HOL's how to series with guest blogger, elsie padrón 

like most things, the hardest thing about starting a garden is, well…starting. having come from a family of green thumbs, i’ve always wanted my own little garden. nothing in comparison to the backyard paradise at my grandparents’ house growing up—full of avocados, mangos, ciruelas, plantains, guayabas, tomatoes, limes, oranges (before the county forced my grandfather to cut them down), squash, pineapple and herbs—but a starter garden. you know, something small and manageable to start with, and portable for when the time comes to leave our rental.

so when the opportunity presented itself to adopt a garden belonging to an acquaintance who was moving to chicago, i jumped at it. after a grueling few hours of manual labor (shout out to my husband and our friend enrique!), the garden made it home to our backyard, already filled with tomatoes, shishito peppers, banana peppers, kale, collard greens, and a variety of herbs.

we’ve had the garden for a few months now, which by no means makes me an expert…more of an enthusiastic beginner who is eager to share what i’ve learned so that others may be so inspired to start their own little garden. 

supplies

• garden trough or bed

our garden is split up between among metal troughs. this was ideal for us because we wanted it to be somewhat portable if and when we moved. if you decide to go this route, there are several options online (like this one). of course, a traditional garden bed also works. the width of your trough or bed will depend on how much you want to grow. you want to leave a good 10–12” between plantings. and vegetable plants need a depth of at least 15–18” to fully develop roots. regardless of the kind of container you choose, you’ll want a raised bed (i.e., not in-ground) garden for best results.

• drill and metal punch

lining

our garden is lined on the bottom with rocks, but there is some debate about whether rocks or gravel actually help with soil drainage. if you decide not to go that route, lay a nylon or vinyl screen down on the bottom of your trough or garden bed before you add your soil.

• concrete blocks or other elevation

my garden troughs are sitting up on concrete blocks, which are cheap and readily available at your nearest hardware store.

soil

there are a lot of gardening resources out there, and it seems like each one has a different opinion on the kind of soil mixture you should be using in your garden. many of them recommend mixing components individually by hand, testing soil ph levels, etc. as a beginner, that was just too much to take on. beyond what has already been used in my adopted garden, i’ve opted for fox farm brand potting soils. their ocean forest, happy frog, or lucky dog soils are great multipurpose options.

plant support

• chicken wire or galvanized hardware cloth

to protect your garden from larger pests (cats are an issue in our neighborhood), you’ll want to place chicken wire or galvanized hardware cloth on top of your soil in between plantings or place chicken wire all around your garden bed in the form of a “fence” to keep critters out. we’ve opted for the former, but if you choose to go the fence route, here is a great video tutorial to walk you through the process.

diy pest spray

our garden came to us with a moderate aphid infestation on our shishito pepper plants. these tiny bugs will do a lot of damage. if you see these on the undersides of leaves, cut off any leaves that are beyond repair, placing them in sealed plastic bags before disposing of them. for healthy leaves with a few bugs, try shocking them with a cold blast of water from your hose first, then spray the leaves (not the veggies!) with a mixture of one quart of water, one teaspoon of biodegradable dish soap or castile soap, and a healthy pinch of cayenne pepper.

plants

okay, now you’ve gathered all of your supplies and it’s time to get planting!

1. prepare your garden trough by drilling drainage holes (¼” to ½”) into the bottom. be sure to fit your drill with a drill bit made to bore through metal. turn the trough upside down and mark the spots you wish to drill. using a metal punch, hammer until it penetrates the bottom of the container. once you have a slight hole, place the drill bit onto the hole, press hard and start the drill. repeat for each hole. as for the number of holes, it’s not a science. you just want enough of them, evenly spaced, for proper soil drainage. here’s what the end result should look like.
   
   
2. line the bottom of your trough with nylon or vinyl screen.
   
   
3. fill your trough with planting soil. do not compress or tamp down the soil. you want it to be loose and airy.
   
   
4. plant your plants several inches away from each other. i leave less spacing (about 5–6”) between herbs and more spacing (about 10–12”) between vegetables (some of which will need support that will also take up some space). soak your plants while still in their planters. then remove them from their planters, gently loosen the soil and place in pre-dug holes in your soil. you’ll want to cut the bottom leaves off of your veggie plants and plant a bit deeper than your herbs.
   
   
5. protect your garden from backyard pests. cut pieces of galvanized hardware metal to fit between your plants, leaving a few inches around your plantings so they have room to grow. cats don’t like the way the metal feels on their paws. alternatively, you can build a chicken wire fence around your garden (instructions on that above).
   
   
6. water your garden. how often you water depends on the climate where you live and your soil, as some soils retain moisture better than others. as a general rule, i water the garden if, when sticking my index finger an inch down in the soil, i don’t feel moisture. in the miami winter months, this has resulted in watering once every 2–3 days, but i suspect that i’ll be watering more often as the temperature rises.

harvest time!

this is my favorite part. your garden has produced veggies! it’s time to break out your basket and gardening shears. knowing when to pick your vegetables takes some time and practice, but here are some general guidelines for a few different varieties:

• herbs: cut back herbs frequently to keep them producing more stems and leaves and to prevent blooming, which is not good. if your herbs are flowering, it means you haven’t cut them back enough. blooming changes the flavor of the leaves. basil is especially susceptible to this. if you’ve found yourself with way too much basil, make a big batch of pesto! we do this at home and store the extra in the freezer.
• tomatoes: there are so many varieties of tomatoes that it would be impossible to include them all here, but in general, a tomato is ready to pick when it’s ever-so-slightly soft and releases easily from the stem. you’ll probably go through a few tomatoes before you figure out the best timing for your varieties, and that’s okay! tomatoes will ripen a bit after you pick them.
• peppers: peppers are most flavorful when they turn red, orange or whatever their “mature” color is, but you can still eat them green. make sure to snip them off your plant (don’t tug). as with tomatoes, the first few you pick will help you determine the best timing.
• kale: do you remember life before kale entered the mainstream as the delicious, miraculous superfood we know it to be today? me either. i highly encourage you to grow kale in your garden. it’s such a versatile green, as good in smoothies as it is in a salad (or as an alternative to potato chips!). your kale will grow with a large, tough center stem and sprout leaves from the top. it kind of looks like a little palm tree. you want to cut your kale leaves from the bottom up, leaving at least four leaves intact at the top to promote new growth. kale grows really well in warm weather, but it doesn’t like too much heat (think high 80s and above). during the hot summer, cut back the kale liberally and frequently to prevent toughness and bitterness.

whether you start with a small herb garden or decide to grow a variety of vegetables, you’ll be amazed by the difference in flavor and quality from what you’re used to buying in grocery stores. happy planting, friends!

ready to start gardening? house of lilac's home sweet home gift box has everything you need to get you started!

about elsie  

if there's one thing we've learned from working at a mama-run business, it's that momming ain't easy. while gifts are kind of our thing, we know that the perfect mother's day requires so much more than a present. here are just a few gift experiences to make mom feel like she's worth everything and more! 

spa stint 

breakfast in bed 

sweat sesh  

 
lunch n' lounge 

shopping spree 

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still on the hunt for mother's day gift ideas? we're popping up at:

or shop the entire house of lilac  mother's day gift + flower collection with the code - MOTHERSDAY10 for 10% off your purchase.

you guys, recipe roundup has been such a hit. thank you for thinking that i have everything together and am a master cook, florist, mother, and wife! (ha) i'm not. by any means. god, i barely have time to get a facial. i do have a lot of energy and am a sucker for structure and schedules so my meal planning has become nothing but habitual. just like exercise. and it helps me be a better mom and a better wife when i'm home with my babies and hubs. plus, it's become a fun sunday ritual for us. so yes, you can do it, too, if you really want to. and i'd love to help! one piece of advice is to ask family, friends, blogs! around you for recipes. i compiled a laundry load of them at my bridal shower (I asked people to bring a pre-filled recipe card for me) and they've been really helpful when i need to figure out what to cook. the sooner you build your arsenal of recipes, the easier it will be to meal plan, because you've got your go tos and you can just rotate them. 

to start off, here are some new cook books currently on the fernandez bookshelf (or in transit): alex guarneschelli, the home cook (love her breaded chicken with prosciutto, her roasted carrots, her super easy tomato pasta sauce), the haven's kitchen cooking school (this is actually a great book if you need to learn how to chop an onion and other novice stuff), what's gaby cooking, half baked harvest, the skinnytaste cookbook (still haven't delved into these books but i'll share favorite recipes as soon as i do). 

also, i'm going cuban on everyone here but i've got to share my nationality in the recipe department every once in a while. enjoy! 

if you're a #bossbabe, #bossman or just a boss, you probably have a right-hand person who helps you get it done on the daily. april 25 is administrative professionals' day and the perfect time to send a little extra love. we've channeled our gifting skills to bring you this admin day gift guide with some of our favorite ways to say "love you, mean it!" 

1. productivity planners 

emily ley lives that simplified life and makes the most comprehensive planner in the game. it's currently sold out (it's that good), but trust us when we say it is worth the wait. just sign up for the waitlist or buy a gift card so your employee can choose his/her own.  

if patience isn't the thing, try the goals inspirational journal with fun exercises, prompts and planners to create that #goals life. 

2. the cutest way to say "relax"

help your ride or die soak the stress away with our relax box, stuffed with bath-time goodies like a clarifying tea tree + mint body bar, an ultra-hydrating organic coconut milk soak and a fragrant long-burning soy candle that's soy relaxing. 

3. the assistant's assistant 

the google assistant can take care of those menial tasks (like managing schedules, doing research and setting up the office playlist) so your team member can focus on meaningful work and connection.  

4. the gift box for when thank you isn't enough 

this little number is stuffed with small-batch snacking favorites like sweet n’ salty popcorn, crispy orange peels, citrus-infused chocolate, smoked pork sticks and the best almonds you’ve ever tasted. "thank you oh so much" never tasted oh so good. 

5. work/life hacks 

the secret's out. we love molly erman's book, "work life: a survival guide to the modern office." (you might remember it from our work/life bundle). from maximizing productivity to navigating office dating and communal kitchens, this lil manual is everything!

on that same tip, kathryn minshew + alexandra cavoulacos' "the new rules of work: the modern playbook for navigating your career" outlines what it means to work in today's tech universe.   

6. divine guidance 

the hoodwitch offers everyday magic for the modern mystic. her colorful serpentfire tarot deck rekindles the relationship to the divine and helps handle all the work things with faith, grace and fun.  

7.  hydration heroes

the chicest way to never have to ask "is that my water?" again, s'well is the only hydration accessory that looks great and does good. also the new spring floral collection is giving us all kinds of flowery feels. 

8. symphony of stems 

the perfect size for a console, accent or office table, our symphony of stems features our bouquet of the day flowers and other seasonal florals. styled in a vase and colored to impress, you can't go wrong with this arrangement. 

9. tea for three 

this tea-themed seed starter set is featured in our upcoming spring/summer collection  and includes three thoughtfully curated seed kits to grow the perfect kind of herbal refreshments. 

for more admin day gift inspiration, visit our "celebrate someone" and enjoy 20% off with the code CELEBRATE through april 30.

food

I was definitely brought up to appreciate the social significance of creating and consuming food together. My family has always gathered primarily in the kitchen and I try to continue that tradition in my own small family. When I’m cooking I try avoid processed foods. To facilitate this without going crazy during the week, I utilize my freezer as a tool. When I first started cooking for the freezer in college, I would make large batches of dishes that freeze well but I found that I wasn’t too excited to eat that third frozen lasagna/ chili/ stew of the month and they ended up whithering away to freezerburn. Now I’ll make a big batch with the aim to freeze “parts” of meals; browned ground beef, fresh chicken broth, tomato sauce before adding herbs. These components can take many different directions with little effort and keep our weeknight menus easy and varied. It’s taken me years to get good at this and sometimes we have weeks where the stove doesn’t get turned on at all, but we are always happier when it does.

work 

Last year I left a wonderful and wonderfully stable job to follow my passion and open my own small business. I would be lying if I did not say many days and nights are spent in mild panic. Even with the fears and tough moments that came with my first year of business, I have never regretted my leap. This is my dream job. My gratefulness abounds and I love sitting in that feeling of deep thanks. Doing something you love is a luxury and I am very aware of that. I try to express that feeling in my work and the energy I give my awesome clients.

relationships

People are mostly good most of the time. I try to embrace people where they are, give them lots of slack/grace, and talk to a lot of strangers. So far it has suited me pretty well. My husband and I are going on ten years together which is crazy to think about. I try to feed that relationship. Someone once told me that a spirit of service and generosity pays dividends. I have learned that to be universally true.

joy

We have it so good. My sister and my husband are both incredible at highlighting life’s small joys and I have tried to become more like them in that way. Life’s joys aren’t always vacations, adventures, and luxury. Appreciating your air conditioning, your nourishing lunch, your comfy pillows, that’s the good stuff.

mcl coordination is a full-service wedding and event planning company organizing beautiful and personalized events in miami, florida. 

we're knee deep in mercury retrograde people. read here on how to survive it and read below on what's going on in the trenches this month. 

melanie is currently...

melanie's current state: transformation. in a total state of new beginnings: new gift/flower collection (shooting, tomorrow, april 11!), new lease on our current shop space conditioned on knocking down a wall and renovations this summer, and new lease on life. i took a faith plunge about two months ago and am in the process of strengthening my faith tools. faith in my calling, faith in god's plan for me, faith in my business, my employees (delegating!), my family, my abilities as a mother and wife, my dreams. mentally jumping off cliffs constantly (you should try it. it's thrilling.). i've also been exploring the power of NO. i've decided to engage and attract things into my life that i want to work on and bring me joy and that work with the schedule i want to have with my family. if something sounds like i don't want to take it on, i'm not taking it on. if something takes me away from my kids too much, i'm not taking it on. i'm building my success on this premise and have said no to a few projects already and the saying no is giving me life. 

obsessing over

• my bahamas trip in july! harbour island - this is where i go in my meditations. alex and i have been going together for 10 years and i can't wait to take margot and alexander together (alexander went when he was around 9 months old and margot in utero).  it's also, hands down, the most beautiful beach i've ever been to. 

• sencha green tea. i gave up coffee three months ago and this, along with chai tea, is my new go-to. 

• palm beach and daniel boulud's restaurant, cafe boulud (EVERYTHING). 

• our new gift and flower collection, including our mother's day gifts, launching next month! we're featuring the best new products, including this seed starter kit, this baby balm, these baby bows, this chocolate, this popcorn, and these chickpeas, to name a few. 

 watching

•  real housewives of new york city

• southern charm! it's back in all it's southern glory. 

• my next guest needs no introduction with david letterman (jay z special is amazing)

 wanting

• new iphone. you guys, my battery goes from 70% to 1% in literally ten minutes. i'm traveling with a charger wherever i go and my screen is cracked. it's time. but i'm so stubborn i'm dragging this one out until i can't anymore. 

• a complete office reno. knock down walls, new tables, shelving, organizational tools, a delivery truck, a new flower cooler. 

listening to

• right now every podcast with lacy phillips from free and native. her take on manifesting is so, so interesting and it's helped me add a few notches to my manifesting belt.  

• other favorite podcasts: bitch sesh, that's so retrograde, how i built this, almost thirty, the lively show, the life coach school

• music: maluma and kygo (are you laughing because you should be). 

eating

• catch my recipe roundup no. 1 on the blog. also eating other amazing recipes, including a homemade pesto with cashews and chianti beef (stay tuned for roundup no. 2). my meal planning is going stupendous. we're basically sitting pretty around 3-4 homecooked meals per week (all different proteins included), two-three of which are cooked on sunday, and eating out on the weekends. we've saved a lot of money doing this and it's truly becoming second nature for us. 

• trader jos. i have saved 30% of my grocery budget every week going to trader jos. i don't think i spend more than $100 when i go and there's so much i'm better off purchasing there than at whole foods (fruits and veggies, milk, bread, fruit bars, frozen pizza, WINE, ground turkey and organic chicken). 

reading

• omg. everything as per usual. i attempt to read and then a few chapters in, i start watching bravo and there's that. 

working on

• having more faith in myself, delegating to my employees, and relinquishing control. 

cristie is currently...

cristie's current state: knee deep in mercury retrograde. i made a promise to myself another problem with my car and i was selling it... and the time has come loud and clear! everything is so complicated like car titles and repairs. i am taking that car (who i have named Oliver) to carmax and letting it go! also, i just found i have termites. good news, i have accepted, solved and moved on! also this retrograde ends april 15 (editors note today is april 4) i honestly i have no knowledge on what exactly mercury retrograde is but i am totally holding it responsible it for my current state.

obsessing over

• planning upcoming travel. i impulsively signed up for this website scotts cheap flights. he essentially is searching for travel deals all day. my plan is to block a week in may and/or september/october and see what deals i am presented with! you can score flights to europe for under $400 and i am all about that life!! curious to see where this might lead me, travel wise, which is also fun. 

• my new pants from madewell - yes, i got them in both a cargo green & jean. when i went to japan, all the girls were rocking this style. in an effort to be a japanese woman of style, i got them and i love them. you know who hates them, my husband mike, but what does he know about life!

watching

• wild wild country - you need to carve out 6 hours to watch this because wants you begin you won't want to stop. netflix documentary on the rajneeshee cult movement that built a community in oregon in the 1980s. sheela is my favorite character of 2018 and i respect her #metoo vibes as a female cult leader even though i am pretty sure she has no soul.

• one strange rock - a series on the discovery channel about how life survives and thrives on earth told from the perspective of people who have been outside of earth - astronauts. how interconnected the earth is and how the planet itself is a living breathing organism that functions beyond humankind is mind blowing. i love the earth and mother nature!

 wanting

• someone to buy my car from me for 10000000000$. or just a fair price. oliver deserves a loving home and is worth more than what i was offered. 

• new sunglasses. i wish i could rock the circle style that is all the rage now but my head is just too large (big brain). 

listening to

• podcasts all day long. also, i am such a victim of podcast ads. i really believe it is the most effective marketing technique. i love my third love bra, my lola subscription and my next step is the quip. 

eating

• i have been going to the grocery store and cooking seldomly! but this week, i have been surviving on easter party (at my moms house) leftovers. again, i wrote this part on april 4. i am not a savage who has been eating leftovers a month later. 

reading

• okay so i have been really been slacking on this end. but i am happy to report i have made progress! no, i have not read a book. i fell victim for another ad (i am the ultimate consumer) and signed up to receive the (failing) new york times sunday edition delivered to my home sunday morning. i love spending my weekend morning reading the paper like i live in a time far far away (aka 2000) when people got there news from print. also, the paper has great articles, opinions and travel inspiration. 

working on

• selling my car because by the time i finished writing this blog post, it is april 10 and i already went to carmax, which was a pretty disappointing experience. also i am embarrassed to go back because i told them "i will never sell my car for this price!" and left in a dramatic fashion. so now i am determined to get more for my car by selling it on ebay and craigslist. just a matter of putting plan into action right now. 

• having patience during this mercury retrograde and just taking it day by day because life is good. 

omg it's march. we're officially almost a quarter done with the year, which is insane to say. i'm writing this on a monday, on our shop couch, which is my day for "admin" tasks like writing for the blog, responding to proposals, writing emails, you name it, it gets done (or I at least attempt to get it all done). our valentine's day was A-FRIGGIN-MAZING - thank you to everyone that supported us again. we're gearing up for mother's day and our new gift collection and floral menu (believe it or not) and styling florals and gifts, booking events, and coming up with new engaging ways to grow our brand. we're been taking on a new theme at the shop every month and this month's theme is happiness. we're promoting the theme with our first floral workshop this month on the 22nd (purchase your tickets here!), and we'll be sharing our happiness tips in the days leading up to the workshop.

other news to share: 1) we're running a subscription trial for anyone wanting to try subscriptions! how it works, we send you one week free, and then exactly one week after your delivery, sign you up for a semi-monthly subscription. if you're not happy within a week after your first free delivery, you can cancel and you won't be bound by anything at all. if you're interested in signing up, we'll be taking a few guinea pigs a month - email dara@houseoflilac.com and we'll include your name in the queue; 2) we'll be a hosting a mother's day floral styling + hosting workshop in may in honor of the holiday. we'll announce the date soon once we have more details!

obsessing over

• shinola detroit journals
• whip and dip ice cream (STILL obsessing over this, depressingly enough)
• my new short hair that is extremely easy to style and maintain - perfect for my extreme multitasking lifestyle
• coco, the disney movie. you guys, it's adorable. and i cry, every time. and my kids love it. win, win. 
• follow the every girl? if you don't, you should. they're launching a new sister site titled, the every mom. 
• a little thing called faith. i've rediscovered it recently and it's a real thing you guys. it's a magical thing. 

thinking about

•  how to read more and not fall asleep in two seconds. i want to continue to educate myself by reading more. so i'm thinking of scheduling reading certain blogs on monday night? hey mama, the every girl, mind body green, the glitter guide, any other suggestions? i'd love them and i'll totally feature your recommendations here next month (and incorporate them into my routine). 
  

watching

• HGTV - restored by the fords, home town, fixer upper, and the occasional house hunters beach house, i.e., my life is so. sad. 
• VANDERPUMP RULES. i mean, this is everything. and if you don't watch it, you should. 
• coco

wanting

• a new shop. like store front shop, come on in and buy/order flowers, buy holistic and /or organic food + body products, housewares, PLANTS, flowers, order flowers for your home, small events, attend workshops. that's like a dream of mine. and it's happening within the next two years. stay tuned. 

listening to

• abraham hicks. always. 
• podcasts - how i built this, the longest shortest time, that's so retrograde, bitch sesh, second life. 
• whatever cristie plays on spotify at the shop (it's currently justin timberlake). 

eating

• meal planning is working well, all. i cook sunday for sunday, monday and tuesday (sunday and monday is typically the same meal) and then wednesday + thursday are easier meals - i.e., shrimp with rice, frozen pizza (yes, totally), we also tried homemade pizza last week and that worked well. you can buy the already cooked dough at whole foods and you just add cheese and whatever other toppings your family loves. stick it in the oven and voila. for those that have requested certain recipes i'm happy to report that you can now find this week's recipes here, as well as their sources. i LOVE new cookbooks and if anyone would be willing to share their favorites, i'd be happy to cook them and feature them! 
• we also went to benihana this weekend with both our kids. and i'd like to add that it was a terrible idea. my kids were not amused by any fire + smokeshow of any sort and wanted to walk around the entire restaurant. obviously there's an age when benihana is a good idea, and 2 and under is not the age range. just food for thought.
• but restaurants that have worked for us: whisk, bricktops, basically anywhere with bread, chicken nuggets, mac and cheese, and LTE reception so they can watch trolls on netflix (i'm sorry, but this is the only way i can enjoy a glass of wine - and i deserve it). 

reading

• these books are STILL on my nightstand - how to parent a genius, crushing it by gary vaynerchuk, the life changing magic of tidying up (yes, still reading this), the journey of souls, helping your child with extreme picky eating, a simplified life. i still don't know how to parent a genius, how to crush it, what the life changing magic of tidying up is (although it would be helpful to know), what the journey of souls is pre death, how to help my child with extreme picky eating, although i think i've gotten better at simplifying my life (even though i haven't read through it all). but i'm going to get through these, i swear. i did add sophie kinsella's book my not so perfect life via my kindle, and yes, i'm thinking i might just block out "reading nights." does anyone do this? or just save them for the vacation ill be taking this summer. (the latter might be the best option). any other great novels that aren't depressing or thrillers?

working on

• letting go and having faith! every day. 
• myself. always. spiritually, emotionally, physically. loving myself more and knowing my self-worth ALWAYS.

cristie is currently...

cristie's current state: post wilderness vibes. just came back from a camping trip to rock river springs and it was so much fun. everyone should take a camping trip once a year. it’s a great reminder to step away from the technology and enjoy the outdoors.

obsessing over

• coconut grove - my neighborhood is in full bloom. pretty sure this ‘cold’ish weather of January brought out all the orchid flowers and south grove is really showing off.

• also, this tree is having a moment, it is called Starburst or shooting star clerodendrum. now that you know what it is, you are going to see it everywhere.

• black panther - loved the movie, the soundtrack and michael b jordan (BABE!).

watching

• queer eye - best show ever! it’s a literal definition of a smile on TV. your heart will be warmed for months after seeing this show. i wish I could binge it all over again! also, i am in love with antoni. 

 wanting

• new camp gear because my aforementioned camping trip made me want to buy every gizmo and gadget orvis has to offer!

• to get another trip in the books. need to get on this! want to take quick trips to chicago and portland in the summer and maybe spain, argentina, or jamaica in the autumn time.

listening to

• i am all about a long form interview and I am loving actor dax shepherd’s new podcast ‘armchair expert’. he interviews his celebrity friends for over an hour and all of the episodes I have heard so far are very engaging + interesting. he seems like a naturally curious person which makes him a great interviewer.

• justin timberlake ‘man of the woods’ album. because as of last weekend, I feel like a woman of the woods. also Justin Timberlake led me to discover chris stapleton (yeah, I know he has been famous for forever) and I dig him! country (ish) music is making a comeback into my life!

eating

• i have no idea what I have been eating LOL nothing memorable. going to the grocery today to get myself back into a routine.

reading

• again, nothing!!!!!!!!!!! NEED TO GET THIS PART OF MY LIFE IN ORDER. have I forgotten how to read? it used to be my favorite thing. can someone recommend me a good YA novel (my genre of choice because I am a mature 31 year old woman!!!).

working on

• being happy and grateful every day!

pc: Danielle Margherite

if you follow us on instastories you know that I (melanie) am an avid meal planner. i didn't always like cooking. i actually hated it. primarily because i didn't know how to do it, i'll be honest. my husband is a pretty amazing cook (some recipes below are actually his) and throughout our relationship has opened my eyes to loving food, restaurants, spices, experimenting, the whole food shebang. it's safe to say food is what we "share most in common" and feeding our family well and exposing our kids to different foods is part of our family mission statement (the one in my head not on paper). and i'd like to report that 50% of my children eat everything i feed them so i'm halfway there and have faith that if they constantly try new things, they'll both end up loving food as much as we do. not so bad of a thing, right? the recipes below are family favorites and the cookbooks cited are more than recommended. they're go to's. i'll be rounding up our favorite recipes every so often so check back in to see what we're into. 

bolognese

my husband, alex's, recipe

1. on medium-high heat, sauté onion for 8 mins or until translucent
2. add celery and carrot, sauté for 4 mins
3. add garlic, sauté for 1 min
4. add ground meat and cook until not pink
5. add red wine and deglaze the pot. Let reduce by half.
6. add beef stock. Let reduce by half.
7. add heavy whipping cream, can crushed tomatoes. Incorporate the ingredients well.
8. add oregano, salt + pepper (to taste).
9. lower heat to medium-low and simmer for 30 – 45 mins (the longer, the thicker the sauce).
10. ½ cup of the Pecorino Romano directly into the sauce before you serve. The other ½ cup Pecorino Romano on top of the pasta.

we're always game for a theme and as we gear up for the international day of happiness, this month's subject is...you guessed it. if you're busy adulting, happiness might feel like an afterthought, but we're not about that life. we think it's a practice, a choice and a lifestyle that's accessible to everyone so here are twenty tried and true methods to stay out of the blue. 

1. quiet the mind

meditating is so #ontrend right now, but for good reason. with work, life and our constant connection to technology, our synapses are on fire. how can we even know what we're feeling when we're continuously overstimulated? even one minute per day can shift your mood. if you're new to mindfulness, user-friendly apps like headspace and insight timer break down the practice, step-by-step. 

2. smile. it's contagious.  

it might sound obvious, but something happens to your brain when the corners of your mouth turn up. if you have to fake it at first, do it and eventually, you'll be flashing those pearly whites with gusto. it's science. google it. practice around your house or when talking to strangers. you can even incorporate smiling exercises into your meditation practice.  

3. move around

chalk it up to the endorphins, but it's hard to not feel good after sweating it out for an hour. our current workout of choice? buddha shack yoga. their buddha burn class is the perfect combination of cardio, strength training, flow and hip hop (all things that make us really freaking happy). 

4. let it out

who knew journaling would be a thing past high school? but we're not complaining. use it for catharsis or the first stop to your dreams. if you write it, it will come (or at least bring you one step closer). check out the law of attraction planner, a journal/planner combo, chock full of manifesting mojo that's easy to understand and practice.

5. spoil yourself

whether it's a mani/pedi, luxurious bath or walk outside, self-care comes in many ways. whatever you need to do to relax and re-set, do it because WTF not?

6. lean into your love language 

if physical touch is your thing, get to cuddling. if time spent fills you up, pencil in some QT with your loved ones. it's your thing. do what you gotta do. 

7. try some stuff 

learn mandarin, go skydiving or go to a class that sparks your creativity. if you're not growing, you're stagnant and that's just not cute.  

8. love on a furry friend

if you're not pet-friendly, feel free to fast-forward, but we're totally pup-obsessed. an hour at the dog park or cuddle sesh with man's best friend is a surefire way to send away the sunday scaries and remind you how beautifully simple life can be. 

9. learn some things

podcasts are our favorite methods to stay woke. we listen while we work, drive and prep. our faves (include, but are not limited to): that's so retrograde, how i built this and this american life. now get after it. 

10. experience nature

TFW when you listen to the crash of the ocean or feel the warmth of the sun. it's easy to forget that the world we live in is nothing short of amazing, so get out there and be all up in it.   

11. talk to strangers

forget what your mother told you. making eye contact and starting a conversation with someone you don't know breaks up the routine of everyday life and reminds us that we're all connected.   

12. give back

the world might seem like a hot mess right now and you might be unsure of where to focus your energy so start small. give a sensible donation to an organization you can get behind or help an elderly person with his/her groceries. one act of kindness is enough to cultivate inner and outer joy. 

13. detach 

attachment to outcomes is the quickest way to lower your energy. it's life. stop trying to control it. focus on the experience of what you want to achieve rather than the result. you either win or you learn so what are you so scared of? 

14. be a resource

dying over the nextflix special you binged on over the weekend? still dreaming about the meal you whipped up last night? share it. share all of it! when you add value to others, you see value in yourself so text that recco to anyone who will be into it. our recco? netflix's new and improved queer eye! you need this in your life. you can thank us later. 

15. be present

instead of laboring over what happened yesterday or stressing about the future, focus on what's right in front of you. look out your car window, listen deeply to those speaking and pay attention to your surroundings. life isn't meant to be lived inside your head. 

16. show love

thinking about someone? let her know. a hand-written note or personalized gift spreads that warm, fuzzy feeling.

17. be social 

pencil in a girls night whenever you have a minute. whether it's a book club, wine and cheese or a craft session, sometimes a concentrated dose of unconditional love is all you need to raise your vibes.

18. compliment someone 

feeling something about someone? tell them! even if it's something random like the way they smile. they'll appreciate the gesture.

19.  elevate your mood

our mind/body connection is legit. serve up a smoothie with add-ins like maca, cacao and chia seeds that act as natural mood stabilizers. 

20. believe 

life isn't a one-woman job. call on the universe, energy, God or whomever you speak to when you lie in bed at night for a little extra TLC.

have all the feels? spread the love with our gift happy collection. use the code GIFTHAPPY for 20% off until march 20th.