May's Six

Image Credits: upper-left tile via loveandlemons.com, upper-middle tile via Frog’s Leap, upper-right tile and lower-left tile via amazon.com, lower-middle tile via target.com, lower-right tile album cover via amazon.com.

The aim of this series is to corral some favorite things and share them in a short and sweet post. Whether it’s a song, book, recipe, tip, or product, hopefully you will find some inspiration in this list.  

1. It's May (how is that possible?!?) and it feels like just the right time to finally celebrate spring. On that note, I have been drawn to beautiful and bright recipes that will perfectly transition to warmer weather. Check out this cucumber salad, these caprese-stuffed avocados, and this green goddess pasta salad.

2. To accompany the above springy-summery recipes, try out Berryessa Gap’s rose or Frog’s Leap’s La Grenouille Rougante rose (here and here). I can attest to the deliciousness of both!

3. My sister-in-law gave my son the best ever "num-num" (a.k.a. snack) accessory. Now that he's a toddler, it's a more functional option compared to the usual lidded version. It's also reusable and cute. Check it out here for the little babes in your life.

4. This month’s book recommendation is on-theme, with Mother’s Day just around the corner. My mom recommended The Blue Jay’s Dance to me and all I can say is that it has lived up to her glowing review. Erdrich’s prose is lovely—rich and lush without being cloyingly so. It is a book about motherhood and pregnancy and depicts both beautifully. Grab a copy here.

5. On the subject of Mother’s Day: write your mama a card and order her a Hearth & Hand candle. The scents are sophisticated and clean, and the jars—I favor the amber and glazed ceramic options—are perfectly chic. My favorite scents are citrus grove (here) and cardamom and vetiver (here).

6. If you’ve seen HBO’s Big Love, then you’ll probably recognize this song as it plays prominently in one of the best scenes. “Take your Mama” is catchy and fun and should make an appearance on your summer playlist!

Alison