I am so charmed by a gift of a notepad with a chandelier that a friend brought me a while ago that I just had to find out where it came from! I am crazy about New Orleans based graphic designer Alexa Pulitzer's La Cartoleria Paper Collection. The website is full of charming designs for paper goods, napkins and cups, and even stickers. Please check it out and order a few pieces to fill your gift closet! The gifts will not disappoint! I love the note pads because they add a touch of charm to my daunting to-do list!

Huggable Hangers

During my training at HSN last week, I ran across the amazing set of Joy Mangano's Huggable Hangers. I have heard friends rave and rave about these amazing hangers before but I have always enjoyed my matched and monogramed wooden set. Actually feeling and seeing the Huggable Hangers up close and personal intrigued me! I am a convert! I just made my first purchase and ordered 500 hangers in the Dune color. While I am here in Florida, I am having my closet re-painted so I had to empty it out anyway. I am going to use this as a chance to change out all of my bulky and slick wooden hangers with the Huggable Hangers when I get home to re-organize. Joy tells us that we will be able to fit three times as many clothes in the closet and that things will not fall off as easily! The colors are fantastic and will look so pretty. She makes a child size and all sorts of clips and hooks. Treat yourself to some today!

Jewel of a Flower

My friends Amedeo Scognamiglio and Roberto Faraone Mennella have done it again. In addition to their glamerous jewelry collection, they have tapped into Roberto's father's passion for hybrid flowers. He mastered the art over years and years of reserach and experimentation at their estate in Torre del Greco, Italy. Their amazing one-of-a-kind black Nero Pansies and a thier Moulin Rouge Pansies with a ruffled edge look like fashionable cotoure gowns by Christian Lacroix. Starting this fall they will be avaliable at Takashimaya in New York. For more information you can write to them at flowers@faraonemennella.com.

While we are raving about Amadeo and Roberto, I could not resist mentioning their very affordable silver line for Macys. Check it out today!

KSW on HSN

Tune in Monday at 3 p.m. and 10 p.m. Eastern to order your Nescafe Dolce Gusto by Krups on my debut with HSN. If you miss me you can order at www.HSN.com!

The Last Lecture

I have just finished devouring the late Randy Pausch's The Last Lecture. I hope that you will pick it us and read it as I did. It is truly inspiring and a great follow up to the hit Internet sensation that his Last Lecture became. With his fantastic attitude and optimistic attitude, Randy used is final months of life to impart wisdom on both his students and his own children. We are so lucky that we get to hear it too! It is all about realizing your childhood dreams and I must say that it really makes me think back to what mine were! I am blessed that I have achieved many of mine but I still have a lot more to go! I especially love that he touches on the importance of hand written thank you notes, working as a team, and even filing alphabetically. From major life changing concepts such as chasing your dreams and working hard to detailed little things like not leaning back in your chair, this lecture will ignite a new passion for life in every reader. Order more than one copy because you will want to hand it out to everyone you know!

Steals to Spruce up Your Home

If you are in the mood to spruce up your decor, now is the perfect time. JC Penny has introduced a fantastic new line called Artesia and while searching their website for another one of the trays I purchased a few weeks ago, I noticed that many of their most stylish pieces are on sale now! My favorites are this fantastic Neutral Kilm Rug (marked down from $180 to $99)

and this set of Mahogany Nesting Tables (marked down from $720 to $299.)

I love the shapes and the Moroccan influence. They are sure to freshen up any decor. Send me photos and let me know how you use them at your home.

Pet Travel Safety Tips

Lola is a lucky little pooch. She is unabashedly spoiled and has traveled the globe with me!

With Pet Airways making news, I thought I should check it out! Seems to me that it is great for those of you who take a long summer break and want your pets to join you. Their website is fantastic and includes great ideas and tips for Pet Travel. You can tell that the people behind the pet service have a true passion for the passengers.

Lola is, thankfully, small enough that she can ride along in my carry on so I usually keep her right by my side. I hope that you will let your pet join in on the fun this summer but please make sure that they are always kept safe. Here are a few tips:

-Make a reservation for your pet. There is probably going to be a fee involved but grin and bear it. The love and licks you will get upon arrival will be well worth it! If you are taking your dog on board, check with the airline about their weight requirements and travel bag requirements. Many of them have strict policies including that only two pets can be on any plane at one time, one in the first class cabin and one in coach.

-Always book a non-stop flight. There have been horror stories about people loosing their pets because they don't make the proper transition or get lost in the shuffle.

-Put a strong collar and clear ID tag on your pet. Also make sure their kennel is marked properly with their name, your information and also a bold "live animal" marking.

I hope these simple tips help make your pets holiday a bit safer and easier. Have fun and stay safe!

Baby Gifts Galore

My husband and I love going to Flea Markets in whatever town we are visiting and yesterday we found a charming spot while on holiday in a tiny little town in Canada.  The thing that really caught my eye were all of the hand knit and crocheted baby items!  Even though my little man is almost two, I could not resist scooping up these treasures as gifts for friends.  Even though they were not the bargains you might expect from a flea market, I think the fact that they are made with love makes them far more special than any typical gift that could be picked up in any shop with little thought.  It is not easy to find anything made by hand these days so whenever I find these special treasures, I snatch them up!  I wish that I could make them myself, really!  I have been trying to finish the needlepoint on my son's Christmas Stocking for 18 months now and I am not even halfway there! These are the gifts that are sure to become family heirlooms.  If you can't make it to a Flea Market or simply prefer on-line shopping, check out these charming websites:

Bumble Bee Designs from down under (yes, I mean Australia) are truly unique and give the traditional art of knitting and applique and fun and modern new twist.  They are seriously worth the over seas shipping!  Now, if you can tell me that you have ever seen booties this cute then you must send proof!  I think these are just the most precious booties ever ($33 Australian Dollars)!  I love that they make the train design for boys.  Precious boy things are harder to find.

For a very sweet little girl in your life, you might consider this cupcake set ($90).  The set is hand appliqued and about as adorable as it gets!

Green Little Beans (such a cute name!) is filled with wonderful options.  I love their beautiful white blankets but at $80 each I think that they should be reserved for future nieces and nephews!  My other favorites on this site are this hand crocheted bib and bootie set 

in a beautiful and organic natural taupe yarn ($28) 

 

and this precious little yellow number that any baby should really have her portrait made in ($44)!

Patty Cake Fashions has a nice little variety of crocheted booties ($20), sweater and hat sets and little bib shirts made from handkerchiefs ($35).