Country Living shared easy holiday snowflake craft projects that triggered the idea to deck your guest room. I never deck a bedroom but since your guest room is the private living quarter of your guests during their stay, why not add a winter touch to their decor?  The snowflake pillows are cute. Do not forget to add some shiny touches. The silver lampshade is a superb idea to achieve it.

Since your guests may be hungry when they arrive, leave on their room a coconut frosted cupcakes with its beaded snowflake topper. You simply need long and short clear beads and some wire to make your own topper.

+ photos: Country Living

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I love scrambled eggs. It is simple and fast to make but strangely most people did not learn how to properly cook scrambled eggs. And the fast-food industry did not help on that matter.

Therefore, I share my secrets for making the perfect scrambled eggs. First of all, scrambled eggs do not have any cream or milk. I learned that as a child. Second, you season the eggs after they are cooked. I feel that it is true even for fried eggs. Third and this is probably a departure from what you learn: you separate the egg white from the yolk. The reason is that you must not overcook the yolk to produce scrambled eggs with an airy, moist texture. Believe me, it is heavenly delicious when done that way.

I learned the third rule by watching French Food at Home with Laura Calder. Doing scrambled eggs this way is simpler than the traditional bain-marie technique that is so popular in French cuisine. Whether you use Laura Calder’s recipe or the bain-marie technique, one fact stays the same: scrambled eggs must be cooked at low temperature. For taste, I always add finely cut chives to my scrambled eggs.

Best Scrambled Eggs Recipe

Ingredients for 2 persons:

• 5 eggs – separate the white from the yolk in 2 bowls
• 1 tablespoon of butter, cut in 2 part – I use salted butter but Laura uses unsalted butter
• Freshly grounded sea salt and pepper
• Finely cut chives, to taste

Equipments:

• 2 small bowls and a fork
• medium to large non-stick frying pan – eggs are the only reason I own a non-stick frying pan
• wooden spoon

If you prepare the recipe for a larger group, know that I count 2 eggs per person, plus one extra egg per 2 to 3 persons. I do not adjust for butter, unless I see a need at step 5. I basically followed how Laura Calder did her recipe on the French Food at Home episode. It can be resumed in 5 steps:

1. Melt half the butter at low-temperature on the frying pan.
2. Lightly whisk the white egg with a fork 10 to 12 times.
3. Pour the egg white in the pan and constantly stir with a wooden spoon. Constantly scrap up what sticks to the sides and bottom. I like to draw big 8’s when I stir.
4. When the egg white starts to look like a blizzard (a light one), add the yolks and continue to stir until the yolks are partially cooked.
5. Remove from heat, season, add chives and the second part of butter. Serve immediately.

If you host a brunch or have guests sleeping order, try out this scrambled eggs recipe. Your guests will thank you.

+ photo: French Style Scrambled Eggs on Food Network Canada

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We have to admit that gift wrapping during the Holiday quickly filled the trash can. It makes sense to explore ways to be more ecologically conscious. And when the packages are as great as these, being eco-friendly feels like an indulgence.

The founder of Pi’lo is Heather Shaw, a Torontonian mother of 2 young boys. She hand makes functional items for the home. I like her minimalist, comfy style. Like Heather said on her site, her creations can be passed around like a family heirloom.

My Favorite Items from Pi’lo

Her reusable crackers are made with recycled pop bottles that are transformed to look and fill like felt. I interested by her concept since I decide to make my own crackers this year. Her eco felt cracker comes with a lining, ribbon closure and a tag that can be used as a place card or a gift tag. I would personalize the crackers by putting more festive ribbons and maybe adding a tiny gift ornament on one end.

Another good idea is to replace the standard paper gift bag with one of her felt bags. Intended for loots at at kids parties or baking bags, small gifts would fit nicely inside her felt bags. Add a few holiday decorative touches and voilà!

Some people exchange tree ornaments during the holiday. Her lovely photo pocket ornament would be appreciated. Insert a family photo and give then to grandparents, your best friends and close family members.

SOURCING:
+ Reusable Crackers $10 USD
+ Felt Bag $12 USD
+ Photo Pocket Ornament $18 USD

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More bag options for the fashionable city girl. The laptop bag is available for a 15-inch and a 17-inch laptop version. If you have a 13-inch laptop, I find that a 15-inch flat carrier is often not too big. Plus, it comes handy to bring a magazine with me. Ask then first for exact dimensions, if this is the case.

The silk-screened Canvas shopping bag is big enough to fit a picnic for 2. It is ideal for a stop at Central Park. These bags are made in Brooklyn. You can shop online at nyDesignroom or visit their showroom Thursday to Sunday from 12 to 7 PM.

+ Laptop Carrier $110 USD
+ Shopping Baaag $55 USD
+ via Design Milk

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Fans of Amy Butler who are week-end travelers or who often take a-week vacation under the sun would be thrilled by this news. You can get a fabulous carry-ons designed by Amy Butler. As usual, the patterns are divine.

I would love to get a navy Dream Traveler-Sari Flowers for Christmas. Sadly, the Graceful Traveler-Fuschia Tree that is on wheels is too big to bring to the cabin of an airplane. Other travel essentials are the carried-away everything bags that come handy to bring your beauty products and makeup.

The fashion bags are big enough to carry all your stuff across the city. The Josephine bag or the Abina tote would suit the needs of a creative business woman, a mother or a fashionable university student.

See the entire Amy Butler for Kalencom collection here.

SOURCING:
+ Dream Traveler – Sari Flowers $260 USD
+ Abina tote $180 USD
+ Josephine Bag $160 USD
+ Carried-away bags $22-$42 USD

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If you avoid the traditional Thanksgiving dishes because you feel it take too much work but your family request a roasted turkey, you will be pleased to know that Gourmet found a no-fuss way to cook a golden-brown skin turkey with moist, tender white and dark meat. Simply seasoned the turkey with salt and pepper, then roasted in a 450ºF oven. In their own word, the Gourmet expert said: no need for butter under the skin, no basting, no foil tent, just blasted. With the high-heat cooking method, it takes between 1 3/4 to 2 1/2 hours for a 14- to 16-pound bird. This may be enough incentive for roasting a turkey this holiday, if only making a good gravy was that simple.

Generally speaking, an unstuffed turkey baked quicker than a stuffed turkey. Note that the time difference will be smaller with the high-heat method. Get all the details on Gourmet. One last thing, if you ever wish to invite me for a Thanksgiving dinner or a traditional Christmas dinner, do not try to impress me with the stuffing, I do not eat it. But I will pour more gravy and try your cranberry sauce.

+ photo: Gourmet

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This picture captured the best of an inviting home for me. It is perfect for entertaining and living. You get plenty of comfortable sitting spread around the table. I imagine the kitchen to be in front of the purple sofa (but I am not clues). Luckily for me, I should it to my husband and he loves it. I bookmarked it for our next home.

Louis Poulsen Fixtures

The PH5 and PH50 designed by Poul Henningsen for Louis Poulsen are not only superb pendant lamps, they produced a beautiful glare free illumination. The cones and the legs were carefully studied to produce a warm tone of light. The visible reflectors direct light both vertically and horizontally.

Remark that the fact there is 3 pendants over the dining table assures that they are no shadow on the table surface. I never tried it, but I feel that taking pictures in a dining room with PH5 fixtures will create better results than if you have a chandelier over your dining table.

Another element to consider when you are buying light fixtures for your dining room is the tone of light produced by the lamp. In any room where you entertain, favoring a warm tone of light ensures that people look better on photos. Plus, a warm tone creates a more inviting and intimate ambiance.

Paul Henningsen also designed PH Snowball pendant for Louis Poulsen, which is another stunning light that produces gare free and even illumination. You can see it in the beautiful modern interior of Müzede Changa, a restaurant in Istanbul, Turkey.

I wish to thank the excellent kitchen designer Susan Serra for sharing on Facebook the cool cozy luxury open space dining and lounging room.

SOURCING:
+ H5 Pendant Light $698 USD
+ PH Snowball Pendant $2200 USD
+ PH5 and PH50 designed by Poul Henningsen, manufactured by Louis Poulsen
+ photo: RUM Magazine december 2009
+ photos: Müzede Changa restaurant

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My parents had a cute Swiss cuckoo clock. I was fascinated by the magic of the striking. I still find it charming but I prefer the style of a modern clock. Designed by Riccardo Paolino and Matteo Fusi for Progetti, Cucuruku is an Italian design with a German mechanism. You can choice between a wenge colored wood and white tree design or a black colored wood with an orange tree.

The cuckoo clocks are more intelligent. A sensor light keeps it quiet at night. Waterfalls play in the background while striking. Naturally, the striking can be turned off, if you get tired of it.

+ Albero – Cucuruku Cuckoo Clock $350 USD
+ photo: the new Twitter’s new headquarters via TechCrunch and Design Milk

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I like the warmth of the wood decor backsplash against this modern sleek German kitchen. Browsing their collection, I get the impression that the backsplash is made of finely textured melamine resin, not wood. Regardless of what it is, it is gorgeous.

+ Poggenpohl
+ via Living etc.

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My goal was to create a Thanksgiving mood board that will not include gourds, pumpkins or a roasted turkey. I wanted a theme that mixed the old with the new. When I saw this adorable farmyard animal trays by Simrin, I found my starting point. Life after the harvest at the farm influenced my theme.

Think about the elements of a modern rustic home. You can introduce the old through your home accessories in the room, not simply the tableware. Show off items made with reclaimed wood and finds from the flea market. Plus, it should not be too hard to find the right tableware since many reedited old style tableware are available in stores this season.

Do not be afraid to make it your own. For example, you can coordinate modern white tableware with vintage French country flatware and a contemporary fall foliage tablecloth. For the colors, take clues from the harvest season, the fall foliage, and life at the farm. Go for orange and natural linen table linens.

Click here if you need the step by step instructions to fold your napkins into a diagonal pocket.

SOURCING:
+ Rattan Handled Pitcher $49 USD at Wisteria
+ Feed Sack with blue Table Runner $399 USD at Wisteria
+ side wood table by Roost
+ Black Laguiole flatware at Williams-Sonoma on the Web 20-piece $289, in store $79 per 5-piece setting
+ Farmyard Medium Rectangular Pig Tray by Simrin $76 USD
+ photo by Jodi Pudge for Style at Home
+ Etienne Rust Table Runner $46.95 USD
+ Lustre Rust Napkin $4.95 USD
+ Kava Saucer $12 USD
+ Wood-handle horn flatware $15 CAD per three-piece set At Design Group

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