When guests come to my home for dinner during the holiday season, there are two things they are guaranteed to find: a meal made by someone – anyone– besides me and a table dressed in plaid. This time of year, I am firmly committed to never, ever cooking. And, to filling my life with as much plaid as … [Read more...]
Thoughts on Preparing for the Holidays
Ready or not, it's here … the holiday season. For most of us, the first step in making the holidays magical is dressing our homes for the season, from trimming a tree to decking the mantel to setting a table for parties and feasts. Before you crack open all those boxes marked Christmas Decorations … [Read more...]
The Power of Friendship
Nell Hill’s has brought so many great things into my life, including some of the best friends a girl could ever hope for. Among those is my dear friend Marsee. If you’ve been into the store, you might have seen Marsee zipping about like a hummingbird, creating amazing displays. If you’ve seen my … [Read more...]
Happiness is on the Menu in this Kitchen
When Leslie walked through the long-neglected house that was to become her family’s home, it was the kitchen that tugged at her heart the most. The house, originally scheduled for the wrecking ball, had stood empty for years and was in bad shape by the time Leslie and her husband Dan discovered it. … [Read more...]
My Three Essentials for Holiday Decorating
Whether you want to fill your home top to bottom with holiday cheer or add a few festive touches here are there, my advice is the same: Start with a fabulous base. Amazing greenery and show-stealing ribbon are the essential bedrocks of a sensational holiday treatment.I was … [Read more...]
All that Glitters: Embracing Nostalgia for the Holidays
What are some of your favorite memories of the holidays? For me, as a kid it was secretly unwrapping all my gifts, playing with them, then wrapping them back up and sneaking them back under the tree. As a teen, it was working at my parents’ clothing store, making bows for customers’ packages. As an … [Read more...]