From the Heart

Jordy and I have a running joke that our marriage is a constant battle between the Art Team and Team Science (guess who has the better T-shirts). He's been on his way to or in medical school since we've been together (over 7 years now...), and I've been messing up his meticulously clean space with my art supplies for nearly as long. For Valentine's Day the first year of medical school, when he was deep in the throes of anatomy, on a first name basis with an--ahem--previously alive person, I got him a t-shirt with a heart on it that said "I got the beat." I thought it was hysterical--it was a clear collaboration between members of both of our teams. Since that day, I have been dreaming of anatomy-related gifts for my favorite member of Team Science. These would be a great gift for anyone starting medical school. Say, "I'm proud of you," and also let the recipient know that you can dork out, too.

Left: Star Heart by Selflesh (we've featured her before; we can't get enough!); Right: From the Heart Card by Farouche (the geniuses who brought you the "You are Here Now" print)

Left: Eat Your Heart Out Dessert Plates by Folded Pigs; Right I Got The Beat Heart T-shirt by I Heart Guts

Left: Grey Matter Notebook by badbooks; Le Coeur - Hand Embroidered Pocket Cahier Notebook by Denki Ai

Have a great weekend everyone! We hope that the weather is good, your table is well-set, and that you have amazing people gathered around it.

Your foodie friend who cares about the environment

It's birthday time for that foodie friend of yours, or maybe it's your mother-in-law or spouse. In any case, this is the friend who is on a first name basis with all the organic farmers at the market and would be raising chickens if coops could be constructed on fire escapes. What is a good present to show that you support his/her convictions and to snag you a dinner invite in the near future? Here are a couple ideas:

SodaStream Penguin Water Carbonator at Williams Sonoma. I happened to be the lucky recipient of one of these babies last Christmas and let me just say that the carbonated fun never stops in our home. Just fill a bottle with filtered tap water and adjust the level of carbonation to your preferences (from lightly bubbled like Pellegrino to fizzy like soda water). It has a fairly small footprint on your countertop, and it uses glass bottles that look perfectly appropriate on even the most well set table. Let your friend enjoy bubbly water to her heart's content without all the wasteful bottles.

Photo: Roberto Falck Photography for Stone Barns Farm

How about giving the fun of a working farm, without all the, well, work? If your friend happens to live in the general vicinity of Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture (it's just a quick train ride or drive from New York City), consider giving a membership. Members receive discounts on Farm Store purchases and on program registrations, as well as invitations to all sorts of special events and priority registration for the annual Harvest Fest. There are farms like this across the country. Even if you live elsewhere, with a little googling you should be able to find a fantastic farm that holds events and offers membership benefits.

Looking for a fun, but inexpensive option? Plan a date to check out your local Botanical Garden with your friend. The New York Botanical Garden happens to be featuring The Edible Garden: Growing and Preparing Good Food through October 17, which means there are loads of foodie events featuring phenomenal chefs and outstanding cooking demonstrations for bargain prices. Seek inspiration for the first part of the day and then hit up your green market for the goods you need to cook up a feast.

Baby (Mama) Jewelry

It's such a cruel paradox: right after you've had a baby, you have the most need to feel pretty and wear something special, but you can't put on your favorite necklace/earrings/bracelet to get you out of your post-partum sartorial doldrums because a) you're afraid you'll scratch or somehow maim the baby, b) you're afraid the baby will choke on your Grandma Pearl's locket, and/or c) you'd like the holes in your ears to remain intact. If you know a new mom who has a birthday/anniversary/Wednesday coming up and you would like to get her something that she can wear right now, fortunately for you, there are some options for jewelry out there if you get creative enough. Repeat after me: smooth, short, and durable. Nothing sharp, nothing hangy, and nothing delicate. Observe:

If you're giving a new mom earrings, unless she specifically tells you not to, get her studs. Here are 2 selections that say "I'm still hip even though I have 3 coats of vomit on my shirt."

Left: Mix & Match Studs by Wendy Nichol; Right: Geometric Shield Earrings by Hash and Cheese

Rings are almost never a bad idea for new moms (unless they're sharp or protrude too much). I am loving the rough feel of these beauties:

Left: Diamond Slice Ring by Priyanka Sodhi; Right: Rose Cut London Blue Topaz Ring by Janish Jewels (do you hear that? It's the sound of me coveting this ring.)

Normally, I wouldn't advise getting a necklace for someone with a baby, but these fabric beauties are an exception.

Left: Natural with Black Stripe Necklush; Right: Snake Corset Fabric Necklace by Thief and Bandit (this may not be great if she has a kid who is prone to heavy pulling due to the metal chain and clasp, but it is so pretty that maybe she could wear it while her baby naps)

If she's into whimsy, look no further:

Left: Crayon Rings by Timothy Liles at the Curiosity Shoppe (especially good if she has an older kid who she wants to keep entertained while she's attending to the new baby); Right: Classic Vanishing Timex Watch (those naps aren't going to schedule themselves!)

Also, let's talk about these two beauties from A Alicia. They're hand-knitted, gorgeous, and perfect for any new mom. I had finished this post and was saw A Alicia's work in N.E.E.T. magazine (http://www.neetmagazine.com/), and I couldn't stop myself from coming back and adding them.

Left: Six Cord Knitted Necklace; and Right: Plait Necklace in Knitted Cord and Vintage Chain (I am so into this, I may have to pick up my knitting needles and needle-nosed pliers...), both by A Alicia

See? Smooth, short, and durable. Now that you've got the hang of it, go out there and make a new mom's day!

You Are Special

When I was growing up, we had a red plate with "you are special" painted in white around the rim. The plate appeared on the table for almost any significant occasion (yes, on birthdays of course, but also on Valentine's Day, the first day of school, or after a tap recital, ). I guess I kind of thought everyone had plates like this, but the only person in my life who has ever heard me describe the red plate and responded, "Oh, I had one too!" is Miya. Maybe it was a Northern California thing in the mid-80s (although I kind of doubt that since I don't recall anyone from my childhood having one) or maybe we just both had parents who liked to make magic out of the marginally momentous events that punctuate childhood. In any case, we both get a warm fuzzy feeling when we recall sitting down to a meal with the red plate.

Now that we each have a daughter, we've had many conversations about how to make sure their childhoods are filled with those enchanted moments you can really only fully experience when you still believe anything is possible. I won't speak for Miya, but I know I feel a tension between wanting to create perfect moments, recorded in great detail for Claire to look back on as an adult (look how fun your first birthday was!) and wanting to put down the camera and turn off the mental note-taking of our experiences so that we can be fully immersed in whatever moment we're having. It's funny, I can't think of a single photo of the red plate and yet it's one of my fondest memories of my childhood. So in the spirit of contributing to a family's magical memories, I propose giving a special plate with the hope that it makes it easy to perk up days that might otherwise feel ordinary.

Although the sentiment of the red plate is certainly lovely, I think a more modern equivalent may be in order.

If you're committed to the real thing, it can be purchased at Waechtersbach USA.

These fetching plates by Aedriel Originals can be personalized with whatever word or saying you'd like. 

I bought this adorable "you are special" cupcake stand from Vessels and Wares for our daughter's first birthday. Although Jeanette doesn't have a specific listing for it right now, she happily accepts custom orders.

I almost didn't include this plate since Nina in Vorm is currently taking a little break from her etsy shop. However, we've been assured that she'll have some new pretties up there "soon," so request to be notified when her shop is up and running and you can get something fresh in the near future.

If you're feeling crafty, you can also use these paint markers to create your own design or wording on almost any kind of plate. Some people, including Martha, indicate that they are food safe, but the company itself recommends that they not come in direct contact with food. I think I'm going to tackle this project soon and my plan is just to paint the rim--the better to see your design once the food is plated anyway.

3rd Anniversary Present

Dear YOU + ME*,
Our daughter and son-in-law are celebrating their 3rd anniversary soon. What are some gift ideas that would say "you are special and we wish you many more years of happiness together" and still be something they could use often?
Thanks,
J.

Dear J.,
Ah, the ever-present "what's a special but useful gift" conundrum. The traditional present for the third anniversary is leather, but we think that there are better (and perhaps more appropriate) gifts for you to consider. Here are some ideas for gifts that your daughter and her husband might like:
The couple's wedding vows rendered in super-pretty calligraphy would be a great gift--by three years of marriage, perhaps the wedding is not in the forefront of their minds. Having this to hang in the entryway or some other conspicuous place would be a pretty way to remind them of the vows that they made to each other three years ago.

Calligraphy Wedding Vows by Dancing Pen

If they've started a family, what about giving them this super-sweet family tree? It comes in tons of colors, and is totally customizable.

Custom Family Tree-Blue by cozyblue

If they're into entertaining, you might consider a piece from Jessica Rust. She's our favorite go-to gal for wedding presents. Elisabeth gave us a set of hers for our wedding, after I had been ordering them left and right for other friends but not for myself. The fact that we had individually found them and fallen in love with them made it seem even more like we were destined to be friends.

Large Heart Bowl by Jessica Rust Designs

One last thought is that it may have been a while since your daughter and her husband had their picture taken together by someone who knows their way around a camera. What about treating them to a portrait session? (This one was taken by Max Wanger, who I am in serious awe of today. See the rest of this session here, and stay tuned, because tomorrow you are going to get a little extra Wednesday love with something Wanger-related that will knock your proverbial socks off).

As a reminder, YOU + ME* styles photo shoots, too, so if you really want to go the distance, let us help your daughter and son-in-law show their true style in the shoot! You can visit our website for details.

Congrats to your daughter and son-in-law, and congrats to you for being such a thoughtful mom/mother-in-law!

xo,
YOU + ME*

Tween Bridesmaids!

So say you're getting married and you've asked your tween niece/cousin/etc. to be in your wedding. You're giving the rest of your bridesmaids flasks or other monogrammed whatnot that's not likely to be enticing to someone who is currently wishing she could be romanced by a vampire, and you're dreading the look in your youngest attendant's eyes when she sees the pastel canvas tote you've picked out for her. Not that her 25-year-old self or even 18-year-old self wouldn't love it, but let's just call it as we see it--tweens and teens can be fickle. Here are three ideas for a special bridesmaid gift that will bring a smile to any tween's lips (no small feat!).

If she's a girly girl, get her a little sequin heart headband by ban.do. She may not wear that mauve taffeta disaster you picked out for her again (sorry, but it's true), but she will for sure wear this all the time.

If she's understated, get her this Tiniest Initial Necklace by verabel. On second thought, you better order up ones for all of your other bridesmaids, too, since they might be tempted to see if taking a necklace from a teenager is like taking candy from a baby.

If she's artsy or emo (or just super cool), give her this Diana F+ Kit from Fred Flare (you might also consider a Holga). Giving a teenage girl a great camera is akin to teaching her the secret handshake of the Top Secret Society of Kick-ass Creative Women (yes, there is one, and yes, I'll teach it to you). When she's the next Annie Leibovitz, she'll thank you. As an added bonus, she might even snap a few great pictures of your wedding!

Inked

Would you like to receive mail that doesn’t require you to write a check in response? Do you enjoy finding pretty things in your mailbox? Me too, which is why I’m going to start giving personalized stationary for all sorts of gift giving occasions.

You graduated from something? Congratulations, real grown-ups have stationary. You’re engaged? I bet there is moving or name changing involved; let me help you out with some stationary. You’re having a baby? You’ll have to write lots of thank you notes, so here is some stationary. It’s your birthday? Nothing highlights the blank slate of another year like new stationary.

My friends and family members will be so overjoyed by the fresh ink and lovely designs, they’ll be compelled to write notes—probably mostly to me. I’m really looking forward to it. Here are a few things on my “to give” list:

Left to right, from top: Custom Sewn Stationary by Cake + Milk Paperie;Kyoto StationaryPersonalized Letterpress Stationary by Paper Lovely; Dandelion Social Stationary by Sweet Harvey Letterpress; Custom Stationary by Sarah Parrot by Mr. Boddington's Studio;
Clockwise from top left: Mailbox Monthly by Satsuma Press (Please check out Lynn's blogRoyal Correspondence Set by Yellow Owl Workshop; Custom Boxed Set by Olive-Route for her son Liam who is living with Spinal Muscular Atrophy. You might want to consider donating to their effort to renovate a bathroom to improve its accessibility for him.);

Do consider giving a letter-writing accessory with your stationary, especially to anyone under 25—I’m pretty sure they don’t own pens. This will increase your chances of receiving fun mail by at least 50 percent and that’s the whole point of this, right?

Clockwise from top right: Letter Alliance Gift Set by 16 Sparrows; Classic Torrenado Rollerball Pens at Kate's Paperie; Rubber Address Stamp by Paperwink; Know It All Pencil Set at the Curiosity Shoppe; Cityscape Stamp Set by Yellow Owl Workshop

Give it Up for Older Siblings

Picture it: you’re the center of your little universe, being doted on by everyone who steps over the threshold and into your domain, when suddenly a tiny, screaming bundle usurps your place as the baby. Now there may be benefits that come with your new, more mature role as an older sibling (For instance, it’s not totally clear who will be the boss over this thing, but it seems plausible that you’ll have some level of authority. Plus, you have a better chance of carrying out some of your experiments like “do dogs want to wear lipstick?” and “does mom’s jewelry float?” if your parents are distracted by the bundle). Even so, recent developments on the home front are disquieting to say the least.

That’s where those adoring friends and family come in. On behalf of older brothers and sisters everywhere, I implore you to show a little love to the forgotten sibling. Chances are mom and dad have stacks of onesies and swaddling blankets laying around after baby number one. Give the new baby something small and sweet and give the older sibling something that will keep him/her occupied during mom’s marathon feeding sessions.

Here are some gifts that will have those kiddos begging for another brother or sister:

Clockwise from top: Aromatic Play Clay by Mama K; Sunprint Kit at Sprout Home; Wooden Stringing Beads at Pin Pon by Dayanara; Kimmel Kids Art Tools at the A Plus Store

Clockwise from top left: Animal Origami at the SF MOMA Store; Magnetic Robot Figurines at Mudpuppy; Eames House of Cards at the MOMA Store; Made By Me Car Kit at Mighty Nest; Design Your Own T-Shirt at Giggle

Clockwise from top left: Little Hero Cape at Discovery Denim; Silver Star Headpiece at Craftsbury Kids; Star Crown at the Merry Crown Society