All is Pretty

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Christmas Cookies II

I don't want to see another cookie for a very long time, BUT I thought I would show you what I made this year. I made eight different kinds, and that was kind of insane! Next year I would only make the peanut butter buckeyes, cocoa balls (maybe), peanut butter chocolate chip, and shortbread. I gave a lot away though, and the majority went to my husbands work where they all loved them.

Peanut Butter Buckeyes - An Ohio Tradition

Peanut Butter Buckeyes - An Ohio Tradition

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies - Magnolia Bakery Recipe

Oatmeal Health Hazelnut Chocolate Chip Cookies - Giada De Laurentis Recipe

Cocoa Balls

Coconut Macaroons

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Christmas Decorating Continued

I enjoy collecting things. I think I always have. As a kid I collected Holiday Barbies (they are all still unopened in their boxes, maybe I can sell on ebay in 20 years!), pins from musicals I saw, postcards, seashells, and who knows what else.

I don't collect a lot these days but I do like collecting ornaments. Specifically unique Santa Claus ornaments. My Mom and Aunts all have more than one tree and my Mom's special tree is an Angel Tree, my Aunt April's is an all Snowman tree and my Aunt Pam has a wine/purple tree. My Mom also has a Gingerbread tree in her kitchen. So I decided my thing would be Santa Clauses, one day when I have a bigger house and more trees I will have a tree that is solely Santa ornaments. Here is my Santa collection so far:

Santa on a Vespa is fun!

I would also like to have a small tree with ornaments from around the world. I have a few from Scotland, Canada and Florida. I got this idea this year when I found some pretty ornaments at World Market:

The Scottish Nutcracker is also new from World Market.

Etsy

Also this cute gnome from E tsy this year.

I also got these "picks" from Sam's Club yesterday to help fill in. A set of 24 for $10.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Stunning Decorating Ideas

All I can say about the below video is WOW!! It makes me want to redo my tree. The more ornaments the better! The video is a tad slow, but you can skip through. She shows three trees and I really love her mantlepieces. Great ideas!

Monday, December 13, 2010

Christmas Lights & Traditions

I am big on traditions, especially around the holidays.
For one my husband and I drive around every year for a couple hours looking at all the lights (see video below). We grab some coffee and take our time. Just a fun way to get into the Christmas spirit. Something that my parents did when we were kids, that now Tom and I do. The street we used to go to as kids is still somewhat decorated, but not nearly as fantastic as when we were kids and the line of cars would wrap around the streets waiting to go down this one specific cul-de-sac.

Another tradition was to walk two doors over to my Aunt's house on Christmas morning for breakfast and to see what toys her kids got. As we grow older though, traditions can change. So last year my parents, husband and I went to my brother's house instead for breakfast and to see my niece open her presents. Not the same, but just as good in a new way!

I also have to watch certain movies at Christmas time: Home Alone, The Holiday and an old black and white one, A Holiday Affair.

My family also does a "round robin". We basically start at one house, spend about 45 minutes there admiring the tree and eating an appetizer and having one drink. Then we go on to the next house, about 5-6 houses that night. We are doing that next Saturday and I will be sure to do a post on the food served and everyone's tree!

What traditions do you try to keep during this time of year?

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Christmas Decorating

I love Christmas, and I love decorations. What's your decorating style? Over the top like my Mom's, or sparce, or somewhere in between? I think I'm in between.

We have a fake tree, which really made me sad when my family first got one as a teen, BUT we get to put it up before Thanksgiving and keep it up through Jan 8th, which is something you can't do with a real tree. There's also something really sad about using a real tree for a month and then it gets tossed out. :( Our tree is pre-lit which is awesome, and it has a remote which can change the tree to all multi colored lights, or all white/clear lights, or both. We usually keep it on both.

With all lights on.

With only the white/clear lights on, totally changes it.

I would love to have a table full of nutcrackers one day.
So far I have two. Santa with the bagpipes is also hanging out
on the mantle.

Russian Nesting Dolls and a Bagpipe Playing Snowman

I have an album of just Christmas photos from over the
years that I put out at this time of year.

My red dining room is perfect at this time of year!

I've wanted snowflake curtain lights for a long time.
Only Ikea seems to have them, and I am 2 hours from an Ikea.
Found them on ebay for $10. LOVE.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

November Favorites

What were your favorite products/items from last month?

Clinique Redness Solutions Foundation -
I had a sample of this in a magazine and I was hooked.
It really helps with my redness on my nose and chin from rosacea.

Buxom Lash Mascara -
I received this with my Sephora rewards points and I am impressed.
What I notice the most is that is separates my lashes and makes them longer.
I wish it was blacker though. I tend to go for carbon black in L'Oreal mascaras, which is BLACK.

Smashbox O-Gloss -
This was an old favorite of mine that I am rediscovering.
It works with your skin chemistry to give you a unique shade.
On me it is a berry shade, perfect for winter.