Christmas Eve

Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand, and for a talk beside the fire:  It is the time for home. 

~ Edith Sitwell, poet and critic

My table is set for dinner.  It will just be our little four-some tonight.  Tomorrow, we'd hope to visit my family but with unusually sick little ones our trip is in jeopardy.  It's okay though.  There's no place like home and I'm blessed to have a happy family this holiday if we don't make it out.

Wishing you a safe and peaceful Christmas Eve.

Time to cook!

P.S.  I was lucky enough to have my Christmas tree chosen to be in an album on Country Living's Facebook Page.  Check out all the beautiful trees here.

Feliz Navidad!

Greetings! 

Holiday Greetings!

I've been my usual MIA self in the blog world, but I thought I'd pop in and post a few pics of my house.  It's been hectic as usual, but I've managed to do a bit of decorating.

My white tree is back. This year I though, self, what color would you be the least likely to try. Purple. So, that's what I chose for the tree. Not sure it's a color I'd use on a regular basis but it was fun to try and I'm happy with how it turned out.

I had some other art on either side of my armoir that wasn't exactly holiday-friendly so I put a doily in a frame.  I've always thought they were snowflake-ish.  I realized after I put it up that it's off-center but I've decided to consider it charming imperfection rather than fix it at this point.

A few things I had and a couple of things I acquired recently like the owls.  The alabaster owls on the right came from a little antique store in DE (under $10 for both).  

I wanted a couple of throw pillows to go with the purple on the tree.  Imagine my surprise when they arrived and fabric was unexpectedly pleathery.  Since it's just for the holidays and I got a good deal, I decided to live with it. 

Entry ...  The girls have been pretty eager to put milk and cookies on that dish.

 

In the dining room ... This large doily (maybe around $7) came from another small shop in Delaware that I stumbled on over the summer.  I hadn't used it until now and I really love it. 

My life has been pretty busy between work, shuttling kids between schools, in addition to my own activities (bellydancing and training for a half-marathon currently) so decorating has shifted a bit to something that I squeeze in now rather than the main hobby it used to be.  There are only so many hours in the day!

This week, I'll be wrapping a mountain of gifts and baking dozens of cookies but I wanted to take a minute to say ...

Happy Holidays to all!

Toys for Tots - 1 Click = 1 Dollar!

 - My sponsor Coupon Mountain needs your help!  Through December 31st, for every "Like" they receive on Facebook, they are donating $1 to Toys for Tots. 

I love this organization and love to donate to them during the holiday season.  Sadly, not all children are able to get a visit from Santa, so Toys for Tots collects new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year, and distributes them as Christmas gifts to needy children.

Simply go to:  www.Facebook.com/CouponMountain and click on "Like".

Please pass it on.  There are only a few days left!

Merry Christmas!

I know I'm a day early, but I'm busy spending today with last minute wrapping, baking and cooking and we're heading out early tomorrow to visit family so I wanted to wish everyone out there a

Very Merry Christmas

... even if I'm one day early!

Plan B

A couple of weeks ago, I picked up some roping to put outside around our front door. 

Then, the bitter, frigid cold arrived.

I couldn't wrap my mind around going outside and feeling the sting of the cold on my hands while I decorated the house.  I decided to just use it inside in the warm comfort my furnace provides.  Its not perfect, but with a week until Christmas, I couldn't afford to be picky.

My paperwhites have faded, so they've been replaced with an amaryllis.  This doesn't seem to grow nearly as quickly but it was fun watching the paperwhites grow every day and finally bloom so I'm hoping I have success with the amaryllis even if it takes a little longer.  Fingers crossed!

I was like a kid with a snow day yesterday excited by our first snowfall.  It doesn't make sense, but while I'm not a fan of the cold, I absolutely love snow.  It wasn't much, but it was enough to be pretty and almost enough to make the bitter cold worthwhile.

This weekend, I'll be busy making lots and lots of cookies! 

Any baking in your future?

Christmas Entry

Remember my paperwhites?  Wow, have they grown!

In case you didn't see them, here's how they looked only 2 weeks ago.

I've since learned that they can grow very tall (obviously) but that this growth can be controlled.  Until today, I actually managed to keep them standing on their own by rotating the pot so that they weren't always leaning toward the light.  They finally got too tall and I had to use the ribbon to tie them today.

The poinsettias are also faux.  I just painted a couple of $3 terra-cotta pots white and dropped them in.  I used to buy white poinsettias every year but thought it was a little wasteful andI hated throwing them away when they inevitably get leggy and ugly.  Plus, I couldn't tell the difference between real and faux without looking up close.

Next experiment ... amaryllis!

Linking to Rhoda's Holiday Vignette Party.

White Christmas Times Two

Last year, I was pretty excited to pick up a white Christmas tree the day after Christmas.  I had originally planned to decorate it blue and white, but I changed my mind and went with silver and white instead.  I really love how it turned out.

I haven't had an artificial tree in years and even remember my parents having fresh trees the last few years I lived at home.  This was easy to put up and I actually think the lights (which I purchased separately) and ornaments look far better on the stiffer faux branches.

On that fateful day that I found my tree, my mom started to wonder if maybe she should get a white tree.  She always copies!  Since we were at her house for Thanksgiving, I decorated her tree as well.  She decided on blue and white.

I love the etheral quality of my tree, but my parents' tree is beautiful as well.



Now if only I were done shopping!

Have you put up your tree yet?  What are your plans and traditions for your tree?

Linking up to White Wednesday.

Angel Wings

I was out doing errands and I happened to be in the vicinity of Pier 1.  I hadn't been in there for quite a long time so I decided to browse the Holiday displays.  I'm really didn't intend to buy anything, but I couldn't resist these feathery little angel wings.

I've made the mistake of finding ornaments I love early in the season and going back only to find them long gone, so I got this one while I had the chance.  Can't wait to put it on my tree. 

I got a couple of other little things that I'll share tomorrow.

Dreaming of a White Christmas ...

... for next year that is! I never go shopping after Christmas where I live. The stores are usually cleared out and there's usually nothing left. However, this year I was not home. I was in Delaware and wondered if things might be different. Yes, they are! I got a 6.5' white Christmas tree that I wanted for next year and didn't expect to get. Only $20.



I also picked up some sparkely ornaments ...


And, I normally have angels for toppers but I think next year, I might go with this star.

After going out for some necessities like batteries for the toys the little ones got, I also got some beautiful ornaments for half off. These are a pale blue and have a texture on them that reminds me of ice.

These ornaments are actually a pale turquoise, but the color doesn't convey in the pictures.

This year, my decorations involved a little work with painting pinecones and gluing ribbon to shells and stargfish. I'm hoping that next year I'll have to worry less about little fingers and can enjoy glass ornaments again.

A Christmas Surprise

This Christmas, there was a box unlike the others sitting under the tree ...

The gift was a surprise for my parents from my brother and me. I'm not good with surprises. I can keep them to myself, but I usually give away hints. I wanted them to be really surprised, so I kept totally quiet despite the fact that it was killing me.

So, what was inside? Hints and Clues ... The box was wrapped in plaid fabric and filled with Walker's Shortbread, Cadbury's chocolate, Scotch, Earl Grey Tea ... and a card. Can you guess what the real gift was? My mom didn't have a clue as she removed the contents.


When she opened the card ...

It finally dawned on her. She started to cry! Not the reaction I was expecting. Of course, then I started to cry. It was a HUGE surprise to them both!

The gift is not actually a Christmas gift, but an anniversary gift my brother and I started discussing a year ago. For their 40th anniversary, we're sending our parents to London and Scotland. They are the reasons that my brother and I have the successful lives we have and they deserve this and more.

Happy Anniversary Mom and Pop!

Table is set ...

My table is ready to go!

I had actually planned to do all silver, but my mom had my silver chargers. She was bringing them today, but in the meantime, I set the table and decided to place my red flowers on the table. So, the red chargers were used after all!

Appetizers out including these delicious Deviled Eggs made with dill ...

The rest of my dishes waiting for dinner ...

I'll be starting dinner in a bit. For now, time to hit those appetizers!

I suppose having kids I don't do nice dinners often, but just this one time I linked this post to Tablescape Thursday on Between naps on the Porch. Hopefully, I'll do this more on a "normal" day the older they get. Why not use the good dishes?

Christmas Eve!

Christmas Eve is the day to celebrate in my family. Christmas Day is actually low-key and leftovers for us. Most of what I'll be making is pretty simple so I'll have plenty of time to enjoy my family and EAT. I'll be making a honey ham, rice with pigeon peas, potato salad and corn. I know, I know. Its a very strange menu, but for whatever reason most of it is tradition. Normally a pork roast is served instead of ham, but I've left that to my mom who will be doing it on the weekend.


I'm in charge of desserts through the weekend so I planned ahead. A couple of weeks ago, I made lots and lots of cookies. I've always wanted to do this but never had the time. So, spur of the moment one weekend, I made 5 different types of cookies - all below with the exception of the chocolate cookies.

I actually have more than what's pictured! Another day, I finished the Chocolate-Mint Wafers (from Everyday Food, December 2007) since they were a bit messier and time consuming. It was so messy that I said I wouldn't be doing these again ... until I tasted them. They're delicious! The Jam-filled Cream-Cheese Cookies were tricky to make too (unfolding in the oven while cooking!) and they didn't freeze well. They're still tasty but I'm not sure if I'd make them again.


I had to make Snickerdoodles ...

I actually like very plain, dry cookies rather than those with a lot of icing. So, I made Icebox cookies and Brown Sugar Shortbread cookies (below left). The Icebox Butter Cookies (below right) are perfectly crumbly and they took just a couple of minutes to make in my food processor.

I made Peanut Butter Blossoms for the first time this year. I actually made them for Mr. T who loves peanut butter and chocolate. I didn't anticipate loving them myself!

This is way too many cookies for the number of people celebrating, but what is Christmas if not overindulgence? Calories are something to worry about next week with New Years Resolutions!

I'll be making a Rum Cake as well to take to my parents house on Saturday in addition to the cookies. This is the easiest recipe in the world and its delicious. I make it every year so its become a bit of a tradition.

Tonight, after my girls are sound asleep, Santa will be dropping off his delivery. I think I enjoy Christmas more now that I have children and can anticipate their happiness than when I was a child myself. Once everything is set at home, I'll hopefully have some time to relax before setting out for Midnight Mass.

Did you make any cookies? Any favorites? What are your plans for tonight? How about tomorrow? Have a lovely Christmas Eve!

Last Minute Gift Wrapping ...

I'm usually done shopping and wrapping early in December. It seems like Christmas just snuck up on me this year. I did manage to wrap most everything at one point, then ran out of paper. I'm finally finishing up today! Since I chose to stick with a natural tree, I just wrapped my gifts with kraft paper and raffia. Hardly a novel concept since its everywhere these days but its also very economical. I made my own gift tags with a punch I already had. It was probably $5 worth of materials for all my gifts.

I understand that Ikea actually sells white kraft paper and I would have preferred that but there was simply no time to trek to Ikea. So, are you done wrapping? How do you wrap your gifts? Do you coordinate them with your tree or just pick paper you like?

Christmas Mantle

I changed all the pumpkin decor on my mantle for Christmas going with a seashell theme. After seeing the tree and shell wreath on Wisteria, I figured it would be easy since I already had a lot of the pieces. Here's my tree with shells and starfish in an urn I used outside for Halloween that I painted ...


... and the shell wreath I made in the summer.

I wanted to hang it on a mirror but its just sitting on the mantle at the moment. There is a step to the fireplace so the space above the mantle isn't very high and I've been looking for a mirror for a while. Maybe at the next flea market visit ...

Its so inviting sitting next to this in the evenings compared to how it looked before.