What the World Needs Now...

These days, America is in a funny place. Hope floats though the air as we stand poised on the verge of a new presidential administration. On the other hand, we have no choice but to acknowledge the economic recession currently affecting all of us who live in The United States. We've come to this crossroads by a convergence of events that, despite their complexities, give us a great opportunity. We can use this moment to reevaluate our priorities, and to reflect on what is truly important in life. Not money, status, or power, but community. Relationships are key, providing great support in times of great difficulty. Taking care of ourselves is sometimes as simple as taking care of the people who mean the most to us, and receiving their love in return.

The most precious gifts we can give this holiday season-- and throughout the year-- are time and energy. Historically, our country has shown greatness during times of immense challenge. It's ingrained in our identity as a nation: diverse, multicultural, and willing to work hard together to achieve our dreams.

Let's make it our personal goal to do our part to bolster our national well being in whatever way best suits our individual situations.

Share what you have with others, whatever the means to you. Love costs nothing; it is a powerful emotion that spreads throughout a community. All we need is a few people to make a change. It will ignite a spark inspiring the rest of us to do the same.





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Rosanna's Bi-Annual Warehouse Sale

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6th - 9am to 5pm

It's time once again for Rosanna's fabulous Bi-Annual Warehouse Sale. This year their are more exciting finds then ever, and we are looking forward to catching up with you all. We only open our door two days per year, so take full advantage and stock up.

440 South Holgate Street Seattle, WA 98134 (between 4th and 6th Ave)

*Bring Cash! Visa/MC for purchases over $50 only.

*Do not line up more then one hour prior to opening doors.

*Do not park at the Goodwill Outlet. There is on street parking and
parking across Holgate Street in the gravel lot. You will be able to
pull your car up to our door for loading only.

*No small children,

*All sales final. No refunds or exchanges.

GIVE BACK
We will be collecting canned food for Northwest Harvest. There are so
many families in need this year, please bring what you can.





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Forever Young: A Night in My Daughter's Dorm

As we Baby Boomers get on in years, a frantic scramble to stay young is underway. Plastic surgery, Botox, and Pilates? Forget it. Undergoing expensive cosmetic treatments and following severe health regimens is not the most effective way to get back a little of that radiant sparkle of youth. I say spend time with young people and rejuvenate your soul instead.

After a business trip in New York last weekend, I took the train to Providence, RI to visit my oldest daughter, Alessandra, a junior at Brown University. As those of you with college-age children know, part and parcel of visiting your child is feeding his or her friends at local restaurants normally out of their price range.

My daughter was directing a show, so by the time we were seated at 9:45, dinner had been transformed into drinks and light appetizers. The enthusiasm and vivacity of my daughter and her friends was a delightful breath of fresh air. Two bottles of wine later, we were all up on the dance floor. Sometimes, all it takes is a little time with a couple of twenty-somethings to help us recall the spontaneous joy of our younger days.

That night, I slept in Alessandra’s bed and she slept on the futon. I wouldn’t do it every visit, but staying in the dorm for one night was a kick. Most kids would probably be horrified at the idea of their mothers dancing with their friends and then staying in their apartment, but I’m lucky to have a daughter who has no qualms about inviting me along every now and again. She tells me this is because I’m laid back and silly around her friends, which makes them feel at ease. This leads me to believe that the generational divides between our children and us can be crossed, if only we keep ourselves loose and open.

Don’t miss out on spending time with these kids; this next generation is a wonderful one.






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Rosanna at Dwell

On Saturday Nov. 8th, from 11 am to 1 pm, I will be signing cake pedestals and plates at our Rosanna Destination store, Dwell. Dwell is located at 2716 N 21 St., Tacoma, WA. Tea and Cocoa will be served. It would be lovely to meet you!







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Celebrating Life

Last weekend was my brother-in-law’s 60^th birthday. To commemorate the accomplishment of six well-lived decades, he and my sister invited our entire extended family to a party at their home in the foothills of Mount Hood. In honor of his birthday, Angelo built an enormous teepee in the backyard, which served as the party venue for the evening.

We all sat around the bonfire, laughing, eating good food, and helping the little ones roast marshmallows. We sang snatches of folk songs written by well-loved musicians like Woodie Guthrie and Simon & Garfunkel. The party was by no means fancy or expensive, but with the bonfire, the stars, and my family all around, it was one of the best experiences I’ve had in a long time. Especially now, when the world is so uncertain, this gathering soothed my soul, and left me fulfilled and uplifted. I realized that for our collective wellbeing, good times during trying times are unbelievably important.

The guests at the party ranged from 2 to 85 years old, and gatherings like these provide wonderful opportunities to show our children the things that are truly important in life: our relationships to others. After this party, I learned anew the invaluable lesson of joining together during crisis, and finding happiness in sharing in old traditions made new.

To put it simply, a night like this comes down to two words: Celebrate life.

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Rosanna’s Second Annual Tablesetting Contest Results

I am thrilled. Contestants from all over the country sent in their beautifully creative tablesettings and told us their even more amazing stories. Judged on creativity, style and the story behind the design, the winning designs grabbed at the heartstrings and captured what the contest is all about: family, friends and the joy of living.

Our 2008 First Place winner received an award for “Creative Use of Rosanna in Bringing People Together” in our 2007 contest. This year, she pushed all the way to the top with her “Christmas in August” table setting. Congratulations Ashley Nichols-Lee of Medford, Oregon. You impressed all of us at Rosanna Inc with the way you mixed our vibrant Boho pattern, our Olive Green Napoleon Flatware and the 12 Days of Christmas appetizer plates. Such a surprising combination and a fabulous way of mixing your spring plates and everyday flatware with those special heirlooms reserved for the holidays. And using ornaments for place cards is a great, affordable idea with impact. A big A+ to you!

Second Place goes to Sheena Kelso, “The Invisible Hostess” of Seattle, Washington. Sheena’s “Glam Christmas” table setting was a sophisticated standout, inspired by our Haute Holiday collection and Black Dots plates. The dramatic red and black motif featured black stemware and red roses with mirrored trees.

We simply couldn’t stop there. We had to give out a few other awards to a handful of tables that simply could not go unrecognized.

Our “Portrait of Young Artist Award”* goes to 8 year-old Kendall Weldon of Medford, Oregon. This year she borrowed dishes from Grandma, with the hope of having her own for next year’s contest. Kendall described how fun it was to spend time with her mom participating in the contest. We loved her use of purple in her spooky autumn table. Kendall you’re a star, we’re so happy you participated. We were truly touched. *As you might recall, our Portrait of a Young Artist collection was designed by my 11 year-old daughter Francesca. We thought the award name would be perfect for this up-and-coming talent: Kendall.

“The Heart of Rosanna Award” honoree is Ann Milar of Sacramento, California. Ann’s table shows the sweet theme she created for her daughter’s 5^th birthday. Homemade cupcakes and chocolate-dipped strawberries were served on our Cupcake plates, and lemonade from the beautiful teapot Ann inherited from her great-aunt was poured into our Tea’s Me teacups. This table brings many of our philosophies to life: some of life’s sweetest moments are created at the table. And the sight of a group of youngsters celebrating around a lovingly prepared table with treasures from Ann’s great-aunt too shows us that these tablesettings are not about the “things” on the table, but how we use the “things” in our life to connect to others more deeply.

“Best Accessories” honors go to Julie Seever of Lincoln, Nebraska. Her “April in Paris with Rosanna” table inspired by our Fleur plates and dressed up with our Rococo Noir black cake pedestals has us saying, “ohh la la”. She mixed vintage pieces seamlessly with new finds to create an air of luxuriousness and the feeling of Paris in springtime.

The 2008 “Couture Table of the Year” goes to last year’s overall winner, Tresa Nichols of Medford, Oregon. (Yes, the Medford designers did well again this year.) Her table takes a trip around the world via our Bon Voyage plates, stopping in Paris, Venice, London and New York. Tresa was drawn to sketch-like images of her favorite cities and she accented them with our black Dinner Party dinner plates and Rococo Noir cake pedestals, mixed with fashion-forward pink and a pretty Parisian damask. Simply chic.

“Best European-Inspired Table Award” goes to Helen Casady of Seattle, Washington. We received a number of entries inspired by Europe (which is no surprise since so many inspirations for our collections come from Europe) but this award just had to go to Helen. In her letter she reminisced about her honeymoon visit to London which resulted in her tradition of “taking tea”. Years ago Helen’s sister-in-law gifted her Rosanna Red Dot plates, and over time she’s managed to collect all the pieces of the collection. Taking tea at this table always reminds her of her sister-in-law and the wonderful memories of her honeymoon.

Honorable Mentions go to the following talented women as well:

-Brooke Weldon of Medford, Oregon (Kendall’s mom). She used our Caffe Italia dessert plates and latte cups with a Rococo Noir cake pedestal and mixed them up with some of her other favorites for the ultimate spread for enjoying coffee and cake.



-Amanda Humann of Sammamish, Washington. Amanda immersed herself in setting this table as a cure for her writer’s block. The final design helped her write and illustrate a story she was working on about four witches. (You may notice there’s no flatware on the table. Why? Because witches use wands instead.) Oh, Amanda we absolutely loved it.

-Maree Sperle of Austin, Texas. Maree told us all about her love of everything 12 Days of Christmas. Her table brought together our 12 Days of Christmas appetizer and dinner plates with many of her other 12 Days collectables including napkin rings and pear placecard holders.



-Jamee Bryant of Indianapolis, Indiana. Her “Ready to Wear” table setting was a vibrant hot pink and apple green girl-fest complete with dress forms and handbag table décor, Gerber daisy napkin rings, shoe-shaped salt and pepper shakers and Rosanna plates with various dresses.

-Anu Kapur of New York, NY. Anu loves throwing coffee and tea parties for friends. She set her table with Rosanna Cupcake plates and Caffe Italia latte cups with a gorgeous silver teapot and matching sugar bowl.


-Lyn Ferriero of Reston, Virginia. This past Mother’s Day Lyn threw a poolside luncheon for her “mom” friends to celebrate their accomplishment: their children. Lyn created an absolutely stunning table using our Black Dot plates. She hand-painted a wine glass for each mom with black dots and a personalized pink monogram initial, and her floral arrangements featured pink Gerbers and roses with green hydrangeas.


I would have loved to give every entry an award. Women around the country put so much time and creativity into their incredible table settings. We hope everyone involved will join us again next year, as we dare you all to take on those fabulous Medford, Oregon ladies! Get your friends and families together, pool your dishes, inspire each other and practice all year long.

With my deepest gratitude for the inspiration you’ve shared,

www.rosannainc.com

Olympic Sentiments

The Olympics are always an exciting event to witness. As a testament to the jubilant attitude surrounding The Games, we received this message along with a photo of one of our factory suppliers who produce Rosanna in China:



Dear All,
The Olympic Games will be held in Beijing today, all Chinese people are excited.

In order to celebrate this important day, our whole department took photos together.

Here, I send you picture to share our joy with you!



I love this photo of everyone decked out in the Chinese colors of yellow and red. I think it says a great deal about our global community. It gives a human face and feel to a country which is so often misunderstood, and as a result, maligned. This photo sheds light on the people of China. Their pride at being part of the global community through their enthusiastic hosting of the 2008 Games (did anyone see that opening ceremony??) is so evident. It's a photo that goes a small ways towards showing that we are one world. It is exactly what The Games were created to do: break down barriers and bring us all closer together.








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Second Annual Table Setting Contest

Our Second Annual Table Setting Contest

Friends and customers often share stories with us about how they weave Rosanna collections into their lives. Inspired by what we’ve heard, we held our first Table Setting Contest last summer. The results? A bounty of creative tabletops that truly impressed us.

Last years 1st place winner was Tresa Nicols of Medford, OR

With such a tremendous response, we knew we needed to throw-out the challenge again! Show us what inspires you… how you like to entertain… and how you create an award-winning table setting. Be creative and mix-in those precious family heirlooms and personal treasures with our newest and most fashion-forward collections. Tell us how your family and friends enjoy your beautiful tablescapes. And show us what you have designed.

Last years 2nd place winner was Donna Green of Kingwood, TX.

Entering is simple and there’s no purchase necessary to win.

1. Design the most amazing table setting— only one entry per contestant please.

2. Photograph your design as best as possible, although you will not be judged on the photography. You are allowed up to three photos of your table setting.

3. No later than August 31st, 2008 send your photos along with a message about the inspiration for your design to:

contest@rosannainc.com or Attn: Contest 440 South Holgate Street Seattle, WA 98134

I will judge the contest personally and we will reward prizes including:

1st Place
A $300.00 gift certificate from Rosanna, Inc. and your table setting featured as the homepage on our website which is viewed by more than 11,000 people each month.


2nd Place
A $150.00 gift certificate from Rosanna, Inc. and your table setting featured on our blog.

There will be other undisclosed prizes and awards to be announced.

Each entry will be judged on creativity, use of inspiration and personal style. The winners will be announced on our blog by Friday, September 5th.

To view all of last years winners click on "contest" under labels.





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Quick Mediterranean Fish

Now that the seasons have solidly changed, I've been playing in the kitchen a bit to figure out some new summer recipes. My rule of thumb is to cook meals that are fresh, delicious and healthy. This may sound like a tall order, but meeting all of these goals at once doesn't have to be difficult. I wanted to share a wonderful dish I have no problem whipping up, even after a long day at work. This fish recipe only takes 30 minutes to prepare. It's nutritious and flavorful, and my family loves it. As long as you have good quality, fresh ingredients, this is a recipe you can't mess up. If you make it part of your weekly repertoire, it can also save a significant amount of time you'd otherwise spend on menu planning.

Quick Mediterranean Fish

Ingredients
olive oil
sea salt
1 large cut of the fish of your choice
1 large package fresh spinach
garlic
1 bulb of fennel
1 shallot
1 bunch or package of cherry tomatoes (the riper the better)
1 bunch asparagus (if in season)

Instructions
Heat the oven to 350 on the bake or convection bake setting
Coat bottom of porcelain or glass baking dish with 1/3 cup olive oil
Wash the spinach, place it in the dish, and lightly salt
Chop:
3 garlic cloves (minced)
Fennel (finely)
shallot (finely)
cherry tomatoes (in half)
asparagus (2 inch lengths, discarding the first two inches at the bottom of each stalk)
Sprinkle the vegetables over the spinach with olive oil
Put vegetables in oven for approximately 20 minutes or until spinach is wilted and the other vegetables are softened
Take the dish out and gather vegetables together into a small mound
Place the fish on top of the mound of vegetables and spoon some of vegetable mixture on top of the fish
Lightly drizzle the vegetables and fish with more olive oil and dust with salt
Put dish back in the oven
Continuously baste the fish with the olive oil and vegetable mixture to keep it moist while cooking

I usually cook 2 lbs of fish for my family, and that takes 35 minutes. Obviously, the cook time will vary depending on the amount and type of fish you have. To check for doneness, insert a knife to see if the fish is flaking. Also use the knife to see if the center is cooked.
Once cooked, the fish should be very moist and aromatic from the infusion of vegetables and olive oil.

My favorite fish to use is halibut, but you can change fish out each season depending on what's available. Red Snapper and wild Pacific salmon would also taste divine. Even though wild fish is more expensive, I never buy farm raised fish. I believe the health benefits outweigh the cost. I also stay away from high mercury fish like tuna and swordfish. Cook with different types of vegetables as they come into season, and use your favorite FRESH herbs (never dried!) to infuse the fish with diverse flavors.

I was so excited when I discovered this recipe. It's a healthy, one dish dinner with all the nutrients you need for a balanced and wonderful summertime meal.

-Find a recipe that's easy to do and your family likes. Then repeat it with variations.
-Try to incorporate healthy ingredidents when feeding your family. It's essential to good health.
-Once you have the basics of cooking down, don't be afraid to experiment with your recipes!
-Buy local. Buy fresh. Buy what's in season.





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The History of the Cupboard

I was recently at a friend's home who showed me an amazing thing. It wasn't anything flashy or expensive, it was just her kitchen cupboard.

On the shelves were all of the dishes she'd collected over the years from her family and in her travels. It was then that I realized how important a cupboard really is-- it contains the entirety of a family's history.

When our loved ones are no longer with us, the things with low economic value but high sentimental significance are always the things people want the most. Often, these items are the dishes on which favorite meals have been eaten for generations.

I think about my mother who had dishes dating back to her great grandmothers from England and Germany, stoneware and whiteware that traveled all the way from Europe to Kansas to Oregon.

In your own life, choose pieces that you'll use over and over again at family dinners and holidays and celebrations. They bring a special meaning to the meal and the moment. Every time they're used, those pieces will be imbued with a sense of history and soul. Who needs to wrestle with the boxes in a dusty attic to find memories when you can just open the cupboard instead?

-Look in your family's cupboard. There are treasures to be found that will create an instant sense of history.
-Create your own traditions with new dishes, for birthdays and the holidays that are used each season.
-Set your table and eat together as a family as often as you can. This ritual keeps a family close and brings meaning to the quotidian life.
-If you don't have a family yet or are away from your family, invite friends over for weekly meals. Sunday brunch is a great place to start!




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Serving Up Love

Over the holiday weekend, I saw the film Waitress with Keri Russell. Well written, well acted, and funny, it was a delightful cinematic surprise. The story is about Jenna, a diner waitress who bakes outlandish and delicious pies that everyone loves. She’s stuck in an unhappy marriage, and when she finds out she’s pregnant, she’s sure that her life has taken a permanent nosedive. I won’t give away anymore of the plot because it would take away from the pleasure of watching the film for yourself. In the end however, Jenna does discover a reason to live and love.

There is so much about this movie that I adored. Without preaching at you, the film quietly emphasizes the amazing strength and resourcefulness of women. It also demonstrates how suffering can be cured through human connections and the love those relationships yield. Another lovely element of Waitress was the simple joy of good food. Through baking her pies, Jenna finds a way to cultivate joy in her life and also touch the lives of others.

Hmm. Touching the lives of others through creating and sharing an experience at the table. Sound familiar? One of the reasons this film resonated with me so much is because its message was very close to our goal at Rosanna. We want to reach people and bring them together by serving delicious meals on our dishes, which we create with love and infuse with soul.

If you haven’t seen this film, watch it. You’ll come away feeling, much like one of Jenna’s extraordinary pies, warm and gooey inside. But in a good way.

-Don’t discount the power behind cooking with love. Whether cooking for someone or being cooked for, I guarantee you’ll find happiness in the experience.
-During difficult moments, accept support from people who love you. It will feel a million times better than shutting yourself off from the world.
- No matter what your situation is, it’s never to late to change your life, creating a better and happier existence for yourself.







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The Human Connection

Neighbors.

It's a vaguely recognizable word these days. Neighbors: they're the people you share an extended living space with. The other side of a duplex, the halls of an apartment complex, the street outside your front door, are all places you can expect to see them. Believe it or not, the word "neighbor" used to refer to more than just the people who live in close proximity to each other. Neighbors used to provide an integral support system, emotional and practical, for each other. Sadly, this identity of the neighbor has fallen mostly by the wayside

Fostering neighborly connections, while a bit time consuming to cultivate, can prove to be a very worthwhile endeavor.

While I'm home in Seattle, I never have the time to reach out in the way I'd like, to our neighbors. But while we're at the beach, were life is slower, I have the luxury of time. Gearhart has a real community feeling. Unlike in the city, people's lives spill into the street here. Someone is always out walking a dog, and a swarm of kids on bikes, slows passing car traffic to a crawl.

Every summer, my daughter Francesca and I have a tradition of making pie with blackberries we handpick. We had already made a few for ourselves, and this time we decided we'd give the dessert to someone else. We found our recipient in an older man who lived across the street. His wife wasn't with him on this particular visit. We didn't know him, but we did want to connect with him.

When Francesca and I delivered the pie, he was touched by our unexpected and generous homemade offering. After that, we established a lasting relationship.

This holiday weekend, this gentleman met my husband on a walk into town. He invited us to their home for cocktails. To their typical Northwest cottage, I brought over lilacs in a Rosanna Beach Bottle vase as a thank you for the invitation.

We were greeted by a charming couple in their 70's, whose home and habitudes reminded me strongly of my parents. We had a wonderful time with them. They talked about history of the Oregon Coast, and shared with us their adventures and memories during WWII involving Japanese submarines firing on the Pacific coastline.

That night, we crossed a generational divide, and discovered that we had many things in common. We also benefited greatly from listening to stories from their rich lives. Mimmo and I left their home feeling happy, connected, and part of a community we'd not been part of before.

-Reach out to neighbors you see occasionally but don't know. Surprise them with a homemade treat they wouldn't make for themselves.
-Greet people when you see them in the street. A simple hello can go a long way towards making a human connection
-When you are invited into someone's home, show your gratitude by bringing a little something along like flowers from your garden or a bottle of wine you have in the fridge.
-Reach out to strangers. It's amazing what you can learn when people open up and share their lives with you.






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Dishes that are Dear to the Heart

Quite often, we receive emails from Rosanna admirers. They write that they bought dishes from us years ago, and have since broken or misplaced them. They've loved these dishes well, and want to know if we have replacements in our warehouse. I wanted to share one of the most recent messages we were sent:

Hello Rosanna,

I enjoyed reading your biography on your web site and share your passion for Bella Italia.

A few years ago, my wife purchased a coffee mug for me that was made by / for your company. The mug has the image of a post card addressed to Signore Ugo Riso in "Roma." The postmark, "23 7 35 Pesaro" is from a small village in north central Italy on the Adriatic sea named Pesaro. My family has its roots in Pesaro so this imparts a sentimental value to the mug. The mug has a capacity of about 18 ounces.

This mug was damaged during our recent move back to the United States from Portugal. I am in the Navy on active duty and was stationed is Lisbon.

I checked your web site and did not see any items resembling this mug. Is it possible that you may have any of these mugs in your warehouse? I would be interested in purchasing a quantity of these mugs.

Thank you for your assistance.
I look forward to hearing from you.


Unfortunately, the collection in question is no longer in production. However, we scoured our warehouse and were able to find some of the mugs this man asked about.

Stories like these confirm that Rosanna dishes do make a difference in people's lives. The heart and soul we try so hard to communicate with our design does come through. It's wonderful to have our product featured in fashion magazines, but it is responses like the one above that prove we're living up to our mission statement and vision for Rosanna dishes- to create traditions and becoming an integral part of peoples' lives.





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SUMMER WAREHOUSE SALE!

Our annual and much anticipated warehouse sale is fast approaching, and you're invited!

Here are the details:

WHEN:
Friday, June 6th from 1pm to 6pm
Saturday, June 7th from 9am to 6pm



WHERE:
Our warehouse in the SoDo District
440 South Holgate Street
Seattle, WA 98134

On Friday morning we'll be hosting a private shopping event for our email list. To sign up, please email jennifero@rosannainc.com with a request to receive our e-newsletter.

This year, we're also having a dish drive! Bring in your retired and/or mismatched tableware to donate to the Tacoma Housing Authority, and refresh your table with some new Rosanna product. All donated dishes will go to homeless families transitioning into Section 8 housing. It's spring time-- out with the old, and in with the new!

The warehouse sale is always a great bargain, because many dishes are at wholesale pricing. We also still a have a small amount of hand painted Deruta ceramic ware we'll be selling as well as some beautiful antique furniture pieces from Europe.

Our warehouse sale is the perfect spot to find gifts for all occasions and recipients-- teachers, bridal and baby showers, and weddings to name a few. We'll also have everything you need to throw an inspired outdoor summer gathering.

We hope to see you there!

Warmly,




www.rosannainc.com

Rosanna Gift Registry!

Springtime rings in Wedding Season. Fortunately, Rosanna dishes make perfect wedding gifts for a couple that is just starting a life together. As such, we've responded accordingly by adding a new Gift Registry feature to our online store. This feature makes it much easier for your friends and loved ones to let you know which designs you prefer.

To register, just add the items you like to your cart by clicking "I'll Buy It." Then, click on your cart (on the left sidebar of the page) and select the option "save to gift registry." We've also made it easy to search for others' registries. You can enter first name, last name, or e mail address.

Some of my favorite collections to give to newlyweds include:

Cin Cin!
Mondo
Dinner Party Place Settings--always a classic choice

Congratulations!





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Nesting

Last weekend I had an irresistible urge to clean. As a result, I devoted two days to straightening, refreshing, and brightening our home.

These activities, ironing the linens, reorganizing the pantry, clearing away cobwebs, were wonderfully therapeutic. I wondered why I felt so good after accomplishing these relatively simple feats until I realized what I was doing: nesting.

"Nesting" is what we do to make our homes comfortable and happy to live in. Nesting is something I tend to always do in the springtime. A number of activities fall under this umbrella term: cooking, cleaning out the cupboards, donating unwanted things, moving the winter clothes out of your closest. Basically anything that represents a fresh start falls under this category.

I'd like to mention that nesting doesn't necessarily entail a complete overhaul. Start with small things; spring cleaning doesn't have to be top to bottom. No one has the time to take on such a project that large anyway!

I find that my whole family benefits from this seasonal ritual of mine. It's also very gratifying on a personal level to take control of my life by making my environment aesthetically pleasing and welcoming to others.


-Place bouquets of fresh flowers around the house
-Put new candles out and change your table cloth or runner to something bright and springlike
-Change out your daily dishes for a lighter set
-To add a little variety, redesign your mantle displays seasonally








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