LI Pulse February issue: Get Organized and Meet a Design Multi-Tasker

Over the years I've learned that when writing about the home, it is not always about making things look pretty (although that certainly is the fun part!). There is so much more needed in order to truly make a house your home. Proper maintenance, cleaning and organizing (and a lot of love!) are all part of the deal. 

That being said, I'm happy to share with you today, my latest feature in the February issue of  LI Pulse (on newstands now!)...all about winter organizing. Perfect timing in my opinion, as it is usually right about now that all of that extra winter gear and maybe even a few holiday stragglers, really seem to be a thorn in my side. 

Thanks to some tricks and product ideas from The Container Store and interior designer Marc Thee of Marc-Michaels Interior Design, I learned a few new ways to keep everything in its place this winter. I hope some of these tips help you too! 

Also for the February issue, I had the pleasure of interviewing Long Island-based interior designer Gail Gottlieb for this month's Inside Design Q & A. Gottlieb and I had a wonderful conversation and I gleaned many smart tips from this multi-tasking designer including the best way make an impact with window coverings--a must have for finishing off any room. 

Thanks for stopping by and happy weekend!

January Craft Supply Haul

Now that my son is starting to color and craft with me (as much as a 15-month old can!), I set out over the weekend to load up on some supplies for us. Now, back when I was a magazine editor, I lived in the craft stores, I was always shopping for supplies! Now that I'm writing much more than crafting and I have my little one to figure into the family budget, I've had to curb my supply shopping---a lot. So this haul was a real treat for me. Here's a peak at what I found. Everything was purchased at Michael's and A.C. Moore.

When I was at Parents, it was all about crafting and decorating without utilizing licensed characters (for more reasons than I can list here!).  Well now that I'm a mom and I see that huge smile on my son's face as soon as he spots Mickey, Goofy, Elmo or Big Bird, you better believe I'm hunting down craft supplies starring his favorite friends. Don't get me wrong, I love the basics too and firmly believe in using the imagination to be creative, but if his pals help spark his creativity so be it!

We scooped up these adorable cutouts of the gang from Sesame Street (similar here). The plan is to simply glue some of them onto the primary colored pre-cut circles I found and then craft them into a garland to hang in his room. Simple and basic for us, he'll hold his characters while I glue and assemble the rest :) 

I thought the fun splatter paint, star and alphabet patterned papers could be worked into countless other projects with the paper circles too. That's all part of the fun, you never know where your crafting will take you. 

Mickey is such a staple in our house...I love these giant stickers and that adorable paper. Awhile back I had purchased some plain Kraft bins and I think decorating them with his pals will be so fun. The paper is just good to have...I might just work it into some Valentine's Day projects...speaking of...

I've already loaded up on red and white heart-shaped doilies so I really was just on the lookout for finishing touches. I love the rubber stamps, which were only $1 each at Michael's and I adore rub-ons...they're just instant gratification. Looks like I'm into red and natural with touches of black and white this year...funny how once you look back at your purchases you can spot a theme. Those stamp embellishments will be perfect finishing touch to use with those mini notecards I found.

Finally...some random goodies for me. I miss crafting, I really do but I don't have the spare time to commit to big projects any longer. My plan is to craft a few fun tags using this collection of supplies. I love the black and natural polka dot reversible paper and the tiny letter stamps are just great. I'm also anxious to finally try out the Washi tape I purchased...one is a gold metallic and the other is black with writing on it, both really pretty. Plus, Glue Dots are just my absolute favorite supply (especially the removable ones) so I had to pick up another pack...no one should be without Glue Dots...ever. I use them to craft with, to hang decorations, they're just great.

I hope you've enjoyed my little haul...stay tuned as we craft, I'll be sharing our projects here. 

Happy crafting to you!

Corian and Zodiaq Unveil New Colors for 2013

Ah, the kitchen. The "workhorse" of the house, right? It certainly is in my home. Its where we gather every night, break bread with friends and family, cook, bake, laugh and play. Its also the room I'd like to remodel the most (with our sad bathroom being a close second!). 

That being said, I often spend some downtime (when I have it) pouring over kitchen ideas for that maybe-one-day digital file I have collected. Countertops are a huge thing for me, I've realized how important they are to really finish off the look of a kitchen. Tired of my blue, I'm loving the new color selections from DuPont Corian and Zodiaq. They are all so soothing and modern. 

According the company's press release, there are three main color trends the company based their selections from: Raw, Interference and Solidify, which all point to the uncertainty and desire for a little bit of luxe in our lives that we are feeling collectively these days. Whatever the reasons, I'm all for this new collection.  All are gorgeous and drool-worthy in their own right. Don't believe me...take a peak here:

I told you! So pretty. How about you, what sort of look do you prefer in your kitchen? 

Stacy Garcia's Chevron Pattern for Lamps Plus

It's been a long week around here so I thought I'd leave you all with a little dose of happy :)

When I opened up designer Stacy Garcia's January e-newsletter today, I instantly perked up when I saw these...

Her new chevron print for Lamps Plus is fun, cheery and happy! Love, love, love this print! And I really enjoy her company monthly newsletter featuring her recent blog posts. Its always full of loads of inspiration! Be sure to check it all out here.

Enjoy and happy Weekend!

Winter Treat: White Chocolate, Dried Cranberry & Pistachio Bark

The holidays may be over but the season still calls for some winter delights. I made this recipe for New Year's and just loved it. The salty and sweet mixture is a perfect way to curb those cravings and once piece will usually do it! Enjoy...

White Chocolate, Dried Cranberry & Pistachio Bark

I used a variation of this Martha Stewart recipe (I didn't use coconut). 

1lb of white chocolate

1/4 cup dried cranberries

1/4 cup shelled pistachios

1. Melt the chocolate using a double boiler , the old fashioned method or the microwave.

2. Once the chocolate is smooth and shiny, let it cool for a minute or two and then mix in the dried cranberries and pistachios. 

3. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spread your mixture on top, making it as thin or as thick as you like.

4. Refrigerate for about an hour and then break into smaller pieces.

5. Definitely store this in an airtight container to make sure it stays fresh.

Family-Friendly Decorating: Lessons from Bunny Williams

Browsing over at Veranda today, I stopped to read the slideshow featuring the Bunny Williams-decorated family home from the Jan/Feb 2013 issue. When I saw this opening photo below, I scoffed thinking...family home? Really? Because my home does not look like that! 

But then I read on and I loved the smart tips the design legend had to offer. In my opinion they are these are three crucial items to think about for family-friendly decorating.

1. Baskets.

  “Children can spread things out in a room really fast, so it’s great to have a pretty basket in the room that you can quickly grab and scoop all the toys and things into."

Boy am I living through this right now. My 14 month old is running all over the place carrying toys with him and then dropping them everywhere. I adore her focus on utilizing baskets to corral all their "stuff." Its not a new idea (I must have written about the benefits of baskets and bins a million times myself)  but one that truly does make a difference in the home. With baskets he can just grab and go and then later, I can just toss the toys IN and go. I adore these and these. 

2. Space.

The caption for this photo discussed how the family's large entryway doubles as a play area for the children. I love this idea.

As Bunny explained on this slide, space is so important for children. The floor is where babies practice tummy time, learn to turn over, crawl and walk and where toddlers and kids run around, play with their toys and so on. 

Space is a hot commodity so if you have children or are thinking about having them soon, my best advice is to evaluate your rooms and get rid of excess furniture and accessories that may be taking up floor space. You'll be glad you did!

3. Throws and blankets.

In my opinion, you can never have too many! And as Bunny says in the article, a throw "keeps things from looking too matchy, and a throw can also save upholstery." She is right on the money. My sofa would have looked ten times worse had I not had plenty of throws, to shield it from the spit up, drool and other messes babies and tots are known for.

I also agree with her thoughts on using throws on the floor for small kids while they play. It's a must for hardwood floors, but also important even if you have a rug because it gives little ones as much cushion as possible making floor time play all the more fun. 

Thanks for stopping by today...let's continue the conversation...leave a comment below! Have a great weekend!

Tea Time

I am a big coffee drinker but even I know the many benefits of tea is probably better for me. That's why I try to drink tea as often as possible. A friend of mine had turned me onto loose tea years ago but I always found it too tedious. I decided to give it another try and I'm very glad I did. I'm even contemplating throwing a little "tea tasting" party inspired by this Etsy posting.

Early last month I popped into the Clipper Ship Tea Company, a charming tea shop in Northport Village, and was instantly smitten. The walls of shiny metal canisters filled with loose teas of all varieties is just so inviting. Since it was the first weekend of December, there were quite a few wintry/holiday blends to sample. Gingerbread Roobios stole my heart. It was a little spicy, crisp and caffeine free - perfect for ending a busy day. I scooped up a small pouch ($5 for ten cups worth) and a simple tea ball to get started. 

That night my husband sat at the table with me as I began the "ritual" as a I now call it and I just loved it. I smile instantly as I open up the pouch and smell all of the deliciousness waiting to be brewed.

I carefully measure a teaspoon worth of the tea and patiently wait for the water to boil. Each step helps me to forget the day's worries and focus on this very moment - something I desperately need to do more often.

I even patiently wait for the tea to brew for about 8 minutes or so, just to make sure I am getting the best taste possible. I thoroughly enjoy my little cups of tea...I don't have it every night, but when I do I find I sleep a little better, which is worth the price of admission to this busy mom.

How about you? Are you a tea drinker? Do you indulge in loose teas? Let me know, I'm ready to stock up on a new flavor and will be visitin the shop soon....any suggestions?