Beginning today, and then every Thursday. Right here. I’ll be sharing a list of some enchanting things I’ve found or made or tried.
It’s part of my effort to keep the magic of Christmastime alive year-round. A totally arbitrary collection of inspiring charms.
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And if you’ve got one – or more – please share.
1) Valentine Tree: a/k/a Dracaena plant that I swathed in my own red and white twinkle lights. Cost: $12.98 for the plant at Home Depot (after trying to buy local at 2 nearby garden centers/florists, but no go).
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At my Home Depot on Jan. 10, tropical plants were even less – on sale for $10.98, if you’d rather. My new pet plant is smaller than many there, stands in a large pot, just under 4 feet, requires medium light (most of the other large plants needed bright light which I am fresh out of in my kitchen).
Anyway, as I wrote about in my post this week, I was yearning to find a replacement for the mini Christmas tree that has lit up the dark corner of my kitchen lair for the past 6 weeks. This new little guy, which my kids say looks like a palm tree, has leaves big and strong enough to rock those twinkle lights. And it cleans the air!
2) The Hotel Giraffe, 365 Park Avenue South at 26th Street, New York City, www.hotelgiraffe.com. Luxurious, cosmopolitan, gracious, lovely. And welcoming.
Yes, it’s a splurge, but staying there just the one night completely changes your head around. They do have specials and if you make a reservation that is nonrefundable, the rate can be significantly lowered.
Wonderful breakfast included in room rate. Most nights complementary wine and cheese reception is part of the stay and-yay! jazz piano many nights. And it’s where I made two wonderful new friends, fellow hotel guests, a year ago (shout out to you, Linda and Howard!). If you get a room with the tiny balcony, you can stand out on Park Ave. and watch the sun come up. Magic.
3) Random and Intentional Act of Kindness: Maybe you already do this. Standing in line at the post office, the grocery store and out on my walk I look, REALLY look, at the people near me and silently send them wishes for their well-being, or a blessing. I also do this when I’m sitting at a red light for the driver next to me. Does it work? Dunno. I like to think so. Cost: nada.
4) Best new recipe: Pasta with Roasted Butternut Squash, Sausage and Pecans by Emeril Lagasse, Food and Wine, February 2012, p.106.
Had to try it the day we got the magazine. Delish! And special enough to serve guests. You could prep most of it to throw together with pasta cooked at the last minute, if you’re entertaining. Just had a bite of the leftovers to remind myself (yes, I know it’s 9:00 a.m….). Love it!
5) Helpful reminders:
“A diamond is nothing more than a lump of coal that handled stress very well.”–Jeff Herring
and
“If you are not having fun, you are doing something wrong.”–Groucho Marks
(For more inspiring quotations, check out http://amagicd.blogspot.com/) enjoy ...
