Mother's Day
It is such a special time of year. Spring is really in full bloom, so much so that summer feels just around the corner. And it is. In just a couple of weeks, Emma will be out of school and we'll be spending our mornings on walks and our afternoons at the pool. Between now and then, there will be graduations (Laurie's oldest is graduating from high school!), class picnics, elementary talent shows, Teacher Appreciation Week, and Mother's Day. The Cherry Blossoms have come and gone, the lilacs are beginning to fade and the peonies are ready to burst in my garden (finally, after waiting about 5 years for a mature hedge to grow). And I want it all to slow to a crawl so I can properly enjoy it.
I love these slow quiet days of working on my computer, creating gifts, baking or taking photos while listening to birds singing, all while I can smell the sweet scent of everything in bloom through open windows. The air is crisp and the sun is cherished between spring rains. It is similar to that feeling in the fall when everything just feels perfect - but with fall comes a sense of fading, spring comes with a feeling of life.
I like to dream of these perfect feeling days when planning Mother's Day celebrations and gifts. What do we Moms really like? For me, it is a quiet morning at home with something to plant or fuss over in the garden, a thoughtful gift - something homemade, something that grows, or something small and pretty, or useful - and a cozy dinner someplace with candles.
I am finding that I don't want more _things_. I don't really care to own more objects to sit on shelves or counters to clutter up our home, but love things that have a use and that come and go. My new collection of bottled products is just that type of gift that my own Mom loves. They are useful - soaps, lotions, linen sprays - and they make my everyday more lovely. They are used and enjoyed, and then they go away without clutter or obligation - the perfect gift in my opinion.
Of course, hosting a nice dinner or lunch with a pretty dessert will always be my favorite way to love someone and to be loved by someone. I've included in my post some of my favorite recipes and desserts for this time of year - lots of lemon, shrimp and mushrooms. All of my favorite things : )
Emma's Cherry Tree
When I walk outside and see entire trees swathed in pale pink blooms, I'm overcome with gratitude. In the matter of two weeks our yard has gone from sparse and faded to lush and vibrant. Emma's cherry tree was our muse for the two weeks it was in bloom.
Our cafe lights and lanterns made it glow magically each morning and evening - and we relished in it as we knew it was fleeting.
The tree has finally gotten big enough for me to prune a couple of branches during blooming time without worry.
They are ethereal inside - their scale is so boisterous! Did you know they have a soft, sweet scent? And as with seasons, while the cherry tree's blossoms have been replaced by thick green leaves, the peony hedge is now bursting with buds about to flail open in all of their delicate, airy and wildly full glory.
On my best days, I'm carefree in a pretty dress in my backyard with my Emma watching our garden grow. This collection is about fully feeling the natural, simple beauty of the garden, breathing in soft scents of blossoms and fresh air, living more simply, more beautifully.
I've filled the collection with gifts to give and gifts for yourself. This post also has links to favorite late Spring Recipes perfect for Mother's Day and special touches from years past (like these amazing lilac pewter bowl I created) to inspire your celebrations. Happy Mother's Day
[_Shop The Mother's Day Collection >_](https://everyday-occasions.myshopify.com)
Emma's Dress : A white cotton dress with a subtle stripe, embroidered with a light blue crewelwork at the neck. Roller Rabbit.
My Dress : I love how easy and breezy I feel in this dress. The color is so soft and pretty and perfect for a casual summer party or dinner.
*I am wearing a small and am typically a size 4 or 6 in J.Crew dresses. It is pretty forgiving!
Here I've paired a heavy cuff with two delicate bangles. Love this mix and match look that can feel very dressed up or very free and casual like it does here. These have become staples for me and I wear them alone or mixed and matched almost every day.
I've created this new custom product line with a local partner. They've been formulated and created as eco friendly as possible just for my store. There are two scents this season, both perfectly suited to different areas of your home - Garden and Summer. I spent a great deal of time designing the perfect JSH logo for this product collection, but then wondered, 'why would you want my monogram on the things in your home?' So, I removed the monogram logo and left it clean and simple so your home will feel like your home without cluttered branded products. I love how they turned out. They are create
GARDEN : Light floral scent of jasmine, gardenia, lilac and lily of the valley. I love this for hand soap, lotions and bath oil. It is feminine and pretty and just slightly floral.
SUMMER : Soft sea salt air with fresh notes of tuberose, sweet herbs and summer breezes. I love this for my linens and kitchen sink area - fresh and clean, with subtle scents.
I put this basket together for a Mother's Day gift, but it would be perfectly suited for a friend's birthday, housewarming gift or teacher's gift. It has all of the everyday luxuries that I love to give and receive.
The packaging, so simple and classic will make your kitchen sink feel tidy and fresh. The scent is clean and breezy, just as I like my home to smell in the summer time.
I'm open to anything that makes ironing more pleasurable : ) Just the lightest freshest scent for sheets, pillows, napkins and everything.
Dressing up your sink side in your powder room can be the easiest way to welcome guests. These come in both scents, SUMMER and GARDEN. I'm crazy for the garden lotion - a soft scent that lasts all day on my hands.
I'm a bath expert. I've been known to take a long, soaking bath almost everyday... at least 4 times a week. I also love lovely bath oils. Going to bed with warm, softened skin is the ultimate luxury. I'll be bringing this as hostess gifts for my bath-loving friends. The foaming bath is available in both GARDEN and SUMMER scents.
A bundle of peonies wrapped in Kraft paper and tied with a satin ribbon complete the gift. I also included a set of Watering Can Tablets. I think we'll recreate this same basket for Emma's teacher next week for Teacher Appreciation Week.
All of my tablets are made on a creamy cardstock - a little luxury in everyday. They are great for making lists that don't get crumpled when you take them off of the pad.
Robin's Egg Blue Enamelware, $18-28
Five years ago I first released this Robin's Egg Blue Enamelware It is always a personal favorite of mine to bring out during warm weather months. Here, I used it for a help-yourself-bar (my favorite kind) for a moms' night at our house. I served make-your-own lemonade, vodka and sodas, white wine, rose and prosecco. It was the perfect bar for everyone - everyone could make their own spritz with prosecco, lemonade and soda, pour a glass of wine, or just a lemonade or soda they weren't drinking.
Robin's Egg Blue Enamelware, $18-28
The Italian sodas in Lemon and Blood Orange from Whole Foods made them special and really yummy.
I set out two types of glasses to be used for everything from a glass of wine to a glass of water.
See how the enamelware just makes this bar? The fun pops of color make it cheerful and friendly, while helping me organize the space.
Robin's Egg Blue Enamelware, $18-28
Lilacs bloom just after the cherry blossoms and just before the peonies - if you are lucky, you get a little of both at the same time. A long time ago when Emma was a baby, I made this Lilac Centerpiece on our porch (which was transformed into my little photo studio) in Concord. It is still one of my favorites of all time. I remember going out and hunting these lilacs in areas that I thought no one would mind my poaching : ) Lilac Bowl Centerpiece >
I've also simplified our home lately by removing all patterns and going back to my love for solids. These 100% linen light blue pillows just make our home feel pretty.
This is another new hanging basket that I'm crazy for. I've been keeping it by our mudroom door to stash outgoing papers - signed permission slips, letters that need mailing, etc. I'm also going to put some in my office to use for office organizing.
This little layer cake was made in my 6" cake pan - surprisingly one of my favorite sizes. I usually make two out of one recipe (or mix... ; ) ) and then put the other in the freezer. This is the perfect size for 6 or 8 people for dessert, especially when layered with lemon curd, whipped cream and berries like this. Make the cake (so simple), buy the lemon curd and make the whipped cream, then pile high. So simple and so impressive for a dessert - a favorite for Mother's Day. Here is the recipe link.
