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Photo: billboard.com from Times Square I hear people say: the months of 2017 have passed in what feels like dog years. It  has  been a year of turmoil and divisiveness. Our Congress seems out of step with regular people. High profile men fell from grace, and we worry about our executive branch of government daily. The year has been exhausting for many Americans and the world. Cloak at Grand Central Sation - right photo: MadeWellCloak.com; left photo: pixicube.com  But at the stroke of midnight, we began a New Year. And, I am an optimist. The pendulum swings back and forth. I'm happy to be here. Aren't you? Let's celebrate 2018! Photo: foolsgoldnyc.com Nobody knows how to ring in a New Year like New York City. From neighborhood parties to the huge one in Times Square. Uptown, downtown  ... corks are popping in bars, restaurants and homes. Photo: Kelly Hulme via TimeOut In New York's harbor  there are sometimes fireworks, but they are not announced. You just ...

The 1st-9-photos taken by  Margareta  Kessler Here are recent photos of the elegant Biltmore House  in Asheville, North Carolina. The Vanderbilt estate was built during the Gilded Age and is still privately owned by the Vanderbilt family. Luckily, it is open for public tours so we can see an earlier age of American history and great wealth.  What beautiful, elaborate Christmas decorations!  A look into the past informs us of how the world changes and yet manages to stay the same, doesn't it? Once again we turn to a low-born, humble child to remind us of what is truly important. From the perennial carol:  O Holy Night ... "O holy night The stars are brightly shining It is the night  Of the dear Savior's birth'' ♬ ♪ ♪ ♫ ♪ ♪ ''Long lay the world                 In sin and darkness pining 'Til he appeared  And the soul felt its worth" ♬ ♪ ♪ ♫ ''A thrill of hope The weary world rejoices For yonder breaks A n...

Are you still looking for holiday gifts? Because. I still have ideas you might like. People bath and like to pamper and groom themselves. (And, the small number who don't ... should!) But not everybody likes perfume or harsh chemicals. LUSH makes gentle, fresh smelling personal care items that you could probably eat! The creators of LUSH began their careers making soap, shampoo, conditioner and body butter for The Body Shop before launching their own company. (Years ago when I first stepped into a LUSH store, my nose picked up the familiar early Body Shop scent, which in time disappeared from the B.S.) All the soaps, shampoos, hair masks, face and body moisturizers, shaving creams, lip and body balms, as well as, the makeup is made fresh by hand using only botanical, 100% vegetarian and cruelty-free ingredients and methods. Not only are the LUSH  beauty elixirs pure, natural and gentle, they are such a pretty presentation to receive. I can't imagine a norm...

Photo: CookieRecipes.com  - This is what store bought Springerle look like. This Christmas I baked German springerle for the very first time. Easy and inexpensive to make, the cookies originate from Southern Germany.   As an adult, I prefer Christmas cookies that are less gooey and sweet.  Springerle fits the bill. The taste of anise (a spice also used in candy) is unique. Here is the recipe: Springerle Ingredients: 1 tablespoon butter 3 cups confessionary sugar (If out of confessionary sugar, substitute 1 1/2 cups of granulated sugar.) 3 large eggs 1/2 teaspoon of anise oil (or 3 teaspoons crushed anise seeds, or 1 1/2 teaspoons of anise extract) 3 cups all-purpose flour In no way do my springerle look like the pros, but they are as delicious.  1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1 tablespoon milk 1/4 teaspoon salt Optional: 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (not in the traditional cookies) Extra flour to knead and roll the dough. Directions: 1) Cream together the but...

If I have no idea whatsoever what someone else might like as a gift, I buy them something I would like. Here are 3 more holiday gift ideas for you, dear readers, who are scratching your heads. At this point, you will need to find them in-store, or you could wrap up a little box with an I.O.U. printout of the image and description inside -- while ordering the item online for delivery. Frankly, that's what I would do. Likely it will arrive after Christmas, but you have the I.O.U. gift box to give to your giftee, and I don't think anybody minds when presents keep coming after Christmas. I know I don't! Often you enjoy the anticipation as much as the gift.  First up is something always near and dear to my heart, beauty products. I mean, who isn't always trying to improve one's appearance or hold on to whatever youth is still left!😏👸🏻 1)  Innisfree Hydrating Green Tea Sleeping Pack  - (the above photo↑) - Top-notch certified organic skincare from Korea ...

Organization is the key to having a lovely home. Everything we possess needs a place of its own, which saves time, energy, frustration and money. (Have you ever re-bought an item because you couldn’t remember having one, or find it?) Sometimes the cords for all of our devices look sloppy. This faux leather charging valet station from Brouk  organizes and hides those unsightly cords. The cords of up to 4 iPhones feed into one main cord, which pokes out of the back to plug into a wall. Store all the other cords in the drawer. Plus, park a few other essentials such as house and car keys, or sunglasses there as well. The charging station comes with a 4-prong power strip and cord and is available in 6 colors. Home Depot sells an attractive bamboo charging station ... nice, sturdy and inexpensive to house both iPhones and an iPad. As you can see here on Amazon , there are a few different looks and price points of valet charging stations to suit every home. Consider it another...

Photo: Nikki When I was a teenager, I began helping my Mama make Christmas cookies. Mostly, we worked separately, not together. One person might peer into the kitchen to see how it was going, but the cookie baker did her own thing, while the other person walked in and out. Over the years, some cookies fell to my Mama to make, and she would ask me to make certain varieties I hit upon that she liked.  My Mama made the best butter cookies, and I don't know how to make them since she always did it.  Plus, I don't have the patience to decorate them. The cookie varieties I make are done the moment, I pull a tray out of the oven. After I bake a cookie, it's annoying to have yet another step before they are ready to eat. I've mixed, laid out the dough, baked, washed bowls ... I mean, the work is done. Mom can handle starting over to decorate baked cookies. Her butter cookies are festive and delicious. What a fancy-pants, fusspot ... going back to decorate done cookies.😊 Well,...

Many retailers offer Countdown Advent Calendars or 12 Days of Christmas Calendars with gifts of makeup and/or skin care.  For a beauty enthusiast, receiving an advent calendar of beauty items, one per day, feels like winning a lottery! Here are the top 2 impressive ones:  1) Let's begin with the holy grail from Liberty (see top photo↑). Expensive at £169, which is $226.22 for 24 days of gifts. A click on the Liberty link here shows you what a magnificent presentation it is. The makeup and skin care contained in it is top-notch of lesser-known, up-and-coming brands giving a beauty aficionado the chance to discover fantastic new products. Wow, people are selling just  the empty box on eBay for $60 bucks! 2) Estee Lauder - Created another festive package. The multi-dimensional star is a big ornament made of sturdy cardboard with 25 hidden compartments of goodies! Estee Lauder is the parent company of several famous cosmetics: Not only the Estee Lauder line, bu...