Seasonal Decorating: Goodbye to Holiday 2011

The winter, and December in particular, is filled with seasonal decorating in almost every neighborhood. This season I was out and about taking note of how each neighborhood decorated and embraced the season.  I realized that although your religious beliefs or geographic location may influence your design style, traditions will have the most dramatic influence on your Christmas and seasonal decorating in general. Did your parents decorate with all white lights or the large multi-colored bulbs. Do wreaths on the window bring back happy memories or do you need to have Santa on the roof for it to be Christmas? Nutcracker Soldiers or Poinsettia at the entranceway? All these warm-fuzzy traditions along with the current climate you live in will come together to develop your seasonal style.

Case in point, the above images of doorways decorated for the season that I snapped on  my walks this December.  From NYC to PA to FL traditions are strong and bring us the most joy during the holidays. Which one speaks to you?

Goodbye Holiday 2011. I look forward to bringing the best of you into 2012!

Decorating: Pantone Announces 2012 Color of the Year

The 2011 color of the year, PANTONE Honeysuckle, encouraged us to face everyday troubles with verve and vigor. Tangerine Tango, a spirited reddish orange, continues to provide the energy boost we need to recharge and move forward.

“Sophisticated but at the same time dramatic and seductive, Tangerine Tango is an orange with a lot of depth to it,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “Reminiscent of the radiant shadings of a sunset, Tangerine Tango marries the vivaciousness and adrenaline  rush of red with the friendliness and warmth of yellow, to form a high-visibility, magnetic hue that emanates heat and energy.”

Over the past several years, orange has grown in popularity and acceptance among designers and consumers alike. A provocative attention-getter, Tangerine Tango is especially appealing in men’s and women’s fashion. Fashion designers featured in the PANTONE Fashion Color Report Spring 2012, including Tommy Hilfiger, Nanette Lepore, Cynthia Steffe by Shaun Kearney, Elie Tahari and Adrienne Vittadini, are incorporating this attractive orange into their spring collections. A fun, lively take on a traditional autumnal hue, Tangerine Tango will surely carry through to fall fashion as well.

Energize interior spaces with Tangerine Tango patterned home accessories. Pillows, bedspreads and tabletop accessories in this high-impact hue add spice to any room. Or incorporate Tangerine Tango appliances and personal electronics for an unexpected pop of color. Looking for an inexpensive way to perk up your home? Paint a wall in Tangerine Tango for a dynamic burst of energy in the kitchen, entryway or hallway.

Information provided by the PANTONE press release dated Dec 8th, 2011 – Pantone Reveals Color of the Year

The Foodie In You: Day After Tarts

The past weekend was filled with rushing here, need to be there, make this, bring that and not to mention all the various menu items our bodies are exposed to over the holidays. Although I honestly love every minute of it, the day after Christmas was the first day we had nowhere to be, no decorating to do,  nothing to buy, and nothing on the schedule except for sitting on the couch and staring at our tree and watching movies. But there is still the question as to what should we have to eat?? Something super easy, not too heavy and quick to make.

I first made these “tarts” a few years ago for a brunch and they were a big hit. I changed up the flavors this time ~ Mushroom and Fennel – and they were just as tasty as I remebered.

Ingredients:

Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry Sheets (2 pack makes 4 tarts)

Variety of Chopped Fresh Mushrooms (or your flavor of choice)

     * I was able to find a pack of fresh mushrooms with multiple varieties included. Chop these and heat with butter in pan on stove top till warm – you can also add garlic here if desired.

Carmelized Onions

     *heat onions in a pan on stove top over medium heat with butter and sugar

Fennel

     *chop fennel into small strips. Heat in pan on stove top over medium heat with butter, salt and pepper

Fresh Herbs to taste {from your kitchen garden of course}

Defrost the pastry sheets and layout on cutting board. Cut in half to create 2 separate tarts. Place ingredients {keep ingredients separate or mix together depending on your taste} on top of pastry, leaving a 1/2 inch border on all sides. Place in preheated oven at 400 degrees for 15 minutes or until edges are brown.

Remove and slice into 5-6 vertical sections. Serve on a rustic cutting board with cocktail napkins. Relax and Enjoy!

On the Road: NYC ~ Finding Inspiration on the Street

If you are like me, each city you have been to has locations and memories about it that you associate with being there and will become your list of “Favorite Things About ____” (insert city name here).  Growing up in the NY tri-state area, New York has always been the city for me with the longest list of favorite “things”. I feel the most comfortable there over most cities and towns and has the best memories associated to it. My trip last week allowed me to experience not just my usual favorites but experience new places, locations and add to my list of loves. (more on those next week…)

At the top of my list would be the availability of unexpected plant material. Especially during the winter season when the trees have lost their leaves and the center medians are bare of color {except nighttime when Park Avenue is aglow with trees}. The availability of flowers, greens and supplies on street corners, small bodegas, the flower market and more established floral shops is mind-blowing. Don’t think too much about what colors or plants you are meant to use, simply grab a little of everything place it in a container and it will work as a centerpiece. I promise!

I love being inspired by something new I see. Or this year something from the past, the small tree on Lexington & 96 marked Charlie Brown Tree $10 became the star of the mantle.

 Enjoy your holiday decorating and being inspired by even items on the street!

Holiday Decorating: Woodland Christmas

Each project (no matter if it is a room, a garden or an event) should have a theme that loosely inspires the direction. The Woodland Christmas theme was inspired by walking into my local Lowes and seeing 3 buckets of those round scraps produced when they cut the bottom of Christmas trees for customers. I asked if I could take  a few and the very nice young employee said I could take as many as I wanted. Jackpot!

Although I wanted to dump all three buckets into my car I controlled myself and only took two full bags. These little perfect and not so perfect stumps became my inspiration for the entranceway and tablescapes. Using the greens I found at my roadside green mirage , found pinecones, additional greens & wreaths from a local farmers market and bulk  cinnamon sticks from Micheals Craft’s I created various displays throughout the house including the dining room table where the buffet would be placed. Winter berries and red tulips added pops of color to the Woodland theme.

I LOVE decorating for the holidays!

 

Holiday Dream?: Roadside Fresh Cut Greens

While driving on a familiar road hunting for greens for a client I thought  I saw a mirage.  Quickly making a U-turn and almost getting my mother-in-laws car stuck in a fresh mud puddle, I pulled into the driveway of what looked to be a private home on the property of a large tree nursery. I parked and approached my dream wagon.

The floor of the wagon had been covered with burlap to add to the rustic feel of the whole experience. The greens had been freshly cut, possibly even that morning. The varieties – due to the nursery stock – were something you can not find in most markets.  The various trimmings were then placed in large black tubs which had been nailed down to the wagon and labeled with Sharpe written on duct tape (add that to the list of uses..). There was a large coffee container with “Happy Holiday’s ” written on it to be used as an honor system payment center, complete with change.

Over the course of the week I was in town working, I was able to stop by a few times and each visit I encountered other happy patrons who were also noticeably grateful for this decorators dream on the side of the road.

Thank you to the family who had this vision and placed a simple but perfect wagon of greens at the end of the drive. It will remain in my memory of  Christmas 2011 as a wonderful natural green mirage.

See you next year!

Gifts for the Foodie: DIY Kitchen Herb Gardens

Still searching for a gift for the foodie on your list? Create an organic kitchen herb garden for the counter or sunny window.

Collect all your supplies:

* Organic Herbs from local farmers market (or most grocery stores are now carrying fresh options by Shenandoah Growers in the produce area as well)

* Organic Potting Soil – I recently found Organic Mechanic Soil which is available main locations as well as mail order.  

* Your favorite container (for this project I like a wider more rectangle shapped container)

* Small Shovel, Gloves (optional of course), Moss, Water

Place a few inches of soil in the base of your container filling it about 3/4 of the way up. Being to place your herbs in the containers, staggering them rather than placing them in a straight line gives the containers a nicer visual as they fill in.

Once the herbs are in, fill the remainder of the container with soil to the top. The dry soil will settle as you water it. Once watered place a topping of moss to retain the soils moisture.

You can add labels if you wish to signify which herbs you have included.

Place under the tree and wait for your next invitation to a home cooked meal by previously mentioned foodie.

Enjoy!

Gifts that Grow ~ Seriously.

 

This Christmas, as I think we all are…, I am being very selective in my gift purchasing and giving. Although I always put probably way too much thought into each gift to ensure the recipient will truly appreciate the gift, this year I am also determined to be better with the actual “cost” and “value” of the gift. How does it affect our economy, environment, packaging, can the packaging be recycled or reused in some way? Or put into the trash, etc…On this path I have found a GREAT gift for the few kids on my list as well as my adult fellow gardeners and foodies.

The Back to the Roots’ grow-at-home mushroom kit grows up to 1 1/2 lbs of gourmet, oyster mushrooms in 10 days. Right in the box with nothing to add but water, and a little love. Multiple crops can be grown from the same box. AND the soil is 100% recycled coffee grounds.

They are currently offering savings on shipping with the purchase of multiple kits, and have started a new program which will allow you to donate a kit to an elementary classroom of your choice to support youth sustainability education, when you post a picture with your kit fully grown on their facebook page.

I can’t wait to grow my kit and post on my page too! Enjoy ~

Seasonal Containers Greet Visitors at the Door

Clear out your fall containers and give them a seasonal look using greens from your garden or local market.

Using the largest pots you have in groupings, leave about half the dirt inside to hold the various branches in place. I love to mix all kinds of colors and varieties in my containers but use what you have locally. I found these Golden evergreens with pinecones at a roadside stand and they are perfect to dress up the covered entrance of a clients home. Curly Willow and Red Dogwood branches add height, contrast and additional texture.

Now you are ready to greet guests at your holiday cookie bake or a casual gift swap.

Holiday Bulbs are sprouting

Even though the warm climate in Florida allows for gardening almost year round there are sometimes I find you still  have to bring the garden inside. The holidays are one of those times for sure! Paperwhites and Amaryllis blooming on the table or windowsill are a Northern holiday tradition I am determined to bring to my new town.

This year I found a bunch of great wire “baskets”, some came with glass liners, others I had to cut plastic trays to fit inside to hold the soil and moisture. After lining them with moss I filled them half way with organic soil (I know. We aren’t eating these and you may wonder why bother…but these days we need to make the correct choices ALL the time so yes ORGANIC soil). Placed the little bulbs in their new soil homes and covered with a light amount of moss and they are ready to be placed on my entryway table to great my holiday guests and neighbors.

In fact, people have responded so positively that I already sold a few directly  and even have a collection in a local shop for the holidays … I might be on to something here!