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.

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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.

Sniffle, Sniffle

I've always prided myself on never getting sick. Throughout my childhood and even through the first few years after college I could go multiple years with nary a sniffle. I could probably count the number of fevers in my lifetime on one hand--no exaggeration. Then I moved to the east coast where I seemed to be struck down by some sort of horrible weeklong illness on an annual basis. Skip to the present where I have an almost two year old. Now it feels like a constant barrage of coughs, runny noses, stomach aches, and fevers.

My typical M.O. is to ignore all signs of impending illness, maybe even trying to prove that I'm not getting sick by staying up late, waking up early, and exercising particularly intensely. As you might expect, this phase pretty rapidly induces a moment of realization, at which point I float the idea of possibly being sick to my husband (and also my sister now that she's staying with us). Once my husband and sister confirm my diagnosis, I am officially a patient. I will admit to the fact that I am not a very good one (I may be prone to crankiness, whining, and sometimes tears when I'm under the weather and maybe that is exacerbated just a little bit by also being pregnant), but I blame that on inexperience. Lucky for me, I happen to be living with two exceptional caretakers.

With cold and flu season upon us, here are some little things you can give to those whose immune systems are falling short. In addition to just being a nice thing to do, you may find yourself getting a little extra TLC when you get struck by the cold or flu du jour. 

Do you know why homemade soup is the classic gift for an unwell friend? Because soup tastes awesome to sick people. Being sick myself, I know this firsthand. Soup may in fact be the only thing I've eaten for three days. Well, soup and cupcakes (but we're not going to talk about that). These three make me feel healthier just by looking at them: Indian Spiced Carrot Soup with Ginger, Green Soup with Ginger, and Golden Beet and Beet Greens Soup (pictured).

If you had said "tissue box cover" to me a few weeks ago, I would have pictured something beige, crocheted, and most likely spotted at someone's great aunt's house. Then I went to the Jonathan Adler warehouse sale where these were about $8. My husband likes to have kleenex in every room (guess who's not complaining about that now!) and I never realized how unattractive the boxes were until they were concealed by a white lacquered cube. Make sure to give one of these with a tissue box inside and a cute note. Just think, you'll be doing your part to make drippy noses a little more chic. 

We are slipper people, probably because we don't wear shoes in the house and our floors are cold. If you're trying to convince a shoe wearer to convert to slippers there is no better time than when he/she isn't feeling well. Who wants to wear shoes while sick? These shearling scuffs are just so much better. 

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A stack of magazines or a great book are perfect gifts for someone who should be spending the day in bed. Assuming it's a good friend or family member, already read magazines are perfectly acceptable, just so long as they're recent issues and you haven't torn out all the good pages. That way you can save a tree and provide entertainment--look at you multi-tasking!

Have a lovely (and healthy) weekend! Maybe you can even fit in a flu shot for you and everyone in your household. Oh, and we have some fantastic posts in the works for next week, so see you then!

There's A Baby On The Way!

For real. 

I know. I (Elisabeth) can hardly believe it myself and I'm the one who is four months pregnant with a sweet potato sized baby boy. It seemed like time to share the big news, mainly because Miya and I were starting to have a difficult time avoiding references to babies or pregnancy. But enough about me, let's talk about you. Do you have a friend or maybe a sister who is pregnant or in the process of adopting? You do, that's fantastic because I happen to have some insight into what you could give her. 

I always feel a little giddy when I hear that a baby is going to come into a loved one's life, whether it's through adoption, pregnancy, or a magical stork. While I relish any opportunity to give sweet knitted goodies, a beautiful wooden teether, or my favorite alphabet print for the nursery, if I'm particularly close to the mother-to-be, sometimes it feels right to give her a little something after I hear the big news. Whether it's a "yay, it's finally happening," a "you're going to make such a good mother," or an "I'm sorry you haven't stopped vomiting for six weeks" gift, it never hurts to show a soon-to-be mother a little love.

Even though this print of Waiting Again by Matte Stevens really has nothing to do with babies or pregnancy, the title (Matte Stevens always uses the very best titles for his work) makes me imagine these couples are all lined up in a row to wait for their babies. No matter how a baby comes into your life, there will always be a period of waiting, but this print will still be appreciated long after the baby arrives.

This silly little print, You're Doing Everything Right by laurageorge, says exactly what your expectant friend or sister needs to hear on a daily basis. People are quick to tell a mother or mother-to-be everything she is doing wrong, so make sure you give this print with instructions to hang it somewhere it can be seen every day. It will be like whispering a little pep talk in her ear each morning.

Clockwise from top left: White Jasmine Sparkling Tea by Golden Star Tea Co.; Ginger Juice by The Ginger People; Clarified Key Lime and Blood Orange Bitters by Stirrings; Lavendar Lemon Drop and Wasabi Bloody Mary by Mod Mix. 

Since I happen to be a serious wine lover (let's just say we didn't get married in Napa for the olives), I always feel a twinge of sadness when I see our wine club bottles accumulating on the wine rack while I'm pregnant. I have enough vinophile friends to know I'm not the only one who longs for a wine glass at dinner when abstaining for nine months. I've realized, though, that the wine glass itself is a big part of our dining ritual and as long as it's filled with something that appeals to an adult palate, I'm pretty happy. So most nights you'll find me dining with sparkling water, a splash of one of these nonalcoholic mix-ins, and maybe a pretty garnish, all in one of our good glasses. These mixers are perfect for a not-too-sweet and downright adult tasting mocktail. Wrap a couple of these in a box with some lemons, limes, and a cute little stirrer and you have a gift that any abstaining cocktail lover would adore.

If you need a gift with a little more wow factor for your pregnant or adopting loved one (maybe because of a birthday or holiday), these Matta metal wraps, which can be found at Nonchalant Mom, could not be more perfect. Is it a belt? A necklace? A bracelet? Yes, yes, yes. That's right, one wrap is perfectly suited to be all of those things. They're not only multi-functional and gorgeous, but they're pretty much baby proof. I can't imagine Claire (or the new baby) destroying them or me ever tiring of them. That makes them winners in my book.
[Updated to add that TODAY ONLY Nonchalant Mom is offering 10% off your entire order with the code EXTRA10]

We hope you have a cozy weekend planned!

Small, Inexpensive Hostess Gifts

Dear You + ME*
I have a  couple of upcoming weekend trips to visit friends, and I'm having trouble coming up with host/hostess gifts. I'm thinking homemade and food might be the ways to go, mainly because funds are short (I'm a student) and most of these folks don't really need more 'stuff'.  The gift also needs to be able to make it through airport security and fit in my carry-on. So, what to make? I mean, I visit some of these people a couples times a year; my standard zucchini/pumpkin bread is becoming less and less impressive, no matter how pretty the wrapping.
Thanks,
M.

Dear M.,
As evidenced by how many folks ask about this, and how much we write about this topic (see here and here), this is a question that everyone has. However, a student budget (from what we remember from grad school, the student budget = trying to barter for goods and services using old books) and space restraints can make this a particularly hairy question. Here are a few low-cost ideas that don't skimp on the thoughtfulness.

marthastewart.com
First, your idea about something edible is spot-on. How about some truffles? There are tons of recipes floating around, and they're fairly easy to make. And, they're small and easy to pack. Just remember not to leave your carry-on near any heating vents or in the sun. Cookies are always appreciated; Holly over at 101 Cookbooks made some Limoncello Macaroons to take to visit friends. I would be more than happy to see them show up on my doorstep.

Cue the Strings, blurb.com
Photo books are a low-cost, high-impact gift. As a thank-you present after, you could take pictures throughout your visit, and then create a book using iPhoto or one of the other online book-making services like blurb.com, shown above, and have it sent to their house. If you're a repeat visitor, you could use all of the photos you've taken so far at their house, and present the book to your hosts upon arrival.

Brooklyn, NY Skyline Print, Juggling Feats
I also love the idea of bringing a little souvenir from, or something representing, the place where you live. If I were off to visit friends, I might bring them this pretty little print. If you're into doing things yourself, you could paint, collage, photograph, or draw a that is evocative of your city.

We hope these suggestions help; be sure to let us know how it goes!
xo,
ME*

P.S. The Pretty Mommy recipe exchange is on! Head on over to A Place to Share for Tori's Butternut Squash, Sage, and White Bean Soup recipe!
P.P.S. If you, gentle readers, have a question that you would like You + ME* to tackle, drop us a line at youplusmestyling{at}gmail{dot}com.

The Gift Of An Entertained Toddler

Happy Friday everyone! Today's "giving" post is part 2 of our response to a reader question about traveling by airplane with a toddler (you can read part 1 from Tuesday here). Since we can't in good conscience recommend valium (for you or your toddler), we have plenty of other suggestions for items you can give your little one to make those hours en route pass by painlessly. By necessity all these items are compact, so they also make great stocking stuffers. Oh, and Cool Mom Picks responded to a similar reader question yesterday, so it's your lucky week, if you have upcoming plans to travel with a toddler.

- Crayons and paper. This artist case by OurLittleMesses and scribble kit by Dwell Studio are fantastic ways to keep everything organized, but a baggie of crayons (never markers!) and any random pad of paper will do just fine. I have a few crayons and a pad of paper in just about every bag I own. They never get old.

- Play dough. Some types are stickier than others and I think it's obvious that you'd want a less sticky type. Clementine modeling dough is a great consistency, plus as an extra bonus it smells good too.

- Playing cards. Claire once spent at least two hours taking cards out of their box, dropping them in a clean air sickness bag, and then returning them to their box. I'm not even sure why we had cards with us since she was (and still is) far too young to play any regular card games, but you can bet we bring them everywhere now. Any random set from your junk drawer will work (it doesn't even have to be a full deck), but I think Claire might play with them for an additional 30 minutes if there were 3-D dogs on each card. 

- Books. While an airplane flight seems like the perfect time to surprise your little one with some brand new books, it turns out it's not (did everyone else know that but me?). I made that mistake the hard way once when I showed Claire her little pile of brand new books for the plane and she promptly threw them to the ground one by one. She still won't read them to this day. Airplane rides are actually the perfect time for all your old favorites. I bet you have some of these in your house.

- Snacks! Our house is generally a haven of healthy eating, but I've been known to dramatically lower my standards for long flights. If we're going to be traveling for 7 hours and all Claire wants to consume for that time period is every snack offering available on JetBlue, bunny cookies, and the smoothie I bought at the airport, so be it. One day of off kilter eating is not going to undo a lifetime of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. That said, I love to pack these HappyTot pouches, which are basically smoothies in a bag. You can bring them through security as long as your toddler is with you and you remove them from your carry-on with your other liquids. They're not only tasty (and full of organic goodness), but your child will have to suck the contents out of the pouch, which can help little ears deal with altitude changes.

- Technology. I will absolutely admit that I ply my daughter with Sesame Street on an iphone. It's small enough that she can hold it herself (I put it in a rubber sleeve first); if the volume is pretty low, she can hear it but others can't; and it keeps her enthralled for a frighteningly long time. The apps Peekaboo Barn and Peekaboo Safari are also big hits.

- Other small toys. If you're traveling with a toddler and an infant or your little one just happens to love baby dolls, this mini diaper bag by FeeVertelaine will be a big hit. Just don't forget your child's favorite baby, so he/she has something to take care of. 

- Lovie. I'm sure you never go anywhere without it, but whatever lovie or blankie your child uses for naps and bedtime should definitely come with you on the plane. It's your best chance for a blissful, sleepy flight.

Happy travels, J. Hope these suggestions make your trip a dream.

Have a lovely weekend friends!

Yes, We Know It's Only September

I'm going to do something a little taboo and possibly very upsetting if you're someone who writes letters of protest when your favorite store starts playing holiday music sometime in early November. Just hear me out though. I promise I'm writing this for good reason.

Image from the phenomenal fall issue of Sweet Paul. I can't get enough.

You would never catch me swooning over the smell of a fir tree, watching a holiday movie, or even humming Jingle Bells before Thanksgiving. I adore the holidays and embrace them with gusto from Thanksgiving through New Year's day. But for me, fully appreciating the month of December means spending very little time purchasing presents and a whole lot of time making every day a festive occasion. In fact, the gift aspect of the holidays can make the whole thing feel so blah and commercial that before you know it, you're scowling at the Santas standing on street corners and considering shoving tourists just to watch them spill their peppermint cocoas out of those ubiquitous red cups (um, or maybe that's just how I feel). To avoid that feeling, I make a concerted effort to give people gifts that don't feel generic--gifts I'm actually excited about giving (I know it's the right present when I have to use every ounce of my willpower not to tell the recipient about it in advance) and that I hope the recipients are happy to receive.

Many, but certainly not all, of these gifts take more thought and preparation than you can fit into the month of December. The good news is if you take care of them now, you'll have plenty of time to watch Elf, make latkes, or perfect your eggnog recipe while everyone else is fighting the masses at the mall. Here are a couple suggestions that require a long lead time and then we promise, we'll let you get back to lusting after new fall clothes or reacquainting yourself with butternut squash after a summer of zucchini. 

Quilts by MonaLeisa. Leisa truly creates works of art. In this case, she was using fabric that had sentimental value, but typically she uses her impeccable eye to put together modern combinations of patterns and colors. You've never seen quilts like this before.

Have something made. For as long as I can remember, I have received a pair of pajamas on Christmas Eve to wear that night. What makes these pjs special is that my mom, sister, and now Claire receive matching pairs (I'd share a photo, but I'm not ready to be featured on Awkward Family Photos: holiday edition). Sometimes the theme of the pjs relates to something significant about that year (there was definitely a dog theme the year I adopted Tahoe and of course, a millennium theme in 1999) and sometimes they are just cozy pjs, but they each take me back to that particular Christmas. During one of my many fits of organizational frenzy last year, I realized that after 30 years, I had a whole lot of pajamas spilling out of my drawers. I couldn't bear to part with them, so rather than cull my collection, I used them as the basis for what I knew would be the perfect gift for my mom and sister. Since I don't sew anything more complicated than buttons, I had the amazing MonaLeisa turn my pj collection (supplemented by my sister's leftover pajama tops) into three gorgeous quilts. The look on my mom's face when she unwrapped her quilt made it quite possibly my all time favorite gift giving moment. 

How you do it. Commissioning almost anything you can think of is actually a lot easier than it seems. There are two routes you can take: posting your project and requesting bids or approaching artists/vendors directly. Alchemy on etsy makes it ridiculously easy to request bids for whatever strikes your fancy (a Nacho Libre costume, a coupon organizer for your purse, even something to scare away your four year old's nightmares--all real requests). Just look for the "alchemy" button under "ways to shop" on the homepage. Once you click it, you'll be taken to a long list of requests for custom items to which you'll just "add new request" via the button at the top of the list. In less than 24 hours, I received over 100 bids for the quilt project. All I had to do was select the person whose style best matched my preferences.

Contacting artists/vendors directly is just as simple, although it can feel slightly more intimidating. Is there an artist or illustrator whose style your significant other absolutely loves, but you have a specific subject in mind? Did you see a piece of jewelry that is almost, but not quite perfect for your sister? Do you just have a hunch that the guy who builds gorgeous coffee tables would be able to construct your daughter's dream doll house? Just ask. You be the judge of whether it makes the most sense to call, email, message through etsy, or speak with the individual in person, but definitely convey why you think he/she is just the right person for the job. The worst case scenario is that he/she is not interested, but your best case (and in my experience, most likely) outcome is that you will end up with a gift that is exactly right for the recipient. 

My grandma made this Raggedy Ann for Claire's first birthday last year. Although Claire is the first great grandchild, my grandma has 25 grandchildren from ages 0-31. That's a lot of sewing and knitting. I know for a fact, she starts working on holiday presents in the summer at the latest.

Make something yourself. Sure, this seems fairly obvious, but here is what usually happens: Sometime shortly after the New Year, it crosses your mind that you're going to save money by making all of your holiday gifts next year. You think of it again over the summer--relieved that it's not time to start yet--and promptly put it out of your head. On December 10 (the month is in double digits now!) you realize you have not come up with a plan, purchased supplies, or made anything. You either pull a series of all nighters, replete with tears and craft induced injuries because you're so exhausted, or you frantically buy candles and scarves for everyone on your list. It's not a good thing. 

How you do it. If you plan to make something this year, my best advice is START NOW. Sorry, I'm not yelling at you. I just know from firsthand experience that making things under duress is almost always a miserable experience and I'm trying to spare you. By all means, knit scarves, can your special chunky applesauce, or build a play kitchen. Just try to do at least some preparation now. If you order supplies, figure out the perfect packaging, or even make everything when you're not busy attending holiday parties and baking gingerbread, you'll be so much happier come December.

If all this sounds a little anxiety provoking, we're happy to help you, but even we need a little lead time if say, your favorite aunt has always wanted to see the Rockettes perform and she lives in Minnesota or you want to give personalized prints to your 300 closest friends. You have plenty of time to make magic this holiday season and if you start thinking about it now, it can actually be a source of joy instead of stress.  Okay, back to welcoming autumn.

Oops!

While gifts for things like birthdays and new babies and weddings are all fun, sometimes we need gifts for the less happy times in our lives. Like, say, when we've been total jerks to our spouses (or sisters or parents or friends or neighbors), or when we've accidentally (or, heaven forfend, purposefully) offended someone. Thank goodness that I'm not the only one who screws up, because other folks have created some good ways to say you're sorry.
I think that apologizing with a card is clutch. Otherwise, just buying a present feels like cheating.  The key is to write a nice note in it letting the other person know that you understand the impact of your actions on them.

Left: Sorry Acorn, Fugu Fugu Press; Right: Ctrl + Z Letterpress Card, Paper Wheel

I also happen to think that baked goods never hurt anything when you're saying sorry.

Left: Stroopwafels, The Good Batch (I met them at the Brooklyn Flea, and they couldn't be lovelier people. You should eat stroopwafels even if you have no remorse and nothing to apologize for.); Right: Pumpkin Whoopie Pies, Happy Endings Bake Shop

If you're apologizing for something that you've done to your significant other (maybe for finishing off the brown butter ice cream in the freezer?), what about framing a print that is all about how awesome you guys are together?

Left: No Love Lost; Right Everything is Going to be Okay, Seattle Show Posters (I have two of this guy's prints in my house, and never, ever get tired of them.)

Also, after the jump, one card that is not appropriate for public consumption, and another one that is paired with it so it doesn't get lonely. 

Nothing says I'm sorry like self-deprecation and swearing!

Left: An Adult Version of Sorry, Richie Designs; Right, Sorry for Being a Butt, Wit and Whistle

When It's Time to Meet the Parents

I am thankful for my husband for about a million reasons, not the least of which is that I don't have to date ever again. I can understand why some people enjoy the whole dating process--a reason to fancy yourself up, butterflies in your stomach, the prospect of new adventures, first kisses, the whole allure of the unknown--but frankly, I always knew the millionth kiss with the right person was going to blow that first kiss out of the water. Uh, and I also wasn't very good at dating. The whole thing just felt so awkward and forced. Either I knew right away this person would be in my life for a while and we could just skip right over what we do for a living and jump into most traumatic childhood memories or it was immediately obvious that there was no relationship potential. I've never been very good at the in between. 

So those of you who thrive on dating, I commend you--getting to know someone new is hard work. What makes it even harder is that eventually you also need to get to know the person's family, specifically the parents. Rarely does the first meeting go completely smoothly (which is why they were able to make whole movies about it), so why not grease the wheels a little bit with a little gift that says, "yes, I'm the girl/guy who is dating your son/daughter, but it's ok because I'm a nice person."

You can always go the wine route since a decent bottle of wine or a fun wine accessory (this is my favorite right now) usually read as mature and thoughtful gifts. My only word of caution is to confirm with your significant other that his parents aren't teetotalers so as to avoid the cringeworthy moment where you present a recovering alcoholic with a lovely Bordeaux. Below are some safe alternatives.

A pretty vase filled with simple flowers is always appreciated. Left to right: striped vase from prettyrandomobjects and white on white stripe vase by redhotpottery.

Homemade baked goods show that you put time and effort into your gift. I'm sure you would win loads of points if you showed up with lemon yogurt anything cake or pear and pecan tea cakes. Try wrapping them in a tea towel for an extra cozy touch. Left to right: egg tray motif tea towels by thehouseofbouton and chalk filigree unbleached linen tea towel by FlowerPress.

Show up with a basket full of apples or other seasonal produce. Extra credit if you and your significant other pick them yourselves. Small snow forest basket by printparty.

Thinking of You

Yesterday, Elisabeth forwarded me this post from Design Mom--it's a letter from a mother to her daughter who died shortly before being delivered at 36 weeks. {Disclaimer--this is so sad. Do not read it if you are in a public place unless you are a pretty crier and don't feel bad about wiping your nose on your sleeve in public, which is a nice way of saying that you shouldn't read this in public}. She told me that it needed a warning (see above) because it would make me sob, but I figured that she was exaggerating a little bit--cut to two minutes later, with me sitting at my computer sobbing.

The fact is that as we get older (and this has already been true to some extent), we'll all have or know someone who has problems with breakups, loss, job woes, and/or depression. Part of slipping into maturity and cultivating strong relationships is learning how to be a good foul-weather friend: learning how to craft a sympathy note or a note that says, "I'm here for you," rather than hiding out and figuring that your struggling friend will get in touch when she feels like she's ready. For today's gift roundup, I wanted to share some ideas for things that you can share with a friend who may be struggling that are outside of the typical "gifts for a woman who is hurting" realm (soaps and flannel pjs, anyone?). Of course, every person is different, and every friendship is different, but I think that everyone likes to know during a rough patch that someone is thinking about them. 

First off, though flowers may seem cliché, it's for a reason--they're pretty and are a great reminder that someone is thinking about you. Choosing a local florist who sources local flowers is never a bad idea. Pretty earrings never hurt anyone, either.

Left:Elisabeth Ryan Floral Design; Right: Blossom Earrings by The Harbinger Company

This card reminds me of the cat hanging out of the tree, but is way cuter--sock monkeys and tightey whiteys are a good way to keep things on the lighter side, but you can write a really heartfelt message inside. The necklace is a little good-luck charm that is pretty and is a portable reminder that your friend is loved. 

Left: Clothesline Monkey Letterpress Card, Hello!Lucky; Right, Tiny Luck Necklace; Beau and Stella

If you feel like your friend might enjoy a superhero boost, I bet these lightning bolts would fit on a pair of adult shoes. Even if she doesn't wear them in public, it's always nice to know that one of your friends thinks you have superpowers. I also love the feeling of this card--it acknowledges that your friend is going through something rough, but isn't overly sympathetic about it, if that makes sense. I feel like sympathy or thinking of you cards sometimes can border on condescending. Not this one.

Left: Superhero Shoes-Yellow Lightning, Smallfly; Right: Rainy Day Letterpress Card, Letterpress

Do you have a favorite way of telling your friends that you are thinking about them?

Treat Yourself

Yesterday was a lovely little day. Miya and I ate the most delicious lunch (sans babies) at one of my favorite neighborhood restaurants, Peacefood Cafe, and concluded our meal by purchasing an abundance of baked treats to enjoy by ourselves share with our husbands and girls. Then, after feeding little Claire a well-balanced dinner and putting her to bed, I may have convinced my husband that carrot cake constitutes a meal. This was the bonus points section of the day since it meant that not only did I happily savor my entire humongous piece of carroty goodness instead of the more appropriate half I had planned to eat, but I also had an extra waking hour to lounge on the couch reading fall magazines.

Maybe I was getting in the spirit for my upcoming birthday or maybe I wanted to treat myself after a few weeks of feeling a bit tired and run down, but in any case, I went to bed last night feeling pretty darn cheerful. That's when I realized that gifts to oneself are a totally unappreciated and yet utterly essential ingredient for a happy life. So the next time you arrive at the subway just in time to watch the doors close in your face, you get caught in a rainstorm in a white shirt with no umbrella, or you just wake up on the wrong side of the bed, take it as a sign from the universe that you're supposed to bring a little joy into your life. Here are some little things that never fail to make me smile:

Freya Art. Although we have a number of Freya's prints hanging in Claire's play area, sometimes I just have to browse to her shop to get my fill of her whimsical drawings and thoughtful words. I think I'm going to stock up on some of her cards soon, so I can share the good cheer.

Lucky bamboo. How could you go wrong with something that actually has the word lucky in its name? You can't, which is why this should be in everyone's house. Like just about everything these days, you can order stalks of lucky bamboo online, but I think it's more satisfying to pick some up when you feel like your luck needs a boost. The stalks range in price from $5-$20 depending on their length and type, but they last forever with pretty minimal care. My husband and I bought five stalks (which is supposed to bring happiness and good and balanced luck in all aspects of life) when we first moved in together about five years ago. Other than changing the water when we think of it, which admittedly isn't very often, we've done nothing to care for them. Since then we've gotten married, found the perfect apartment in the same building as our first one, and brought an amazing little person into the world. I'm pretty sure it was the lucky bamboo.

Jonathan Adler. Visiting a Jonathan Adler store is the equivalent of your parents saying "don't smile" until you crack, even though you were intent on making your poutiest face forever. I know, I know, you're not really into animals or pop art, and his stuff really would not complement your decor in any way. Visit anyway; you don't actually have to buy anything (although you might be tempted once you're there). I dare you not to crack a grin.

Waffles. This one may seem particularly random, but then ask yourself, have you ever seen someone unhappy while eating waffles? I haven't. I think it may be impossible. Waffles make the best gift to yourself when eaten for dinner . . . on a weeknight . . . with mimosas. Just you wait, you'll be thanking me for this one. 

Enjoy your weekend!