Last Thursday I turned 27 and my family and friends made it a wonderful celebration. My husband surprised me with dinner at a delicious Mediterranean restaurant, Cous Cous, and the next morning we left for a birthday weekend at his parents’ beach house in Delaware with my mom, stepdad and the in-laws. Before I knew it we were loading gift after gift into the car and heading home on Sunday. Time flies when you’re having fun (and unwrapping house-related presents). Here are the highlights.
John is a fan of a birthday wish list, which makes gift-giving easy and fun. I usually drop a few items from my favorite online stores into a list and John shares those links with family. I had noticed these faux topiaries a while back and was thrilled to find them still available to add to my list. Don’t they brighten up the sunroom?
These realistic rosemary and mint topiaries (what I like to call “fauxpiaries”) bring greenery to our sunroom, which struggles to support live plants through freezing winters since it’s not temperature controlled. We’ve tried everything from boxwoods to evergreens with limited success. I don’t mind faux plants when they look believable and aren’t over-the-top, and these do—thankfully they look as good in person as they do online.
My mom gave me a thoughtful birthday check and a small kitchen gift basket with items like organic parsley you can grow in the bag, gourmet popcorn and Barefoot Contessa brownies—delicious treats I immediately enjoyed.
John’s parents gifted me a Pottery Barn wreath I’d been eyeing since December. It was on sale, so it felt like a perfect find. I tried it up when we got home and briefly considered keeping it up year-round, but we decided the pinecones make it more seasonal—perfect to bring out each Christmas.
Here’s a detail shot of the wreath’s bleached, paper-thin leaves along with the festive flowers, pinecones and pom-poms. It’s much larger in person than the photos suggested and those delicate details really stand out.
From John and his sister I received two ZGallerie candle sconces that I’d been coveting since they appeared on the site. Their graphic shape complements many elements in our home—the outline echoes our yellow living room rug and they also look great with the patterned quilt in the guest bedroom.
We ultimately decided to hang the sconces in the master suite so we could enjoy them more often. They also pair beautifully with our blue-and-white duvet—versatile and pretty, and a great addition to the room.
Here’s the blank wall that had been patiently waiting for something special. We prefer to wait for pieces we truly love rather than rushing into a decision; a blank wall can be calming until the right artwork or accessory appears.
Here’s John hanging the sconces while I stood back and fine-tuned their placement. It’s essential to step back and evaluate positioning before committing to holes in the wall. We used anchors to make sure the sconces are securely mounted—important when using open flame.
They look lovely on the wall. I like the staggered arrangement—John’s idea—and the way the mirrors reflect the candlelight. Birthdays really are the best.
And a close-up because I can’t help myself—I’m smitten with the detail and texture.
That’s the birthday gift rundown. Huge thanks to my wonderful family and friends, and especially my thoughtful husband (who even baked those Barefoot Contessa brownies). Best birthday ever. What do you usually do for your birthday—ask for house-related items, request cash, or create a wish list to share? I’d love to hear your traditions.