Seven Healthy Habits-(Self-Care During Stressful Times), Published In Elegant Lifestyles Magazine Winter 2021

“Seven Healthy Habits-(Self-Care During Stressful Times)” is my second article in Elegant Lifestyles Magazine’s Winter 2021 issue. Shout out to Lyn Lilavati Sirota, yoga teacher, children’s book author, and friend who suggested the “Leg Up the Wall” posture for the Yoga section. Shout out, also, to Dr. Lisa Hochman, dermatologist and friend, who commented for the “Cleanse and Moisturize” section.

Want to find out more about Lyn Lilavati’s practice and classes? Check out her blog Feel the Peace.

Hon, hope you take some time for yourself this holiday season.

Ready, Set, Glow! Creative Hosting Ideas, Published In Elegant Lifestyles Magazine Winter 2021

Elegant Lifestyles Magazine, which shut down during the pandemic, debuted its return with a Winter 2021 Holiday Issue. Two of my articles appear in the magazine: “Ready, Set, Glow! Creative Hosting Ideas: Gatherings with Family and Friends” and “Seven Healthy Habits–(Self Care During Stressful Times).”

For the feature article, I thought about how winter holidays appeal to our senses and researched fun ways to add warmth and welcome from the moment guests step in the door. Can you tell I enjoyed coming up with section titles? “Let’s Take an Elfie” = sight. “Happy New Ear” = sound. “Spice it Up” = Scent. “Warm and Toast-y = taste. “Fleece Navidad = Touch. So many ideas to make get-togethers even more inviting and special.

Happy holiday hosting!

You Don’t Need a Green Thumb to Create Green Landscaping, Published In Elegant Lifestyles Magazine

Winter may be on the cover, but Spring’s around the corner!

There’s a pretty garden in front of our house but, except for supporting the peonies, pruning the roses, and weeding occasionally, I don’t do that much gardening. There’s lots to learn, especially when it comes to sustainable landscaping. For this article, I found out how to harvest rainwater, upcycle materials, compost yard waste, pave with permeables and, the idea I’d like to add to my spring cleaning list, build a rain garden.

Happy gardening, hon.

Pieces to Keep You Toasty Warm Through Winter, Published In Elegant Lifestyles Magazine

Winter 2020

The February/March issue of ELS came out and, with it, lots of lifestyle articles. The two I wrote for the magazine cover fashion and sustainable landscaping. Whenever I’m asked to write an article on fashion, I flashback to my UMass classes on the history of fashion. I found it fascinating to trace changes in society by studying what people wore. For “Pieces to Keep You Toasty Warm Through Winter,” I researched fabrics (flannel), mountain climbers (puffer coats and vests), and mills (fleece). I also checked out photos of athleisure, a style trend that may not have been coined when I was in college, but was being worn by all of us who ran from dorm to class to work to class again.

Happy reading, hon!

Holiday Gift Guide, Published In Elegant Lifestyles Magazine

Holiday Gift Guide

In preparation for writing “Ideas to Take the Guesswork Out of Gifting,” I took a day off. Well, not really, but window shopping at a bunch of stores didn’t feel like work. I’d never written a Gift Guide before, so it was a challenge to think of people’s ages, stages, and interests and figure out what kinds of holiday gifts would be well-received.

That reminds me, hon–I have more holiday shopping to do!

 

Small Business Saturday, Published In Elegant Lifestyles Magazine

Thanksgiving’s around the corner…

…and so is Black Friday, the official start to the holiday shopping season. The second article I wrote for ELS is “Small Business Saturday Turns Ten!” which talks about the inception of SBS and what some local towns have planned. In Summit, NJ where I work at a children’s boutique (What do we sell the most? Think lots of kids’ dressy outfits and matching pj’s!), there’ll be carolers, a horse and sleigh, hot chocolate, and more, throughout the season. Tell you what, hon–feeling a holiday spirit makes all difference whether you’re working or shopping.