November 20, 2017
We’re just a few short days away from Thanksgiving Day, can you believe it? In my home turkey isn’t the real star on the Thanksgiving table—it’s all those yummy side dishes. This year we’re serving up a feast for five and while many will fill their plate with turkey and pasta (yes, pasta Sal’s family is Italian) my plate will be packed with a vegetarian menu. If you’re hosting a vegetarian or two this year at your dinner table you’ll want to try out one of these recipes. I don’t know how you feel, but when it comes to Thanksgiving, the more side dishes offered the better, here are five delicious side dish recipes that are sure to be a crowd pleaser. Carrots Al Forno Carrots are one of my favorite vegetables. Add some cheese and well, this becomes a tasty dish. Here’s what you’ll need: 1-2 bunches of […]
November 9, 2017
If you’re planning on entertaining overnight guests this holiday season, do you have a cozy retreat for them? An area for guests to call home during their short stay can make them feel welcome and more at home. Is your guest room up for the challenge? Setting up a guest room can be easy, even if it’s only a temporary spot for guests to lay their heads. Our guest bedroom is currently “under-construction,” but we do offer occasional guests a pretty swanky set up in our entryway involving an air mattress, if they need a place to stay in the meantime. I’ve stayed in a few homes, where a guest’s designated spot can feel more like a nightmare than a pampered dream. That’s why I feel– it’s important to be a thoughtful, hospitable host taking the extra steps needed that your guests will appreciate. To ensure a stress-free visit — […]
November 4, 2017
Are you ready to jump back one hour this weekend? While, I’m all for the extra hour when we turn the clocks back for Daylight Saving Time, I’ll never get use to total darkness come five o’clock. It’s so depressing for this summer girl who loves her vitamin D. Winter is the only season that can deeply affect a person’s mood. Not only are you trapped indoors but lower light levels during these months creates Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.) in up to six-percent of people, causing depression, sleep disorder and lethargy. So, if you’re like me and dread this long time tradition, here are some tips to keep your home light and bright well after sunset. The Power of Neutral Colors Often times changing the color of a room can play a huge part on the psyche. You can do this by painting the walls or adding new neutral accessories in […]
November 2, 2017
Every six months, more than 75,000 people embark on the small town of High Point, North Carolina where they come to tour High Point Market, one of the largest furnishing industry trade shows in the world. If you follow me on Instagram you know I was one of those there last week. Among the crowd designers, architects, buyers and vendors walking the 11.5 million square feet of showroom to discover what’s next in the furnishing industry. We were all there to scout out the latest products, seasonal trends and more. Here’s what I uncovered: Lucite Acrylic Touches Acrylic furniture is nothing new, it’s been a contemporary staple since it was introduced in the 1930’s. The see through material has been keeping furniture classy throughout the decades, especially after it was reinvented in 2002, when Philippe Starck’s introduced the Louis Ghost Chair. Today the acrylic, which is a manmade material is being paired with […]
October 26, 2017
We’re well into the pumpkin season, and while the squash native to North America is fun to eat and sip on, I wanted to show a few unique ways to dress up your pumpkins this holiday season. Of course what better day to share these DIYS than on National Pumpkin Day. The word pumpkin originates from the word pepon, which means “large melon” in Greek. When I say the word pumpkin, many immediately think of the perfect orange sphere, but in recent years white pumpkins have become more popular in the United States — which produces more than 1.5 million pounds of pumpkins each season. How to Pick a Pumpkin When looking for the best jack-o’-lantern, choose one that will decompose the slowest. Stay away from soft spots and dry, thin stems. Always pick one that feels heavy for its size because that’s means it’ll be better for cooking with the more […]