Just in time for Easter, daffodils, grape hyacinths, early tulips, wild bluebells and my favorite native Dutchman’s Breetches are coming up in the garden. My favorite way to decorate for any holiday is to use a minimum of holiday-specific pieces that I’ll have to store, and instead bring the outdoors in for a seasonal touch. […]

A trousseau is the tradition of receiving a particular set of wedding gifts meant to last more than a generation. It includes white linens (often monogrammed with the bride’s initials) and also china and silver. Now that we are returning to somewhat “normal life,” weddings and showers are happily returning too. According to etiquette tradition, […]

Swedish semlor (semla is for a singular bun) are a yeasted, cardamom-scented, almond paste and cream-filled bun traditionally enjoyed during the Lenten season, especially on Fat Tuesday. They are so decadent and delicious that they are absolutely worth the time in the kitchen. Best enjoyed with a cup of coffee for a whimsical afternoon treat! […]

Classic white dinnerware is never out of season. “French porcelain” may sound fussy, but in fact, it’s one of the most durable materials you can select for everyday dishes or fine dining. I didn’t register for a china pattern and instead opted for the beauty and simplicity of white porcelain. I selected our dishes from […]

As I have embraced a simpler aesthetic over the past few years (less effort to clean and store!), our Christmas décor now features lots of candles and greenery, beautiful by day or night. And my year-long aversion to red goes on hiatus for the holiday season with accents of red roses in nearly every room. […]

The most perfect box in the world comes tied with a perfectly-tied ribbon around it. What makes it so special? Besides being a visually pleasing bow, the ribbon is tied in such a way that it does not criss-cross at the bottom of the box, allowing it to sit flat on a surface. Also, the […]

We enjoyed spectacular fall color in our backyard this year. Except for our oak trees which hold their leaves for most of the winter, nearly every tree around us is now bare. We keep leaf cleanup simple by raking leaves to cover our garden beds (free mulch and winter protection for bare soil) and then […]

I was scraping the bottom of a Dijon mustard jar to make my favorite vinaigrette and decided it was too pretty to toss. Not an ordinary glass jar, this mustard was a new-to-me French whole grain variety, Pommery Meaux Mustard, that I admit I bought for the pretty packaging. Once the label was stripped, it […]

One part spooky, one part chic is my recipe for Halloween decorating. I get my cheap thrills in the form of glittered bugs, gilded snakes and natural elements. I love that Halloween is on a weekend this year, so I’m looking forward to a chilly couple of days watching supernatural thrillers with a lots of […]

Come fall and winter, black tights are an essential aspect of my wardrobe and Wolford is the essential hosiery maker. They will run you around fifty dollars a pair, but if you take care of them, they will survive seasons of regular wear. The reason I will spend more on a pair of Wolfords is […]

It’s that time of year again for trimming wicks and basking in the glow of a gloriously rich candle, reading material optional. I’ve written about some other favorites here, but some newer scents that have captured my attention. Chilly air. Leaves. Candles. Bliss. TLC Candle Co. ‘Gatherings’ With notes of red currant, teakwood, pomegranate, nutmeg […]

So you’re all dressed up and ready to go to a dinner or cocktail party at someone’s home. You dutifully ask the hostess, “What shall I bring?!” to which she replies, “Oh, just yourself!” But really, what shall you bring. Any time a hostess throws a soirée she should provide absolutely everything (unless the event […]