Posts in ENTERTAINING
* GIFT GUIDE || 8 AMAZING FOOD GIFTS (UNDER $60)

Every year for Christmas during my childhood, my dad would receive hundreds of holidays gifts from his patients—almost always food— tins of handmade peanut brittle, lush boxes with freshly baked pastry and pies, and cello-wrapped baskets brimming with crackers, cookies, sparkling wine and cheeses galore. It was one of the perks of being a family doctor. For my siblings and I, it was one of the perks of being his kid—those sweet December days when the atrium (where we ate breakfast and dinner every day) ran over with an endless parade of sweets.

I tend to still love food gifts for the holidays—handmade or carefully curated purchased ones—boxes of perfectly ripe pears and tins of caramel popcorn still harken Christmas to me. They speak of love and —even if not perfectly matched to individual taste, thoughtfulness. Maybe you don’t have time to bake this season—I hear you. That’s where this guide comes in. These Eight Practically Handmade goodies can make their way to the houses of your dear ones in just one click. They’re worth every penny.

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* GIFT GUIDE || 12 GORGEOUS CHEESEBOARDS (under $100)

I think we all know by now that a cheeseboard (or meat board, or fruit and veg board) is the easiest, fastest way to serve a crowd. It’s the best trick I learned from my own mom back in the 80s, and though the boards have gotten more beautiful (she used carved wooden boards shaped like leaves, with grooves and curves for dips), the concept is the same: fast, easy, filling, beautiful, abundant snacking for all. With the right board, even the simplest spread can ready fancy. Here are my favorite ten (+ accessories) under $100.

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Sobremesa Supper with Hops Petunia and Sunday Suppers

Often, I write about my children. Not because I don't have other interests (i do), but because being a mother is the thing I always knew I wanted. Between childhood ambitions as a pediatrician, a missionary (yes, really!), a UNICEF ambassador, or later, the creator of a chic Indie mag (still working on that one), mothering is the thing I always knew I would do—where my whole heart would go before and after and between all the rest. This is still true.

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