Holiday Classics

One of my favorite aspects of the holiday season is the decorating. Decorating for the holidays can be so fun and easy; I often find that the small things can make a big impact. My go-to's include fresh garland and paper whites, perhaps a nod to my Mother's own holiday favorites. My all-time favorite holiday dining room is the above, designed by Mary McDonald and equipped with gorgeous garland and potted paperwhites amidst a traditional design scheme. Coincidentally, it looks like a carbon copy of the dining room in my childhood home - right down to the layout, moldings, chandelier and antique buffet. Paperwhites not only make a beautiful (and fragrant) centerpiece, but a lovely holiday gift. They are typically grown from bulbs in a bed of soil or rocks and are fun to nurture and watch grow. Visit here to buy your own!

Side Note: As soon as I finished this post, I was greeted by a package from my Mother. Inside: a Ziploc bag full of dirt, two clay pots and amaryllis bulbs for holiday planting. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree...

The Power of Penmanship

Hand written notes and letters are some of my most prized possessions. There is something about a cherished friend, family member or lover taking the time to put a pen to paper to convey their thoughts to you - it is so wonderfully romantic, respectful and tender. Over the years, I've collected all of the heartfelt letters I've received and will often re-read and reflect on them. They remind me of certain events in life, whether sad times, moments of accomplishment, or simply someone reminding you why you're special to them. The collection is kept in an old wooden box of my Mother's that once housed sea shells from her honeymoon in Greece, and a letter from my Grandfather congratulating her on her engagement to my Father. Every Christmas, my parents would gift my sister and I with a new box of personalized stationery. We usually groaned because we knew it was only a nudge to get started on our post-Christmas thank you notes. In retrospect, it was one of the best lessons my parents have instilled in us. Now, I truly believe stationary is one of the best investments one can make.

I think we can all take more time in life to write to those we care about. When was the last time you did?

Carrots, Cottontails & Creativity....

Out this month is a book by American landscape designer Marta McDowell, who lends a snapshot into Beatrix Potter's inspiration for her imaginative children's books. An interview with the New York Times reveals that McDowell's trip to Hill Top Farm (Beatrix Potter's home in England) was a moment of a creative awakening for the book, as she meandered through an overgrown yet fragrant sea of summer roses, sunshine and gooseberries. You can buy Beatrix Potter's Gardening Life: The Plants and Places That Inspired the Classic Children's Tales here. How lovely! Explore Beatrix Potter's 17th-century Hill Top Farm, here.

WSJ House of the Day

It takes a lot for me to get excited about a house, and when I do, there is no turning back. Part of my morning routine includes scouring the WSJ House of the Day section and I was pleasantly pleased to see the Ocean State get some love. The home above, is currently on the market in the lovely town of Little Compton, Rhode Island. I've spent a great deal of time in this particular neighborhood, having grown up just a town over. The ease, stillness and beauty of the area is inexplicable to articulate, it's simply a very special part of our country. The home would make a wonderful summer home, I hope someone scoops her up soon!

Mott & Chace of Sotheby's International Realty has the listing.