When I was thinking about this Holiday issue of CR Style I was reflecting upon the moments I love most this time of year. Treasured quiet time with my four-legged family, like snuggling in front of the fire or going for a walk on the fresh snow came to mind. If you are a pet lover you know what I mean. There is nothing more fulfilling after a hectic day of work or an evening out than to be welcomed home by the unconditional love of a dear pet. There is nothing like the kiss from a cold nose to tell you all is right with the world for a moment. I receive so many emails asking about my animals that I am sharing a photo montage of the Weatherstone pet family during the seasons for your enjoyment. I also have a couple of tips for you on furniture care and a great holiday craft project for the pet lovers on your list.

Continuing on my pet theme, my dear and talented friend Cece Cord has the most exquisite collection of pet sweaters, leashes, and carriers in her Travels with Tiger collection. Tiger is Cece’s tiny Yorkshire terrier, her great love and the source of inspiration for a collection of clothes and bags that Sarah Jessica Parker would be envious of. To commemorate their journeys together Cece created The Travels with Tiger collection. A recent trip to Austria inspired the beautiful sweaters, coats, and leather accessories trimmed with edelweiss. I enlisted the help of my pack as models for several of the items, and this was absolutely the most fun photographing a collection for the website I have ever had

Mom, Mittie Ann, and Aunt June are in the kitchen for this month’s featured recipe -- Mittie Ann’s Pecans. You know the holidays are here when bowls of Mittie Ann’s Pecans can be found throughout the house at Weatherstone. Hands down, these are the easiest, most delicious treat you can make from scratch this time of year. We headed to BJ’s over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend to stock up on big bags of pecans and made several batches, packaged for hostess gifts, and table favors. Even if you are not an experienced cook this recipe is so easy and so good everyone will think you studied at Cordon Bleu when they taste your offering.

I am putting the finishing touches on my upcoming book, A Passion for Blue and White, that will be released in fall of 2008. To celebrate the season and the book I created A Blue and White Holiday to inspire you to use the color palette this time of year. The Blue and White collection on the website has a new selection of hand-made papers from all over the world. I have been collecting blue and white for longer than I can remember and it still excites me. After you visit our Blue and White collection I hope you will be inspired to share my passion for this classic color combination.

Please remember to take time for yourself this holiday season. We are going to ship orders until December 20th and will resume our operation on January 21st in order to give our Weatherstone Style Presentations team a long overdue rest.

For those of you who can find your way to Sharon, Connecticut, the 8th , 15th and 16th of December, we are having a special sale for a special cause. My friend Simon and I have started a foundation supporting an amazing scientist doing what we believe is ground-breaking research in the field of immunology. Our Christmas this year is all about raising money to promote her research. The proceeds of this sale will go to The Malaria Research Foundation. For further information about the sale and the foundation please contact us through customer service. In the New Year I will be writing about this extraordinary doctor who is devoting her live to saving children. She is an inspiration!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,