Hello, friends! I have some good news/finds this week (along with Annie and Cindy’s tips) like a garden baby shower, easy butternut squash ravioli, FREE knife sharpening, and more for you. This is like our weekly telephone call so please respond with your good finds!
Today, I am on my way to San Diego to see my mom. It’s hard with COVID. I get it that nursing homes have to be strict but that means I can’t hug or even get close to my mom. It has been touch-and-go for her but she is tough for a 95-year-old lady! This is a process and we will persevere!
1. Intimate Garden Baby Shower
My daughter, Alie, and her friends, Jackie and Danielle gave a baby shower for their friend Staci recently (bottom left, so cute). During this time extra steps were taken. Alie got a COVID test before the party (they have a fairly easy drive-through system in Los Angeles that Howard and I have used too). The party was outside and kept small to family and intimate friends.
- Tie-dying is in again, especially as an activity during quarantine! Alie’s friends organized a tie-dye station for the family to make custom onesies for the baby boy.
- Then, they displayed them on a clothesline.
- For lunch, they ordered miniature paninis. Along with mini Caprese (cherry tomato, mini mozzarella balls, basil) skewers, and watermelon and feta skewers (all drizzled with olive oil).
- Alie purchased the oh Baby! burlap banner from Etsy and strung it on the bushes tucked with white flowers.
Footnote: Staci and Matt had a beautiful, healthy baby boy last Tuesday!
2. Trader Joe’s Butternut Squash Ravioli Recipe With Corn And Garlic
Last week, I talked about My Favorite Fall Items From Trader Joe’s. Well, on that list was their Butternut Squash Ravioli. Here’s how I made it with ingredients that we already had (corn). You could seriously make it with chopped fresh tomatoes or any vegetables that you have on hand. Howard liked it so much I will make it again.
This is a quick dish using Trader Joe's raviolis and fresh or frozen corn. Serves 2+ as a main dish or four as a side dish.
.
- 2 tbs. olive oil
- 2/3 cup fresh or frozen corn kernels I used fresh corn off two corn cobs.
- 2 cloves chopped garlic
- 3 tbs. chopped parsley or basil
- 1 package fresh butternut squash ravioli from Trader Joes
- 2 tbs. butter
-
Heat the oil over medium heat and cook garlic and corn until lightly browned (about 10-15 minutes). Meanwhile, cook ravioli according to instructions.
-
Drain ravioli, put back in the pan with butter to prevent sticking (it will melt), and gently stir. Add corn mixture. Top with parsley and serve.
3. Free Knife Sharpening
It makes cooking so much easier with sharp knives! Did you know that you can take one knife into Williams Sonoma for free sharpening? Each knife after that costs $5 to sharpen. So we took in our knives (mostly Wusthof and Henkels) on two separate occasions. And they are like new!
BE SO CAREFUL when you get them back so you don’t cut yourself.
4. Foot Friendly Fall Shoes
Fall Shoes Ranked By A Podiatrist from Pure Wow was interesting. I don’t think I will be wearing any combat boots this season, but I’m so glad loafers and block heals made the list.
5. This Book Was A Birthday Gift
And I love it…(thanks, Alie).
Soul Of The Home by Tara Shaw
This book is good for everyone who enjoys decorating but especially for young people finding their style and not wanting everything brand new.
Antiques give your home a collected look. Tara Shaw shows how to choose the right pieces and display them in a contemporary interior… “antiques in a modern world.” She purchases a lot in Europe. I like her flea market and antique store shopping advice (“go early”). And there is even a shopping guide in the back of the book.
Go see what
Annie from Most Lovely Things
Cindy Hattersley
have in store for us!
Elizabeth says
The baby shower looks so sweet, congratulations to your daughters friend.
Trader Joes is a favorite of mine too and I love the ravioli, I will have to try your recipe!
As for Tara Shaw, I LOVE her Instagram page and her stories/reels. Her house is amazing.
Have a great week.
Karen B. says
Hi Mary Ann,
Your daughter provided her friend a wonderful shower, along with her friends. It looked so sweet with the tie dye onesies hung to dry. The banner was great too. Yummy, the ravioli recipe looks delicious.
I’m sorry to not have any finds for you this week, but I’ll do my best to remember something for next week.
xo,
Karen
Colleen F says
Did they do party favors at the baby shower or is that done anymore? Thanks for the knife sharpening info. We are in dire need.
Mary Ann Pickett says
I will ask!
LA CONTESSA says
NEWS FLASH!!!!!
KNIFE GUY on MOUNT DIABLO in WC……………does a GREAT JOB!I take ours about twice a year.Across from the old PIER ONE STORE.
THAT BOOK looks up my ALLEY…………..I read an article on her once.SHE FINDS THE GOOD STUFF!
I hope you can see your MOTHER!
XX
Marguerite says
I had to laugh about the sharp knives. I bought a package of paring knives at Williams Sonoma last fall. They were in the dreaded
, industrial plastic, your not gonna get this out easily stuff. Once I finally won the battle, one of the knives fell out and cut my finger badly. It took two weeks to heal. So aggravating. All the best to you and your mom. My wonderful mother has been gone 4 years now and I miss her everyday.
Mary Ann Pickett says
Oh I am sorry that you hurt yourself! We saw my mom yesterday from outside her nursing home window…and we were so HAPPY. We want to take her home this week. Thanks so much for commenting!
deer and hickory says
Darling baby shower! I was the last of my friends to have kids, so I hosted so many – keeping it fresh wasn’t the easiest. They did a fantastic job.
Before the Sur la Table location near me shuttered (so sad) they offered the same sharpening service. I can’t recommend it enough. Prep is completely different with properly sharpened knives – and I second the caution – it is incredible how sharp they are.
Thank goodness for cute shoes, and thank goodness for Tara Shaw – both are great paths to great style. Take care, thanks for a great post!
Mary Ann Pickett says
Yes, my son cute his thumb with the newly sharpened knives. Thanks for your sweet comment!!!
Diane Ruebel says
Mary Ann,
There is so much hope within the younger generations as evidenced by the creativity expressed in the baby boy shower. The onesies make one’s heart sing.
Thanks for sharing Tara Shaw’s inspiring book. It is now on my Christmas list to give my granddaughter.
Love to you as you care for your mother at a close distance.
Diney on Camano Island
Mary Ann Pickett says
Such a sweet comment and so encouraging. Thanks so much, Diney!
Annie Diamond says
I love that tie dye station idea for a baby shower! So original and a fun way to have an activity to bring everyone together in the garden setting. And leave it to LA to have an easy and safe drive-thru Covid test!
Mary Ann Pickett says
Yes…it’s not bad. I had a good experience last week in SF with their drive-through Covid testing…negative report 🙂 I did it to see my mom.
cindy says
So funny you mentioned combat boots! Guess what I am talking about? That shower looks darling and I know that Trader Joes recipe is yummy what’s not to like about butternut squash and corn? Yum!!
Mary Ann Pickett says
Combat boots! Great minds!