Checklist for Holiday Entertaining

The holidays can be stressful enough and then some have the added stress of entertaining. I don't know how some people do it! So here is a quick checklist of things you might have overlooked in your holiday party planning:

Candles - A simple decoration that sets the mood and makes people feel warm and welcome

Cocktail Napkins - Good etiquette and adds a festive touch

Tablecloths - Check to see if there are any of last year's stains and if it needs to be ironed.

Serving Pieces - Look over your menu and make sure you have the serving pieces for each dish

Guest Towels - More than three linen or terry cloth ones or plenty of disposable guest towels

Napkin Rings - This is a festive touch that will liven up your table

Stemware - Make sure they are clean and that you have plenty. A good substitute for crystal during parties are the GoVino stemless wine glasses - unbreakable and meant to go in the dishwasher.

Remember, this is the time for joy and fun. Now is the time to forgive and be celebratory. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Beaujolias Nouveau Sallie home Party: Barcelona in Clayton, Riveting Notes, Grainger McKoy, and Bella Cucina

"We had a gathering at Sallie home for the opening of Beaujolias Nouveau, November 18th, 2010. French music squeezed on an accordion, from the wandering musician wearing a royal satin poet's shirt, baret and red scarf, set the atmosphere for the night as red wine poured into our GoVino re-usable, stemless wine glasses - which become the best seller of the night!

Barcelona, a tappas restaurant found off of Bemiston Road in Clayton, Missouri,known for their small plates of unusual foods, came with really tasty chicken drummies coq au vin, spearing a bed of mashed potatoes. These drummies were really superb with the fresh red wine.

Accompanying Barcelona's food was Bella Cucina, a new food line I brought in for those of us who need ever ready hors d'oeuvres in the pantry. Just add a little dab of bottled Bella Cucina to on-hand hand pastry tarts of phyllo dough in the freezer to serve to the most discriminate.

The food and music were delicious, but our guests of honor stole the spotlight. Guests were treated to a show of SLU law school's and Riveting Images'Deborah Herndon's juried photographs of French Countryside doors. From South Carolina, Grainger McKoy Jr., the famous sculptor's son, showed his collection of mallard feathers, bobwhite quail, and wood duck jewelry in sterling and gold. He brought the most fascinating piece, the mallard foot stem sterling goblet. Over all it was a wonderful night of entertaining for my friends and customers (who if they weren't before, I now consider friends). Thank you to all that came!"
-Sallie Kramer
Owner of Sallie home

Top 10 Gifts in 2010 from Sallie home

Gift giving can be hard to do, but you are sure to win someone over with one of these Christmas gift ideas:

1. Quail Cufflinks by Grainger McKoy. These are the perfect gift for the hard-to-buy-for hunter! They are a best seller for Grainger McKoy's jewelry line for men and women.

2. Lego architectural gems by Brick Structures. For the architect lover in your life. Pick from an array of significant architectural structures in America, like the Space Needle in Seattle and build your own replica out of Legos. For ages 12 and up.

3. Steuben Glass Holiday Trees. At Steuben Glass, luxury is in the details, and these little trees are packed with luxury! This new collection of miniature-trees will be the perfect touch on your book shelf, holiday table, or mantle for years to come!

4. Tic-Tac-Toe. Who doesn't love a game of tic-tac-toe? In this grown-up version, the board is made of varnished cherry wood and aged bronze. The 'X's and 'O's are hand-blown, over-sized marbles in black and white. So grab your burgundy and light your cigar, because it's game-on!

5. Wisteria Bud-Vase. Hand-made and hand-etched. This beautiful bud vase is from the popular William Yeoward Country collection and is just stunning!

6. Laced Cuffed Socks. Delicate lace for a stylish feminine charm. Dress up any outfit with these lace socks. A gift that will bring back memories of your younger years.

7.Blah Blah Dolls. Irresistibly soft and cuddly. Contemporary dolls, yet they feel like old friends. Collect them all!

8. Flights of Fancy. These tiny 2.5" butterflies will liven up any table setting. The hand-painted, Anna Weatherley quality makes this a thoughtful and precious gift.

9. Blossom Bowl by Juliska. This 6" bowl is as wonderful as a flower. A great accent bowl for berries, condiments, and candies. Stacks beautifully with the 5" and 4" blossom bowls.

10. St. Moritz Candle. It smells like Christmas! Ina beautiful, limited-edition red-glass, this luxe scented candle will warm up your winter!

If don't think these ideas will work for someone in your life and you need more gift ideas for that hard-to-buy-for person, let us know, and we'll put our brain to work!

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Grainger McKoy Jewelry and Sculptures: Not Just for the Birds!

Grainger McKoy has a passion for the "pursuit of the flight of birds in wood." For a quarter century McKoy has been masterfully carving bird sculptures out of wood. Recently he opened up a whole new territory, he started using his wood carvings into bronze casts in which he poured gold and silver into. This discovery also moved him into the realm of wearable sculptures, or jewelry. Like his sculpture, the "jewelry design is of or about a bird, and starts with a piece of wood and a sharp blade."

The jewelry line, which started as a Christmas Gift for Mckoy's wife, has flourished. Now woman can purchase earrings, necklaces, pendants, and bracelets in Gold or Sterling Silver fashioned from feathers, quails, and other birdly inspirations. The Recovery Stroke Earrings were made upon a customer's request for a gift to give on the 10th anniversary of their wife surviving cancer, these earrings are based on a 12-foot tall Recovery Stroke Sculpture for Swan Lake Gardens in Sumter, South Carolina.

Men can enjoy cufflinks, money clips, rings, and lapel pins. This is the perfect Christmas gift for the avid hunter and bird lover. The Quail cufflink and stud set are their best sellers.

Sallie home is pleased to announced that we are now one of the lucky retail stores that is privileged enough to sell Grainger McKoy. Grainger McKoy will be at Sallie home in St. Louis, MO, November 18th, 2010 to debut his entire line, gold and silver.

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Annual End of Summer Sale for Yves Delorme is NOW

The time has come for fall, which means kids are back to school, the air is crisp, leaves are turning, and Yves Delorme is offering their annual End-of-
Summer sale. Renowned French manufacturer of luxury linens in crisp percales and luscious sateens is getting ready to launch their fall line, which means discontinuing some of the old designs to make space.

Lucky for us, this means from now until September 11th, the public can get 40% off some amazing patterns in bath and bed, like Pop, Pele Mele, Duomo Platinum, Medaillon, Topkapi, Capri Beige and Pique, and Athena Black and Chocolate. My favorite, Duomo Platinum, I've been eye-ing it up since it was on our display bed, and i have yet to think it anything less than fantastic! Sale technically ends September 11th, however, shop early, once an item is out of stock, you're out of luck :(

In addition to these great patterns, you can get 20% off items from their tried and true solid bed and bath linen collections, like Athena, Triomphe, Etoile, Olympe, and Plume.

Call 1-800-257-9167 to place an order with discount. To view all of Yves Delorme, including new fall 2010 designs, visit us at www.salliehome.com.

Juliska's Introduces New Dinnerware

Juliska has introduced three new dinnerware lines in ceramics: Boxwood & Bow, Ruby, and Classic Bamboo. Boxwood & Bow is hung for the holiday with wreaths that go around the rim of the plates and bowls, topped off with a beautifully tied bow. This collection will be perfectly festive for the upcoming holidays.

The Ruby collection is meant to be mixed in with their other collections, giving a bright red hint of color to the tableset. The scalloped edging and other details of Ruby are very similar to that of Jardin du Monde and Berry and Thread collections. Ruby comes with a set of 4 Heart(-shaped) Cocktail Plates that will be perfect for Valentines dinner parties and entertaining!

The Classic Bamboo collection is my favorite new introduction; it brings a combination of naturalistic elegance and style to the table. The ceramic bamboo is so well done, looking very natural. Like most Juliska collections, the dinnerware looks fabulous on it's own but can be layered into other collections too!

These dinnerware collections will soon be available at Sallie home. For now you can call 1-800-257-9167 for more information or to purchase these new introduction pieces.

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Be Careful What You Ask For - Santa Maria Novella Idralia Cream

The following is an excerpt from the owner of Sallie home's journal:

"Be careful what you ask 4 – I never thought I was a victim of "it wasn’t invented here-in-America-itus"; however, a year ago a customer asked for Santa Maria Novella’s Idralia cream for the face, an Italian Product…

I have been complimented all my life for my beautiful skin, which I naively believed. I recently had eye surgery and I told my houseman, Charles, that he would be regretting the day I could see again. Well, 3 weeks after the surgery when I could see again, I told Charles to clean the windows, mirrors, and my vanity table. I came home after work and began washing up for a dinner date. I sat at the vanity as the long spring day light poured in through the windows. Oh Dear! The visions! Be careful what you ask for! The best vision but worst sight I had had in years - creased skin that holds it's wrinkle after touching!!!How can you go out for cocktails and dinner and feel sublime? Thank God for my sense of humor - I told my husband the most humbling thing in my life happened today and we must go someplace with dim lighting.

So what does one do in a case like this? I recalled the cream the customer had me bring in - I immediately went to the store for the Santa Maria Novella Idralia cream. Now what? Crinkles are gone! I am happy to say that this problem has a solution. Now I love me clean glass, mirrors, windows, and fresh skin!"

Santa Maria Novella products, including the Idralia cream, are available at Sallie home; call 1-800-257-9167.

Peacock Alley Linen Airstream Event At Sallie home in St. Louis

Peacock Alley is on the road...in an Airstream. On the roads of Dallas, the company wander on an overgrown, rusted Airstream. While others would leave it, Peacock Alley saw an opportunity to display their bedding and bath collections on wheels. The owners adopted this old Airstream and completely retrofitted the entire trailer.

Now the Airstream is completely functional and fantastically designed in all Peacock Alley linens. The sitting area mixes an old fabric collection with a current collection, Athena. The collection of linens are displayed on boudoir pillows that stick out of the overhead compartments (think airplane), the beds are complete with custom-sized 2010 Lotus bed linens, and the bath is filled with Euro Pillows and bamboo bath towels.

We were lucky enough to have the Airstream grace us with it's presence in St. Louis, Missouri - the furthest Peacock Alley has traveled with it. If you have a chance to see the Peacock Alley Airstream in your area, please do, it's worth the trip. For Peacock Alley linens, visit, www.salliehome.com!

April Showers Bring May Babies: A Great Baby Gift Keepsake

Kids grow up so fast! As a parent, you need to cherish the moments you have with your baby. For the youngsters in the family, I love this Halycon Days Enamels Storks Egg for a Baby Gift or Children's Gift. It may be more for the parent, but it's something they will both look back at one day. This tiny egg is a work of art on the outside and will hold something you cherish on the inside, like your first tooth or the lock of hair from your first haircut. This collectible will stand out as something special and sentimental. With excellent design and impeccable taste, this Storks Egg by Halcyon Days is a great keepsake baby gift! Click here to view more collectible enamels by Halcyon Days Enamels available at Sallie home.

Price: $175

Bunches of Babies: Great Baby Shower Gifts and Decorations

Giving a baby shower? Here's a decoration tip: The Baby Bunch Bouquets. Instead of flower centerpieces on the table, use flower centerpieces on the table that also double as a gift for the mommy-to-be. These Baby Bunch Bouquets are beautiful and practical. Each Large Baby Bunch Bouquet consists of one bib, one t-shirt, two hats, two pairs of socks, one pair of mitts, two burp cloths, one onesie and one romper suit, gathered into a spectacular bouquet of baby clothes encircled with fabric rosebuds and leaves. These bouquets come in pink, yellow, and blue to add a bit of color to the baby shower table-set or room. A great gift for a new mom - all the basics she'll need in distinctive packaging! For more clever baby gifts by The Baby Bunch available at Sallie home, click here.

Price: $70

Samoa Gold Band Dinnerware | A Simple Way to Celebrate Spring

Most dinnerware patterns I typically think of for my spring table are full of flowers and other busy patterns. This year, I found J.L. Coquet's Samoa Gold Band. The Samoa dinnerware collection is subtle yet embodies the lighthearted feel of spring. Most pieces from this collection have a simple gold band accent. The uniqueness comes from the shape of each plate, bowl, and cup; each piece has a flowing scalloped rim. The tea cup and saucer are the best part of the collection. The cup has a vine-like handle coming off the body which is reminiscent of a buttercup. This cup stands out even more with the gold-banded saucer which are like the surrounding petals.

When looking for spring tableware, dinnerware, and home accessories remember they don't have to be busy and full of flower power; the beauty of spring is also in the shape, color, and feel of goods. To view more beautiful dinnerware by J. L. Coquet available at Sallie home, click here.

Easter Bunny Brought us Mustardseed and Moonshine Egg Cup

The egg cup is not a commonly used item on today's table. Typically one would use an egg cup to serve hard boiled eggs. But the egg cup has proven to hold other purposes. In the early 1800s, a drink created in New Orleans which consisted of absinthe, brandy, and bitters, this was the first cocktail and it was served in an egg cup much like the Mustardseed and Moonshine egg cup.

On my table, I would use the Mustardseed and Moonshine Poppy Welsh egg cup as a condiment holder, like for salt, pepper, and other seasonings. It is a great spring and summer accent to a table! It is perfect for Easter and Passover when you might actually want to use it for its intended purpose, to serve a hard-boiled egg! If you don't want to utilize the egg cup, many people have collected various egg cups to put on display; it's quite a collectible item. To see other Mustardseed and Moonshine flower dinnerware available at Sallie home, click here.

Price: $32

Spring Forward with the Halcyon Days Enamels Charlotte Moss New York Bedside Clock

This past weekend, the United States sprung forward. With this I had to set my clock ahead an hour...or didn't because now my clocks all changed automatically. Unfortunately i didn't know they all changed automatically and I became really confused. In addition to wrapping my mind around this phenomena, I was also thinking I wish I had a clock where I could change manually...

Then appeared the Halcyon Days New York Clock. This is a beautiful Charlotte Moss designed bedside clock made of enamel and gold. The outer shell is a beautiful emerald green on the bottom and using that same color is a wonderful grid pattern. It folds to close, which makes it wonderful for travel. Halcyon Days Enamels is known for their collectible keepsakes, so this piece will last as long as time keeps ticking. For more Halcyon Days collectibles available at Sallie home, click here.

Price: $394

Spring Pastels Are In | Anna Weatherley Colors Porcelain Dinnerware is Your Dinnertable Must This Spring

According to a Elle Decor "trend alert" pastels are it. Pastel colors from buttercup-yellow to pale green are not just for your baby's room; they are showing up in springtime fashion, fabrics, and furnishings. The Colors Dinnerware Collection by Anna Weatherley is ahead of the game with it's mint green and powder blue china. These colors are refreshing; a sweet and fabulous look for your table!

The dinner plates, chargers, and salad plates have a rippling rim encased in gold for a wonderful movement on the table. The cups in this collection have an understated yet eye catching look with a pure white porcelain outside and just a touch of color on the inside, thus keeping with the fresh look of the dinnerware. If you want a refreshing look for the spring and summertime, then the Colors collection by Anna Weatherley is for you. To see more springtime inspired dinnerware by Anna Weatherley available at Sallie home.

Dirty and Clean Lingerie Bag | Stay Organized when Traveling

Lady Primrose came out with the greatest item just in time for Spring Break travels! No more wondering if those underwear in your suitcase are clean or dirty! The Lady Primrose Lingerie Bag is a cute zipper bag with two compartments labeled "Wear Me" and "Wash Me," taking away the guessing game. The bag is a bright pink with chic embroidered black lace bra and panties surrounded by polka-dots on each side. Even better than staying organized is that inside, it is lined with a water resistant material. Now you don't have to put your damp bikini in an ugly plastic bag for the ride home!

This is the perfect traveling accessory for Spring Break; stylish and practical. Now with purchase, you can receive a free tryst powder puff to keep fresh and smell wonderful all trip long. It's the perfect gift for yourself or your friend that loves to travel! Click here to view other wonderful Lady Primrose fragrances and personal products available at Sallie home.

Price: $30

Raynaud Verdures Puts the Spring in Your Luncheon

With the weather in the 50's this weekend I have my sights set on spring! And with spring comes thinking and planning for Cardinal's baseball, luncheons, Easter, Mother's Day and so on. Raynaud Verdures dinnerware has also helped me get in the mood for spring and warm weather; no matter the time of the year, the Verdures dinnerware will bring the outdoors in this spring. The Verdures dinnerware collection by Raynaud brings a fresh look to the table. Each piece of bone white porcelain is hand-painted with leaves, branches, and gold accents. There are so many diverse pieces in this collection, but i love the Chop Plate, Oval Platter, and the Breakfast Cup and Saucer. Each of these pieces have wonderful patterns which bring the essence of spring to the table and can be used as accent pieces when mixed with ordinary plain white china. Raynaud Verdures is a lovely pick for springtime celebrations. To view more of Raynuad's wonderful Limoges Porcelain Dinnerware available at Sallie home, click here.

Price of Chop Plate: $310

Price of Oval Platter: $464

Best in Show: Steel Strike Leather Denver Showroom

I would like to give them a hand of applause for being awarded "Best in Show" for their Denver Showroom. It is filled with all the handcrafted leather products I love! Steel Strike Leather Products is a wonderful company that creates home furnishings that glorify the American West in an elegant way. If you have not seen their work and love the American West, check out their products at www.steelstrike.com or at Sallie home. Each piece is skillfully designed and crafted using only the finest leather. Show your father or husband how much you love him with the greatest Father's Day present or Birthday gift - a Steel Strike leather chair or leather humidor.

TokyoMilk Makes Travel Familiar With the Tin Travel Candle

TokyoMilk expands it's already successful fragrance line with the new Tin Travel Candle; with the hope of making unfamiliar destinations familiar with your favorite scent. Each candle comes in a unbreakable tin container with a lid all fashioned to match the rest of their vintage inspired packaging. Made of a Soy wax blend, it is said to burn cleanly, releasing less toxins and smoke, and burn evenly all the way through.
These candles are a perfect gift for the traveler in your life or someone who just bought a new house. Our favorite scents at Sallie home include, Gin and Rosewater, Dead Sexy, and Song in D Minor, but there are so many more to choose from! Click here to view other amazing scents and products by TokyoMilk available at Sallie home.

Price: $14.00

Scandia Down: Making Your Bed Softer

For over 3 decade, Scandia Down has been making beds across the United States softer. They have tried and true products, but recently they have went one step further to create an even better finished product. Our favorite collections, Versailles and Gossamer have been replaced with Vienna, Lucerne. They are basically the same pillow just up-scaled with some new details, like a softer, silkier fabric casing.

The great thing about Scandia Down pillows is that in each pattern, there is a pillow that is made specifically for your style of sleep. If you sleep on your stomach use the soft down, if you are a back sleeper use the medium fill, and if you are a side sleeper use the firm fill. Also, unlike other down pillows, Scandia Down uses state-of-the-art equipment to purify and remove all allergens from the down, allowing your allergies to take a rest. Sleep well tonight with the softest pillows by Scandia Down. To view other amazing soft down products by Scandia Down on Sallie home, click here.

"What Every House Needs"...In Their Linen Closet: The Experts at Sallie Home Reveal!

St. Louis AT HOME Magazine, featured Sallie home in their newest January/February issue: "What Every House Needs." Being an expert on bedding, towels, and other linens, owner Sallie Kramer lets everyone know what they should have in their linen closet. Among the items were bath towels, guest towels, fitted sheets, blanket covers and pillows. Sallie tells you how many of these items you need and why. Get your copy today for the full list; and in the mean time, look at this clip from Great Day St. Louis!



To view some (but not all) of our fabulous linens, go to www.salliehome.com.