No matter where you live, you can participate in the first official activity for the Inauguration. That is, a day of service to honor Dr. King on his official holiday, 21 January 2013 (today is his actual birthday). Search here for an event in your area (or just do something on your own). If you have or will be looking after small children for the holiday, here is last year's post. (photograph via Pinterest)
Have a safe & lovely holiday. For some peace (& holiday decorating), here's a little advice from two years ago. xoxo
You still have two weekends before Halloween, so get moving. Here are some ideas from year's past; here are some for children (no-sew!), even one for the cat. If you're accompanying children to a party or a block festival (raises hand), here are some easy poet costume ideas. Seriously easy.
Sweet Paul has lovely costume & mask ideas (& instructions).
xoxo/gg
To our friends in France & around the world, have a wonderful le quatorze juillet. If you aren't French, pas de problème. Celebrate anyway. Always celebrate!
For some last-minute holiday help:
Here's a short history (including two quizzes).
Some easy ways to make the day a little more French, any day of the summer.
Consider putting together a Saint Honoré; it is so much easier than you think.
bisous! xoxo
(photograph by Yanidel)
A happy & safe holiday to all those celebrating. Whether you're in the States or not, here are 24 Fourth of July playlists for the rest of the summer; something is bound to appeal. And here's a link if you've not planned much & are regretting it. Have fun!ciao-meow/GG(Fourth of July #2, Independence, Missouri by Mike Sinclair; some prints are still available at 20x200)
Littering the internetz are many beautiful cakes & pies for the Fourth of July holiday. But it's already early evening & the thought of baking cakes & pies tonight - forget it. Make this cake instead. It requires one box of vanilla wafers, heavy cream, & berries. That's it. (You can decorate it a bit differently for Bastille Day in 10 short days.)
ciao-meow/GGCM
(photograph via Martha Stewart)
Happy Mother's Day to all our friends & family. Have a wonderful day!
ciao-meow/GGCM
(swan & cygnets via Jellybean Boom/Instagram)
Mother's Day is a good time to re-think how you give gifts. Honestly, we heartily applaud flowers & photographs-in-frames & Sunday lunches at a favorite restaurant. But maybe this is not the year for one more piece of jewelry. What to do? It's already Wednesday. Here's an idea. Mothers like to know that they had something to do with the magnificent person you have become, right? (Yes) So visit Heifer International & consider an alternative gift. If you're not keen to give a dairy goat, there are plenty of choices. She'll love it. Guaranteed. ciao-meow/GGCM(photograph courtesy of Heifer Brazil)
Have a wonderful holiday weekend, whatever you celebrate. If it's spring, that's good enough for us. We dye eggs, light candles, make a more elaborate recipe than usual (often baking, not our strongest suit), walk through blooming DC, watch movies. Who knows? Maybe this year we'll add burning sage & chants to the list in the interest of inter-religious pluralism. Have fun!
You're thinking, "It's a little late for that. It starts in a few hours." Calm down, this is for Passover guests, who may not have been to a Passover seder before (or it's been awhile). Not a lot of our fellow bloggers even realized it's Passover week. Everyone has (or will) say, "Happy Easter, if you celebrate." Then, while traipsing about town on pre-Easter errands, GG's editor overheard someone worry about going to his first Passover.
Poke around the fridge & pantry before you replenish egg dyes this year. You just might have everything you need on hand or you can add items to this week's market list.
We discovered today that ranunculus are also known as Persian Buttercups. The things you find out when you're supposed to be working:) But it does give us another forum to say Happy Spring, Happy Nowruz*to our Iranian (& those of Iranian descent) friends. There is nothing quite as intoxicating as walking home with an armload of flowers. While not exactly an everyday luxury, ranunculus are a good value right now. Some ways to arrange them if you want fancier than a jam-jar-on-the-table (though that is really wonderful, too).ciao-meow/GGCM*also: Norouz, Norooz, or Noruz(lovely photograph by Jessica Nichols)
Yes, it's true. GG's editor is so lazy that she'll leap at two remotely connected ideas, find a photograph & there's a post. ;) Not really. It's St. David's Day & we're flower-less (except for one primrose, valiantly hanging in for over 5 weeks now). But for anywhere between $1-2.50 you can buy 10 stems of daffodils or jonquils. There are also plenty of daffodils/narcissi in pots for fairly low prices. This happy state of affairs lasts usually through May. Go for it!ciao-cariad-meow/GG's FloristPS: A true St. David's Day in southern Italy tale from Giulia's human servant(photograph by Carrie)
Forget all the hideous candied fruit you've had in the past. You didn't make it, now you will. A lovely way to incorporate the traditional Christmas orange into your holiday is to make orangettes & candy barks that use orange peel. If you'd prefer to bake, we can vouch for this clementine cake. (Any of these would make a lovely gift.)
ciao-meow/GGCM
(sweet photograph by Aya Brackett)
GG's editor has always wanted to travel to Mexico for the Day of the Dead. Alas, not this year (again). But we will be visiting the always-interesting Mexican Cultural Institute (in Washington, DC) to see the Day of the Dead altar before 23 November. Visit virtually & read all about it. Also, the Mexican Sugar Skull site is comprehensive & a lot of fun for kids of all ages. Day of the Dead is a terrific site, too with celebration, history, & activities.
Now, for the most fun - even Giulia looked up. Visit the interactive Smithsonian's Latino Center Day of the Dead & build your own altar. There are history lessons, a teacher's link, glossary, everything you need. Very cool. The Frida Kahlo (they are separate) images are by Frances Perea & are for sale on Redbubble. She has posters, prints, cards & postcards for sale, here.
ciao-meow/GGCM
(Frida Kahlo prints by Frances Perea; Day of the Dead altar by Steve Bridger)
Happy holiday weekend to those in the States, happy Thanksgiving to our Canadian friends. Hallooo to everyone else. Bit frazzled today but Giulia is asleep (of course) so that makes one less thing to worry about. For now. We're researching & writing. Some fall-out coming your way later this week & next.
For now, here's the link to our Pinterest boards. You can request an invite, if you like, on the site. We've neglected it of late, until this weekend when *window* shopping became of great interest. If you have responsibility for keeping the peace today, here's a link to autumn crafts for children from Martha Stewart.
ciao-meow/GGCM
(lovely photographs by liivia s - it inspires us to seek out some late season cosmos)
To all our friends in France (& around the world), have a festive day/evening. Giulia's editor is sitting in a café, trying to hear herself think. Headphones will have to be purchased if this internet crisis lasts much longer. Here is a post on GG's editor's blog if you'd like to say hello. For all posts on France, click here. We'll be back tomorrow, even if only to say bonjour!
...he was into vintage clothing, typewriters, sailing, farmers markets, cats, craft beer, bicycles, obscure bands, & so much more...way before you (you hipster doofuses). Catch up with the latest submissions & the abusive, hilarious commentary at Dads are the Original Hipsters. Those lacking a sense of humor: be prepared to be offended. (Also something your dad was into before you: rage & judging people.)
ciao-rad-meow/GGCM
(photographs via Dads are the Original Hipsters)
These fairy-lighted pumpkins seem to stand guard against evil spirits abroad in the land. We thought it a nice thought on a spooky evening. Happy Hallowe'en, Samhain, Nos Calan Gaeaf!
Happy Mother's Day to all our friends!