My 15 year old self would have been stunned to know she would one day have her own bespoke stationery set for sale. And, her mind really would have been blown to learn that it wasn’t your run-of-the-mill set with a plastic cover, but luxe, letterpress, edge painted notecards with coordinating envelopes that were based on photographs of her tulips. Whaaaat?!

Thanks to a shared love of pink and beautiful paper, I connected with Shari Lebowitz, owner of Bespoke Designs. Together, we have created a stunning set of 10 notecards representing 5 different types of tulips. The letterpress tulips are exquisite and are printed in my signature pink. The heavy card stock has its edges painted green, as a nod to the leaves and stems. And, be careful how you open them because the liner is not to be missed! As a final flourish, the set is tied with the prettiest tulip ribbon and coordinating tag. It’s as bespoke as bespoke can get!

Why Handwritten notes matter

My love of writing began at a young age. I still have the precious little thank you notes I wrote my grandmothers and the sweet letters they wrote back to me. I have found postcards I wrote from camp and letters from friends in high school, filled with loopy teenage handwriting and emojis before there were emojis!

I have boxes and boxes filled with notes from friends and family, spanning decades. The stories of my life.

That’s why I believe that a handwritten note is so special. Someone will likely save it. They may put it on their bulletin board or on their desk or use it as a bookmark. But, when you put a heartfelt sentiment – no matter how brief – onto a beautiful notecard, you have created an instant heirloom. A piece of history, marking a moment (and feelings) in time.

I would be honored if my notecards became a souvenir of someone’s life. A cherished memory they want to save, to admire and remind them that someone thought of them.

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As you all know….I always have pretty PINK tulips. Most of the time, they are a light pink, but I thought it would be fun one year to change it up. To hot pink. Well….you know what they say about the best laid plans (and plantings). We planted what I thought was “Burgundy Lace” and expected hot pink, fringed tulips. These were close…but they were a shocking-lipstick-red instead.

So…..here they are! Hot red mamas! Frilly and bold.

So….even though I wasn’t RED-y for them, I just rolled with it and learned that sometimes, it’s just “Come What May”!

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There are so many reasons to celebrate this month, but in my humble opinion, the most delightful is Valentine’s Day! Flowers, chocolates, ribbons, candy, love notes, sweet sentiments, love potions and lots and lots of pink! More is more for sure!

My friend, Shari, of Bespoke Designs and I have been working on something special for Spring. I’ll give you some hints. Tulips & paper. More to come on that.

We also both adore parties and beautiful tables, so we thought it would be fun to play Cupid and set up a swoon-worthy table at my house and craft a special love potion of our own, called Cupid’s Arrow! Recipe below.

Shari’s Westport, CT shop has the most gorgeous china, linens, champagne coupes, candles, flatware, vases and barware. Literally…everything you need to entertain in elegant style. Maybe you want to set a table for your galentines or maybe it’s a romantic dinner for two! Either way, you’ll fall in love with everything Shari carries at Bespoke Designs! Je t’adore it all!

Cheers to love!

Photos: Abby Cole Photography

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Let’s kick start 2024!

1. Buy a new calendar
2. Select pens in your favorite color and keep on your desk
3. Clean out one closet, drawer or room each week
4. Schedule a pickup of vour donations (I like Vietnam Vets b/c I can schedule online and they take a lot of things). I keep a box in my basement and add to it as I come across things that need a new home.
5. Buy fun stamps and new stationery and write 1. note a week
6. Treat yourself to fresh flowers (I love tulips, but you get your favorite!)
7. Get rid of dingy towels and take advantage of a white sale
8. Delete duplicate & bad photos on vour phone
9. Update your holiday card list so you are ready for next year
10. Drink warm lemon water before you have your morning coffee or tea
11. Get outside every day – walk, run, hike
12. Stretch 10 minutes a day
13. Plan 1 fun new activity or adventure each month
14. Listen to the audiobook Atomic Habits by James Clear
15. Try a new hobby – I’m doing needlepoint & calligraphy
16. Reach out to a friend you haven’t seen or spoken to in a while
17. Gather some book recommendations, make a list and read or listen to 1 book a month
18. Make dinner reservations someplace new for next month
19. Fill a carafe of water each night for the following day
20. Schedule your dentist & doctor appts for the year
21. Get a pedicure, even though no one will see it
22. Listen to a new podcast
23. Write down all you accomplished in 2023
24. Start researching or planning a special trip

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You can buy beautiful valentines for sure…but I think there is something especially sweet when you make your own.

A few years back, I noticed that I had some leftover holiday cards and that the cards and red envelope liners would make cute valentines. So, I got out my scissors and up-cycled my extras.

Family members got ones with the photos of my sons and out of town friends got the red checked hearts.

You probably have everything you already need to make something heartfelt. Wrapping paper, newspaper, holiday cards, magazines, doilies, catalogs. Find words or photos that share a sweet sentiment and write a little note.

What’s not to love?!

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And, though I love all holidays because they give us a moment to pause, decorate and celebrate…I especially love Valentine’s Day! It’s an excuse to create fun little love notes! Pink and red, hearts and cupid…more is more! Here’s a glimpse at some set ups I have done for my family over the years, complete with candy and love notes. What’s not to love?!

“The best thing to hold onto in life is each other” ~ Audrey Hepburn

Some of my favorite sources:

Whimsy Cookie Company out of Memphis makes the most delicious and beautiful cookies. I love that they can ship and arrive to you on a predetermined date!

The heart napkins are actually tea towels from famed Watson Kennedy in Seattle. A shop that is worth the trip to the West Coast!

Mrs Alice makes the prettiest linens and I adore the white placemats and napkins with red bows.

The heart plates are from Emma Bridgewater. They make such darling pottery collections!

And….balloons. Lots and lots of balloons, always!

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I do! At least the magic of the Christmas season. It brings out the child in all of us, regardless of age. And playing to that childlike attitude is part of the fun of decorating for the holidays. One of my favorite places to decorate is the dining room table, as it serves as a never ending blank canvas.

I used to set one main table for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. But, that put a lot of pressure on those tables and also limited the fun.

So, I began to set a new table and theme each week in December.

This table was Nutcracker meets Rudolph. A white linen runner and linens trimmed with red embroidered ribbon (similar from Mrs. Alice) served as the base. My collection of nutcrackers took center stage and coordinate with my “nutcracker” china, which is Grenadiers by Bernadaud.

I spotted the miniature stuffed Rudolph, Hermey (the dentist) and the Abominable Snowman at the drug store and just thought they would be fun surprises for my guys.

A little silly, but that’s half the fun! The holidays are to be enjoyed, so find whatever lights you up and gives you joy…and do more of that!

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For many of us, the holidays mean welcoming family into our home for several days. As it has often been easier to have our family come to us, I wanted to do what I could to make their stay relaxing and meaningful. Having hosted out-of-town family each Christmas for more than a decade, I’ve learned a few things that might be worth passing along.

Hosting tips

1. Be ready! Travel, especially air travel, is not exactly glamorous these days. Make sure that when your guests arrive that you are ready with a fire, or at least lit candles, some holiday music and some nibbles in case they haven’t had a decent meal all day. Give them time to dust off and don’t plan anything big on the first night. Flights are often delayed….so don’t pressure yourself with dinner reservations that you may not make.
2.  Personalize their visit – have a stocking with their name hung with the others, have a personalized placecard on the table or have an ornament for them to open and place on the tree (and then take home with them)…anything that can say, “you were expected and anticpiated”.
3. Decorate the guest bedroom. If you find that there are extra decorations that you don’t really have a place for, consider putting them in the guest room: hang a wreath, display a miniature Christmas tree, or set out a bowl of greens and ornaments. Anything that might add to the holiday spirit will make them feel welcome in their “holiday home away from home”.
4. Set the table in advance. There’s something about walking into a home that is “done”. Having the dining room table set in advance will not only be a festive welcome, but will alieve you of having to perform this task while your guests are there.
5. Plan something fun. This is an opportunity to break up the visit and for you to do something you might not normally do. Treat yourself and your guests to a memorable experience.

And, it’s ok to plan “down time”. You need it. Your guests need it. Plan some time that is free in the schedule, so that everyone can recharge and return to a fireplace chat with something new to talk about.

Here’s to sharing the holiday hospitality spirit!

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First impressions matter and so my first impression of our hotel, Hotel Jerome, was intense. I LOVED it. I felt like I had walked into Ralph Lauren’s home. The Hotel Jerome is the oldest hotel in Aspen, yet it had a massive makeover in 2012, which made it into rustic-meets-chic-meets-alpine. Warm and inviting, layered with details, it was the perfect hub for our stay.

There are a lot of fantastic hotels in Aspen: Little Nell, St. Regis, The Limelight…so there are a number of options, but the decor alone sold me on the Jerome. It is not a ski in/ski out hotel, which might put off some of you, but I can assure you that the trove of Stetson-wearing drivers will whisk you away quickly and drop you right at the lifts. I would call it a no-schlep experience. There is even a Gorsuch outpost inside the hotel, where they will warm your boots and have anything you might have left at home for sale. We were there to ski, but you can snowshoe, cross country ski, shop, spa, heli ski, dog sled…the options are endless. If you do want to shop, here are my favorites:

• Gorsuch for luxury clothing, accessories, gifts
• Performance  Ski for luxury/performance European ski brands
• Kemo Sabe for Western wear, cowboy hats, cowboy boots, turquoise jewelry
• Chequers for chic home accessories

Shipping or checking skis can be such a hassle.

Ski Butlers, a suggestion from my friend and travel advisor, Sandy Grodsky, was an invaluable service for our trip. Ahead of the trip, I reserved a time for them to meet me at the hotel. I filled out a form about height/weight/ski ability and was given different ski options. You can also rent helmets and boots. They arrived at the pre-arranged time at our room and had me set up in 10 minutes. Since we were there for a long weekend, it was nice not to have to go to the ski rental, wait in line and then carry everything back to the hotel.  My husband had taken his skis, but after a day in the powder, he realized that he needed a different type of ski. Ski Butler fixed him up, too!

From now on…this is how I get my skis! There are numerous amazing restaurants (we chose Justice Snow’s, The Monarch and Ajax Tavern)  and spots to apres ski (Chair 9 at the Little Nell)…but one late lunch proved to be the most fun. Cloud 9, which is located in an old ski patrol hut on the mountain at Aspen Highlands, can only be reached by skiing or snowboarding in. That’s half the fun. They have two seatings. One at noon and one at 2pm. If you want a delicious lunch and a festive atmosphere, choose the noon. If you want an “experience”…book the 2pm. We went at 2pm and let’s just say that there was as much champagne on the ceiling and the floor as was consumed the normal way. The restaurant, open only 4 months a year, is Veuve Clicquot’s largest customer in the US. That should tell you something.

This article, which appeared in Vogue, describes the experience better than I can. Cheers to having fun wherever you go this winter!

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After a southern detour (to Charlotte, NC), I now live a 45 minute train ride outside of the city. Close enough to make it in without too much effort. But, far enough away to have to plan it out. It helps to have sons who like the city and encourage me to explore different areas.

This past summer, I went in with my oldest son, for a day of exploring the Meatpacking District and the High Line.

After coffee at Kobrick (my son is a coffee aficionado), we explored some shops, including Lingua Franca, and had lunch at the new RH Guesthouse. This is part of the Restoration Hardware world…and I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it was quite good and very chic!

We then hopped over to Little Island – an urban park along the Hudson River – and then walked the High Line up to the Vessel. We wrapped up our day at the Edge, which is the highest sky deck in the Western Hemisphere, located at 30 Hudson Yards. The view is INCREDIBLE and you truly feel like you are on the edge of NYC.

There is so much to do in New York City that you can only hit so many spots in one trip, whether it’s a day trip or a week long vacation. Don’t try to do it all at once. I would recommend focusing on one area at a time and really taking it in.

Check out my list of NYC favorites – it’s a starting point. Trust me…I’m still working my way through everything I want to see and do!

Enjoy your time in the Big Apple!

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