Twas the Night Before Christmas....

Twas the night before Christmas and all through my house, we are waiting

for Santa and killing time before we leave our house ( heading off to midnight mass)....it's kinda quiet this Christmas eve so thought I would post a few thoughts as the Christmas tree lights twinkle in the background.

Rain, rain, rain, rain. It seemed like it would never stop. But eventually it did. Life does not stop because of a little, OK, a lot of rain. The rainy days made for a good excuse to not go anywhere, stay home and get caught up on my sewing. My sewing machine got lots of use over those 5 rainy days. Lots of pillow shams.

Designed and sewed new place mats with a one sided ruffle. Look for these at upcoming shows.

After I sewed the place mats, I decided they would make great Xmas gifts for a few of my friends.

I added a personal touch to the ones I gave as gifts and put a monogram in the corner.

With Christmas just hours away, here is a peek at a few vintage vignettes that I decked the halls in my home with. Soon they will be packed away for another year….

My pink Christmas tree. This vintage treasure is always placed on my kitchen counter and decorated with pink vintage Christmas ornaments that I’ve collected over the years. I bought this pink tree about 7 years ago at the Irvine Flea Market (long before pink trees were everywhere) and I remember it was $20. I tried to get it for $15 and walked away when she said she was firm at $20. Then I came to my senses and went back and purchased it. So so glad I did. I love it.

I also bring out this tree for Valentines day and Easter. And to think, I almost missed out on buying it!

These handmade children’s stockings are new to my home this year…$1 each at a flea market in Texas. Love them.

I so credit Eloise Medina for so inspiring me to create my own Christmas cloche after seeing hers at her Holiday boutique.

My new vintage Santa…a gift this year. I’ve dubbed him the “Doing the Happy Dance” Santa.

And with that I close with "Merry Christmas to all and to all a Good Night!"

A wonderful life indeed

Every year, I look forward to my December date with George Baily...aka..Jimmy Steward. It just wouldn’t be Christmas without a feature showing of “It’s A Wonderful Life”. The perfect holiday evening for me is having a fire in the fireplace, cuddling up with a blanket on the sofa while enjoying a cup of peppermint hot chocolate and watching “It’s A Wonderful Life”. Ahhhh, the perfect evening.

Unfortunately, with the 80 degree weather we experienced at Rosebowl yesterday, “dreaming” of a white Christmas is what I’ll probably be doing. If the weather doesn’t get cooler - I may just have to settle for watching It’s A Wonderful Life, without a fire, blanket or peppermint hot chocolate.

Have you ever had the William Sonoma Peppermint Hot Chocolate? Their peppermint hot chocolate makes a wonderful hostess gift to give when you attend a party, but if you want to really WOW people…make some homemade marshmallows to go with it.

Believe it or not, Ina Gartner’s marshmallow recipe in her Family Style cookbook is really easy to make. The key is to use lots of powdered sugar when molding the marshmallows into the dish!!! If possible use a Pyrex glass dish. I’m probably going to make some within the next week, so I’ll try to post photos.

For years, I thought it would be so fun to work at William Sonoma. So several years ago, I applied and got a job there during the holidays. I loved it and was thrilled to put on my official green apron. They asked me to stay on after Christmas, but there was one really SERIOUS problem. I spent way more than I made so I declined to stay on.

Here is another peppermint yummy - Every Christmas I make peppermint chocolate chip cookies….so gooood. Just follow any homemade cc cookie recipe (I use the Better Homes recipe.) and add crushed up peppermint candy canes to the recipe.

Holiday wreaths are such an individual and personal choice.

We always hang a fresh wreath on our front door.

Here are few wreaths that caught my eye.

I LOVE THIS PAPER WREATH! Wish I knew how to make it. If you do, please share!

CONGRATULATIONS to Rosemary, rosespetitemaison.blogspot.com, She was the winner of my holiday tea towel and Believe charm give away. Always leave a comment below in the comment link …you never know if you will be randomly selected for a thank you favor.