Talking with the White House’s former executive pastry chef Roland Mesnier was among the most exhilarating interviews I have had in a long time. I felt like I was chatting with an old friend, even though I had never met him. Having served five administrations and handled everything from small teas to state dinners for 800, his road to the …
Each year I look forward to getting out my Christmas decorations. While it’s not yet Thanksgiving, I am already looking forward to all of the favorite things I’ll unpack. Sometimes the anticipation is half the fun. With ornaments, our Nativity, and all of the other holiday items, there’s something so special about adding festive touches to our homes. This year …
Do you love baking from scratch? I do. When I undertake a new baking project, I cherish getting out all of my “stuff” and laying out my pans, measuring cups, whisks, and measuring spoons. There’s nothing quite like carefully adding each ingredient and ending up with a delicious result. Our newest publication, Bake from Scratch, celebrates the many joys of …
I love the holidays, when I can get Hays and Amelia to our home and have fun creating something new. The holiday stamps from Expressionery are the perfect thing for them to use in creating personalized packages and cards. Better yet, because these wonderful stamps are self-inking, they make little mess and are kid friendly. You can use these holiday …
Thanksgiving was a big holiday when I was growing up, and it still is today! Some things never change. When I was a little girl, we always went to our grandparents’ homes for Thanksgiving. The ride through the country was magical, and the autumn leaves were picturesque. When we arrived, we knew we had two wonderful family gatherings waiting—one with …
It is hard to believe that Christmas is right around the corner. My mind is already making lists of things that I want to do this year for my family; whether it is making their favorite foods or planning our family party, the time for holiday festivities is upon us. The Tiny Book of Christmas Joy is quickly becoming my …
Sometimes it seems that preparations for the holiday season couldn’t start early enough. Whether it’s Christmas in July sales or store window displays in mid-October featuring Santa Claus, reminders that the holidays are on their way abound. While there are still plenty of shopping days before Christmas, one thing that can easily get away from us is sending Christmas cards. …
It is Halloween, and I have never seen so many pumpkins and spiders, along with other yard decorations, in my life. It seems everyone has jumped on the holiday celebration with great gusto. Mom and I were talking about our experiences with Halloween when we were kids back in the dark ages. Halloween was a one-day event, geared strictly toward …
I have the great fortune of being asked to speak at many events each year from civic clubs to women’s ministries. Each group is unique, and it is enjoyable to meet people and hear their experiences in life. I love to share my life’s story in hopes that someone will find encouragement in it. Every time I speak, I close …
With Halloween a few days away, it’s time for some special DIY Halloween treats. In the recent issue of Entertain, Decorate, Celebrate, we created a few special ways to gift your favorite goodies. These are the kinds of simple and fun DIY projects that you can enjoy with your children and grandchildren. All it requires is a quick trip to …
