A Mother's Day Gift Guide + The April Edition
A few things I've been loving and think you (and the mom in your life!) might, too
Hi, friends. April came in like a cool spring breeze and flew by with gale-force strength. To say it was busy would be… an extreme understatement. Traveling to Mexico for my younger brother’s wedding; my older brother and his family visiting for a week and all of the entertaining, play dates, and Disneyland trips that entailed; countless bouts of colds and stomach bugs for everyone in our household; tax day for my CPA husband; Easter; Sasha’s birthday — the list goes on.
The month was absolutely bursting with activities and my routine is completely off. Which, of course, leaves me feeling off. Anxious and uneasy and overwhelmed. How do I cope? Deep breaths, long walks, little treats, saying “It is what it is” over and over again to myself, romanticizing little and not-so-little everyday moments, and reminding myself that things have always been OK in the past and this time won’t be any different.
*And*, of course, cooking and writing. This monthly newsletter is always one of my favorites to put together and I have lots of good things to share with you this month, starting with a Mother’s Day gift guide, the places I really loved in Oaxaca City and the places I wish I would’ve had time to check out, and a few other things I’ve been loving.
My Mother’s Day Gift Guide
If the mom or mother figure in your life is anything like me — aka, appreciates the finer things in life — then perhaps she’ll enjoy some of the ideas in this quickie little gift guide. We’ve got things both food-related and not, as well as a range of prices. They’re all things I would love to give and get.
Ginori 1735 is a bucket list brand. Their porcelain plates, coffee cups, tea cups and saucers, and the like are not cheap, but they do look and feel really special. Full disclosure I do not own anything, but I would loooove to (hint hint, husband).
This Sezane straw bag has been on my wishlist for quite a while. Perfect for an everyday purse, to use as a chic diaper bag, or a market tote. The plain one is simple and perfect but the new, larger striped versions are so eye-catching, too.
This Clare V. Pot de Miel is another très chic purse I’ve been eyeing that I think would elevate any outfit and just looks so cute. I love that you can carry it with the bamboo handle or buy a longer cross-body chain to make it a bit more functional, and I also love how large it is for a sweet lil’ handbag.
, the co-founder of Lorenza Wine, recently did a “What’s In My Bag” Substack post with this purse and pointed out that it fits a whole bottle of wine, making it actually perfect.I just love this Jo Malone Orange Blossom perfume. So fresh, so floral, so springy!
This Brightland Paint & Pour Gift Set is so cute, especially if you have little ones who are gifting something to Mama. I love that you can paint a custom label for the bottle! How sweet would that be on the countertop? Their Alive EVOO is also a very good one to just gift on its own. (Use this link to get 15% off on their site!)
I think an antique silver picture frame with a photo inside is such a special gift. You can find a ton on Etsy, but I’ve always had luck finding cheaper options (like, under $10!) at local thrift stores.
Speaking of antiques, most antique stores will have porcelain tea cups and silver tea pots in a range of styles and prices. A little mismatched tea set, with a cup or two, a pot, maybe a tray, and some nice teas (I love the Rishi teas) would be such a sweet gift.
I’m a big fan of Hillhouse in general, but their jammies are especially luxe.
These Dorsey earrings are what I told Denis I want. I think the emerald color is so stunning and can’t wait to dress them up with a black silk slip dress on date night or down with jeans or a simple cotton sundress during the day.
Sabre silverware is another bucket list brand for me. I don’t own any, but would love to! They are so simple and chic. The bottle opener is nice, too, and a little more cost-conscious.
These Martha Stewart brand goblet glasses have been in my Amazon cart for too long. I just love the shape and feel like they’d be so perfect filled with a crispy white wine or even a spritz or martini. Maybe give them to mom along with her favorite bottle of vino?
48 Hours in Oaxaca City
My little brother (he’s actually only two years younger than I am, but always little brother to me!) got married in Oaxaca City, Mexico, and it was a really fun but really quick trip. I traveled solo to spare the girls two long days of travel (and spare Denis and I two long days of travel with a toddler and a baby). It was my first trip away from them, and I was a bit emotional about it. But, I was on vacation, after all, so I made the most of it. A massage at the hotel spa, lots of really good Mexican wine and as much mole as I could eat. Here are a few places I really loved.
Unlike any other restaurant I’ve ever been to. Mexican-Asian fusion, with something house fermented in every single dish. The cold noodles were the star of the show in my opinion, followed closely by the chicken katsu, which was breaded in chicharron. It’s in the Michelin Guide and I couldn’t recommend it more.
This place caught my eye from the outside because of the typography on their signage and the very cute vibes the internal courtyard was giving off all the way from the sidewalk. They offered a mole tasting featuring the seven traditional Oaxacan moles and I would definitely order that again. They also had lovely Mexican wines on the menu, and the service was so warm and welcoming.
I originally wanted to stay at the Quinta Real, which is very much in the city center, but it sold out before I was able to book rooms. My older brother, dad, and I stayed at the Grand Fiesta Americana, which is about a 10-minute walk from the center but so worth it. So luxurious, clean, comfortable, and beautiful, with a very attentive staff and a super fun little bar that we visited for a nightcap almost every night. The breakfast buffet was very good (mole tamales everyday for breakfast, please), and their spa!! One of the best massages I’ve ever had. They also have a pool which was full of families during the day.
I Wish I Had Gone To…
Sabina Sabe, a world’s best bar that my younger brother says is fantastic. Destilado, an omakase experience with traditional Oaxacan cuisine. Los Danzantes, an upscale Mexican restaurant that looked beautiful on the inside but I was not in the mood to wait for.
Other Things I Loved in April
We’ve ordered takeout from Joy in the past and it is always a 10/10, but somehow we have it and then promptly forget it exists. We ordered dinner from them a couple weeks ago and I haven’t stopped thinking about it since — and have re-ordered for lunch several times. Get the Chiayi Chicken Rice with extra pickles (add the chili oil — insane), the vegan mapo tofu, the thousand layer pancake, and as many of the cold appetizers as you have room for.
One of my dearest childhood friends, Megan, just launched a delicious beverage that I think will be the drink of the summer in LA. It’s called Chimi and it’s a savory, sparkling beverage reimagined from Korean dongchimi. The taste is super unique — like delicate kimchi, but in beverage form. It’s super light and refreshing, exactly what you want to drink after being outside on a hot day. Denis drinks two at a time because they are so chuggable and good. Get them at LA Home Farm, Flask Highland Park, Potluck Local, Flask & Field, and Dada Market if you’re in LA!
I haven’t been super into breakfast lately so I’ve been eating these AmyLu Breakfast Time chicken sausages. They’re quick and easy, I don’t have to think about them, and they keep me full but also feel kind of light? I just nuke ‘em for 50-ish seconds and eat them off a paper towel because it’s not all gorgeous plates and perfect tablescapes around here!
This red Hillhouse dress and this vintage nightgown-inspired Laneway the Label dress have been pretty much the only things I’ve been wearing.
My skin always gets super itchy around this time of year and this L’Occitane shower oil is pretty much the only body wash that doesn’t only not make it worse, but somehow helps! That, and a big ol’ jar of Cerave cream, which I have also been using as a facial moisturizer.
This Chilean orange wine is probably my favorite wine ever and perfect for al fresco evenings.
I’ll leave you with this: a moodboard for May.
pot de miel forever! <333