Rethinking the Coat Rack

I had a green coat rack in the hallway of my apartment back east that had been hand-crafted by my grandfather. I guess over the years as the wood dried out and joints loosened, it started to lean, becoming unstable, especially if I wasn't paying attention to where I was placing clothes on hooks and everything ended up on the same side. When I finally made the decision to send it off in style to coat rack heaven, I didn't realize what a gap it would leave in my hallway.

Yes, I became a little sentimental when I disposed of it, but I had no intention of replacing it. I suppose I wrote off coat racks as "old fashioned" because every one I personally encountered was in a home of my friends' parents, grandparents and aunts and was typically traditional in style. I (foolishly) thought my hall closet would be more than adequate, but after a few months of never being able to find my purse; draping my coat and scarf on the backs of chairs and hanging miscellaneous articles of clothing on doorknobs, I started to think that maybe I should reconsider.

A coat rack is a versatile piece of hall furniture that can be dressed up or left casual. A coat rack or hall tree that makes a statement can create visual interest. Especially if it's the first thing a visitor sees when entering your home, it can make the space welcoming and inviting. Coat racks made of brass, wrought iron, rattan or polished wood will add flair and sophistication to you hallway or foyer. It doesn't have to stay in the hallway either. A coat rack is a good choice for anywhere you need a little organization for outerwear, clothes and accesories like a bedroom, mudroom or back entryway.

Think they're just a stand with hooks and a bit of style? Coat racks can include features such as a revolving section to make access to clothes easier, an umbrella compartment or a set of lower hooks for children. If you don't have room for a freestanding coat rack, wall mounted versions are also alvailable.

It's not handmade but I did eventually get a wood one in a transitional style with brass hooks. It greets me as soon as I walk through the door. No more searching for a hanger in the closet; backs of chairs are no longer a tempting resting place.

- E.L.

No Pretzel Luggage

Never mind last minute packing; how about last minute luggage? During my previous trip to my home town this past Christmas, the luggage that greeted me at the carousel bore little resemblance to the luggage I started my journey with. Suitcase No. 1 sported a jagged split down one of its fronts while Suitcase No. 2's zipper gaped open where the handle had come away from the leather. I can't even in clear conscience blame air travel in general and baggage handlers in particular. I am a procrastinator and in all truthfulness, my luggage has needed to be replaced for awhile.

Now just under a year later, I am still victim of my own procrastination. I went to fetch my suitcases only to be reminded that I don't have any. But there's a silver lining; how to put this nicely? My old luggage was...well old. My suitcases were semi-soft sided and had wheels. But they didn't have retractable handles and while they could be wheeled through a busy holiday-time airport, I had to twist myself pretzel-like to do so. This apparent disaster presented the perfect opportunity to upgrade to upright luggage that looked like it belonged in the twenty-first century.

While it is fun in a desperate sort of way to sit on your suitcase in order to get it to close, expandable luggage is much more stylish and convenient to use. My new upright luggage set includes two suitcases of different sizes, a beauty case and a shoulder bag/carry-on with an adjustable strap. The retractable handles work like a dream and the wheels are so quiet I almost forget that my suitcases have wheels. In addition to having the confidence that my possessions are safely locked away and fully protected, the bonus to owning a new luggage set is knowing I don't have to roll it alongside of me twisted like a pretzel.

- E.L.

Air Travel Survival Trips

It's not just your luggage that you have to worry about. These days, air travel can be really stressful, what with long lines, crowds of people, flight delays and security checks. Here are some simple but effective ways of dealing with holiday travel that will allow you to survive gracefully and arrive at your destination (almost) stress-free.

Know the Rules

Before you even leave the house, the number one way to reduce holiday travel headaches is to plan ahead. Because rules and restrictions vary from one airline to another, check with your travel agent or the airline for a list of dos and don'ts including the size of carry-on bags, the number of pieces of luggage, the weight capacity of each suitcase, etc.

Ensure that nothing in your checked in luggage is carrying prohibited liquids such as lighter fluid or realistic-looking toy guns.

Be Flight Ready

Check in online 24 hours prior to your flight.

Print out your boarding pass before going to the airport.

Check online for any flight or weather delays about two to four hours before leaving for the airport. If you have a mobile phone, you can sign up for flight updates so you'll be notified of any last-minute changes or delays.

Be Prepared for Security Checks

Make sure that your carry-on luggage does not include anything that is going to get confiscated or ring alarm bells when going through security checks. And ladies, don't be like me and forget that your purse also has to go through security.

Use exterior pockets of your carry-on to keep your passport, boarding pass, ID, etc. handy.

If you can't shop for gifts and mail them ahead of time, plan on packing them into any suitcase you will be checking in. Should you need to take them with you in your carry-on, don't wrap them.


- E.L.

I Need a New Bathroom Medicine Cabinet

It doesn't look nearly as bad or as rusted as the white metal one in the first apartment that my girlfriend and I rented after graduating from university. But I don't want to ring in the New Year with the medicine cabinet that is in my current bathroom. The outside still gets a passing grade, but inside is a different story: the shelves are starting to warp; one shelf had to be removed because a bracket went missing and the bottom left-hand corner of the cabinet sports an unidentified stain that I just cannot get out.

A new medicine cabinet is also a good way to give your bathroom a quick and inexpensive makeover. Bathroom mirror cabinets, like a medicine cabinet with a mirror specifically chosen to match or complement the bathroom vanity, add functionality and style to the most used room in your home.

I don't want just another pretty face in the bathroom! In order for a medicine cabinet to be both chic and useful, I will need to think about the features I would like it to have. I like to keep some medicinal lotions that come in tallish tubes or bottles, so a cabinet that has adjustable shelves would be important to me. And because I'd feel obligated to clean them all the time, the shelves should be made of wood rather than glass. I would also like to be able to DIY; I'll be selecting a the type of cabinet that can be easily hung on the wall instead of a recessed style of medicine cabinet. I don't have young children using the bathroom, but if you do, perhaps the medicine cabinet you choose for your bathroom should have a lock.

Now that I have a good idea of what I want in a bathroom medicine cabinet, I'm ready to go shopping for one.

- E.L.

Making your Dining Room Holiday-Ready

The dining room is one of the rooms of your home that will be seeing a lot of action during Christmas and New Year's. A little planning ahead will help make your dining room holiday-ready; a welcoming place to entertain family and friends.

Buffet or Sideboard

If you have a buffet or a sideboard, make sure it is stocked with what you need to set your table for those special meals you will be hosting. Check to see that all of the pieces of the dinner service you will be using are present and accounted for. Ditto for the cutlery drawer and stemware you will require.

Place a festive pillar candle or a hurricane lamp ringed with pine boughs or a wreath of holly on the buffet.

The same checklist will apply to the china cabinet in your dining room.

Dining Table

The spotlight will be on your dining table. After all it is the focal point and main purpose of the room so you will want it to look its best. Clean and condition, especially if it is a wood one, your dining table as per the manufacturer's instructions.

If the only place in your home for a gift wrapping station is the dining table, make sure that everything has been cleared away in time to get the dining room ready for guests.

Choose a centerpiece for the table that is in the low-to-mid height range. You don't want decorations in the center of the dining table that will block the view.


More Holiday-Ready Dining Room Tips

When you're expecting guests with young children, have a couple of extra telephone books or thick pillows or cushions on hand just in case the booser seat was forgotten at home.

Ensure any linens you will using such as a tablecloth and napkins have been freshly ironed. Keep some paper ones on hand as extras for both the adults and the kids.

Inspect your chairs to see if they are good to go. Spot clean as required. If you're going to need more chairs on the day of your festive occasion, know in advance from which rooms you will be getting them from.

- E.L.

Stuff for (Kids) Stockings

Christmas is such an exciting time for children. While everyone (kids and adults alike), of course, enjoys their main presents, sometimes those little gifts and toys that are tucked away in a child’s stocking can inspire hours of enjoyment and just as many fond memories.

Whether you’re trying to find ways to keep then entertained when traveling or out of mischief on a rainy day, how about an old favorite with a new twist? The Melissa & Doug Rainbow Stamp Pad will provide hours of creative experimentation.


Relax…they’re not going to paint the dining room wall with the Melissa & Doug Jumbo Paint Brushes Set. Intended for younger kids, the brightly colored handles are easy to grip and easy to clean. (But just in case they do get inspired to add their own mark to your walls, make sure their paints are non-toxic, washable ones).


For the infants and toddlers on your Christmas list, introduce them to the challenging fun of a puzzle with the Infantino Colors and Shapes Puzzle. Especially when they are first starting out, puzzles are a great way to develop hand-eye coordination; it also helps young ones to recognize shapes and colors in the process of deciding where each piece fits.

Kitchen sets and activity sets like the Edushape Kiddy Connects Set allow toddlers (for 2-year olds and up) to use their imaginations. The modular and colorful snap-ball blocks lets them build anything they can think of.


- E.L.

Stuff for (Adult) Stockings

Sometimes finding those perfect stocking stuffers is more difficult than shopping for the "hardest" person on your Christmas list. In case Santa needs a little nudge, here are some stocking stuffer ideas for him (and for you).

Designed as a portable toolbox that will fit in the palm of your hand, the KELVIN 23 Multi-Tool gathers the most common tools you might need for around the house together in one convenient place. It's easy for anyone to use, handy person or not so DIY oriented.

Everyone on your Christmas list can use a travel alarm clock, whether they are regularly on the road or leave town only for holidays. When the power goes out, it's good to have a backup plan like the retro sleek Howard Miller Clam Shell Alarm Clock.


The Remington Travel Shaver is one of those must have handy gadgets for those on the go, whether they're on a plane or at the gym.

Give her the option of taking her jewelry with her wherever she needs to go with a stylish travel style jewelry box.

You know someone whose home office doesn't have air conditioning? Working at the computer in the family room gets a little stuffy? How about a portable, personal fan?

For the outdoor enthusiatic, whether they just go for hikes on the weekends or camp every chance they get, I bet they'll really appreciate the Chass Outdoor Pro Multi Use Travel Tool.

- E.L.