Are You Dreaming of a White Christmas?

A few years ago, my girls starting sifting through my old Christmas movies and found a tape of White Christmas starring Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye. Well, they popped it into the player (yes I still have a VCR) and fell in love. I can't say if it was the slapstick comedy, the dancing, or the music, but I will tell you that I have heard the song "Sisters" enough to last me a lifetime.

You see, my girls are the first set of "sisters" among all of our nieces and nephews. After twenty odd grandchildren between our two families, my hubby and I were the first and only couple to actually have two girls. (My husband is the youngest of nine and grew up with five sisters, so you can only imagine how much their aunts spoil them.)

Three years ago, when the broadway production came to Boston, we knew we had to get tickets. That done, we planned a day in the city to really celebrate the season and our special day. We shopped a bit before the production, and I found some gorgeous rhinestone snowflake pins. My youngest daughter decided she preferred the necklace instead, so we walked away with two pins and a necklace that we quickly put on before the performance. Needless to say, the whole day was magical. (Whitechristmasmusical.com)

Now, after the first snowfall of the season, we take out our jewels and wear them all winter long. I love to pin my snowflake on the collar of the coat or scarf I'm wearing. It reminds me of the wonderful day we shared together.

The Gift of Giving {Series} #6

Books, journals, calendars... I love them all. I also love to give books and related items as gifts. My BFF is getting a book I know she'll love (shhh) and I'm contemplating giving a few of my other favorite women something similar for Christmas. If you're looking for ideas, may I suggest passing along a book that was/is near and dear to you. (The girls in my family received copies of Eat, Pray, Love this past summer.) If that's too personal, why not gift them with a fun read or a journal. Don't forget to write a little note inside the cover and consider wrapping it all up with a lovely bookmark.

Want. Need. Love.

(Here are a couple more... Style Statement - One Line a Day)

If you have a Francophile in your life, he/she will love this beautiful calendar. Check out Little Brown Pen and watch the equally fabulous video that goes along with it.

(Their printable calendars are great too.)

Gifts mentioned can be found at Barnesandnoble.com, Anthropologie.com, Amazon.com and Littlebrownpen.com

Crazy for Ornaments

Who says ornaments need to hang from a tree? If you've started to collect unique designs, show them off by creating stunning vignettes all through the house. The glass hurricane above is filled en masse with beautiful colors and styles and makes a great dining room table centerpiece when combined with more ornaments, a couple of trays and candlelight. The tray is easy to remove when it's time to entertain.

Use small balls to cover naked paperwhite bulbs.

Sort by color and style and fill every container you have available. I love the books wrapped in velvet ribbon embellished with yet another ornament.

If your collection is a bit sparse, hang a few ornaments here and there in windows or over mirrors.

Add glass beads, candy canes or tinsel garland into the mix.

Images via countryliving.com

I'll Have a Fashionista Christmas

Why not trim your tree with these goodies from J Crew, Ann Taylor, American Eagle and Ornaments 2 Remember. Listen up Mr. Man, grab something sparkly for your favorite lady to wear and carefully place it on the tree. And ladies, if you'd like to have your very own tabletop tree in your bedroom, why not drape its branches with some beautiful costume finds from shopthelook.net or from your local consignment store. Ornaments don't have to come in a box you know ;o)

Profits go to Helping Parents through the Learning Community.

Happy weekend!

Nature's Calling

Trimming the tree and decking the halls with a nod to nature will make your home warm and inviting all winter long. These little rosemary wreaths add a delicious scent to the air and look right at home among books and accessories. Keep things simple by selecting a few decorative items - such as this collection of white vessels - to mix in with your holiday decor.

Mother Nature knows what she's doing. Branches, boughs and pine cones aplenty can be used indoors and out. If you're tired of hanging the same old wreath year after year, this spray of ponderosa pine cones will set you free.

I decorated this tree seven years ago for a local festival. I was inspired by the beautiful red and green birds I found at a local shop and knew they would make a great tree topper. The only store-bought items, (beside the birds) are the golden pomegranates, pears and apples you see mixed in with other ornaments made from coxcomb, pine cones, grapevine and a few items leftover from other craft projects. It now makes its home in my den nestled in a cranberry crate filled with more pine cones.

Fill your home with the heavenly scent of paperwhites. I gather as many urns and glass hurricanes I can find and place them all over the house. Once they start to sprout, I'll add fresh cranberries to cover the naked bulbs. Glass ornaments look lovely too.

Images via bhg.com, countryliving.com, personal

We Interrupt This Blog...

for a real life update…

Whew – it has been an exhausting few weeks here at home and at work. I have definitely learned my lesson and will not schedule back-to-back training weeks again – especially before the holidays! As I started to catch my breath, the Thanksgiving work week started out well, but as anyone who has ever had to orchestrate Thanksgiving dinner knows, it’s a lot of prep work for our 15 minutes of fame. I did slow down enough to create a cozy table for four by using what I had around the house along with a few mums I purchased for part of the centerpiece.

The day after Thanksgiving is the start of “decorating season” in my house, so we brought up the boxes, un-wrapped some trees (six in all) and pulled up our sleeves. By Sunday morning it was time to head out to find the perfect live tree for our family room. By 5:30 that evening, I had finally finished decorating it.

After returning from another class on Monday, I sat down to enjoy a cup of tea while a read a bit before getting dinner started. That’s when my beautiful tree decided to take a free fall into the middle of the room! In all of my years of tree decorating (and we’re talking a couple of decades here) this has never happened before. Unfortunately, I did loose about 15 blown glass ornaments, and one of those was an antique handed down from my grandmother. By 5:30 that evening, I was decorating the tree – Part Deux.

Amazingly, no one cried (my girls) or threw a tantrum (me) – I was just thankful that the majority of my ornaments were saved, and of course no one was hurt. I’m sure if I don’t tell my guests on Christmas day the history behind our lovely tree, they wouldn’t be the wiser. However, I’m sure we will regale them with the dramatic event this year, and tell the story many times over in years to come.

As you prepare for the holidays this season… take a deep breath, take it slow, and know that no matter how perfect or imperfect our homes look, may you enjoy this time with lots of good cheer. (A sense of humor couldn’t hurt either.)

 
Images via dress, design, decor - personal
Table setting: PB White dinner plates, Spode Celebration salad plates, Schott Zwiesel stemware - potterybarn.com / TJ Maxx

The Gift of Giving {Series} #5

Have you started shopping yet? Here are some wonderful gifts that give back...

1. 
   
   This bay, olive and eucalyptus branch wreath (above) can be purchased through LindsayOlives.com. All of the profits are donated to Meals on Wheels.
   
2. 
   
   Pamper someone with Lush Cosmetics Charity Pot hand and body lotion. 100% of the retail price is donated to several non-profits including Oceana, Bycycles for Humanity and Amazon Conservation Team. Lush.com.
   
3. 
   
   Stuff your stockings with Marshmallow Fudge hot chocolate mix to support St. Jude Children's Research which receives 100% of the proceeds. Stjude.org.
   
4. 
   
   Sip your Starbucks Latte from their (Red) travel mug this season. One dollar from the purchase of each tumbler goes directly to the Global Fund, an organization that fights HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. Starbucks.com. (And most store locations.)
   
   
   
   

Happy Thanksgiving

I am getting ready to start baking and decorating for the big day tomorrow! Like many of you, I will be counting my blessings as I baste the turkey, watch the floats pass by on TV, and marvel over my beautiful family. I am truly thankful for all that I have been given. May you share the day with the people you love and who love you.

Image via artwallpapers.net

Pretty Tables Made Simple

Create a festive table this year by paying attention to the details. Placecards are a snap with a little help from your printer and a holiday stamp or two. No stamps? No problem. Let the kids help out with stickers, crayons or some glue and affix berries and leaves to the card instead.

Fussy napkins at the table look just that - fussy. Simply lay the napkin on or beside the plate is a square, roll, or twist design as you see here.

Use the menu to your advantage. This little pumpkin serves as both a placecard and soup bowl. It's charming and delicious.

Have you noticed that tablecloths can look a bit boring? Dress your table with fabric remnants instead. This table was draped in a soft, cream opaque fabric and topped with another threaded linen fabric folded to mimic a table runner. The inspiration for the color scheme came straight from the china in the cabinet. Nature provided the centerpiece. A collection of twigs becomes a modern sculpture when placed in this lovely Simon Pearce water pitcher.

Images via Country Living, Colin Cowie, Design Secrets

Lasting Memories

As we get ready to gather around the Thanksgiving table once more, I thought I would share a couple of ideas on how to make this day extra special.

Ask brothers, sisters, parents, aunts or uncles to bring a treasured photograph along with the pumpkin pie. As you share the pictures, make sure everyone explains why it's special to them. Not only does this make a great ice-breaker when new family members or friends join your table, it is a great way for children and adults to learn more about each other and recall fond memories of years and holiday gatherings past.

If you're still not sure what to get everyone for Christmas (please insert holiday of choice here), I may have just the thing. Ask everyone to bring along their favorite recipe printed or typed onto a pretty card or piece of paper. Once the day has passed, photo copy everyone's recipe and create a booklet of family favorites and make sure each person gets a copy. (Scribble Press)

Queen for a Day {Weekend}

Do you have plans this weekend? I am planning on celebrating my birthday by doing as little as possible! My cashmere throw, my comfy slippers and some magazines (and maybe a sappy Hallmark Channel movie or two) should do the trick. Go ahead - indulge.

Happy weekend!

Wild About Walls

Wallpaper has never been more popular or more beautiful. The colors, patterns and textures available today will satisfy even the most finicky decorator. However, we can tire of these papers as quickly as we make our choices. If you dream of papered walls, select rooms that you frequent only on occasion such as a dining room, entry or powder room.

If you’d like to test the waters a bit, paper one wall instead of four to create an instant focal point. A recessed wall or niche will also benefit from a splash of pattern. Use wallpaper to create a headboard in the bedroom, or combine paper and wood for a trompe l’oeil effect.

Still not convinced? Frame beautiful papers and hang them around the room. Voila – instant art. The best part is, you can switch these out as quickly as you can change your mind.

Remnants make great gift-wrap too!

Images via Thom Filicia, this is glamorous, Osborne & Little

Glorious Pearls

Pearls are classic, luminous, sophisticated and lady-like - but never stuffy.  These are not your grandmother's pearls. Go ahead and layer lengths, sizes and colors with abandon. Mix it up with ribbons, ropes, chains, gold or silver. Don't save them for special occasions - wear your pearls everyday.

Images via dress, design and decor

The Gift of Giving {Series} #4

Gourmet goodies are always a treat during the holidays. Whether you're looking for a gift idea for your favorite cook, or simply trying to think 'outside the box' when packaging your gifts, I have a few tips to share.

Even if you decide to purchase a pre-packaged basket or box filled with yummy edibles, remove the store wrappings and embellish your container with sprigs of pine or holly. Add a few pinecones and a candy cane or two. Wrap the container with several different size bows working from largest to smallest. Check out Dibruno.com, Stirrings.com or DeanandDeluca.com for gifts.

Nestle mixing bowls together and fill them with pancake mix and syrup or dry cookie dough mix. Add a wooden spoon and wrap it all with thick grossgrain ribbon up and down and side to side.

Lidded mugs can be filled with homemade hot chocolate mix, a small bag of miniature marshmallows and a candy cane swizzle stick. Affix the lid with a little poster putty and wrap with a ribbon of your choice. (Packets of gourmet coffee and chocolate-covered spoons or tea with honey sticks works too.)

Re-usable grocery bags make a great container for any combination of ingredients you can dream up. Make sure to include several bags tucked inside the first.Visit Reusablebags.com or Delight.com for a stylish

selection.

Fill an acrylic ice bucket with a bottle of champagne or wine and nestle in clear marbles.

Purchase an attractive cutting board and pair it with a lovely cheese knife. (And cheese if you'd like.)

Find an attractive container at a discount store and fill it with something from your kitchen. I made lemon-pepper-rosemary salt last year - it's simple and delicious.

What about using food to help disguise the gift? Give your movie-lover his or her favortie DVD along with movie tickets and hide them in a container filled with popcorn. You can place these items in another container and add a package of popcorn and container of spices so they can enjoy a movie in or out. Standardconcessionsupply.com offers the ones pictured below.

Lemon-Pepper-Rosemary Salt

• Grated zest of 2 lemons (about 2 Tbsp.)
• Fresh rosemary leaves from 2 (5-inch) branches (about 3 Tbsp.)
• 1 Tbsp. freshly ground black pepper 3/4 cup coarse sea salt

In a food processor fitted with a metal blade, process lemon zest, rosemary leaves, and pepper until finely chopped, about 1 minute. Add salt and pulse until salt forms smaller crystals and mixture is blended, about 30 seconds.

Pack into glass jars with tight-fitting lids and store in a cool, dark place for up to 2 months. Attach a ribbon and gift tag with serving ideas, such as "Terrific sprinkled on roast chicken, grilled meats, fish, or steamed vegetables." Makes 1 cup.

Images via Williams-Sonoma, Oprah.com,

An Eye for Detail

Last week, I was inspired by the talent of my students. They jumped right into every project with lots of enthusiasm as they coordinated colors, patterns and fabrics. Here are just a couple of examples of what they did to help inspire you.