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The Martha Stewart Show Canceled on Hallmark, Moves to PBS

YumSugar — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 15:26:40 PDT

Update: Martha Stewart announced her 30-minute show, Martha's Cooking School, will air this Autumn on PBS. "The response to our announcement for a PBS cooking school series is wonderful," she tweeted, taking a dig at Hallmark: "Easy access to PBS as opposed to Hallmark will be wonderful."

This morning broke news that the Martha Stewart Show will be no more. The program, which has been on the air since 2005, struggled to maintain the necessary viewership, even with a 2010 move to the Hallmark Channel and a more heavy celebrity focus (side note: how cute does Hugh Jackman look in the above photo?).

There is, however, some good news in all of this. The finale show promises to be "a lavish Oprah-style send off," which is always fun for viewers. There are also reportedly talks of a Martha makeover show being pitched around, and we're not sure how we feel about that just yet. How are you feeling about this end of an era? Will you miss Martha or did you think it was time for the show to say goodbye?

Source: The Martha Stewart Show

5 Sustainable Gifts For New Moms

Rebecca M Gruber — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 12:21:20 PDT

There's no better time to make the switch to green than when there's a new addition to the family. We turned to Alanna Stang, editor in chief of Martha Stewart's Whole Living magazine - who's first "Blue Issue" hits newsstands today - for some eco-friendly baby shower and new mom gift picks to help put the family on the road to sustainable living. Keep reading to check out her picks!

Photo by Mitchell Feinberg. Courtesy of Whole Living magazine’s April 2012 issue.

Pippa's Perfectly Purple Party

Rebecca M Gruber — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 05:43:07 PST

Editor's note: The following is a guest post written by Darcy Miller, celebrations expert and editorial director of Martha Stewart Weddings. Having just thrown her daughter's third birthday, Darcy shares the original - and sweet! - way she planned the entire party around the birthday girl's favorite color.

In our house, birthdays are not only a celebration, but also a fun activity for us to do as a family. We always start with the theme (of course it is a negotiation at times), but we end up with fun celebration that we enjoy organizing together. We have done everything from a Daisy Party for my oldest daughter Daisy's first birthday to Pajama Parties and Puppy Parties. This year, for my youngest daughter Pippa's third birthday, her sisters decided she should have a purple party since it's her favorite color. I will admit, although I love lavender, I can't say purple is my favorite color - but purple it was! As you might have already guessed, everything from the favors to the play dough stations was purple. There was purple icing on the cake and purple bouncy balls tossed around the room. I even set up a reading station featuring purple-themed books like Harold and the Purple Crayon on a purple blanket. At Martha Stewart Weddings, we love to start with a palette, and monochromatic is a color theme we've returned to over the years.

Still Looking For Valentine's Day Ideas? Try These Sweet Ideas From Martha Stewart!

LilSugar — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 05:46:04 PST

Editor's note: The following is a guest post written by Darcy Miller, celebrations expert and editorial director of Martha Stewart Weddings. With Valentine's Day upon us, Darcy shares some original - and sweet! - crafts she and her three girls put together for the holiday.

With three little girls - Pipa, Ella, and Daisy - who adore all things hearts and sweets, Valentine's Day is always a huge holiday in my house. In fact, I start collecting pink and red materials in early January to prepare. It's the perfect time to surprise loved ones with custom handmade gifts that show how much you care. I always like to involve the girls, and this was a great way to spend time together. Here are some of the sweet DIY gifts we'll be sending with love to family and friends this year.

5 Kid-Friendly Recipes That Will Score a Touchdown at Your Super Bowl Party

Rebecca M Gruber — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 09:38:30 PST

There won't be any penalties for serving up kid-friendly food on Super Bowl Sunday. Sure, once kids are in the picture Super Bowl parties can take on a more family-friendly atmosphere - a little less gambling and a little more attention being paid to the commercials - but that doesn't mean traditional football food won't make it onto the table. I spoke with Sarah Carey, editor in chief of Martha Stewart's Everyday Food, about how to make the traditional Super Bowl menu into a tot-friendly affair. Check out her tips and recipes!

Organize Your Life: 5 Ways to Get the Kids to Help

Rebecca M Gruber — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 10:07:46 PST

A place for everything and everything in its place - so said Benjamin Franklin. With the New Year well under way, we've shared some of the best tips and tricks for organizing your life and making the most hectic hours - the morning rush and dinnertime - run a bit more smoothly. But leave it to Martha Stewart to show us exactly how it can be done. Next week, the Martha Stewart Living Organizing 2012 Special Issue hits newsstands, and it is packed with the editors' best strategies for combatting clutter. We got a sneak peek at the issue and loved the suggestions for involving the kids in home organization. Keep reading for five tips that are sure to get kids in on the action.

Will You Miss the Martha Stewart Show?

Elka Karl — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 10:00:24 PST

I didn't see this one coming: the Hallmark Channel will stop airing the Martha Stewart Show this April, according to The New York Post. Apparently, high production costs and a diminishing audience factored in the decision to cancel the show.

My sister actually just attended a taping of the Martha Stewart Show. Summing up the experience, she told me, "While I'm not an avid viewer of the Martha Stewart Show, I appreciate her influence in re-popularizing traditional homemaking arts. It was both exciting and illuminating to see the great Martha in action as an audience member at the live taping of her show."

Were you a fan of the show? Did you regularly tune in?

DIY: Cosmos Table Runner

Kelly Schwarze — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 05:17:08 PST

You can't have a holiday dinner lacking in beautiful tablescape, right? The reliably creative minds at Martha Stewart have a DIY ready for us NASA-obsessed folk, a cosmos table runner.

Elegant enough for the holidays without forsaking personality, this craft is as easy as one, two, stencil. Click through to the full DIY directions to print the star stencils and the full directions on making Martha-perfect linens. Complete the look with cosmos napkins too!

Ready, Set, Craft: 5 Easy Holiday Crafts For Kids of All Ages

Rebecca M Gruber — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 05:16:53 PST

Bring out the scissors, stock up on glue, and this year make a plan to craft your own holiday goodies with your kids. If the idea of setting up an arts and crafts project with your kids has you feeling like a deer in headlights, don't fret. I recently spent the afternoon with Martha Stewart's Darcy Miller and her Living in the Family Room bloggers to see just how easy it can be to craft with your kids. Surrounded by moms and kids in New York's Pins & Needles, I watched as tots as young as 3-years-old joined their siblings to create mini totes, gift tags, ornaments, and more. Check out the five easy crafts the lil ones created and get ready for some indoor fun with your own mini crafters!

Source: Photo by Mike Krautter. Courtesy of Martha Stewart’s Living in the Family Room Blog

Killer App: Caramelized Leek, Goat Cheese, and Bacon Dip

Lauren Hendrickson — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 14:59:36 PST

Everyone loves caramelized onion dip, but this holiday season, change it up by using a brother to the onion, the leek! Leeks are more mild in flavor, but once mixed with a crunchy bacon and tangy goat cheese, they make a delicious dip. The best part of this dip: it can prepared one day in advance, so you don't have to fret over it the day of your dinner party. Just be sure to set it out an hour or two before to bring it up to room temperature before serving. I served it with thinly sliced french baguette and tortilla chips for a little more crunch, but a crudité platter would also be a wonderful accompaniment. Top it with a smidgen of chives to add a little more color and even more flavor to the dip. Keep reading for this simple and scrumptious recipe.