So you’ve been partying for the past few weeks and you’ve done no home decorating or shopping for items like stocking stuffers. Don’t despair, we’ve got your back, with these magazines tailor-made to give you the last-minute inspiration you need — or just a holly, jolly laugh.
Hearst’s Country Living and its staff is leaving New York for the sticks with the hiring of a new editor, and we’re wondering if the writers knowingly filled the December title with stuff they’d never do themselves: Old toilet tissue cardboard rolls for a wreath, or old coffee filter papers to string above the fireplace. Ridiculous! we hear you say. What about wrapping up your entire book collection in plaid wrapping paper, as one lady featured in the magazine suggests. Editor-in-Chief Sarah Gray is hanging up her apron and heading for Athens, NY, to spend more time living out the Country Living fantasy. Gray is being replaced by Rachel Hardage Barrett, who is relocating the outfit to Birmingham, Ala.
We didn’t think last minute, was exactly in Martha Stewart’s repertoire, so we were heartened to find in Martha Stewart Living a bunch of “last-minute” hors d’oeuvres you can assemble to make it look like you prepped for hours. The simple advice is to stock up on high end Parmigiana-Reggiano, sweet sopressata, a honeycomb and a few dates and spreads. As far as gifts go, the magazine recommends Martha-branded brittle candy from JCPenney, or perhaps the knife set for those who love to carve out their own oysters. What else were you thinking? For those handy people who prefer to make their own gifts, you can try these unlikely projects: a crocheted loofah, fragrant sachets or leather key sleeves. Our favorite homemade gift, however, is the bacon jam. Since the recipe calls for bourbon, we believe the writers who pitch it as the perfect hostess gift.
If you’re buying for the person who has everything and money is no object, Traditional Home’s gift section has a few good ideas separated into different color schemes. From rare stone rings to spreaders and leather-wrapped pens, there’s a thousand dollar gift idea for everyone, if you like purple. For decorating ideas, the magazine does a good job of inspiring envy, with New England homes, roaring fireplaces, woolen blankets and rope trimmings. If that weren’t picture postcard enough, then there’s the family dressed in blue sweaters and khakis and a golden lab to complete the scene. Also, the mag features holiday houses as imagined by a select few designers. While they’re encouraged to break the mold, we’re wondering exactly what’s special about these designs. There’s not a tree or piece of tinsel or gaudy bauble in sight. Instead we’re treated to a Mother’s Day room that features little more than a chaise lounge and a Remembrance of Things Past room featuring a wall of artists including Vita Sackville-West. All of which is decidedly devoid of the spirit of the season.
HGTV is as brash and as loud as your aunts and uncles who are filling your home with their non-stop blathering. Even so, it’s easily the most usable in terms of practical ideas that neither break the bank nor take an eternity to create. Worth a try are the homemade party mix, cinnamon-ginger apple sauce, and peppermint bark. There’s even a feature on a family that wants a new kitchen for Christmas. No wonder: Their six grown-up kids descend every year for the holidays. We also like the feature on the family that eschews the whole red and green color scheme and went instead with primary colors for their school-age kids.