Power to the Pom Pom!

Spoiler alert: this is not a fashion post! But we are talking Pom Poms. And if you’ve been along for the Life’s a Spritz ride, you know I’ve probably never met a Pom Pom I didn’t like. (As seen here, here, here, and here, here, here, and here.) They are cute, soft, round, and colorful. Did I say like? How about love! Keep reading if you want some ideas on how to make your life, and your look, Pom Pom-eriffic.

Pom Poms for Peace!

IMG_2401What do you do when you’ve made the bed, thrown in a load of laundry, worked out and are still waiting on the Hubs to get home? How about a little DIY! Since our afternoon plan centered around a local Studio Tour, I guess I felt inspired to do a little something “artistic” with a recent consignment find. In case you’ve been hiding under a rock, this Summer straw/sea grass/rattan/basket bags are all the rage. And Pom Poms! And while I love the looks other Bloggers are rocking, I couldn’t help wanting to put my own spin on a top 2017 trend. And yes, it literally took me minutes. 

Old is the new New

IMG_2192I grew up in a classic PreWar apartment on Washington Square Park. Its black and white tile bathrooms with massive tubs still looked Pottery Barn cool when my Father died this past August. Chris grew up in a Turn-of-the-Century Colonial in Scarsdale, NY, which his parents meticulously restored over the many years they lived there. So while sometimes a “Gut Reno” is called for, preservation has its place too.

Style DIY: Furry Feet

img_9626It’s possible you missed fashion’s insane passion for Gucci’s fur-lined Princetown Slipper. I succumbed to its wild style and ordered it multiple times, only to return it each time. Aside from the steep price tag (Kangaroo fur?!?), it just didn’t flatter my 50-something feet. Then I had an “Aha!” moment and decided to make my own version.

Christmas in the City

img_92492016 sure has been quite the year. Amidst a slew of music and art icons passing away, a wild and contentious political scene, worldwide terrorism and tragedy, I hope you’ve also enjoyed some joyful surprises, good health, successes on every front, loving family and friends. I for one am going to hold onto my wish for peace for everyone, everywhere as we head into 2017.

Even though it’s a little worse for the wear, I am always happy to hang this vintage greeting. Now that we’re living in an apartment, the front door was the perfect spot. In our city place, I take a much more streamlined approach to holiday decorating. I still want that magic mix of sparkle and schmaltz, but I also love the clean lines and flow of our open plan space and don’t want to overdo.

I think I reached a good balance that’s fun for a few weeks but also easy to pack up and stow away in an hour or two. Hope you enjoy our holiday scene!

Christmas at the Cabin

img_9033We spent this past weekend up at our cabin with Christmas decorating topping my “To Do” list. Since we’ll arrive Christmas Eve day, I wanted everything up and ready to welcome our Boys. We were also invited to a lovely holiday party at one of the historic Adirondack Camps in Keene Valley. So not all work and no play!

I’ve collected A LOT of decorations since we bought our first home in 1993. When we downsized from a rambling Victorian where I decorated every room, I had to pare back and pick what would work in the city and what would work in the country. I’ve also got boxes (and boxes!) stored in a dear friend’s basement. That’s a 2017 resolution. I like to group like things — Santas, snowmen, angels, nutcrackers — in obvious and unexpected places. And I love remembering the stories they tell us every time we unpack them.

Since Home is where the Hearth is, we’ll start there…

Thankful

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Amidst a world that seems pretty off-kilter, it is life-affirming and centering to spend time with those we love, in a place we love. We were lucky to be up at our Adirondack cabin for Thanksgiving 2016. Or at least most of us. Our middle son Spencer, who is working for Oracle in Los Angeles, opted to stay on the West Coast and spend the holiday with his boyfriend Joey’s family in Novato, CA. Then they were off to Sonoma for a weekend of wine tasting. Tough duty. Chris and I hosted Pierre, Pierre’s girlfriend April (celebrating their 3rd Anniversary!) and Chanler. It was a lovely weekend that looked and felt a bit more like Christmas due to 3 days of snow.