Friday, December 23, 2011
What To Do With A Real Mini Christmas Tree
So, my husband insisted on having the faux tree up so I picked up this four foot mini LIVE tree and really didn't have a spot to display my Christmas cards....well, now I found one!!!
Let the cooking and baking begin!
 |
| And a Cupcake was Born |
 |
| Getting them all ready for guests tomorrow! 12-23-2011 |
 |
| STILL NEED TO MAKE THE CREAM CHEESE FROSTING! |
 |
| LITTLE BAGS OF WHITE CHOCOLATE BARK FOR GUEST TO TAKE HOME, HAVE TO ADD RIBBON STILL AND SOME TAGS!!!! |
 |
| THE BREAKING OF THE BARK! GOOD TO GET THAT AGGRESSION OUT! |
MENU FOR CHRISTMAS EVE:
We are having a spiral ham, Madison potato salad, grandma's heir's carrot cupcakes, Anise Italian cookies, chocolate-covered
Pretzels,
spicy shrimp cocktail, Tuscan stuffed mushrooms, white chocolate
peppermint
bark, mock-a-mole w/chips, an array of olives, cheeses,
pepperoni, salami,
sirloin steak cut thin (placed on cucumbers w/olives),
sangria's with
frozen fruit inside for added flavor and to help keep chilled,
white cranberry
cosmos, and two types of chicken wings/legs (one with rosemary,
garlic and lemon
and the other with hot sauces), also doing a fruit fondue
....guess that's it.
The Things You Find in Places You Don't Like
I was longing for a burlap lamp shade for temp floor lamp I have in my bedroom. I had every intention of making one (really I did!!) however, at one store I VERY seldom shop at (reasons not necessary to post right now but will at a later date because it's a passionate subject matter of mine) Wal*mart. For $10 I found this!! It's not burlap but has the colors I wanted and that FC flair! The price could not be beat but sadly, yes, it was made in China and not America!
Christmas is ALMOST here and we have some light snow to prove it!!
The snow is coming down at a slow but steady pace. Very peaceful and pretty looking. I can enjoy it today knowing it will be over soon with it melting away:) just the way it always should!!! Not a fan of large amounts of snow at all--the older I get the more and more I dream of decorating those palm trees down South!!!
Today I plan on getting my baking done (perfect day for that). All my gifts are wrapped....so it's just prep work for the Christmas Eve company today!
Being Italian we ALWAYS have fish on Christmas Eve and never miss the crabs with the red gravy (aka-sauce) however, this is the one year we skipping that long, long tradition! Hope we don't regret this!! The ONLY fish we'll be having is my cocktail... I take jumbo shrimp, boil them in FISH stock, then I season them with spice that is amazing on shrimp, ice and serve w/a good cocktail sauce. YUM! I will make a spiral ham, some Madison Potato Salad, stuffed mushrooms, have cupcakes, white chocolate peppermint bark, rolls, chocolate covered pretzels (gourmet size/style--bought of course;), cheese, pepperoni and salami platter, fruit with dark chocolate fondue, Low fat Mock a Mole (telling you NOBODY knew there were peas in this!!!!) mock-a-mole RECIPE here, assorted olives and crackers, cosmos (with a spin....white cranberry juice with strawberry flavor), punch bowl of sangria with frozen fruit to keep it chilled and sweet, then just odds and ends of foods....all light flare, no heavy, sit down meal for us this year!! The fun is in picking at all the food and being with the family, laughing and doing our 2nd annual Yankee Swap Exchange. We had a BLAST last year and decided this should be new tradition, $25 and have to spend the entire amount. Neat to see what people come up beside the gift cards!!!
MERRY CHRISTMAS & BLESSED BE
Today I plan on getting my baking done (perfect day for that). All my gifts are wrapped....so it's just prep work for the Christmas Eve company today!
Being Italian we ALWAYS have fish on Christmas Eve and never miss the crabs with the red gravy (aka-sauce) however, this is the one year we skipping that long, long tradition! Hope we don't regret this!! The ONLY fish we'll be having is my cocktail... I take jumbo shrimp, boil them in FISH stock, then I season them with spice that is amazing on shrimp, ice and serve w/a good cocktail sauce. YUM! I will make a spiral ham, some Madison Potato Salad, stuffed mushrooms, have cupcakes, white chocolate peppermint bark, rolls, chocolate covered pretzels (gourmet size/style--bought of course;), cheese, pepperoni and salami platter, fruit with dark chocolate fondue, Low fat Mock a Mole (telling you NOBODY knew there were peas in this!!!!) mock-a-mole RECIPE here, assorted olives and crackers, cosmos (with a spin....white cranberry juice with strawberry flavor), punch bowl of sangria with frozen fruit to keep it chilled and sweet, then just odds and ends of foods....all light flare, no heavy, sit down meal for us this year!! The fun is in picking at all the food and being with the family, laughing and doing our 2nd annual Yankee Swap Exchange. We had a BLAST last year and decided this should be new tradition, $25 and have to spend the entire amount. Neat to see what people come up beside the gift cards!!!
MERRY CHRISTMAS & BLESSED BE
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Turning 45
Well, a few days ago I turned 45!! I can't believe it. Where did the time go?
It felt a LOT like when I turned 35...not good! I hit 40 fine, so hopefully 50 will be the same for me:)
I did have a great night with my family and kids did well ... my
daughter bought me this darling necklace. She said one diamond was for her and the other for brother. Very touching!
My son is 15 and picked out all on his own THE MOST PERFECT black boots for me...loving them!
my mom and dad got me a bunch of stuff, PJs, great winter socks, a scarf, a travel mug and this darling top and sweater that I plan on wearing on Christmas Eve!!!
It felt a LOT like when I turned 35...not good! I hit 40 fine, so hopefully 50 will be the same for me:)
I did have a great night with my family and kids did well ... my
My son is 15 and picked out all on his own THE MOST PERFECT black boots for me...loving them!
My hubby had a delicious cake along with a Spyder ski coat for me
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Some Christmas Cheer Early
So, I decided on Sunday, November 26th
to get my head start on the Christmas Season (although I am already thinking of weeding out! LOL) Simple is better and makes for an easy clean-up in January!
Below: Decided to purchase and make my own urns filled with greenery. I can't wait to expand my garden so that I don't have to "buy" my supplies for the urns in the future!
with the pinecones.
Inside small touches:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)