Paper goody bag for kid birthday party with rainbow stripes

Goody Bag Fillers That Aren’t Candy

by Evin // August 21, 2024 // No Comments

Following up on last year’s post, Everything I Love for My Kids’ Birthdays, I wanted to share a list of goody bag fillers that aren’t candy as well as links to paper goody bags. I love not including a ton... Continue reading →

Homemade jam in jars with labels and dates. This batch is Strawberry-Rhubarb and dated August '21. A small stamp on the label likely signifies the farm or maker. Photo by Max Goncharov

8 Thoughtful [But Not Too Personal] Gifts That Don’t Break Your Budget

by Evin // November 21, 2023 // No Comments

From office gift exchanges to something to bring when going to a holiday party at a friend’s home, there is a necessary place for thoughtful [but not too personal] gifts that don’t break your budget. I mean, you can’t always... Continue reading →

List of Gift Ideas for Me To Treat Myself

by Evin // November 13, 2023 // No Comments

With my birthday and Christmas approaching, I am making a list of my personal wish list items. This is a bit of a tradition and just for my family. Which now that I write it, it hits me that I... Continue reading →

gifts wrapped in brown paper with red and white string. Tag says 'Made in Santa's Workshop'

A Random List of Holiday Gift Ideas

by Evin // November 10, 2023 // No Comments

Each year, I feel like I move further away from wanting material goods and ease more into wanting sleep, recharging experiences, and replacement items for things that wore out. I don’t know if that’s sad or lovely, but I am... Continue reading →

Circular wood knitting needles with sage green yarn in a bowl alongside a knit lace shawl on a wood table with a journal.

How to Choose a Gift for a Knitter

by Evin // November 7, 2023 // No Comments

I’ve posted many times with gift ideas, knitting care package inspiration, Knitmas gifts, knitter care package advice, examples of knitter gifts I’ve given, and creative thoughtfulness suggestions, so why not once more? This post, however, is more focused on choosing... Continue reading →

Everything I Love for My Kids’ Birthdays

by Evin // September 7, 2023 // No Comments

I’ve celebrated my two kids’ birthdays in small and big ways, so I’ve compiled a list of all the things I’ve found useful or fab. Essentially this is a big list of everything I love for my kids’ birthdays. I’ll... Continue reading →

An embroidered zippered pouch adorned with little bees. Two heart-shaped stones appear to have emerged from the bag in time for the photo. Image by Melissa di Rocco

How To Choose The Perfect Gift

by Evin // January 10, 2023 // No Comments

Much like my father, I’m an easy person to give gifts to. I’m appreciative, see the thought and time behind any gift, and recognise that a gift isn’t just about the recipient but also about the giver in that moment.... Continue reading →

Gift Ideas: Christmas 2022

by Evin // December 6, 2022 // No Comments

Each year, I share some of the brilliant things we’ve purchased that calendar year as well as things that will be under our Christmas tree. You can see those older posts under my Gift Ideas category. Today, I am sharing... Continue reading →

Schwinn Roadster Trike for Preschoolers rides by a little kid along a river

Top 9 Items I Own That I Recommend

by Evin // March 24, 2022 // No Comments

I am often asked for recommendations because with two kids and having lived in two continents, we’ve tried many products and weeded out what doesn’t last. Plus, we’ve shed all our things and reacquired a couple times with big moves,... Continue reading →

These are a Few of My Favorite Things, from Beauty & Skin Care to Reading Glasses & Books

by Evin // February 22, 2022 // 3 Comments

I have to admit, I’ve curated a nice collection of useful things in my life. Too many things, but decluttering is for another day. For now, I want to reflect on the everyday things I use. Especially when someone at brunch... Continue reading →

Wood farmhouse table top with 5 eggs, a broken egg, 3 tea towels, and muffins in a muffin tin

Winning Gift Ideas for Everyone on Your List… No, Really!

by Evin // December 16, 2021 // No Comments

I’m creating a useful and evergreen list of gift ideas for everyone on your list so you can reference this for birthdays or other occasions. At the end, you can peek at my personal wish list. So, if you know... Continue reading →

Brilliant Things: A Few of My Favorite Things

by Evin // November 30, 2021 // No Comments

In our day-to-day life, we use and enjoy certain things on an almost daily basis. There are things I just cannot imagine what we did before we owned them. They’re great gift ideas as well so with the holidays coming... Continue reading →

Books with a Christmas Theme to Get in the Holiday Spirit

by Evin // November 11, 2021 // No Comments

Each year anticipating Christmas, I get out our boxes of decorations to bring the holiday spirit to our home. I also bring out a stack of Christmas-themed books which we read together and on our own for the two months that follow. It... Continue reading →

Big List of Book Recommendations

by Evin // October 28, 2021 // No Comments

Since my dad passed away, I’ve lost my way a bit. I’ve forgotten how to have ‘me time’ and hobbies. One of my great loves has always been reading books so in an effort to find my way again I... Continue reading →

Gift Ideas for Home & Self-Care

by Evin // August 19, 2021 // No Comments

It has been one heck of a last nine months for me losing my dad, learning more about my mother’s health and helping her transition to a care residence, and clearing out my parents’ house. Really, I guess to be fair... Continue reading →

Your Recommendations for Skin Care & Make Up

by Evin // July 15, 2021 // 1 Comment

I’ve never been much for makeup. Really, I can recall the number of times I bought makeup on one hand. Concealer, lip balm, and an eyelash curler are my basics for everyday. But I rely heavily on skin care because skin... Continue reading →

How to Watch Marvel Movies and TV Shows in Order of When They Took Place in the MCU

by Evin // March 23, 2021 // 3 Comments

This past year, I’ve had a bit more time at home than usual and have been catching up on movies I missed over the last decade or so (since having kids). I want to watch them in order of when... Continue reading →

Woolly and Wonderful Hand-dyers in Ireland & Northern Ireland | EvinOK

Made In Ireland – Makers and Artisans Based in Ireland

by Evin // January 26, 2021 // 1 Comment

If you read my blog regularly, you know I’ve posted quite a few times before about Irish crafts, hand-dyed yarn, and more, so it won’t be a surprise to read this post. I spent many MANY hours combing Instagram and the internet looking... Continue reading →

Hooded sweatshirt with cat riding a rainbow-vomiting shark beside a periodic table of elements puzzle in a tube-shaped package.

Brilliant Things: Almost Everything We’ve Bought in 2020

by Evin // August 22, 2020 // No Comments

We bought a few new things this year and are loving them, so I thought I’d share a list of what we spent our money on in 2020, since you know it wasn’t travel or dining out. Really, this list... Continue reading →

a bookshelf with writing and nonfiction books lined up

How I Started Blogging and My Favorite Writing Books

by Evin // July 27, 2020 // No Comments

Since I learned what letters and words do, I’ve put them together to convey ideas or just for fun. In college, I was editor-in-chief of the campus newspaper, I was an interning editor for an educational catalog/magazine for three summers,... Continue reading →