Foraging for and cutting your own Christmas tree is a fun, rewarding experience for the whole family. If you have little ones, this can quickly become a new tradition. We have a few tips and tricks for finding the perfect tree this year. Before you go Boots: Dress warm and watch your feet. Once you hit the outdoors, whether it’s the woods or a Christmas … Continue reading Tips for finding and cutting the perfect Christmas Tree
A basket, a bottle of rosé and a bit of imagination create the perfect gift for mom. Warm weather has arrived and rosé is in the air. It wouldn’t be spring without the pretty pink libation and Mother’s Day is the perfect time to celebrate with a basketful of hand chosen gifts for mom. Our choice this year is wine themed (are you even a little surprised?) … Continue reading Vineyard Inspired Treasures for Mother’s Day
A 13 month journey in wedding planning. Not long ago, I was honored to have someone who is very dear to my heart, ask me to assist in planning her wedding. She doesn’t live close by so we are planning via text, chats, emails, telephone and trading images over Pinterest. The wedding is set for spring of 2018 so in theory, there is plenty of time to … Continue reading The Bride to Be
A Cold January Evening / Paul Rest When I was growing up, the New Year began with a culinary change. Sadly the remaining Christmas tins were slowly being depleted of their delicious, sugary contents. Outdoors, the weather was often below zero with overcast slate gray skies and the streets a mess with slushy snow, now sprinkled with a coating of coal dust. When the Christmas tree came … Continue reading After The New Year – Sharing from the year before by Paul Rest
Christmas officially began right before or after Thanksgiving. I can’t remember exactly when it began. The “it” being my mother’s cookie making marathon which when it started, went right up to a few days before we celebrated Christmas. It started when she would bring all the cookie tins down from the top shelf in the pantry. These would be washed and dried and then stacked … Continue reading Christmas at Home: My Adventures in Cookie Land by Paul Rest
As 2016 winds down to a close and 2017 nudges its way into the room, it causes many of us to reflect on the past year. We jot down our resolutions and loudly declare we are going to make changes for the better as January inches closer. Each new year brings its own blessings. Like many parents, my sweet three as I call them, Chad 20, Josie 16 … Continue reading A Note of Thanks for the coming New Year
Episcopal Center for Children, a Treatment and Special Education Center in DC, Offers Advice The holidays can be fun, but they can add stress to the lives of children with special needs. The Episcopal Center for Children (ECC), a nonprofit organization serving children with special needs ages 5-14 in the greater Washington, DC area, offers the following tips to help. “Children with special needs enjoy the … Continue reading Enjoying the holidays: 9 tips for families of children with special needs
About 14 years ago I met Larry. It’d be unremarkable except Larry is now My Fine Husband. At the time I met him, I knew very little about beer. What makes the story is that we met at a brew masters dinner, where Larry co-hosted with his colleague, Chris, an assistant kitchen manager at the brewpub where they both worked. Larry was the professional … Continue reading Every Day is a Beer Dinner Day by Ginger Johnson
After a frenzied shopping weekend featuring tons of doorbusters and a few brawls, it’s easy to feel a little disenfranchised with the holidays. This season is supposed to be about giving, and yet slogans like “Thanks-getting” and advertisements featuring starry-eyed kids with endless gifts under the tree convey an entirely separate sentiment. To get back to the true spirit of the season, today’s #GivingTuesday reminds consumers to look … Continue reading 7 ways to participate in Giving Tuesday by Andrea Woroch
