small bites

Now that the Holiday Season is here lets talk bite size.  Soon our schedules are going to explode with parties and gatherings and some of us might be brave enough to host a party of our own.  Consider what you offer to bite and what you choose to nibble on.  Size is important when preparing hors d' oeuvres remember it means appetizer.   I have to say that the portion should be one or two bites.  Because we all know that hanging phyllo from our chin is not a fashion statement.  Crunchy should go in one bite. Keep the two biter soft.  Bread, cream topping, compact design.  One more thing to keep in mind for the comfort of your guests... shrimp tails.  If you have to offer shrimp present it in such a way that there is no wrestling involved.  Same goes for any other delicacy you might be planning to offer this Holiday Season.  Enjoy!

When bling is a good thing.

There is a time when you can toss all rules and decorating regulations...if you follow any... and enjoy the extravagant art of more is more is more and I like it!  It is the Holidays!  Indulge in the things you like and make you happy.  Decorate to your heart's desire.  Make bling your must have accessory.  Take it with you, share it with friends, allow it to invade your house, bling is a good thing.  It reflects light so rooms look like they are smiling.  It makes you look happier especially if you smile.  It has the ability to create an instant party mood.  When mixed with candle light bling dances the night away.  Go ahead shop some bling (in good taste of course) and smile all the way home!

After every great meal and dinner party comes... the big pile of dishes... it is the monster in the kitchen waiting for everyone to go home... the last part of the day, enough to say never again!  But lets face it dinner parties are fun!  Family gatherings are important, when family is in short supply friends become family. These moments are what makes the casa a home.  This year try to make the monster in the kitchen your friend.  Take a look at the pile of dishes and say... thank you!  Thank you for the opportunity to have a wonderful time, for friends and family that care and for the time to be together.

Turkey, nothing to do with the home.

Why eat turkey for thanksgiving?  Many of my friends are against the traditional Thanksgiving celebration.  Because once again history is full of messy ugly details that go ignored.  Personally, I think it is a good thing to have a day of thanksgiving.  Tradition is not always based on historic facts.  But why the turkey?  It is so ugly!  So tasteless! So low in the reasoning scale.  Poor turkey did not choose to become a symbol for this holiday.

A few years ago in an effort to feed my family free range all natural happy turkey I called a local turkey farmer and reserved a fresh bird.  The day came to pick up the turkey so we drove down a very picturesque New England country road to the turkey farm.  It was seriously the best turkey I ever had.  However, I will never forget the big farm house and the pile of beer cans in front.  The Chinese lady that barely spoke any English and the two very strong men that took care of the turkey.  Don't worry I was assured, -the turkey did not feel a thing.  I couldn't tell who was more intoxicated the turkey or the man "taking care" of the turkey.  That year I learned that perhaps I should have remained a vegetarian, that turkeys are really ugly and that there is absolutely nothing wrong with buying  a frozen turkey.  

orange

I love the color orange.  This comes as a surprise to me because I have never bought or owned anything orange.  Here is the power of orange:  it has the ability to promote creativity and open your appetite.  It is considered to promote a general sense of wellness. The color orange is  the second Chakra, the center of the abdomen it relates to food, sex, children and the willingness to feel emotions. Orange promotes balance. This might be why pumpkins have the power to make almost anyone smile or at least feel warm and cozy inside.  And of course is also the color of fire, oranges, pumpkins, sunsets, athletic teams....
The name comes form the Spanish naranja which is of course orange.
Consider orange to be the next neutral.  It can seriously go with endless color combinations as long as you are mindful of balance, shade and value.

the table

The best part about the Holidays is entertaining friends and family.   There are plenty of articles on how to set a proper table so I will not go that route.  I will however remind you that a well dressed table can be a point of interest and conversation starter.  Think about the mood you want to create.  Find pieces that support the scene.  I found these spoons at a local antique store and brought them home.  Not sure I will use them to serve my salad but they are interesting to look at.

box

A box is a box is box not.  I love volume, spaces, the complexities of transition between inside and outside, walls, planes.  I was walking through the Asian Art Gallery at the Museum of Art in Boston admiring the beautiful sculptures and day dreaming about my fantasy job... I might confess one of these days...and there at the end of a row of sculptures, reliefs and artifacts, was this incredibly amazing box.  Perfect volume, beautiful proportion, amazing detail. The front wall had a small opening allowing the viewer to take a peek at the three reliefs on the far wall of the space.  I wanted to crawl inside!  Not every box is a box!  The picture above was taken standing 12" from the opening.  Isn't it amazing how it just frames the figures perfectly? It also flattens the volume inside and pushes it towards the viewer!   I could have stood there forever! -Or until one of those very serious guards told me to walk along. - This is exactly how spaces should transition.  The perfect box!

Melbourne, Florida.

We have a few gems here in our little town of Melbourne Florida.  I know, I know it is a big city but just saying.  Decoratifs is a super cute little store with more paper goods than you can imagine.  No I'm not talking about party plates and napkins.... She has those too.  This place has everything you need to have a swanky lunch or perfectly civilized dinner party.  Beautiful cards and invitations. Yes, the kind you mail.  Imagine that.  Charlotte is the extremely talented owner and she can make anything your soiree requires.  If you are near Melbourne Fl. take the time to stop by.  Tell her I sent you!  She makes by business cards.  Yes, hand made business cards... I know, I know...