14 Steps for Hosting a Sizzling Valentine Party
The heat is on! Having been selected one of ” The Salonniere 100: The Nation’s 100 Best Party Hosts in the Country” (oh, my…) I’m often asked to describe my… Read More
Seasonal
Toasting the New Year
From Newport with warm wishes… Here’s to the joy of family, the happiness of friends and days filled with laughter in 2016!
Christmas Cookies and Tea
 Tea is one ritual that I try to include in each day. Just the gesture of taking a break, catching your breath and enjoying an occasion that is steeped in… Read More
New York for the Holidays: Favorite City Views
New York for the holidays–there’s no place quite like it. Treat yourself to sights that will linger as memories for many years. The colorfully-bedecked tree at Rockefeller Center, framed by… Read More
New York for the Holidays: Windows and Wonders
“It’s the most beautiful time of the year.” …and no city in the world sports a Christmas spirit and aesthetic like New York. It is positively magical! Spending time (even… Read More
O Christmas Tree: Dressed for the Occasion
One of our favorite traditions at Christmas, and I’m betting yours too, is picking out our Christmas tree. Heading “up island” on the Friday after Thanksgiving to one of the… Read More
All Wrapped Up for the Holidays
A favorite “Pardee Party Design,” dressed up for the holidays (you may remember the Easter version in lavender and white stripes). That’s one thing I love about this design —… Read More
Gingerbread Mansions of Newport
It’s the first day of the festive month of December. What better way to celebrate than admiring the just unveiled selection of gingerbread houses at The Breakers. But not just… Read More
Giving Thanks at Thanksgiving: the ABC’s of Life
At this time of the year when giving thanks is so on our minds, I wanted to take this opportunity to offer some additional “words to live by” that I’ve treasured… Read More
Thanksgiving Inspiration: 10 creative ideas for the table and beyond
There’s something special about the no-longer-quite-so-small world of blogging. It is – for the most part – a tightly knit community of creative individuals who often gather together and share ideas not… Read More