Camp Gigi has just finished. It was a full week of having my granddaughter at our home with her best friend joining us for part of the week. Her brother was at his camp in the mountains, so it worked out perfectly for her to come to stay with us. Camp Gigi (what my grandchildren call me) is a week …
The Queen’s Dessert of Choice: Chocolate Biscuit Cake
With all this talk about the royal wedding and the enchantment surrounding the festivities, I can’t help but admire Queen Elizabeth II for her impeccable taste and style. I’ve talked about her selection of a beautiful embroidered coat for the wedding in my “The Royal Wedding in Review” post. Her taste in clothing is far from the only agreeable preference …
So Much to Celebrate
As you all know, I am not one to enjoy the inescapable heat of summer. Instead, I choose to find joy in the season with celebrations and gatherings. These summer celebrations are the inspiration for our newest Entertain & Celebrate special issues! Within the pages of this special issue we asked Katie Jacobs, author of So Much to Celebrate, to …
Finally, he has a name!!
Prince Louis Arthur Charles has been named. I thought we would never get to this point with this tiny little boy. I did a little research as we were waiting and found out that his father has four names: William Arthur Philip Louis. Then I had even more fun by Googling other royals to check out their names. It is …
Inspiring Entrepreneurs: Mary Brennan Reich’s Successful Start
Starting your own company or business is hard work, and if you know me, then you know that watching an idea bloom and grow into success is near and dear to my heart. I know firsthand how challenging it is to run a business, but at the same time, it’s so rewarding! I met Mary Brennan Reich when she was …
Premiere Yarns by Deborah Norville
One of the most wonderful ladies I have had the opportunity to meet and call my friend is Deborah Norville. You may know her as the two-time Emmy winning anchor of television’s Inside Edition, a top-rated syndicated newsmagazine, and New York Times best selling author. But what fascinated me about her was that she used sewing as her talent to …
Fried Green Tomatoes-Again this Summer
You know my passion for fried green tomatoes and my love of Acre Restaurant in Auburn, Alabama. Well, our last visit was totally amazing. David Bancroft and his staff create the most wonderful occasions—even when we just drop in for dinner! Every visit is a special event. If you are near Auburn, Alabama you just have to go. We enjoyed …
Susan Currie’s Style Secrets
The style of your home is a personal decision. Some pieces in our homes are gifted or passed down, others are instant favorites that were worth the splurge, but they are all a piece of the larger puzzle we call our lives. A great interior designer beautifies and enhances this style without losing the true feel of a home. Too …
White Flowers: A Shop of Serenity
The idea behind this serene wonderland in Birmingham, Alabama, all started with a simple T-shirt. When a dear friend of mine, Diana Hansen and her husband moved into a beautiful older home, they acquired a spectacular garden. Diana says, “I was so inspired by the flowers there, I began to draw them.” Her husband, a professional photographer, took pictures of …
My One-Layer Cake Obsession
I love sharing my family with you. Today I asked my son Brian Hart Hoffman to write a blog post about baking. He has turned out to be quite the baker, and I’m proud to say he is the founder and editor-in-chief of the Bake From Scratch magazine. I hope you enjoy: I love to bake, but I’m sure you already …