Newsletter Archive

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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Holly’s “Angel Cheese Crisps!”

November 3, 2025

Impromptu parties?  That is my signature! Pulling a party together at a moment’s notice came from years of experience.  My husband has a reputation for being the “host with the most,” especially with his business clients and colleagues in his industry. When customers were in town, he would often call from his office and ask if he could extend an invitation to his guests to come to our house for a drink before they went out to dinner. It was always good for business, so I learned early on to say, “YES, of course!” With three little ones at home, I did not always have the luxury of going out to buy something pre-made or get ingredients.  I learned a repertoire of quick and easy hors d’oeuvres. Here, I want to share one of my easiest recipes! It requires only two ingredients. I can almost guarantee you’ll have both ingredients,

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Destination Funeral Etiquette: Why Confirming Your Attendance is the Kindest Gesture

October 27, 2025

Attending a funeral that requires travel, a destination funeral, is difficult enough. But for the bereaved family, it’s exponentially more challenging. Not only are they grieving, but they are also simultaneously managing travel logistics, food, and accommodations for dozens of guests who have traveled far to attend. Stuart and I planned to attend a service for a very dear friend in Nantucket. I reached out a week before to his bereaved wife to confirm that we were definitely coming. She later confessed that she had been consumed by worry. Since she had no firm headcount of who would actually attend the service, the capacity limit had become a significant source of stress, because while the church was spacious, the post-service reception at the Nantucket Yacht Club had capacity limits due to a previously planned wedding reception in the ballroom. She said it had been such a challenge to decide whom

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