After two and half years of Skype broadcasts from home, Christmas in July 2022 was one of the last events to air nationally for Home Shopping Network from our Baker home studios
I like to select colors and a motif that will be the star of the show. White was emerging as the main color. White and gold are always beautiful. I dotted some teal with the velvet pillows and also allowed black and white buffalo check to make an appearance. When I received the samples of the white poinsettias in the gold pots, I knew they would be the main motif. I made the large white poinsettias that are on the trees. I will have to do another post on that DIY project. Also, though my preferance will always be fresh flowers, I used faux florals and winter greens above. I have done some incredible floral arrangements in the past. Look for past posts on my florals and I will also make a new post with more recent DIY floral arrangements for you.
Below is the blank room I started with. Be sure to add your 3M Damage-Free Hooks to hang garland and wreaths to windows, doors, door frames, and mirrors. I have these white spheres of lights, about eight of them, and I place them on the floor behind the sofa to create backlight. It looks pretty on TV when we are filming, but I have chosen to leave them there indefinitely because it looks so great anytime, especially when I have company.
My china cabinet converts to a dispaly case for beuatiful lit snowglobes and other pieces. The back wall of the cabinet is mirrored, and when we were filming, I found the large silver chargers were indeal in blocking the reflection of my hubby cameraman 😉 . Lastly, how about those silver and white pop up tinsel trees? I love them!
I was going crazy with the fresh, vibrant spring colors of pink, yellow and mint green. The wreath and garland really tied everything together. How precious are the yellow chicks sitting on the bright green moss?! I added both on top of a candle holder. The led lit lanterns had a very bright white light inside and illuminated the silver glitter that twirled inside. ALL the florals are faux florals! I put them together and thought they looked incredible. I hope you agree! I found the floral stems, picks, and artificial flowers at Michael’s and Walmart. Of course, I had to add the bunny with eggs inflatable to our lawn. Neighbors photographed their children next to it. Now that was precious.
I love dresses, ideally, uber-feminine frocks. Hence, my love and obsession with Hill House Home. HHH is quintessentially feminine, effortless, and elegant. Wash and air dry. Absolute perfection to me.
I discovered Hill House Home and their now-famous Nap Dress #napdressnation. I never found a brand, a dress (my favorite to date is the Ellie Nap Dress in botanical blue – I own two in blue botanical) a style of clothing that met my every clothing need affordably, beautifully, perfectly. Just so me and my brand, Home with Alexandra’s ethos; chic, simple, reimagined. Reimagined? Yes! We are talking about a smocked dress. Simple, right?
My mom purchased Sears & Robuck store brand Growing Girl camis when I was a little girl. They were white cotton with little pink or blue roses all over. I adored them! The blue botanical Ellie dress is the flowered staple that I can wear daily. The nap dress is like a Growing Girl staple for grown-ups. Just change your accessories.
There are many things that I am good at accomplishing. Styling myself is NOT one of them. I just don’t have that innate sense of style. Sofia, my daughter, has it. She’s always had it. Not me. After years of working with stylists, in television, competing in pageants, working in New York City, and more, one would think I would have developed this aspect of myself. No chance. I would dress like a Disney Princess, Superstar Barbie, or a character straight from the set of Bridgerton all day long if it were up to me. And for those of you who know me, you know this is true! So stop laughing!! If you are looking for a collection of lady-like, lovely, well-made, well-priced pieces, look no further than Nell Diamond’s Hill House Home. The hair bows and headbands are a love of mine as well.
I read an article about Hill House Home founder, Nell Diamond, in Bazaar Magazine online. The story resonated with me because like Nell, I too am structured and highly organized, yet I have quirky idiosyncrasies to my self-image. The world says, “Be Yourself” but “Be Relatable”. I get it. Often, I am in a role where I present and share with others, and being relatable is essential. But I am not a jeans and t-shirt gal. I will happily wear them from time to time, but they are not my go-to, first choice of clothing. I don’t sleep in t-shirts or own sweat pants. I love dresses, ideally, uber-feminine frocks. Hence, my love and obsession with Hill House Home.
HHH is quintessentially feminine, effortless, and elegant. Wash and air dry. Absolute perfection to me! Follow @hillhouse and be on the lookout for soon-to-drop styles and colors of upcoming collections. I hope you fall in love.
Each November, HSN, [Home Shopping Network] has its Deck the Halls Christmas shows. This was my eighth year! However, it was my second year broadcasting our shows from our home, aka, #bakerhomestudios, via Skype due to covid restrictions.
Since set design and propping are now my responsibility for each of my products, selecting a color scheme and/or theme could not simply be what I desired, but what would make the merchandise look best. A task that is not always easy. Not to mention, I enjoy styling something new visually for the viewer at home. To inspire!
This year, two things emerged; gnomes and red. As the UPS trucks arrived with sample merchandise I would be sharing on-air, an abundance of gnomes appeared. From shelf sitters in various sizes to figurines. I always say my husband looks like a gnome. He loves to wear a knit cap when it’s chilly, has a large beard. Then, so much of the decor was bright red. When I realized I had so many Winter Lane and Wind and Weather red gnomes, I knew I had to do a Gnome tree and have red as the main color.
The trend I observed most this year was placing large decor pieces IN the tree. I love that! I placed a dozen or so gnome figurines into my tree and at the base. Even my tree topper is a gnome. I chose to use loads of inexpensive red poinsettias and mesh ribbon to fill in the tree. I already had silver poinsettias. I added those as well. The red and silver color scheme was divine. I added a handful of red large ornaments too. I used red velvet bows on almost everything. I already had some bright red velvet ribbon from Amazon, and Home Goods, but added a more claret red velvet ribbon for more bows. I even made a selection of bows to wear in my hair, inspired by a couple of bows I purchase from Hill House Home, one of my favorite brands. For the record, I love a two-inch wide ribbon for hair, occasionally thinner. Four-inch wide satin without wire is dreamy. I hope you like what you see! Love, Your Holiday HomeBFF xoxo.
What is Pikliz? Almost every nationality has a pickled slaw or relish. In Haiti and the West Indies, there is Pikliz. Pikliz, pronounced “pick-lees” is a Haitian cuisine condiment of hand-chopped pickled cabbage, carrots, bell peppers, and scotch bonnet peppers, traditionally served with all proteins to balance rich flavors.
What is Alexandra’s Pikliz? Spicy Pepper Relish. Our Recipe is Different. Traditional Pikliz relies on bell peppers for color and sweetness. Our small-batch recipe changes with the seasons to include the freshest chili peppers for heat and the finest ingredients for flavor. A premium Haitian recipe and craft condiment.
Enjoy Alexandra’s Pikliz as a condiment; dip, dressing, sauce, spread, ingredient, marinade, and more. It’s your one-stop-spoonful to add pep to every bite from breakfast to your late-night snack.
Alexandra’s Pikliz uses distilled white vinegar as its base, making PIKLIZ shelf-stable for two years, available in a generous 7.5 oz. jar, and has a medium heat level.
Growing up in a Haitian-American household in south Florida, I learned from an early age that meals bring people together. The constant presence at every loud and loving dinner table shared with friends and family was always a spicy and tart jar of pikliz.
Every holiday season, I would share a taste of my Haitian heritage with dozens of friends, family members, neighbors, stylists, producers, and even strangers with a hand-made jar of pikliz.
I am thrilled to share my perfected recipe for just-spicy-enough, use-on-everything pikliz with you and hope you will bring a bit of Island flavor to family dinners and so much more.
In the Kitchen with Alexandra™ a Homewith Alexandra® brand
