Mother's Day Gift Guide

Mother's Day is May 13th! 

So for all of you last minute shoppers...I have you covered this year!

I have pulled together a Gift Guide to hopefully make shopping easier on all of you and to get those wheels turning on how you will celebrate your Mother's on their special day!

 As a mom a shorts set of pj's for the warmer months ahead would totally make my day!

Comfy Cool and Casual for the win!

I love the idea of giving a plant!

It's something our Mom's can watch grow and always remember they received on Mother's Day!  

This Magnolia Tree would be PERFECT!

DONE! Delicious and HOW CUTE?!
This is one chic and totally perfect box of chocolates for Mom!

Winc Wine Subscription! When I think of my girlfriends who are moms and myself I know that EVERY single one of us would love to have wine delivered to our doorstep each and every month!

Last, and probably my personal favorite.  The "Mama" ring! Oh be still my heart!
It's so rare you see "Mama" on anything.  My "Mama" is nothing short of down right amazing!  The day I brought Fiona into this world and was able to be called "Mama" my heart exploded with an insane amount of love. Precious and Perfect!


Wishing all the beautiful Mother's and "Mama's" ;) out there a wonderful and unforgettable
Mother's Day!

 

Extending the Olive Branch

There's a new tree in town! 

I think we are all well aware of the Fiddle Fig Tree trend that’s been going strong for over a year now.   To be clear, I am STILL very much obsessed with fiddle fig leaves and all their beauty. 

However, if you are totally over the bright green leaf and ready to move on to something a little more subtle and softer in color then the Olive Tree is totally the tree for you.

 

 

Details on How to care for an Indoor Olive Tree

Having plants in your home provides so many benefits from cleaning the air in your space, prompting relaxation, and they even inspire life and creativity into your home and space.   Don’t worry if you have a black thumb I have a few options for you below too!

Elisabeth Heier’s (Blogger, photographer, and interior designer)

Norwegian Home Incorporates the Olive Tree

 One of the many things I love about the olive tree is you can go big or small!
This happy little tree can sit on your kitchen counter or stand tall in your living room.

Medina Lind

Brown Design Group

 If taking on a live tree is just too much of a thought to bear then why not try a faux olive tree or incorporate branches in your space or even a throw pillow?

Shop the Look
For your Home

1. Throw Pillow - Delightfully Chic Lifestyle Boutique
2. Prints - Color Water
3. Faux Tree - Ballard Designs 
4. Branches - Magnolia Market
5. Tea Towel and Napkins - A Love of Dish Towels  


Looking for more Delightfully Chic?  Make sure to follow along daily on Instagram!

Palm-Tastic

One trend that is undeniable this season are those full of life and vibrant in color, gorgeous green palm leaves! Whether styled in a cozy nook, alone in a vase, arranged in a wall collage, on a pillow, or even as wall coverings,  this is a popular look that can't be missed. 

 Styled by Emily Henderson

Here are a few styled looks I completely swoon over and all the details on where to shop to bring a little botanical goodness into your home.  

 Society Social

 Domino

Carly Rae Robinson Artwork

Delightfully Chic Lifestyle Boutique

Decor

 

Domino

 Holy City Chic

 Don't you feel more refreshed just simply looking at these spaces?!  I know I do!

Shop the Look 

 Shop the Look

Delightfully Chic - Palm Prints

Graham & Brown - Wallpaper

Society Social - Pillow

CB2 - Leaves 

The Gaither Kitchen: Avocado Basil Pesto

Every summer we grow basil in our garden.  Not only do I love the fresh taste of the plant, but also how amazing the leaves smell!  Picking fresh basil is actually something I really enjoy simply because of the aroma.  On Monday I decided it was time to make use of the leaves and have a little garden to table in the Gaither Kitchen.

I am trying really hard to keep my "cheat meals" to a minimum as I work to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight. So when I had a craving for cheese ravioli with pesto I knew I had to cut somewhere.  I found this healthy avocado basil pesto recipe from one of my favorite blogs, Ambitious Kitchen and knew this was what I wanted to try.  So what makes it healthy?  Most pesto recipes call for a fairly good amount of oil, so in this recipe we are going to replace the oil with avocado.  I'm a huge fan of avocado.  Whether you are having it in a salad or on a sandwich or by itself with a splash of fresh lime juice, this fruit provides you with healthy fats and we should all be a fan of that.   

Avocado Basil Pesto

Here is what you will need...

{Note: I made minor modifications to the original recipe}

1 Cup of fresh basil leaves

1/2 of a large avocado 

2 tablespoons of pine nuts

1 1/2 cloves of garlic

1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice

1 teaspoon of fresh lime juice

4 tablespoons of water

1/4 cup of shredded Parmesan, Romano, and Asiago cheeses

In your food processor, add your basil, avocado, pine nuts, garlic, and lemon and lime juice.  Pulse for about 20-30 seconds.  Next add in your water and pulse again until consistency is smooth.  Pour your pesto into a dish and mix in 1/4 cup cheese.  I personally prefer the three cheese mixture instead of only using Parmesan.  The cheese blend and avocado is actually what I think makes this pesto really stand out from the others.

Once you have mixed in your cheese you can pour over your pasta or store your pesto in an air tight container for up to 2 days.  

And, there you have it!  I would love to know if you try this recipe- comment below and let me know what you think!

Design Element Must: Greenery

One design element that I love to see in just about any space is a greenery plant of some sort.  For me, they brighten and bring life to a room.  We currently have ivy in our laundry room, a money tree that formally resided in my office is now in our master bathroom, and a bamboo plant sits in Scott’s office.  I am head over hills in love with lemon cypress trees in our kitchen area, but seeing as I have just killed our second one I think I am giving up on these fragrant darlings.

  

Lately, I have crushed over two plants.  The fiddle leaf fig and the snake plant.  I would love to see the fiddle leaf in our kitchen nook or possibly in one of our living spaces. This tree to me just screams sleek and modern life.  The snake plant I think deserves a home in Baby G’s nursery.  I love the snake plant because it not only purifies the air, it is safe for the little one, and provides fun color.  

 

 

What are your favorite indoor plants for your home? 

 

The Boxwood Wreath

Every year, thanks to my Mother-in-Law, I have a beautiful fresh boxwood wreath hanging in our home.  Last year's wreath lasted from December- September!!  

I have found if you mist them with water 1-2 times a week and basically just let them be, they last for months!  Yesterday I came home to not one, but two gorgeous wreaths!  I immediately hung the first in our kitchen and the second (after I fancy it with a bow) will hang on our front door. 

 

There are still so many people that stick with traditional evergreen wreaths, but for me the boxwood offers simplicity with classic elegance.  

 

{Inspiration via Delightfully Chic and Pinterest}

Are you a fan of the boxwood like me?!  How do you display your wreath in your home?!

Hostess Gifts for the Holiday Season

We are just a couple days away from Thanksgiving.  Do you have your hostess gifts ready?

If you are still debating what to take the amazing cook we have pulled together 5 items for you that we think just about any host/hostess would love. 

 

Shop the Look 

1. A bottle of wine wrapped in a  Cotton + Flax Tea Towel

2. West Elm Vintage Coasters 

3. Potted Rosemary Plant- dress it up by tying a ribbon around the pot

4. Thankful Coffee Mug 

5. Cook Books by Williams-Sonoma

Fall Bulbs = Spring Moments

It's been a while since my last gardening post

and I thought today some of you out there might could

use a little color to brighten your day as we hunker down

for yet another one of Mother Natures downpours.

Before we get to your color moment here's a 

fun fact (insert Paul Blart voice)  I have always wanted to be a 
Meteorologist reporting live on scene, specializing in hurricanes.  
So, with that being said, I am BEYOND excited 

to escape to Wilmington this weekend to endure even MORE rain 

thanks to our friend Joaquin.

OK, now on to the color moment for all of you rainy day haters out there!

Here are my top 4 picks for bulbs to plant NOW so that when spring 
arrives you will be the first to know as

these beauties start to poke their little heads out!

  

Happy Planting! 
 

Calling a Spade a Spade

Remember last week when I was questioning what in the world

was going on with me??! 

Sometimes you just have to call a spade a spade!

It's official, no more hiding it!  I am DONE with summer

and ready for fall!! WHAT? Does that make me fall girl now?

I told Scott just this past week it was taking everything I have 

not to break out the fall decor! My goal is hold off until after Labor Day weekend, but

the struggle is real and I'm making no promises.  He tried to tame my urge last week

by picking up fall scented goodies for the house, but I think his plan backfired! 

As I try to contain myself today I am just going to share

more inspiration that isn't as over the top fall.  Think of it as more

of a gentle transition to fall. There's no red, no orange, no yellow.

Just perfection!

 

 

Ok, I lied, I just can't help myself...BAM!

 Happy Fall Yall! 

What still too soon?!