Annual Ugly Sweater Party

We hosted our annual ugly sweater/cookie & beer exchange/white elephant party last month.  Of all the parties we throw, this is by far my favorite.  I decided to keep things simple.  As a centerpiece, I used leftover blue and silver ornaments strung together, and added some silver glitter trees.  The best part of any cookie exchange is the delicious treats you get to take home, and this year didn't disappoint.  Just for fun I put together individual hot cocoa test tubes, the perfect serving for a single cup, that everyone added to their cookie loot.

In addition to the beer exchange I made a Christmas sangria with cranberries, pears, and a delicious moscato.

Sometimes a tree skirt is the perfect alternative to an ugly sweater.  Well maybe not, but it was all I had to work with.

We DIYed a sleigh for the little Man.  I happen to love the way it turned out, he on the other hand was not convinced.  It took several attempts before he agreed to sit in it. 

How to DIY yourself a Sleigh: 

Materials: cardboard box, an x-acto knife, red metallic tissue paper, packing tape, & tinsel. 

Step 1:  Using an x-acto knife, remove the front flap of your cardboard box. 

Step 2:  Secure the 2 side flaps to the back flap with packing tape, this gives the sleigh the appropriate height. 

Step 3:  We then drew and cut, with an x-acto knife, a curved shape for the side of the sleigh.  Using one side as a template we drew and cut out the other side.  At this point you should have what looks like a sleigh. 

Step 4:  I covered the box with metallic red tissue paper and added tinsel to hide the slightly messy edges. 

Voila, in 10 minutes you have a festive sleigh, perfect for watching Polar Express and for taking photos.

Happy NYE!

Hope you lovelies have wonderful things planned for tonight.  Whether it's ringing the new year with your nearest and dearest, or with a couple hundred new friends, here's to 2013 and all the amazing things it will bring!

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Traditional Christmas Inspiration

Inspired by one of my favorite holiday movies, Little Women, I love the warmth and ambiance of a traditional holiday decor.  A traditional Christmas: where stockings were hung by the hearth, oranges were stuffed with cloves, carols were sung by the fire, and Christmas decor mostly involved bringing the outdoors in.  Some traditional Christmas inspiration for your holidays, enjoy!

{photos via: Gift, Holiday Prep, Stocking, Wreath Chandelier, Tree, Acorn Hurricanes, Christmas Crackers}

Tasty Thursday: Holiday Cookie Exchange

This Tasty Thursday is brought to you by Notes by Sara.  I love the fabulous compilation of festive holiday cookies she's assembled.  Those coconut caramel cookies, have my name written all over them!  Happy baking!

Recipes: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25

Naughty or Nice Holiday Dessert Table

I am smitten with this lavish all white, naughty or nice holiday dessert table!  The mercury glass, feathers, and silver accents really add a pop of holiday glamour.  And those delectable desserts are making my mouth water: mini pudding shots, meringues, cake pops, cupcakes, marshmallow pops, kettle corn and vintage candy.  And I love the naughty or nice favor bags.  This would also be perfect for a NYE soiree!

{photos via Hostess Blog}

Cup of Cheer

We hosted our annual ugly sweater/secret Santa/beer & cookie exchange earlier this month, which is always so much fun and so great to see all our friends.  This year we featured a "Cup of Cheer" hot cocoa bar.  The toppings included: large marshmallows dipped in chocolate, white and dark chocolate stirrers, cinnamon, whipped cream, Bailey's Irish Cream, mini marshmallows, Ghirardelli's peppermint bark, with candy canes & Pirouette cookies as stirrers.  The hot cocoa mix was handmade, it was featured on last week's Tasty Thursday, & on CNB's daily dose, and I purchased those adorable clear mugs on Amazon.  My wining combination: 2 tablespoons of hot cocoa mix, a white chocolate stirrer, whip cream, and a dash of cinnamon. 

Winter Wonderland Dessert Table

This is one serious holiday dessert table.  I love the blues of this Winter Wonderland dessert table with pops of bright red and green, and plenty of vintage charm.   The desserts are almost to beautiful to eat, and those eye catching drinks are calling my name.  The antique window background and snow branches that featured birds and cookie ornaments, brings the outdoors in.  This dessert table would make a lovely addition to any holiday party.

{photos via Hostess Blog}

Crimson & Tiffany Blue Christmas

Love the color combination of Tiffany Blue and Crimson for the holidays. 

{Photos via: Wreath, Card, Ornaments, Carmel, Pomegranate Cocktails, Mistletoe Pomander, Tree}

Tasty Thursday: Holiday Edition

We have our annual ugly sweater/secret Santa/cookie & beer exchange this weekend.  I was thinking of making these Nutella Truffles for the cookie exchange.  Technically, they aren't a cookie but they look so amazingly delicious, I don't think anyone will mind.

INGREDIENTS:

10 ounces semi chocolate or bittersweet chocolate, chopped (or chocolate morsels)
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup Nutella
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons Frangelico liqueur

1/2 cup toasted hazelnuts, finely chopped (see notes)

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a double boiler over barely simmering water, combine chocolate, butter, heavy cream and Nutella. Heat until chocolate is melted. Stir until you have a smooth mixture.

2. Remove from chocolate mixture from heat and allow it sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes. Whisk in vanilla and Frangelico. Pour mixture into a shallow dish (example: 8x8 pyrex dish) and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for about 2 hours. If you refrigerate longer than two hours, the mixture will be too hard to work with. If this occurs, allow the mixture to sit at room temperature until they are pliable enough to work with.

3. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Using a small scoop (2 teaspoons) or a melon baller, scoop out chocolate mixture, roll into one inch balls, and place on prepared baking sheet. Continue with remaining chocolate mixture. Roll balls in chopped hazelnuts. Refrigerate truffles until ready to serve.

Winter-Warm Up with Hot Cocoa

I love this winter themed hot cocoa bar.  It's perfect for any holiday get together or for Christmas Eve with the family.  The festive blue and white color palette and the lovely treats ties this party together.  And those adorable mugs are functions favors, that guests can use to create their own one of a kind hot cocoa creation.

{photos via Celebrations at Home}

Gilded Holiday Champange Bar

I am seriously obsessed with this beautiful bubbly bar via 100 Layer Cake.  With the stunning gold bordered background, food that's to pretty to eat, stunning decanters, and it's gorgeous floral centerpiece, I'm seriously dying.  Let's talk about all the golden details that I'm loving, the golden food trays, accented serving bowls, cutlery, and pretty drink stirrer poms.  This bubbly bar is the perfect addition for any smash holiday party. 

{photos via 100LayerCake}

Black & White NYE Dessert Table

I love the back to basics approach to this festive NYE dessert table.  With simple and elegant black and white decor, wintry accents and yummy treats.  The takeout boxes make the perfect midnight snack container, and I adore those silver cones, so festive!

{photos via The White Library}

Winterwonderland Dinner Party

This soft wintry white dinner party is glamorously festive.  Everything from the reindeer details, billowy centerpieces, glitter and silver touches, and soft candles exudes holiday elegance.  The white on white color palate makes for a festive and intimate dinner party to pamper your guests with this holiday season.

{photos via Hostess Blog}

From the host:
‘Dreaming of a White Christmas’ was my inspiration. Here in southern France, snow is rare at Christmas, so the idea of styling a complete white party seemed very appropriate to bring the snow inside at any cost!  By mixing different textures, from fabrics, to paper, glass and ceramic, wool and fleece; you can create a monochrome white look without making it look too clinical.  The addition of candles and mirrored tiles on the table, helped to bounce light around and add warmth to the whole set up.