New Christmas Traditions
This is our first Christmas in the new-to-us house, so we’re thinking about new Christmas traditions here. For one thing, now we have a formal living room and family room to decorate. So, while the tree is in the family room, I got to add some personal favorite Christmas touches to our living room. Something new I’ve …
Chanukah: The Festival of Lights
Yesterday was the first night of Chanukah, the Festival of Lights. Chanukah means “dedication,” because the holiday commemorates the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem after the Jews defeated the Syrian-Greeks. After the victory, there was only enough oil in the Temple to light the menorah for one day. Yet, miraculously, the oil lasted eight days. Hence, eight nights of Chanukah, when we light …
DIY Ornaments
Growing up, our Christmas tree always had several homemade, DIY ornaments. We had ones my grandmother sewed from felt, ones my brother and I had made, and always a construction-paper garland. Now that I have my own family and our own Christmas tree, I want to create some special homemade ornaments for it, but going …
Not Your Everyday Christmas Cookies
The Christmas season is here. Time for family, friends, shopping, and baking! If you’re tired of the same ol’ sugar cookies, check out these yummy cookies. Not your everyday Christmas cookies, for sure! These Peppermint Bonbon Cookies are always a favorite at my friend Cynthia’s book club: A gooey chocolate center and crunchy peppermint – yum! Something …
Add an Accent Wall to Your Home
Want to create a big design impact without redoing an entire room? Try adding an accent wall to your home. There are several ways to create an accent wall: using paint, wood, wallpaper, art, or even a Sharpie! Here are some ideas for accent walls for your home: Paint Perhaps the easiest way to create …
Our Thanksgiving Menu
I love Thanksgiving. It’s my favorite holiday. Leaves falling, football in the yard and on TV, family together, and THE FOOD! The food is the best, to me. So today I thought I’d share my Thanksgiving menu with you. I’m largely a traditionalist when it comes to Thanksgiving dinner. Here’s what’s on our menu and …
DIY Your Thanksgiving Table Settings
I love the colors of fall – the reds, oranges, and yellows of the leaves, the deep greens and earth tones of pumpkins and gourds. Sure, you can go out and buy decorations for your Thanksgiving table, but why not DIY them instead? A trip outside or to the grocery store will yield some great elements for …
Make Your Dining Room Grand
The holidays are coming – time to host family and friends, often for a big meal. Is your dining room ready to handle the guests? Want to spice it up a bit? Here are some tips for making your dining room feel grand. Light It Up Because the light fixture in the dining room hangs …
Living Room Before & After
All over the web you can see dramatic before and after pictures of rooms. But how do you really take a room from the blah before to an amazing after? Today, I’m going to show you how to do this in your living room (although the steps can be applied to change up any room). …
Spooky Halloween Treats
OK, I have a confession to make. I don’t really like Halloween. There. I said it. I don’t. The skeletons and skulls, bats, tombstones, cobwebs and spiders…they all creep me out. I just can’t get behind it. But what I do love about Halloween are the treats! Here are some great, easy-to-make, not-so-scary ideas for Halloween …