Years ago, when I worked as the manager of a law firm, the holidays meant one thing:

FOOD.

The baskets arrived every day from Thanksgiving on: dried fruit, specialty coffees, fancy cheeses, and chocolate-covered everything, with little cards tucked inside (“Thanks for a great year!”) from clients.

When I started my own business a couple of years later and started sending out holiday presents to associates of my own – including a food-type gift to each office with which I worked – I sifted through my memories of those Christmas baskets, trying to remember what everyone had liked best…and the answer was obvious:

Here is the thing about having a baby, take two: You’re the same amount of “excited”…but how all that excitement gets expressed is a little different. A little toned-down. Mostly because you just don’t have the time or energy to run around scouting a million different stroller options, picking up a carrier in that exact color you wanted, setting up a nursery straight out of a Pinterest board, and throwing a huge, fancy shower…but also because you realize that honestly, when it comes down to it, those aren’t the things that really matter. They’re fun, of course, and they’re an important part of gearing up for the excitement that is welcoming a new member of your family. But they aren’t everything.

This time around, I wanted to celebrate our little girl, but I didn’t want all the fuss associated with a shower. I didn’t want gifts, I didn’t want to dress up (or make my friends pour themselves into dresses on a Sunday afternoon), and I certainly didn’t want to make it about me; been there, done that, and it was wonderful the first time around…but any more would feel super weird. More than anything, I wanted a celebration of spring and the friendships I’ve made here – friendships that I know are going to carry me through the coming months.

My solution: a Sprinkle.