Style~Personality~Flair…we all have a unique way of announcing our own. During the Holidays, our “personalities” seem to shine a little brighter, perhaps a bit bolder. That is reflected in our fashion choices and also our home décor selections. Our personal style is often carried directly from our closet’s fabrics and accessories into our home’s fabrics and accessories. Holiday party fashions and Holiday home decorating are no exception.

Having started my career in Fashion Design, I understand that like fashion our home design and decorating reflects our personalities and individual style. That is especially prevalent during this time of year, when festive gatherings, entertaining and celebrations are taking place. We certainly know how to bring out the bling, accessorizing ourselves, our homes, our children, dogs and sometimes even our vehicles, announcing to the world our personal tastes (some good, some not so good) and flair. There are a few rules that apply when it comes to Holiday accessorizing, whether it’s you or your home that’s being transformed. Party fashions and home entertaining have similar design dilemmas. Here are a few seasonably fashionable tips to help ensure you AND your home will shine bright, yet tasteful, bold and beautiful throughout this joyous time of year.

Don’t overdress yourself OR your home. More is not always merrier! Simple and elegant almost always is a good rule to follow. Absolutely introduce those dynamic accessories, just don’t overdo it. Let them shine, stand out, get the attention they deserve. Too many clashing accessories on your body or your walls can take you from classy to cluttered. Tis the season I know, however there’s no reason to adorn yourself like a Christmas tree. There’s also no need to carry it massively throughout the rest of your home. We want a peaceful season.

• All that glitters is not always gold. Actually, this showy color is making a big comeback so go ahead; feel free to use it with pride. Whatever colors you choose bring the bling-bling on. Beads, crystals, metals and feathers can be used together to bring a sophisticated balance of shimmer and matte. Keep in mind however, bling lightly…classy not cluttered. Personally, I am thinking this is the year I’ll get that black feather Christmas tree!

• One rule that always applies, even during the flamboyancy of the Holiday season, size does matter! The size of the accessory should always be in proportion to where it’s being displayed. If you decide you’d like to showcase a larger item, that’s ok! It’s just best to have that one large item you love presented alone rather than creating visual chaos by grouping many items together in order to fill a space. That holds true whether you are coving your body or your walls.

• Non traditional Holiday colors are sure to make you and your décor style look as hot as our winter temperatures. Let’s face it; red and green aren’t always the most flattering on us or in our living spaces. The shades are tough to work around and they are powerfully strong colors. Some new festive colors you may want to introduce to your wardrobe and décor…blue, pink, silver, gold, black and white.

Whatever your style, enjoy sharing it with your family and friends. Let your personality shine through beautifully this Holiday Season! Be peacefully creative and courageous with your accessory choices. Carry your personality out of your closet and throughout your living space. Or…vice versa…which is another article we’ll save for the New Year…New You! ?

A Very Happy Holiday and Wish of a Wonderful New Year to All of You!

Denise

Copyright 2011 Fine Wine & Design

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See contest info here and the photos here.

Laura Slama Celebrated Cuisine | Executive Chef, Owner celebratedcuisine.com

2 T extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for rubbing
2 tender celery ribs, diced (1 cup)
½ sweet yellow onion, finely chopped
1 large garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1/4 cup prepared crushed tomatoes
1/4 cup dry white wine
2 T white wine vinegar
4 oz marinated artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
1/4 cup pitted green olives, chopped
2 T pine nuts, toasted
1 ½ T sugar
1 T capers, drained
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
4 basil leaves, chiffonade
2 each 6-ounce salmon fillets, skin on

1. Prepare caponata: Heat a large sauté pan with high sides over medium high heat. Add olive oil and heat until shimmering. Add the celery, onion and garlic and cook over moderate heat until just softened, 4 minutes.
2. Add the crushed tomatoes, wine, vinegar, artichokes, olives, pine nuts, sugar and capers and season with salt and pepper. Simmer until the vegetables are tender and the liquid is reduced, about 6-8 minutes. Stir in the basil and let cool.
3. Prepare salmon: Light a grill or preheat a grill pan (or preheat an oven to 425 degrees). Rub the fish lightly with olive oil and season with salt. Place fish on a small piece of foil (or parchment if placing in oven). Grill, skin side down, over moderately high heat, until no longer opaque, and a white liquid just begins to emerge from the top of the fish, for medium rare, about 9 minutes. Using a wide spatula, lift salmon from skin (it will stick to foil/parchment). Transfer the fish to plates, top with the caponata and serve.

As seen on Episode 13 “Beauty From The Beast.”

For more culinary inspiration KEYWORD “recipes”, a specific ingredient or click here.

Laura Slama Celebrated Cuisine | Executive Chef, Owner celebratedcuisine.com

Yield 6-8 parfaits

Ingredients

1. In medium bowl, beat cream cheese, lime juice, zest and sugar until smooth.
2. Whip cream in a separate cold bowl until it holds medium stiff peaks.
3. Fold whipped cream into cream cheese mixture.
4. Using martini or wine glasses, portion a little mousse into each glass, then layer some of the fruit (mixed or just one type). Continue to layer the mousse and berries, finishing with mousse, then garnish with a berry and shaved chocolate.

Note: Glasses may be filled and refrigerated a day in advance. Garnish up to one hour before serving.

As seen on Episode 13 “Beauty From The Beast.”

For more culinary inspiration KEYWORD “recipes”, a specific ingredient or click here.

More info at phoenixcooks.com

If you have romantic decorating ideas dying to come out, a great place to start is in the boudoir. Romantic bedroom decorating is not difficult. It does require a bit of effort and thought however to create a cozy elegance. Your bedroom reflects your personality as much as your cologne does. And this is one room of the house I highly encourage couples to come together when transforming your personal space into a romantic haven. There are a variety of things you can do to make a room beautifully romantic. Creating intimacy is about pulling together a mixture of lighting, color, furniture and accessories that make both you and your partner feel relaxed and close.

LIGHTING ~

Harsh overhead lighting is a guaranteed mood killer. If you use it, then my advice is to have a dimmer installed. This will allow you to control the look and feel of the room with the flick of a switch. Decorative lamps and specialty light bulbs can also be used to carry out the romantic ambience. Candles of course are one of the best uses of romantic lighting. Purchasing candles that have a romantic smell is a wonderful option. Men tend to enjoy clean scents. Lavender is a popular scent that is soothing and aides in our sleep.

COLOR ~

When it comes to creating romantic color schemes for your bedroom it’s best to combine white with a warm or cool color. The goal with color selection is to create an environment that is warm, rich in color, cozy and elegant. Be careful when choosing your accent colors as your selections can dramatically influence the mood of your space. I could write an entire article on the psychology of color alone. Here are a few guidelines to help with your color decisions.

Red is known to evoke anger. My professional advice (as well as my personal advice) is to not use it in the bedroom. However, a small dose of it can promote passion and desire so used creatively in your accents IS recommended.

Blues and greens are calming colors. Green is associated with fertility and marriage.

Yellow can sometimes cause nervousness and Ladies, is not the ideal color to apply make-up in, so pass on it as a color choice for the master bath.

Pink is a romantic, calming color, however is heavily associated to femininity.

Whites and grays used alone are plain, almost trance like and warrant a rich accent color to bring balance to the room.

FURNITURE AND ACCESSORIES ~

The most prevalent piece of furniture in the bedroom is…the bed! A four poster bed, canopy or detailed head and footboard scream, “love is in the air”. Solid colored bedding, especially white, and lots of throw pillows help to achieve a wonderfully romantic look. Satin or silk bedding can create instant intimacy effortlessly. Experiment with color! Flowers are an excellent decoration. Beautiful arrangements add romance and if they are real you can reap benefits from the lovely smells. Consider using romantic fabrics as well. Long curtains will add to your romantic ambience. The easiest, most cost effective tip for romantic bedroom decorating is simply to just move things around! A new view can bring excitement and the feeling of being on vacation in a hotel.

We spend a lot of time in our bedrooms. Create a haven for yourself and the one you love. Get creative! You only have to please yourselves so go ahead…be a hopeful romantic!

Copyright 2011 Denise Teichert