Friday Favorite: Decanters By Joe Cariati
Vintage glass is hot, hot, hot. But these new, handmade decanters made by Joe Cariati blows vintage out of the water.
These look best in a grouping. And you don’t have to fill them. They’re lovely all by themselves. You can find these at OK for $375.00 each.
DH Giveaway: The Vintage Table
Have you entered yet? I’m giving away this terrific book, The Vintage Table, by Jaqueline DeMontravel, on Saturday.
Anyone who loves vintage tabletop dishes, linens, vases and more, will find this book inspirational. I did.
To get the detail about how to enter (basically, leave a comment under the post) follow this link. The winner will be announced on Saturday and is drawn at random. No tabletop design experience is needed!
Good luck!
DH Giveaway Winners!
What a crazy week I had. So much work to do with clients, getting my home ready for the holidays, Christmas shopping. Is it like that for you? I hope these prizes will help dress your tree, or someone else’s. And I’m hoping the Paint Style book will inspire the winner to spruce up a room or two. If you need some help, just ask me!
The winner of the Lilly Pulitzer gift set is….

Shahida!
Congratulations! I’m giving Shahida the preppy name of Curly, after the woman who built our home, Curly Ledyard. She was the ultimate prepster. So, Curly! Your gift will be winging its way to your home on Monday.
The winner of the Paint Style book is….

Jeanne!
Jeanne is not in to pink and green. I’m sure she’ll find some excellent ideas to paint her home beautifully. Congratulations!
Next week, I’ll have two more giveaways. Stay tuned on Monday for the big reveal. Have a great weekend.
Last Day to Enter This Week’s Giveaways!
Have you entered to win the giveaways yet? Here are the details.

First up is this lovely set of Lilly Pulitzer photo frame Christmas ornaments. They’re from Grosse Pointe’s own Lilly shop, The Village Palm. To enter this giveaway, simple leave me a comment with your top-notch preppy name. Mine is Tucky. Feel free to borrow ir.

Next, is this fantastic book from Benjamin Moore. Paint Style is a real decorating book with lots of tips on how to paint and how to achieve different effects in your home. To enter, just leave a comment and let me know you wnat Paint Style. Or, let me know your name is Buffy and the Help will be needing that book. I’ll enter you in both!
The winner will be drawn at random tomorrow. So you have until the end of Friday to enter. Everyone living in the US and Canada is eligible. Good luck!
Friday Favorite: Art & Photos by Marc Loret
I can’t remember how I came across Marc Loret, but I was immediately attracted to his photography. Let’s take a peek.


Marco lives and works in France where he pursues his two passions: photography and nature. Many of his photos are of the natural world. He sells his work at his Etsy shop. Standard size prints are 6″ x 6″ and sell for $9.00. You can order larger prints as well.


I suggest buying several and grouping them. Buy three – one in a larger size and two in the same. Mat and frame them and you’ve got a lovely wall.
When Marc isn’t taking photos, he’s creating his own illustrations on vintage books.


You can find these at his other Etsy shop. Most prints sell for about $10.50.
The Best Christmas Ornaments
The thing I like about Christmas ornaments is the memories associated with them. There are those we made in childhood. Some our own children made. Special gifts from special friends. Each year those memories are newly discovered.
Give an ornament and you’ll be giving a memory as well. Here are some of my favorites.
Are you a Christmas angel person or a Christmas star person? I love this angel from Clarissa Hulse (about $50.00). Her shop is in the UK. The Presepe Collection, from Alessi is adorable. You can add to the collection each year. It’s my kind of manger (at Unica Home at various prices).
These glass ornaments, designed by Klaus Haapaniemi for iitala ($18.00 for 2) are intricately painted with a peacock and an owl. You can find them at FinnStyle. Peace and love? We need those in abundance. Jonathan Adler’s gift set ($48.00) will shake your tree.
What I Want For Christmas
Dahling, this speaks to me. Don’t ask me why, because it’s completely silly, but I love this pig. I’m not a particular fan of pigs, but I am a huge fan of Jaime Hayon. And here’s something designed by Jaime (first name basis you know) that’s not thousands of dollars – only around $142.00 at Wannakees.

A little pig could look nice on a bookshelf, a dresser or some other serendipitous place It’s just a little something that makes me smile.
What’s on your smile list?
DH Giveaway: Lilly Pulitzer Christmas
Everyone here in Grosse Pointe, including Binky and Wellington Triplet, III (actual real name), knows that the proper Christmas colors are pink and green. That’s why this giveaway is so spot on. This lovely set of Lilly Pulitzer photo frame Christmas ornaments is courtesy of The Village Palm – Grosse Pointe’s social hub for all things Lilly.
You can divide up the set, fill them with photos of you and Tucky at the tennis club, and give them as stocking stuffers. Or, keep them all for yourself. Your tree will look top drawer! And thanks to my pal, Sarah, for sponsoring this giveaway. If you live in or near The Pointes, be sure to stop by The Village Palm to stock up on all your pink and green supplies.

As usual, the contest runs all week and I’ll announce the winner (drawn at random) on Saturday. To enter, let me know your favorite Prepster name. Missy, Worth, Trip are just a few suggestions.

Don’t forget this week’s other giveaway – a copy of Benjamin Moore’s Paint Style. It’s filled with lots of tips on how to make your mansion look its best. Follow this link to read the details.
Top 8 Scent Diffusers
I’ve become a fan of diffusers. Candles can cloud the air, while diffusers are clean. They’re also beautiful and look great in a powder room, or on a kitchen counter.
Here are eight great styles
1. Alora Ambiance
Alora’s scents are splendid and the diffuser is nice. They feature a cloth label from the designer or company who created the scent. And there are a wide variety of scents to choose from. My only complaint is that I don’t like labels. You can’t peel these off. The 16 oz. diffusers last for 4 -6 months and sell for $80.00. If you live in Detroit, you can find them at Barney’s Co-Op. They sell an 8 oz size for $58.00.
2. Manhattan Diffusion

I like these diffusers from, Manhattan Diffusion, a lot. They’re glass and come in several sizes and shapes. The largest, Classic” size (500 ml) sells for $48.00. They sell a mini for $14.00.
3. K Hall Designs

The scents from K Hall Designs are really the thing here. They’re very sophisticated and use high quality ingredients. They have a label, but I like the style. If the diffuser is set among some other tabletop items, I think it won’t look so much like a product. You can buy these locally at Scout, in Royal Oak.
4. Votivo

What’s not to like here? I ask you! Votivo’s diffuser is the loveliest ($50.00). They’re famous for their red current scent.
More scented beauty!
DH Giveaway! Handmade Christmas Stocking
This week’s giveaway is a beautiful, handmade Christmas stocking, designed, machine embroidered, and sewn together by me! Say nice things about it!

This giveaway is like the others. It last all week and I’ll draw the winner at random on Saturday. Leave a comment under any of the posts and you’re in. I ship to the US and Canada.
I’ll run reminder posts, with the final one on Wednesday. Then I’m off for Thanksgiving. But you’ll hear from me on Saturday when I announce the winner. And don’t forget that starting next week I’ll be running two giveaways each week until Christmas.
Friday Favorite: One King’s Lane
I am totally addicted to this shopping site. One King’s Lane sells luxury home goods and discounted prices. I stop by almost every day to see what’s up for grabs. If I ever get my Christmas list act together I’m going to do some serious damage there – probably just for myself!
Here are a few things that were up for sale as of yesterday.
Trays, place mats and bowls from Pearl Dragon, pillows by Monya, and throws from Pur Cashmere (were $356, now $179). You have to act fast or the best stuff is gone. Great shopping site.
Lettepress from Paper Source
This letterpress kit from Paper Source is something I could really get into. I’m a fan of the dying art of letter writing. Never underestimate the power of a hand-written thank-you note.

Now you can make your own handprinted stationary with this letterpress kit from Paper Source. Make your own monogrammed stationary, Christmas cards, thank-you notes – a thousand and one uses. Yay! Become the most popular craftster on your block – everyone will want to be your best friend in exchange for their own stationary made by you. Better than a pork chop any day.

The letterpress kit (comes with a bunch of stuff) sells for $149.99. The wedding, alphabet (not shown) Christmas kits sell for $24.99 each.
I’d like to see more kits and Paper Source should add a link to extra paper. Other than that, I love it. How about you?



