It’s no announcement that I absolutely love finding the right gift for someone. It’s part of what makes Christmas so special! There are those moments when a gift idea comes to us with ease, and we happily make our purchase knowing that it’s “just the thing!” However, there are those years that we are simply stumped. Indecisiveness and an excess …
Holiday tea parties are nothing short of magical! Tea parties are near and dear to me because they feel like such an elegant occasion, but they are fairly simple to prepare. The china, place settings, and sweet and savory finger foods are all key elements, but a tea party is only as good as the quality of tea served! And …
I was sitting in the waiting room at my doctor’s office, and a lady came over and handed me a little white crocheted angel. She said, “I wanted to make sure you received one of my angels.” I took the delicate ornament in my hand and looked around the room at other patients admiring her work. She returned to her …
We have all anticipated this day for an entire year. It is the official beginning of the oh-so-magical holiday season! Thanksgiving is a time of reflecting on our blessings and being grateful for what we have been given. However, the truth is that we should do this every day. It is easy to race through life without pondering what a …
Let me know if you can relate to this: It is just so much fun to give a gift that is perfectly tailored to the recipient! Wrapping a present with the assurance that your friend or family member will love what they open never loses its thrill. From choosing wrapping paper to the actual opening of the gift, it’s all …
We all kick into hyperdrive during the holidays. There are triple the errands, triple the meals, and triple the “projects,” as we call them in the South. Yet, we just miraculously keep going! Any other time of year, this number of to-dos would seem nearly impossible. In fact, we probably wouldn’t even attempt the insanity. But in these couple of …
We have been Christmas-ing for the past few months at Hoffman Media, and I just love this time of year. I get so excited when the holiday photography begins, and I start smelling aromas of the best holiday dishes coming from the test kitchen. It won’t be long until festive music will be playing everywhere! There are numerous new issues …
We are constantly bombarded by competitions. Cookoffs, golf, football, and just about anything else that can be a competition is televised. We are heralded as winners! Winners. Interesting concept of being a winner, isn’t it? Winner of what—a trophy, ribbon, title, or level of accomplishment? Most of the winners I have seen lately are the chefs who can take odd …
Well, finally September is here, and I can officially put out all my harvest and pumpkin items. The thrill of autumn never gets old. I can just look at a pumpkin and smell the cinnamon and nutmeg that permeates when I bake a pumpkin pie! The leaves are beginning to turn here in Alabama, and for that, I am grateful. …
Dealing with challenges in life is never what we dream of spending our energy on. I find myself thinking, “Really—another obstacle?” I would rather be doing something fun! Challenges often mean something consistent in our lives is in one way or another changing. And with every shift in our normal comes a new decision to make. Now, I much prefer …
