Happy New Year, Everyone!

2011 is winding down, and it is time to put away the Christmas decorations and take down the Christmas tree. The season is always too short for me, but my family and I enjoyed being together. My daughter will be returning to Manhattan and my life here in the desert will revert to the usual daily routines. I am eager to make the most of 2012, and I have lots of projects and ideas in mind. I wish all of you a very Happy New Year and may you and your loved ones be blessed in every possible way.

HOUZZ and PINTEREST Are Great Resources

Today I was reading one of my favorite blogs Brunch At Saks by Annemarie, and she said she was over at HOUZZ so I decided to go to www.houzz.com and check it out. Previously I viewed her pinboards at PINTEREST at www.pinterest.com and found them inspiring. If you have not visited either of these sites, I urge you to do so. You will find great ideas, wonderful photos of everything from A to Z, and ways to collect the ideas you like and keep them in one location for future use. Whether your interest is in fashion, home decor, kitchens, nurseries, colors, art, etc. you will find these two sites incredibly helpful and fun to use. My problem is I already stay up way too late spending too much time online; now with two more tempting and useful sites I may never get any sleep. If you visit the sites I would love to know what your thoughts about them are...........so comments are welcome!

Celebrating Holidays During Tough Times

Halloween is now over, and immediately our thoughts turn to Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hannakuh, Quanza or the New Year. During tough economic times being faced all over the world, how will celebrations be handled? Please share your suggestions and ideas for how you plan to enjoy the holidays and acknowledge the occasions without having the financial means to do what you may have done in previous years. I know that many of you have great ideas, creative suggestions, and positive attitudes that dictate making the best of everything despite the circumstances. If you share your thoughts in the comment section below I will be glad to publish them so they are available for everyone to read. Thanks for participating! Who knows? Your ideas may help another family celebrate in ways they would not have thought of, thereby making the holidays more enjoyable for them.