Recently I was hired to be a guest speaker in Farmington, Connecticut, to talk about my signature style of creating casual luxury. I was joined by Lisa, my candle line business partner, and we were off to meet the ladies and enjoy a meal with them; my presentation was for after dinner. We left Westport around 5:00pm and as the sun set I noticed how difficult it was getting for me to read the street signs. Recently I also noticed I was having some difficulties reading the text on my iPhone. “Oh no!” I yell to Lisa, “It’s happening!” “What?” she replied. “My eyes are going, and it feels as if it happened overnight!” Turning 40 this year I had been told, “Just wait: once you’ve hit forty you’ll be needing readers,” but driving glasses—what gives?
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Lavender is one of my favorite scents for the home, and I’ve made it a habit to spritz our sheets with lavender linen water every night before we get into bed.

Linen water can get a little pricey, but it’s incredibly easy to make yourself. Here’s what you do:

1. Sterilize a 24oz. bottle (with a cap) with boiling water; let dry.

2. In the bottle, mix together about a teaspoon of essential oil (I like lavender best, but other nice options are rose, patchouli and lemongrass) and 2oz perfumers’ alcohol or high-proof vodka.

3. Fill the bottle with distilled water, put on the cap, and shake to emulsify. The linen water will separate over time, so shake between each use.

Tip: You can mist the linen water on your pillows and sheets, like I do, or add a little bit to your dryer or iron (if you iron your sheets, which…um…I definitely do not).

- Jordan Reid

Is it ever okay to tell a lie?

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I had the privilege of working with some talented people in the wedding industry of New England when working on a Wedding Trends of 2010 package.

Even with the biggest trend being people having to downsize expenses in their weddings, I was surprised to find how elegant and “expensive” a wedding can look, just by paying attention to the details.

First, the hospitality of taping with the general manager at Aquaturf, Tim Needham in Connecticut was wonderful. I also want to give a shout out to the photo booth companies that helped provide booths, Photobooth Planet and Connecticut Photo Booth rentals. Plus the beautiful cake and cupcake designs by Lisa at Cakes Unlimited. Everything was outstanding.

Next, we met up with Deborah Dempsey from A Gala Affair and was blown away by the beautiful themes and trends she provided to show people. The space she chose (Saltwater Farm Vineyard in Stongington, CT) was the perfect location for any event, not just weddings. She went above and beyond what we needed to visually show a story to us of how lovely a wedding can be when paying attention to the details.

If you are inspired by any of the trends in this story, click on these links to find out more information.

Luna Bazaar

American Furniture Rental

Rentals Unlimited

Stonington Design and Paperie

Sweet Fern Soap

Cloth Connection

Who is the biggest star on the big screen?

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What does he do that turns you off?

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Tanning beds could be headed for tigher regulations.  The F-D-A plans to hold a public hearing in late march to review the growing evidence linking UV radiation and skin cancer.

The agency is considering stricter regulations, including limits on u-v exposure from sun lamps and stronger warning labels.

While I am pretty much a sun-block person, I can appreciate the summer glow look with spray tans.

I do worry about looking oily or “fake.

Luckily, Anne from Parents TV found some alternative tanning methods –including great spray tans — to help us get in the warmer weather spirit. -L

Would you tell your friend if you knew their spouse was cheating?

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What I’m reading while I sit in jury duty for two days: Steve Almond’s Candyfreak. The author, an admitted “freak” for everything chocolatey, sugary, and nutty (although, oddly, not almonds), goes on a journey across America to document the efforts of regional candymakers before they fall victim to the monopoly of the “Big Three.”

Between the World Wars, candy manufacturing exploded in America, with thousands of boutique confectioners springing up in every state. Gradually, however, the three “majors” (Hershey’s, Nestle, and Mars – later renamed Masterfoods) took over, and the smaller manufacturers were slowly driven out of business.

Almond travels from Boston, where he meets with the foremost expert in the candy business, Ray Broekel, to Nashville, where he discovers the wonder that is the Goo Goo Cluster (I can vouch for this one), all the while including searingly funny anecdotes and a healthy dose of awareness that this is all, really, quite weird.

This is the second time I’ve read the book, and it’s even better this time around. There are echoes of David Sedaris, and even Phillip Roth…and for someone who adores both food writing and Portnoy’s Complaint, this book is just about perfect.

-Jordan Reid

What would be the hardest food to give up?

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