Oh Christmas Tree

Every year I have a desire to do something unique and different with our Christmas tree, but most always end up doing the same thing year after year, and this year is no different.  Up went the same tree with the same ornaments.

Recently though, while on a little getaway, the Mister and I visited several Christmas stores and I was tremendously inspired.  My plans are to start collecting ornaments through out the year to place on next year's tree.  My problem with this, besides the obvious huge financial cost, is deciding on what theme and or color scheme to go with.  I have been looking at so many different styles of trees, some of them are definitely not my style but I still find them unique and interesting.  Here are a few for your viewing pleasure.

I love the muted colors and the shape of this primitive tree

This has more of the Fall colors with the dried flowers but how cute are those Owls!

What a beautiful retro feel with the wonderful pink tree with the clear ornaments.

Turquoise blues and greens with the muted white tree inside an urn.  What a lovely modern tree with a retro feel.

How different is this tree?  I could totally see it at a sea side cottage during the holidays.

How fun is this explosion of candy colors and monkeys.

A darling feathered Christmas tree placed in a ladies dressing area.

How about decorating a sleigh instead of a Christmas tree?

This tree is chocked full of whimsy.

Peacocks, turquoise and purple ornaments and feathers decorate this lovely tree.

I hope you enjoyed looking at all of the different trees like I do.  If you celebrate Christmas, what does your tree look like?

Busy Baker

Every Christmas I go into a baking frenzy.  I always try to make pies, cakes, cookies and an assortment of candies, but this year has been different.  I am just not feeling the Christmas spirit right now so I am way behind and have no motivation.  We even just got our tree up this past week and had it not been for my grandchildren, I probably would have just skipped it.  But, among the blah days, I have had moments of baking inspiration and popped out some delicacies this past week and weekend.

First I made a winter snowflake cake for our office Christmas luncheon.  It was a 3 layer white almond cake with a raspberry buttercream frosting.  This particular flavor is requested often in my family so I make this recipe a lot.

Then I wanted to try out a new recipe that I planned on using for my coworkers gifts, so I created a Mr. & Mrs. Snowman cake for the grandbabies as a test taste trial.  (Say that fast three times.)  I  made the snow people out of gumpaste and fondant.  The snowballs were mini marshmallows.

The test recipe was a hit so I then made cupcakes to give as gifts to my coworkers.  They are a dark chocolate cake dipped in a chocolate peppermint ganache and topped with a peppermint buttercream frosting.  I added a Hershey's Candy Cane Kiss for decoration.  

I found a neat way to package them on Pinterest.  You can see the post here.

All in all, it was a very productive weekend, but I think my burst of creativeness is over for the season.  Maybe the new year will be an inspiring one.

Cheesie Christmas Sweater

Oh, the Christmas sweater!  They can be tacky and ornate, with flashing lights and tinkling bells, but who can resist?  I'm not ashamed to say, I own one, and every year I break it out and proudly wear it.  It is embroidered with beaded ornaments and I love all of the detail.  Here it is, isn't it a beauty!?

Mine was given to me as a gift about 10 years ago and I absolutely love it.  Do you have a Christmas sweater that you pull out, year after year?

Respectful Silence

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In light of the recent events, I am reminded of the special bond between parent and child and feel so very blessed that I have 6 beautiful, healthy children.  To honor those precious babies of Sandy Hook Elementary school and their teachers ultimate sacrifices, this page will experience a day of respectful silence.  Go love someone, hold them close, and cherish every moment you have with them.

Identification of Vintage Glass

When my Grandmother passed away, my Mom and her siblings divided Grandma's personal belongings, and of those belongings, the items that my mother obtained, she then let myself and my three siblings divide among ourselves.  We each chose items that we loved or things that reminded us most of our beloved Grandmother.

Among the things that I chose was this very fun, vintage beverage glass.  I chose it because it was always the glass that I drank out of when I was a child.  Grandma would let us choose a glass and that was the glass you were to use throughout the day.  This glass was the one that I always requested. 

It has a cute little jungle scene of a lady bathing with the help of an elephant and what looks like an elf to me.  I would love to know more about this adorable little glass.  And, how great would it be to find more of them? 

  

I know that she had several glasses that came in boxes of detergent but I don't think this was one of them.  It is a very heavy glass, about 6 inches tall and even appears to, at one time, had a gold rim.

What do you guys think, have you ever seen one like this?