25 Ideabooks by Meaghan Mountford

I didn't think it was possible to build an entire ideabook around placemats, but interesting and unusual ones are not as hard to come by as I assumed. Not only are clever patterns and unique materials (think crochet, denim and wood) available to keep...

I don't understand how anyone skips breakfast. But it seems a common phenomenon. Aren't you starving by morning? The first thing I think of when I get up is what to have with my coffee (the coffee part is not negotiable). Of course, with the exception...

I know little of the history of the egg cup, a gap in knowledge I'd like rectified given the breadth of egg cup cleverness that exists. The egg cup just doesn't have a strong presence here in the States, certainly not the honor it receives elsewhere,...

My niece is turning 13 soon. Eek. 13! Remember 13? I do. For me, the year was 1985. The movie was The Breakfast Club, the president was Reagan, and the outfit was oversize sweaters and leg warmers. 13. The year self doubt and angst mingle with...

Getting your beer, wine, liquor, champagne, whatever your poison, from point A to point B needn't be dull. This is a collection of some of the more unusual, clever, stylish and/or practical means of carrying your bottles, whether you're traveling by car,...

If the stress of the holiday season has taught us anything, it's that humor is important. Despite the commercialization of Christmas (thank you to Charlie Brown for first introducing us to this danger) and Hanukkah, the upside is that at least some of...

Every year I'm determined to get my Christmas shopping done by the end of November. I never, ever do. This year, however, I will because I'm expecting my second child in mid-December, and the last thing I want to think about is buying last-minute gifts...

Fall is and always has been my favorite season. I'm happy to leave the hot, sticky summer behind me. While I understand why many have a passion for spring, to me, it just means that the hot, sticky summer is ahead. No, I'm all about fall: the crisp chill...

I suppose it was inevitable that my five year old would love to bake and cook. I make cookies and cupcakes and sweet things all the time for my work, so it was always an early enticement into the kitchen. I used to humor her by letting her stand on her...

Given the increasing (or, perhaps, continuing since the Industrial Revolution) concern over carbon footprints, methods of reducing and reusing have infiltrated nearly every aspect of existence, especially inside the home. Check out this collection of...

I'm on a constant mission to organize, tidy and contain. I can't claim success often, however, as living with children seems inherently disorganized, untidy and not contained. My latest project is to create the world's most perfect art center for my almost-5-year-old...

I spend my days decorating or writing about cookies, cupcakes, marshmallows and other sweet treats. I see more and more home bakers and crafters adopt an "I can do that myself" approach to decorated goodies, but there are so many product choices out there...

Mother's Day gifts are a tricky business, especially for moms who have everything. And you never really know if you scored, because moms are so practiced in the art of the "I love it!" face, no matter what the gift. (I'm thinking of clay ashtrays of years...