Mother’s day is here, my people. I have a list of the best mother's day gift ideas for you to enjoy the weekend with the important ladies in your life. In fact, there are some outdoor activities that can be enjoyed throughout spring and all the way to the end of summer season. Now tell me: do you spend weeks searching for the best mother’s day gift ideas or are you a procrastinator, who also loves mom dearly? I usually start thinking a month in advance but still find myself struggling at the last minute to choose from one of many gift options out there. ​At whichever point of planning mode you might be in for this mother's day, I'm sure this list will get your creative juices flowing. Blogging for me comes from a very personal space, and I tend to often draw inspiration from my own life. This list of mother's day gift ideas is no exception and was shaped by my personal experiences with my own mother. We have not indulged in all that's included here. It was built from similar experiences we have had or I would have liked to have had as a mother and/or daughter. 

The big question this time around - are the cherry blossoms in full bloom? Flowering of the cherry blossom tree somehow marks the beginning of spring in Washington, DC. ​With the weather fluctuating every week, we didn’t really know what to expect. Although the Cherry Blossom Festival have started since March 13 and will continue till April 15th, the National Park Service had revised (twice) Washington D.C. peak bloom forecast to April 8-12. And this time... it worked! Although I'm not big on Cherry Blossom in DC and there are snow showers expected on Saturday, I’m hoping they can survive their already short span of life.

Photo Credit: Style Me Pretty  

​The cherry blossoms have bloomed

I usually dread going to the Tidal Basin to see the cherry blossoms, because it’s usually still cold in early spring and the weather fluctuates a lot. This year I’m thinking about paying them a visit, because our little cherry buds struggled hard last year and never got to bloom. The recent snow this year hadn’t affected them much, but the cold had pushed back their blooming time. There’s an overwhelming amount of hype around Cherry Blossoms, especially, in DC. I appreciate the new blooms, but after a few visits over the years, I had stopped feeling the need to be a part of all the hustle and bustle. This year, I do want to make an effort to go to DC and maybe share some pretty pictures with you. So, you see… the blog has helped me grow interest in things I had lost fascination for before. I’ve decided to easy in to the season and just make a random visit to the city one sunny day.

Good Friday and long weekend is here with some sunshine and warmer days. Who can complain! My little niece has been running around the house... making everyone hunt Easter eggs that she hid under and around all the furniture. She made some easter craft and played egg hunting games with other kids in school, so she brought home a pretty little Easter basket to continue the fun. She got me excited to explore some of the events that are taking place in the community. There are lots of Easter Egg hunt events and activities taking place in Maryland + Washington, DC this weekend. We don’t celebrate Easter, but in terms of decor for your Easter brunch or activities to do right at home, here are few pretty things that caught my attention:

How gorgeous and creative is this Easter-inspired Centerpiece sitting pretty on Southern Living? I have two fish bowls, from my own wedding, that I occasionally use to create centerpieces for my parties. So, as soon as I saw this garden centerpiece made of fresh produce and flowers, it immediately got my attention.

I partnered up with Michelle Whitley Photography on a simple bridal portrait session, inspired by a bohemian lace wedding dress and a simple boho chic wedding photography in the park. I've realized that I kept waiting on the perfect time to blog about this winter wedding inspiration, so it just sat there. ​​This last minute photoshoot was planned within forty eight hours with few of my sweetest friends. One of my projects had been cancelled, and in order to make use of the precious time, I'd put together a small team to create this inspiration. The weather was still really cold and windy outside, so we had to take frequent breaks to warm up! Lighting the candles were out of the question. Despite all the hiccups, we were able to create something pretty. This inspiration board is meant to display an earth-tone color palette, mixed in with jewel tones and various textures for a boho chic flare. Wedding photographer Michelle did a beautiful job with capturing the bridal portrait details in film. As a wedding coordinator and event planner, I strive to cater to brides who appreciates artistically styled details and fine art photography.

Aaaahhhhhhhhh hello.... Hello, my people!! I’m so excited to be writing to you today! It’s been too long, and oh have I missed you all! Have you missed me? I sure hope you did! I’ve lost a few followers during this time out, but there are many of you who stayed with me. So many of you were so sweet to check in on me! Thank you so very much for sticking around! I wasn’t joking when I said I’m still trying to get a hang of social media feed and consistent posting habits. I don’t layout or plan my Instagram or my Facebook posts ahead of time (I'll try to get better!). I tend to do it authentically and as I go. And, my life is pretty simple. I also wasn’t joking when I posted once that I tend to fly away to tropical lands during the end or beginning of the year. During late December or January I tend to travel to escape the freezing cold or just the winter itself, only to return... rejuvenated and motivated! Excuse this summer girl, won’t you?

Deals, deals, deals...

Every year, for the last decade, I'd wake up Friday morning at sunrise and go Black Friday shopping. This year I decided to skip the malls and all the hustle of shopping that sadly started the day of Thanksgiving. Instead, I'm planning on scoring deals on Cyber Monday from the comfort of my home or my cell phone! I mostly shop for shoes, accessories, and clothes on sale, so I can stock up for the following year. I don't actually spend on new clothes as often anymore. I maintain my clothes pretty well and have items from over a decade ago that I still rotate throughout the year. Which is why whenever I shop, I look for items that are on sale or will last the test of time. With the holiday season upon us and a growing holiday shopping list, I've put together a list of items, retailers, and small businesses to support during this major shopping time. 

The week of Thanksgiving is here! Are you ready for tomorrow? All the tablescape inspirations I've shared this month were prepared months in advance. Now that the Turkey Day is actually here, I'm realizing I've yet to prepare my own dinner table! So, if you've been super busy with shopping and prepping for the ultimate feast, and now scramming together last minute ideas for a simple dinner table decor, I've got you covered! 

As I was writing my post for a Thanksgiving decor inspiration, I kept thinking about just how important it was to not lose sight of the true meaning. The holiday season has always been about breaking bread, sharing a meal, and enjoying your harvest goodies. But setting up a beautiful table and having a feast is just a small part of getting a family together. What's truly valuable are the relationships and the people with whom we share our table, our meals, and our space in this world.

Getting in the holiday spirit start by counting our blessings and searching for things we’re grateful for. Let's find a way to show gratitude to those we love and care for, which includes total strangers as well. Sometimes, it's easier to show generosity and empathy to people we know nothing about. Living in a world where Instagram worthy images show life as perfectly aligned, cropped, and edited, it can become all too easy to allow our beliefs and judgments to dictate how we perceive others. 

With the holiday season here, I know many of you are already making travel arrangements and booking your calendars with family dinner, Friendsgiving brunches, or just celebrating the holiday spirit. This year I've got a few Thanksgiving table decor inspiration for your Turkey Day celebration! Seasonal cocktails, traditional dishes, and the turkey, make a classic Thanksgiving menu ideal for the holidays. However, if you really want to get creative and would like to create a fancy menu, most definitely do so! I wanted to leave the cooking part to your imagination, so that I could focus on creating an inspo, especially for you hosts out there. I believe hosts have a deep appreciation when it comes to applying a creative touch to a dinner-table design. I hope you find some inspiration from this post and the future posts, for your Thanksgiving decor.