Enjoying the Small Things

Enjoying the Small Things

You’ve Got Mail Fall Movie Night

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Every September, I kick off the fall movie season by making an event of the First Viewing (proper noun, of course) of You’ve Got Mail. The You’ve Got Mail fan club is a loyal, passionate group of individuals who may argue over the best quote from the movie—“thank your”— but agree on the fact that it’s a cinematic masterpiece, one of the best feel-good movies of all time. Besides the comforting 90’s nostalgia (ah, the sound of a dial-up modem connecting to the Internet), there is a buffet of sensory delights that never fails to charm me no matter how many times I’ve seen the movie (over 50, I’m sure.). That buffet includes Kathleen Kelly’s timeless fall wardrobe (last year, I recreated four of her looks with a 9-piece Kathleen Kelly capsule), New York in the fall, every little charming detail in Kathleen Kelly’s apartment that would be just as darling today as was when it was filmed, coffee shops, a streets-of-New York moment featuring the song “Dreams” by the Cranberries that will make you never be able to hear the song again without thinking of Meg Ryan walking under a canopy of fall trees, and then…the bookshop. Oh that little children’s bookshop with its enchanting twinkle lights and pumpkins and lamps and story hours.

…I’m getting carried away. All that to say, I save this movie every year to watch in the fall, with a fire in the fireplace and a mug of cider in my hands. This year called for a little more though, so I invited a few friends to join me (we are keeping our circle very small for anything indoors) for all the fall things we’re craving and an entire evening dedicated to You’ve Got Mail. I made my mom’s red lentil soup, served it with New York soft pretzels and tried to inject YGM love into all the details.

Naturally, Kathleen Kelly pajamas:

Tall Decaf Cappuccino cups that we did not use for Tall Decaf Cappuccinos.

The friendliest flowers, of course.

The shoe books…

“I bet you just love that Mr. Darcy”…

My father-in-law printed me a movie poster. :o)

New York in the fall cookies.

I painted little treat bags with YGM symbols…

…and filled them with:
– a candle (to make your apartment smell mossy)
– a bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils
– NY 152 stickers (I bought this 6-pack and added my own label)
– Tall Decaf Cappuccinos
– and a handkerchief (“a handkerchief is a Kleenex that you don’t throw away.”)

We all wore pajamas and feasted on the perfect movie snacks after soup.

It was a very Kathleen Kelly-approved cozy friend night, and now I want to repeat it every weekend.

We didn’t twirl, but I did do my best convince them all that Tom Hanks is sexy. Cheers to that.

Know a You’ve Got Mail fan? Make a themed gift box for them for a holiday gift this year.

Favorite Movie Themed Gifts: You’ve Got Mail & Anne of Green Gables

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Last year for Christmas, I gave one of my favorite gifts I’ve ever given–a gift box to my sister, one I planned for months. We’ve been fans of the cult favorite movie You’ve Got Mail since it came out in the nineties and have adopted quotes and movie references into our everyday lives for years, from “Thank your” to “You are a lone reed.” We’ve admired Kathleen Kelly’s timeless pajamas, chosen daisies over roses forever convinced they are “friendlier,” and have started every Thanksgiving morning for the past twenty years greeting each other with a “Happy Thanksgiving” call or text followed by the other’s quick “Happy Thanksgiving back” reply. It was time to compile that YGM enthusiasm into a themed gift box, one I had so much fun putting together. The items didn’t need explanation for a true YGM fan, but I did attach little notes or movie scene photos to each item for fun. I shared the box on Instagram after she received it, and so many of you asked about what was in it (I love all the You’ve Got Mail lovers out there!), so I thought I’d compile a similar gift box here as well as one from another favorite of mine, Anne of Green Gables.

You’ve Got Mail Gift Box
(I wrapped the box in this city wrapping paper because it felt so very Shop Around the Corner)

1. Packet of Daisy Seeds – Kathleen’s favorite flower.

2. New York Taxi Ornament – Of course you’d have to take a fine tip permanent marker and add “152” after NCY.

3. Twinkle Lights – “It will all shake out. Meanwhile, I’m putting up more twinkle lights.”

4.  Embroidered Handkerchiefs  “A handkerchief is a Kleenex you don’t throw away.” Kathleen Kelly carried the one her mother embroidered for her, but this 6-pack of machine-embroidered ones are the next best thing.

5. F-O-X Tote Bag – This bag is sure to attract other YGM cult members.

6. Kathleen Kelly Pajamas – Perfect for checking your e-mail in. Sadly does not include adorable city apartment.

7. Noel Streatfeild’s Skating Shoes “I’d start with Ballet Shoes, it’s my favorite; although Skating Shoes is completely wonderful.”

8. Tall Decaf Cappuccino Framed Art I printed one like this and framed it myself in a little 4×6 frame for my sister, but if you are font-challenged, this downloadable version is perfect.

9. Fox Books Mug “Picket the big bad chain store” when you sip from this mug.

10. A Bouquet of Sharpened Pencils – Gather some sharpened pencils and secure a bow around them.

11. Twig & Moss Candle – “To make your apartment smell moss-ay”

 

Anne of Green Gables Gift Box
(wrapped in floral paper from Rifle Paper Company, of course, because they designed one of the new covers for Anne of Green Gables book)

1. Anne Straw Hat – How perfectly Anne is this hat?

2. The Landscapes of Anne of Green Gables – This gorgeous book is full of the story and photos behind the real places on Prince Edward Island that inspired the book scenes

3. Anne Tea Bottle & Sleeve Set– I found this site searching for Anne-inspired gifts, and the entire site is full of the most adorable literature-inspired treasures, including this glass tea tumbler with interchangeable sleeves

4. Anne of Green Gables Library Card Tote Bag 

5. Raspberry Cordial – for when Marilla leaves you home alone

6. Kindred Spirits Candle – (or less expensive Kindred Spirits Melters). Perhaps include a “lock of your tresses”

7. Literature Folding Mirror –  to keep in your carpet bag, of course

8. “Carrots” Chocolates 

9. Anne of Green Gables 108-Piece Puzzle

10 Slate & Soapstone Pencils – Love the way these soapstone pencils write! Great for displaying favorite quotes, but also great for practicing studies to stay ahead of Gilbert Blythe

11. Anne of Green Gables Sticker Set – Will inspire you to send snail mail just so you can stick these all over the envelopes!

Harry Potter Party

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It is a wonder what a little candlelight and music can do to an ordinary day because our house turned straight up magic Friday evening as the sun set which was my cue to light a fire, pull out the candles and yell, “Alexa, play Harry Potter soundtrack!”

The goal for our annual Harry Potter Party is, of course, Hogwarts magic. I want my kids to feel what I felt curled up in bed, hour 7 of reading the Harry Potter book that took my imagination into a captivating world that was so unlike anywhere it had ever been.

The thing I love about this party is that there are so many ways to achieve the feeling of Hogwarts, and the foundation of that feeling is candles everywhere. We added inexpensive spider webs and a few dollar section Halloween items (all which get tucked in a bin marked “Halloween” and reused year after year!). We found the little clip-on owls in the Christmas aisles (yes, already up) at Michael’s for 40% off, and they are the perfect Hogwarts touch!

Dash makes a killer Potter.

And Nella can say Wingardium Leviosa perfectly.

But the real treat this year was Brett who slipped a black wig on for a Snape appearance.

The kids’ favorite part of the evening is always the intermission for Honeydukes, a full Potteresque candy bar…

I stash away candy in my closet a month leading up to this party and gather jars I’ve saved for parties to display them. Some of the more unique candy comes from World Market (like those Pixie Puffs–the texture of cheese puffs but cotton candy flavored). The character portraits behind the candy bar are just photos I printed from the Internet–and they’re taped on top of the glass because who has time to reframe things for one little party?

Each kid is given a pouch of change, and all the candy is priced. The decision making and bartering process is so fun to watch!

Other Harry Potter night favorites include our butterbeer bar. I changed the recipe I use this year because the previous ones we made were too sweet–and too many ingredients.

The butterbeer itself is simply cream soda with about a teaspoon of butter extract added to each glass, but what makes it so delicious is the butterbeer foam you top the glass with. I whipped heavy whipping cream, a little sugar (to taste–I don’t like it too sweet!), 1 tsp. vanilla and 2 tsp. of butter extract until it was thick and foamy. Together, it was so delicious! A little rum in the adult version isn’t so bad either.

Everything else is kept simple. We had a pot of chili on the stove and ordered pizza for the kids.

The kids were convinced their tiny jars of polyjuice potion (Sprite with a drop of green food coloring) would turn them into rats, but it didn’t work.

My favorite part of the night is this…when the candy buzz settles and the kids are all cuddled up on the couch, stretched out an sleeping bags, fire crackling, candles flickering, dog asleep in my dad’s lap, and the magic of Hogwarts entrancing them all.

Speaking of dog, of course Friday came in character…

I love October, and all that is to come.

Happy Monday!
(previous Harry Potter family nights here and here).