Holiday dinner… a heartwarming tradition and a nerve-racking task - for the hostess that is!!!

The joy of having the entire family at your table and being able to impress each and every one of your guests is no easy task, BUT…if you do it well, then there is no greater reward than having a house full of delighted company So in order to make your sailing a little smoother…here are so tips and tricks!!!

How to be a perfect hostess:

• Consider the guest list. You want a pleasant evening rather than one filled with  drama.
• Think of the venue. A cozy dinner or a big bash?
• Consider your menu. casual or fancy?
• Consider your invitations.  For a casual get-together a cute e-mail/text is fine. However, a beautiful invitation indicates that it a chic event ( be warned ). Plus, who has the time to send cards these days… a perfect hostess does!
• When setting a table keep things simple and chic.
• Table arrangement should not dominate the table, they are there to accentuate it.
• Candlelight makes everything look prettier.
• Allow for about half a bottle of wine per guest, but always have more…just in case.
• Wine and beer are great choices, but take a step farther by creating a signature drink.

• Stock up on coffee and tea, don’t forget to pick up a caffeine-free option as well.
• If it is a large party, be sure to make conversation with everyone.
• Introduce everyone to each other.
• Remember to always stay calm and graceful, no matter how dramatic the  situation gets.
• HAVE FUN And ENJOY YOUR COMPANY!!!!

How to look like a perfect hostess:

• Of course by looking irresistibly elegant.
• And the key to elegance is simplicity.
• Wear something that is comfortable.
• Make sure it makes you feel confident, aka little black dress.
• It is your party and you can wear anything your little heart desires.
• Always have Tide Pen to Go, either for you or your guest. Opsy moment happen too often.
• Wear a comfortable heel, a perfect host is always on-top of things and that does require a bit of running around.

BE FABULOUS…. BE YOU!!!!

Until the next post…toddles

Sources: how to live like a lady by sarah tomczak

If you’re as crazy about this livingroom as we are, check out how you can get it at LIV:

Classic Upholstered Sofa
French Style Coffee Table

Restored French Armchair

French Style Mirror

One of a kind Vintage Style Chandelier

We are very proud to present our latest linen collection, Chelsey Damask. It is a great example of how you can take a traditional pattern like a damask, but give it a current look by using on-trend colors and comfortable fabric. We’d love to hear your feedback, so let us know what you think??

The Chelsey Damask collection is a 220 threadcount percale, available in duvet covers, shams, sheeting and skirts. It is available at LIV by Au Lit and Au Lit Fine Linens.

We’re very excited about this new linen furniture collection. The line combines classic French decor with Swedish simplicity…absolutely stunning!

At LIV, we’re all about blending Swedish, French and Californian decor to create a sophisticated but livable space. I was excited when I came across this image of Sophia Coppola’s living room which reflects just that. Her exquisite selection of furniture and accessories are stupendous, and the book filled fireplace adds a beautiful focal point for the room. via apartmenttherapy

Update: Turns out this isn’t really Sophia Coppola’s living room….a bit of a disappointment, but still a beautiful image. Thanks Marcy!

Customers are always asking us about thread-count and how to recognize quality when purchasing their bed linens. Here’s a quick breakdown of what you need to know.

Thread-count has become a popular buzz-word over the years, but very few people know that there are other more important components that make a sheet luxurious and long-lasting.

First, a basic definition: thread-count is the number of threads woven into one square inch of fabric. Any cotton fabric with a thread-count lower than 150 is considered muslin; decent quality sheets start at 180 thread-count;and anything higher than 200 is called percale. Nowadays, Italian mills are weaving up to 1000 thread-count cotton.

Thread-count is important, but equally significant is where the cotton is grown and where and how it has been woven. Egyptian cotton is acknowledged to be the finest cotton in the world, just as the Italians are renowned for their long-standing tradition of weaving. The softness of your sheets depends more on the quality of the fiber, which is why a 220 thread-count sheet can feel softer than a 500 thread-count sheet that uses an inferior grade of cotton or a twisted thread. (A lower thread-count sheet using Egyptian cotton and woven in Italy will also last longer than a higher thread-count sheet woven from inferior cotton.) Discerning consumers should always look for Egyptian cotton sheets. But be forewarned: labels can be misleading. While numerous brands claim to use Egyptian cotton, their linens may contain as little as one percent. Look for packaging that says 100% or pure Egyptian cotton.

The way in which fabric is woven also has an effect on its feel. Cotton satin sheets, for example, are technically softer than percale sheets. A satin weave has a silky touch and sheen. But that doesn’t mean satin is better than percale. Although high thread-counts have become something of a status symbol, the hand of the fabric – as determined by the finish and the type of weave – is entirely personal.

Peggy Byron, owner of Au Lit Fine Linens, favors her 220 thread-count percale sheets over the best 1000 thread-count cotton satin sheets money can buy. Why? Because she happens to love the crisp, linen-feel of percale, and not the finer feel of a higher thread-count satin.

Though most consumers think thread-count is the way to choose quality bed linens, the truth is, it is the quality of the cotton and where and how it is woven, that matters most.

Only two weeks left to our Semi-Annual White Sale. You’ll find incredible discounts at all our three locations, Au Lit Fine Linens, Au Lit Outlet and LIV by Au Lit. Up to 50% off on end-of-season bedding lines, clothing, furniture and accessories. Our expert sales associates will help you to find whatever you may be looking for this month. REMEMBER THE SALE ENDS AUGUST 31ST!

First, my apologies for not having posted in…can’t even remember how long. My excuse is being seven and a half months pregnant and perpetually exhausted at night. We’ve also been crazy busy preparing for our big birthday event, which happened today.
The weather was glorious, the vibe even better, and we had tons of people all day! The change rooms were still full at 6pm. It was so exciting to feel that momentum, especially after all our hard work transforming the store.
Kudos to Julie, my right hand girl, who worked her butt off through the excruciating pain of having her wisdom teeth out only last week. With a mouth full of cloves and cotton balls, she put her heart into the entire event, sometimes crying through the pain! I am so blessed to have her, and all my fantastic staff. What a team…
So here is a look at some of the new summer merchandising at LIV and some snippets from the day:

Great job, Jule! What a trooper

How stunning is this bed?

No, I'm not expecting twins

DJ Robbie's Number One Fan

Customers enjoying a latte at the new coffee bar

This week, we had a great time shooting a segment for one of our favourite talk shows, Steven + Chris. The theme was, ‘How to Create the perfect Bed’ and we featured my guest bedroom, and my daughter Jessie’s room.

If you’re interested in some cool tips on how to buy bedding, create the coziest bed ever and how to decorate your bedrooms, check out the episode airing on CBC, Thursday Jan 29th at 2pm.

The holiday season is underway…24 days till Christmas and 20 days till Hannuka! I think it is a great time to introduce what heretofore shall be known as the LIV Holiday Gift Round-up, (which is another way of saying my favourite gift ideas of the season.) And if there’s anything in this round-up that you LOVE and want to buy, print page 1 of this blog entry, bring it in to LIV, and we’ll give you 25% off your favourite product! (But you’ve got to bring the print-out!!)

Without further ado, I present the 2008 gift round-up:

VASES, CANDLES, TRAYS + FRAMES BY FRINGE

SET OF 4 CANDLES BY FRINGE

HOLIDAY PEAR SOAPS BY GIANNA ROSE

MONOGRAMMED CUSHION - available in all colours within one week

JEWELLRY BY DOGEARED

JEWELLRY BY DOGEARED

LITTLE BLACK DRESS PLATE SET

DISTINCTIVE BOOKS

JAMMIES BY SCANTY

SET OF FLORAL CANDLES BY FRINGE

This is just a yummy sampling of what you’ll find at LIV this season. Come and check it out. You won’t be disappointed! And every weekend in December we’ll be serving hot cocoa and treats, giving out little gifts with purchases, blasting the holiday tunes and marking down some of our clothes up to 50% off in prep for Boxing Day. HAPPY SHOPPING!!