Friday, December 23, 2011

Christmas Past

As I was going through old photo albums this week, I found this photo of my mom, aunt & grandma. 
I thought it was appropriate to share because of my last post. 
If you notice in the background, they have their cards displayed by simply tacking string to the wall & hanging the cards over the lines.   
Isn't my mom so cute (on the right)?
You can tell she is so proud of her new doll.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Displaying your Holiday Cards

Christmas Cards have started to arrive in full-force and I have been searching for ways to display them.  Here are a few of my favorites that I've found.

Monday, December 19, 2011

Rudolph

I am so lucky to get to spend an entire week home over the holidays for the second year in a row.  I've arrived back to Southern Indiana and am surrounding by all the Rudolphs that I love. In celebration of our festive surname, I've gathered a few of my favorite Rudolphs to share here.
paper source
Rudolph Santa by cindyiscrafty 
Rudolph Santa, a photo by cindyiscrafty on Flickr.

Friday, December 16, 2011

Getting ready for a Holiday Party - Wrapping

I tend to have "wrapping themes" every year.  This year, I have focused on simple wrappings and antique containers.  Decorating has been all about the paper pinwheel.  

In previous years I have wrapped presents with 
snowflakes under wax paper
Costume jewelry
Lace ribbon
kraft paper
vintage photo "name tags"
sheet music paper
chocolate coin "bows"

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Garnishes

I can't quit using pomegranates and rosemary to garnish everything this year.   I used them both at Thanksgiving to garnish the cornish hen platter and then I used them again to liven up the cheese and charcuterie platter at the Christmas Party.  Each of them is gorgeous on their own, but together they add such color, texture and scents that they are just irresistible.  
Pomagranate by Sprout512
Pomagranate, a photo by Sprout512 on Flickr.
Rosemary by cinnachick
Rosemary, a photo by cinnachick on Flickr.
pomegranate detail by papierdreams
pomegranate detail, a photo by papierdreams on Flickr.

Monday, December 12, 2011

Getting ready for a Holiday Party - Music


When it comes to Holiday Tunes playing in the background, there is nothing better than the classics.


Winter Wonderland...............................................Louis Armstrong
Santa Baby...................................................................Eartha Kitt
I've got my love to keep me warm..............................Billie Holiday
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas....................Ella Fitzgerald
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer...............................Dean Martin
Jingle Bells.........................................Count Basie & His Orchestra
White Christmas..........................................................Bing Crosby
Baby It's Cold Outside.....................Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Jordan
Mistletoe and Holly.....................................................Frank Sinatra
Frosty the Snowman...................................................Ella Fitzgerald
Let it Snow!  Let it Snow!...........................................Lena Horne
Santa Claus is Comin' to Town...................................Peggy Lee
Marshmallow World...................................................Frank Sinatra

Friday, December 9, 2011

Oh no!

I love Christmas - really I do.  I am the annoying person who starts singing Christmas Carols November 1.   I begin to buy fun presents for friends and family as early as September.  I get excited thinking of "themes" for my gift wrapping and decorating each year.  
But sometimes...just sometimes...the holidays can feel like this:

Funny Santa Pics by Scott Clark
Funny Santa Pics, a photo by Scott Clark on Flickr.
Funny Santa Pics by Scott Clark

Funny Santa Pics, a photo by Scott Clark on Flickr.
Funny Santa Pics by Scott Clark

Funny Santa Pics, a photo by Scott Clark on Flickr.Funny Santa Pics by Scott Clark

Funny Santa Pics, a photo by Scott Clark on Flickr.
Funny Santa Pics by Scott Clark

Funny Santa Pics, a photo by Scott Clark on Flickr.
Funny Santa Pics by Scott Clark

Funny Santa Pics, a photo by Scott Clark on Flickr.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Getting ready for a Holiday Party - Cocktails

It's always great to have a well-stocked bar for when friends come over.  But for a party, I like to keep it simple. 

I usually include:
a few bottles of Presecco or Cava
great bottle of gin (I prefer Hendrick's) 
good bottle of vodka
plenty of tonic (and maybe even a bottle of diet tonic too)
sodas - coke, diet coke & either ginger ale or sprite
at least one juice to mix (usually cranberry)
I like to always have a bottle of St-Germain on hand too.
photo from the late, great Domino Magazine
As I was trying to decide what drink to serve at this year's holiday party, I studied each of these recipes below, not being able to decide which I should serve.
In the end, I went with a very, very, very simple idea that was an absolute hit.  I served Presecco with a little pomegranate juice and garnished with pomegranate seeds. It was beautiful, festive and SO easy.  I had a bottle of St-Germain for people to make the drink a bit sweeter if they wished.
Let me know what you decide to serve!

The Vieux Mot
From the lovely Nole at Oh So Beautiful Paper Blog

The Vieux Mot
1 oz Gin
1 oz St-Germain
3/4 oz Lemon Juice
1/4 oz Simple Syrup
1/4 oz Cointreau
1. Pour all of the ingredients into a shaker and shake for about 20 seconds.  
2. Serve in a chilled cocktail glass, garnish with a cherry, and enjoy!



Champagne Cocktail 

From Sweet Paul online magazine   if you have not seen this magazine - make yourself a cup of hot chocolate, set aside 30 minutes and let yourself get lost in his dreamy magazine.
Sweet Paul's Champagne Cocktail
For 1 Glass:
3 oz of champagne 
1/3 oz of cognac 
2 dashes of Angostura bitters 
1 sugar cube 

1.) Soak sugar cube in champagne flute with angostura bitters 
2.) Add champagne and cognac 
3.) Garnish with a sprig of currents


Elderflower Champagne Cocktail 

from zested blog 

Elderflower Champagne Cocktail
1. Fill a tumbler with ice. 
2. Fill three-quarters of the glass with dry champagne or prosecco. 
3. Add thinly sliced cucumber and fresh mint. 
4. Top off with St-Germain.


Kumquat-Champagne Cocktails 
Kumquat-Champagne Cocktails
makes 1 dozen drinks
2 pints kumquats, pricked a few times with a pin
  • Cold water
  • 3 cups sugar
  • 2 bottles chilled Champagne
  • Tangerine wedges, for garnish

  • 1. Place kumquats in a large saucepan. Cover with cold water. Bring to a boil. Drain immediately. Repeat twice.
  • 2. Add sugar and 2 cups water to drained kumquats in saucepan. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat immediately, and let kumquats and syrup cool completely.
  • 3. Spoon 3 kumquats and 1 tablespoon syrup into each of 12 Champagne glasses. 
  • 4. Top off with Champagne, and garnish with tangerine wedges.

Cranberry Cosmopolitans 
Cranberry Cosmopolitans
makes 10 drinks
  • 1 bottle (750 ml) vodka
  • 5 ounces Cointreau
  • 10 ounces cranberry-juice cocktail
  • 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
  • Fresh cranberries, for garnish

  • 1. Fill a large pitcher with ice. 
  • 2. Pour in all ingredients except cranberries; stir vigorously. 
  • 3. Strain into glasses, discarding ice. 
  • 4. Garnish with berries.

Blissini 

from Giada De Laurentiis


Blissini 


1 1/2 cups Prosecco, chilled
  • 1 1/2 cups orange juice, chilled
  • 1 1/2 cups pomegranate juice, chilled
  • Mint leaves, for garnish
  • 1. Combine the Prosecco, orange juice, and pomegranate juice 
  • 2. Pour into 4 Champagne glasses. 
  • 3. Garnish with mint leaves and serve.

Monday, December 5, 2011

New York City Christmas

Of course there are times that this city drives me bonkers...but this time of year is NOT one of them.  I love living in New York City during the holiday season.  
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