Newsweek wrote an article listing the unhealthiest Easter treats, and I wanted to share this list with you before you unknowingly sabotage your best efforts towards good health.  Beware of these calorie-filled, fattening candies in your Easter basket tomorrow!   

Peeps

Jelly beans

Cadbury chocolate egg

Cadbury creme egg

Reese’s peanut butter egg

Lindt chocolate carrot

Hershey’s hollow milk chocolate egg

Large chocolate bunny

You can read the entire article here.

Cheers,

→ Read the article

I must admit, this Sunday for Easter I am making what my grandmother Franny said on countless occasions was her favorite thing for a meal - a reservation.  But I thought I’d share some great Easter table ideas with you in case you are entertaining this weekend and haven’t planned your table yet.  All of these pictures are from Martha Stewart and they’re all fabulous.  Visit the Martha Stewart website for more information on how to replicate any of the ideas.

Happy Easter!

→ Read the article

What if you could pick all the greeting cards you need online and could have them sent to your house at a set time pre-addressed and pre-stamped so all you have to do is sign them and drop them in the mail?  You can do all that with Jack Cards.  I recently learned about this company whose slogan is "connecting our world thoughtfully."  Membership is free, so you simply enter all the dates you wish to recognize, choose the cards you want for each occasion, pay for the cards and a nominal shipping fee (shipping is free with a $30 purchase), and  sit back knowing you’ll never miss another birthday again.

One of the greatest aspects of Jack Cards is that the card selection is top notch.  I picked three of my favorite cards to show you:

This Mother’s Day card is among the funniest I’ve ever seen.  The message inside says "If it’s any consolation my therapist assures me the mistakes you made in raising me were quite common."

How about showing someone you love them with this visual depiction of love and infatuation.

Finally, if you want to commemorate Cinco de Mayo - and who doesn’t - check out this card that says "We have no cervesa, we have tequila, eets like cervesa."  I love it!

Cheers,

→ Read the article

Martha Stewart is sponsoring an Easter Workshop and it starts tomorrow, Monday, February 25!  (Easter is just four weeks from today.)  This first ever online workshop from Martha Stewart will offer tips on menu planning, projects, decorations, crafts, and Martha’s Good Things.  I signed up and will share any LuSHHus information I may glean from this workshop.  If you want to sign up too, click here. 

Cheers, Ashley

→ Read the article

Have a wonderful Valentine’s Day!  Remember to strive for a life of Luxury, Style, Happiness, and Health in everything you do.  LuSHHus will be getting a new look soon, so please check back…exciting days are ahead!

Love, Ashley

→ Read the article

Here’s something that I wholeheartedly recommend.  It’s a bouquet made of fruit from Edible Arrangements.  You can even have some (or all!) of the fruit dipped in chocolate if you so desire.  Sure, flowers are beautiful, but this is an arrangement that is beautiful and edible and healthful!  I would like to put a disclaimer here: not all girls will appreciate getting fruit on Valentine’s Day!  This is not everyone’s cup of tea, so to speak, so keep that in mind!

These arrangements are perfect year round.  This would make a great gift around the holidays when you are bombarded with sweets galore.  I’d also suggest an Edible Arrangement for a new mom, a sick friend, a birthday girl or guy, a hostess…the list of possible recipients is endless.

Cheers, Ashley

→ Read the article

Today I have some LuSHHus gift ideas for you to give that special someone in your life on Valentine’s Day.

I think most people would be heart-warmingly surprised to receive one of these tailor-made Valentine’s Day cards pictured below.  It’s not just your average Hallmark card and I think this handmade craft would make an extra special treasure when framed or otherwise displayed after Valentine’s Day has come and gone.  This is truly something to keep forever.  Order your Valentine a personalized design here for $10.00.

The Chop2Pot is one of the best ideas I have seen in a long time.  This kitchen tool is a cutting board that converts to a chute when the handle is squeezed.  So the chopped food easily slides into the pot without a mess.  And the pink color makes it a perfect gift for your Valentine who likes to cook!  Check it out here where it sells for $19.75.

A jigsaw puzzle depicting the front page of the New York Times on your wedding day or other special date you and your Valentine share would make a special and sentimental gift.  You can order any date from 1851 to present here, and the cost is $44.95. 

No, I don’t have an iPhone, and I am not saying I want or need one (ok, having one would be fun), but I do think the iPhone would be a good gift option for you to give to your Valentine.  I am hearing good reports all around on the iPhone, especially from my sisters who both have one.  A new iPhone is sure to put a smile on your Valentine’s face (check them out here)!  Be sure to check out the diamond encrusted iPhone if you are so inclined (it costs about $41,000).  By the way, I have the Blackberry Curve which I love.

Why not give your sweetheart a gift that keeps giving with these love coupons.  Fill them in however your heart desires, and let your significant other cash them in at his or her pleasure.  A set of eight true love coupons is available here for $3.75!

We don’t have the Wii but if we did I’d probably get my husband this for Valentine’s Day: the Wii Sports Pack.  This set includes a tennis racket, golf club, and baseball bat to be used with the Wii.  Buy it here for $29.99. 

This ring is a fun option for a friend who is unattached or some other light-hearted recipient (make sure you don’t give it to someone who is dying for a real engagement ring!).  You can find this ring here for $12. 

I love these simple heart earrings from Gucci.  These bamboo sterling silver studs are available at Saks for $140.  Check them out here.  (If jewelry is what you want to give, be sure to check out Tiffany & Co.  They have a beautifully designed Valentine section on their website, and I especially like this and this.)

How about this heart-shaped velvet mouse?  Your Valentine will be thinking about you with every click of the mouse.  This is available here for $19.99.

A Valentine’s gift guide would not be complete without a chocolate option, and I think this selection from Godiva looks very sweet and delicious.  Two of the flavors that sound best to me are Bananas Foster and Vermont Maple Walnut.  You can purchase these and other chocolates here (this collection is $95). 

Here is one more chocolate option and this is a treat that’s sure to keep your Valentine warm through the last of winter: Hot Chocolate On A Stick!  Simply stir the cube of chocolate into a cup of hot milk for a decadent delight.  You can get a set of six Dark Chocolate cubes or six Hazelnut cubes for $18 here. 

This notebook computer is an extraordinary gift option for Valentine’s Day.  This Love Edition computer by Ego boasts all the features your loved one will desire in a computer, and you can purchase it online here.  As you can imagine, something this LuSHHus carries a price tag; the basic Ego laptops start at about $5000.

Happy Valentine’s Day Shopping to you all, Ashley

→ Read the article

The party we hosted this past Saturday evening was quite fun.  We had a great turnout consisting of individuals, couples, and families.  The dinner, which was served buffet style in the dining room, appeared to be a hit since everything was almost completely gone.  Making most of the dishes ahead of time really allowed me to enjoy myself while our guests were in our home, so be sure to try and keep things simple as you entertain this season!  The decorations around our home really added to the festivities as did the LuSHHus Christmas mix we played in the background.  I hope you enjoy your holiday parties as much as we enjoyed this one!

Cheers, Ashley

→ Read the article

I have issued LuSHHus gift guides for the much-loved men, women, and children in your life.  Now it is time to give you a few perfect ideas for some very LuSHHus stocking stuffers. 

Oh how I want this first product.  This is the lip scrub by Sara Happ, and I think it sounds quite LuSHHus.  Every once in a while, my lips get dry and might even start to flake or peel a bit, so I actually do need this lip scrub.  You can choose from six varieties, but I think the Almond Creme sounds best.

I think magazine subscriptions are a fantastic gift.  My twin sister gave me several as a housewarming present recently, and I get so excited each time I walk to the mailbox with the hopes there is one waiting for me there.  Plus, you save so much when you purchase the subscription rather than buy each issue individually on the newstand.  There are subscriptions for everyone on your list:

Highlights High Five for the 2-6 year old crowd; National Geographic Kids for children ages 6-14 ($15 for 10 issues); Food and Wine Magazine for the connoisseur (12 issues for $19.99); ESPN: The Magazine for the sports nut (26 issues for $15); Best Life Magazine for the man in his prime (10 issues for $19.97) here; or InStyle Magazine for the stylish woman (12 issues for $23.88.)

These melamine lip appetizer plates are just $1.95 from CB2.  A set of these would make a fun stocking stuffer for the hostess you know and love.  Check them out here. 

Everyone in the world, literally, would benefit from your putting a few of these in your loved ones’ stockings this year.  This is the Envirosax reusable grocery bag which sells for $7.95.

I just got this next item, and I am not sure what I did without it!  This is the Chop and Toss which costs $19.95 at Sur La Table, and this tool cuts your lettuce, vegetables, and more right in a bowl without needing a knife and cutting board.  Salad making just got a whole lot easier.

Also at Sur la Table is this silicone and stainless steel pot clip which is a tool that lets you rest your spoon on the side of the pot.  A set of two pot clips sell for $13.95, and I cannot think of any cook who would not appreciate this space-saving, mess-preventing kitchen tool.

Moisturizing your hands often is a must, and finding the perfect hand lotion can be difficult.  Hand relief from Aveda is one of my favorite hand lotions and would make a LuSHHus stocking stuffer for anyone you know. 

For the wanna be royalty in your life, how about these precious dainty crown votives.   I found these at Wisteria where a set of six votives is $16. 

Did you know that more than 60 million plastic water bottles are used and thrown away in the United States every single day?  Check out SIGG water bottles as an alternative to the disposable bottles to which we have become way too accustomed.  You will find countless designs, sizes, and types of reusable water bottles that are sure to suit every man, woman, and child you know.  Santa will definitely approve of the environmentally sound stocking stuffer!

Happy Stocking Stuffing, Ashley

→ Read the article

I bought the most beautiful Christmas cards last year on December 26.  My mom went with me to an after-Christmas sale so that I could find the perfect Christmas cards and find them I did.  I chose fancy Crane cards in blue and gold and there was a spot on the front of the card for a photograph; they were really quite LuSHHus.  I bought 100 cards at half off and have been so excited for months and months to send them.  Well, guess what: I cannot find them.  It’s true; I somehow managed to misplace my beautiful blue and gold Crane cards.  I have searched high and low and my husband has too, but alas, we have come up empty-handed.  We did move this past year, but I still don’t know how I lost these precious cards.  I finally decided I must move on and send another card.  I plan to come across the Crane cards eventually, and there is no reason I can’t send them another year!

Here’s where you come in.  I need your help in determining which card to use.  I want to go with something easy since I want to send them quickly, and, also, I have already spent enough time on Christmas cards when you consider how long I looked for the Crane ones.  So, please vote on one of the cards below and let me know which you think we should send this year.  I appreciate your input!  Here are the options:

Thank you for your help, Ashley

→ Read the article

I thought it would be fun to use my new nutcracker place card holders during my party this evening even though we are not having a seated dinner.  So, the place card holders are identifying the dishes on the buffet table.  As you may have read in a previous post here on LuSHHus, I really like nutcrackers, so these small figures were a welcome addition to our holiday decorations.  You can find these nutcracker place cards at Lillian Vernon or Wal-Mart. 

Happy December, Ashley

→ Read the article

As I mentioned yesterday, we are having a party tomorrow night.  This is a family-friendly gathering so I wanted some simple recipes that would appeal to all.  Also, I have never even met some of our guests (they are my husband’s coworkers) which means I do not want to be tied to the kitchen all evening; I want to be able to spend time visiting.  As a result of these two criteria, I came up with a truly easy, almost completely make-ahead menu that will allow my husband and me to mingle and have fun.

We will start off with Spiced Nuts and Cheese Straws.  The drink options will include beer, wine, and eggnog with or without the good stuff.  The dinner menu consists of vegetables with Curry Mayonnaise, Savory Deviled Eggs, Sweet and Spicy Meatballs, Mozzarella Sticks, and Chicken Tenders.  To finish things off, we will offer Amaretto Cake and Fudge for dessert.  Oh and I am making Christmas tree-shaped sugar cookies for the kiddos to decorate and eat. 

Of course we will be listening to my LuSHHus playlists full of fun holiday tunes, so check out the grown-up version here and the child-friendly version here.  I hope everyone enjoys the party as much I have enjoyed planning it.  Stay tuned for the post-party review as well as pictures!

Cheers, Ashley

→ Read the article