Get Your British On With May’s Luxe List (Inspired by the Royal Wedding)
Posted: April 28, 2011 by Susan Matthews |Filed Under: Beauty & Fashion | Cooking & Entertaining | Luxe World | Personal Time & Luxe Mindset | Travel | Leave a Comment 
Luxe Libraries for Library Lovers Month
Photo by Ngoc Minh Ngo for HouseBeautiful.com
Adding up my 2010 receipts from Barnes and Noble revealed the depth of my book addiction. Tack on purchases from Amazon, ebooks and boutique book stores and I spent what amounts to a week-long European vacation. Does the Betty Ford Clinic deal with bookaholics? No? That’s alright. I’m at peace with my problem. I know what you’re thinking. “Just get yourself to the free library, lady!” As a kid, the local library was my gateway and enabler. I still carry a card, but nothing beats my home library. It’s a luxury I wouldn’t want to live without.
The denim blue room (a Ralph Lauren paint treatment) is anchored by glass-front cabinets in black wood that hold my treasured books by category. Family heirlooms and a few collectibles break up the rows and stacks. My favorite art adorns the walls and there’s a piano, an oriental rug, an antique typewriter and a very large, comfy distressed leather sofa with the requisite nail head trim and rolled arms. I can sink in for hours.
If you haven’t already, create your own library. It doesn’t have to be a dedicated room. A nook or a wall will do. A dining room/library combo is a great use of space and the books create warmth and ambience. Stocking your library doesn’t have to be expensive if you purchase your hardcover classics at second hand book stores. In honor of Library Lovers Month I’m sharing some inspiring links. Enjoy!
House Beautiful Designer Library Gallery
Most Interesting Libraries of the World
A History of Libraries/History Magazine
Posted: February 8, 2011 by Susan Matthews |Filed Under: Home Care, Decor & Garden | Personal Time & Luxe Mindset | Leave a Comment
Get Markdowns on Rub Downs
Massages may not be a medical necessity but they are beneficial to both mental and physical health. Plus, they sure do feel nice. Studies show regular rub downs can lower pain, anxiety and tension. Check, check and triple check on those three. If an appointment at the local ooh la la day spa isn’t in the budget, check local listings for Massage Envy, a national chain that offers discounted services. An initial 50-minute massage is advertised for $49. Also, check for local massage therapy schools. They often offer deeply discounted and sometimes free student sessions. If all else fails, make a mutually beneficial trade deal with your partner. Ahh.
Posted: February 1, 2011 by Susan Matthews |Filed Under: Personal Time & Luxe Mindset | Leave a Comment
Try a Wasted Time Diet
Go into 2011 with no regrets rather than resolutions. Life is too short to regret cookies. Please don’t start the year worried about losing weight. Let’s talk about gaining - time, that is, for your family, friends and yourself.
Here’s how. Remember those food diaries you kept to check calories. Keep a time diary, instead. Every day for at least two weeks, write down everything you do. Note when you do it, why you do it and how long it takes. Seeing where your time really goes is illuminating. Do your obligations line up with your priorities? If not, it’s time to start saying no. Is there a chore that could be handed off to an older child? Implement solutions a.s.a.p.
There is time. We just need to get creative in carving it out. I cordially invite you to join me in a year-long celebration of our new-found time. Please share where you find extra time and how you spend it. We can help each other. Raise that glass. Here’s a toast to us – the new ladies of leisure. Cheers!
Posted: January 2, 2011 by Susan Matthews |Filed Under: Personal Time & Luxe Mindset | Leave a Comment
The Fine Art of Giving: Max the Luxe – Not Credit Cards
What do you end up with when you wander aimlessly through the mall looking for gifts? That’s right – sub par presents. Plan your holiday gift shopping and the experience will hold far more fa-la-la.
The obligatory exchange of meaningless gifts gets a tad depressing. You want the wow factor, right? It has less to do with your wallet and way more to do with thought. Ah yes, that cliché. The truth is the thought only counts if you put some into it. Lavish your loved ones with your creativity. There’s nothing more luxe. Don’t worry. No craft skills are needed and you may even be able to skip the mall.
Gift Prompts:
· Think about inside jokes or shared memories. Is there a related gift that’s funny or sentimental? Personalize a t-shirt at CafePress.com or create a photo album at Snapfish.com.
· Sign them up for a magazine subscription that ties into a hobby or interest.
· Are they lucky? How about lottery tickets?
· Is there an experience you could share – skydiving, racecar driving, a cooking class or swimming with dolphins?
· Do they aspire to a dream job? Send them to rock camp, a writer’s conference or a session with a career counselor.
· Memberships to zoos and museums are gifts that keep on giving.
· Have they relocated? Send a taste of home. A favorite destination? Themed food baskets are great for folks who have everything.
General Guidelines:
· Women can never have enough jewelry, handbags, shoes or beauty products.
· Most men love tech gadgets, food, electronics and favorite team gear.
· Toys are tops with kids. Skip the socks and underwear.
· Teens are tough. It’s always good to ask the parent. A gift card means you gave up. You can do better.
· Older people don’t want more “stuff.” They usually prefer practical gifts such as quality sheets or gourmet food. Experiences are also appreciated. A dinner out, show tickets, and most of all, time with you.
Last but not least, presentation counts. Put a pearl necklace inside a clamshell and tie with a silk ribbon. Include an itinerary for a road-trip for two with that GPS. It doesn’t have to be perfect, just wrapped with love or the comics.
Pick a wrapping night. Assemble all your supplies and turn on the holiday tunes or tune into a classic Christmas movie. My mom uses a different wrapping paper for each member of the family. I’m less organized, but I do enjoy tying fun gift toppers into the bows. Take a break and sip a hot toddy. You’ll have time because you aren’t wandering aimlessly through the mall.
What are your favorite gift giving or wrapping ideas? Spill…
Posted: November 24, 2010 by Susan Matthews |Filed Under: Home Care, Decor & Garden | Personal Time & Luxe Mindset | Uncategorized | 4 Comments
Art Adds Luxury to Life
Art is a luxurious feast for the eyes and soul. Are you serving up any at home?
My parents had Janson’s History of Art in our bookcase while I was growing up. It was huge and I could barely lift it to the table. I would devour those pages of paintings and imagined the stories taking place in them. We only had one TV and I didn’t have first rights to it. The book was entertainment. (And I walked miles to school in the snow…)
Botticelli, Caravaggio and Dali were among my favorites for their drama and symbolism. I was just as fascinated with the painters themselves. When I was failing French in high school, a self-imposed book report (practically a thesis) on Paul Gauguin saved my grade. I didn’t care for his art, but he was French and fairly interesting.
My parents took me to all the museums within driving distance and if you dated me, you got dragged to The National Gallery and The Philadelphia Museum of Art. And you liked it! I minored in Art History in college and had to buy my own Janson’s History of Art. It is in my living room bookcase now. My kids have only cracked it a few times. Too many TVs!
As a reporter, I covered all the big exhibits for the Philadelphia Museum of Art and finally found an appreciation for Impressionistic and Modern art. Cezanne’s work, and everyone’s, is all the more interesting if you know the history behind it.
And to think people had these paintings in private home collections….
My parents have a couple treasured oil paintings on their walls. They are landscapes on canvas from the 1800s. Original art lends a luxury, legitimacy and intimacy to rooms, the way books do. I think that’s what is missing from most homes today – real art.
There are too many print purchases made at the Home Goods store because they are inexpensive and match the colors of the room. Van Gogh would cut off his other ear if he observed this trend.
Find your art on ebay, at estate sales and small galleries. It can be very affordable and I’ll post tips for buying art soon. Just be sure to make the purchase personal. Frame your kid’s finger paintings or your husband’s doodles. Take a water color or pottery class. Bring art into your home, visit museums and be inspired.
My favorite artist and inspiration is John William Waterhouse. His paintings are below. He was a Pre-Raphaelite artist, 1849-1917, who painted powerful women – mythological, saints, witches, mermaids – in a classical yet modern way for the times.
Posted: August 4, 2010 by Susan Matthews |Filed Under: Home Care, Decor & Garden | Personal Time & Luxe Mindset | 2 Comments
10 Indulgent Ways to Enjoy a Heat Wave
1- Get cultured. Take a community, college or online course in a subject that interests you. At winespectatorschool.com you can enroll in a 12-week certification course for $39 and learn about wine tasting, food pairings or regional differences.
2- Host a movie party. Rent a DVD and build a theme party around it. “Hot Tub Time Machine” lends itself to 80s flashback fun. Tell everyone to wear their shoulder pads, big hair and neon colors. Have a post-movie game of Trivial Pursuit 80s edition and play your old cassettes.
3- Head for the hills. It always seems cooler at the mountains. Check out luxury bargain specials at Shermanstravel.com. They’re currently offering a sweet summer deal in Telluride.
Eagle Rock Resort in Pennsylvania’s Blue Mountains, offers an Arnold Palmer designed golf course, an Aveda spa, equestrian center, tennis courts and hiking trails. For $207 on weekdays and $226 on weekends, you get beautiful views at the Lodge with $100 spa gift certificate and a round of golf. For more information, go to eaglerockresort.com.
4- Stay cool at a spaaah. Visit spafinder.com and click on the tab for spa deals. Enter your zipcode for discounts at salons and spas in your area.
5- Sip in style. When it’s hot as heck, be sure to stay hydrated. To add a little natural oh la la to your water, try a pitcher with fruit infuser. You can find them at QVC.com.
Here’s a little tip for all your iced beverages. Freeze some of the beverage you’ll be drinking in ice cube trays ahead of time. That way melting water won’t dilute your drink. Try it with your lemonade, vodka or a mix of both.
6- Mosey into a museum. Visit a luxe lady from history. In Philadelphia, Cleopatra – The Search for the Last Queen of Egypt – is at the Franklin Institute now through January.
7- Plan an August or September getaway. Travel drops off and discounts kick in at the end of summer when kids head back to school. Check out Shermanstravel.com for their European luxe list for discounted late summer trips.
8- Make the mall your air-conditioned mecca. Take advantage of summer sales on timeless classics but avoid trendy items that will be out of style by next summer. Window shop for fall fashions and make a wish list. After you take inventory of your fall clothes, refer to your list and fill in the blanks.
9- Give a room a luxe look. Completely empty out the room so you can see it with fresh eyes. Evaluate each item as you take it from the room. Do you love it and use it? If not, it goes. Create a staging area with the keep items. Shop your house for accessories and furniture to freshen the room up for free. Then move things back in from largest to smallest. Layer in the luxe, by addressing all your senses. Try adding a lightweight throw in a pretty pop of color, fresh flowers, accent lighting, soft music and a bowl of fresh fruit or chocolates.
10- Tune in to tune out. If you’re a mom, hire a mother’s helper for a day. Then, hit the farmer’s market for fresh strawberries. Don’t forget the whipped cream. When you get home situate yourself on the sofa with your big bowl of berries and whipped cream. Tune into Lifetime or any guilty pleasure. Now that’s indulgence.
Posted: July 14, 2010 by Susan Matthews |Filed Under: Personal Time & Luxe Mindset | Travel | 1 Comment
Enjoy a Spa-aah Escape at Home
By this time of winter, my psyche, skin and hair stage a revolt. Dry winter air and frayed nerves have taken their toll. Studies reveal we need to take care of ourselves in order to take care of others. Last year, I slipped away for an overnight spa trip with friends. It was lovely, but oh so temporary. The effects of the massage were erased when I arrived home to bickering kids and a pile of laundry.
In order to reap real benefits we need a daily dose of spa-ahhh. It’s the cumulative effect that counts. But I don’t have the time or the money for daily trips to Spa La Ti Da. Why not invest in our own home spa? It’s time to take our daily routine to diva-inspired ritual. All you need is a few carefully chosen items and a good lock on the bathroom door.
To become more spa-like, most bathrooms just need a refreshing redo of paint, fixtures, accessories and linens. Choose colors that have a calming, soothing effect on you. What surroundings make you feel comfortable? If you envision a roman bath, invest in marble touches and sculptures. Create a Zen retreat with bamboo plants and whisper soft colors. Hoping for Hollywood drama? Include a glam mirror and satin slippers.
With cabinet space at a premium, potions and lotions are often visible. Transfer them to crystal decanters to create a less cluttered look. Get your towels out of the cabinet to create more storage for your new spa staples. Country girls can replace a boring metal towel rack with an antique ladder mounted to the wall. An étagère is a euro chic way to display towels. Speaking of towels, make sure yours are plush and absorbent. Shop for ones made with 100 percent Egyptian or Turkish cotton.
The right lighting enhances your spa space. Dimmers work wonders for creating a mood, as do candles. For safety purposes, I prefer the scented flameless variety. Lavender and vanilla are known for their relaxing effect.
Tune in the quiet music. Play whatever brings down your blood pressure. In touching all the senses, we can’t forget taste. Prepare fresh cut fruit, scones and green tea. For p.m. pampering, I prefer champagne (wine will do), strawberries and mini chocolates.
Stock up on your favorite products for facials, long lingering baths, hair care and body treatments. The Solitude spa shower wrap offers arm-free warmth, fabulous fit and access for applying body treatments. For luscious locks, leave in a hair treatment and wrap it up in a Turbie Twist. Both products are available at QVC.com.
I can’t send over Sven the masseuse with magic fingers, but I can suggest any of the HoMedics Shiatsu cushions with heat.
It’s grand opening time. No appointments needed and no tipping at your own Ooh La La Spa. Slip in and let cares slip away. Whether it’s for a half hour each evening or a weekly at-home getaway, make sure everyone understands you are unavailable. Do not answer the phone under any circumstances. And, absolutely no guilt is allowed. Why do we always feel guilty? All those psychologists can’t be wrong. Last but not least. Lock the door.
Posted: February 17, 2010 by Susan Matthews |Filed Under: Beauty & Fashion | Home Care, Decor & Garden | Personal Time & Luxe Mindset | Leave a Comment
Champagne Moments
Please pass me your glass. This year, we will create champagne moments together. No bottle needed. We will embrace the bubbly, fizzy fabulousness life has to offer us in our everyday lives. For me, luxury is about attitude – not about bank accounts.
What is life’s biggest luxury? I can hear it echoing through cyber space. Time! As a working mom of two children in grade school, a writer and wife of a Congressional candidate, there isn’t much time to do anything but the necessary (and even that gets short shrift). I know you hear me, sister. It’s the same for you, isn’t it?
Last year disappeared in the blink of an eye and many of us are heading into 2010 more than a bit beleaguered. We’re going to change that right around. This year isn’t about losing (those last 10 or so pounds). It’s about gaining time – for our families, our friends and ourselves.
Here’s how. Remember those food diaries you kept to see how the calories were sneaking into your diet. Throw them out. I want you to keep a time diary. Every day for at least two weeks, write down everything you do, when you do it and how long it takes. Seeing where your time really goes is illuminating. Do your obligations line up with your priorities? If not, it’s time to start saying no. Is there a chore that could be handed off to an older child? Once you review your entries you can start getting creative with solutions.
There is time. We just need to get creative in carving it out. I cordially invite you to join me in a year-long celebration of our new-found time. Please share where you find extra time and how you spend it. We can help each other. Raise that glass. Here’s a toast to us – the new ladies of leisure. Cheers!
Posted: January 22, 2010 by Susan Matthews |Filed Under: Personal Time & Luxe Mindset | Leave a Comment
