Bunny Cakes

Peace In

The hottest Christmas theme this year is *Peace*.  Most likely this influence comes from Barney's 2008 Hippie Holiday theme which celebrated the peace symbol's 50th anniversary.  Pottery Barn is a great source for peace themed ornaments and the like.  I picked up a little box of 50 sparkly peace symbols from there for $10.  They make excellent ties-ons for gifts or little ornaments to add to your tree.

 

Here is look at Pottery Barn's collection of Peace ornaments, some of which you could easily make yourself.  If only I had more time I would make some of the hearts with the embroidered peace symbol...maybe next year.

  

-K

Oh La La - Happy Shopping & Vintage Ornaments

As you may know, when it comes to cake stands and platters I have all the bases covered, however, when it comes to service ware, it is quite a different story.  I was seriously lacking in that department, until recently (though not in time for Thanksgiving) when my latest purchases from Rue La La arrived: Barbara Barry's 'Curtain Call' Service & Hostess Set from Wedgewood.  I now feel adequate in the service ware department.  

Now on to the shopping...you are all invited you to sign-up and start shopping at Rue La La...its free and if you sign up before Dec 24th, they will give $10 credit.  The way Rue La La works like this: everyday different boutiques will open.  The boutiques offer seriously discounted items (mostly clothing & jewelry with some home stuff here and there).  These boutiques will usually be open for 3-4 days or until they sell out.  And believe they sell out!  If you are interested in an upcoming boutique then it is best to be online and ready to shop the minute it opens (11am EST), fill your cart and then check out quickly (a beautiful Juliska pitcher and a $250 Fendi purse slipped through my hands). *Happy Shopping*!

Now on to the *Vintage Ornaments*...don't you love them?!?  They are seriously drool worthy.  I especially love their shapes and colors!  I picked them up a garage sale during the summer at $2 for a box of 12.  Even though I have given them to my sister, A, who really appreciates vintage finds, they are still in my possession.  She doesn't have a Christmas tree yet and promises, 'maybe next year.'  I was hoping these lovely ornaments would tempt her into getting a tree, but atlas they failed.  Oh well, they will just have to go on my tree this year.

-K

Bah! Humbug!

A lot of people I know are not feeling the Christmas love, instead they are in Bah Humbug moods.  And some of these people have already finished their Christmas shopping!  What could possible put them in bad moods, espeically when they are so far ahead of the game!?!  I have a theory...they're missing a Christmas tree.  How could they possibly get in the Christmas spirit without a tree?  Once they have some fresh ever-greenery in their house loaded with lots of shiny lights and beautiful ornaments, then they won't feel so blah.

 

Still not excited about getting a tree after seeing the first official White House Tree?  Try going out and buying some new ornaments or dig through your parents house to find some cool vintage ones.

-K

Amaryllis in Bloom

For the last 4 years I have been planting Paper Whites at Christmas time.  This past year I decided to add *Amaryllis* to our Christmas floral cheer.  I planted both Paper White + Amaryllis bulbs the weekend after Thanksgiving.  The Paper Whites dutifully and beautiful bloomed right before Christmas, but the Amaryllis barely had green growth.  Finally, a week ago the Amaryllis bloomed...just in time for Valentine's Day (I guess).

-K

Goodbye to Christmas 2008

As I was taking down the ornaments from the tree I decided I wasn't quite ready to say goodbye to Christmas.  Here is one last look at our tree (and our sad dying Paperwhites)...

And some final inspirational pictures for next Christmas...

Lastly, don't miss this video from David Monn on How to create a beautiful Christmas Dinner on a Budget (aka Potato Party)...

-K

Christmas Treat Tower

My semi-new and favorite cake stand provides a nice display for some Christmas Treats: candy canes, Italian candies and chocolates and, of course, Heavenly Pecans.  Two different kinds of sherbet cups tied with ribbon hold various treats and provide extra interest to the display.

 

-K

Red, White & Blue Christmas and Igloo Cake

If you have seen HGTV these last two weeks, then you probably know this year's White House holiday theme is a "Red, White and Blue Christmas".  I have used this and some chocolate snowmen as inspiration for our holiday table.  Fresh flowers, cute foil-wrapped snowmen and some blue and white striped napkins (inspiration taken from Anna Spiro's pink and yellow party) were added to our standard Christmas gear.

The other addition to our holiday table was an *Igloo Cake* (item #5 on my Christmas To-Do List).  As with most celebrations I was running late and I attempted to scratch the Igloo cake as it sat sadly in its crumb coat on the kitchen counter waiting for the penguins (which I had not yet done) and the final layer of frosting with dinner only 30 minutes away.  What happened next I will probably always fondly remember...Chef M eagerly offered to make snowmen.  His offer started a snowball effect (pardon the pun), where all of the adults hanging out in the kitchen pitched in to make three darling snowmen out of fondant (Martha's recipe calls for marzipan, but we replaced with fondant).  Allie did most of the heavy lifting, forming all but one of the snowballs (Hubby made one...whoa) and the door to the igloo. Chef M cut tiny pieces of carrots for the noses and Mom's boyfriend added the twig arms (from boxwood sprigs). The crew did an excellent job and I couldn't have been more pleased with their unexpected support for the Igloo cake that almost never was.

Happy Christmas!

K

P.S.  To make the Igloo shape I used a metal bowl that I had purchased to make an ice cream bombe and an 8 inch round cake pan.  I couldn't find the cake pans I used to make the Moon Cakes for the boys' Space Mission birthday, but the improvised version worked well enough. 

P.P.S. Here is a joke from one of the Christmas Crackers:

Q: What do you sing to a snowman on his birthday?

A: "Freeze a jolly good fellow"

Christmas Ceiling Love

Here is the *Christmas/Winter Ceiling Love* .  When Christmas is over the Santa hats come off the felted polar bears (from Paper Source).  To hang the snowballs: string Styrofoam balls on fishing line, putting a knot where each snowball should sit (so it doesn't slip down the line).  Use pliers and a long needle to push through the thick Styrofoam.  Hang and enjoy!  The Santa hats are made from from felt and cotton filling.  Roll the cotton filling back-and-forth between your palms to form a snake and then glue around the bottom of the hat.  Use cloth pins to help hold the 'fur' in place while the glue drys.

 

-K

Heavenly Munchie - Sugared Pecans

It wouldn't seem like Christmas (or New Years) without this delicious and versatile treat.  Our family (and also Crafty Friend Karen's family) have adopted *Heavenly Pecans* as a must-do holiday tradition.  The pecans are a favorite for many reasons:

• They make any salad scrumptious
• Are entirely delicious on their own (they are hard to stop eating) 
• Make great gifts 

The Heavenly Pecan recipe is a slightly modified Martha recipe.  The Martha recipe is for Pecans on Fire and calls for a peppery blend to be added to the sugared pecans.  We have found that we prefer the sweet version.  Both recipes are available here.

-K  

Jax's Gingerbread House

Yesterday Jax had his Winter Party at school.  The kids made gingerbread houses and decorated them with lots of green and red candy.  Here is J's creation....

They also play a fun game where they split into groups of 4 or 5 kids.  One kid from each group was designated the 'snowman' and all the other kids had to dress him up using toilet paper, hats, scarves, gloves, etc.  Then they had to present their snowman to the class.  It was a lot of fun and the kids really enjoyed it!  This would definitely be a fun game for any larger holiday group.

-K