It’s a New Year, and time to look at your home from a new perspective! Just like their human owners, homes tend to bulk up a bit during the holidays as well. Why not put your home on a diet, and get rid of excess baggage…literally! Reduce clutter and your home will look and function better. If ...
You don’t have to be Danish to enjoy Danish Pancakes
I love Danish pancakes! Essentially, they are large, thin pancakes (think crepe) that are filled with jam and sugar and rolled up. It’s been a holiday tradition for my family since I can remember. My dad had to translate the recipe from his dad (since it was written in rather loose terms). But ...
Tired of holiday turkey or ham? Try something new!
While the Chinese Christmas duck image from “A Christmas Story” may be stuck in your head, duck and other alternative menus can make a holiday celebration very special. (Note: video clip at the end of this post - hilarious scene). Now I'm the first to admit that I'm not a great cook, but I'm not ...
How to make a December birthday special
Assuming birth months are distributed evenly, 8.3% of you have a December birthday. And if you’re under 10 and celebrate Christmas, that’s just way too much excitement saved up for just one month of the year.I know.I have an 8 year old whose birthday is just four days before Christmas. So how do ...
An unexpected gift from my childhood Christmas
I don’t live near my family, so we mail our gifts to each other. This year, I got a huge surprise when opening the box from my parents. The cling-on Nisse characters I played with at Christmas time as a little girl. I’m half Danish – my Dad’s parents were immigrants from Denmark. Growing up we ...
Breaking holiday rules?
It’s not everyday in Connecticut that you see an animated, illuminated flamingo grazing alongside a couple traditional reindeer lawn ornaments. “Bingo” (the name my kids gave to the flamingo) was an early Christmas present to my husband from my sister (who drew his name this year). Here’s the ...
Simplistic holiday décor for those who can’t stand clutter
I confess…I’m one of those people who love simplicity.As much as I enjoy decorating for the holidays, I tend to take everything down the day after Christmas to give the home a feeling of de-cluttering. Or perhaps I think spring will come faster that way. Who knows! Anyway, this year I decided to be ...
How to articulate “Thanks”
"Happy Thanksgiving!" will be joyously uttered next week as friends and family get together to share a feast of thanks. The word "Thanks" is a very powerful word, and there are many wonderful quotes to help give it more shades of color. Here are some I will be adding to the bottom of my dinner menu ...
What I discovered on my “Girls Weekend”
***This is an updated post - I finally made my own nest (see further below)! Some girlfriends and I flew to Greensboro, NC for a girl’s weekend (and it was my birthday). Of course, no girl’s weekend is complete without a trip to the spa! The Chakras Spa had a very clever “Nest” at the end of a ...
Fall is for kids
For "grown ups" fall is a time of action! It’s time to switch out closets, test the furnace, gear up for lots of holiday entertaining, and finish those nagging little projects to get your home ready for more “inside time” with your family. But for kids, it’s a whole different story. It’s about ...
Hosting a dinner party without the stress
If you’re like me, sometimes the thought of throwing a formal dinner party for friends is overwhelming when you consider how hard it is just to get dinner on the table every night for your own family. But with the economy being what it is, dining in is becoming a much more attractive option to ...
Concerned about the economy? Have a party!
Not just any party, but a Décor Exchange Party, where each guest brings an unused accessory to auction for charity. Here’s how it works. Ask each guest bring an accessory that they just don’t use anymore (such as a vase, picture, sculpture, wine rack, serving platter…you get the idea). Set them ...