The Columbian

Lifestyles

Deck the Halls: 5 easy, elegant ways to decorate for holidays

December 3, 2019, 6:04am Life

It’s supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, but between hosting holiday festivities, shopping for presents and working full time, it can feel like the most stressful. Read story

Expert in linens offers rules to dress your table

December 3, 2019, 6:03am Life

Jane Scott Hodges knows something about table linens. The founder of the luxury company Leontine Linens works directly with interior designers and also is the author of “Linens: For Every Room and Occasion.” Here’s her best advice on entertaining — beautifully and practically — with linens. Read story

Gardening With Allen: Gardening gives life meaning, structure

December 3, 2019, 6:02am Clark County Life

Life becomes so hectic this time of year that we find ourselves coming and going at the same time. It sometimes helps to take a few minutes to relax and ask ourselves what is important and meaningful in life. What are some things which give joy, peace and stability in… Read story

Reusable Vinterfest Tins from IKEA. Americans throw away 25 percent more trash than usual between Thanksgiving and New Year's, according to the National Environmental Education Foundation, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit group.

A present for the earth? How to cut holiday waste

November 29, 2019, 6:00am Life

While the holiday season is a time of giving and thoughtfulness, it can also be a time of excess and waste. Read story

A customer shops for greeting cards at a Target store in Chicago. It's that holiday card time of year again. But before you open up the address book or spreadsheet, read up on some modern etiquette for how to address your recipients. (Nam Y.

Addressing holiday cards? Here’s advice on modern etiquette amid cultural shifts

November 28, 2019, 6:04am Life

It’s that holiday card time of year again. Read story

Use coding commands from a smartphone, tablet or computer to tell Artie 3000 what to draw.

Top toys focus on brain power

November 28, 2019, 6:02am Life

When KidsPost asked toy expert Stephanie Oppenheim what the trends are for 2019, some of her answers didn’t surprise us. Coding kits and toys tied to children’s movies seemed obvious. But a few of her answers were unexpected. Unicorns, for example, are found in several toy categories this year, including… Read story

A traditional Tenugui cloth, similar to furoshiki, is used as an alternative to traditional gift wrapping.

Gift wrapping this season all about sustainability

November 28, 2019, 6:00am Life

The trend in gift wrapping this holiday season is toward jazzy yet sustainable options. Consider beautifully folded fabrics or understated, brown or green masking paper topped with colorful washi tape or sprigs of green instead of easily crushed store-bought bows. Read story

Millennials buying diamonds their way

November 28, 2019, 5:05am Life

Even if you can’t afford to buy a diamond ring at Tiffany & Co.’s Michigan Avenue flagship, you can watch one being made. It’s part of a temporary exhibit showing customers how a diamond goes from a rock to a finished piece of jewelry. Read story

A table setting design by interior designer Elizabeth Stuart in a residence in Charleston, S.C. When setting a beautiful holiday table, consider using several small, low centerpieces rather than one large one.

Beautiful holiday table needn’t be expensive

November 26, 2019, 6:04am Life

Setting a gorgeous table for a holiday meal doesn’t have to be expensive or difficult, says interior designer Elizabeth Stuart. Sometimes, a simple design using just a few plants and candles can be more beautiful than an intricate display. Read story