As the More is More Mom®, I’m all about…….more handbags! There’s nothing like the inspirational change in season to brighten a girl’s spirits. While the weather certainly won’t allow for a complete about face where our wardrobes are concerned, we can infuse a little bit of spring into our accessorizing. I’m a bag lady from way back. When I was a kid, I would take the 22 Clark Street bus downtown and head to Water Tower with all of the money I earned babysitting. And I babysat a lot. There was never a shortage of parents looking to make a mad dash for the door in the hopes of finding a little …

As the More is More Mom, I’m all about………more fantastic fabrics! I was reminded the other day of the importance of “Home”. My Amanda was sitting on the stairs in our foyer, chatting about her day with my mom on the phone, and it struck me; these are the moments that she will remember most, being in our home, connecting to the important people in her life. When the kids were little, I was always mindful about creating memories of their childhood. Of course there will be colorful memories of me ranting and raving like a lunatic about them picking up their rooms, finishing their homework and …

As the More is More Mom®, I’m all about...more bedding! There is nothing like getting all snuggled up into a warm, cozy and comfortable bed at night. I love the moment when we remove our pillow shams, carefully stacking them up on our wing back chair, pull the covers back and slide into bed. Personally, I happen to belong to the “make your bed every morning” camp. In fact, I like them made before the sheets have time to get cold. Some mornings, as I’m begging Nick to wake up, I make one side of his bed, while I’m rolling him out of the other. I’m nothing if not efficient. You know my mantra …

As the More is More Mom®, I’m all about ... more passionate colors! The month of February is devoted to the celebration of love as we honor St. Valentine. What better way to tell your personal design story than by speaking through the universal language of color? Color has transformative powers. We react to color in a very personal way. We have our favorites. In fact I think we should all have a signature color palette. To me, one of the most memorable moments in cinematic history regarding personal style came by the way of Julia Roberts as Shelby in Steel Magnolias. She described her …

As the More is More Mom®, I’m all about...more Valentine’s Day gifts! Let’s face it, some holidays are geared to the ladies; anniversaries, Sweetest Day and Valentines Day. We girls like to feel cherished and appreciated and what better way to let us know how much you love us than showering us with thoughtful presents!?! Gifts needn’t be extravagant to be thoughtful (though that’s never a bad option). Personally, I’m not the particularly mushy, romantic type. A floral bouquet doesn’t really do it for me; flowers don’t last forever and I can pick up a fine bouquet at the grocery store. I may …

As the More is More Mom®, I’m all about...more fun with hurricanes! Not the 75-mile-per-hour tropical thunderstorms, but decorative glass candleholders. I love the shape and silhouette of a beautiful piece of glass. Such a simple object, filled with so many possibilities. I’m a total candle junky! Since more of everything is always better, I’ve got candles stashed everywhere—but the candles are nothing compared to my collection of candleholders! However, one of my favorite candle holders will always be the hurricane. What I love about the hurricane is that it always makes a statement. It’s …

As the More is More Mom®, I’m all about...more family photographs! I am a total shutterbug. While I really like a beautifully posed portrait, I think I’m much more inclined to snap candid photos. A candid picture more accurately reflects a moment in time; joy, laughter, feelings of pride and accomplishment, competition, tender and poignant moments. When I was a proud young mother, I displayed half a dozen 8 x 10 framed photographs of Nick and Amanda on our mantle. Once, a guest commented, “Wow. That’s a lot of pictures!” I was so dazzled by their darling-ness that I lost sight of the fact …

As the More is More Mom®, I’m all about...more decorating with pillows this winter! I’m always excited to reclaim my house after the holidays. Though, truth be told, I have yet to dismantle Christmas trees in both my family room and my dining room. It’s always such a warm fuzzy to put them up, Christmas music playing in the background—but taking them down is just a chore. Once everything is back to normal, I’m always left with this overwhelming feeling that my home could use a little bit of a spruce up. But, what to do… Rather than making an enormous design commitment after having made so …

As the More is More Mom®, I'm all about…more fabulous and stylish Interior Design! You know my passion is gracious living and creating meaningful life experiences; which all starts at home. In fact, the Art of Making a Home is the cornerstone of my message. As a designer, my mission is to help my clients develop a personal style that meets the needs of their busy lives. Life is in the details. Sometimes, there is so much focus placed on the furniture and accessories that other important surfaces, such as the floors and the windows, are overlooked. Beautiful window treatments absolutely …

As the More is More Mom®, I'm all about...more ringing in the New Year! It's a night for nibbling, noshing, toasting, remembering and celebrating. The best part for me, however, is for us to be together as a family. It's funny, when the kids were little, they would try so hard to make it 'til midnight. Now, Chuck and I are nodding off, trying desperately to keep our eyeballs open. One way to stay awake is to look forward to a delicious appetizer buffet. I made two of my tastiest treats to share with you today. They are always a hit with my family and friends and will sure to become a favorite…

As the More is More Mom®, I’m all about…..more meaningful holiday memories. You know my mantra is more of everything is always better. I love stuff! I adore clothing and jewelry, shoes and handbags, lusciously draped fabrics and passementerie (fancy French word for decorative trim. Oh, so chic.), gallery displayed artwork, gorgeous furniture, whimsical appointments, an eclectic collection of music for my I-Pod, delicious food and great wine (or cheap wine)…just to name a few of my fav’s. However, more than anything, I love my devoted family and cherished friends. While stuff is great, and it …

As the More is More Mom®, I'm all about...more hot holiday trends! 'Tis the season to be fashionable. The month of December always brings opportunities for dressing up; coffees, luncheons, cookie exchanges, cocktail parties, work celebrations, church services, New Years Eve. No matter how many fabulous finds there are in your closet, there's nothing like a little updating to make a girl feel special. Recently, I was visiting my girlfriends Sue and Stephanie at Elements & Starrs (120 N. Hale, Wheaton). They know EVERYTHING about what's happening in the world of women's fashion, staying one …

As the More is More Mom®, I’m all about ... more whimsical holiday decorations! While a gorgeous tree is a total must have for Christmas, why not really get into the spirit of the season? With so many fanciful and fabulous accessories the possibilities for fun are endless… I just love the juxtaposition of using ordinary items in unusual ways. In the spring, I found these lovely, very elegant and very tall vases. They have experienced several incarnations this year already. At the beginning of the summer, I had a bee in my bonnet about creating a terrarium. I thought that the organic quality …

As the More is More Mom®, I'm all about … more Christmas shopping around town with the ladies! I made my list and checked it twice (some of the items were even gifts for people other than myself), and I am well aware of who was naughty and nice! To make the gift giving experience more festive and fun, my girlfriends and I headed to downtown Glen Ellyn for Ladies Night Out, on our quest for thoughtful and unique gifts for the holidays. Sure, anyone can wrap up a gift card or a bottle of wine, but that's just so bah-humbug boring. Good gift giving is an art form. Good gift giving reduces the …

As the More is More Mom®, I’m all about ... more delicious ideas for enjoying Thanksgiving leftovers! One of my favorite parts about Thanksgiving dinner is enjoying the leftovers all weekend. Even though my mom sends us home with a shopping bag full of tasty turkey and all the fixings at the end of the night, I decided that this year I would roast a turkey breast on Tuesday. There is nothing like the aroma of a turkey basting in your very own kitchen. It’s heavenly… Now you can certainly go old school, warming up a plate with a generous serving of meat, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes (topped…

As the More is More Mom, I am all about ... more stocking up on party essentials! There is nothing worse than being like Old Mother Hubbard and finding your cupboards bare. You never know when an impromptu celebration will break out this time of year. It's best to be prepared. What could be more fun than chatting outside with your neighbors and inviting them in for a cocktail? Or friends just popping in because they are in the neighborhood? Spur of the moment get togethers can be a blast, as long as you are ready for them. While you won't have time to whip up your favorite home made …

As the More is More Mom®, I'm all about….. more shedding some light on the situation! Lighting is yet another opportunity to show off your home's personality. Of course, to strike that perfect balance of overhead, task and accent lighting requires some planning and creativity, though there's no reason not to have a little bit of fun. Besides, layering your lighting adds interest and dimension to any room. Yesterday, I paid a visit to one of my favorite stores around town; Lamps and Shades in Glen Ellyn. For over three decades, aside from selling gorgeous lamps, they have specialized in …

As the More is More Mom®, I am all about……more holiday preparations! I know I'm getting completely ahead of myself, considering I have yet to dismantle, sort, wrap and pack up my Halloween decorations. We still have a surprising amount of Trick-or-Treat candy left in our bowl, which won't last much longer with the chocoholics that live in our home.  Just the other day I was "grocery shopping" at the Super Target (which is clearly code for, "I'm actually up to monkey business"), marveling at all of the wonder of the season. I had hit the entertaining mother-load. Since more of everything is …

To me, it's important to pay attention to the finer points; snag free hosiery, neat, evenly filed fingernails, chip free nail polish, a good hand bag and a smart thank you note are all points that make the woman. I'm thrilled that the fashion industry seems to agree. Everything's coming up classic! Jewelry, handbags, footwear and silhouettes; it's all about shape, form and function. I'm crazy for jewelry, be it costume or fine. The more the merrier. In fact, I appreciate the juxtaposition of a fine piece with something fun and flirty. My favorite trend of the season is pearls, in all shapes …

I live for manufacturing opportunities to celebrate life with our family and friends. While I love to play hostess, sometimes it's nice to be a guest, too. As someone who entertains frequently, I truly appreciate the amount of thoughtfulness, time, effort and expense that my host incurs when throwing a fabulous soiree. That is why it is important to be a good guest! This past weekend, Chuck and I were invited to our friend's house for cocktails and appetizers. Yay! Snicky-snacks and Splishy-splashes. I insisted on bringing an appetizer that I've been dying to try (so many recipes, so little …