the happy living Blog

Design on a Dime presented by Real Simple

Today and tomorrow, Real Simple– along with co-chairs Maggie Gyllenhaal, designer James Huniford and Real Simple’s managing editor Kristin van Ogtrop -- are hosting the fourth-annual Design on a Dime charity event to benefit Housing Works, the nation's largest community-based AIDS-service organization.

The kick-off party was yesterday (sorry I didn't get this up sooner) and today and tomorrow's events are free and open to the public.  It is being held at the Metropolitan Pavilion at 125 West 18th Street, NYC.

During the event, thirty top-tier designers—including Sills Huniford, Thom Filicia, Charlotte Moss and Jamie Drake—will create breathtaking, one-of-a-kind room vignettes. People will be able to purchase the items in the vignettes at 60-80% off the retail price and all proceeds from the sale will benefit Housing Works.

Founded in 1990, Housing Works provides housing, medical care, job training and other lifesaving services to homeless and low-income New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS.

Shopping for a cause.  I like that.

Let's just get this Valentine's Day thing over with...

I am not against Valentine's Day.  Actually, I use it to demand high-priced-but-worth-it chocolate truffles in assorted flavors from our local chocolatier.  And since every year the holidays come and go and I don't get around to sending out Christmas or New Years cards I end up sending Valentine's Day cards instead.  And growing up I was lucky to have the best dad in the world who made my mom share her dozen roses with me (we each got 6, sorry mom!) so I always felt loved even if I didn't have Matt Damon take me for a champagne brunch balloon ride.  Who eats brunch and drinks champagne 10,000 feet off the ground in the middle of February anyway?  Make V-Day something special, but love the people in your life every day of the year.  Don't wait for Hallmark or Teleflora to remind you to do it.

If you are celebrating and are looking for some unique and fun ideas, I chuckled at some of the suggestions in Jonathan Adler's gift guide.