Picky Eatin'

Dear YOU + ME*,
I am currently feeding a toddler and she is picky, to put it nicely. I want to make her happy (and not aid in her starvation), but if I have another macaroni and cheese dinner, I am going to scream. Any suggestions for how to make meals that we'll all enjoy?
Thank you,
R.

Dear R.,
From what we've experienced and from what our friends also say, feeding a toddler is not the easiest of all of the parenting tasks. We've never known a faster turnaround from "I like it!" to "I hate it!" and back again. But! We've found a few ways to make it so that you only have to make one dinner to feed all of the members of your family. We've found the secret to cooking only one meal to be lots and lots and choices at said meal.

(Martha)

First off, consider using recipes that entail cooking a few different components and then putting them together at the end. Then you can serve the ingredients separately to let each family member put together a meal that suits his or her palate. Tacos and burritos are a perfect example of this. If you serve tacos with all of the ingredients separately, your toddler can pick and choose from the spread what he or she wants to eat, and all of the other family members can have a meal that's suitable for the over-four set. More ideas for meals like this would be a mezze meal (hummus, tabouli, pita, yogurt with optional cucumber, dill, and lemon juice to mix in, greek salad, falafel--definitely use this recipe--it is so yummy) or a salad bar (greens, toppings, and plenty of croutons and cheeses).

(Joy Dangeleert Cho on Design*Sponge)

Maybe also consider meals that entail individuals picking out the components of their meal before cooking. This pizza-in-a-bowl recipe allows everyone to pick their own toppings for their pizzas. Your toddler can pick just cheese, while your partner goes crazy with peppers and chili flakes. Another option along these lines is shabu-shabu, where you pick ingredients to cook, and then cook them in a shallow pot of broth.
We hope these suggestions help; if you're looking for deeper reading, Miya's really into this book and this one as well (anyone else have books on the subject they like?). Happy Tuesday!
xo,
ME*

Art that You Can All Love

Dear ME*,
I am putting together my first baby's room (a daughter, yay!), and am wondering how to add some art that's not too baby-ish. Any suggestions?
Thanks,
R.

Dear R.,

First of all, congrats on your impending new arrival! Second. you've come to the right place. We both feel strongly that though kids' rooms should be whimsical and fun, but not run-of-the-mill babyish. By starting an art collection for your baby now, you can create walls that will grow with her through her childhood (and into her adulthood). Here are some picks that we've got hanging in our tykes' rooms.

(Beastie, John Murphy)

I love John Murphy's collages. I just added a piece to the art in Emi's room this weekend when I was at the Brooklyn Flea. All of his collages strike just the right balance between sweet and saucy. 

(New to This World, Freya Art)

Elisabeth has a few Freya pieces in her home, and they are just lovely. The sentiments are crushingly beautiful, and the colors are perfect for a baby's room. 

 

(Zebra Screen Print, Foxy and Winston)

I met Jane of Foxy and Winston when I was a million months pregnant with Emi. I bought a few prints from her that Emi loves, as well as a t-shirt that, although it is WAY too small for her, I still stuff her into because I love it so.

 

(Night Sky, Seattle Show Posters)

I know I've written about this poster before, but the moon glows in the dark (and if you look closely, you can see that the moon's got craters), and it's just such a lovely print that captures so much about childhood. It's a great option for a growing art collection in a nursery.

Good luck, R.! Send us pictures when you've hung your art! 

xo,

ME*

Photobooth Dilemma

 (the gorgeous lena corwin at her super fantastic wedding; source)

Hi Ladies,
I want to have a photo booth at my wedding, and I need help thinking of something fun to do with it. My wedding will be outdoors in the summer in my parents' backyard. Thanks so much for your help!
Best,
T.

Hi T!
I love, love, love photobooths, and I love the idea of giving your guests fun props to play with at your wedding. In your case, since you'll be getting married in the backyard in the summer, why not play with that and make take some inspiration from old lawn games like croquet and badminton? With so much fun vintage sports equipment and dress-up fodder available these days, the sky is the limit. That said, as always, you want your props to read "well-curated vintage" and not "thrown-together thrift store." Look for old wooden games and accessories that are either in mint condition or are new. Top it off with a background that references the backyard feel, but still looks fresh, and you've got yourself an awesome photobooth.

 

(clockwise from top left: vintage straw hat on etsy; straw trilby hat, j.crew; tennis racket, etsy)

You might also want to throw in a vintage chalkboard for "keeping score" or writing fun little notes, and some bow ties and sweaters for folks to tie around their necks.

 

(clockwise from top left: chalkboard, etsy; vintage croquet mallets, etsy; sweater to tie around your neck, tommy hilfiger; a forage bow tie for the gents)

And finally, the pièce de résistance: 

(source)

A fun parasol will get folks hamming it up in no time. 

(source)

Put all of this party against this pretty background from Purl Soho, and you've got one awesome photobooth situation on your hands. Good luck with your wedding, and we hope you have a fantastic fun-filled day! 

xo,

ME*

Fighting the Winter Doldrums

Dear YOU + ME*,

It's time to pack up our holiday decorations, but I get a feeling of dread just thinking about it. Without a tree bedecked with sparkling ornaments and twinkly masses of lights hanging everywhere, it will be so cold and dark and winter-y. Any suggestions for keeping our home warm and bright without looking like we're unable to let go of Christmas?

Thanks!
M.

Dear M.,

You sound like a girl after our own hearts--life is much too short for dreary winters. Luckily, you have plenty of festive decor options that say winter, not Christmas. Here are three of our favorites:

Twinkle
Use your twinkle lights in unexpected ways for a glow that doesn't say holiday. 

Clockwise from top left: via Apartment Therapy, Pinterest, Apartment Therapy, Citified

Citrus
Lemons, limes, oranges, kumquats--use them all for decorations that also make your home smell delicious.

Clockwise from top left: via Real Simple, Mary Ruffle, Elle Decor, Oh Happy Day

Hearts
It's a little early to start decorating for Valentine's Day, but hearts made out of cozy materials or papers in colors other than pink and red can definitely make an early appearance.

Clockwise from top left: lovefromchloe, bookity, Between the Lines

We hope these ideas keep your home feeling warm and cheery all winter long.

xo,
ME*

Do you have a question for us? While we can't promise to answer every question that comes our way, we love to hear from you. Drop us a line at hello[at]gmail[dot]com.

Gifts For Those That Make Your World Go Round

Dear YOU + ME*,

I consider myself pretty on top of my holiday shopping, but I always get stuck when it comes to gifts for some of the people who make my daily life run smoothly. I'm talking about people like my mail carrier, the UPS guy who I know all too well, my doorman, and my hair stylist. I know cash is always appreciated, but it feels a little cold when I actually know most of these people pretty well. Can you help me figure out the right balance between cash and a more thoughtful gift?

Thanks!
D.

Dear D.,

This is such an important question. You sound like the kind of person who makes an effort to be thankful to the people who make your world go round on a daily basis, but it's particularly nice to show them that you're appreciative around the holidays, especially since everyone is probably leaning on them extra hard right around now (you should see the stack of boxes Kenny, our UPS guy, has been wrangling lately). We have a few ideas that will make your tipping and gifting a little easier.

Courtesy of Blueprint Magazine

The first step (and it sounds like you've already started this) is making a list of who you want to thank and whether they typically receive a cash tip or a gift. Make it easy on yourself by turning to this handy guide from the former Blueprint magazine (*sniff).

Do you know anyone who dislikes peppermint bark? Me neither, that's why it's a great gift

Next, determine how much cash you will need and pick up some crisp, large bills from the bank. A wad of crumpled bills from the bottom of your purse just isn't going to feel like a holiday gift. The truth is, even though cash can feel a little cold, it is tremendously appreciated. Our family tends to give cash gifts with a note of thanks written on our holiday card. This is particularly nice if you're not hand delivering the gift since photo cards help the recipient place you.

Coffee from your local roaster and homemade chocolate biscotti

If you feel like your relationship with the giftee has a personal component, you can most certainly give baked goods or a homemade gift too--just don't skip the cash, no matter how good your snickerdoodles are.

A simple, but high quality calendar, like these from The Paper Thieves

For those individuals who can't accept cash tips or for whom a small gift is just more appropriate, we've included a few thoughtful and always appreciated ideas.

A cute tote with something small inside

We hope your holiday season is filled with joy!

xo,
ME*

Do you have a question for us? While we can't promise to answer every question that comes our way, we love to hear from you. Drop us a line at hello[at]gmail[dot]com.

Making Guests Feel At Home

Dear YOU + ME*,

We seem to have a parade of guests rotating through our small home between now and the new year. I can offer them a tiny bedroom (really, it's my office, but a daybed with a trundle makes it a semi-guest room), a shared bathroom, and a home-cooked meal. This is such a busy time of year, but I want our guests to feel welcome. Is there anything else I can do to make them feel at home?

Thanks,
H.

Dear H.,

There mere fact that all these people are clamoring to stay with you despite your small digs suggests that you are already the hostess with the mostess, but we'll give you some tips just for fun.

[source]

The very first one may seem kind of silly, but I actually think it's the most important. Sleep in your guest room for one night. You see, there are all these little things about a space that you don't realize unless you spend the night there. Maybe the sound of your clock ticking, though barely discernible during the day, is unbearably loud in the stillness of the night. Maybe there is nowhere to rest a glass of water, or you have to walk across a dark room after turning the light off for bed. Of course these things aren't the end of the world, but spending a night in your guests' shoes makes it easy for you to make their stay comfortable.

[source]

Whenever I expect overnight visitors, I try to anticipate their morning food and drink preferences. Even people who happily try every new thing that crosses their path, tend to stick with a predictable routine first thing in the morning. There is something so fortifying about that cup of coffee prepared just the way you like it or the green smoothie you drink every morning without fail.  If you know people well enough for them to be staying in your home, you probably have an idea of what they like in the morning, but if not, you can always ask in advance or point them to the variety of options you have on hand. This doesn't mean you have to prepare a breakfast buffet, rather it's about making your kitchen a comfortable place for your guests to carry out their typical morning routines.

Malin + Goetz

Finally, keep a little box of toiletries and over the counter medications stocked for guests (if I receive trial size or sample products, I usually put them right in the box) and make sure to mention that they should just help themselves if they need anything. It's always a little bit awkward to have to bother your host because you forgot a razor, your moisturizer got confiscated by the TSA, or your stomach is slightly upset.

These suggestions don't take a lot of time or money, but they do show your guests that you put some thought into making their stay comfortable. How about you, dear readers? What do you do to make your home welcoming for houseguests?

xo,
ME*


If you have a question, you'd like us to answer, do drop us a line at hello[at]youplusmestyling[at]gmail[dot]com.

A New York Birthday Outing

Hello YOU + ME* Ladies,

I have a question for you. My friends in DC are planning on surprising another friend of mine by taking her out for a special birthday "Day in New York City" in a couple weeks, and being a New Yorker myself, I want to make sure that day is indeed special. Do you have any suggestions on how I can make this little outing into a memorable event? All suggestions welcome!
Many thanks,
C.

Dear C.,
Your friend is so lucky to have girlfriends like you to take charge of her birthday! A surprise outing to New York is pretty much guaranteed to be memorable, but it's the little details that will make it feel like the day is actually a celebration in honor of her.

- Surprises are the best. No, we don’t mean the embarrassing, make your friend want to hide under a rock kind, but rather the “I can’t believe you took the time to put this together” kind. Now, we don’t know when your friend’s New York outing will be unveiled, but setting the tone for the event by telling her in a clever way is the perfect way to begin the fun:

Mail her postcards from New York the week before her outing with clues about the trip,

 

send her a box of black and white cookies with a note tucked inside, or deliver her a tote a couple days in advance or the morning of your departure with clues about the day's activities: a metro card, mittens and a ceramic version of the iconic disposable coffee cup to represent an ice skating expedition, a mini empire state building or brooklyn bridge if those activities are on your list, pretty wooden chopsticks if you anticipate dim sum in Chinatown, or new nail polish if manicures and pedicures are in the works (They totally should be--as expensive as New York is in almost every respect, for some reason it has the cheapest/best manicures and pedicures).

[source]

- Because a festive day in the city doesn't always involve eating at typical meal times, consider Mario Batali's Eataly for some lunch/snack/happy hour nibbling (this is probably best on a weekday since the weekends are jam packed). Um, 50,000 square feet of cheese, pasta, fruits, veggies, pizzas, baked goods, coffee, and wine. Yes, please. We're not sure when exactly this birthday surprise is taking place, but if the birthday girl is a foodie, you may even want to check out La Scuola at Eataly for a food or wine class. The classes are still getting off the ground, but we're big believers in making things happen for the sake of a birthday. Give them a call. I bet you could arrange some sort of private class that perfectly suits your group's tastes.

While we're talking Mario Batali, we also want to suggest the weekend wine classes at Otto. It's only steps from Washington Square Park, so you can't beat the location in terms of proximity to other activities and we can both vouch for the food and wine (in fact, Otto was my first meal out after having my daughter).

- In terms of specific activities, we know you'll be able to come up with something fantastic. Although it will probably be pretty chilly a few weeks from now, the city will be starting to embrace the holidays (yay!). It's a perfect time to take advantage of some of the seasonal activities New York has to offer--like ice skating! You have three rinks to choose from: Bryant Park, Rockefeller Center (shown), and Wollman Rink in Central Park. Take a few spins around the ice and then dive into some Irish coffees or spiced cider.

- Oh, and make sure one (or more of you) is the dedicated photographer for the day/night. There is nothing worse than ending a fantastically eventful day with your girlfriends only to realize that everyone left their cameras untouched the whole time. Plus, you have a special reason to be a diligent photographer--making a photo book of your day together is a great gift for your friend. Some of our favorite photo books come from Blurb and Shutterfly.

Give your friend some birthday love from us and do let us know if you need some more specific tips. Making birthdays special is one of our favorite things!

xo,

ME*

P.S. Have you entered our 100th post giveaway or signed up to Spread the Cheer? You definitely should!

A Present for your Bestie

 Dear You + ME*,
Okay, here's one for you. What do I buy for my best friend who has it all? I'd like to get her something personalized and something that celebrates our shared passions for food, travel and literature.
Thanks for your help,
Q.


Dear Q.,
Picking out a present for your best friend can be tricky, especially if she already has everything that she wants or needs. You want it to relay your affection for her and show that you really get her, all without seeming too extravagant and striking the right balance of silly and serious. We get that. Here are a few options that take into account one or a few of your aforementioned interests: 

Best Friends Notebook Hoops, Ruggles Stitch
We've made it clear that we love, love, love, Ruggles Stitch's work. Here are two best friends embroidery hoops that you can each have one to hang. It's like the besties necklaces that we used to have. (I always wanted the "Be Fri" side, not the "est ends" side, but now I think I would totally vie for the "est ends" side). 

Ideal Bookshelf 6, GW; Jane Mount (on 20x200)
Jane Mount's bookshelves on 20x200 are beautiful and quirky. This one is of cookbooks. Whenever your friend looks at this, she'll see the books that you two can open together to try new recipes or exchange baked goods.

source
If you both like to travel and share a passion for food, what about an experience you can share together like two tickets to an Outstanding in the Field dinner? We're big on the "experiences as gifts" idea, because while your bestie may enjoy a new plate or book for a certain amount of time, she'll always remember the trip you took to go to one of these dinners.
Be sure to let us know how it goes!
xo,
ME*
p.s. If you, kind reader, have a question that you'd like us to tackle, drop us a line at hello{at}youplusmestyling{dot}com.

Where To Go? What To Do?

Dear YOU + ME*,

I recently got engaged and my fiance and I are trying to plan the wedding in six short months. We've gotten all the big decisions out of the way (date, location, photographer, caterer), but we haven't thought about the honeymoon AT ALL. His parents have generously offered to supplement our honeymoon budget as a wedding gift, which means we could really plan an amazing trip. The only problem is we're paralyzed with indecision; we have absolutely no idea where we want to go or what we want to do. If we can't commit to something we're going to spend our honeymoon sitting in our tiny New York apartment. Please help!

Thanks,
J.

Zoe's Camp, Tanzania

Dear J.,

First of all, congratulations on your engagement! It sounds like you two have been up to your eyeballs in all things nuptial as of late, so spending a little time focusing on your honeymoon might feel like a real treat. 

Post Ranch Inn, Big Sur

The honeymoon gets a lot of build up. Yes, this is your first trip as a Mr. and Mrs., but it is not the be all end all trip of your lifetime together. At least I hope not because you deserve something to look forward to once you settle back into normal life. In fact, I (Elisabeth) can tell you a thing or two about having something to look forward to because my hubby and I took our honeymoon in April . . . three and a half years after we got married.

Auberge de Soleil, Napa Valley

A lot of researching and pondering can happen over three and a half years, so let me spare you some time and share what I learned. It's all about taking the trip that is perfectly suited to you as a couple at this moment in time. Do you find yourselves experiencing a rare confluence of time and money that leaves you considering a luxury train ride through India? Do it, even though it's not typical honeymoon fare (just give yourselves a couple days to sleep in before hopping on a plane, ok?). Do you feel tempted to visit your absolute favorite vacation spot, even though you've been there a million times together or with your families? Book those tickets now. Do you just want to lounge on a beach and have someone serve you cocktails without engaging in even the teensiest bit of sightseeing? You have my permission.

Alila Villas Uluwatu, Bali

Here's the fun part. You and your hubby to be have an assignment: set aside a whole night, pop open a bottle of champagne, have some nibbles ready (because planning a vacation will give you the munchies), and make sure you each have paper and a pencil. Now each of you should make a list of what pops in your head when you think about your favorite trips together, on your own, and in your dreams. It can have adjectives, places, activities, foods, feelings, etc. When you both slow down with the list making, it's time to compare notes. I can guarantee there will be some similarities seeing as how you two have enough in common to commit your lives to one another. For instance, I know based on years of vacations that my husband and I overlap on long runs, good wine, a natural rather than urban environment, and leisurely meals. Sure, we've taken plenty of fun vacations without those things, but that combination tends to make us both extremely happy (and who wouldn't want to be extremely happy on their honeymoon?). This process works just as well anytime you're planning a trip with the goal of making sure all the travelers have a good experience.

One and Only Palmilla, Mexico

If you go through this whole process and you still find yourselves stuck, take a look at some of this vacation eye candy. They are a combination of places that we've saved because they look intriguing, places we've been, or places that come extremely highly recommended to us by people we trust. They're not exactly budget friendly destinations, but sometimes starting with a pie in the sky vision can help you hone in on what you're really looking for. If you hit a wall, please email us for some more personalized advice. We have lots of it when it comes to travel.

xo,
ME*

p.s. If you, dear readers, have a question you'd like us to tackle, drop us a line at hello{at}youplusmestyling{dot}com.

What are You Listening To?

 Hi Miya & Elisabeth,

I'm having my girlfriend's parents over for brunch and need some good music to play that a) is not offensive, and b) isn't something that you'd find playing in an elevator. Any thoughts?

xo,
D.

Hi D.,

I can't speak for Elisabeth, but here's some music I'm way into right now that also happens to be appropriate. After giving Elisabeth's daughter a CD with a song that drops the F-bomb multiple times for her first birthday, I got pretty good at screening music real quickly.
If your girlfriend's parents are/were into Kate Wolf (was that just a California thing?), consider Laura Gibson. She is an amazing Portland-based folk singer.

Do your girlfriend's parents always ask you what the kids are listening to these days, but then talk about how they miss melodic music? The cure for this, dear D., is The Avett Brothers. I would say that the closest genre is Folk-Rock(?), and they're a rocking good time.

My fail-safe, go-to, could-listen-to-it-all-day-every-day music is old-school soul. Otis Redding, Sam Cooke, and Solomon Burke (who just recently passed--it's a huge loss for the world) have all been in heavy rotation over here. Colin Meloy (he of The Decemberists) singing Sam Cooke is always one of my go-tos. And frankly, I feel like if your girlfriend's parents can't get down with Otis, then you might want to reconsider inviting them over.

Have fun at brunch (it's my favorite meal!); I'll be posting a killer brunch recipe on Thursday if you're feeling like you'd like some [home]fries to go with that shake (ba-dum-bum! I'll be here all week!).

xo,
ME*

p.s. If you, dear readers, have a question you'd like us to tackle, drop us a line at youplusmestyling{at}gmail{dot}com.