When my sister, Judy, comes to visit us in a few weeks, she will be lucky if I have stocked the guest bath with toilet paper and put a few scraps of food in the fridge. But if Judy (or I!) had been lucky enough to have my friend Marsee as a sister, she would have had a different experience. Very, … [Read more...]
A Conversation with Sharon Santoni, My Stylish French Girlfriend
When Dan and I were in France last, we had the delightful experience of having dinner at the home of one of my favorite French lifestyle bloggers and authors, Sharon Santoni. It was a truly magical evening, because Sharon is a gem. So when her new book was released, My French Country Home, I asked … [Read more...]
Finding Your Muse
How do you fuel your creativity? What do you do to keep yourself inspired? When it comes to making your home fresh and beautiful, where do you find your ideas? Through the years, I’ve discovered some failsafe ways to ignite my creative spark. Here are a few of my favorite muses, which not only … [Read more...]
Warm Metals Melt My Heart
The other day my niece texted me: “Aunt Mary Carol, I’m having a debate with a friend, and we need your help to decide who is right. Is brass back in style?” There was a bottle of wine at stake, so I couldn’t let her down. “Yes, brass is back in!” I assured her. Her swift reply: “You just won me a … [Read more...]
The Joy of Dining: A Spring Table at My Cottage
As the flowers poke out of the ground, and the leaves bud on the trees, another force of nature comes back alive: my desire to entertain. In the winter months, Dan and I don’t have folks over as much, preferring to cocoon when we’re home. But one of my rites of spring is dressing my table and … [Read more...]
Celebrating Books and Friendship
Lots of my friends are in book clubs. So far, I have resisted the offer to jump into one because I think I would be the worst member ever. Most likely, I would only make it to half the meetings, never finish the book, and just want to drink wine and visit instead of getting into a meaty discussion … [Read more...]