There comes a time in your life when you long for creature comforts. This is not necessarily a quest for more stuff. By definition, creature comforts are the simple elements of life writ large: a home cooked meal, a warm bed, a hot bath. Of course, what makes a house a home, both literally and metaphorically, is how we riff on the basics. Despite the fact that my family is from Panama, my signature comfort dish is sauerbraten, a beef brisket with a ginger gravy. On my warm bed, I love nothing more than Sheila Bridges’ Harlem Toile sheets. Don’t get me started on the bath: I love to soak in an array of products from Carol’s Daughter to Philosophy to Jo Malone. And I love to settle into the tubs with my Umbra bath tray, which has compartments for not only a good book, but a nice glass of Nicholas Feuillate champagne. Holla.
If you keep reading my blog, you’ll quickly learn that I’m a Prada or Nada chick. Now that I’m a new Mom, I’m all about exquisite clothes for my baby girl. I like to send (and receive!) flowers so there’ll be posies blooming in this nest from time to time. I like to cook (check me out, Bon Appetit, December 2007 in the “Too Busy to Cook” column) so I’ll be throwing a few recipes in the mix too. 
What I’m most excited about now is Style Statement, a new book coming out this spring by Danielle LaPorte and Carrie McCarthy. It’s an amazing guide to figuring out what your style statement is and how to apply that to every area of your life from your wardrobe and home to work and play. Check out this sneak peek excerpt of Leisa Washington. Her style statement is Contemporary Flourish. Isn’t this photo of her, elegant and beautiful, on the beach a powerful reminder that the best things in life really are free? That said, don’t you wish Santa had brought you a personalized Roots duffle bag like the one she’s got? Doesn’t it just give you a lift to read her inspiring statements about faith, family and the meaning of life?
Tell me what you think about Leisa and her style statement. And if this excerpt left you hungry for more, visit www.stylestatement.com and click on the left hand side link, “Style Statements.” You’ll find plenty of inspiration to come up with your own Style Statement. I’d love to hear what you come up with. Are you an Organic Treasure? Is Sophisticated Freedom just so you? Or is Refined Opulence more your cup of tea?
In the meantime, keep checking for me here in my nest. Do you remember those old Good and Plenty candies? Well, that’s the Nest in a nutshell. The good stuff of life – and plenty of it.
Veronica Chambers is a journalist, editor and author of several books including The Joy of Doing Things Badly: A Girls's Gude to Love, Life and Foolish Bravery and Having it All? Black Women and Success.
