Decorating your Tree with Fresh Flowers

Why is it that when I think I have an original idea... it turns out it was actually done during the Victorian era? Alas, there is nothing new under the sun. Nonetheless... new to me, this year we are adding fresh flowers to our Christmas tree decorations.

Now there are many ways to do this, you can buy those tiny water vials on Amazon for a few dollars and fill with Peruvian Lilies or orchids. They are long lasting, beautiful, and you will probably only need to change them out twice during the entire season. 

Or you can buy small live Poinsettias and using floral wire attach them to your tree branches. You must remember to water, occasionally, but since it is a live plant you don't have to worry about it wilting. I am using the about 6 mini plants inside my tree. I have always wanted to put flowers in my tree but, I find silk flowers sad. 

Egg Nog Shot

Traditionally Egg Nog is spiked with Brandy. Which is not unpleasant. However, I find a mix of vanilla vodka and Kahlua to be much more palatable.

So here you go:

2 parts Non-alcoholic Egg Nog
1 part Vanilla Vodka
1 part Kahlua or other Coffee Liquor
Nutmeg to garnish

I am going to serve these at my holiday cocktail party. Rather then offering people a signature drink option. Which is usually how I get around the costly hard liquor drink conundrum, this year, I will be offering a series of shots served every hour. 4 hour party, 4 shots... stand by for more recipes.

Happy Party!

Christmas Centerpiece

My Christmas centerpiece is relatively simple this year. I guess it always is. I have a table runner that is red and white tartan. I think I got it at Target, but I am sure it is relatively easy to find. My husband had two pewter, vintage and gorgeous candle sticks which I always try and incorporate, here with drip-less white tapers. I have 4 cheap metal candle sticks that I got from World Market aka Cost Plus for $1.99 a pop, that are also on the table. The clippings are from my yard, and the beads are from Micheal's Craft store. I got them on deep discount, but I think regularly they are only $4.99. I also took this picture with a red lantern on the table. The red lantern is now part of my out door decoration. But... nonetheless, I got it at Ikea for about $5. 

So there it is. My Christmas Centerpiece  It will stay on our dining room table through out the season. During our Holiday Cocktail Party I will probably elevate it and push it towards the back of the table. 

Happy Party!

Christmas Mantel

This year I decided to do something different with my mantel. For the last four years I have always had the nativity in the center, candles on pedestals on the left side and our advent calendar box on the right. I usually hung bunting along the mantel and down each side with some berry or ribbon garland.

But... with our dark accent wall behind the mantel it always seemed really dark. This year I wanted to lighten it up, but with old fashioned style Christmas, candles were my only means of adding light. So candles it was. I bought 12 candles at Ikea for about $20. The ivy topiaries are from Trader Joes at $7.99. The pine cones are cinnamon scented and I picked them from Whole Foods, I think they were $4.99. Half of which I made into a pine cone swag, I will share. The greenery is actually cuttings from my yard. So there you have it. My candle lit Christmas Mantel for under $35 bucks.

Happy Party!

Fall Decorations

I wanted to write a note to myself in the future, for next September when I am decorating for fall and trying really hard to remember what I did. Now, mind you my pinterest account will have many new temptations for me to attempt to complete, but just in case future me or you find this interesting... here is what I did. Unfortunately, I do not have any pictures, because in my gusto to decorate for Christmas, I did not take pictures... however, I'll remember next year.

For the front door: I had 3 mums lining the stair case. I also had a pumpkin, or two depending on the squirrels. We did carve a pumpkin for Halloween, but I will save that for the Halloween Post. I had no wreathe this year. But on the inside of the door I had cinnamon pine cones attached to ribbons cascading from one big bow.

In the foyer, I had a pear spice candle burning and the a great blue vase filled with eucalyptus.

On the table I had the brown and orange table runner with a green candelabra filled with cream colored candles.

On the mantel, I had a large brown vase filled with dried brown and orange flowers. One pumpkin on the mantel and three candles on wooden pedestal. In a large basket I had cinnamon scented pine cones, mini pumpkin in orange and white, and a larger pumpkin.

Well... those are my notes... hopefully they will be of use to someone :)