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...]
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...]
A Visit to Kansas City’s Grandest Homes
Historic homes have always captivated me. As a kid growing up in Atchison, I loved the grand old beauties in the town’s historic neighborhood. The years Dan and I lived there, in our 130-year-old Greek revival, were some of my favorites. It was a labor of love for us to help preserve the home’s … [Read more...]
Marshall Watson Shares on the Art of Elegance
Normally, lunch for me during our busy fall and holiday season is a few quick bites squeezed in between appointments. So I couldn’t wait to attend the elegant Committee of 100 annual luncheon a few weeks ago at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, Mo. I love this benefit event, which … [Read more...]
Acquitaine Fabrics Conquered My Heart
There was a gravitational pull too strong to resist when the Nell Hill’s team and I happened upon Acquitaine Fabrics at the Showtime fabric market this year. The fabrics are so sophisticated, perfect for Nell Hill’s customers. And, the cameos. Oh my goodness, the cameos. (More on that in a … [Read more...]