As I always aim to do, I am here to uncomplicate things for you! I put together a list of fun & beautiful gifts that I love and will work for a variety of moms!

• Love You More Necklace – my mom always says “love you more” when I say “I love you!”. Its become a bit of a staple for us so I was so excited when I found this necklace! $187 on Shopbop
• Luminara Flameless Candles – I actually found these candles through my mother in law. I fell in love and she always gets me a different set for birthdays & holidays. They are perfect for those of us who are maybe forgetful about blowing out candles or love a little bit of ambiance al the time (aka me). $99 on QVC
• Emmy Sneakers by FashionABLE – This brand does an incredible job creating beautiful products while taking care of & empowering their employees. This brand gives fair wages to their employees & publishes them on their site. I love that purchasing something from this site also gives back to the world – it’s like a double gift. Plus – how chic are these sneakers?! Maybe you should snag a pair for you too – your mom would love twinning on Mothers Day! $158 from Fashionable
• Stella Studs by Melissa Lovy – These are my favorite every day earring! They are super glam but not too overstated. If you are looking for a fabulous pair of earrings, Melissa Lovy is your girl! Plus – Lovy is a mother herself so what better way to celebrate mothers day than supporting another Mama! $128 on MelissaLovy.com
• Alem Utility Bag from FashionABLE – another great buy from Fashionable. Everyone knows moms always need a tote bag and this leather one will last them forever (and with natural wear, get more beautiful with time!). $238 on FashionABLE.
• Ribbed Ceramic Vase from Threshold x McGee & Co – I think we have all spent time scrolling through the super gorgeous homes designed & styled by McGee & Co and I am so psyched that they did a collab with Threshold! You can snag this vase at your local Target & fill it with flowers for your mama on Mother’s Day for a beautiful, simple, & special mothers day gift! $30 at Target
• Portable Phone Charger – my mom is a big golfer and often her phone dies while she is on the course with her friends (where she also uses that bracelet flask shown below that I got her last year for mothers day!). This little charger has a keychain on it for her which will be great for her to attach to her golf bag! $20 at Nordstrom.
• Menu Winebreather Carafe – Okay so this is probably my most favorite gift to get anyone. I have bought it for hostess gifts, my brother, my mom – its for anyone who drinks wine! This carafe aerates your wine quickly & then you can leave it in the bottle or in the carafe. It is beautiful on a shelf or bar cart (thats where ours lives!) or on the table for mother’s day with that special bottle you’ve been saving! $50 on Amazon
• Flask Bracelet – TRUST ME when I say your mom and her friends will think that this is the funniest thing they have ever seen. I got this for my mom on Mother’s Day last year and it is still a hit. Great little gift to tack onto a bottle of liquor of her choice! $30 on Amazon

What are you getting your momma for Mothers Day?

The post Mother’s Day Gift Guide appeared first on Alex Schin.

Who can resist a charcuterie board? No one. Literally no one. Which is what makes charcuterie a great party trick to have up your sleeve.

But they can be intimidating right? Every blogger you know has perfectly curated charcuterie board on their feed somewhere and that might make you feel like yours looks like you just tore the cellophane seal off of one from the grocery store.

Part of the fun is that they are so pretty (or at least they can be… ) and I am here to tell you that it is not that scary and we can do this together! I am here to help make charcuterie boards fun and delicious for you to savor and share!

Part 1: The board

You can make a great charcuterie board on pretty much anything. I have used a large baking pan, cookie sheet, plate, platter (like this marble one!), or your typical wood board like this one from Target. Any of these are a great option. I would also grab a couple of little bowls or glasses (preferably with wide mouths for easy dipping and tooth-picking.

I would evaluate the materials you are using. Mix textures like glass, ceramic, wood, & metal to add depth to your charcuterie board. Set the little cups on the board where you want to place them.

Part 2: The Shopping List

I usually pick up the following for my boards:

• 4 – 5 cheeses
  • 1 brie
  • 1-2 salty cheese
  • 1 soft cheese (I recommend goat cheese aka one of my main food groups) or cheesy dip (think Pimento cheese)
  • 1 sweeter cheese
  • add or subtract based on what you like!
• 4 meats
  • Trader Joes carries a great 3 pack of meats perfect for a charcuterie board!
  • hard salami-type meat
• Little Sweeties & toppings
  • honey (bonus if its infused like Mike’s Hot Honey or Truffle Honey)
  • fruit jams
  • onion jam
  • dried fruits
  • berries
• Little savories
  • Burst tomatoes (recipe on the blog!)
  • Olives (I would recommend sure they are pitted so people are pulling seeds out of their mouths all night & like thats just not really cute)
  • Artichoke hearts – marinated or roasted in the oven (similarly to the burst tomatoes)
  • Crackers
  • Nuts – I like pistachio for a pop of color!

Part 3: Flavor Profiles & Placement

You want to have a variety of things that mix and match together well to make it accessible for large crowds. You want probably 70/30 savory to sweet ratio.

Once you’ve tried all of your ingredients, make sure you place them by what they would be paired best with – a salty parmesan or brie next to a sweet spread or a pimento cheese dip next to the crackers. This will help your guests from reaching across one another over and over again.

Part 4: Check the balance

Okay look at the charcuterie board. Really look at it. Look at the colors. Look at the meats and cheeses. Is anything off balance?

Yes? Okay move it so it balances out across the board.

No? Cool – just checking!

Part 5: Fill in the blanks!

Use nuts, berries, and grapes (i like pistachios for a pop of color!) to fill in the blank spaces on the board!

Now you have your perfectly balanced & delicious charcuterie board!

The post Charcuterie Board Basics: Steps to make sure your board is beautiful and balanced appeared first on Alex Schin.