Newsletter Archive

Have you noticed how over-the-top Christmas decorations have become throughout the recent years? In contrast, I remember what Mummy shared with me “good things come in small packages,” along with, “it’s the little details which delight the heart.” Diminutive decorations in your home can be absolutely charming to discover and behold! Petite vignettes, especially the ones with a significant meaning for the owner of the house, are also sweet. Ultimately, treasures with sentimental value are the best decoration. For example, in our living room at Fox Hall, there is a miniature circle of German wooden hand-carved angels that are worn and well loved. They are gathered around a little tree. My parents purchased these when we lived in Germany eons ago and allowed me to play with them.  Yes, some broke through the years, but those remaining have survived, acquired “love marks,” and are cherished. Their worn patina is authentic and enchanting, and continue

Yes indeed, accidents happen in preparation for or during any party! For example, my favorite Brunschwig & Fils linen damask for our antique chair in the front hall at Fox Hall was recently covered in spilt wax! On top of that, the fabric has been discontinued. So, now what? Mummy always said nothing ruins a party faster than a hostess who becomes uptight and stressed over an accident. Mentally prepare in advance for mishaps to occur and then stay calm and carry on. This takes practice, along with a bottle of seltzer water close at hand! The entertaining mishap stories I could share with you through the years could be yet another book! From the water pipe breaking over the Butler’s pantry causing the ceiling to fall through two days before Lady Carnarvon arrived for lunch, to a full glass of port wine spilling across the dining room tablecloth onto a guest,

Over the years of entertaining at Fox Hall, I have discovered that napkin rings can easily be repurposed as a decorative feature to adorn an hors d’oeuvres platter by simply placing greens or flowers within the ring! Napkin rings were created in France in the 19th century, before spreading to other western countries, to hold linen napkins for a household. With a ring, napkins were identified for individual family members or houseguests and could be used more than once between washing. More decorative napkin rings made of porcelain, wood, and other materials became popular in America, especially in the 20th century, and is a tradition that continues today. Mummy only used silver napkin rings for family or houseguests… although 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 napkin would be reused! I guess those words have stayed

“Party time is ‘pretty’ time!” -Holly Holden With so many allergies prevalent these days, I believe it is thoughtful and prudent to repurpose place cards in a place card holder to indicate what is being served. Cards and their holders are normally used to indicate where a guest is to be seated at dinner. I also use them to describe what is being served on a cocktail or a buffet table. By naming what an item is on a place card positioned next to a respective platter, tray or chafing dish, it becomes an easy visual for your guests to see what something is! I do not write the list of ingredients, but simply label it as a “lobster dip” or “curry ball with pecans.” For other items on the table such as a smoked salmon, Smithfield Ham, or chilled shrimp, I think they are rather self-explanatory, so I do

“Party time is ‘pretty’ time!” -Holly Holden With the upcoming holidays ahead, I have been asked to share a few more of my pretty party secrets! Having a platter filled with glasses of champagne to serve your guests as they enter the house sets the scene for any party. It also alleviates the line at the bar, for those that wish to drink something other than champagne. Consider repurposing a surface near the front door to have an additional platter of glasses pre-poured with wine. I open up a demilune (half-moon) table, which is normally against a wall under a window, to its fully open position for a larger surface in the front hall at Fox Hall. Sign up for Mummy’s Monday Manners to receive new sparkling tips about etiquette and classic design every week, along with a free download of Holly’s Elegant Entertaining e-book. Name * First Name Last Name

“Party time is ‘pretty’ time!” -Holly Holden Mummy set an example for me by always decorating her party hors d’oeuvres platters with something pretty, unique and original. Instead of just a few flowers or greens to garnish her serving platters, she encouraged me to use something out of the ordinary. Whatever decoration that I decide to use, I keep in mind that it must not only complement the culinary creation being served, but also the decorative colors or aspects of the room where it is presented, the theme of the party… and that it should pay homage to the guest of honour! On my travels, I make it a point to collect an array of precious little decorative items that I can easily place on a platter. For example, I use my Herend mouse from Scully and Scully in NYC to sit in the middle of a cheese platter… his own little fromage