Emily Henderson's Blog, page 222

Our Personal Design Projects – What We Are Designing, Styling Or Redoing In Our Own Homes This Weekend

Just because our bigger design projects are currently halted, does not mean that we aren’t working on personal projects – stuff in our homes. I was so curious about what my team was planning to restyle and/or design and figured if I was curious maybe you would be, too. There is no weekend requirement to design their homes, but as editors and designers for a design site, you can imagine it’s a hobby of all of ours. So here is what the EHD design and editorial team is up to in their homes.

Me. Emily Henderson

At the there isn’t too much to do design or style-wise (at least not that doesn’t require shopping and its too cold to start the deck or landscaping). All I do is cook, clean, craft, clean, play, clean, etc. But I have been hoarding this chair for a couple of years, so I had Brian bring it up the last time he ran home to get “supplies” (a much needed 5 hours of car time alone). I have a bunch of vintage fabric and while I don’t want to waste the really good stuff on a chair that I don’t even know where it will go, I might do it out of sheer boredom. I’ll story it, don’t worry.

Jess

Ok here is my super real, pretty sad “bedroom”. I feel naked on the internet showing it off. Once again, I am one year and one month out from . HOW?! Wasn’t it last week? Well, it wasn’t and due to a little self-design burnout, self-imposed expectations and a lack of funds, I have still not designed the other half of my apartment. I know, I broke my promise that it would be done with the year. But guess who has all the time in the world now?? Ya, it’s me. So aside from the potential monetary issue with some likely necessary custom elements (why do I insist on doing this to myself?) I am going full force and letting my creative juices flow. There will be a fun and pretty blog post on what I’ve decided/choosing between. Maybe I’ll do an ask the audience! Lord knows I am indecisive.

Mallory

FEAST YOUR EYES. This is the first time you’re seeing my MOTO in any form and I could not be more excited to be sharing this little moodboard with you all. As you can maybe tell by this photo of me lovingly staring at my computer screen, this is my baby. Let me give you the backstory for how it was conceived. My boyfriend Chase and I (this isn’t a “birds and bees” conversation, I swear) moved into a small studio apartment located LITERALLY on the walk of fame. It’s aggressive but convenient and there’s something magical about having Michael Buble’s star as your front doormat. This is our first “real” apartment (aka the first apartment we’re ready to invest time and money into), so we’ve detailed out every inch of our apartment via Google Slides and this is a very small sneak peek into that incredibly complex and time-consuming process which I can’t wait to show you more of. 

I know what you’re thinking. A studio apartment? With your boyfriend? How are you going to add TWO different styles/personalities in one place? I know that probably wasn’t actually the first thing that came to mind, but it felt like a good transition sentence for what I wanted to say next. Here’s the great news, we don’t really know WHAT our styles are yet since we’re sort of new to this whole thing, but we do know one thing: we are obsessed with the vibe of Palm Springs. SPECIFICALLY, The Parker Hotel. It’s what set it off for us (Jonathan Adler is my life motto and has been since I was little). Then we saw the Sands Hotel and it was over. We needed to inject this vibe into our space. You’ll see more inspiration photos and my reasoning for all this in my MOTO intro coming soon, but for now, here’s a look into our little escape from Hollyweird wrapped up in a 500 square foot studio apartment. Alright, onto the next project!

Caitlin

Honest truth: NONE of my apartment is designed and it’s kinda overwhelming when I think about how to start (WHERE DO I FIND MY “JUMPING OFF POINT,” YOU GUYS? What if I’m constantly oscillating between “I have great basics” and “I need to burn everything down and start again”???) So I decided to tackle my smallest space with the hopes that I’d get some momentum going. First up is my balcony, which poses a fun (read: awful) challenge because 1. It looks like a prison, 2. I have no privacy (hello, drive-thru!), and 3. I have a screen door that opens outward into the space and leaves about…none inches of clearance. My original dream was to center a lil sofa and face it towards the apartment, but OOF, the door kinda kills that hope. Maybe I should just take it off? Alternatively, I’m thinking about building a shelf like this for my plants OR putting a trellis up to get some privacy, but I’m worried about losing light (and I have super strong eastern sun in the AM, which basically fries all the kinds of plants that would actually work on a trellis). IDK. Please help if you have any balcony experience (especially if yours is also of the 1930s cage persuasion). This one’s about 10’x3′ and I’d appreciate all the guidance I can get.

Ryann

I can’t tell if I love our front door or absolutely hate it. Part of me loves it because it presents the only architectural charm in our entire space. But the color is this dark almost purple-y wood that I am not a fan of and the stained glass is dated as hell. PLUS, the painters were not very meticulous when painting our place, and did get a decent amount of paint on the door frame and door. So, I talked to my dad about it (he is a contractor and has his own construction business so having him in my back pocket is a real godsend) and he informed me of a few things: 1. We’re renting, so replacing the door would be costly and (perhaps) stupid. Also, the landlord would have to approve. 2. You can’t replace the stained glass in this type of door. Great! Everything is going as planned.

It’s safe to say I am not going to replace the door but I would like to get rid of the paint drips at the very least. My dad ordered me to sand and then stain it with a wood finish. Pft, construction is EASY. But, my other problem still remains unsolved. I really want to somehow update the stained glass. Does anyone know how to do this? Or are there some innovative ways I can cover it up? Do I put another stained glass over it?? Do I put art over it?? Please send help.

Sara



current styling on the left, photoshoot styling on the right

If you saw my living room and dining room reveal last week, then you’ll remember these shelves. But they’re looking a little different these days. Why? Well, when Mac (my boyfriend and co-homeowner) first saw the shelves his response was “they’re very… neutral.” YES THEY ARE, AND I LIKE THEM THAT WAY. Apparently, though, when you share a home with someone the styling has to reflect both of you at least a little. So we’ve been incorporating more of “Mac” into the house as we pull more of our old stuff from out of the garage.

current styling on the left, photoshoot styling on the right

Which means our shelves are getting bigger doses of color and personality. We’ve also brought in a console and added Mac’s record player into the living room. Listen, I know a few of you are going to be all “oh, but I actually like them better now! With more color and personality!” *narrow eyes in your direction* How dare you side with Mac. After all our time together? In truth, the shoot and reveal really reflected more of “me” and not a whole lot of Mac, and I want him to love where he lives as much as I do. So compromises must be made, and neutral styling must be sacrificed, and I suppose no one will suffer too much.

Alright, well that’s it from us today. We clearly have a lot of work to do. Hope these projects got you a little excited for some future content and please if you have advice, we want it! Also, we would LOVE to hear what your current plans are. Otherwise, we hope you have a safe and healthy rest of your Sunday and see you all tomorrow. xx

The post Our Personal Design Projects – What We Are Designing, Styling Or Redoing In Our Own Homes This Weekend appeared first on Emily Henderson.

The Link Up: The $15 Dress Birdie Wore 4 Days In A Row, GREAT Candle Recs From Caitlin, & Another Show To Binge

design by violet dent | photo by owen gale| via coco kelley

Hello friends and welcome back. How is everyone doing? We hope you are getting enough rest and staying safe. And before we get to today’s link up, we want to extend an enormous thank you to all the healthcare workers, first responders, grocery store workers, and everyone else who has been putting their lives at risk day after day. The world is indebted to your service. THANK YOU.

If you were looking for a home tour that is all things happy, colorful, eclectic, grannmillenial AND full of wicker, look no further. Today’s home tour is straight EYE CANDY and the pick me up that we all needed.

From Emily: “Birdie has worn this 4 days in a row (gross) and is OBSESSED with it. Brian bought it for Easter a while ago, but we pulled it out early for fun and so glad we did.”

From Ryann: “Have you guys watched Tiger King on Netflix yet??? OH BOY. My boyfriend and I started watching it and tore through 4 episodes in one night. There is so much to unpack but I NEED to find out what happened to Carole’s husband!!”

From Julie: “If you’re a Wes Anderson film lover like I am then you should follow this instagram that I came across the other day. It is filled with beautiful, picturesque photos of places that looked like they fell out of one of his iconic films.”

From Jess: “One of my favorite writers on the internet is Haley Nahman. She was recently ManRepeller’s Features Editor before she decided to part ways with MR (the week we all went into Quarantine) to go freelance. Anyway I’ve gushed about her before but on Friday she announced that she is starting a weekly newsletter called Maybe Baby. It was the piece of news that I didn’t know I needed until it happened. So please go and support her because she is truly great and her words always end up somehow being an escape into myself. The good kind:)”

From Caitlin: “This candle from Target isn’t an exact dupe for Anthropologie’s signature Capri Blue ‘Volcano’ scent, but it’s only 9.99 and definitely exists in the same sort of tropical, fruity family. I also burn Bali Sunrise in my bedroom and Coconut Sea Salt in my kitchen. I bought all 3 in late October and just finally finished (and re-purchased!) all 3 — have any of you tried any other scents in this line? (Or do you have any other cheap candle recs? I’m all ears!)”

From Sara: “My link for this week is actually just a playlist I made on Spotify. It’s filled with almost three hours of my current favorite upbeat music that I’ve blasting – perfect for when you need to take a dance break in order to keep morale high. But be warned, not all the songs are kid friendly (language). Hot tip – If you want to create a semi-DJ experience you can turn on your ‘crossfade’ in your settings which means that songs will fade into and out of each other rather than having a clean break between songs. You just go to your settings, and then click on ‘advance settings.’ I have my cross fade set to 5 seconds.”

From Veronica: “Tender Greens has four new grocery boxes for very affordable prices that you can get delivered right to your door (items vary depending on availability), but this is awesome! Might have to try it out. :)”

That’s all for now. Thank you, as always, for continuing to support the blog and sharing your time with us. It means the world. xx

The post The Link Up: The $15 Dress Birdie Wore 4 Days In A Row, GREAT Candle Recs From Caitlin, & Another Show To Binge appeared first on Emily Henderson.

My Emotional Journey with the Instant Pot #nonspon (+ A Round Up Of Pantry Friendly Recipes)

That shot is the the blogger version of a swimsuit model leaning on a sportscar. Oh, the Instant Pot. I succumbed to cultural peer pressure last year and bought one only to find out that they turn what should be a 45-minute delicious chicken soup into a 45-minute MUSHY chicken soup. Nobody really told me that the time it takes to warm up, pressure cook, and then steam release is THE SAME amount of time as cooking soups on the stove (but without the therapeutic romance of stirring and tending to your soup). I was enraged, and banished it to the back of the closet, by the juicer that has 17 parts. UNTIL NOW.

Last week I found a lot of recipes in books that only had a slow cooker or Instant Pot recipe and I felt left out, sad that I couldn’t participate in what was the domestic version of a PARTAY. So when Brian went to LA to grab supplies (our janky bikes and more underwear) he snagged the Instant Pot and now I, too, and donning my prom dress, ready to dance.

Like you, these days we’re all trying to rely more on pantry staples like dried beans, and frozen veggies or meat, which is what this slow cooker/Instant Pot is supposed to excel at. We remembered we’d actually written a post all about slow cooker meals, and decided it was time to give it a pantry friendly update (I’m still learning the benefits of the Instant Pot, but at least I can cook pulled pork in it).

So here you go – some pantry friendly, slow-cooker recipes that are family-friendly (we hear). And at the end there is a video from earlier this week that you guys MUST have missed of me acting like an idiot chef – not a character, just me playing myself. HERE. YOU. GO. (And take it away Sara.)

Sara here and I cook a lot. Now that my commute in the mornings and evenings has been greatly reduced (i.e. non-existent) I’m fully taking advantage of it. Maybe in two more weeks I’ll be tired of constantly washing dishes, but for now I’m psyched to replace my drive time with kitchen time. But I’m also trying to make my ingredients stretch in order to minimize shopping trips. So here’s what we were going for with these recipes:

1.) The ingredient list had to be small, and mostly things someone might already have sitting in their fridge and pantry.

2.) The instructions had to be simple. Otherwise, it just defeats the purpose.

3.) The meals needed to be decently healthy. Em can make her kids cheese quesadillas, but what she needs are more delicious recipes with vegetables.

4.) And finally, the recipes had to be meals that the whole family could eat—not kid-specific but not adults-only either.

Slow cookers/crockpots/Instant Pots are great for so many reasons, but the biggest one is the time they can save you. You can dump everything in that thing before walking out the door (or just, you know, walking to your couch “office”) and come home to a dinner that’s basically ready to serve. Slow cookers sound old fashioned, but they might just be heroes we need.

The real question is, do these recipes work (as in, are they yummy, easy, and kids will ACTUALLY want to eat them)? We knew before we published this post originally we had to try at least one of them out. So, I picked a recipe that sounded tasty and Em and I took it for a test drive in her kitchen. Friends, it was so easy and so delicious. (This was pre mushy chicken soup which I guess happened later).

We decided to try out a recipe for White Chicken Chili from food blog Gimme Some Oven. It only called for five essential ingredients—chicken breasts, chicken stock, canned great northern beans, store bought salsa verde, and ground cumin. We bought everything from the Trader Joe’s and spent about $30 getting enough for two batches. I also grabbed sour cream, shredded cheese, avocados, cilantro, tomatoes, lime and chopped onion as garnish options, but tweak this as you must to make what you’ve got work.

The method of attack was this: Pull out the slow cooker, place the raw chicken breasts at the bottom of the pot, pour over the salsa, chicken broth, and cumin, then cover and let cook for 3 1/2 hours on high OR 8 1/2 hours on low (check out the recipe for all the right amounts, etc.). When your timer goes off, add in your canned beans (drained), and let cook for another 30 minutes on low (the perfect amount of time to set the dinner table, pull out the garnishes, and wrangle toddlers). Did it work? Yes. Was it delicious? YES.

Any notes? We found the recipe called for a little more liquid in our chili than we would have liked, so we’d recommend omitting 1 to 2 cups of chicken stock for a thicker chili. And when we make this again, we’ll also be adding huge handfuls of spinach right before serving, to get in some iron and vitamins. There’s no dairy or sugar in this recipe, and you can top bowls with extra veg like diced onion or avocado, whatever you’ve got on hand.

Most importantly, it was approved by Birdie herself (who was 2 at the time). The recipe checked all our boxes. (Exceedingly cute side note from Emily: The first thing she said was “what are these?” to the cherry tomatoes and when I reminded her what they were, she said, “oh, I DO NOT LIKE TOMATOES.” We’ve had this conversation so many times, by the way. Cherry tomatoes are deceptive. I get it.)

Now, we haven’t tried the rest of the recipes in this post, but they all sound as simple and delicious as the chicken chili. And they’re all pantry friendly, meaning they rely mostly on ingredients that can be found and stored canned, boxed, frozen, or dried. Think canned beans, frozen veggies and meat, and boxed stock.

Shredded Chicken (Via Gimmie Some Oven) 

What makes this recipe pantry friendly? The fact that it only calls for THREE ingredients – Uncooked chicken breasts, one can of salsa, and one packet of taco seasoning (Trader Joe’s has a great taco seasoning packet, FYI).

Pork Pot Roast (via SweetPhi) 

This dish is going to make you look so much fancier and put together than you actually are (this is a broad generalization—disregard if you are currently very fancy and put together). All you’re going to need is uncooked pork roast, potatoes (I always have a few leftover potatoes rolling around in my pantry), garlic salt, an Italian seasoning packet, and chicken broth. But imagine all the added veggie options you could sneak in here.

Beef & Broccoli (via Creme de la Crumb)

This recipe technically calls for nine ingredients, but we almost guarantee you that you probably have at least four of them sitting in your pantry and fridge. A bottle of soy sauce that’s rarely used? That box of cornstarch from a past science experiment that’s sat untouched in the back of your pantry? And what about a frozen bag of broccoli? I have one of those hanging out in my freezer. They’re about to become useful again.

Crock Pot Tortellini & Spinach Soup (via Lil’ Luna)

This is another recipe that leans on a pre-packaged item to round it out. Just seasonings, a bag of spinach (feel free to use frozen if needed), chicken broth, canned tomatoes, and a package of chef’s choice tortellini (the chef being you). The recipe calls for a block of cream cheese as well, and while that sounds SO GOOD, I’m sure it can be omitted in the name of “health.” Make it vegetarian by using vegetable stock instead of chicken stock.

Slow Cooker Whole Chicken (via Oh Sweet Basil)

There’s nothing more versatile than a whole juicy chicken. Cooked up for dinner one night and the leftovers are easily used in wraps, sandwiches, salads, or soups for days to come.

Garlic Butter Chicken and Veggies (via The Magical Slow Cooker)

You can’t really go wrong with chicken, carrots and potatoes covered in a herby butter. I would probably sneak some extra veg in the form of green beans.

Vegan White Bean Soup (via Just What We Eat)

This vegan and dairy-free soup relies mostly on dried herbs and dried navy beans to create a warm and filling dinner.

Hot Tip

I'll bulk chop onions, carrots, and celery and store in mixed baggies in my freezer, so I don't have as much chopping to do when I want to make soup. But Trader Joe's also has a great pre-packed mirepoix.

Taco Chicken Chili







Chicken Taco Chili (via Skinny Taste)

Between the canned veggies and dried beans, this recipe is truly a pantry’s best friend. Serve it over rice, in a burrito, or as fillings for tacos. Plus, there’s a lot of room for improvisation.

Instant Pot Dahl – aka Lentil Stew (via Bon Appetit)

Dahl (lentils) are one of the most versatile dried legumes. If you’ve got an Instant Pot (or equivalent), water, and dried lentils you’re in business. Then throw in whatever spices or veggies you have on hand to add flavor. Serve covered in yogurt, with naan, or over rice for a hearty vegetarian dinner. This post has a handy graphic that helps you understand exactly how different lentils can be cooked.

Back to me, Emily. Now I can see my problem, I clearly have no ingredients in my pot!!! In case you missed it from earlier this week, here’s my latest delicious chicken tomatillo soup. It’s not a slow cooker recipe, but it is wildly delicious and if I can prepare it, anyone can. But we were also thinking that it easily COULD be made in a slow cooker – once you get to the step about adding your chicken to poach, just throw a lid on your slow cooker and let it simmer away for a few hours. It’s only going to soften your veggies more (great for blending), and deepen the flavor of the tomatillos. And don’t miss my extremely professional, highly produced step-by-step video at the end of the post. Bon appetit!

Print



Chicken Tomatillo Soup









Author: Emily Henderson
Total Time: 45 Minutes
Yield: Serves 4 (not four grown men, double it for bigger family)




Ingredients

6–8 tomatillos (peeled and washed) or 1 16 ounce can of tomatillos

1 4 ounce can hatch chilis

1/2 4 ounce can jalapeños (or fresh)

1/4 cup cilantro

1 onion (white or yellow, or leeks I’ve done all)

4 cloves garlic

2 tbsp olive oil

1 tsp salt

1 tsp pepper

1 large chicken breast

1 tsp cumin (I used cumin seed, but likely ground cumin would be better?)

4 cups chicken broth (or veggie)

4 cups spinach

1/2 cup diced yellow pepperFor garnish (all optional):

1/2 avocado

Cherry tomatoes

Sour cream

Tortilla chips

Instructions

1. Peel and clean tomatillos, then roast in oven at 350 for 20 – 30 minutes (until soft with brown marks)

2. Sauté diced onions and smashed garlic in a large stock pot until transparent and fragrant, add 1/2 tsp salt and pepper

3. Add 4 cups broth to pot, bring to boil, then turn down to simmer

4. Poach chicken in broth for 15 – 20 minutes, then remove and set aside

5. Chop/prep garnishes while chicken and tomatillos are cooking

6. When tomatillos are done, let cool then blend with cilantro

7. Blend tomatillo and onion/garlic broth (chicken removed) in batches til creamy

7. Shred chicken and put back in pot with blended mixture, bring to simmer 10 minutes

8. Add spinach (chopped or baby spinach) and yellow peppers (near end, only need 5 minutes in pot to soften and wilt)

Ladle into bowl, throw on all the garnishes to your pleasure. Put in your mouth. Chew, swallow and enjoy that warm healthy heat in your tummy!!!

 

Keywords: chicken, soup

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The post My Emotional Journey with the Instant Pot #nonspon (+ A Round Up Of Pantry Friendly Recipes) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

Relationships Under Quarantine: Twenty Years Together vs Two Months Of Dating. HOW IS IT GOING?

photo by 6-year-old charlie henderson

Well, here we are trapped together. When we get married or move in together we all love each other a lot. “Best Friends!” We say. But what if you were told that someday you’d be quarantined together, for 10 weeks or more, essentially trapped in your home. And what if inside this pretty “trap,” you have children that you have to entertain, feed, bathe, TEACH ALGEBRA TO, all while staying on top of work so you can pay your trap bills??? Before you say “I do,” do you like this person THAT MUCH? I obviously think the answer would still be yes, because cracks in relationships don’t present themselves til hardships do, but still… it would be an interesting scenario to present before the vow exchange.

This is hard no matter what. Brian and I are super lucky in so many ways but have still had to find our footing and some days are fine, even good. However, the days when I have to work a lot (trying to, you know, survive this financially – THANK YOU for being here) he has the kids far more than 50%, which he is honestly fine with and amazing at, but it’s still very trying. I’ve never been more grateful for him, truthfully. I just think about all the couples that didn’t share responsibilities before this, all the men or women that were gone 50 hours a week (now home 100% of the time and expected to help with all of the chores). Brian and I were talking about how much this is going to test and change relationships. Will this speed up divorces by couples that didn’t know how disconnected they had become? Or bring them back together? Will it create a super solid “we can get through anything” bond? Will the partner that works outside the home finally empathize and really SEE the work that the stay at home parent has always done? As the cracks in the relationship start to widen with such claustrophobic pressure some might not make it out. OR again will the fact that we are spending so much time together actually help some relationships become more close and healthy? Will people learn to communicate better because they are forced to or will the fights just now start? What’s it going to be????

photo by 6-year-old charlie henderson

We are only 2 weeks in so it’s hard to make big statements, as we have weeks to go. But as a family who was actually lacking time together, we are getting a lot of it which is the current silver lining. We are doing things together that we used to do separately – working out, cooking every meal and yes shooting for this blog. I’ve secretly always wanted to work with Brian, have him shoot the video content and go full “Young House Love” (a husband/wife family blog) or “Chris Loves Julia“. So last week as I was crying about how to keep this blog up and running, he totally stepped in and he’s actually pretty into it. He’s been shooting the DIY photos, videos and actually likes being in them – and he’s so funny so he adds a lot (in my opinion). We don’t know what we are doing and of course, I miss having my professional team with me in the same room. But I suppose being forced to do this (not having my team to rely on) has made us do it together, with kids around, and it’s a new shift in our relationship. Ha, hopefully for the good (I can hear John and Sherry and Chris and Julia about to email me with the warnings of running a blog with your spouse).

But there are challenges. I’m writing this with headphones in but can still hear his frustration trying to get the kids to sit and do the one hour of reading and writing that we do every morning. And we both feel like we clean all day every day, but at least we can see that each other is doing their part whereas in normal life it’s hard to really see what each other does all day and how much each is contributing. So much goes unnoticed that now is noticed – there is no hiding, which I think has to be a good thing. Ultimately I realize what a lucky position we are in, I promise. I know that just having each other and a nice space that has nature nearby is keeping us not only sane but enjoying this time together. So no real complaints here – just lots of conversations about it. Ultimately right now we are focusing on the gift of time together and trying to only read the news once a day.

But since talking about relationships is my favorite thing to do, I’m so curious about how a couple who is relatively new in their relationship was handling it and Julie was happy to chime in. So if you want to hear about a real interesting situation, let’s hand it over to Julie…

I officially/unofficially moved in with my boyfriend about ninety days ago. Um, excuse me? Oh, you say it’s only been nine days? Cooooool. A day before LA went on our version of a lockdown my boyfriend, Sean, came over to discuss our options for the quarantine. He suggested that I move in with him temporarily so that we weren’t separated during this time. But in my head, that meant that we would be spending 24/7 with one another for who knows how long. Were we really ready for this? That is A LOT of time together, in an apartment with 3 other roommates who I had never met before. 

Mind you that we have officially been together for only 2 months although we have known each other since 2016. We were friends that never lived in the same city until January of 2019 when we started our round one of dating which lasted for about 5 months (the timing was off). Then last October we started hanging out again as “friends,” hahahaha. That quickly turned into a full-blown relationship and here I am writing this from his bedroom. Yes, that’s right I gave up that cute desk set up to sit either squished between his bed and dresser or straddled across from the bed to type (it’s kind of a good leg workout though. Don’t tell him that). But that is love, people. 

Since I’ve been here we have spent a ton of time in his 10’x13’ room. When I’m not working, we are filling the days with “fun activities” like yoga, workouts, reading, hangboarding, playing Magic the Gathering (which is brand new to me so I’m still learning), binge-watching The Outsider and meditating. But if I’m honest it’s beginning to feel a bit like I’m living in the movie, Groundhog Day. To shake things up earlier this week we had a dinner and a movie “date night” where we ordered pizza and rented The Invisible Man on Amazon, which I would highly recommend.

So, why didn’t we decide for him to just stay with me, you ask? Good question. Don’t you have more stuff that you’d need to bring over, you wonder? Yeah, I did. And there are of course the mini-projects that I wish I could be doing at home like painting my bathroom or finally organizing the storage unit. At the same time though I hate to be stuck inside all day and his apartment has a huge patio and backyard with a garden. That ultimately was a big yes in my book. Oh! Did I mention that there are FOUR cats and FOUR dogs on the property?? As an equal lover of cats and dogs you know I am taking my breaks from work playing with those cuties.

The reality is that as much as I wanted to sleep in my comfy bed at my house that didn’t matter as much to me as being with my person. This is not an easy time but Sean has been there for me to make it as easy as possible. Still, every day I question if this was the best decision for our relationship in the long run. I guess only time will tell. Literally.

Emily again! So let’s make this is a conversation – obviously with any tips you guys have for keeping the peace and the love strong. Nobody on my team has kids so admittedly it’s going to be easier for them – or maybe harder because kids actually break up the day? I don’t know! But for those of you trapped in your house with your partner with or without children, tell us – HOW IS IT GOING??? (and yes you can be anonymous). Is being trapped together actually going to be good for your relationship, parenting or marriage??

The post Relationships Under Quarantine: Twenty Years Together vs Two Months Of Dating. HOW IS IT GOING? appeared first on Emily Henderson.

What We’ve Bought From Our Favorite Small Businesses To Help Our Sanity (Activities, Beauty and A Little Decor)

Welcome to another installment of Afternoon Snacks: SMALL BUSINESS EDITION.

Today marks two weeks since the EHD team has started working from home. At this point, we’ve all finally started to lean FULL FORCE into some new hobbies. We’ve decided to learn calligraphy (Jess), paper mache (Emily), and embroidery (truly, so many of us that I’m starting to wonder if EHD will pivot to an EM-broidery studio when all of this is said and done. Get it? Em-broidery?). 

Since we’re a small business and know how much your support has meant to us during this time (SO UNBELIEVABLY MUCH), we have been making a conscious effort whenever possible to also support other small businesses. And guess what?! Small businesses and independent makers absolutely kill it when it comes to providing fun and beautiful distractions. That’s not really a big surprise, but we all can’t stop talking to each other the awesome things we have found. We’ll probably have a Zoom Happy Hour Show and Tell, but today we are sharing all of it with you

Easy DIY Art – Julie’s Original Art Piece + What We’re Making This Weekend

We feel like there are two kinds of people right now. Well, aside from the actual heroes on the frontlines. We can’t thank you enough for your incredible and essential service. But for those at home, there are those who desperately need house projects to fill these days (and give us purpose) and make their house even homier. Then there are those who don’t want to feel guilty about watching the news and marathoning shows (and should feel no guilt – we all process our own way). This post is for the former. I’m in the “have to stay busy” camp and now that the kids are older I LOVE making things with them. So now more than ever I’m looking for easy fun projects that we can do together to create memories, keep them and us busy, as well as add style and personality to our house. So here we go – our first DIY challenge is for those of you who are interested in creating an easy, affordable piece of art for your home or at least watch us do it. I suggest you take Julie’s into high consideration because we all LOVE it and undoubtedly you will too. We also (to keep things super fresh) searched the internet for some of VERY cool and fun ideas. This post is packed, people.

Over the years the EHD team has created a lot of art, mostly because art is a great way to bring in some personality to your home. We all know that art can be expensive, so we are always looking for affordable ways to create our own (and bonus points if the supplies might be in your garage already). Let’s get to it:

Taped Pattern on a Drop Cloth



photo by david tsay | from: 5 tips to designing a timeless kids bedroom

Years ago Orlando and I made that massive piece of art with a drop cloth and a frame we built. Then we taped out a pattern and framed it. Now, this is a BIG project, but the idea behind it is so simple and could obviously be much smaller in scale. Also, you don’t have to have a fancy canvas, most fabrics could do (and a painters drop cloth is honestly GREAT).

Potato Stamp Inspo



photo by tessa neustadt | from: how we styled our living room and kitchen to sell

Now I want to be VERY clear – this stamped art is by Rebecca Atwood (who we love) and was not DIY’d. But we saw that she is even promoting it on her blog as a great DIY and has outlined how to do it. She is THE master so you are in good hands. It’s made with a potato and paint, two things a lot of us have lying around (maybe).

Pressed Flowers



photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: our light-filled neutral & textural living room

Maybe one of my favorite pieces of art that involved the kids is the pressed flowers that we framed (in Ikea frames) above. They collected them last spring from the backyard. Some we pressed traditionally (with wax paper and heavy books, over weeks) but most we sped up the process by using this press that you can microwave. Then we simply used super glue to lightly attach to the paper and keep it really quiet and minimal. It is so pretty, such a good memory and the kids signed it at the bottom with a ‘spring 2019’, too.

Kids Art (Upgraded)



photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: how we designed our super kid-friendly family room

We have a whole sentimental art wall in our house and it brings me serious joy (said as a true mom, no sarcasm at all). On it, we have kids art (the big blue piece), a framed origami (a playful sculptural cat), self-portraits of them (done with a mirror at their school) and framed kids polaroids (I love my polaroid printer so much).

And now let me hand it over to EHD’s Lead Designer and our resident DIY aficionado, Julie…

From Julie: Adding a DIY into a design project is nothing new around here. Whether it is big one like the window treatments and tent canopy for the kid’s bedroom in the mountain house or small like the pillowcase cover I am always up for it because that extra bit of customization to a space will make it feel more personal and unique to you. That’s why for my own MOTO I included a couple of my own DIYs, one of which is the art piece below, take a peek!

Layered Torn Paper



photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: julie’s huge (and diy packed) bedroom upgrade

This piece is so subtle that you might’ve missed it in my bedroom reveal earlier this year. I already had a lot going on in that small, small room of mine but I still wanted to hang something above that vintage folding chair to balance it out between the windows. So, I decided to make one of the most simple yet time-consuming pieces of art I’ve ever done. It’s basically layered torn paper adhered together with some double-sided tape. I already had a left over frame and picked up a kid’s art roll on my last (fingers crossed) trip to IKEA. Initially, I wanted to do something similar to this but then realized that the scale is what made that piece so cool. So instead, I channeled my design fundamentals year in art school and ended up with this.

What You’ll Need:

Picture Frame Drawing Paper RollDouble-Sided TapeMeasuring TapePencilDamp Washcloth

Step One: Measure the length of your frame. I used the 19″x27″ Ribba Frame from Ikea so my initial length is 27″ long.
Step Two: On your paper roll measure and mark with the pencil to 27″. Hot Tip: On the longer pieces it is best to measure & mark both sides for folding in the next step.
Step Three: Fold the paper to the marks and use the washcloth to make the fold damp. Reverse the fold and repeat with the washcloth on the other side. (FYI dampening of the paper makes it easier to tear)
Step Four: Slowly tear the paper along the damp crease. It doesn’t have to be perfect since the idea is to get the edge to look “frayed”.
Step Five: Repeat Steps 2 – 4. Reduce the length of the piece of paper by 1″ each time. By the end you should have papers that range from 27″ long all the way to one that is 1″ in length. 
Step Six: Lay down the largest piece (27″) and then the 26″ piece on top of it. The smaller piece of paper should be even in the middle of the larger piece. They should overlap by 1/2″ on either side. Use a piece of tape on all four corners of the backside of each new piece of paper being laid down to secure it. Repeat the process until you have the 1″ strip paper in the very middle and on the top.
Step Seven: Frame and hang it!

Next up, another innovative GIY from our lovely EHD alum, Emily B:

Mixed Media



photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: emily bowser’s “refreshed for function” small living room makeover

At the end of 2019, Emily B. revealed her cozy living room which included three original artwork pieces above her sofa, created by none other than herself along with the help of Velinda, me and a couple of bottles of wine. This DIY art has no rules except for one, every time you contribute something to the paper you must shout “ART” and take a sip. So grab all those random pieces of paper, some string, paint and just have fun with it.

Polaroids



left photo by tessa neustadt, from: sara’s living room reveal | right photo by sara ligorria-tramp, from: arlyn’s bright & happy rental living room makeover

If you have a ton of old Polaroids or old vintage photos in a shoebox under your bed (or high up in that closet), you can create a large and personal art piece like Sara and Arlyn did for their living rooms. Just make sure your photos are all the same size to create a perfect grid! And not to keep plugging this magical machine, but if you don’t have a bunch of polaroids handy and but want to create something like this with old photos from your photo then this printer is your answer.

We aren’t the only creative souls on the internet (duh), so we wanted to share some of our favorite seasoned DIYers and man do they have some ideas that we would love to recreate while we are all staying indoors. And actually I think some of us will this week…stay tuned:)

Dimensional Geometric



design by kate pruitt via design sponge

Our very own Mallory has been eyeing this 3D wall art DIY (we are big fans of nontraditional art) from Design Sponge for a long time now and is ready to give it a go this weekend. It’s made from balsa wood which was one of my favorite materials to use to build models in school since it’s so easy to use and doesn’t require any heavy machinery. I would love to see someone recreate this in a colorful version as well.

GOOD DIY Art Inspiration + A How-To of Julie’s Original Piece (And A Kickoff of My Weekly DIY Challenge – Wanna Join?)

We feel like there are two kinds of people right now. First, are those who desperately need house projects to fill these days (and give us purpose) and make their house even homier. Then there are those who don’t want to feel guilty about watching the news and marathoning shows (and should feel no guilt – we all process our own way). This post is for the former. I’m in the “have to stay busy” camp and now that the kids are older I LOVE making things with them. So now more than ever I’m looking for easy fun projects that we can do together to create a memor, keep them and us busy as well as add style and personality to our house. So here we go – our first DIY challenge is for those of you who are interested in creating an easy, affordable piece of art for your home or at least watch us do it. I suggest you take Julie’s into high consideration because we all LOVE it and undoubtedly you will too. We also (to keep things super fresh) searched the internet for some of VERY cool and fun ideas. This post is packed, people.

Over the years the EHD team has created a lot of art, mostly because art is a great way to bring in some personality to your home. We all know that art can be expensive, so we are always looking for affordable ways to create our own (and bonus points if the supplies might be in your garage already). Let’s get to it:

Taped Pattern on a Drop Cloth



photo by david tsay | from: 5 tips to designing a timeless kids bedroom

Years ago Orlando and I made that massive piece of art with a drop cloth and a frame we built. Then we taped out a pattern and framed it. Now, this is a BIG project, but the idea behind it is so simple and could obviously be much smaller in scale. Also, you don’t have to have a fancy canvas, most fabrics could do (and a painters drop cloth is honestly GREAT).

Potato Stamp Inspo



photo by tessa neustadt | from: how we styled our living room and kitchen to sell

Now I want to be VERY clear – this stamped art is by Rebecca Atwood (who we love) and was not DIY’d. But we saw that she is even promoting it on her blog as a great DIY and has outlined how to do it. She is THE master so you are in good hands. It’s made with a potato and paint, two things a lot of us have lying around (maybe).

Pressed Flowers



photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: our light-filled neutral & textural living room

Maybe one of my favorite pieces of art that involved the kids is the pressed flowers that we framed (in Ikea frames) above. They collected them last spring from the backyard. Some we pressed traditionally (with wax paper and heavy books, over weeks) but most we sped up the process by using this press that you can microwave. Then we simply used super glue to lightly attach to the paper and keep it really quiet and minimal. It is so pretty, such a good memory and the kids signed it at the bottom with a ‘spring 2019’, too.

Kids Art (Upgraded)



photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: how we designed our super kid-friendly family room

We have a whole sentimental art wall in our house and it brings me serious joy (said as a true mom, no sarcasm at all). On it, we have kids art (the big blue piece), a framed origami (a playful sculptural cat), self-portraits of them (done with a mirror at their school) and framed kids polaroids (I love my polaroid printer so much).

And now let me hand it over to EHD’s Lead Designer and our resident DIY aficionado, Julie…

From Julie: Adding a DIY into a design project is nothing new around here. Whether it is big one like the window treatments and tent canopy for the kid’s bedroom in the mountain house or small like the pillowcase cover I am always up for it because that extra bit of customization to a space will make it feel more personal and unique to you. That’s why for my own MOTO I included a couple of my own DIYs, one of which is the art piece below, take a peek!

Layered Torn Paper



photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: julie’s huge (and diy packed) bedroom upgrade

This piece is so subtle that you might’ve missed it in my bedroom reveal earlier this year. I already had a lot going on in that small, small room of mine but I still wanted to hang something above that vintage folding chair to balance it out between the windows. So, I decided to make one of the most simple yet time-consuming pieces of art I’ve ever done. It’s basically layered torn paper adhered together with some double-sided tape. I already had a left over frame and picked up a kid’s art roll on my last (fingers crossed) trip to IKEA. Initially, I wanted to do something similar to this but then realized that the scale is what made that piece so cool. So instead, I channeled my design fundamentals year in art school and ended up with this.

What You’ll Need:

Picture Frame Drawing Paper RollDouble-Sided TapeMeasuring TapePencilDamp Washcloth

Step One: Measure the length of your frame. I used the 19″x27″ Ribba Frame from Ikea so my initial length is 27″ long.
Step Two: On your paper roll measure and mark with the pencil to 27″. Hot Tip: On the longer pieces it is best to measure & mark both sides for folding in the next step.
Step Three: Fold the paper to the marks and use the washcloth to make the fold damp. Reverse the fold and repeat with the washcloth on the other side. (FYI dampening of the paper makes it easier to tear)
Step Four: Slowly tear the paper along the damp crease. It doesn’t have to be perfect since the idea is to get the edge to look “frayed”.
Step Five: Repeat Steps 2 – 4. Reduce the length of the piece of paper by 1″ each time. By the end you should have papers that range from 27″ long all the way to one that is 1″ in length. 
Step Six: Lay down the largest piece (27″) and then the 26″ piece on top of it. The smaller piece of paper should be even in the middle of the larger piece. They should overlap by 1/2″ on either side. Use a piece of tape on all four corners of the backside of each new piece of paper being laid down to secure it. Repeat the process until you have the 1″ strip paper in the very middle and on the top.
Step Seven: Frame and hang it!

Next up, another innovative GIY from our lovely EHD alum, Emily B:

Mixed Media



photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: emily bowser’s “refreshed for function” small living room makeover

At the end of 2019, Emily B. revealed her cozy living room which included three original artwork pieces above her sofa, created by none other than herself along with the help of Velinda, me and a couple of bottles of wine. This DIY art has no rules except for one, every time you contribute something to the paper you must shout “ART” and take a sip. So grab all those random pieces of paper, some string, paint and just have fun with it.

Polaroids



left photo by tessa neustadt, from: sara’s living room reveal | right photo by sara ligorria-tramp, from: arlyn’s bright & happy rental living room makeover

If you have a ton of old Polaroids or old vintage photos in a shoebox under your bed (or high up in that closet), you can create a large and personal art piece like Sara and Arlyn did for their living rooms. Just make sure your photos are all the same size to create a perfect grid! And not to keep plugging this magical machine, but if you don’t have a bunch of polaroids handy and but want to create something like this with old photos from your photo then this printer is your answer.

We aren’t the only creative souls on the internet (duh), so we wanted to share some of our favorite seasoned DIYers and man do they have some ideas that we would love to recreate while we are all staying indoors. And actually I think some of us will this week…stay tuned:)

Dimensional Geometric



design by kate pruitt via design sponge

Our very own Mallory has been eyeing this 3D wall art DIY (we are big fans of nontraditional art) from Design Sponge for a long time now and is ready to give it a go this weekend. It’s made from balsa wood which was one of my favorite materials to use to build models in school since it’s so easy to use and doesn’t require any heavy machinery. I would love to see someone recreate this in a colorful version as well.

Our Most Favorite Cozy Clothes For Staying Inside

When getting ready I (Emily) laugh at my underwire bra that is in desperate need of attention, and wear my Uggs every single day (this is my favorite pair). I really, really wanted to do a cozy comfy clothes review, to be able to recommend truly what is worth the purchase right now (as we are all thinking extra carefully about our purchases) but it felt so wasteful both in money and shipping (and returning is hard). Instead, I crowdsourced the EHD team and asked what they are wearing and loving right now. Here are the results:

Emily (Me)

1.Women’s Sherpa Jacket: I left this in LA and I’m bummed EVERY DAY that I don’t have it (and keep forgetting to grab it). It’s really flattering and CUTE in addition to being comfy and cozy (and red is making me so happy to wear)

2. Women’s Crewneck Sweatshirt A cozy crew that looks old and boyfriend-y. If you like The Great, but its not in your budget, these are really good. 

3. Cosmic Joggers: It’s safe to say that I’m living in a lot of Lou and Gray Right now. Their whole thing is comfy clothes and they deliver.

4. Loose Knit Sweater: I don’t need more sweaters, but this one would make me so happy to wear right now. I can’t vouch for if its soft, as I haven’t ordered it yet, but it makes me feel happy.

5. Hearts Slim Boyfriend Jean: While I’m opting away from most denim, I have been wearing boyfriend jeans and love that these are made in LA.

6. Basic Sweatpants: If you want to splurge on your sweatpants to ensure they are comfy and flattering (no pockets in weird places to add bulk, etc) I have had these for years and can vouch.

7. LA Stripes Varsity Tee: Don’t have but WANT.

8. Le Soleil Pant: I’m wearing these right now and they are slouchy trousers that are still super cute (and 50% off right now).

 9. Down For It All Jacket: Once again I find myself wearing this daily, all seasons. So warm but so lightweight (so it’s great for all seasons and layers so easily because the arms are fitted but not tight). 

Veronica

1.Women’s Cropped Hoodie: I’ve been LIVING in this (even before quarantine). I have it in black so super easy to throw on with some high-waist pants or leggings. It runs small, so size up! (I am typically a S/M but went to a large) 

2. Women’s High-Rise Tie-Dye Leggings: These are nice to put on right when you wake up. They go down to your ankles and have me ready to do yoga at any second of the day! 

3. Aerie Boyfriend Distressed Oversized T-Shirt: This shirt is soooo comfy, and I love that it’s baggy and oversized. Basically it’s perfect for lounging!! I usually wear it with leggings or bike shorts.

4. Shark Slippers: These are super comfy and add a nice light-heartedness to my day

The Wood Style We Didn’t See Coming – Chunky, Knotty Pine Furniture Is Back (Or Is It?)

design by imogen milford| styling by annie portelli | photo by amelia stanwix | via the design files

Now seems like as good of a time as any for a distraction and to talk about a “crazy” design trend we have been noticing. A trend that quite literally took us all by surprise because I guess this is the year of surprises. This one, however, is GOOD (but that also could be up for debate:)). So why were we shocked, possibly horrified, but also completely intrigued by this mystery trend?? Well, because we’re talking about chunky, knotty, and slightly glossed pine furniture. WHAT?!!! Hold that groovy cord bound phone.

Ok, to be fair I’m a late ’80s baby so I guess I missed the true “pine wood heyday” of the ’70s. But even still, I never had the immediate, “whoa this cool” moment when I saw a piece of chunky pine wood furniture. I don’t think I’ve ever had any positive or fond associations with it until…now.

design by brian paquette interiors | photo by laure joliet

You might be thinking, “Whoa, whoa, whoa. That crazy furniture in my basement is cool now?” And I will tell you the answer is, yes. And it’s serious because some of our favorite designers like Kelly Wearstler, Commune Design, Reath Design (and more) have been gently leaning into it. Which makes it undeniably cool…right? Which then must mean that all of EHD is on board. If they aren’t they can defend themselves and answer to me in the comments:)

design by kelly wearstler | photo by mathieu salvaing | via dezeen

So I think the only natural thing to do (as we always to in trend posts) is to figure out what makes it special now, after so many years of contempt. How and why has 2020 taken this otherwise banished type of furniture and brought it back to life? We want answers and I am going to give them to you.

Soooo…Why Now?



via lawson-fenning x parachute home

Ha. Well, I/we don’t “officially” know this answer but I’m going to wildly speculate until we figure it out together.

design by murphy deesign | photo by zeke ruelas

I have this theory that there is a 30-year cycle in fashion trends (clothes are easier and cheaper to modernize) and a 40-year cycle in interior trends. It takes us a little bit more time to figure out what the heck to do with some of “those” crazy design trends of the past. Granmillenial (not to be confused with our beloved Eccentric English Grandma) came a little early because to me it was a reinvention of ’90s shabby chic. But this whole pine wood reboot took its sweet ole time, coming back at around 50 years later.

design by kelly wearstler | photo by the ingalls | via curbed la

A part of me wonders if we are just out of things to reinvent so why not take a swing at glossy pine wood? But then when you look at the pieces used in these photos, you see that they are CLEARY special. Not just a last resort design option.

design by commune design

But let’s see why these are special. Their chunky, shiny frame is paired with very cool (and modern) fabric like leather, fur or a modern patterned textile. In addition, their physical shape is usually special in and of itself.

design by commune design

They also are the perfect “eccentric” accent piece to an otherwise very modern room. A Phoebe to a Rachel if you will. I mean Phoebe was a VITAL part of Friends and brought the necessary “weird brilliance” to what could have been an otherwise just ordinary show. Are those fighting words? Whoops! Back to pine!

But How Can I Cheat on Matte with Gloss?



styled by alexa hotz | shot by jonathan hökklo for remodelista

No one is saying you have to give up on your dear matte, but maybe it’s time to open our hearts to gloss. Guys, it’s 2020, let’s get polyamorous with our wood finishes. It’s low risk, high reward, and more to love. But trust me I get it, making the mental switch to liking a glossy natural wood feels anything but natural. And if you actually just can’t with gloss but are down for that sweet ’70s shape, take a note from Emily and her mountain house nightstands.

left: via chairish | right: photo by sara ligorria-tramp, from: our calm scandinavian master bedroom

When she found them on Chairish, they looked like the picture on the left – shiny and orange toned. That was a HARD pass for her scandi mountain house retreat. So she had them stripped and they ended up being the perfect “weird” shape in her otherwise serene master bedroom.

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: in defense of the comfy sectional—a friend’s almost-finished family room

But as shown from our Sixpenny shoot above, EHD is not gloss opposed. We just are easing into it with a slightly lighter sheen. Baby steps you could say.

design by reath design | photo by laure joliet

Ugh if these chairs are a testament to gloss WORKING, then I don’t know how else to proceed. I mean hubba hubba, right?

The Cool Factor



design by cyndia harvey | photo by veerle evens | via clever

A trend always equals cool, but does cool always equal a trend? Hmm..that’s a bit too philosophical for a pine trend post during the apocalypse so let’s focus on why we think pine is cool…

design by heidi caillier design

Again and (I think) most importantly, it’s how it’s styled in a modern space with other interesting pieces. Think back to the breakout trend of 2019, Postmodernism. An entire room full of postmodern decor would have been visually too much and would’ve looked dated (depending on the chosen materials and colors). However, a dash of it could bring a room to life! The same goes for pine furniture except it looks far more approachable.

design by atelier ace | photo by adrian gaut | via dezeen

WAIT! Maybe that’s ultimately why it’s cool. It’s like “the nerd” in high school who almost always grows up to be the coolest adult. They don’t look threatening, are incredibly interesting, and are super easy to be around. That same general idea is why I think “eccentric granny” and wicker are big 2020 trends. There seems to be this desperate need for comforting nostalgia in the home more than ever. Sure we want our homes to be “cool” but we really want them to feel safe. Did we decide to get philosophical after all and crack the code??

left: photo via county ltd. | right: via atelier cph

So if you are on team glossy pine wood and want the comforts of yesteryear, here’s what you should look out for. The key is to look for a piece that is minimal because they stay far away from any ornate detailing (remember, think ’70s pine, not ’90s). It’s all about simple but interesting lines and chunky curves. And of course, don’t forget the knots and gloss.

Here are some more examples of what I mean so you can look out for them when you are on the hunt…

clockwise from top left: photo source | photo source | photo source | photo source | photo source | photo source

Alright my sweet friends, this trend post has come to an end. If you are wanting a piece for your house because you aren’t one of the lucky ones with a basement full of these gems, head to Cailtin’s incredibly helpful and hilarious post she did on vintage sellers on Instagram in the US that will deliver to you.

Otherwise, I am ready to chat about pine wood in these comments. I want your thoughts, theories, and general feelings about the future of design in 2020. Was glossy, knotty pine wood something you thought you’d see???

Love you, mean it.

The post The Wood Style We Didn’t See Coming – Chunky, Knotty Pine Furniture Is Back (Or Is It?) appeared first on Emily Henderson.

20 Of My Favorite “Happy Classic” Movies To Help You Escape (Plus My #1 Movie of All-Time)

We all deserve an escape right now with no shame in our Quarantine Game. But then again I’ve never been one to feel guilty about any of my pleasures and happily promote the genius of Outlander and Gillian Flynn books despite knowing that these will never be critically acclaimed. I actually wrote this post 3 years ago but never posted it because why would I publish a ‘my favorite all-time movies’ on a design blog? I’m not a film critic, in fact, quite the opposite. I mostly like entertaining rom-coms and coming of age movies. But these days I need a guaranteed good escape (we all do) so turning to the “happy classics”, as I call them, seems necessary. You’ve probably seen all these movies – they are the movies that when on a plane you can’t NOT watch. The characters feel like friends. You tell yourself you’ll just press play for a second then you find an hour and a half of JOY has passed as you’ve watched Kate Hudson and Matthew Maconahay flirt. So, here it is. My favorite “Happy Classic” movies (with some 2020 updates).

20. Someone Great

This one is more friend love than and dealing with a breakup than anything, but the LOVE is there – it’s just less rom-com and more about female friendship (which is, honestly, equally important). 

19. How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days:

The first time you watch this you’ll be embarrassed by how much you like it. The plot is so cliche and shallow, but they both sell it, you believe in them, and there are some strangely hilarious moments having to do with a tiny yappy dog. It’s become a classic in my book.

18. Always Be My Maybe

Finally a new one from 2019 that is becoming a go-to in the background. Great acting and sweet story. Just talking about it makes me excited to watch it again. 

17. Bad Moms

This is another go-to plane movie while I write posts, not that I’ll be on a plane anytime soon. It seems highly appropriate right now as a lot of us moms might be feeling extra bad (or good?) these days. Speaking of Kristen, a funny post I saw was a mom saying “While homeschooling we need more structure to our day, so tomorrow we are watching Frozen 1 BEFORE Frozen 2”.

16. The Proposal:

It’s practically perfect. Sandra and Ryan are so good, Betty White (and all the other silly character actors) entertain thoroughly and it has enough heart to really root for them the whole way.

15.  Devil Wears Prada:

I worked in the magazine industry in New York in my 20s so this certainly speaks to me, but even if I didn’t I’m sure I would love it. Anne and Meryl kill it, and it has heart, glamour and some hunky love.

14. Set It Up

 I watched this twice in the same week. The two leads have such good chemistry and all the acting is great. I, again, apparently love the “hustling in the magazine industry as a 20 something” genre, but maybe we all secretly do? 

13. Bridesmaids

I can’t. It’s too funny. And has heart with the girl friendship situation. I know you have all seen it, but just watch it again. You’ll be so happy you did.

12. The First Time

YOU GUYS. No one has seen this movie and it’s VERY VERY VERY good, cute and a great one if you are with a partner to watch. It’s a rom-com meets coming of age and those are my two favorite movie genres.

11.  The Notebook

I used to give myself a “1 Notebook a year” allowance for fear that I would watch it too many times and it would lose its specialness (besides the more you watch it, the more flaws you see). I swear I should be a Hollywood trend actor predictor. I KNOW when a male actor is going to hit big time from their first film. I was a fan of his before watching this, too, but after this, I was like THIS GUY WILL SWEEP THE WORLD. Of course, he turned slightly into a D-bag and he’s a bit oversaturated but this movie is still uncomparable on the romance/love-ometer (which is the only meter I care about).

10. Ten Things I Hate About You

’90s angst meets Shakespeare. It’s not particularily amazing but I love when its on TBS. Plus …. Heath.

9. A Lot Like Love



Amanda PEET, Ashton KUTCHER – Visuel de l’Affiche Américaine en Couleur – Color Key Art

How is this not a more popular classic? I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE this movie. They have such great chemistry and it’s coming of age in a really fun 2000s kind of way. If you haven’t seen it, please rent it.

8. Definitely, Maybe

He can do no wrong, and while many people think this tale of a movie is cheesy, I for one love watching it over and over. Definitely. Not maybe.

7. Sweet Home Alabama

Pretty much the exact same plot as The Notebook (have you noticed that?) but I’m a huge Josh Lucas fan and I think this movie is entertaining from New York to Alabama.

6. Parent Trap

I was a Lindsey Lohan fan for a long time (and still am, despite her terrible childhood led by unskilled albeit surely loving parents). I love this movie. Not sure why. But it makes me happy.

5. Crazy Stupid Love

YES. UGH. All-star cast, about love and relationships. Emma and Ryan’s love + Steve’s hilariously depressing character makes me smile.

4. The Girl Next Door

This is lesser-known but it is GOOOOOOOD. It’s one of the few romantic comedies that Brian loves as much as I do. This one is about a girl know moves next door to a normal teenage boy, and she is a porn star. It’s not what you think. It’s full of heart and romance.

3. Dangerous Beauty

You are welcome, female America. You are all thinking “what is this movie that I’ve never heard of??” GAH. It’s so good!!!!! I would kill to watch it right now. It’s a sleeper hit (no pun intended) about a courtesan and it is romantic as HELL. It sweeps you away, puts you in the mood and yet makes you feel empowered. WATCH IT.

2. Mean Girls

See. I told you I was a Lindsey fan. And Rachel. And Tina Fey. It’s an obvious classic.

1. Dirty Dancing

That’s right. Dirty Dancing is my #1 movie OF ALL TIME and there is no shame in my Patrick Swayze loving game. And you know what? After I made Brian watch it recently it’s also one is HIS favorite movies. The acting, the production design, the music, the romance – EVERYTHING is so good. And Patrick Swayze truly was a national treasure.

But those are just my “can’t not watch” movies and while I may be able to sneak some time to watch them the next few weeks, even if it’s just on in the background while I write at night, I’d LOVE some new recommendations (or ones that I’ve missed). For instance my team already pointed out that I haven’t seen To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and I’m so excited to stream it on my laptop while I organize SOMETHING, JUST ANYTHING this weekend. But it’s also been a couple of years since The Notebook so that might be on my agenda as well. Also please don’t forget any “switching bodies’ movies i.e. 13 going on 30, 17 again, The Change Up, etc. Also, I can’t believe I didn’t put Good Will Hunting up there, not because it’s a good rom-com, but Matt and Ben’s friendship makes me really happy. Ok gotta stop, now you please start – what are your “Happy Classics” for all of our no guilt escaping right now???

The post 20 Of My Favorite “Happy Classic” Movies To Help You Escape (Plus My #1 Movie of All-Time) appeared first on Emily Henderson.