Silver Bells

Right now I am adrift in a sea of papers to grade and exams to score (thus the erratic postings).  So, as I wind down another semester, I am daydreaming of fancy, silvery, Christmasy things.  Just a few more days until I may rest and delight in the sparkle of the holidays.

The Color of the Year

In yesterday's Wall Street Journal, I was happy to discover that honeysuckle pink was named by Pantone as the color for 2011, replacing 2010's turquoise. 

This particular hue of pink is a soft, cotton-candy shade with undertones of orange.  It is a universally flattering color for fashion and a undeniably cheerful color for home design. 

Words to Live by

I wanted to share a few favorite words on this winter morning. 

Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening

By Robert Frost

 

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree

"The best way to spread Christmas Cheer, 

is singing loud for all to hear." 

-Buddy the Elf

Everyone has their favorite holiday tunes. Maybe it's the classic crooner you listen to while decorating the tree or sitting by the fire, or maybe it's a catchy modern song that sticks in your head all December.

Sugar Plum Dreams

When I hear even just a few notes of Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker score, I cannot help but twirl.  Though my ballet skills have surely tarnished since my youth, the music reawakens my urge to arabesque and pas de bourrée across my kitchen floor.  Tom Cruise may play air guitar in his undie to Bob Seger, but I put on my imaginary tutu and stage a mini production of my favorite holiday ballet. 

Cheers: Festive Beverages

If you're throwing a holiday fête or just having a few friends over for drinks, you need not invent a new candy cane martini to offer a festive beverage to your guests.

Holiday Joy

"Joy is not in things; it is in us."
--Benjamin Franklin