Easy styling with our 3-2-1 Rule

Get your pillows together to create a truly luxurious bedding experience

3 - Start with three pillows

Start to build the layers with three pillow styles. You’ll want to have a pair at the back to offer some cushion at your head. Two plump pillows, in white or off-white is a great start.

2 - Think : textures

Once you’ve established the foundation, think about textures and adding visual interest — they set the tone to your styling. Start with smooth cotton pillows in the back, then think of pairing a contrasting texture to offset those base shams. A lumbar pillow either spanning across your bed or a smaller accent pillow will be beautiful. The contrast alone will be eye-catching!

3 - Now add color

When you’re styling that one lumbar or accent pillow, think of color— it’s a way to express the mood you set in your bedding. Want to keep it neutral? That’s great! Want to add a shift in color? Think about your arrangement of pillows as an outfit; you can keep it simple at the base or jazz it up with a bright pillow at the front!

Three Ways to Stay Healthy Right Now

We’re past the winter solstice! Now, what? The days are getting longer and though there might be some cold weather in the months ahead, here are three ways to stay upbeat while we wait for spring:

1. Freeze Your Meals

What better way to meal plan than using your freezer. Make a batch of soup and freeze most of it for future meals when you don’t feel like cooking. And, what about making those breakfast quiches in the cupcake tins you saw on Pinterest? Yep! Cook a batch of eggs and add different veggies and cheese to them and defrost as you need them for the week. Freeze bananas and frozen fruit for smoothies. Don’t forget to throw in frozen spinach or kale for an added nutritional boost.

2. Deep Clean

With the cold weather, our skin can get a bit dull. Who doesn’t love a radiant glow to their skin? My aunt would brighten her skin with her own mixture of granulated sugar and fruit-based cleanser for a light scrub which would lightly polish her skin. I’ve used this method for years and I combine sugar with Mario Badescu’s orange cleanser and gently scrub around the dry areas of my face to freshen the skin, taking care around the eye area. If you’re skin is acne-prone, try a salicylic cleanser from your local pharmacy. Then, finish with a good quality moisturizer.

3. Power Down

One of my favorite things to do in winter is take my dog, Stella, on walks in nature. We’ve hiked through snowdrifts, climbed hills and have put in our fair share of steps through snow and muddy fields. And when you work out, your body needs to recover. If you have time to restore on the weekends, take 5 minutes to do some mindful walking meditation, or, if you don’t have kids (😜), take a 30 minute nap to refresh, or watch your favorite nature channel for some relaxing content. Step away from smart devices and make some stress-free block(s) of time.

photo: annie spratt

Mending…A Skill from The Past

1.“Mending! It’s like a life skill from the past…”

My friend Emily has a great point! You can patch a hole in a T-shirt. The little patches add character to your wardrobe. Get a swatch of fabric and use pinking shears to keep the edges from fraying.

2. Sashiko!

Learn how to do sashiko mending for jeans and make an art out of fabric swatches that you stitch in a multitude of patterns. You can make it a project and just stitch at your leisure. Check out YouTube or Pinterest for ideas and how-to’s galore. Pick a simple pattern and just go for it.

3. Mend your sweaters!

There are articles and posts about using some contrasting yarns, sewing around a hole and doing some handy detail and decorative work that will stand out as something unique with your own, personal touch.

Three Things for This Weekend

1 - Breakfast in Bed

It doesn’t matter if you have to get up and cook it, but bring it back to bed. Treat this like a mini planning station for putting your favorite errands on the weekend docket.

2 - Take a Hike

Seriously, take a hike or brisk walk early in the morning–just get up and move! If you don’t want to be at one with nature, then do some jumping jacks to kickstart your metabolism and increase your heart rate.

3 - Plan a Spa Night

Pour yourself a cool glass of water and add sliced cucumbers or lemon wedges. Or, make yourself a hot cup of herbal tea. Soak your feet. (That hike or walk was good, right?) Do a salt scrub on your feet. Or, take a warm bath before bed and know that you made time to care for yourself and prep for a good sleep.

photo: dane tashima