Christmas Garland

Every Christmas I always help my grandmother decorate her house, I have to say I was quite proud of the end result this year. I was lucky enough to get all the silk garland from Christoffers, along with the silk red berries. The large ornament hanging from the wreath is a few years old but also from Christoffers. It's always great to have real garland, but I will be the first to admit it's nice not having it shed everywhere, along with the fact that you only have to purchase the garland once, and it lasts you many years to come! And if you find yourself missing the pine smell that comes along with the real thing just buy some of the pine scented candles from Christoffers!

Union Square Holiday Market

Not sure what to get that special someone this holiday season? Take a day to go to the Union Square Holiday Market in NYC! There are tons of booths bursting with handmade, vintage and new gifts for the season. This is a great place to buy some one of a kind artwork off the artists in NY. Get there before their last day on December 24th, it's sure to get crazy! Download the printable guide to help you navigate the market here!

Market Dates and Hours Of Operation:

As we close in on the final days before X-mas, we’re extending the market hours:

• Friday December 16th: 11:00am – 9:00pm
• Saturday December 17th: 10:00am – 9:00pm
• Sunday December 18th: 10:00am – 8:00pm

• December 19th – December 23rd
• Monday – Friday: 10:00am – 8:00pm

• Saturday December 24th: 10:00am – 4:30pm close

Situated above the Union Square / 14th Street subway station, 4/5/6, N/R/Q, and L lines.

DIY: Advent Calendar

Here's a really cute idea that I found on Country Living today. Every year I look forward to the advent calendar, this year instead of buying one, try making your own! This is a great way to personalize the experience for your family and keep things exciting!

Use ordinary grocery-store matchboxes to count down the days till Christmas. 

Just hot-glue the tops of empty boxes to one another to form rows 

(start with nine boxes for the base, and decrease by two until you have a single box). 

Cut wrapping paper to cover each section; secure with hot glue. 

Next, hot-glue the rows in a pyramid shape as shown. 

Use number stamps (available at craft stores) to mark the boxes 1 through 25, then fill with candy and trinkets.

Christmas Movie Clip

Every year, without fail I watch Love Actually, it always gets me into the holiday spirit! Director Richard Curtis always knows what to do when it comes to the soundtracks of his films, the film is filled with the classic Christmas songs to the beautiful sounds created by Explosions in the Sky. In this film there are about ten different story lines going on all about love and family and Christmas. It all leads up to the school's musical performance of All I Want for Christmas is You. It's probably my favorite scene in the whole film, hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Perfect Pines

What with it being Christmas time, I have come upon many lovely pine trees, and pictures of them online. Green is one of my favorite colors and it always makes me happy to see photos like the ones below, thought I'd share some with you! Happy hunting to all of you who haven't found your perfect tree yet! If you're not sure where to go this season try going to Dryer's Farm!

 

Boxwood Trees at Christoffers!

Christoffers is currently selling Boxwood trees, starting at $65 in silver or gold. I think this is a really lovely idea and a great way to spruce up the home for the holidays, they also will last quite a long time and well into the New Year! Click here to visit their website!

Holiday Bedecking: Lightbulb Vase

It's inevitable, every year you open that box of christmas lights to find that they no longer work. Instead of throwing out the now useless bulbs, use them in a whole new "light"! Make a centerpiece by filling a large glass vase with the bulbs, you could even try this with ornaments! 

Photograph provided by Country Living.

Food: Green Salad with Beets, Carrots & Apples with Pink Vinaigrette

One of my favorite meals is salad, whenever I have odds and ends in the fridge I try to make a salad out of it! Here's a delicious one that I make the effort to plan ahead of time. Not only is it healthy but it will have everyone coming back for more!

It's a pretty simple recipe the bonus being that its a flavor party despite its easy directions!

Green Salad with Beets, Carrots &  Apple with Pink Vinaigrette

1 head of lettuce, washed & torn (Romaine or mixed greens)
1 carrot, julienned
1 small beet, julienned
1 apple, sliced thinly
1-2 green onions, sliced thinly
1 handful each of toasted pecans & pepitas

Add the lettuce into a large bowl and layer the remaining 4 ingredients over top. Sprinkle with pecans and pepitas.

Pink Vinaigrette
1 heaping teaspoon dijon mustard
1 heaping teaspoon cherry jam (though raspberry would be nice too)
juice of 1/2 an orange
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup olive or canola oil
pinch of salt & a good grind of black pepper

Pour all vinaigrette ingredients into a small lidded jar and shake, shake, shake until completely mixed.

Pour over salad and toss. Serves 2 to 4.

Reciepe from food blog Everybody Likes Sandwiches.

Happy Holidays Mr. Boddington!

Here are some truly beautiful Christmas Cards (all available only in Box Sets) that you can purchase now at Mr. Boddington's! I love all the intricate detail on the envelopes! I find all of these to be very refreshing from the usual holiday cards, their halloween and thanksgiving cards are pretty neat too!

Holiday Cards from Nancy and Betty

Here are cards from Nancy & Betty. I think they are all pretty cool (especially the Brussel Sprout one!) They also offer a box set of 8 (2 of each below).

Holiday Cards DIY

Here is one way to spread the cheer this season! One of my favorite parts about the holidays is receiving all the yearly updates on friends and family from all over. I always end up running out of room on the mantle, by the end of the year the cards have been spread throughout the house! My aunt pins all the holiday cards to the archway in between her living room and dining room, it's always lovely to see them up! What do you do?

Go to your local grocer and buy fresh sprigs of holiday herbs!

Mini Wreaths

Supplies:

spool wire

greens (we used boxwood, oregonia, rosemary, myrtle, seeded eucalyptus)

clippers

floral tape (optional)

Directions:

1. Make a small, round shape by twisting a couple pieces of wire together. Our wreaths are about 1" in diameter.

2. Clip pieces of greens, removing leaves from the bottom inch of the stem.

3. Twist the greens around the wire until it is covered.

4. Keep twisting small pieces of greens around the form, securing them under the other stems as you go. Secure with wire or floral tape if they need extra reinforcement.

5. Clip any stray stems that disfigure the shape of the wreath.

The Cards

Supplies:

twine

card stock

scissors

1. Cut a square of card stock (ours are 2" x 3") and punch a small hole in the center, top of the card.

2. Stamp the card with a custom stamp like this or buy one readymade.

3. Attach a mini wreath by tying a piece of twine through the hole.

These little cards will be so cheery hanging in a cubicle, on a fridge, or inspiration board all season! 

Christmas Time has Arrived at Christoffers!

It's that time of year again, and Christoffers is ready! Here are a few pics of the two beautiful windows that Thomas designed to help you get into the holiday spirit!

I love the pictures on the mantle in the background, genius!

Thanksgiving Closure

Yesterday, as my family began to depart after many delicious hours, a particular song came on over the speakers. At the time it just seemed so perfect as we all hugged and kissed our loved ones farewell, and it seemed the perfect send off from one holiday to the next so here you go, a gift of music from me to you! Enjoy!

Food: Canapes

Here are some great recipes from Everyday Occasions. It really is becoming my most referenced blog isn't it? Anyways, these canapes looked so tasty I just had to reblog them to you folks! I hope you enjoy!

Roasted Beef & Horseradish Cream Canapes

25 canapes

2 baguettes, sliced into 1/2 inch toasts
1 packages of cream cheese, softened
2 tablespoons of horseradish
1 tablespoon of dijon mustard
salt & pepper
1 pound of Roast Beef, sliced
flat leaf parsley

Mix together cream cheese, horseradish, dijon, salt & pepper.  Spread the mixture onto each slice of bread.  Top with a thin slice of beef and sprinkling of parsley, salt & pepper. 

Roasted Red Pepper & Blue Cheese Canapes

24 canapes

2 baguettes, sliced into 1/2 inch pieces
1 large jar of roasted red peppers, sliced
8 ounces of blue cheese, crumbled
pepper
parsley

On a baking sheet, spread out the slices of bread.  Pile the peppers and blue cheese on each piece.  Put them in the oven under the low broiler for 2-3 minutes just until the blue cheese melts.  Sprinkle with parsley and fresh black pepper.

Decorating Ideas Part Trois

Today this DIY is a little trickier and a little pricier than the previous two, but I promise it will pay off in the end! Go to your local farmers market and purchase gourds, heirloom pumpkins, and anything else that catches your eye. Then you can begin! Click here for full directions from Jenny Steffens Blog, Everyday Occasions.

Thanksgiving Decorating Ideas Part Deux

The decorations I showed you last time were a little on the untamed and unpolished side and a tad pricey too depending how much you were looking to spend. Today I'll be showing you a refined and cheaper route. Everything today was found at Jenny Steffens Blog, Everyday Occasions.


Here is a simple way to dress up any table setting, and it's free! Just go outside, to your backyard, the woods or a local park and clip off a few branches. Remember in this case less is more, you will only need a few branches depending on the size of your table.

Here's another variation to what you see above, instead of using tree branches, you could use bittersweet that you can purchase at Christoffers Florist. I prefer the simplicity of the bittersweet personally, I also get a few extra branches and wrap some around the chandelier over the dining room table! It really brings the whole room together.

Click here to download Thanksgiving Place Cards!

Thanksgiving Decoration Ideas!

Over the next few posts I'll be showing you different ways to style your home for the Holidays, hopefully some of you will be able to get inspired! Today all examples are from Design*Sponge. 

Here's a great way to display what this season has to offer, go to your local farmer's market and buy some of the colorful produce, either put it on display or make it part of the meal!

Holiday Bedecking: Bay Leaf Wreath

Special order your holiday Bay Leaf Wreath today from Christoffers! I look forward to hanging my wreath in the kitchen every year. It's so much fun just being able to pluck one or two leaves off and throw them into the stew. Maybe that's just me, but it always puts a shocked face on people who think that you've just put a regular leaf into their dinner!

Thanksgiving Decoration Ideas!

Now that Halloween is over, Thanksgiving is around the corner, and it will be here before you know it! Here are some great tips to get your creative holiday juices flowing. All original photos can be found (some with directions) at Martha Stewart's Website. There are some really cool ideas on place cards and center pieces as well!

I love for the kids table putting down a paper runner, that way you don't have to worry about spills! For the younger kids you could put out some markers or crayons and it becomes a canvas after supper!

This is another inexpensive way to decorate your home for the holidays, take some of your candles and wrap wax or tissue paper around them to get that glow!