With visions of sugar plums a thing of the past, visions of bubbly take over in anticipation of New Years Eve.
This is the first year that we won’t be on vacation with my in-laws and I’m looking forward to an early dinner (have already warned J I’d like to be FANCY) and home in time to snuggle with our little man as we ring in Twenty Thirteen.
Well, as if you didn’t know…The Holiday Season is upon us.
Although I have yet to begin Christmas and Hanukkah shopping, haven’t picked up our tree or even brought the decorations up from storage, I do feel as though it is time to embrace the charm and get captured by the inspiration that surrounds the season. So, I’ve recently dipped my toes in, by lighting my holiday-scented candle during nighttime nursing sessions and, so, I’ve decided…I’m ready for more!
What gets you inspired for the season?
(because I guarantee it is NOT the commercials that started to pop up months ago!)
Sssssstill stuck at the office? Tell me you haven’t had a chance to finish your shopping…let alone even take a moment to get inspired and map out every last detail of your impending holiday get-together…as you had once hoped?
Here are a few simple ways to pull off the HoliDaze in a Hurry!
Make your way to any local Christmas Tree stand (seemingly around every corner?) and pick-up a mini tree to place in a prominent location: next to the front door, the bar cart, on the buffet for major drama. No need to bother with all sorts of ornaments, choose a few spools of ribbon in colors that work with your home and tie petite bows on a handful of branches. Why bother yourself tangled lights, broken heirlooms or storage! (Yea, yea, the fabulous white columned home also adds to the perfection…)
1. Find yourself a delicious holiday scented candle. I adore Illume’s Balsam and Cedar. The holiday scent is a lovely welcome as guests arrive.
2. Forget stocking the bar…offer a single alcoholic beverage along with some sparking water and lime slices. I recently made a pitcher of a Cranberry – Pear Bellini that was divine. I kept the pitcher chilled by keeping it nestled in a large bowl of ice between pours. (Here, I rimmed my flutes in red sanding sugar. Dip and spin the rims in lime juice then dab in granulated sugar. Stay away from green or blue – they stain ladies’ lips!)
3. No time to work on setting out a variety of hors d’oeuvres? My go-to quick gourmetish snack is fresh popped popcorn topped with butter, a hint of truffle oil, finely chopped rosemary, cracked pepper, sea salt, and shavings of parmigiano reggiano.
4. We all wish we could whip up a fantastic five course meal, clearly this time we need to keep it simple. I often turn to Ina in times of need. A one-pot entree such as her weeknight bolognese or easy parmesan risotto are simple crowd pleasers that are surely elegant enough for a holiday or celebration. Add a salad of mixed greens, stilton crumbles, fresh honeycomb (a recent obsession) and a light balsamic dressing and this once-daunting meal can be checked off the list!
5. Think of a few unexpected touches like putting mints in the restroom. Make sure you take them out of the container and display them in a beautiful petite bowl or salt cellar for an elegant presentation.
6. Who doesn’t love Oreos! Display dozens of the crunchy cookies arranged as a tower on a petite cake plate and serve with ice cold milk as a playful, fuss-free alternative to an expected dessert.
7. Find yourself a wreath that can be used from year to year and hang in the center of a window, framed in a mirror or over a piece of art. Use command hooks and ribbons to hang.
Don’t forget the seasonal background music! I am loving Zooey Deschanel’s album, A Very She & Him Christmas or the always dreamy Michael Bublés’ most recent holiday album, Christmas.
And one additional tip – keep the shopping to a minimum – nearly each of these items can be found at Target for a bit of a one-stop-shop!
If you’re like me, I am just finally starting to embrace the transition to autumn – so I hesitate to remind you that it’s not too early {in fact…hurry up!} to order your holiday stationary.
I am currently loving these absolutely fantastic watercolor notecards from Inslee By Design – making it MUCH more exciting to think about the transition from fall…to…gulp…the holidays.
Today I celebrate my Mom – who gives me so much inspiration and drive. I am so far beyond grateful to have the very best friend I have in her, words can’t begin to capture it! She is the strongest, most intelligent {don’t let the goofy ditzyness fool you!} and most truly beautiful woman I know. One day I hope to be a mere fraction of the perfect mother that she has been to me.
Today I also celebrate my grandmother – Adeline – who is 94 years old and witty as ever. My mom and I recently came across her diary from the 1930s – pages filled with dates and suitors and an almost wild nightlife! The stories are endless and I’m so grateful to have her share them with me!
Today I also celebrate another wonderful mother – my Mama Supes {my mother-in-law!} While I hear horror-story-after-horror-story from friends with less than ideal relationships with their husbands moms – I am so grateful to not only have a wonderful role model but a forever friend in my mother-in-law.
And today I celebrate all of the new mommies that may be celebrating for the very first time – congratulations and enjoy this very special day!
