Newsletter Archive

Petite Adornments: A Charming Secret to Decorate Your Service Tray!

December 22, 2025

Christmas is almost here! I invite you to look at your silver chest with fresh eyes. Beyond their traditional role, a silver napkin ring (or any kind of decorative napkin ring) can be reimagined as an exquisite “petite adornment” that adds a sense of beauty and whimsy to your serving trays. This is applicable for any occasion you are hosting. By transforming a single napkin ring into a Lilliputian-sized arrangement, you can elevate a simple tray into a darling display in mere seconds! Using a napkin ring as aminiature floral holder is an effortless way to add a “uniquely charming touch” to your presentation. Mummy only used her silver napkin rings for our family or her house guests, but never for a dinner party. She adhered to the old-school rule that using a napkin ring for a dinner guest would indicate that the napkins would be reused! Those words have stayed with

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Hostess Gifts: Unique and Thoughtful!

December 15, 2025

With the holidays approaching, “party time” is in the air!  It is important to show your appreciation to your host or hostess, especially knowing the effort put forth for the party you are attending. Your joyful self, along with complementary verbal sentiments, will be music to the ears of the hostess.  Bringing a hostess gift to the party is a lovely idea too, but I want to share two other gestures you can give your hostess… prior to the party. Food: A very dear friend recently responded to my invitation for a celebratory cocktail party at Fox Hall and remarked how thrilled she and her husband were to accept, and complimented me on how pretty the invitation was (always appreciated by the host).  And then, she extended an exceptionally gracious offer, one I had never heard of before. It inspired me to share it with you, too! She knows that

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Decorating for Christmas with Treasured Vignettes: The Magic of Miniature

December 8, 2025

The holidays are here! Norman Vincent Peale said it best: “Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.” A simple lesson I learned firsthand from Mummy: the true enchantment of the season often comes in smaller, quieter packages. Have you considered creating “petite vignettes,” discerningly placed around your house? A few serene, almost “little secret festive displays” are a tender tribute to the magic of the season and can conjure the sweetest memories of Christmases past. I treasure pieces that tell a story. Here are a few Lilliputian displays that make their appearance every year since…well, as long as I can remember!   With the oversized, commercial Christmas decoration bombardment these days, the true meaning of Christmas is often neglected or masked. Enchantment and charm can come in small packages; a few well-placed petite decorations will serve to tenderly delight your family

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Mummy’s Secret Christmas Caviar Ball!

December 1, 2025

Do you agree that inherited family recipes are “as good as gold?” Not just because they’re tried and true, but because they immediately bring back happy memories! Our ultimate Christmas Eve tradition at Fox Hall is Mummy’s Caviar Ball, served every year during cocktail hour and also, at my holiday parties. It’s the easiest, most elegant holiday appetizer you can make! This recipe eliminates the ordeal of traditional caviar service (no need for all those little servings of minced egg and onions!). Here is the secret, simple recipe. The Secret: Mummy’s 5-Ingredient Caviar Ball This is the cherished recipe I use.  Ingredients: 8 oz. Philadelphia Cream Cheese 2 shakes of Worcestershire Sauce 1–2 Scallions, finely chopped (include the white bulb) ½  tsp. Cream or Milk 2 oz. Jar of Caviar (or more if you have it!) NOTE: Do not use low-fat cream cheese—the flavor and texture depend on “original standard

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Easy Appetizer: Simple Pinwheel Proscuitto Roll-Ups

November 24, 2025

Want an easy “make-ahead hors d’oeuvre?” I have been making these for years and keep a roll or two frozen so if I host an impromptu guest or have a party, I can take them out, slightly thaw, slice and bake…Everyone loves them! I slice them rather thinly, so I can make even more from each roll. It’s best to watch them closely as they bake because they can burn easily.  I hope you enjoy my tried and true recipe! Simple Pinwheel Prosciutto Roll-Ups  You Will Need: Puff Pastry Sheets Honey Mustard Prosciutto Parmesan Cheese To-Do: Unroll the puff pastry sheets and thaw for about 5-10 minutes. Pre-heat the oven to 425 degrees. Spread the mustard on the pastry sheet (2 tablespoons), followed by sprinkling a handful of parmesan cheese. Next spread the prosciutto (about 3-4 slices). Roll the sheet from one end to the other, using the longest side as

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Must You Sing for Your Supper? Oh, Yes, Indeed!

November 17, 2025

We have all heard that phrase, and when you are a dinner guest, it rings absolutely true! With Thanksgiving upon us, here are a few considerations for a “proper dinner guest.” As a guest, you are being treated to dinner. Your host is going out of their way to lavish you with their gracious hospitality, delicious food, and perfectly paired drinks.  So, you have the delightful obligation to enhance the evening by offering charming conversation and joviality. Your engaging presence is a key component of the host’s successful party. The savvy and proper guest knows to acknowledge their effort with genuine gratitude and charm… especially if they want to be invited back! Nothing is worse than a guest who “expects” to be entertained or is a bore. So be the sparkle and add your charm to the event.  The Protocol for a Proper Dinner Guest Promptly Acknowledge the Invitation: Remember

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