IF IT'S JANUARY, IT MUST BE GARNET

Garnet is the official birthstone for January, as adopted by the American National Association of Jewelers in 1912.

It's also a stunning color for decorating.

Above is the famous picture of Diana Vreeland in her Park Ave apartment, designed by Billy Baldwin.

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WHAT'S YOUR CLAN?

A) Menzies B) Gordon C) Malcolm D) Stewart E) Mackenzie F) MacLeod G) Black Watch H) Buchanan

Technically a "tartan pattern" is made up  of perfect squares, so it can be turned 180 degrees or upside-down + look exactly the same. A plaid, on the other hand, can have stripes that clearly run in a specific direction.

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THE RIGHT WHITE?

In retail, the concept of  the January White Sale started in 1878, when Philadelphia's John Wanamaker wanted to create excitement in-store during a traditionally slow retail period.  Bed linens + towels were  only available in the color white - thus the name.

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THE PLATE MAKES THE DISH

With so much talk about New Year's Diets, 

my plan is to use fancier plates.

The only tip I have gained from watching countless  hours of  Top Chef, other than the realization that it wouldn't be a good idea for me to enroll at  The French Culinary Institute,  is that the plating of the food - makes the dish.  I admit I can't  pronounce the techniques the chefs use to prepare the food I can't recognize, but I did figure out that the final creations  presented to the judges are either stacked on a nice plate, or in a cool bowl.   It makes sense because one of the many criteria the judges use to pick a winner, is the presentation.

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FAMILY STATE OF MIND

Food finished, catching-up all caught-up + check-lists made, it might now be time to head back home. If not physically, then mentally. Holidays are special times to do things that are out-of-the-ordinary, like R + R.

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