The Cookie Exchange: Part 1-Sugar Cookies

Do you have a cookie exchange this holiday season? Insert some *umph* into your cookies! Stick with a theme and don't be afraid to decorate the plate!

There are a couple options for ornament cookies: "Hang" the ornaments by drawing string with frosting from the ornament to the top of the plate! Or, outline the plate in the shape of a Christmas tree with green frosting!

Ornaments

Arrange Christmas tree cookies to look like a forest. Overlap a few and put dallops of frosting "snow" at the base of the trees.

Trees

Play Up Your Place Cards!

I received these place card holders as a gift, but usually don't hold parties formal enough to need place cards. My solution was to put reindeer names on each so the table setting looked formal, but was still fun!

Another fun option for place cards is to create a mystery game out of it! I found this website that lets you type in the first and last name of your guests and it will give you their elf name! http://www.jokesunlimited.com/christmas_elf_name.php Mine is Snappy Tum-Tums and my husband is Bijou Tum-Tums!!!

 

 

Decorate Your Christmas Tree Like a Professional!

Everyone has decorated a Christmas tree before. Whether you enjoy it or dread it, there are simple ways to make it beautiful. Turn some music on, dim the lights and get in the spirit of Christmas!

Start decorating your Christmas tree with lights. It's easiest to string the lights up and down the tree in a straight line, rather than wrapping them around the tree over and over like most people are taught. Secure the Christmas lights by wrapping it once around random branches about every 2 feet. All white lights look the best against colored ornaments, and colored lights looks great with all white or silver ornaments!

Next, wrap your Christmas tree with ribbon. Choose a ribbon in the main color you would like your tree to be, and make sure the color is compatible the majority of your ornaments. A deep red goes with most decor, and is festive and beautiful. Choosing ribbon that is slightly transparent and shines with a metallic or glitter accent will make your Christmas tree glow with magic. Insert sprigs of natural or faux elements to add interest to the branches.

Start decorating your Christmas tree with your largest ornaments first. I store all my Christmas ornaments by size and label the boxes so I know which boxes to start with. Insert your largest ornaments inside the tree, and arrange them to they hang naturally down, not obstructed by another branch. By putting them deeper into the tree, you are creating depth and color, without looking like you're overloading on ornaments.

Next, Place your brightest, most prominent mid-sized ornaments. Space them strategically so you have bright color evenly spread throughout the tree, and follow with mid-sized, more neutral ornaments such as gold and silver.

Lastly, place your smallest Christmas ornaments like crystals and icicles on the outer-most parts of the tree, as if the tree were dripping diamonds. (I love thinking that actually happens, like raining shoes.)

Something is still missing......

Bam.

Dress Up Your Desserts!

You've spent hours on creating(or buying) your masterpiece and can't wait to serve it! But how do you get the most "UMPH" out of your hard work? Impress your guests with these simple ways to spice up your sweets!

1. Embellish your desserts with molded chocolates!

Dove Discoveries

2. Embellish pies with these pie crust cutters!

Williams-Sonoma

3. Display your mousse or pudding in these chocolate cups!



Sugar Craft



4. Dress up your cake with truffles! This is the perfect option if you're low on time, creativity, or motivation!



Dove Discoveries



5. Don't under-estimate the drizzle! Drizzling desserts has to be the easiest, most impressive way to dress up your desserts. Drizzle with chocolate, caramel, butterscotch, berry, you name it! Want to really impress? Add words or designs to the plate.



Country Living



Design Your Season

I just LOVE Christmas! I would start my Christmas decor in October if it wasn't frowned upon! My husband thought I was crazy at first with all my Christmas decor, but he soon realized how happy it really made me. All week he has been tightening raindeer bolts, pulling things out of storage and hanging snowflakes(I think he secretly loves it ;) ). I just love discovering ornaments we bought on fun trips together, things we've made over the years, and those things with the fun stories attached to them that you will never forget!

I know I've said this before, but it's so important-

Decorating for the Holidays is not about changing your whole home, just making it a little more magical. Small additions here and there will transform a space into a magical wonderland! Here are some sneak peaks of my Christmas decor this year with a few pointers for your own space :)

Shimmer with silver, crystal and glass.

.

Create a glow with dramatic lighting.

Feel the spirit of Santa.

Sparkle with glitter.

Add a little winter in your Wonderland.

Add naturally formal elements such as feathers and fur.

If the kids would like to help.....

Let the kids help :)

Keep you current decor, just add to it!

Christmas is all about addition. Add family, add food, add sparkle, add tradition, add joy!

Be the Hostess with the Mostess

I recently went to someone's house for a party and was absolutely appalled-It was FILTHY! There were coloring books, markers, shoes, gift wrapping supplies, dirty dishes, you name it....all over the place..... I couldn't even pay attention to a conversation because I was just looking around at all the mess!!! Now most of us learned when we were young to clean up before we invite guests over, but here are a few things to make your guests feel extra special when they come to visit!

Place fresh flowers and candles in the bathroom and guest room. Make sure to place a lighter in a drawer that's easy to find.

Give your holiday guests the ultimate spa experience with some soft white bath robes and slippers-You can buy these very inexpensively at discount stores like TJ Maxx, Marshalls, or Tuesday Morning.

CLEAN THE BATHROOMS!!! Scrub the toilets, Windex the mirror, and get the grime out of the tub. Just do it!!! ;)

Place fresh, festive towels in the guest bath. Make sure you replace towels every couple of years. There's nothing worse than going to someone's house and knowing the towel you are using has been used for 20 years! Yuck!

Be one step ahead of your guests and think of anything they might ask for such as bottled water, travel sized deodorant, toothbrushes, etc., and put them together in a nice basket. Include some not-so-necessary necessities such as some hot chocolate packets and a bottle of wine like this one from Brides & Babies . Be sure to include mugs, wine glasses and a cork screw on a nice tray. If you frequently have overnight guests, consider buying an inexpensive coffee maker to leave in the room permanently. Guests will appreciate the freedom of when to rise and shine.

Last weekend my wonderful friends Brett and Stephanie hosted my husband and I for the weekend, and she had the cutest little basket waiting for us! It had fresh towels, every travel sized toiletry you can think of, and a hand written note from her, her husband, and her 5 month old little girl. It really made us feel extra special the moment we walked into the room! She really is the hostess with the mostess!

 

Trend Alert: The Peacock Feather

Although some may say they're bad luck, there's nothing quite like a peacock feather. Vibrant and intricate, yet still natural and mysterious. Distinct, yet versatile.

 Place Settings

The Party Dress

Arrangements
Southern Living

Invitations 

Kelly Kay Creative


Parties
Hostess with the Mostess

Home Decor
Surya

Holiday
HGTV

Food

Jo's Custom Cakes

Fashion

Paige Gamble

Flowers

Perfect Wedding Guide

Any way you present them, they're sure to draw attention!