By Audrey van Petegem, Senior Editor
Okay, I admit it. I am a closet potato chip eater. I have no cravings for sweet treats but hand me a bag of something crunchy and salty and the contents of said bag are gone. Ugh! This has been my nemesis for my entire life. I just cannot have chips in my home. And, you know as well as me that the “healthy” baked chips are just not the same.
Gone are the days when I could cut back on eating so that I could indulge my craving. As they say, “Once on the lips, [...]

By Anne-Marie Kovacs, Chief Wife
I saw these lampshades while visiting Toronto a few months ago and, being in the beginning stages of planning a large event for a non-profit, I couldn’t help but be immediately attracted by these unusual, beautiful, colorful and oh-so affordable statement-making lampshades. How they would – literally and metaphorically – light up the room and create instant ambiance for the event. And then, I mentally started redecorating my family room and my teens’ bedrooms too.
Let me introduce the Jigsaw Lamp (shade). It’s available in 11 different colors and six different sizes. Each kit consist of 30 [...]

By Audrey van Petegem, Senior Editor
Do you have an artistic passion, a creative idea, a book in you that you have been trying to write?  Think, if you were in a quiet working environment that provided room-for-free on 60 beautiful acres of prairie and pastured land and you had no financial or professional obligations to pursue your passion… Can you imagine how well your creative juices could flow?
There is, in fact, such a place in the middle of Nebraska. Art Farm is a tuition-free safe haven to explore one’s artistic aspirations. Since 1993, it has provided housing and expansive studio [...]

As we reported here, Trunk Club, a “mail-order” personal shopping service for men’s clothing is great solution for men who want to look good but hate (or don’t have the time) to shop. But how about us women? It’s – I know! – surprising to admit but many women, even the most coquette amongst us, don’t revel in the shopping experience. Or we simply don’t have the time. In my case, I don’t enjoy the (dreaded) dressing room with the invariably unflattering lighting.
So here’s a fun solution for the woman short on time but high on style: Cakestyle, a “virtual” [...]

By Audrey van Petegem, Senior Editor
Heading out or staying in, chances are that some form of alcohol consumption will take place over the holidays, particularly on New Year’s Eve. Regrettably, some of us may overindulge and may be less than our normal cheery selves the next day.
Although hangovers are probably one of the best deterrent to repeat over-drinking, we – I am sure – have all said ‘yes’ when we should have said ‘no’ to that one last drink, leaving us full of regret the next morning.
To help ease the morning-after-why-did-I-do-that feeling are a few remedies:

Zaca Patch – Here is [...]

Eeeeek! Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and you just realized that you still have a few people you need to buy for!! No need to panic. Here are some great ideas that keep on giving up to a full year (although monthly, three, six and nine month subscriptions are also available) – showing them that you did not forget them after all. Whether you put a card under the tree of send them an e-card from afar, these gifts will thrill anyone on your list. And, p.s. you may just want to treat yourself! We’re totally ok with that.

 
Not Another Bill [...]

By Anne-Marie Kovacs, Chief Wife
I never used to get my nails done. Nail polish is completely wasted on me. It lasts about… ok, let me be generous and say 24 hours. That is before the polish gets scuffed or chipped. Usually, there is at least one nail that gets smudged within the hour. So, manicures were never my thing. Simply no worth the time and certainly not the expense. That is, until I tried the “No Chip” (aka gel) mani. That changed everything.
I first tried a No-chip a year ago, right before a big event that I was organizing and [...]

 
Last but most certainly not least is our final Gift Guide for the season: The Stocking Stuffer Gift Guide. For many, stockings are the best part of Christmas. Don’t you love finding those little gems for each member of your family, especially those that do not cost a fortune?
Here are some great finds to fill everyone’s stockings:

 
FOR HER

 
Hopscotch Necklace – Do not let the price fool you. This chunky geometric wooden bead necklace would be a stylish complement to a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. Buy from Fleet Collection. $16.00

 
Password Book – If she is anything like me, I [...]

I have several (unfortunate) pet peeves. Many of them are creeping up right around this time of year because they mostly revolve around the theme of entertaining and food service… For one, the idea of mistakenly drinking from someone else’s glass is extremely disturbing (eww, cooties) and second – but way more peeving: I CAN’T stand the thought of the nearly full soda cans or water bottles being tossed simply because their owners have abandoned them and yet merrily go on opening yet another drink – that they will also lose track of… Kids and adults are equally guilty. It’s [...]

Last year we did a Pet Gift Guide – Because We Love Them and we still do love our pets! But just because you have pets does not mean that your home has to go to the dogs. We have chosen (among other things) some great gift products that your (four legged) loving companion will love and that might also just add a great statement to your home. Plus, some fun games to play with little Fifi or Fluffy. We should really rename this gift guide the Gift Guide for Pet Owners. Enjoy!

 FOR DOGS

 
What Dogs Dream Bed – Designed not [...]