Jennifer DeDonato is a mixed media artist using paper as her media of choice. She draws inspiration from colors, everyday objects and quotes. "Whenever I feel stumped I flip through my papers and I find myself consumed in color and texture," says Jennifer.

"One of my earliest memories is sitting next to my grandmother cutting and pasting my creations with paste she made from flour and water. My artistic nature formed early, drawing on my parents walls and tables and working with my hands. Apart from being an artist who fancies sewing, photography, metal smithing and woodworking, I am a wife and mother of two boys."

"I love being an artist. I've wanted to be an artist since I was little and the fact I am living what I've always wanted to be is amazing. My best selling items are my originals. I make my own wood frames so size restrictions don't exist for me. It's hard to sell my originals online because they tend to be large and heavy. It is very difficult to show a piece on the computer because it just doesn't capture the magic it has in person. It is so exciting to see someone looking at my artwork and suddenly realize it's cut paper. Suddenly it takes on new life in their eyes and they want to look again. I love to create in the afternoon while it is quiet in the house. I listen to music and become lost in my little world."

Visit www.colorflystudio.etsy.com.  Houston, Texas

NYC Restaurant Week (technically, a two week-affair) is returning on January 18-23 and January 25-30. As usual, three-course prix fixe meals will be offered at some of the city's most popular restaurants. Now, for the first time, many participating restaurants are offering the deal on Sundays when it's traditionally offered on weekdays only.

Reservations open January 5. Check out NYCGo.com for participating restaurants as the dates draw nearer.

Planning a date or night out with friends? As always, New York's Great White Way provides numerous options for residents and visitors alike.

Accent on Youth
Play, comedy
David Hyde Pierce stars as a playwright who makes his secretary his new muse and finds a romantic rival in his show's leading actor.

All My Sons
Play, drama
Starring John Lithgow, Dianne Wiest, Patrick Wilson, and Katie Holmes, the play centers on a family and the secrets each member has been keeping. Sons takes from the the true story of a man who knowingly sold faulty airplane parts to the government during the second World War.

Blithe Spirit
Play, comedy
Angela Lansbury, Rupert Everett, Christine Ebersole, and Jayne Atkinson star in this tale of a novelist haunted by his deceased first wife.

Boeing-Boeing
Play, comedy
An architect juggles three flight attendant fiancées with organizational help from his housekeeper. Starring Christine Baranski, Mark Rylance, Greg Germann, Paige Davis, Rebecca Gayheart, and Missi Pyle.

Chicago
Musical, comedy
Melora Hardin stars as scheming fame-seeker Roxie Hart through February 12.

Equus
Play, drama
Daniel Radcliffe stars as a mentally disturbed teen with an obsession with horses; Richard Griffiths stars as his psychiatrist.

Gypsy
Musical
Patti LuPone stars in this classic musical that examines the cost of fame and success.

Impressionism
Play, drama
Jeremy Irons and Joan Allen star together in the world premiere of this new play, which explores the developing relationship between a photojournalist and a gallery owner.

Speed-the-Plow
Play
Plow delves into the dirty business of Hollywood. Starring Raúl Esparza, Elisabeth Moss, and Norbert Leo Butz. Butz will stay through January 11; William H. Macy will take over on January 13.

Will Ferrell: You're Welcome America
Comedy
Will Ferrell, who portrayed George W. Bush during his time on Saturday Night Live, revisits presidential territory in this limited-run comedy show.

For more information on these shows and a full list of what's on Broadway, visit Telecharge.com.

What do you think of when you hear New Years?  Starting over, resolutions, new diet (yet again), college football games, black eyed peas (eat for good luck), and the list goes on and on.  One thing that pops into my head when I think of New Years is Insurance.  Yep you read that right...Insurance.  

I am a Social Worker and am a Care Manager for a large company that manages the mental health and chemical dependency insurance benefits for millions of people across the US.  Every year January is a hectic month with thousands of new members and new requests.  All this leads me to ask you---Do you know what your health benefits are??  Seriously---do you?  This really is an important question.  People I talk to know they have insurance but are not aware of the specifics of what is and is not covered.  Most people I talk too hate insurance companies.  The common thought is that insurance is there only to deny and make your life hell.  Well here are some tips to make your insurance life easier in 2009.

1.  Know your benefits!  Know what is covered, not covered, your deductible, co-pays and maximums.  Never go blindly into a doctors appointment without knowing that information.  Knowing that information will keep you from costly expenses after the fact.

2.  Pre-cert, Pre-cert, Pre-cert.  If your doctor recommends something--YOU call your insurance company to see if it is covered and if it needs to be pre-certified.  As always keep documentation of who you spoke too, time, date, their location and what was discussed.  If the company tells you something is not covered ask why, ask if exceptions can be made, and if not is there an alternative treatment that is covered.  If something is not covered that your doctor believes is necessary have that doctor advocate for you to the insurance company either by speaking to a clinician or writing a letter.  If need be even see if your human resources representative can advocate for you---of course make sure you have signed a release of information with your insurance company so they knows it is legal to speak to your human resources representative.

3.  If you feel you are not being treated fairly, always remember that their are complaint departments within your insurance company that you may access.  Don't be afraid to complain but please be nice.

The keys are knowledge and advocating for yourself. Don't just take your physicians word that something is covered.  Always follow up with a phone call yourself and document, document, and document.  Sometimes it may even take several phone calls.  It will probably seem like a hassle at first but in the end you will decrease your stress and ensure that you will not receive a surprise bill at the end of your care.  KNOW YOUR BENEFITS!  Here is wishing you all a Healthy New Year.  

One of my most favorite places to visit and relax is Eureka Springs Arkansas.  Nestled in the beautiful Ozark mountains, Eureka Springs offers spas, Victorian Bed and Breakfasts and wonderful shopping. "Legend has it that the Native American tribes of the area believed that the cold spring water could cure many ailments, and the surrounding land was considered sacred ground. Victorian-age health-seekers deemed the hills full of miracle cures, and flocked to the area by the thousands, creating a stylish retreat amid the grand, green curves of nature." www.eurekasprings.com.

While researching my next trip, I came across a wonderful boutique called Feather Your Nest.  Gina Drennon, owner of Feather Your Nest, graciously accepted my request for an interview.  I can't wait to actually walk into her store and meet her personally.


Gina, can you share a little bit about yourself and how you got started?

I am a married mother of 2 boys and owner of Feather Your Nest--a boutique selling cottage and vintage inspired home accessories.   We opened in 2003 in one location and moved to a larger location the next year. We are located in the beautiful Victorian tourist resort of Eureka Springs, Arkansas.

I got started in retail as a buyer for other businesses, although as a child my parents owned a popcorn/confections/"fun foods" shop as well. My love for vintage comes from years of being drug to estate sales, auctions, garage sales from a very young age.  My mom, aunt, grandmother were all collectors of old things like depression glass long before it was the thing to do!

I was given the love of all things vintage by the women in my family. Honestly I just buy what I love and hope others love it as much. I love magazines such as Country Living, Country Home, Romantic Homes and the sadly soon-to-be defunct, Cottage Living and Mary Engelbreit Home Companion.

Describe your best selling items and your favorite experience with your boutique?

We have a unique situation with our "best sellers". Because we sell online and have a store front there are really two different types of clientele. Sometimes that becomes a struggle of what to re-order first; the store best sellers or the online best sellers??  The store best-sellers are our vintage inspired tablecloths and aprons, melamine plates, Sweetgrass Farm Soy Candles, lotion bars and other aromatherapy products.  Our online best sellers are the child's cardboard suitcase set, fun rubber gloves, and Nouvelle Candles.  The overall best seller for both has become our new striped and polka dot pottery line we began carrying this year.

My favorite experiences are when my customers ooh and ahh over the store.  I realize everyone has different tastes and we're definitely geared towards one type of customer, but when those women come in that are "vintage girls" and go nuts it's a lot of fun.

What are your plans for the future?

I think right now it is, sit back and enjoy the ride and continue the growth we've experienced so far.  When we first began the goals were to work up to a good local/regional following for the store front.  Our online store opened within the first few months we were in business and was originally aimed towards those tourists that shop with us on vacation, giving them the ability to order more online from home.  We quickly began shipping to people coast to coast that had never been in our store before.  

I know somewhere in the back of my mind I would have loved to be one of those stores mentioned in a magazine like the ones I cited before. After just 2 years in business our first call came from another favorite of mine, InStyle magazine followed right behind by Cottage Living & Budget Living all in the same month!!  Since then we've had many more small features & products listed in national magazines. In February of this year, Romantic Homes Magazine published a 5 page story on our store! It was definitely a "pinch me" sort of moment. Very flattering!   We were also chosen this year by a trade magazine, Gifts & Decorative Accessories, as a "Gifted Retailer" for 2008--we were in the company of 24 other fabulous retailers from across the country.    All of those things were almost beyond what I could have imagined when starting a business.   

Visit www.shopfeatheryournest.com.   Eureka Springs, Arkansas