It’s gifting season once again! As a mother, aunt, and godmother, I still struggle with finding something on-trend that the teens and twenties in my life will really love, so I went straight to the source. Meet guest curator Clare Daly! She’s a New York-based creative (and my goddaughter!) and I’m so excited to welcome her to the blog.
New to Empty Nesting?
If your recent renter is looking to decorate their new digs, help them say goodbye to the dreaded landlord special. This golden, scalloped Anthropologie switch plate (#3) and the Wayfair mid-century-inspired armchair are perfect to make a starter apartment their very own. The armchair (#10) is available in so many cute colors, and it’s on sale! Add in this sweet sleeping cat lamp (#9) because no one uses the big light these days— it’s all about ambiance.
Whether or not your Gen Zer is new to the kitchen, Shelly Westerhausen Worcel’s Every Season Is Soup Season (#2) couldn’t be an easier gift. The base recipes for everything from quick broths to days-long chilis establish a strong culinary foundation. Worcel’s tips and tricks for freezing and storing will come in clutch when a long day at the office calls for nothing more than a microwave. WFHing? Make a bowl of tomato basil for lunch and rest it on this multi-functional acrylic laptop stand (#15) that blends into any desk setup.
For the Fashion Forward
Your Gen Zer with a heart of gold (…or not) will obsess over Elizabeth Cole’s Nixine Necklace (#1). The evil eye symbol, known for its ability to repel bad vibes, is one of this holiday season’s hottest trends. Accented with Swarovski crystals, the California-designed, Rhode Island-crafted necklace is perfect for warding off the very worst: a gifting faux pas.
Hop on the athleisure train with this Alo Yoga sherpa jacket (#11). Complete with a removable hood, it is an adorably versatile option for heading to the gym, running to class, or anything in between. Designed in neutral colors and sized for layering, the recipient of this gift can make this fuzzy bomber a daily driver in their Fall/Winter wardrobe. Pair it with this Oat Milk tee (#12) and your Gen Zer will never have to remind a barista of their lactose preferences again.
Fellow twenty-something teenage girls, listen up. Work shoes with style do exist! Put these two on-the-pulse pairs on your list. Right. Now.
Sam Edelman Jildies (#14) gives you 4 inches of height and leans into the square-toe Mary Jane Renaissance. Clunky, cute, and classy for under $200. Also, Express just collaborated with iconic shoe designer and social tastemaker Brian Atwood for an affordable take on haute designs. Any pair of Atwood’s are a major slay, but I love these pointed flats (#14) with a silky bow. Translation for moms: These are the grown-up versions of the shoes you made us wear, often kicking and screaming, for every first day of school until we were, like, 12. No, it’s not hypocritical. They’re cute now! Read Nicole’s post about the collab HERE.
Makeup & More
If I could only have two beauty items, I would keep my Merit Beauty Minimalist Stick (#7) and Glossier You fragrance. The Minimalist, true to its name, can replace multiple pieces in your Gen Zer’s makeup bag. Its variety of shades blend into the skin seamlessly—all over, undereye, and on problem spots— and choose a darker shade for a creamy, matte contour. Looking to gift their first signature scent? Glossier You is IT. If you don’t know Glossier by now, I’m convinced you’ve taken up residence under the world’s most soundproof boulder. I digress.
I’d prefer to find my perfect scent on the shelf, instead of painstakingly poring over each element at these so-called “fragrance labs” I keep seeing pop up in New York. Once again, I digress. Gluten-free and vegan with base notes of pink pepper and iris, Glossier’s unisex eau de parfum (#6) (is an amazing experiment in skin chemistry. Spritz or roll it, but don’t rub! Make sure to let it settle in on its own. When the fragrance settles, the base combines with the body for an elevated natural scent unique to the wearer that compliments any outfit or event.
Toys for Totes
One of my go-to gift ideas is to fill something: a water bottle with candy, a basket with grooming essentials, etc. I can never have too many totes, so receiving one that’s sturdy and stylish, like this Baggu (#8), would make my holiday. As for the filling, go for my favorite gifts to get: a vinyl record of the latest Taylor Swift album and the cutest self-care book there is. At the time of publication, 1989 (Taylor’s Version) (#5) is still the stuff of “Suburban Legends”. For those who have yet to indoctrinate into the Swiftie persuasion, that’s a vault track on the most recent release. Instagram sensation Maybell Eequay’s inspirational little frog characters have arrived on the page in Little Frog’s Guide to Self-Care (#13). Positive messages, plus the sweetest drawings, what’s not to love? Throw in this Heyday 35mm Film Camera (#16) to capture the other goodies and memorable moments of the holiday season and beyond.
Happy gifting!
The Ann Parke Collection includes uniquely curated fine art, antique objects, and garden pieces. Every exquisite item is inspired by a great love of animals. The Easter collection would be a welcome addition to your holiday table. From, floral plates to decorative serving pieces and vintage animal statuaries the spring collection contains everything you need for entertaining family and friends. The entire assortment can be viewed and purchased on Chairish or on the Ann Parke Collection Website.
Easter morning is a special time for families to come together and enjoy each other’s company. However, planning a memorable Easter morning can be easy if you know what activities to include and how to make it extra special!
Photo by Gabe Pierce on Unsplash
Here Are Some Tips And Ideas To Help Plan The Perfect Family Easter Morning:
1. Have an egg hunt
An egg hunt is always a fun activity for kids of all ages. Make sure you have enough eggs filled with treats so everyone can join in on the fun! If you want an added twist, consider adding clues that lead from one egg to the next until they reach the grand prize.
2. Set up a breakfast buffet
A delicious breakfast is essential for any holiday celebration! Put out a buffet of your family’s favorite breakfast foods and let everyone fill their plates with what they like. Add some festive elements to the buffet, such as mini carrots or chocolate bunnies. In addition, you can also make simple decorations like Easter bunny tablecloths and centerpieces.
3. Have an Easter craft
An Easter craft is a great way to get everyone involved in the festivities! You can use anything from construction paper to foam shapes to make decorations for your home or even personalized cards for each other. From paper mache eggs to egg painting, there are plenty of projects for kids (and adults!) of all ages. You could also use hard-boiled eggs to create a fun family game like “egg toss” or “egg hunt”!
4. Play some fun games
Family game time is always a great way to spend quality time together! Try setting up an outdoor scavenger hunt or hide-and-seek around the house and yard; it’ll be sure to bring lots of laughs and smiles! In addition, you can also play some Easter-themed board games like egg roulette or bunny hop.
5. Take some family photos
This Easter, don’t forget to capture the moment! Find a good spot in your home or outdoors and set up a mini photo session. Have fun with props like bunny ears and carrot noses to make it extra special.
6. Watch a good movie
No family Easter celebration is complete without a classic movie night. Pick out the best Christian movies and a few of your favorites, or try something new for the occasion. Pop some popcorn, snuggle up on the couch, and enjoy!
7. Enjoy a special Easter dinner
Easter dinner is the perfect way to end the day. Make some of your family’s favorite dishes, or try something different for an added twist. Add some festive decorations like Easter bunny napkins and colorful plates to make it even more fun!
By following these tips, you can create a memorable Easter morning that your family will cherish for years to come! With just a little bit of planning and creativity, you can have an unforgettable experience that your entire family will enjoy. So this Easter, don’t forget to make family time a priority and create lasting memories together!
I am not sure if you ever visited my Amazon Storefront. It is a page where I showcase ALL of my amazon favorites!!! I have a section devoted to stocking stuffers and just today I ran into someone who asked me for some recommendations. Here are the links to shop all of the choices this year!!!
Birthday parties are such a lot of fun as a child, mainly because we don’t have to plan it for ourselves. As we grow into functional adults, some of us are lucky to have friends that love to plan our birthday surprise or party. However, for most of us, it is common to not want to celebrate because we’re feeling too lazy or overwhelmed by the notion of planning parties. There also comes the subject of splurging an unruly amount of money that many can’t afford today. These things can make your birthday a glum experience, which none of us desire. Instead, why not take up your limited budget and planning in the right direction and plan a great day?
- The traditional dinner with loved ones: Whether or not you love parties, nothing can beat spending time with the people you love most. It could be your family, friends, or even colleagues. Plan a traditional birthday dinner with a few choice dishes, a delicious birthday cake, and some drinks. If you need help making the evening a bit more fun, look up indoor games that you could play with your best pals to keep the night young.
- Gaming parties: Do you love to play arcade games? If the answer was a resounding yes, your perfect birthday party idea lies in gaming! Book one of these amazing adult birthday party places where you could go bowling, play pool, and many other games. Since these arcades have decent group packages, it shouldn’t be highly expensive to take your best friends along.
- Plan a getaway: Sometimes, people like to enjoy their space on their birthdays. If this is you, you could plan an impromptu getaway for yourself. Yes, this aspect of solo traveling may take some planning, but it will pay off! Whether you love the mountains or want to visit tropical beaches, make sure your pick and choose a location that brings you joy. Once you’re done with the bookings, get packed to embark on a great adventure. If you love to drive, a short road trip over the weekend would also be a great way to welcome another year.
- Karaoke evenings: Your love for music can also be converted into a birthday party idea. There are several karaoke pubs all over town that you could visit to serenade the night away. Mixed with great company and fun drinks, we assure you only amazing times lie ahead!
- Hit the club: Lastly, if you’re the adult that loves to dance the night away celebrating yet another year of greatness, make a plan to go club-hopping with your friends. Not only is this a lot of fun, but you also get to enjoy great music by some of the master DJs of the industry.
Wrapping Up:
Growing up doesn’t mean that you stop celebrating the day of your first breath on this planet. According to us, that’s all the more reason to celebrate. Life is short, so we better make the most of it!
A Dumplings pop-up is coming to The Outpost in Bedford this weekend. The Chinese New Year is February 1st. The year of the Tiger.
The Outpost will be celebrating the Chinese New Year this weekend with a pop-up put on by the local experience designer and my good friend Andy Yu and his Partner GJ. They will be bringing their family recipes together with all organic ingredients to create an array of fresh dumplings.
Chinese dumplings represent the essential parts of Chinese culture and are served at most traditional holidays. They will have 3 different types of dumplings (8 in a box) to preorder and pick up Saturday, Jan 22nd between 2-6 p.m.
You can choose from Classic Berkshire Pork with Chinese Cabbages, Organic Carrot wrap (orange) with turkey, and Spinach (green wrap) with Chinese vegetables (vegetarian). . And yes, and they will have some tastings as well. Call # 914-205-3900 to place your pre-order.
