Archives for November 2012

Sharing The Joy

November 30, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Are you breathing a sigh of relief?

Now that you’ve survived the Thanksgiving holiday, you know there are only a few more weeks until Christmas.

But that’s the challenge, isn’t it?

Well, in case you missed it, my clients have been raving about my FREE HOLIDAY GIFT – “44 Ways to be Gloriously Gluten-Free – Through the Holidays and Beyond”.

This special offer is available to you during the entire holiday season – right up until New Year’s Day!

 

And I want to make sure you know about this, because I’ve been getting some amazing feedback.

The best part?

You can actually sign up any time!

And while it’s true that you’ve missed the first week of daily tips and recipes, why not join us now?

Yes, there’s still time, and there’s still lots more savvy suggestions coming your way.

I think you’ll find this especially helpful if you’ve been telling yourself that the gluten-free diet is just too difficult.

Trust me – it doesn’t have to be!

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Celebrating Thanksgiving

November 23, 2012 By Leave a Comment

By the time you read this, the Thanksgiving feast will be over.

Yes, after days of preparation – not to mention anticipation – the meal is consumed in a matter of minutes.

Or so it seems.

And if you’re like most of us, you likely have a bounty of leftovers to enjoy during the next few days.

Are you wondering what to do with those leftovers?

Well, if you’ve signed up for my Free Holiday Gift you’re already well on your way.

(And if you haven’t signed up yet – no worries. This Free Holiday Gift is available to you anytime during the holidays. Yes, there’s still time, even if you’ve missed out on the beginning!)

In my own home, Thanksgiving was a bit different this year.

Instead of hosting the annual feast, I was delighted to be an invited guest at someone else’s home.

Although, the prospect of a traditional holiday feast prepared by strangers did give me pause.

What would be safe for me to eat?

Again, if you’re receiving the Free Holiday Gift this week, you’ve been reading about some of these concerns in your daily tips.

Trust me, it can be an on-going journey learning to navigate the pitfalls!

My biggest concern was that the star of the meal – the Thanksgiving turkey – would likely not be gluten-free, due to injected bastings and seasonings, and a traditional Bread Stuffing.

So, I resigned myself to “getting by” with a few offerings of my own, including a yummy Rice & Pecan Stuffing and a gluten-free dessert.

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Filed Under: EAT, RECIPES Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Free Gift! – “44 Ways To Be Gloriously Gluten-Free”

November 16, 2012 By Leave a Comment

It seems a bit early to be thinking of the holidays, doesn’t it?

Yet, beginning next week, many of us will be sitting down to a Thanksgiving table laden with scrumptious food.

This wonderful feast will likely include many foods you grew up with that are part of your family tradition.

Chances are, you can’t even imagine a holiday meal without them.

I know what that feels like.

I’ve been there.

And I get it.

Yet, for anyone new to the Gluten-Free diet and lifestyle this can feel particularly daunting.

How will you survive all the holiday temptations and treats?

Not to mention endless parties, family gatherings and seemingly non-stop celebration  –  all without a spec of gluten?

Can it even be done?

Well, I’m here to assure you that it can!

As it happens, the elves have been quite busy at this end putting together a special Holiday FREE GIFT – just for you!

You’ve heard of the 12 Days of Christmas, right?

Well, this FREE GIFT is called “44 Ways to be Gloriously Gluten-Free – Through the Holidays and Beyond.”

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RULES FOR A COLOR PARTY

November 16, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Last week, I shared a rather unique concept in “Have Yourself a Color Party”.

(If you haven’t already read that article, you might want to click here).

This is all about creating a Color Scheme, something that is fairly basic to almost any home design project.

Yet, how does one create a Color Scheme?

Broken down to it’s essence, it’s a simple matter of knowing which colors to invite to the “party”!

And yes, there are Rules.

 

Purchase a Color Wheel

A color wheel is a handy tool that can be purchased at any art supply store.

This is a great resource for educating yourself on color, especially if you are unfamiliar with terms like ‘complementary’, or analogous’, or the meaning of hues, tints and tones.

Brushing up before hand, so you can address your guests accordingly, is always a good idea.

 

Consider a Theme

What mood are you striving for?

A few words come to mind:

Sensuous  – As in slightly exotic, with  rich reds, browns, and gold

Nurturing  – Earth tones, in varying shades of green or brown

Contemplative or Serene  – A watery theme of cool blues and greens, mixed with neutrals such as taupe, beige, or off-white

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Filed Under: HOLISTIC HOME Tagged With: , , , , , ,

HAVE YOURSELF A COLOR PARTY

November 9, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Early in my design career, a client presented me with a challenge for re-designing her living room.

She wanted a new look, with lots of COLOR!

Per her instructions, she wanted to keep two existing chairs , one red and one blue, and replace most of the remaining furnishings, including the sofa.

(In design parlance, that’s what we refer to as the scope of the Project).

Did you catch the part about the chairs – one red, the other blue?

The real challenge here, was to connect these seemingly disparate pieces into a harmonious color scheme.

Well, I love a challenge, and every project has one.

It’s what usually gets the creative juices flowing.

It is also where the ‘Color Party’ comes in.

Let me explain.

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5 Fun Things You Can Do With Pumpkins

November 6, 2012 By Leave a Comment

We’re in the midst of pumpkin season, no question about it!

These past few weeks, many of us have decorated our homes with colorful gourds, perhaps taking the time to carve them in time for Halloween.

Of course, one can do more with pumpkins than grow or carve them.

You can also eat them.

And in the weeks to come, many of us will be doing just that.

You might be baking pumpkin pies for Thanksgiving, or using this tasty squash in your day to day baking.

(All gluten-free, of course).

As with most fresh fruits and vegetables, the bright orange color of pumpkins tells us right away that it’s highly nutritious.

So be sure to take advantage of pumpkins this holiday season, fresh and otherwise.

Here’s a recap of some popular things you can you do with pumpkins.

 

Decorate!

Beginning with Halloween, we typically see mountains of pumpkins decorating front walks and window sills.

In anticipation of Thanksgiving, pumpkins, and other gourds, work equally well for tabletop décor.

Whether carving or arranging, the holidays, in general, are the perfect opportunity to get in touch with your inner artist!

 

Make Your Own Puree

Sure, you can buy canned pumpkin for your baking and cooking needs.

But if you have the time, and are feeling adventurous, why not make your own pumpkin puree from scratch?

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THE ‘AMUSE-BOUCHE’ OF YOUR HOME

November 2, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Are you familiar with the term ‘amuse-bouche’?

Normally experienced in a restaurant setting, an amuse-bouche is a single, bite-sized hors d’oeuvre – complements of the chef .

Its purpose is to tickle your taste buds and whet your appetite for what’s to come.

If you think about it, the entryway to your home is a kind of amuse-bouche, although you aren’t likely to see it described in that manner in any publications on interior design.

Why do I say this?

Let’s explore the purpose of the Entry, and you will see what I mean. The Entryway is:

  • A place to enter the home
  • A place to receive visitors

Here’s what else the Entry is meant to do:

  • Say something about the people who live there, by suggesting their interests and personalities
  • Be warm and inviting, so visitors feel welcomed.
  • Offer a hint of ‘what’s to come’

Do you see the connection?

In my own home, the Entry is pleasant enough, although fairly typical in size and furnishings – with a low ceiling, a small table, a mirror and a closet for hanging coats.

Yet one is immediately aware of an immense space around the corner, and the furnishings in the next room that definitely say something about me and my family.

Now, if you’re like me and your home has an attached garage, it’s a whole different story.

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