Lol I like everything, but given it's a Victorian homes tour I will stick to being somewhat traditional, lots of sparkle and glass. I love that blog. I have quite a bit of silver including some huge trays so I a, going to pull those out and copy her a little :). I love the plates, but they appear to be resting on the branches which tells me that she does not have a five year old red headed devil running around her trees :). I do have 40 plus china tea cups though.....that would be a fun theme on the dining room tree. With lots of white lights and silver...crystals....ok now you have me thinking lol Thanks!

I totally second (or is it third?) 1st dibs -- got some great lighting from them as well as a beautiful 18th c. bureau and two 18th c. semainiers. I also am fond of Vivre -- my all-time favorite coasters I found there. (no longer available, otherwise I'd link them) And I lovelovelove Ruzzetti & Gow for bibelots -- I find lots of gifts (to give) there, as well as at Etsy. I also like Source Perrier (which was already mentioned above), although I think they are reasonably priced. I've been really impressed with the quality of everything I've purchased there. I'm not a big clothes shopper (girlfriends of mine seem to live to go to Neiman's -- pas moi!), but get me going on stuff for the house and I'm in danger. Ouch!

Terri, I think that this might work... The dough hold it's shape and you could leave out the chocolate chips. They are very good...that much is for sure! Refrigerate the dough and just roll out. WORLD PEACE COOKIES Dorie Greenspan Deeply chocolaty World Peace Cookies will be a hit, either passed after dinner or as a gift. Servings: Makes about 36 cookies \-\-These cookies, the brainchild of Parisian pastry chef Pierre Herm with whom Dorie Greenspan wrote "Desserts by Pierre Hermé," caused Greenspan's neighbor, Richard Gold, to say that a daily dose of these is all that is needed to ensure planetary peace and happiness. You can't eat just one. The salt is important to the taste; don't skimp on it. Ingredients: 1 1/4 cups all\-purpose flour 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 1/2 tsp. baking soda 1 stick plus 3 Tbsps. (11 Tbsps. altogether) unsalted butter, at room temperature 2/3 cup packed light\-brown sugar 1/4 cup sugar 1/2 tsp. fleur de sel or 1/4 tsp. fine sea salt 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract 5 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped into chips, or a generous 3/4 cup store\- bought mini chocolate chips 1\. Sift flour, cocoa and baking soda together. 2\. Working with a stand mixer, preferably fitted with a paddle attachment, or with a hand mixer in a large bowl, beat butter on medium speed until soft and creamy. Add both sugars, salt and vanilla extract and beat 2 minutes longer. 3\. Turn off mixer. Pour in dry ingredients; drape a kitchen towel over stand mixer to protect yourself and your kitchen from flying flour and pulse the mixer at low speed about 5 times, a second or two each time. Take a peek \-\- if there is still a lot of flour on the surface of the dough, pulse a couple more times; if not, remove the towel. Continuing at low speed, mix for about 30 seconds longer, just until the flour disappears into the dough \-\- for the best texture, work the dough as little as possible once the flour is added, and don't be concerned if the dough looks a little crumbly. Toss in the chocolate pieces and mix only enough to incorporate. 4\. Turn dough out onto a work surface, gather it together and divide it into half. Working with half at a time, shape dough into logs that are 11/2 inches in diameter. Wrap logs in plastic wrap and refrigerate them for at least 3 hours. (The dough can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 months. If you've frozen the dough, you needn't defrost it before baking \-\- just slice the logs into cookies and bake 1 minute longer.) 5\. When ready to bake, center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment or silicone mats. 6\. Using a sharp, thin knife, slice logs into rounds that are 1/2 inch thick. (The rounds may crack as you're cutting them; don't be concerned, just squeeze the bits back onto each cookie.) Arrange rounds on baking sheets, leaving about 1 inch between them. 7\. Bake cookies 1 sheet at a time for 12 minutes. They won't look done nor will they be firm, but that's just the way they should be. Transfer the baking sheet to a cooling rack and let the cookies rest until they are just warm, at which point you can serve them, or wait until they are room temperature. ................................. Nancy

These are really good if you want something chocolate. Mocha Truffle Cookies 1/2 cup butter 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate pieces 1 tablespoon instant coffee crystals 3/4 cup sugar 3/4 cup packed brown sugar 2 beaten eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla 2 cups all-purpose flour 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 cup semisweet chocolate pieces In a large saucepan melt butter and the 1/2 cup chocolate pieces over low heat. Remove from heat. Stir in coffee crystals; cool 5 minutes. Stir in sugars, eggs, and vanilla. In a medium mixing bowl combine flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Stir into coffee mixture. Stir in the 1 cup chocolate pieces. Drop dough by rounded tablespoons onto lightly greased cookie sheets. Bake in a 350 degree F oven 10 minutes. Let cool 1 minute before removing from sheet. Makes 30 cookies.