Newsletter Archive

Have you ever attended a lively party filled with laughter and happiness, and then a guest accidentally spills a glass of red wine, and the party comes to an abrupt halt due to an outwardly distraught hostess? At this point, guests just want to skedaddle… the party is over! Red wine eventually finds itself somewhere other than in the wine glass… either on the carpet, the tablecloth, or some piece of upholstery. A guest will naturally be mortified to have spilled wine. Nothing ruins a party faster than a hostess who is uptight and stressed about an accident happening at her party. So, prepare in advance for mishaps. I permanently keep a bottle of seltzer water, a towel, and an everyday white napkin ready to use if need be. Stay calm, and carry on by keeping the panic off your face. Smile and pour some seltzer water over the stain,

Sunglasses add a charming sense of glamour, while also protecting one’s eyes from the sun.  I have noticed the time-honored tradition of removing sunglasses whilst being introduced to someone is often neglected!  Whether indoors or outdoors, it is thoughtful to remove your sunglasses when being introduced to or greeting someone. Removing your sunglasses while greeting someone is a simple sign of respect for another person. Having eye contact is a courtesy and a form of communication when meeting or greeting people; they read not only your eyes but also your facial expressions. While attending a luncheon fundraiser, I was seated next to a lovely and accomplished lady I had never met before. I felt privileged to be introduced to her.  She had tinted silver, mirrored-like sunglasses on the entire time.  I must admit, I may not ever recognize her again because I never saw her face.  Besides that, it was

Today is our daughter Caroline’s birthday! I remember on her third birthday, she wanted an “Angelina Ballerina” party… how adorable it was to see a sea of pink tights and tutus twirling about as her friends entered the pink-themed dining room.  Part of the delight was setting the table with Caroline beforehand.  We collected pink adornments from around the house to create a magical birthday luncheon for a dozen darling “little ladies” to pirouette and celebrate. Setting a “unique and memorable” table to reflect a celebratory moment is something I cherish doing.  I learned by osmosis from my mother, and she from her mother, and on down the line.  So, when my long-time Connecticut friends, Nancy Zwiener, and Penny Marziali, in Port Royal, Naples, invited me to participate in a “Naples Tables” event at the Ritz Hotel, hosted by a noteworthy charity, The League Club in Naples, it did not

Julia Child famously said, “With enough butter, anything is good!” and I concur!  In a dash? I usually am!  I enjoy cooking for my dinner parties, which is my way of showing love.  But, when my travel and time does not allow me to, and a caterer is a must, I still try to make the dessert and one more little detail that graces the table.  Can you guess what it is? A butter mold! I use a butter mold so that each person’s individual butter plate has a uniquely shaped piece of butter on it.  This is so easy to do and can be done in advance and frozen until your party… one and done! Butter molds have been used since the 18th century and were made of wood and used by dairy farmers.  Their stamped designs indicated their farms and added visual appeal. And today, there are fanciful

Have you ever been in a quandary about what color to paint the walls for a room in your house? Are you curious about how and where to start the color search? If you do not have a designer to do the job for you, then may I suggest a secret that notable art museums and galleries use brilliantly?  They carefully select a color that is represented in one or more pieces of art in a particular salon/room and paint the walls using that hint of color found within the artwork.  The artwork is subtly enhanced by the chosen “wall backdrop” color, creating a symphony of pleasing visual aesthetics. Tour notable art museums. Discover how the color on the walls complements the art in the room. What a delightful experience it is to take my grandchildren into a museum and have them observe the wall color and then ask them

Have you ever heard the old-school term “bread and butter” note and wondered what it is? It is an old-school term for a thank-you note, which is dutifully sent to thank a host/hostess for their hospitality! The gracious gesture of sending a “bread and butter” thank-you note is an appreciated gift to your host.  It expresses, in writing, how much you appreciate someone’s hospitality. Speaking of thank-you notes, a handwritten note is more important than ever these days, especially with the present-day trend to send off a quick thank-you via email.  A handwritten acknowledgment for someone’s hospitality, gift, or act of kindness is the pinnacle of graciousness, a quiet beacon of polish, and a proper nod to good manners. Interestingly enough, in my lifetime, I have noticed that the people who take the time to write a note tend to be some of the most remarkable, busiest people I have