I love, LOVE, this time of year! Everything about it... The comfort food factor is huge for me. The get-together time with family I treasure... I love that it is cold (well, here in chilly Wisconsin it is)... which means that my garden is fast asleep needs no tending (and really, I am tired of it after months of weeding and grooming). I love to nestle in and start thinking about the holidays. Now, you know me well enough (or sort of) to know that I just am not into high stress holiday drama. I avoid it at all cost. For me that means really good planning and a good dose of winging it... because let's face it, not everything goes as well as the “plan”... I pick out the things about the holidays that I want to focus on and really let the rest of it fall to the wayside! No guilt, no fuss. So I will over the next few weeks share some of those thoughts with you, my dear readers!
Oh, where to start...... I love decorating for the holidays (I know you do too!)... I think it is such a great creative outlet. Maybe these things that I will mention will end up on your fireplace mantels, perhaps on a tabletop... who knows? That’s the serendipity of it all!
Since Thanksgiving is coming up, and we host it at our home every year, I am already thinking... and typically I go outside for inspiration. Branches are a favorite for me. I love that they may still have fruit on them... little wrinkled berries, etc., all so pretty... leaves that are dead and so magnificently twisting and turning... pretty red branches mixed with heavily barked branches... perhaps some evergreeny stuff thrown in. Anything I can find out there, I use! I always look for mossy rocks, flat or round. They are a gorgeous addition to any spot... Think of them as a pedestal or a spot for some candles to rest. I also adore bird nests, and once the leaves have fallen, all the nests show up like shells on a beach! For sure it is one of my favorite weekend outings with our boys... nest hunting! By the way... should you find them, consider keeping a bit of the lovely branch attached... then you'll have a most perfect new accessory without spending a dime!!
Okay, so let's not stop there... pick through your spent garden as well... dried grasses, rose hips... Pods of seeds readying themselves for next year are spectacular to mix in. I grow Baptisia and this is one of the most spectacular pods to use while decorating. Boxwood is one of my all time favorites as well. I have many of them, and I am always trimming bits of them to bring inside... so shiny and brilliant and waxy... very cool indeed.
So, you've got your stash... What now?? I know it all may sound a bit rat's nest like... but really, it's more like painting with nature! For instance, right now on our dining table, I have two of our regal roosters flanking our bronze monkey bowl. In the bowl is a spectacular sweep of grasses and pods and loose branches. All very thrown together feeling, but entirely enchanting. It is perfect for autumn, and I love walking in the door every night and seeing it. Under it I have our goddess table scarf, rich and luscious. I truly live with our things so that I can speak to them... it helps me understand how to use them. (And it's a nice perk of my job!)
I realize there are dozens of things that you will do... I'd love to know!
Layers sort of rule my world. Pretty much anything I do or touch ends up feeling that way. I think it's my way of getting a taste of it all. Take for instance the way I dress... Now to the studio I am pretty much all-out comfort. Not that I want to be any less comfortable when I go out... But I definitely like to step everything up a notch or three. So here are a few things to consider, my fashionista friends!
* Necklaces... A few on top of one another look romantic and very creative... play around until you find the right mix... I will even do three sometimes. One longer, one middle, one short ~ all entwined. Think "Elizabeth," darlings... God save the queen!
* Same deal with rings... If you have a few spectacular ones, do two right next to each other (one on each finger). Entirely cool.
* Mix in a bit of vintage, or something that feels vintagey... Whatever! The purse, the shoes, the scarf... something. It will make your wardrobe feel more interesting as well.
* Messy up your hair a bit... Perfect is sometimes just too perfect... boring actually... and that is just not you!!! A bit of messy can be very sexy. My mom is in her 60's and when her hair is loose and falling apart it looks the best as far as I am concerned. Tight and curly is just not good. So regardless of your age, 20 or 70+, it will soften your look.
* Throw a few things together that you wouldn't ordinarily. I think women tend to get too "matchy." You'll look more confident and pulled together when you put a mix from your closet on... highs and lows. Something shiny, something simple, something funky... find your own comfort level of course... it will be far easier to get dressed and much more fun... and isn't that the point, really? Think about shopping at a range of places so that you don't get stuck. That will give you the ability to mix in something really inexpensive from say Target or Forever 21 that's trendy (you may not like it next year, but so what if you paid $5 bucks for it?!) along with something that you paid more for, but will own forever!
*Drop tiny tealights into your glassware? Try a mix of heights and colors and styles... very elegant to be sure!
* Go to the bookstore and check out sections that you wouldn't ordinarily? It’s entirely worth doing. I could live in a bookstore... I find them so incredibly inspiring.
* Go to the dollar store? I LOVE the dollar store. Oh, the treasures you will find. Mind you... lots of wading through junk. But still tons of good little juicy tidbits to discover. Especially at the holidays!!!
* Surf European websites for inspiration and/or gifts? I love The Conran Shop.
* Use a pretty side chair for more than sitting? I think chairs are the ideal pedestal for a stack of antique books and a few bits of aged silver. Gorgeous in a foyer, near a desk, bar, or hallway.
* Hang two chandeliers next to each other at staggering heights? Perhaps too decadent for you? Or impossibly elegant??
* Load your guest room up with new magazines and other goodies? Stock the medicine cabinet with tiny pampering goodies... Don't forget bottled water and all those perfume samplers that are sitting lazily in your bathroom.
* Take a nice hot cup of mint tea to bed with you? (I like mine with a touch of sugar and cream.) Oooooh, this is really too good. (Especially with a small slice of warm apple pie on the side!)
* Buy brand new fluffy white towels for your bathroom? I have this thing for white towels... and really, the old ones just need to go once they aren’t fluffy! A nice simple luxurious treat.
I have this thing for keeping a well stocked pantry, refrigerator, and freezer. Surely I can place some blame on my mother (happily) and then I'll take the rest of the responsibility. My sister usually gasps when she opens our refrigerator. It's pretty packed, ready to go for most anything. I just like it this way... you never know!!
So on that note... in my freezer (which usually needs defrosting) I keep a stash of appetizers. Sometimes my mom will make them (which BTW... if you have a friend, mom, or sister who loves to cook and does have more time, this is such a great deal! I pay for all ingredients, she never allows me to comp her on her time... thanks, Mom!!). This way I keep a full freezer of goodies for upcoming gatherings... So easy. I just pop them in the oven and... voila!
Now if on the other hand you want to order them online... I would recommend www.appetizerstogo.com. They have a huge delicious selection... and really, this is just too easy!
