Illuminating Tablescape Design: How to Add Moody Lighting For Glowing Warmth When You Gather With Guests

As September waned, I enjoyed the luxury of determining, “What would be the theme for my latest table design?”  I was leaning into a Halloween look.  No, Too early for my style.  But no denying autumn was upon us; twilight and evening darkness sneaking in… hmmm. Then a light bulb went off. Literally. 💡 

I could celebrate the power of light and its casting off the dark, along with its illuminating symbol of the spiritual, the divine, and oh yes, intelligence.  In my mind’s eye, I could see the design “performance” lit up by Kleig lights.    

Let there be light!   

Books Take Us to Magical Places & Adventures; Reading is Freedom: How to Mark Banned Books Week

 

How do you “mark” the Freedom to Read week?  Note I didn’t use the word, “celebrate?”  I thank my lucky stars that I have been given the blessing and luxury to read. And write. Anything… (almost). 

As a writer and a freedom-loving American citizen, I can hardly believe that we’re in this situation.  

Let’s talk about this. No more shusshing.  🤫Unless it’s your favorite librarian. Silence begets censorship. 

Regrettably, it’s also Banned Book Week 😥 ~  (October 1-7), an annual event that highlights the value of free and open access to information. And today is the day of action.

How bad is it?  

Light is Healing Hope & Joy: Learn How this Mother Invented a Solar Light, Helping Children and Their Families

 

It took a compassionate Mother to help children ~ and Mother Nature. While teaching as a Professor in Architecture and Material Technology at Columbia University, Alice Chun created early prototypes of solar lights. Initially fueled by her passion to design a healthy light source for her son who suffered from (urban/pollution) asthma, she was also driven by her desire to help the underserved; in turn, Alice invented the world’s only self-inflatable, portable solar light that is a lifeline to those without electricity. Alice named this invention the SolarPuff™.  Today, Alice is an award-winning inventor and humanitarian who brings awe, wonder, & joy.  Learn about her incredibly inspiring journey: 

How to Tackle Your Autumn Garden To-Do List ~ Seasonal Tasks & Celebrations

We can just feel it. It’s the time of year in the northern zones when we can all take a collective moment to breathe, take stock, mark the season; shift our focus and celebrate the bounty and the beauty of the garden. 

Go ahead. You’ve worked so hard, after all. 

Doesn’t it sometimes feel like the gardens’ starting gates open in Spring with a bang and the race is on, never slowing down? Till now.  

But before I share how to tuck your garden “Beds” in for their slumberous winter sleep (wink), let’s take a minute to embrace this pretty season of color and harvest bounty and seasonal splendor.