“Across the gateway to my heart I wrote ‘No thoroughfare’ but love came laughing by and cried: ‘I enter everywhere!’ ” ~Herbert Shipman I was thinking I’d save this post for February 14th and quickly decided it must be sooner! I know that when I’m looking for inspiration for the next holiday I’m looking early.…
photograph by Melissa Placzek Cooking the evening meal is one of my favorite things to do. I light candles, play a soothing CD, and sip a glass of wine as I cook. I like to have a fragrant bouquet of flowers of a bowl of tangy lemons on the counter to delight my senses when…
In my book “Welcome Home-Simple Tips for Turning Your House Into a Luxurious Retreat” on page 36, I have written the instructions for creating a gossamer canopy for over your bed. This Graceful Gossamer Canopy is easy and inexpensive to make and it takes about 5 minutes. Simply hang a wreath or pretty ring style…
Scented linens are one of life’s most luxurious simple pleasures. These fragrant recipes were originally published in my book, Welcome Home. Indulge and breathe summer in slowly. SCENTED LAUNDRY SOAP: Add 1 teaspoon lavender essential oil and 1 teaspoon lemon verbena essential oil to a 64 oz. bottle of unscented laundry detergent. Shake well before…
by Melissa Placzek Dreaming of a comfy, cozy room your guests can call their own? Transform an extra room into a bed-and-breakfast-style getaway with little luxuries that are sure to pamper and please. Little Guest Room Luxuries A sewing kit Fresh, 300+ thread count, cotton sheets Fresh quilts Mooshy towels and washcloths Polished furniture and…
“From Greenland’s icy mountains, from India’s coral strand, where Afric’s sunny fountains roll down their golden sand.” -Reginald Herber (Missionary Hymn) Ethnic Shopping is the next best thing to taking a vacation. The aromas, vibrant colors, textures and flavors of these little shops are a feast for the senses. This will change the way you…
photograph by Melissa Placzek “Ah, there is nothing like staying at home for real comfort.” -Jane Austen If you are anything like me, you LOVE going on vacation. Seeing new sights, hearing new sounds, eating interesting new foods, and absorbing the feel and textures of a new place are the things that make the vacation…
photograph by Melissa Placzek When Jeff took me to Maui to celebrate my book “Chin Deep in Bubbles” coming out in paperback, he surprised me with a beautiful stay at The Ritz Carlton in Kapalua for our 10 day island vacation. After hours and hours traveling on planes to get from Minnesota to the island…
While writing my book, “Welcome Home“, I decided to include a page on easy ways to implement Feng Shui in your life every day. Wikipedia definition: Feng shui- (fung-shway / fung-shwee in English) is an ancient Chinese practice believed to utilize the Laws of both Heaven, (astronomy), and Earth, (geography), to help one improve life…
“Aromatherapy in Every Room” as seen on page 43 in my book “Chin Deep in Bubbles,” and on ivillage.com One of my favorite simple pleasures is taken from this page. Linen Spray. Picture yourself taking freshly washed sheets from your washer. Instead of mindlessly throwing them in your dryer (like we all have to do…