Last Minute Christmas Tablescape

Have you been too busy shopping, baking, or preparing a Christmas menu to plan your Holiday dining table decor.  Luckily Mindy of Modern Mindy shared with us how to prepare a beautiful tablescape using things you already have: Christmas ornaments, wrapping paper, and votive candles!  She simply wrapped a couple of boxes with festive paper, and incorporated ball ornaments into glass vases, napkin rings, and even a hanging "chandelier."  Grouping votive candles together in the center of the table gives a bigger impact than lining them down the table individually.  A little bit of greenery cut fresh from your tree and you have a beautiful holiday tablescape.  I hope you'll give this last minute decorating a try.

Merry Christmas!

Sweet & Spicy Pecans

Nothing says Holiday nibbles to me, like a dish full of spicy nuts!  This recipe is perfect to have sitting around the house during a party or on Christmas day while you're waiting for your big meal.  It has just a hint of sweet and a hint of spice and has proven to be a tried and true recipe.  I like to have a small dish of nibbles on the bar too as you see here, and this is my go-to snack!  Try making these today - I bet you have all the ingredients in your kitchen already!

Spicy Pecans

2 egg whites

1 1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup sugar

2 Tablespoons Smoke Paprika (or regular)

1 1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper (cayenne)

2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

6 cups pecan halves

1/4 cup Plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Beat egg whites and salt with wire whisk until foamy.  Add sugar, paprika, red pepper, and Worcestershire sauce, beating well.  Stir in pecans and butter.  Spread on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil & sprayed with non-stick spray.

Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes or until pecans are crisp, stirring every 10 minutes. 

Let cool and store in air tight container.

NOTE:  I like to add some almonds to my nut mixture, for example 4 cups pecans and 2 cups alomonds.  These are also delicious tossed in a salad!

Christmas Printable Activities For The Kids

I just wanted to quickly share with you this link for printable activities for the kids, from Kidopo.  These are more thank just coloring pages, there are tags, greeting cards, bookmarks, and more!

Above samples are a maze, "find the difference" picture page, cut & fold crafts, gift tags, and a bookmark.  Nice activities to keep the kids occupied while you're doing some of that holiday baking!  

A Christmas-y 2nd Birthday

This adorable Christmas-y 2nd birthday party was sent in by Katie of Katie Cassidy Photography.  You may remember her from her son's Halloween Birthday party here... ; )

I love the sophisticated design that is full of seasonal details without letting them overtake the occasion.

You may know by now my love for using "furniture" pieces as part of your party display.  I just adore the white cabinet used to display cupcakes in such a stylized way!  

More favorites from this party:  heart-shaped lollipops created using candy canes, and the chocolate dipped pretzels designed to look like Santa hats!...And don't get me started on the marshmallow bouquet!  So many cute ideas here.  You can see even more on Katies blog.  Merry Birthday! ; D

DIY Ice Bottle Cooler

This icey bottle cooler as seen on my Holiday Bar Design, is a stylish way to present vodka or white wine on the bar while keeping it cold at the same time.  It's a simple project but you need to give yourself a couple of days to freeze the layers.  This works well for vodka because it can go in the freezer without turning solid, and is best served very cold anyway.  Here's how it works...

What you'll need:

•  A 3-liter empty soda container that you will cut the top off of
• distilled water for more clarity in your end result 
• fruit such as lemons, limes, star fruit, or cranberries
• duct tape - only in case your bottle floats up in the water 

Place the bottle of vodka inside the 3-liter container and fill with an inch or two of the distilled water - freeze until solid.

When the base is frozen you can begin adding slice fruit or berries around the bottle and fill with more water to just cover the fruit layer - freeze until solid.

Once the first fruit layer is frozen you can add your next layer in the same manner, filling with distilled water enough to cover the fruit.  This layer should take you to the top of the vodka bottle - freeze until solid.

Once the cooler is frozen, take it out of the freezer so it can thaw slightly - enough to work the 3-liter container off of the ice (about 30 minutes).  You may still need to dip in luke warm water to help ease it off.  Once you have the ice cooler out of the container store it in the freezer until ready to set on your bar.

Important Tips:

When setting the ice cooler out on your bar, set it in a shallow dish or tray that is lined with a small towel.  This will prevent the icey base from slipping around on the dish, as well as help contain the melting ice.  Under normal home temperatures this should last a few hours. 

If you would like to use the ice cooler for white wine or other cold drink, just insert an empty bottle (wine bottle or other decorative bottle) into the 3-liter container and follow the same steps.  You can add your beverage to the empty bottle inside (using a funnel) after the cooler is frozen.   

Creating Your Holiday Bar

If there's one thing you can count on at a party, it's the fact that everyone will make their way to the bar for a refreshing beverage.  Setting a festive display and adding a few special details is simple with these ideas and tips. 

I decided to design a bar that would coordinate with my Cocktails & Cheers party.  By following the same color scheme and incorporating the felt circle swag & other circle/dot details, the look is modern and whimsical.  

I began by setting up a card table and covering it with a fabulous fitted table cover from TableVogue.  

• My first tip is to serve juice mixers in pitchers, bottles, or other decanter.  This looks so much nicer than having all types of commercial containers on the table. 
• For soda mixers, I like to set out smaller size cans or bottles.  This way you can store the extras for later, instead of throwing out a half empty 2-liter.
• A little detail to add to your ice bucket is to freeze ice cubes in silicone trays with fun shapes.  I used a star shape for this party and added a cranberry to some while keeping others plain.
• I also like to have a savory snack on the bar.  It's nice to have little nibbles while your getting your cocktail or chatting with someone.  I made spicy nuts for this table and am sharing the recipe for this slightly sweet, slightly spicy snack here.  Other good choices are chex mix or flavored popcorn.

 

• My next tip is to add some type of glass garnish whether it's a wedge of lime, a sugar rimmed edge, or in this case, a mini candy cane hanging off the side.  Everyone loves this thoughtful touch.
• Round up your items in trays for an arrangement that looks neat and deliberate.  It also helps contain spills or drips.  
• Adding playful or humorous cocktail napkins is one of my favorite ways to incorporate personality, and can even help generate conversation.
• Keeping your liquor choices to the basics can keep your budget in check as well as being a space saver.  I find that bourbon, vodka, and rum usually satisfy most tastes.  For extra options I like to add in a flavored rum such as coconut or spiced rum.  All these liquors can be mixed with the same sodas or juices, again minimizing your space and cost.
• One of my favorite 'special occasion' projects is making an ice cooler.  It's an impressive presentation but is simple to prepare - you just need a couple of days for freezing.  The one I made here holds vodka but you can also make them to hold white wine.  You can see the tutorial for the ice cooler here.  

 I hope these tips will help you organize your next bar set-up.  And check out the TableVogue site for more on their fantastic fitted table coverings. The quality is wonderful and the fit is perfect!

CHEERS!

Cookie Cocktails {Guest Blogger}

Hello Celebrations at Home readers! This is Carrie from Half Baked - The Cake Blog and I cannot tell you how excited I am to be guest blogging for Chris today. Celebrations at Home is one of my daily reads, so I am just thrilled to be here! In case you're not familiar, Half Baked is my blog where we chat about sweet events and sweet treats. That means we cover everything from birthday parties to weddings and showers. You'll find hot new dessert tables, the latest cake designs, cupcakes, cookies, cocktails and more! Speaking of cookies and cocktails...

Have you ever wondered if Santa gets tired of milk and cookies? Maybe after centuries of cookies he'd like something a little more interesting. Something new to spice things up! After all, he has a long night of delivering presents across the globe. This will be the first year Santa makes a visit to our little girl and maybe she’ll be a sweet baby and leave Santa one of these delicious cookie cocktails. Classic cookie inspired drinks make for a very Merry Christmas!

 

Chocolate Peppermint Cookie:

3/4oz Partida Blanco Tequila

1oz Peppermint Schnapps

3/4oz Godiva Liqueur

1-1/2oz cream

Chocolate syrup and candy canes for garnish

Rim martini glass with chocolate syrup and crushed candy canes. Shake ingredients in a shaker with ice and strain into martini glass.

Toasted Macaroon:

1 oz Coconut Milk

1-1/2oz Coconut Rum

1/4oz Licor 43

1/2oz Partida Blanco Tequila

1/2oz Frangelico

Combine ingredients in a shaker and shake with ice. Strain into a glass filled with ice and garnish with toasted coconut shavings on top.

A special thank you to Chris for the opportunity to share with you today! And thanks to our friends at Partida Tequila for sharing these delicious and creative Cookie Cocktails to make our holidays festive! Be sure to come visit us at Half Baked to find the Snickerdoodle, Sugar Cookie and Seven Layer Cookie recipes. Happy Sipping!

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Thank You, Carrie for you fantastic post!  If you have an idea you'd like to share with Celebrations At Home, email me at cdnease1@yahoo.com

Berries & Branches Winter Party

This gorgeous party was sent in by Rene of Rene Takes the Cake, and is a fine example of a holiday party that doesn't "scream" Christmas.  It is wonderfully appropriate for any social gathering all throughout the Winter months with it's Berries & Branches motif! 

This soiree was a wine & cheese theme and served up delicious dishes based on berries, wine, and/or cheese.  The modern print table runners from HomeGoods are such a great base and there's no need to put them away after December 25.  Even the vases of berry branches can sit out until Spring.   I love the detail of the mirror appliques too, cut out by the Silhouette machine.

The yummy dessert table is accented by lovely printables from Love The Day, and consists of Red Velvet Cupcakes w/cream cheese frosting, Cranberry Coconut Macaroons, Goat Cheese Truffles, Peppermint and Cream Cheese Cake Pops, and various Candies.  Homemade Peppermint Bark was given as a take home favor.

For a more savory palette Rene served Assorted Cheeses and Crackers, Bruschetta with Pears, Goat Cheese and Honey, Brie en Croute, and 3-Cheese Artichoke Dip.  I absolutely love when a theme is carried out in the food, and the beautiful Sangria finishes it all off wonderfully!

Thank you for sharing this fantastic party with us Rene.  Cheers!

Photography by Liz Hough Photography

Kids Candy Coated Christmas Party

Are you ready for some inspiration for a kids Christmas party?  If you're like me, the kids will be out of school for the next week leading up to Christmas and you'll need something to entertain them, right?  This may just inspire you - I hosted a small gathering for my kids and a couple of friends.  We called it a "Candy Coated Christmas Party" because it was all about sweet decor, and decorating their own "Christmas Trees" (ice cream cones), and cupcakes. 
(click photos to view larger)

Each child had a place set with personalized aprons, "snowman" milk bottles, and candy cane napkin rings with a decorated cookie on a stick.  They had their own dish of icing to cover the cones and cupcakes, and plenty of candy toppings to add on top.  White cotton candy was the perfect "snow", while powdered donut holes were the perfect "snow balls."

The centerpiece was a trio of trees I made by hot gluing candy to white foam cones.  Adding ribbons to the top, and cotton candy for a snow-covered base finished it off perfectly.  Candy bouquets were made by filling a vase with foam to securely hold candy canes, lollipops, and cookies on a stick.

After the kids decorated their food items, they played outside in the (barely there) snow.  Hot chocolate was waiting to warm them up, with a snowman Peep on the side.  This is the time they were able to write their letters to Santa using the adorable free printables from The Two Savvy Sisters.
There were plenty of treats to take home in their 'take-out' boxes, as well as the personalized aprons.  They all had a great time, and needless to say my kids didn't have an appetite for dinner that night!

Check out scenes from the party below: