! This total body workout is my favorite if you want somewhere to start. From Caitlin: Ms. Bejma P.E – This is a hot take for a workout post, but here goes: I have not exercised ONCE (including walking — I have honestly just been sitting for 7 weeks) and I don’t know if I’m going to start. BUT…I do have a great rec for kids! I’m a competitive synchronized skater (who is clearly enjoying the off-season) and one of my college teammates made a TikTok with fun challenges for kids. She’s a P.E. teacher now — so these are like, professional-approved — and everything she posts looks like a blast (more “game” than “workout”). If your kid has a TikTok account and you need to tire them out so you can actually get work done, it may be worth a shot! From Mallory: The Jump Rope Dudes – I just got my first jump rope ever about 1 week ago and OH MY GOD IT’S SO FUN. If we’re not doing Kevin’s Crubox class, Chase (my bf) and I are doing this. Chase found this youtube account and we love doing their 1 minute of jump rope, 1 minute of bodyweight exercise alternating workouts. It’s a quick 15-30 minute workout sesh and every time we do it we can’t stop smiling the entire time because jumping rope is that fun. Follow this beginner workout to get started. YOGA, Pilates & MeditationFrom Mallory: Y7 Yoga – You may have detected a pattern by now, and it’s that I almost exclusively use IG or YouTube to workout at home. In general, I’m not a huge workout app person because, well, it seems like a lot of work to download one, create a login and whatnot, AND they usually cost money (and much like probably everyone, I’d rather not pay if it’s available for free somewhere). I will pay, however, for in-person classes (on occasion), and if I’m doing that, Y7 is at the top of my class list. It’s (normally) a hot yoga class that has the perfect blend between a yoga and a sweat-inducing workout. PLUS, they do it to fun hip-hop music that really hypes you up. I think it’s the perfect weekend workout because it very relaxing + is great for your mind, but you’ll also break just the right amount of sweat. Right now, they’re doing FULL HOUR LONG CLASSES on their Instagram (IG lives are every Wednesday and Sunday + they save all classes on their IGTV) that I HIGHLY recommend. Try this one first! From Sara: Aaptiv Yoga – Caesar is my favorite yoga instructor on Aaptiv, and his 24 min “Feel The Flow” workout is my favorite morning activity. The music is chill but groovy, the flow is easy to follow (all simple yoga moves I’m familiar with), but gets your blood pumping, and his voice is really nice to listen to. From Jess: MODO Yoga – I have been going to MODO Yoga for 3 years and I miss it every day. But the good part is that I can get a dose whenever I want (sans hot room). They do Instagram lives twice a day (donation-based via Venmo) or you can sign up for the virtual studio. Drop-in classes are $12 but they are also offering packages. You really feel so amazing after and the teachers/general community are so special. From You, The Readers: Yoga with Adriene – We asked you guys on IG to give us your favorite workouts, and this was the top-recommended one by SO MANY PEOPLE. I haven’t tried it yet, but Veronica has and she recommends the classes Yoga For Back Pain and Yoga Tone. From Sara: Down Dog App – The Down Dog app has yoga, HIIT, and barre classes (including maternity) and it’s free until July for all students and health care professionals! From Julie: DoYogaWithMe – For years I have been saying that I want to do more yoga but could never get into the routine of it until I did an online class with my sister. Since I’ve only taken a handful of yoga classes, the Rhythm & Routine class, taught by Fiji McAlpine, was the right amount of relaxation/physically pushing myself for my first time back on the mat. The hardest part of exercise, in general, is just starting so even just the practice of taking out your mat and meditating will help you to begin. I speak from personal experience cause I decided to keep doing that one class (cause I knew I could handle the intensity which was not high at all) over and over until I was in the routine of doing yoga daily. It was also a low commitment to myself cause it’s only 22 minutes long. I am now on day 3 of a 14-Day Challenge. Also, the first 2 months are FREE! From You, The Readers: Blogilates – So many of you guys also recommended this…I’m VERY intrigued to see how the at-home pilates workout are (since we haven’t yet tried them) but they look awesome just from skimming through her videos. She also has a YouTube and an Instagram, all with her FREE workouts. If you’ve tried these workouts before, let us know how they are in the comments. Strength TrainingFrom Emily: Again, I use mostly AAptiv at this point, and the classes that Brian and I do together are these: “Cardio Fat Burn” With Kenta, “Carry Me, Carry You” with Akeem, From Mallory: Whitney Simmons – I started regularly going to the gym in January, and this girl made it WAY less intimidating. Her Instagram and YouTube accounts are filled with AWESOME exercises that are super fun and approachable and she’s been churning out a bunch of fantastic at home alternatives. I’m a big fan of her strength training workouts (like this at home leg + booty one) but if you’re wanting to mix in a little HIIT with your strength training, she has some good options there too. Whitney if you ever read this, please know that you made working out so much more approachable for a beginner like me! THANK YOU. From Jess: KKsweat – My best friend Casey turned me onto KKsweat and it’s awesome and a WORKOUT. Get ready to sweat but don’t worry because there are a ton of modifications if needed. Kate Hickl and Kara Liotta who are top NYC master trainers, teach two different formats, Sculpt and Sweat. You can either opt for on-demand or live (which is really fun because they cheer you on by name). Not to mention that it’s a pretty incredible community, that is so motivating and not intimidating at all. It’s also a really fun party. Classes start at $15 and are well worth it. From Mallory: 8 Minute Abs – This is the daily (ish) ab exercise that my boyfriend, Chase showed me. It’s technically not strength training since it doesn’t use weights, but I love to tack this onto the beginning or end of any workout. There’s something SO FUN about a ’90s workout video, plus each exercise is only 45 seconds long and the whole thing is 8 minutes long. Enjoy! From Sara (and Mac): Sterling K Brown’s “No Gym” Workout – Mac has been doing Sterling K Brown’s workout, which requires no equipment and literally KILLS. I did it with him one morning and it was hard, but it got my blood going and I felt weak in a good way afterward. It’s free on youtube, super effective, and you can always modify to keep up! From Jess: Hannah Bornstein – Hannah is one of my amazing friends and incredible trainer of 10 years. When I used to take her barre class in NY it kicked my butt (in the best way). She is now doing online Zoom classes, three times a week (also available on-demand) and I love them! Each class varies from Pilates, Cardio HIIT training, and finishing the week with a lower impact and stretch class. And because Hannah is also just a wonderful person, Every class purchased, 20% of proceeds are donated to CDP’s COVID-19 Response Fund. Classes are just $10. From Mallory: Tone It Up – I first heard about this from my friend Ella who used to work for Tone It Up, and then continued to hear about them EVERYWHERE. Between their workout products at Target, their Tone It Up Rose Health Aid Kombucha (best flavor in my opinion), and their 1.4 million Instagram followers, you may have heard of them too. They’re currently doing FREE IG live videos as well as a bunch of awesome workouts on their blog like this coffee table workout. They also keep an updated schedule of their IG workouts in their “weekly inspo” posts (very efficient, I must say). They also have an app that I haven’t tried but seems awesome. It’s all-around a very cool community with lots of approachable, great tips. Well, I hope those are enough options for you:) So now that we have the exercising covered, let’s take a quick minute to talk about workout clothes. As you can see from my workout photos at the beginning of this post, I have way too many old and embarrassing workout clothes that are simply falling apart. So I asked my fitness instructor sister, Katy to send me some of her favorite workout items and I thought I’d share with you guys. I’m going to buy these workout shoes and these for trail running. My sister (fitness trainer, mom of 2) SWEARS that these are the most flattering leggings and I haven’t tried them but I’m going to order them STAT and i’ll let you know. It’s also getting hotter so in the shorts department, my sister says these are her all-time favorites (which I’m ordering asap), they are $18 lululemon knockoffs (with pockets) and these are $24 lululemon knockoffs that look really great too. Lastly, I’m all about this sports bra that I do own (but probably won’t show in photos on this blog for obvious reasons). It’s CRAZY supportive, like they aren’t going anywhere… but size up in the rib size – it runs small. I love it for running or any HIIT workouts where I do a lot of jumping. That’s all we have, folks but be sure to leave any and all of your favorite workouts that we missed! Enjoy the rest of your weekend and hope we all can get those much-needed endorphins this coming week. The post My Favorite Workout App + The Free (or Affordable) Workouts We Found All Over the Internet appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/2Y8p25U Hello friends and welcome back. We are feeling extra chatty today so we’re going to get right to this week’s lengthy link up:) This week’s home tour does colorful and textural in the best possible way. Head over to give your eyeballs a real treat (and let’s definitely talk about how great that cobalt blue accent wall is). From Emily: “We finally found now THREE shows that all four of us look forward to watching together (we tried many others). Magic For Humans, LegoMasters, and now Nailed it. It’s a cooking competition for amateur bakers trying to do advanced cakes/cookies etc. and it’s meant to be hilarious and it really is. Brian and the kids laugh out loud a lot (and he’s been a fan of the host Nicole Byer for years – she’s hilarious). There are so many seasons to go through and it’s keeping us entertained most nights. Our kids had an idea to do a family team competition against each other which sounded like so much fun. So we are going to divide up into teams this Saturday and try to bake and decorate something far outside of our skillset. I mean, it’s something to make the weekend feel different.” Also From Emily: “We’ve had this one step ladder that we bring from bathroom to kitchen back to bathroom and kitchen for both handwashing and to help cook and it was driving me NUTS. We also didn’t have one in their bathroom and it’s time for them to start brushing their teeth at the sink, not us chasing them around and pinning them down in bed (lovingly). In LA I have one from Serena & Lily that I love, but I found one 1/3rd the price on Etsy that is equally as cute and comes in all black, white/wood, and all-natural wood. The stool schlep is over.” Lastly, From Emily: “My go-to bag that is the perfect size for everything I need to carry (including my laptop) and I have talked about many times on this blog is 30% off through today only and it could be a great mother’s day gift. Parker Clay is a truly incredible company giving so much back. If you are interested here is a bit more about them and what they are trying to do. From Sara: We all know about my love for Bloomist (and the wood chain I featured in my living room reveal), but I’m currently looking eyeing this simple, beautiful vase as a potential Mother’s Day gift. It’s coming up quick! They also offer a line of eco-faux florals (made from recycled single-use bottles, for all you black thumbs out there) and I think this one would also be a great gift. From Mallory: “I had big plans last month to go to this fancy gala, but life happened and I quickly realized I needed my fancy dress money back. So I returned it (although now it’s on sale for 70% off) & got my Nordstroms gift card back in my pocket. I’ve been pondering what the heck I should spend this gift card on (like do I really need anything right now??) but I found something good. I was going to keep this link a secret because I felt so scummy and guilty at first, but then I read a Manrepeller article that Caitlin sent me about what people are spending money on, and this comment felt very relatable: “I’m honestly not ashamed to say I’ve been spending a considerable amount of money on clothes. I’ve been supporting local brands, enjoying the reduced prices (some brands I wouldn’t be able to afford otherwise), and most of all, it makes me happy amidst all the chaos. My therapist also said that buying stuff is an attempt at controlling the situation around you, which I agree is true. AM I JUST LONGING TO FIND CONTROL? Or did I just buy these shoes because they’re literally $100 off?? I’m genuinely not sure the motive behind it…do you guys feel like you want to buy stuff or not? What are you spending money on right now??” From Caitlin: “Confession: before I decided to do laundry in the tub, I did the lazy thing first and actually just ordered some more comfy home clothes. I ended up grabbing this t-shirt dress in a few colors because it was only 12 dollars, there’s nothing comfier than wearing a giant shirt with no pants, and it can be repurposed for actual clothing later. BIG FAN.” From Ryann: “I’ve been coveting this dress that Emily has had for a while and I don’t know why, now that I have absolutely nowhere to go, I felt compelled to buy it. Nevertheless, I am SO excited for it to come in the mail, and will probably wear it to work from home everyday. “ From Jess: “I want to give a second shoutout to Supergoop! and their sunscreen that Whitney recommended yesterday. She uses the “Matte” formula while I use the “Unseen” version. Both are likely wonderful but since I have only used Unseen I am going to just speak to that one:) Ok so here is the deal. I am not an avid everyday sunscreen wearer. I know it’s so dumb but unless I’m going out into the sunshine, I’m like, why?! Fast forward to 2 weeks into quarantine (with no sun exposure the whole time) and my face was kinda red and my texture not normal. I chalked it up to stress. BUT THEN, literally last week I had a revelation after seeing an instastory from @itsreallynana. I am spending a minimum of 3 more hours a week looking at a screen due to workload and Netflix consumption. Meaning I am exposing my skin to way more blue light than it’s used to AND not protecting it! So while she was promoting a different sunscreen (that I almost bought because I NEEDED it right at that moment) I decided to take a breath and look at my SuperGoop! face sunscreen that I already owned but rarely used. Guess what? It had blue-light protection too! So now I am using it every day and it’s honestly my most favorite face sunscreen I’ve ever tried. I love the gel formula because it’s so silky and there isn’t that white residue you have to wait for it to absorb. Really, it just feels awesome on my skin. So now (finally) my skin is being properly protected from my screens and I am creating a new and easy habit. Which is more necessary than ever since I’m about to start using a retinoid serum…wish me luck and I will report back once I give it a go!” From Julie: “Lately, I have been living in these pants. No really, I am on day 4 and have no plans of switching up my wardrobe, I even slept in them the other night cause really who cares right now. They feel like sweats but are technically a pant with a whole button AND zipper, so I am still a working professional in them.” And one small business note: Taryn Schumacher is the incredibly talented photographer behind Dusted Boulevard. She’s currently offering digital downloads of her photos in an attempt to raise $3,000 to cover the cost of a shaping helmet for her newborn son, Bray Conrad. If you’re in the market for some new art, this is a great way to score a beautiful piece ASAP while helping a lovely family Last week Brian shared his favorite NY Times gluten-free cookie recipe, which uses almond flour in place of traditional all purpose flour. This week our baking obsessed photographer, Sara, decided to make them herself. But since flour hasn’t been the only thing she’s been finding a little more scarce at grocery stores lately, she wanted to see if she could find subs for the butter and egg the original recipe called for too. So she swapped out the butter for plant butter and the egg for mashed banana. And while she was at it, she added almond extract and chopped walnuts. The result was a toasty, nutty, vegan, and gluten free riff on a chocolate chip cookie. If you don’t have a banana on hand (as an egg replacement) you could try one of these other methods. And if you don’t have access to a plant-based butter you could try using shortening (like Crisco) or 7 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil. PrintVegan & Gluten Free Chocolate Chip CookiesIngredients2 3/4 cups (310 g) finely ground almond flour 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 10 tablespoons (140g) plant based butter cubed and at room temperature 1/2 cup (110 g) light brown sugar 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar 1/4 cup (75g) mashed banana 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/4 teaspoon almond extract 12 ounces (340 grams) bitter sweet chocolate chips or coarsely chopped bar 1/2 cup (65 g) chopped walnuts (optional) Flaky sea salt for finishing (optional) Instructions
Oh and here’s a hot tip – Freeze individual cookie dough balls, then you can bake them one at a time in your oven or toaster oven for a single serving, warm cookie snack. Finally, this week’s happy hour chit chat topic: Are you finding yourself dressing up, like REALLY dressing up to go to the grocery store just to spice up your day?? Or are sweatpants and comfy clothes winning right now? We happen to be split between both camps so there are no wrong answers. Let’s discuss. xx Opener Image Credit: Photo by Victoria Hely-Hutchinson | Design by Emily Adams Bode | via Architectural Digest The post The Link Up: The 3 Shows Emily’s Whole Family Loves, The Pants Julie’s Been Living In, & A $12 T-Shirt Dress appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/3eRdFF8 I’m generally the parent I predicted I would be pre-kids (so far), with varying degrees of “surprisingly ok” or “still learning” in some areas. But one of the truly shocking developments, or digressions I should say, is how little I care about what they wear. Prior to having kids I verbally marveled at the stylish 3-year-old girl, wearing a peter pan collar under a french-style suspender romper, likely with a beret. I still do I guess. Sure, when they look pulled together and cute I love it and take many a photo – what mother doesn’t? But once they formed opinions contrary to mine about their wardrobe, it became a battle I stopped fighting regardless of how “creative” it looks – See Exhibit A and B below. (I obviously love how they express themselves no matter what, I promise). Brian is good enough to do most of the clothes shopping (except special occasions) and HOT MARRIAGE TIP: If your cis male partner buys your 3-year-old daughter the unicorn and princess dresses that she wanted, you open your mouth only to say, “oh cute, thank you for doing that!” That’s right, ladies – you, like me, may have to mourn the death of the little french schoolgirl outfit you envisioned her in, cause it’s not happening (and it’s ok). If she loves it then Bite. That. Tongue. Now if you are super into fashion and how well your kid dresses brings you joy or pain, then you do you and maybe stop reading this post. In short: we believe in play clothes, and nothing makes me happier then them getting messy and dirty (preferably outside). But we are ruining clothes faster than usual, or maybe just noticing it more. So it made me think about what we can do now that is more environmentally friendly (aka not just buying new replacements), but still practical for small kids that destroy clothes. Our current situation has forced a lot of us to rethink every single purchase to ensure that what we are buying is truly what we need and what will get used for as long as possible (this is going to be a reoccurring theme this year, so get used to it). Regardless of your budget, the greenest thing you can do is buy used when possible, make them yourselves (ha), hand things down or trade, and then when buying new ensure that it’s what they will actually use and wear for as long as possible. Kids are hard on clothes (and they should be) and buying heirloom-quality doesn’t really make sense for play clothes or when they are so young and grow so fast. So I did what any mom would do – I asked my sisters and mom, impressive child bearers, with a large inventory of children and experience, for their tips (as well as mine). Here we go: Let Practicality Drive The Ship
Reduce your battles
** If you want to know what Natives are it’s what 3 of the 4 of us are wearing (ha! me, too!) in the below photos (Brian has some, too). They are basically cooler versions of crocs and totally waterproof and so comfortable/easy to get on). How To Buy Once And Save on basics
More tips?Obviously I’d love any other tips you guys have. It seems like the perfect time to do clothing swap or trade of hand me downs by just dropping them off at each other’s door. But if you are like us and kinda stuck somewhere not near friends, here is our strategy: buy in bulk for affordability, then buy used for anything that might feel more special (or shoes) that we’d want more high quality. In our experience, our kids grow out or stain clothes before they rip them. We researched the best used kids clothing sites and if you have the time and resources shopping from them keeps them surviving: Thredup, Kidizen, Etsy, Toycycle In general, we are big “play clothes” people for our kids and are very not precious – as demonstrated in the above photo for literally a national lifestyle magazine in 2018 (Real Simple). I’m not saying it’s cool to be messy or not care, I think it’s just from being raised in the woods of Oregon with lots of kids – it simply wasn’t what was valued and that was passed on. Lastly, here are some sustainable/ local brands we love and want to support: Pact kids (30% off through Sunday), Mabo, Chaboukie, Omami Mini, Pepper, Ultra Violet Now, what are your strategies for buying clothes for kids who seem to be constantly growing and spilling?? Any and all tips are welcome. xx The post Kids Play Clothes: Hacks, Ways To Save + Some Basics Our Kids Love appeared first on Emily Henderson. Originally from Emily Henderson https://ift.tt/3eUGJMi |
Author Kimberly ReedDesign Consultant at Furnishing Knowledge:KI Archives
April 2023
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