Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas! The winter wonderland has arrived at my house. (Okay, it arrived a few weeks ago...) I don't have many Christmas decorations, but the few I have are up! Let me give you a tour.
In the entryway: the wreath from the wedding is hanging from the candelabra, with a red candle. (Usually there are two white candles there, and the wreath is elsewhere in the house.) Next year, while in the states, I plan on buying some cranberries to stick in the wreath, and a red ribbon to replace the white one at Christmas time.
Music playing: Andrew Peterson's Behold the Lamb of God.
Cookie baking: Mexican Mocha Bars.
Movie watching: The Grinch Who Stole Christmas (both versions).
In the dining room, Santa and Mrs. Claus are waiting to have you over for dinner. They've brought out some festive coasters and candles. Maybe next year they'll have a Christmas table cloth. In the meantime, they do have festive placemats and napkins when they host you. Not pictured (they're shy): some elves who are similar to Santa and Mrs. Claus are guarding the presents by the tree, over on the steamer trunk. They said, "For secrecy purposes, the presents, even though wrapped, cannot be shown on the world wide web." Elves are funny little things...Music playing: Mariah Carey's Merry Christmas.
Cookie baking: Gingerbread Men.
Movie watching: Elf.
Christmas has come to Paris! The Eiffel Tower has her Christmas lights AND the mayor decided to decorate her with ornaments this year. Isn't she pretty?
Christmas has come to Paris! The Eiffel Tower has her Christmas lights AND the mayor decided to decorate her with ornaments this year. Isn't she pretty?Music playing: Mannheim Steamroller Christmas Collection.
Cookie baking: Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Icing.
Movie watching: The Sound of Music. (Not a Christmas movie, you say? Au contraire! Chez moi, it is!)
For Christmas in San Francisco, it snowed on the Golden Gate Bridge!!! I thought I might do this every year, but those snowflakes were so hard to get on that they might melt never to return after a few weeks. Doesn't she look festive, though?
For Christmas in San Francisco, it snowed on the Golden Gate Bridge!!! I thought I might do this every year, but those snowflakes were so hard to get on that they might melt never to return after a few weeks. Doesn't she look festive, though?Music playing: Trace Bundy's Christmas Collection.
Cookie baking: Joy's Oatmeal Cranberry Cookie.
Movie watching: White Christmas.
In the living room, there are several little Christmas trees made from magazines. I don't have a real Christmas tree...because I only have two Christmas ornaments. Maybe one day I'll have a real tree. But for now, I'm happy with my creative (free) trees. One of the ornaments is hanging in my kitchen from a cabinet knob, and the other is sitting on top of the television. Here you can see the festive Christmas placemats I have for when Santa and Mrs. Claus have you over for dinner, and the French Christmas chocolates that are all over my house. I love these chocolates, and you can only buy them at Christmastime.
In the living room, there are several little Christmas trees made from magazines. I don't have a real Christmas tree...because I only have two Christmas ornaments. Maybe one day I'll have a real tree. But for now, I'm happy with my creative (free) trees. One of the ornaments is hanging in my kitchen from a cabinet knob, and the other is sitting on top of the television. Here you can see the festive Christmas placemats I have for when Santa and Mrs. Claus have you over for dinner, and the French Christmas chocolates that are all over my house. I love these chocolates, and you can only buy them at Christmastime.Music playing: Chris Tomlin's Glory in the Highest.
Cookie baking: Pinwheels.
Movie watching: Gone with the Wind. (Also not a Christmas movie, you say? Au contraire! Chez moi it is!)
Christmas in the kitchen: Another one of the Christmas trees, the festive placemat, the French Christmas chocolates, and oh! The Christmas mugs. Last year, Joy gave me these two mugs, a square plate and square bowl. (Cause I love me some square plates and bowls!) I share this set with some of her other friends, so to remember that I am loved and part of family. Isn't she sweet? I've been drinking out of these mugs each morning. Come over and I'll make you some Speculoostastic Hot Chocolate in them!
Christmas in the kitchen: Another one of the Christmas trees, the festive placemat, the French Christmas chocolates, and oh! The Christmas mugs. Last year, Joy gave me these two mugs, a square plate and square bowl. (Cause I love me some square plates and bowls!) I share this set with some of her other friends, so to remember that I am loved and part of family. Isn't she sweet? I've been drinking out of these mugs each morning. Come over and I'll make you some Speculoostastic Hot Chocolate in them!Music playing: iTunes 2009 Holiday Sampler.
Cookie baking: Classic Christmas Sugar Cookies.
Movie watching: Christmas in Conneticut. (Haven't heard of it, much less seen it? You must, oh you must!)
I was trying to remember when baking cookies became such a big deal at the holidays to me...and I think it must've been college. During my first few years of college, my Meme and Grandaddy lived in my college town. I would go over to her house to help bake and decorate cookies. (I also remember driving over to Richmond to see my aunt and uncle and making Chex Mex during the holidays. If I lived in America and had access to Chex cereal, oh man! would I be making the Chex Mex.) Anyway, with my love for baking, I sure do love making all kinds of cookies during the holidays! Here is the first batch of cookies I made this season.
I was trying to remember when baking cookies became such a big deal at the holidays to me...and I think it must've been college. During my first few years of college, my Meme and Grandaddy lived in my college town. I would go over to her house to help bake and decorate cookies. (I also remember driving over to Richmond to see my aunt and uncle and making Chex Mex during the holidays. If I lived in America and had access to Chex cereal, oh man! would I be making the Chex Mex.) Anyway, with my love for baking, I sure do love making all kinds of cookies during the holidays! Here is the first batch of cookies I made this season.Music playing: iTune's No. 1's Christmas Collection (all the best Christmas hits).
Cookie baking: Campfire Cookies. (Click the link for the recipe, and change the chocolate bar that is added at the end to a small dab of Speculoos. Yes, I am becoming an addict.)
Movie watching: It's a Wonderful Life.
Honorable mentions:
Music playing: Vince Guaraldi Trio's Charlie Brown Christmas.
Cookie baking: Brown butter dark chocolate cookies (with or without bacon).
Movie watching: Home Alone.
Book reading: Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol.
Merry Christmas everyone!
I love this time of year!
3 comments:
I like what you did with the wall art. Cute!
wondermous!! I love the festiveness, especially the Tour and the Bridge all dressed up! I wish I could come over and bake and watch all those movies with you...except the Grinch (Jim Carrey version). All the others would be lovely. ;-) Do you know if speculoos is available in the states?? I would love to make those cookies with it...
You can order it from amazon. It's called Biscoff Spread. I've been told that some stores are beginning to carry it. You could probably ask your grocer to look into carrying it for you.
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