Holiday Gift Guide: My Favorite Finds for the Season

It's that wonderful time of year again, and I simply couldn't let the holidays go by without sharing some of my top gift ideas. The season is all about giving meaningful presents that enhance everyday life, and this year, I've curated a selection of my favorites. From warm comforts to transformative organizers, these choices are my ultimate essentials!

Brightland Olive Oil – The Best for Foodies 

Brightland’s olive oils are not just pantry staples—they’re a lifestyle. With their beautifully designed bottles and exceptional flavors, they elevate every meal. As a designer, I truly love a gift that can be both delicious and stylish!

The Great Sweatpants & Teammate Sweater Combo – Cozy Chic

For the ultimate in luxury loungewear, look no further than this dynamic duo from The Great. This set is insanely soft, and cozy, effortlessly chic vibe.

Olive & June – Nail Care Made Easy

For the person who is always pulled together. The gift of a perfect manicure at home? Yes, please. Olive & June’s nail care kits are so easy to use, making them an excellent stocking stuffer or standalone present.

Jenni Kayne Cashmere Socks – Pure Indulgence 

Nothing says treating someone, like a pair of Jenni Kayne cashmere socks. These are a little piece of heaven for your feet, perfect for snuggling by the fire or padding around your home on slow mornings.

Silicone Drawer Organizers – Life Game Changers

Practical gifts don’t have to be boring, and these Amazon silicone drawer organizers are proof. They’re sleek and completely transformative when it comes to keeping drawers tidy. Trust me, they’ll change anyone's life.

No matter who you’re shopping for this holiday season (including yourself!), these thoughtful picks are sure to spread joy and style. Happy Holidays!

So, You Want to Hire a Contractor?!

Believe me, I've just about seen it all when it comes to builder/contractor types. In the last 8 years, I've had the pleasure of working with a few, and I mean 3. When they're great, it's great; when they're bad, it's really bad, and the biggest gut punch of all is figuring out they are bad when you are knee-deep in a project.  I hear these stories all the time, and when I engage with clients looking to remodel or build, I always ask the same question.

Who is your contractor?

It's very important for the client to know who they are hiring and for us to understand who we are working with. Are they nice? Are they a good fit for your project? Can they read plans? Do they perform the work themselves, or do they sub everything out? Do they manage the job, or is it a hybrid between GC & Designer? All the above are essential and engaging questions to compile your team and clearly define roles. Roles clearly defined upfront of who does what will set your project apart from all the terrible others. At Thirteen Oak, we look at every project with our trades as a team. If we're playing baseball, we're playing baseball. If someone is out in left field trying to kick a soccer ball, we're not the right team, and the end goal is disastrous. Everyone simpatico! 

Most people need a contractor at some point, right? You might even be looking for one right now. So, let's avoid any unwanted events, and I'll share the vetting questions we have gathered throughout the years. You will be educated and confident enough to make hiring decisions for small or large projects. Yay, you!

1. Do they have a license? They don't need a license to be good; I want to make that clear. What they do need is a clean license if they pay for one. Ask for their license number. Look them up on cslb.com and ensure they hold a license for what you hire them to do, have no disciplinary actions against them, and have a current and up-to-date license and insurance.

2. Do they have a website with past/current work or referrals of happy clients? Following up on the website is a big one. Are those their projects? Or are they baiting clients with pretty pictures, and they can't frame a square wall? Sounds crazy, right? It's happened.

With the contractor's permission, contact their last/past clients. Were they happy? What did they do great, and what could they have done better? If you don't get references or get pushback on references, that's your first cue to move on. 

3. How do they bill? This is a big one. In California, you can only request a 10% deposit, up to a maximum of $1,000. If you see a hefty deposit request, they are not following the contract laws and most likely not following laws in general. Progress payments—your contractor should be billing you for work that has been quoted, approved by you, and completed. They cannot ask you for monies in advance for work not performed. Remember that!

4. Do they work well with others? Would bringing your designer or another vendor in be a good fit?

5. Does the job you are hiring them for coordinate with their service offerings? Do they typically work on new construction, and you just need your bathroom remodeled? They are probably not the best fit; there are other GCs that specialize in bathrooms. Do you want a full remodel, and the contractor is only experienced in bathrooms? It's best to find a GC/builder whose scope of work aligns with their expertise.

Lastly….

6. Do they work on more mid to high-end construction or primarily do flips?

Flips are quick, cheap, and meet the bare minimum. If that's your speed, then hire the flipper. 

If you're looking for longevity, thoughtful decisions, and a normal-paced project, hiring a flipper is not for you. 

Bookmark this post for your future contractor needs! I am always happy to answer any burning questions you may have about the contractor/construction process. Leave me a comment or reach out on social media!

Ashley

@thirteenoak

If You Know Me... A Mother's Day Gift Guide

If you know me well, you know I don't leave the house without my glue stick—ahem, my lip gloss. I have a thing for clear gloss, yes, and I can't wait to tell you all about it! I have honestly tried them all, and I love to share my favorite finds.

Along with the deets on the gloss, I am also sharing a roundup of my favorite things, so go ahead and save this post because Mother's Day (May 12) is right around the corner, and you can thank me later.

Olive and June Nail Polish. Just get the damn box! I mean, you will go through the seven colors and you know it. I am a big mani/pedi girl and I'm not talking every two weeks at the salon- I do my own. I love nothing more than changing up my color whenever I feel like it, and their 7-day chip-free polish is right up my alley. The colors are amazing, and I cannot rave about this company enough. Women-owned, and they are in constant support of fellow lady bosses, which I adore! @oliveandjune

Permanent Jewelry. If you don't know about this... listen closely. Permanent Jewelry that you don't have to think about. You shower with it, swim with it, sweat with it. I mean, if you like being stylish, this is a no-brainer. I met a lovely lady back in February named Samatha, and she has a company called Mavery & Co. Fast forward to our mutual loving meet and greet; I am now the proud owner of FOUR permanent bracelets, and I want to know if wrapping four more around my other wrist and a few around my neck are too much? I'm hooked.

Samantha has various sizes and styles to choose from. They range from dainty to chunkier styles. I loved mixing the chains to create a classic design that goes with everything. Check her out over at @mavery_co

Plate & Pattern-Serve with style! I am a mom and I love when I don't have to do the dishes. Plate and Pattern was gifted to me by one of my clients, and in turn, it led me to Molly and her fabulous company. As a creative, these beautiful, reusable plates are everything I have ever wanted. There is a liner for every season, holiday, occasion, and mood. I have elevated every party and saved hours at the sink. More time for visiting and talking about "where did you get these?!" My favorite

plates are the seagrass with the yellow striped liner. @plateandpattern

Last but definitely not least.....

Uncommon James Mango Lip Balm. This is my glue stick, and it makes me happy. Hands down the best lip gloss that I own. It's SO good that it's currently out of stock, but rest assured I reached out and they will be restocking very soon.

Why is it the best? It smells amazing; it glides on smoothly-no sticky residue, does not dry your lips out, and is the perfect everyday wear. The white, chunky applicator can be quite deceiving. You might think I took this thing out of my purse to bust out a quick

art project, but no, it's for my lips & my lips love my favorite Mango balm. It's the best size to find in the bottom of my bag and/or carry in a small clutch.

It's simply the best! @uncommonjames

I hope you found my recommendations helpful. I would love to hear if you end up falling in love with any as much as I have. Don't forget to save this post for later, and Happy Mother's Day to all the amazing moms out there!

I'm a taster.

If you're familiar with me, you know that I rarely turn down a baked good. I'm both a baker and a baker connoisseur and by that, I mean I'm a professional taster. I know what's good and what's not, and if you bought a Safeway cake, don't invite me, please.

How do I know? That's a great question. It's because I have taste, and I'm not just talking about food. Insert-job description. You either have it or you don't, and unfortunately, it can't be taught.

If you're following and reading (thank you!), you know I love sharing. I don't hold anything back. If you like my nail color, I've got you. If you like my jumpsuit, you can expect a text with the link. The list goes on.

Let's be clear, though—I'm not an influencer. My husband is not taking photos of me on our family vacation. Got it? I'm glad we're all on the same page here.

So, on my non-cooking blog, I want to share my favorite of all time: the best clean cookies. They're fluffy, full of chocolate chips, and best of all, packed with protein!

Seriously, you're going to LOVE these, and my kids request them all the time.

Ingredients you'll need:

- 1 cup of tahini

- 1/2 cup of pure maple syrup

- 1 egg (a flax egg is totally acceptable)

- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt

- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract or alcohol-free vanilla extract

- 3 tablespoons of coconut flour

- 1/2 dark chocolate chips (I use the Sante

Ghirardelli brand)

Here are the directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or spray it with non-stick spray.

2. Use a medium-sized mixing bowl to combine tahini, maple syrup, egg, cinnamon, sea salt, baking soda, and vanilla. Stir together until everything is incorporated.

3. Fold in coconut flour and dark chocolate.

4. Scoop out the cookie batter using a small/medium cooking scoop or tablespoon and place it

on the baking sheet.

5. Bake for 17-20 minutes or until golden brown around the edges.

6. Remove from the oven to cool on the pan for at least 10 minutes before touching or removing. I know it's hard!

Enjoy them right away or store them in an air-tight container for up to 5 days. We never store them because we double the recipe, and the cookies are gone in 3 days. They are that good!!

If you've made it this far, you HAVE to make these! I want to see them, so tag me and let me know how much everyone loves them.

@thirteenoak

Peach fuzz anyone?!

Are you a fan of peach fuzz? This jeweled tone took the design industry by storm in early 2024, and it's still trending. But just because it's the color of the year doesn't mean you have to love it or use it. It's just a trend, and you can decide if you want to incorporate it into your home decor. 

If you're interested in adding peach fuzz to your everyday aesthetic, here are some ideas:

Accent pillows: Peach fuzz pairs beautifully with blues, greens, and deeper versions of the peach tone, such as rust and persimmon. Adding a few accent pillows to your sofa, bed, or any other spot in your home is a safe bet, as it's not a huge commitment. If you don't like them in a year, you can easily change them.

Accent wall: While accent walls are not recommended for all design clients, they can work in some cases. Consider adding a peach fuzz accent wall in your entry, closet, or powder room. Wallpaper is another option that's not a lifetime commitment or budget breaker.

Here are two options, one safe, and one bold:

*Images sourced from https://schumacher.com/

Accent furniture: If you're really into this color, you might want to invest in a peach fuzz furniture piece, such as dining chairs, a settee, an occasional chair, or a bench. It's a pleasant pop of color that can make a statement in any room.

Just remember, it's okay if this color starts taking over your life and wardrobe, too. It happens!

Marry An Architect

This topic comes up quite a bit & sadly, clients have no clue. Have you noticed how excited people get about purchasing a lot or buying a tear-down? You may even be one of them.  It’s all over social; it’s the American dream & if you haven’t built a house, are you even cool?

Sadly, most people enter this contract having zero idea of the type of team they need in place to make their dream a reality. Usually find a contractor & put everything in their hands. 

“We don’t need plans; we just want a few billion sq. ft. You can build that, right?!

We don’t need an architect, engineer, or designer…… famous last words.

The flags are so vibrantly red.

I realize where I rank in this list to most. I’m ok with that. I’m not most people’s designer. I design for clients who want the details, want decisions, trust the process, value guidance & appreciate advocacy of their design needs. So, I'm here to tell you if you don’t bring your designer in while your plans are in the schematic phase of evolution, you’re already behind. Yep, read it again.

One might wonder why you need to pay for plans(architect) & pay to have a designer review them or work alongside your architect. I mean, your call, but do you like costly mistakes?

Here are a few examples:

Would you like a Primary Bedroom without thoughtfully placed electrical outlets or a size that doesn’t fit your bed? How about a brand-new beautiful kitchen that has no working triangle? Or an entirely new build that has zero storage. Do you like your toilet right in front of a window or a 4000 sq. ft home with 3 tiny bathrooms? This is just a shortlist.

Now, I’m not knocking architects. I love architects. This post is called Marry an Architect. I can’t make the magic happen without them & they need us too. When done right, like a marriage, it's a beautiful thing. Architects are technical & while designers are also technical, we are functional. We are thinking about how you are going to use that box & the layout of the components within that box. So, when it comes time for you actually to live there, you are not asking yourself, “wtf?”

I don’t want their job & usually, they don't want mine. I mean, it’s rad, though. We know our roles; we stay in our lanes & we respect each other’s ideas. The same goes for contractors & engineers. It’s the same jam.

Moral of the story. Your designer gets hired at the same time your architect does. Unless you like redoing things & spending more money on your house build because that NEVER happens right???

If you’ve read this far & you’re having an “oh shit!” moment, I offer plan reviews & virtual plan reviews. My fee will be less than your first change order.

No time like the present....

Welcome to taste, a lifestyle blog by Ashley Grech.

I have been contemplating bringing this blog back for the entirety of 2023. Here we are in late December, and here I am again - I’d like to remind you that great things take

time! When my son was three months old, I started my first blog and design business, which was both the best and the craziest time of my life. It was the best because I had the freedom to express my creativity and the craziest because I was a first-time mom with a newborn. Talk about exploring unchartered territory. That is a whole series of blog posts

right there. Nevertheless, life got busy, and my design business picked up, giving me less time to write.

Fast forward seven years, and I have three kids, six chickens, and a wealth of knowledge to share with you. Let’s be real; you are all scrolling and looking at photos,

and nobody is reading captions. This blog will be one big caption that you can click on when you need design advice, a new outfit idea, a tried-and-true recipe, or just a

relatable moment to yourself.

So, by way of introduction, my name is Ashley, and I do a lot of things. Seriously, it’s bananas sometimes. It may seem overwhelming or even impossible to some, but I am

who I am, unapologetically. As for the name of the blog, we will get there. I hate to spoil it for you, but this is not a cooking blog.

If you signed up for that, I apologize, and you can politely unsubscribe.

Ashley