The Smell of Christmas

The first time I used a Fraiser Fir candle by Thymes I was in awe of the amazing scent. It truly evokes the smell of a live Christmas tree! The Frasier Fir fragrance comes in a variety of products including: candles, soaps, and diffusers. I can honestly say I have tried every product that they have ever made and have enjoyed each of them. Frasier Fir scents can be purchased at any Thyme retailer but the best prices for these products can be found at Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/) where they typically include free shipping with each order. I hope you will enjoy this fragrance as much as I do and that it will become a delightful reminder of the holiday season each time you smell it!
Cheers, Lili

Cranberry Cocktail

This is seriously the easiest drink to make that I am almost embarrassed to tell you about it, but I had to keep with the cranberry theme of Thanksgiving.

Virgin Drink:

Using whatever pitcher you will be using fill 1/2 of it with cranberry juice and the 1/2 with Sprite.

Adults only:

Repeat the steps above for the virgin drink but add some vodka to it. They say you should only do about a 3/4 of a shot per glass, but if your family is driving you nuts you can always add more!

To make the drink all the more festive you could add a few cranberries in the drink or hanging from the edge of the glass.

Crazy For Cranberries

Decorating For Thanksgiving

"Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns" George Eliot

Thanksgiving is usually a holiday that is forgotten in regards to decoration and presentation. Everyone focus' so much on "dressing" their turkey that they skimp out on "dressing" their dining room table. Although food is the most important part of celebrating this holiday, having a festive welcoming table is fun for both you and your guests. Typically, everyone has a set of table linens and china that they use for special occasions but what is usually lacking on the table are center pieces. To keep with the Thanksgiving theme I found easy and elegant ways to use cranberries as decor for your table. To decorate with cranberries I suggest using fresh berries that are not frozen. It is best to do these projects the night before or the day of Thanksgiving, as they are fruit and will not last a very long time. The easiest way to add both color and light to your table is to take a basic glass vessel and place a solid pillar candle in the center. Next, pour the cranberries around the candle so they are evenly spread throughout the glass. Another way to do this would be to take the same glass vessel and place a flower weighted down with cranberries at the bottom of the vase. The next step is to pour water into the vessel leaving about a 1/3 of room to the rim of the glass. Next place some cranberries on top and a floating votive candle in the center of the piece. To be safe you should not place the cranberries above the top of the candle. These candle arrangements could be used as your centerpiece or on either side of a floral arrangement.

Another simple way to use cranberries is to create a floral arrangement using them as accents. All you have to do is take a large vase and place a clear narrow vase that is filled with water in the center of the large vase. Next, spread the cranberries evenly in the space between the two vases. Your last step is to place your flower arrangement in the narrow vase.

My last suggestion for decorating with cranberries is to take what you already have, which is and should be cranberry sauce. If you actually take the cranberry sauce out of the can or glass jar and place it in beautiful clear bowl it will complete your cranberry theme!

I hope everyone has a wonderful "Turkey Day" filled with thanks, love, and of course cranberry sauce!

Love, Lili

Fall Cleaning

"Hospitality is making your guest feel at home, even if you wish they were."

- Author Unknown

I never understood why spring cleaning became so popular. If you really think about it fall should be the season where you pull out all the stops and prepare your home for the holidays. In the spring most people are outside enjoying the weather or vacationing. Ask yourself when do you do most of your entertaining? I am guessing it is during the fall and winter months. With this being said why not get a head start on your home before you are consumed with other responsibilities that go along with the holidays (cooking, decorating,socializing etc...).

Before you become overwhelmed with all of the things that need to be done, I would first make a priority list of the things you can and should do and follow them accordingly. The last thing you want to do is begin several projects and never complete any of them. Although every home differs in size and design there is typically a room where you entertain your guests. I call this the "hospitality room." This room should be the room where you should be most concerned with. I would first begin by dusting the room. There is no point in cleaning a space only to have to clean it once more after you have dust flying all over the place. Next, I would do the basic cleaning and organizing. Once you are finished with your core cleaning I would begin to focus on the details which would include: cleaning your windows, furniture, picture frames, lighting fixtures, etc... The other room that should be cleaned is the guest room or the location where your guests will be sleeping. I would follow the same routine as you did in the entertaining room, but I would focus more on organization. You want your guest to feel like they are at home and have a place to set their belongings. Regardless if you have a closet or a dresser I would try to empty the spaces so that your guest can hang their clothing or put away their items. I would also make sure that you have a set of clean towels,wash clothes, and an unused bar of soap readily available for them to use.
The last room but one of the most important is the kitchen. Somehow everyone congregates to the kitchen for some reason or another (often to the dismay of the hostess). Instead of becoming engulfed with dirty dishes overwhelming your cooking space, try to keep everything organized and timely so you can enjoy the process of entertaining. The best thing to do in your kitchen is to clean out your fridge and cabinets of expired food. This will allow you to shop ahead for your food and have a spot for it. If you are lucky you could always cook your food ahead of time and keep it in the refrigerator until it's time to bake or cook it. The next suggestion I would make is to clean out your kitchen drawers. There is nothing more embarrassing than when someone offers to help in the kitchen and they happen to find your secret miscellaneous drawer(s) where you throw everything into. The last and most important thing to do in regards to the kitchen is to take out all of your table linens and have them washed and pressed before your company arrives. This will save you both time and stress when the festivities start and it might also inspire you to decorate your table.
So, instead of waiting to clean your home until spring why not start now when it will be most enjoyed!
Have a lovely week!
Love, Lili

Super Woman

"The modern day Renaissance woman"

The expectations of women has changed significantly in the last few decades. At one time we were expected to be homemakers and cater to the needs and demands of our families. With the advancement of education, many woman now have the freedom to work and contribute to the families finances, but with this arises guilt. We are now expected to be successful at work, maintain and decorate our homes, and sustain a spectacular relationship with our families and friends. How do women do this all and still have time for themselves? The answer is it is utterly impossible and if someone tells you differently they are lying through their teeth. Multitasking all our responsibilities is a balancing act that many fall short upon, myself included. Since childhood we were taught that no one is perfect but somehow between our adolescence and adulthood we have forgotten that. Instead of feeling guilt because we can not do everything we want to or as well as someone else, we should take pride in our accomplishments and give ourselves a break! After all, a true "Renaissance woman" is merely a saying and "Super Woman" does not exist.

Here are a few tricks that I use around the house that make me feel like a super hero.

1. A great way to remove permanent marker from a wall is spray hairspray on the marks. It might take several sprays but I guarantee it will work!

2. Have little ones left crayon on your walls? There is an easy fix to remove the artwork quickly. All you have to do is create a mixture of toothpaste and water to create a paste. Take an old toothbrush and rub the concoction on the wall!

3. Everyone has water stains on their furniture and no amount of cleaning will remove them from the piece. Again, there is an easy fix to this problem. You are going to take some ash from your fireplace and add a little bit of water to create another paste. Take a lint free rag and rub the stain with the paste in a circular motion. The water stain will literally disappear!

4. If you have a brick fireplace and it is covered with soot you can make it look brand new by cleaning it with a basic bathroom/tile cleaner.

5. Everyone has votive candle holders with pieces of the candle that can not be removed from them. Rather than scrape and ruin the holder itself by trying to force the candle out you should pop it into the freezer for several hours. The old candle should literally pop right out of the holder. If the candle is still stuck in the holder you might need to keep it in the freezer for a longer time.

6. The oldest trick in the book for removing blood stains from fabric and clothing is to apply hydrogen peroxide directly on the stain. It might have to repeat the process several time before the stain is removed, but I promise you it works like a charm!

I hope you will try some of these tricks and feel like your own "Super Woman" in your home.

Have a lovely weekend!

Love,

Lili

"Striving for excellence motivates you; striving for perfection is demoralizing"

-Harriet Braiker

Cake Tier Jewelry Stand

CAKE TIER CONTINUED.....

A funky example of a handmade cake tier used for displaying jewelry. You could create the same look using different dishes, colors, and patterns! What do you think?

"Let Them Eat Cake"

CAKE STANDS

One of my favorite things are cake stands. There are so many different way to utilize them within your home. The possibilities are truly endless.

Traditionally, cake stands have been used for cakes and pies but more recently people have began to use them in more imaginative ways.

One clever way is to put them as centerpieces on your dining table. You could simple lay flowers and moss on top of the stand or you could use small bud vases with flowers in each one and surround those with a large vase with more flowers in the center. People will be in awe of your creativity and your table will look fantastic!

Another great way to use cake stands are to use them as decorative elements within your home. A beautiful book propped on the cake stand or a birds nest are always lovely to see within a home. Do not feel pressured to keep the cake stand in or around the kitchen area. They are a great addition to any book shelf or piece of furniture within your home.

My favorite way to use a cake tier is to use it as a jewelry stand. The best way to display your jewelry on a cake tier is to use common colors to create a unitized theme. I suggest only using your costume jewelry not your fine jewelry as it will be exposed and on display.

If you do not already have a cake stand or cake tier there is a very simple way to make one yourself. You do not need to be artistic or crafty in the slightest to create a beautiful stand. All you do is simply take a beautiful plate and a small candle stick and glue them together. To begin apply a strong ceramic/metal glue around the top of the candle stick and then place the plate on top. I would let the glue set for several hours before placing anything on top of the stand.

I hope this inspires you to dust of your cake stand that is hidden within your cabinets and use it in a creative capacity!

Love, Lili

More Than Words

Scrabble

Upon first glance I am sure you are assuming that I will be discussing the game of Scrabble, but I will not. In fact, I have never played a game of Scrabble in my life. I am not really a "board game" kind of girl. Instead, I will explain a fun way to display the game in your home.

My mother came up with a really funky way to celebrate and decorate using the Scrabble pieces.

She would display various sayings and phrases on the wooden block for various holidays and special occasions. A wonderful example of this is during Christmas time she will spell out "Happy Birthday Jesus" and display it on the cabinet in the living room. She will also use the pieces to spell out "Welcome Home" or "Congratulations" when my siblings and I are visiting. You can purchase this game at most stores, but if you only want to purchase the pieces I would suggest going to a local craft store like "Michael's" or "A.C. Moore". This is a really inexpensive and clever way to celebrate life without using cheesy balloons and tacky decorations. The best part of all is that this is a one time expense and you can use it over and over again!

Enjoy!

Love, Lili

Lovely Lavender

"Nature is the art of God"- Thomas Browne

I woke up a few day's ago to a dead lavender plant in my living room and I thought it would only be fitting that I write about lavender. I had purchased the plant at a local farmers market by a very patient man. After answering a thousand of my idiotic questions, he finally slipped me a piece of paper on how to care for the lavender plant. He emphasized the fact that the lavender plant is not intended to grow indoors but I quickly dismissed him and his care sheet. Low and behold several weeks later my purple leafed plant turned into a vile putrid brown. I am now content on purchasing lavender in the future!

The lavenders (Lavandula) are a genus of 39 species of flowering plants. They are actually in the mint family. The lavender cross-pollinates very easily, which allows the plant to have many variations within the same species. The Lavender plant is thought to have originated in Asia but is typically associated with Western Europe. It usually grows best in dry, sandy, or gravelly soils with a lot of sun (my plant did not stand a chance of survival). Unlike most plants, the lavender can be used for food, fragrance, and as an sleeping aid. There are very few downsides to this plant. However, it is suggested to avoid eating this herb during pregnancy and while breast feeding.

While researching the lavender plant I came across some interesting facts. Ancient Greeks named the lavender herb after the Syrian city of Naarda. It was also referred to as "nard". There are also several Biblical ties to the lavender herb. Lavender was used in the Biblical Temple to prepare the holy essence and was also mentioned in Song of Solomon.

I have learned several valuable lessons from the death of my lavender plant.

1. Lavender can not be grown indoors!

2. Read instructions and follow advice accordingly.

3. Retire my green thumb until I have a place to garden!

Have a wonderful Labor day!

Love, Lili

Art From The Heart

"As the sun colors flowers, so does art color life"

-John Lubbock

What is a home without art on the walls? Art not only fills the wall space in a home, but provides both a warmth and a emotional connection to the space by making it inviting. I often go to beautiful houses where they are decorated to the tea but they only have mirrors on the walls. The absence of artwork on the walls makes the entire home feel very cold and incomplete. Currently, with the economy in dire straits extraneous spending is out of the question. So, how does one acquire artwork on a limited budget? There are several options to buy artwork at a reasonable cost. The best way of course would be to purchase a painting by an emerging local artist. Typically, emerging artist are just as qualified as established artist but their work is not well known so the cost of their work is significantly less. My next suggestion is to visit a website called, www.dailypainters.com . This website was founded in 2006 by painter, Micah Condon. Daily painters features over 150 different artist with more than 30,000 paintings to chose from. I recently commissioned the artist, David Boyd Jr. to paint my boyfriend's childhood home as a present. I reviewed other paintings by David and loved the color palette and texture of his pieces so I knew he would do a wonderful job. Needless to say when the painting arrived it was better than I could have ever imagine and my boyfriend was thrilled. Even if you are not in the market to buy artwork or lack wall space it is always fun to see what is available.

Love, Lili

All About Austen

Everyone loves Jane Austen, but how much do we really know about her as person? There have been numerous biographies and movies that provide a glimpse into her life but they often fall short by only focusing on her romantic past, thus creating this mushy pseudo emotional character who defines Jane entirely. So, after doing some research I put together a list of interesting facts about her life that I hope you enjoy.

1. Jane Austen was born on December 16th 1775 in Hampshire England.

2. Her father George was a country clergyman.

3. She was the seventh of eight children (6 sons and 2 daughters)

4. Jane's nickname was Jenny

5. Her best friend was her older sister Cassandra, who was 2 years older.

6. Jane never lived away from her family. Even when she went to boarding school for a couple of years her sister, Cassandra came with her.

7. Austen detested cities. She preferred the countryside over the hustle and bustle of the crowded streets.

8. She loved to dance, play the piano, and perform in plays for her family.

9. In December of 1795, when Jane was 20, she fell in love with Thomas Langlois Lefroy, a graduate of Trinity College of Dublin. Thomas was visiting his Aunt, Madam Lefroy whom Jane was friends with. Unfortunately for the couple, Madam Lefroy sent him away because the family did not approve of their courtship and threatened to disinherit him. Thomas would later become the Chief Justice of Ireland.

10. While on vacation in 1800, Jane met and fell in love with a young clergy man. Sadly, he died before they could marry.

11. Later that year, Jane accepted a proposal from Harris Bigg-Wither, who was the brother to one of her closest friends. The morning after their engagement Jane called it off because she felt like Harris was too young and immature for her.

12. Jane was not very sociable. She was known to be somewhat reclusive.

13. While living in Chawton, there was a swinging door outside of her room where she wrote that creaked terribly. She refused to have it fixed because it gave her warning when anyone was entering.

14. Austen always wrote on small pieces of paper so she could easily hide what she was writing or discard it quickly.

15. In her late 30's, Jane contracted Addison's Disease, which is a tubercular disease of the kidneys. John F. Kennedy also had this disease.

16. Addison's disease made it very difficult for her to walk so she used a little donkey carriage to get around. The carriage is now in a museum in Chawton.

17. On the morning of July 18th 1817, Jane died in her sister's arms. She was only 41 years old.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend! Enjoy the last bit of summer!

Love, Lili

"Love Beyond Measure"

"All the statistics in the world can't measure

the warmth of a smile"-Chris Hart

When I was in college my mother gave me these heart shaped measuring spoons as a gift. I always liked these but never wanted to use them because I felt like they were too pretty to dirty. Until recently I had been using the traditional plastic measuring spoons while cooking. I became fed up with these when the writing on the plastic disappeared and I could not distinguish the measurements for each spoon. I decided to try the heart shaped spoons instead and have been using them since.

The "Quote Measuring Spoons" are available for purchase at Beehive Kitchenware. These spoons are hand cast in lead free pewter and are engraved with cute sayings that pertain to the measurement of each spoon. Sandra Bonazoli and Jim Dowd are the owners and creaters of Beehive Kitchware. They began making these spoons in the pantry of their house in 1998. Both Sandra and Jim wanted to make useful objects that are also decorative, which includes baby gift items and desk accesories. To visit their online store go to http://www.beehivekitchenware.com/

Wishing you a joy beyond measure!

Love, Lili

A Soothing Sound

"Music washes away from the soul the dust of

everyday life"- Berthold Auerbach

I have finally compiled a list of my favorite songs that I listen to when I need to relax and feel uplifted. I created a play list on the computer a few months ago and have really enjoyed listening to it and wanted to share it with you.

1. "Dawn" - from the soundtrack of Pride &Prejudice (2005).

2. "Letters from Joe" (instrumental) Thomas Newman

3. "Little Women" (instrumental) Thomas Newman

4. "Snowplay" - Thomas Newman

5. "Under the Umbrella" (End title) Thomas Newman

6. "Pride and Prejudice theme"- Carl Davis and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

7. "Sebastian" -Terry Davis &BBC Philharmonic Orchestra

8. "Emma" (from "Emma")- Rachel Portman

9. "A Walk in the Clouds" - Maurice Jarre

10. "A River Through It" - Mark Isham

11. "L' abandon" - Alexandre Desplat

12. "The Park on Piano" - Jan A.P. Kaczmarek

13. "Devonshire" - Patrick Doyle

14. "Please Forgive Me" - Patrick Doyle

15. "My Father's Favourite" - (this is not misspelled)- Patrick Doyle

16. "Throw the Coins" - Patrick Doyle

Instead of purchasing each c.d from the artist's, you can always buy the individual songs for about $0.99 each at "iTunes". I am sure most of you have used "iTunes" before or have at least heard about it, but for those of you who haven't it is a great way to find music and movies that are difficult to find in stores. It is also wonderful because once you have purchased the song it is yours to do with it whatever you please. I download the music to my ipod and make my own Cd's from my song collection. To start an account with "Itunes" or to preview these songs you can go to www.apple.com/iTunes

Relax and enjoy the music!

Love, Lili

The Dream Machine

"My second favorite household chore is ironing. My first being hitting my head on the top bunk bed until I faint."

-Erma Bombeck


I have to be honest and tell you that I am 100% completely obsessed with my Jiffy Steamer. My ability to iron is probably that of a 6 year old. Instead of ironing my clothes, I would lazily send them to the dry cleaners so I could wear them without wrinkles. I quickly learned that it was an unnecessary expense. I came across the Jiffy steamer while I was working as a merchandiser for a speciality home store. I relied on the steamer to steam the the bed linens and curtains for windows and photo shoots. I decided one day to purchase the steamer for myself soon after and have become dependant upon it ever since. I am now able to wear what I want when I want to wear it and my sheets no longer have wrinkles in them.

Most people have owned or used a steamer before. I know that I have personally tried several different steamers and they never seemed to work properly. The problem with most of these steamers is that they leak, they take forever to heat up, and they just do not work. The Jiffy steamer is the only steamer that has continued to work for me after 4 years.

The Jiffy Steamer has been made in the USA since 1940. There are many different types of Jiffy Steamers that work well, but I prefer to use the residential garment steamer model #J2. This steamer is very narrow measuring 14"x8"x64" and has wheels that allow you to move it where ever needed. Unlike other steamers where it takes 10 minutes to heat, the Jiffy steamer heats up in about 1 minute and has a 2 hour steam time.

There are several important things to know about steaming garments. It is much more easy to steam something when it is on a flat service. I usually use my bed as my "ironing board" which works out perfectly. Also, when you are steaming your bedding linens you should do so when they are already on your bed.It cuts down on time and is not as difficult. Another important thing to remember is that you should not steam directly on any silk. It will leave weird indentations on your garment. Instead, you should hold the steamer at a distance to release the wrinkles.

The residential garment steamer by Jiffy is priced retail at $189.00, but I found a Jiffy distributor that sells them for $128.42 with a 1 year warranty at "Sew Vac Direct" http://www.sewvacdirect.com/

Despite this post coming across as an infomercial, I wanted to share with you this fabulous machine in the hopes that it relieves you of stressful ironing experiences and wrinkles!

Love, Lili

A Little Goes A Long Way

“Home, the spot of earth supremely blest,a dearer, sweeter spot than all the rest.”

-Robert Montgomery

Have you ever noticed that you appreciate your home much more after being away from it for a few days? We all tire of our decor because we look at it on a daily basis and that is why it is important to revamp it every now and again. There are a few things you can do to your remaining decor to make you appreciate it once more that does not require a lot of time and money.

The most inexpensive way to change the look of a piece of furniture or cabinets is by changing it's hardware! There are several stores that I go to when I am searching for knobs. Carol Beach Knobs, have a great variety of hardware with different styles and sizes. When you go to the website, www.carolbeachknobs.com , the front page is somewhat deceiving and does not do the site justice. You literally have to click each picture to see the full line of hardware and their colors for each section. For funky vintage hardware I shop at, Anthropologie. You can visit their website, www.anthropologie.com to shop online for their hardware, but you are far better off going to one of their stores to see their full collection. If you like a more clean modern look, I suggest you shop at, Restoration Hardware. To visit their site go to, www.restorationhardware.com .

Another great way to redecorate your home is to simply change your lamp shade on your lighting fixtures. You can update the look of your fixture by changing the color or shape of your shade. Pronto Home, has a great selection of high end shades. The shades are more expensive than most, but they are well made and much more attractive . To shop online visit, www.prontohome.com . Every Lamp Shade, is another great place to purchase lamp shades. They have such a large collection of shades that are very reasonably priced. To view their lamp shade selection go to, http://www.everylampshade.com/.

You can literally transform an entire room by switching or replacing decorative pillows. When selecting decorative pillows, try to tie them into your remaining decor by texture, pattern, or color. Buying pillows online can be quite difficult when trying to match dye lot's, so I suggest purchasing them in stores instead. It is always helpful to bring a fabric swatch or paint chip with you to the store to aid in your selection.

I hope this inspires you to become creative in your own home!

Love, Lili

The Thrill Of The Hunt

"But it is a cold lifeless business when you go to the shops to buy something, which does not represent your life and talent, but a goldsmiths."

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

A week ago, I went to an antique store where I found a beautiful, blue and white,3 piece casserole dish set that I absolutely adore! I collect blue and white dish ware, so when I saw this set I automatically assumed it was going to be outrageously expensive. To my shock, the set was 25% off of $35. I was so excited to find something that I loved for such a bargain price. I felt like I had just won an Olympic medal. I knew I had a steal, but I couldn't resist asking if there was any better they could do on the price (it never hurts to ask)! Amazingly, the store gave me another 5% off and I literally paid and sprinted out the door.

There is a thrill that comes when you are searching for something that truly reflects your personality. I find that these items are often vintage, handmade,or one of a kind objects, which makes them all the more special. If you have the time to shop and enjoy hunting for that unique piece, you would do best visiting local thrift and antique stores. You may not enjoy or have time to shop so I have found a couple of great websites that let you virtually shop for your hidden treasures.

The first website is Etsy. Etsy, was founded in 2005 ,and spans the globe with buyers and sellers in more than 150 countries. There are hundreds of thousands of sellers on the site that sell handmade, vintage, and antique items. I thought their mission statement was rather interesting. It says, "To enable people to make a living making things and to reconnect makers with buyers". Although there are thousands of stores on this site, there are two in particular that I enjoy visiting; Bella Sera Designs and Teresea Sheeley. You can visit Esty by going to, http://www.etsy.com/

My absolute favorite website is called, "The French Cupboard". "The French Cupboard", is a website that features online boutiques. All of the stores are wonderful on this site, but my two favorite boutiques are, "Faded Plains" and "Piney Rose". Despite this site being amazing because it features such unique items, it is also special because it is run by the nicest Midwestern husband and wife team from their farmhouse. It is always nice to promote small business'! You can view their website by visiting, http://www.thefrenchcupboard.com/

Happy hunting!

Love, Lili

A Time for Reflection

"The act of putting pen to paper encourages pause for thought, this in turn makes us think more deeply about life, which helps us regain our equilibrium"

-Norbet Platt

Journal writing is a great way to keep track of events in your life and your emotions. It is also helpful for self reflection and self awareness. Regardless of your age or gender, writing in a journal is very relaxing and can be quite fun. It is nice to periodically reread previous entries. In many senses, it is the best book ever written because it is your personal biography that chronicles your life.
I have a few suggestions to those of you who are beginning to write in your journal.
1. Write without self editing. You should write freely and honestly, without concern about who might read your journal and judge you.
2. When you write, you should go to a place where you are alone in your thoughts and you feel safe.
3. Consider your handwriting and the journal size before purchasing a journal. If you write very large you would want a larger journal, and if you handwriting is small, you should try a smaller journal. Some people prefer their journals to be lined, while others feel that the lines are confining.

Journal writing is also used as a means of therapy. Journal therapy is the act of writing down thoughts and feelings to sort through problems and come to a deeper understanding of oneself or the issues in their life. In the 1960's, Dr. Ira Progoff, a psychologist in NYC, began offering workshops and classes in the use of what he called, "The Intensive Journal Method". He found that this was a very helpful means of therapy for students and clients. By the 1980's, the practice of journal therapy had become the norm.

Finding a nice journal can be quite difficult. I have several stores that I use to purchase journals. "Graphic image", is a great place to purchase high end leather journals. You can visit their website by going to www.graphicimage.com Another great store that sells fantastic journals is, "Leather Keep Sakes". You can view their entire collection by going to www.leatherkeepsakes.com
If you are looking for a nice journal that is not too expensive, "Barnes and Nobles", typically has a large assortment of journals that are reasonably priced.

I hope everyone is enjoying their week thus far!
Love, Lili

"Presentation is Everything"

The Art of Gift wrapping

" The manner of giving is worth
more than the gift"

-Pierre Corneille, Le Menteur


There are few things I enjoy more than gift wrapping. It is so much fun for me to create a theme for the present by selecting the ideal paper and ribbon combination. Personally, I believe that the way a present is wrapped is more important than the gift itself. To receive a gift that is not wrapped or bagged nicely, is basically telling the recipient that you did not care enough to take the time to make the present special. To solve this problem, I suggest you buy your gift wrap and ribbon in advance so that you will not have to rush around and buy everything at the last minute. There are several things to consider when purchasing gift wrap and ribbon; one of the most important of these being the paper itself. The quality of the paper depends upon the thickness of it. It is much more easy to wrap a present when the gift wrap is of a good quality. It is also important because it sharpens the folds and corners of the package, allowing the package to have clean lines. Ribbon is critical to the package as well, as it is the finishing touch that literally ties the theme of the present together. There are several different types of ribbon to choose from. I prefer to use wired ribbon because it is malleable and holds the shape of the bow more. Regardless of the type of ribbon you use, remember to finish the edges of the bow to complete the look!
The origin of gift wrapping,like most things, dates back to the Victorian times. This was probably due to the expansion of the printing press, which enabled wrapping paper to be reproduced in massive quantities. I think it would be interesting to see some of the original wrapping paper from that time!
I wanted to share with you two companies I use to purchase gift wrap online. "Luxe Paperie", is a great place to buy gift wrap and stationary from. You can view their entire collection by visiting the website: www.luxepaperie.com . The store, "The Ribbon Retreat" has the most amazing assortment of ribbons in every color,shape, and size. You can visit their website by going to, www.theribbonretreat.com

Love, Lili

The Special Plate

"The bond that links your true family

is not one of blood, but of respect and

joy in each others' life"-Richard Bach

While growing up in my home my family had a tradition called, "The special plate". Whenever someone in the family had an accomplishment or it was their birthday they were allowed to eat on the plate. It was also given to friends and guests when they visited our house. The plate was so "special" because it meant that for an entire meal you were celebrated, honored, and most importantly, you received the most attention. As I got older, I became less competitive over the plate and enjoyed seeing other's use and delight in it.

The other day for some reason or another I began thinking about the "special plate". I was remembering how much my family and I had loved this tradition. This led me to think about the plate on a deeper level. What is it that made the "special plate" so special? All of a sudden the words, "positive reinforcement" flashed before me.

B.F. Skinner was a researcher who developed several major theoretical constructs of reinforcement and behaviorism; one of these being, positive reinforcement. It is defined as, "an increase in the future frequency of a behavior due to the addition of a stimulus immediately following a response." Skinner found that positive reinforcement was a better way of altering behaviors than punishment.

The "special plate" was special because it rewarded and celebrated my families life's and their accomplishments, which conditioned us to work hard in order to receive it again in the future.

Regardless of your age or family size, the "special plate" is a wonderful tradition that will become a beloved ritual that truly brings joy to you and all those around you!

The "Special plate"as we call it, is actually called "You are special today" by the company, Waechtersbach. These plate's are made in Germany and are available in a cherry red color. The best part of all is that they are dishwasher safe (we both know how much I love dish washing)!

I did some research on the plate to find the best price for it. The plate is typically $37 retail however, I found it for $28.86 at the website http://www.thechurchmousemall.com/.

I hope you have a great week and remember,"you are special today"!

Love, Lili

The Meaning of Cleaning

"Thank God for dirty dishes, they have a tale to tell. While other's may go hungry, we're eating very well."

- author unknown

I honestly do not mind cleaning. Let's not get it wrong though, I do not enjoy it but there are some chores that I do not mind as much as others. The task of washing dishes is one household chore that I absolutely detest. I think it is the idea of touching other people's food that disgusts me most or it could be the fact that it is extremely boring! My disdain for cleaning reached it's maximum when I moved to New York City. All of my apartments did not have a dishwasher so I was forced to hand wash every single dish and it became daunting. One day, I decided to try out a new dish soap because I liked the color of the bottle (I usually do not recommend that).

The first time I tried Myers soap, I literally used 1/3 of the bottle because it smelled so good! It did not make me enjoy washing dishes but it did make the process more bearable. From that point on, I began using Mrs. Myers cleaning products for all my household cleaners. I have tried every scent and they are all wonderful! I actually have a purpose to this post if you are wondering ,which is to use creativity to make things you dislike a little more tolerable. In my particular situation it was as simple as getting a new dish soap!

Mrs. Myer's household cleaners are aroma therapeutic environmentally friendly products that are safe to use around children and animals. They are more expensive than most cleaning products, but you can always come up with a way to rationalize this purchase (i.e. aesthetics, fragrance, the earth, etc...)

To find a store near you that sells Mrs. Meyers, visit their website: www.mrs.meyers.com

Have a productive day and "please do not feed the dust bunnies".

Love, Lili

Tea Time

"There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea"
-Henry James, "The Portrait of a Lady"

High tea, which is also known as, "afternoon tea" is the custom of drinking tea between 3pm to 5pm. This ritual originated in England by Catherine of Braganze, who married Charles II in 1661, and brought the practice of "afternoon tea" with her from Portugal.

A few months ago, I read an article about the effects of caffeine, specifically coffee after 3pm. The study indicated that having coffee after 3 in the afternoon affects your ability to fall asleep. I was devastated to learn this, because I rely on coffee in the afternoon to maintain my energy level. I began to think of alternatives and instantly thought of tea! American's used to drink tea prior to drinking coffee, so I was wondering why and when we stopped? Did we resent the British so much that after the "Boston tea party" we decided to rid ourselves of tea?
For the past few weeks, I have attempted to have "high tea" daily and I have to say that I honestly feel better emotionally and physically. It has become a comforting ritual that I hope will become a trend again!
Take time for yourself and enjoy a nice spot of tea!
Love, Lili

"Little Women"

"Touched to the heart, Mrs. March could only stretch out her arms, as if to gather children and grandchildren to herself, and say, with face and voice full of motherly love, gratitude, and humility--"Oh, my girls, however long you may live, I never can wish you a greater happiness than this." - Louisa May Alcott, "Little Women", ch. 47

Lousia May Alcott''s book, "Little Women" has always had a special place in my heart because it reminds me of my mother and my sister. I read the book when I was a very young girl ,and I guess you could say I have been obsessed with everything relating to "Little Women" since. When the movie came out in 1994, I first watched it with my "Little Women" and I still love it to this day. The soundtrack to this movie by composer, Thomas Newman is fantastic as well!

Recently, I did some research and found out that the Alcott's home where Lousia wrote,"Little Women" is located in Concord, Massachusetts, which is about 30 minutes away from Boston. So, today with the help of my loving and supportive boyfriend, I was able to visit the house! The drive to Concord was beautiful. Everywhere I looked I saw historical farm houses comfortably resting in green fields and surrounded by wild flowers.

When we finally arrived at the Alcott's home, it was just as I had imagined it to be! A perfect location for Lousia to write. It was so exciting to see the desk that her father, Amos had built for her. It was the actual desk that she used when she wrote, "Little Women".

After touring the museum, my boyfriend and I decided to walk around the neighborhood and to our shock and excitement we came across both Nathaniel Hawthorne and Ralph Waldo Emerson's houses! I also learned that Henry David Thoreau lived in Concord too, but we were unable to see his house. Ironically, the Alcott family was very close to these writers, which would make sense because they were neighbors and shared common interests. I wish I could of been a fly on the wall during their discussion times! Can you imagine?

Have a wonderful week!

Love, Lili

The Alcott home is located at 399 Lexington Rd. in historical Concord, Massachusetts.

Bringing Glad Tidings

"Letter Writing is the only device for combining solitude with good company." -Lord Byron

When did everyone stop corresponding through the mail? I never received the memo. I have to be honest and admit that I rely on emailing and texting as much as the other person, but there is something very upsetting and impersonal about our means of communication. A hand written note is much more meaningful to receive than a text message or a phone call. I think the main reason for this is that writing a card requires more energy, thought, and money.

I actually prefer to communicate to friends and family members through cards (when time allows)! One of my favorite things to do on my lunch break is go to local card stores and search for the perfect card for the perfect person. I try to select cards that I know the other person would like, even if I do not like it myself.

So, the next time you want to call or text someone to wish them a happy birthday or thank them for something, think about sending them a handwritten letter instead. I know they will be thrilled to receive something other than bills in the mail ,and the United States Postal Service will appreciate it as well!

Caspari stationary has been around since the dark ages, but they are still tried and true in my book. They have timeless cards that are great for all genders and ages! Caspari stationary can be found at most stationary stores throughout the country.

Love, Lili

Gardening Tools

P.S.

I wanted you guys to see this amazing garden set by Ceilia Birtwell and I forgot to add the image to the blog!

Burying Your Troubles

"You can bury a lot of troubles digging in the dirt"

-author unknown

I believe that gardening is both a therapeutic and mediative occupation. There is something special about planting new flowers and removing weeds from your garden. It actually reminds me off everyday life in that you get rid of bad energy (i.e. people) and your replace it with something exciting and new. Unfortunately, I live in a city and have no where to garden so my alternative is to purchase flowers instead. The best place to buy fresh flowers if you live in a city other than NYC, is to purchase them at Whole Foods. They have such a large assortment of flowers to choose from and they are always freshly cut.

One day, I hope to have a garden and when I do it will be filled with hundreds of hydrangea shrubs. The hydrangea plant is a deciduous shrub, which means they do not bloom in the winter. They typically start blooming from early spring through early fall with colors ranging from white, blue, and pink. Hydrangea's are a fascinating plant because you can actually change the color of the flowers by adding and subtracting aluminum to the soil. To change a plant from blue to pink, you subtract aluminum from the soil and surrounding area. To change a hydrangea from pink to blue entails adding the aluminum to the soil.

I found this really great set of gardening tools by Ceilia Birtwell and you can purchase them by going to the online store, "The Picket Fence" http://www.picketfenceshadyside.com/.

Enjoy the weekend!

Love, Lili

A Relaxing Read

"Let books be your dining table, and you shall be full of delights. Let them be your mattress, And you shall sleep restful nights"- author unknown

Reading a good book before you go to bed is a great way to unwind after a hectic day. I began reading books at a young age because I was not allowed to watch t.v. very often. It was then that I learned that reading a wonderful book could transport me to another place and time. As I have grown older, reading has become a time of relaxation and comfort!

Luckily for me, my mother belongs to a fabulous book club that recommends the best books. Recently, she told me to read the book, "The Elegance of the Hedgehog" . When she first told me the name of the book I was somewhat hesitant to purchase it, but once I did I fell in love with the characters!
"The Elegance of the Hedgehog", is an international best seller by the french novelist and professor of philosophy, Muriel Barbery. The main characters within the book provide a double narrative of a concierge, Ren'ee Michel and a quirky young girl named Paloma Josse who develop a relationship through their common intellectual intrests. I really enjoyed reading this book and I hope you do too!

Love, Lili

Joyful Light

I have always had a love for candles. It might be the soft light and crackling sound from the wick that allures me or the actual aroma but every time I light a candle I am instantly filled with joy. A candle is such a simple way to make your home your own personal sanctuary.

One of my favorite candles is the "Capri Blue" in the scent volcano. It has a subtle floral scent that anyone would enjoy! This candle is hand poured and comes in a variety of sizes and shapes.

I buy these candles at one of my favorite stores "Anthropologie". The prices of these candles range from $28.00 which is the largest jar to $12 for the travel tin. To view this entire collection online please visit their site at www.anthropologie.com

Love, Lili