Happy Holidays To All

And since giving is what this season is all about, Will Kolb from Sherle Wagner reminds me that for a mere $100 donation, the Hyatt Regency will give one homeless person a night at the Inn and a heavenly meal. Check it out and get out your checkbook!

Happy Holidays

Our D Home offices are closed for the holidays until January 2. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

P.S. Have you seen Candy Evan’s new blog on Dallas real estate, Dallas Dirt? Or Nancy Nichols’ blog about Dallas restaurants, Side Dish?

D Home for the Holidays

In case you haven’t noticed, no one is here. Well, I am. But I’m busying finishing up the February issues of D and D CEO. (Ah the D Empire—she rarely sleeps.) Anyway, the D Home kids are on vacation until Wednesday, Jan. 2. Blogging will be sporadic at best. Until then, have a happy holiday and drink lots of egg nog.

NorthPark Shopping Update

It brought me true Christmas joy to give my coveted NorthPark parking spot to a cute white-haired couple in a Cadillac this morning. Probably out shopping for their grandkids. But seriously, people, do not go to NorthPark past 10:30 in the morning. There are not spots, not even valeted spots. A Banana Republic sales associate told me that shoppers were reporting one-hour wait times for a parking spot. She said one shopper was bragging about circling for only 20 minutes. 20 minutes! Same goes for Highland Park Village. Don’t do it to yourself. There is still time; shop Amazon.

DWR Gift Sale

Design With Reach just added more items to its gift sale with prices up to 50 percent off. DWR doesn’t have sales all that often. Go. Shop. Now.

Smink Carries Italian Manufacturer MDF

Smink is carrying a stunning new line called MDF Italia. It may stand for medium-density fiberboard; this Random Bookcase is made of fiberboards. Or possibly magnificent, delicious furniture. Or more likely, something in Italian. The bookcase, which will be featured in our Jan/Feb issue, is always white, but otherwise it’s quite flexible. It can stand alone (each unit measures 31 inches wide, 85 inches tall, and 10 inches deep) or form a row to cover an entire wall. Another reason to visit Smink: The colorful arcade glass bottles are 30 percent off.

Elements of Design from Nina Campbell

I just received this new book by Nina Campbell from my friends at ID Collection. I can add it to my collection of all Nina’s books that I have from a previous life - but that’s another story. Nina is one of the most influential decorators in the world - and one of the few that doesn’t “believe her own press.” In other words, she doesn’t take herself too seriously and is one of the wittiest, most entertaining people I know. If you ever get a chance to see her in person - don’t miss it. You will doubtless learn something, and have fun at the same time.

Best Outdoor Lighting

After perusing the many streets of the Park Cities, (in part to find my stolen reindeer), and excluding the energy factor, I’ve decided that the Tolleson family gets top prize for best outdoor holiday lighting. If you haven’t seen it, treat yourself to a drive through Volk Estates - you won’t miss it! Extraordinary. And who knows, maybe the whole thing is powered with LED bulbs.

Time To Change The Dog

Put away the summer, get out the fall. Lucca Bella Doggie Spa & Boutique on Oak Lawn has fab winter clothing such as dresses, coats, bomber jackets for Fluffy to wear while on the private jet to Maui, a bikini when she gets there, and unusual bows and collars.

Postpone Post-Holiday Diets… Tart Opens

If you’ve gone to a round of company, bookclub, volunteer group, and friend holiday parties, then images of you in a sexy sparkly number on New Year’s Eve have already faded. That, or you have tremendous willpower, in which case, I’m jealous, and this blog is not for you. Okay, the news: My favorite cupcake bakery Tart Pastry Boutique & Studio is adding a location in The Shops at Legacy, and if I know Tart, it will be pink, lime green, and filled with sweet things. I say either postpone the post-holiday diet or wait until you break your resolutions. Tip: If you call ahead for special orders, they are very accommodating on snazzy decorations.

Holiday Home Pet Safety

Good advice if you have animals — I treasure my tooth-mark branded ornaments but keep the Poinsettias away from the pups.

Hottest Kitchen Gift of the Year

The Aerocinno, a miraculous little stainless steel container that heats and froths milk in about 90 seconds, has officially hit the big time. According to my sources at William Sonoma, this baby has already sold out more than once this season. I bought the last one in the Highland Park store - right off the display shelf. At $90, it’ll pay for itself in no time (sorry Starbucks). Call Nespresso at 800.562.1465 and see if you can still get one by Christmas.

Holiday Parties = Fabulous Home Tours

I am going to have to burn my house down and start all over - before I ever host a holiday party. Seriously, the parties I’ve been to this year have been all about the house, not the catering, decorations (although they’ve been great) or guest attire. In the past three days I’ve enjoyed the likes of the Greene’s Preston Hollow home (completely renovated in mid-century mod by Nancy Leib), Betsy Sowell’s Volk Estate manor (with a recent kitchen overhaul that includes blue granite counters and wide plank floors) and Lucia Hrncir’s three story Highland Park Tudor (she had a gift wrap party - with hundreds of rolls of paper, ribbon, accessories, tags, catered breakfast and lunch).
And to think, I was considering a New Year’s Eve fete…

Josie Ringing Her Holiday Bell

She’s going to be so surprised when Santa brings her a new cage!

The Joys of Renovation

This was Amanda Tackett’s dressing room after the plumbing burst in the attic earlier this week. If you are remodeling an old house, or just like really good writing, you’re going to love her new, regular column in D Home, which debuts in January.

A Really, Really Big Bed

I didn’t even know that XL and XXL king beds existed, but Anichini is making some really gorgeous linens for them.

Re: Downward Facing Blog

You’re right, Laura. That doesn’t make sense, but I’m planning to go to yoga tonight, so I kinda like it. It should be noted, though, that the D Empire has come up with yet another way to help you while away your work day. Dallas Dirt, a real estate blog, is up and running, featuring the likes of Eric Celeste, Candy Evans, Todd Johnson, and Jessica Elliott. So if you want to read about the who’s (Dave Perry, Eleanor, Ebby…) and those confusing phrases (sub-primes…), this is the place, my friends.

Brad-y Bunch Christmas

Every once in awhile, someone’s Christmas card outdoes everyone else’s. This year, that title goes to designer Brad Oldham and family—we’ve been passing their card around the office. It’s a thin, flexible ruler with “Yard by yard, everything is hard. Inch by inch, everything’s a cinch,” screen printed on one side, and cute headshots of Brad and Christy, their kids, and the cat, lined up under “Enjoy every inch of the holidays with those you love,” on the other. It’s clever—fitting for Brad Oldham. No word on where they’re from, but I’d get one, too, if my family resembled the Brady Bunch.

Downward Facing Blog

Okay, that doesn’t even make sense, but I’m having a hard day. So guess what? The D empire is launching yet another blog—and though I can’t bear the thought of you leaving us for a second—I suppose I will understand if you feel the need to cheat. Our new all-things-food blog SideDish features some of my favorite writers—and people, really—including the lovely and talented Nancy Nichols, Sarah Eveans, Jennifer Chininis, and Todd Johnson. I think that’s enough to whet your appetite, yes? (That could be more unforgivable than my headline.) So, do check it out. But come back soon so you can read more of my deep thoughts on important matters. Next up: the deficit.

Gift Guide Analysis

No doubt you’ve been studying gift guides in your favorite publications—ours included. Let’s be honest, some are better than others. The good folks at Slate rate a number of them, point out best and worst ideas, and contemplate target audiences for each. This is what they say about Town & Country’s target audience: “The direct descendents of feudal lords, particularly those who enjoyed foxhunting and oppressing their serfs.” In other words: Peggy.

For Furry/Feather Friends: Huge Sale at Petco

We do stockings for our dogs and bird. Thus I was delighted to learn that Petco at Preston Forest is shutting it’s doors ONLY at that location. (Tom Thumb is expanding to, I guess, keep up with the Whole Foods across the street. Remember when gas stations used to compete for business, practically giving away gas and cigarettes? Now the food chains are at it.) Anyway, massive price reductions on toys, beds, bowls, treats,  outfits, collars and leashes. I picked up a new bird cage for Josie, our Yellow Naped Amazon, for $199.00. It’s her Christmas present, apreciate if you keep mum until Dec. 25.

RE: Hostess Gifts

Jessica, I have received gifts from Red Envelope and they come in such pretty packages you never want to recycle the wrappings! (Which is a huge problem chez moi, I spent most of the weekend recycling holiday boxes from years past. Old Sanger Harris or Marshall Fields boxes anyone?) Whenever I wrap gifts I wonder if I am enlarging my geo footprint to, say, dinosaur proportions. Wonder what Loyd has to say about that!

Hostess Finds

We’re nearing the last week of Christmas parties; your hostess gift selections are starting to dwindle. Shop from home at RedEnvelope.com. The Lola tea light holders (I spotted some similar ones at Nest on Saturday), fit the bill at just $26 for four (they’re on sale). Or, if you’re feeling more generous, splurge on the Gaia & Gino Baby Herkimer candlestick holders ($139)—sculptural artist Arik Levy designed them to have an optical effect. You can’t go wrong.

Bright Group Additions

I love the Bright Group Showroom here at the International Design Center - it is slick, sophisticated, stylish, and just a little too serious. So, I’m crazy about these new additions to their collections - Evan Lewis and the Golden Triangle. Just enough whimsy to keep everything a little off center where things are interesting.

The Mansion Mystery

I received a Christmas card from one of my favorites, Erika Gonzales over at the Mansion. In it, she wishes me a happy holiday season of gift giving and social climbing. I have no idea what she means… (Full disclosure: I know it’s narcissistic to link to a story I wrote, but there’s a lot of pressure to blog. You’re welcome, Adam.)