The DM | Issue Fifty Four
Guest starring *our mothers*
Mother’s Day is this weekend so we thought… why not feature the women who made us the brilliant, witty, fun, interesting and most of all, humble people we are today?
Our moms didn’t disappoint (unlike us during our teen years, *smiles angelically*) and we’re delighted to have Jana and Lynn’s recs in this week’s issue.
PS, Call your mother and send her The DM, duh!
PPS, The last song on BSB’s Millennium album is STILL the album’s sleeper hit.
From Meg
Here’s what I’m currently:
Wishing for: These party boots are my dream birthday gift. They’re actually handmade in Buenos Aires where I’m going in a couple of weeks for my birthday so… feels like a sprinkle of FATE to me, no?
Observing with a twinge of concern: I mean it makes a lot of sense from a portioning perspective, but if this is the future of restaurants it also makes me a little sad.
Making: Carne asada tacos and mezcal negronis, ol-freaking-le.
From Jana | Meg’s Mom
Ok, so since Mother’s Day is approaching, I’ve been asked to be a guest columnist for The DM… I was hesitant because following in the footsteps of Meg, who has developed into a gifted writer (Of course, I am biased!) feels a tad intimidating… (Editor’s note: Awww, thanks Mom <3) Nevertheless, you might be able to tell where her story-telling capabilities drew their initial breaths…So proud she has taken her love of reading and writing and shared it (and her creativity) with others.
Here’s what I’m currently:
Watching: The Season/Series finale of A Million Little Things. Beautiful, poignant, and guaranteed to tug at your heartstrings (Note: The pollen count is currently off the charts—that’s why my eyes are so weepy)
Excited about: PLANTING! (Editor’s note: My mom is a true PLANT WIZARD, if you are looking to get into gardening, I will give you her number for hot tipz) We are finally experiencing SPRING in the Rocky Mtn. region! I know, I know… it’s bordering on summer in other areas of the country where Spring has already peaked, but coming out of the dead of winter is always a special time here. As the dull, lifeless brown of winter gives way to the rebirth of the landscape, we once again are encouraged to have our hand in the process—planting an array of flowers and vegetables!
Here are a few great options for container vegetable gardens:
Sun Gold Cherry tomatoes: These little gems are one of the sweetest varieties on the market. Great tasting and prolific producers. Caprese, anyone?
Fairy Tale eggplant: This miniature variety gives you the ability to enjoy homegrown eggplant, much earlier, but the REAL advantage? NO peeling required!
Shishito peppers: A little olive oil, a little quality sea salt, and voila! Within minutes, an instant HH appetizer to accompany a cold beverage of choice…
Addicted to: Park Street Street Corn Dip (from Aldi’s). Unfortunately, when we return from wintering in the Southeast, we are denied this crack-snack, but for those of you lucky enough to have Aldi’s in your area year-round, I would suggest keeping this as a staple!
Listening to: Luke Combs: Fast Car
Typically, I don’t care for remakes of former hit songs, but this is an exception… His cover of Tracy Chapman’s Fast Car truly does it justice. Her style was so unique that I initially thought: ‘No way it can be redone’, but honestly, he hit it out of the park! Furthermore, this is proof that there can be more than one way to do something right… try to remember this when you’re given the opportunity to consider an opposing view. :)
Finally, a few things that make life better:
Good coffee—any time of day
Breakfast with Southern style grits (none of that funky cheesy style—keep it simple, ok?) and biscuits slathered w/ BUTTER (Can’t even say that word w/o thinking of A.L.’s story and smiling)
Avocados with small pits
Dogs
Laughter
Faith, Family, and Friends (in that order) will keep you grounded and get you through anything
Meg and Devon, thank you for trusting me to give this blog a spin of my own!
From Devon
Here’s what I’m currently:
Telling myself not to buy: new sunglasses, an oyster ring dish, or yet another blue top (Editor’s note: Hi, I’m Apple - meet Tree right below).
Making: this for lunch and this to drink with it all spring/summer long.
Lol-ing: at an AI success in the form of ‘the King’s coronation after party in an alternative universe, and Faith Hill’s backup singers.
Hoping: someone out there might want to take me to this hotel in Portgual’s Douro Valley.
From Lynn | Devon’s Mom
I have to say, for Mother’s Day, I like to keep my expectations low, partly because I don’t really like being the center of attention, and I definitely don’t want my kids to spend too much $$ on me. Since our 3 kids do not live locally, a phone call on the Day Of makes me pretty happy....and I can always count on my Devon to find a beautiful and unique work of art that arrives in the mail a few days early, which immediately goes up on my bulletin board. So I will be celebrating HER this Mother’s Day, along with all of her friends, who have ALL made their mothers proud. (Kait/Lauren/Sarah/Sam/Alex/Gabby/Mackenzie....the list is pretty dang long, and YES! I’m looking at YOU!)
But....Devon asked me to share my list for this issue of the DM, so without further ado, here I go (I gave Devon my permission to edit out anything that makes me sound....well, not on brand for the DM, lol).
Here’s what I’m currently:
Dreaming of: our trip to Jackson Hole in June....starting as a work/business planning trip with a tag-on weekend with the Hubs, which includes a stay here and dinner reservations at Gather and Local. Plus, absolutely can’t WAIT to hike in my favorite National Park - Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming’s best-kept secret. I don’t know why anyone fights the crowds at Yellowstone when this is HANDS DOWN 100 times more beautiful.
Reading: Recommended by my dear friend Annie for our next book club discussion, I absolutely loved Love & Saffron: A Novel of Friendship, Food, and Love – such a fun, sweet story of a friendship that developed between two women journalists via snail mail correspondence in the 1960’s - and Lessons in Chemistry, which I heard they are making into a series or movie or something, a great story!
Wearing: Girl, I know anyone complaining about weather who lives in California sounds like the award-winner for Biggest Whiner, but I’m not exaggerating when I tell you it’s been a VERY long and cold winter....for California. So, I bought a bright linen shirt a while back from Frank & Eileen - the blue is vibrant and makes me happy when I throw it on, which I do every time the sun starts peeking out, it makes me feel like summer is coming any day now! The color I bought was universally popular and sold out, but this one’s similar....I may just have to buy it too?
Loving: For those of you who don’t live in Orange County, this place is my weekend vacation vibe go-to that is like no other place I know: Roger’s Gardens in Newport Beach. Worth flying to So Cal to see it if you’ve never been – there’s no better nursery to buy color for your garden......or literally, almost ANYTHING ELSE to make your home and garden beautiful! A must-see in the spring or summer....call me if you come into town, and I’ll meet you at the Farmhouse there for lunch!
Coveting: Pretty much everything for entertaining from one of my favorite online sources for tabletop and gifts, Hudson Grace, including this Madagascar Packable Raffia Tote Bag. Fill it with flowers from the Farmer’s Market and just casually leave it by your door - your friends will covet your Coastal Grandmother vibe, lol.
Also: This year is the first year I won’t be celebrating the Mother’s Day holiday in partnership with my OWN mom, Devon’s Oma, who passed last September shortly after her 90th birthday. My mom and I used to love to talk about the dynamo we both were instrumental in bringing to the world in the creation of Devon.....and marvel at everything she does and all she has accomplished – her friends, her work, her travel – she carries on our family tradition of fierce, fun, creative women who are unstoppable – and lovers of life! In honor of Oma and Devon, I leave you with one of my favorite quotes, by Judy Blume:
Determination and hard work are as important as talent. Don’t let anyone discourage you! Yes, rejection and criticism hurt. Get used to it.
And now that I read that, it feels a little preachy and heavy to end with, so here’s one, juxtaposed to the above:
My bucket list is pretty short, but my F**k it list keeps growing.
Thanks for letting me guest it here this week, Devon and Meg - Cheers!
I really enjoyed reading this blog. Good job Moms! Looking forward to seeing more 🥰