CREATIVE CHRISTMAS BEVERAGE STATIONS

Merry Christmas everyone!
How is you decorating coming along?
Are you knee deep in ribbons and garland?
Today, I thought it may be fun to take a look
at some fabulous coffee and hot cocoa stations
all dressed up for the holidays!

We all have our favorite mugs that we enjoy
using for Christmas and these are some fabulous ways
to brighten up a space in your kitchen
as you welcome those you love home for Christmas!
All of these ideas were found on Pinterest!

This is so creative and festive....
of course the high end coffee/espresso machine
is accented with all the goodies and delights to add
to a hot cup of cocoa!
It's also fun to note that not all the mugs used here
are dedicated to a Christmas theme...it's the unexpected
that I love!

This one is Rae Dunn inspired and is a cute

little Gingerbread theme...wonderful use of tray too!

I adore vintage Santa mugs...if you own some of these....
put them out on display....totally adorable and a reminder
of an old-fashioned Christmas!

Be still my heart......
how adorable are the mugs????
Love the basic creamy white theme with the addition
of peppermint goodies....well done!

This is precious....love the basic white mugs in varying heights
and accented with springs of cedar and cinnamon sticks....
This has a real farmhouse vibe with the wooden crate and
old glass canisters....brilliant idea!

This is just plain sweet...nothing over the top

and what grandchild would not enjoy this little

tiered tray!

This design is great....the pops of red

against all the black must have been a joy to design and decorate...

I know I would love to see this in someone's home!

Whoever designed this little station is soooo creative....
they made great use of this small accent table....
bravo darling....it's too cute!

This space evokes feelings of Christmas past.....
the transferware and all the vintage pieces used....
I simply adore this!

I tell ya'...there are some creative people out there.....
this is beautiful and I love how they layered all the glass jars
with a little kitchen towel....it's just beautiful!

This beverage station features a lovely holiday cake....

perfect for guests or a book club gathering.....very classic!

I came away with a bit of inspiration..how about you?

I am excited to design my own and I hope you will share

your little beverage station with me....thanks for stopping by today!

Merry Christmas everyone!

ITALIAN SAUSAGE TORTELLINI SOUP and CHRISTMAS COOKIES

Good Morning Loves....
we are midway through the holiday season....
Thanksgiving was just delightful and we are
probably excited for Christmas day.....
I have a fabulous recipe for you today
and a fun baking idea you will want to try
with your grandchildren!



I did manage to capture this tiny bit of Autumn beauty
this morning...the sun was shining brightly
and our neighbors trees were just vibrant ...
we do not have a lot of foliage color, so this was rather special!

While we entertained Miss M and her family,
I tried this delicious soup recipe and just 
had to share it with y'all....it was two thumbs up 
from everyone....if I find a five star recipe,
you can count on me bringing it to you!

With cold, sometimes rainy weather days ahead,
this will warm you heart and your tummy!

ITALIAN SAUSAGE TORTELLINI SOUP

1-pound Italian sausage hot, mild or sweet

1 ½ cups chopped yellow onion

1 tablespoon minced fresh garlic

1 (32 ounce) container chicken broth 4 cups

1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes undrained

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

½ teaspoon black pepper freshly ground

1 bay leaf

1 (9 ounce) package refrigerated cheese tortellini

1 (5 ounce) package fresh baby spinach

¼ cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese optional garnish

 

Cook sausage and onions in a 6-quart Dutch oven or soup pot over medium high heat, crumbling sausage with a wooden spoon while it is cooking. Cook until sausage is browned, no longer pink and fully cooked.

Add garlic and cook until fragrant (about 30 seconds), stirring constantly.

Drain off excess fat.

Add chicken broth, diced tomatoes with juices, Italian seasoning, black pepper and bay leaf. Stir to combine and bring to a boil.

Add tortellini and return to a boil. Cook for 5 to 8 minutes, or until tortellini is almost tender, stirring occasionally.

Reduce heat to medium low and add spinach. Stir to combine. Cook an additional 2 minutes, or until spinach is wilted and tortellini is tender.

Remove and discard bay leaf.

Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese when serving, if desired.

I wanted to share some time with our Luke the Duke
and decided we would do an easy Christmas Cookie Bake....
it's not easy enticing a teen boy to come into the kitchen
and spend a few hours with his Grandma...but we had fun together 
for this particular afternoon.....

His part was simply placing the cookie dough evenly on the baking sheet.....

I actually placed the cookie doughs on top of each other
and they were delicious.....
if you are trying to think of a teen holiday activity...this was a winner!

Y'all enjoy!

THE THANKSGIVING GATHERING

THANKSGIVING 2022

What a blessing it was to celebrate Thanksgiving Day
with family...missing just two...Rob and Noah.....
Noah in Montana at college and Rob down in Austin
who would be traveling in on Friday evening.....
Luke was just a delight on his entire visit!

I have vowed to plan a visit to their house sometime in the spring of 2023...
it's simply too long in between visits..
The Divine Miss M and our Luke the Duke...now fourteen!

Thanksgiving requires a lot of planning, cleaning, preparation,
shopping and cooking!

But I think it's so worth the effort once a year, don't you agree?

The two tables worked beautifully for our gathering of twelve....
it was a house full along with three dogs playing in the midst of all the activity...
with a cool autumn rain falling outside.....

The Pumpkin pie was heavenly........

One of our appetizers was from Barefoot Contessa...
White Chocolate Bark with pistachios, cranberries and apricots..
highly recommend this!

The appetizers.....

Morning Mimosa's for all.....

The boys did it again...
smoked turkey and fried turkey...best ever!
We certainly enjoyed Jay this visit....just love him!!!

A masterpiece of goodness.....

The buffet line.....

Happy Thanksgiving to all......

And so it begins....

 

FIRESIDE COFFEE...PERFECT FOR THE HOLIDAYS

 

The holidays are here y'all!
It's time to celebrate the season of glad tidings and
goodwill toward others!
Today, I am sharing a scrumptious beverage that
you can make ahead to serve your family and guests
and maybe even consider giving small batches of this mix
as gifts which would be delightful tucked inside a pretty coffee mug!

Find a pretty glass jar or container of your choice,
making sure it is airtight!
I added a pretty ribbon along with a festive tag!

You will need these ingredients, along with sugar.
The recipe is below...
FIRESIDE COFFEE for the holidays......

CHRISTMAS TRENDS FOR 2022

Hello there guys and dolls....
today....we are talking CHRISTMAS ideas for our home!
Do  you already have your theme chosen for this
most joyous and festive day of the year?
I found some favorites on Pinterest which
may put the spirit of Christmas in your hearts......

I don't know about you, but I LOVE STOCKINGS....

I have collected some darling ones over the years
and love each and every one of them,
but I use them with different decorating vignettes,
depending on the colors and theme I have chosen.

 

I think one of the most enjoyable areas to decorate for Christmas
is the fireplace mantel....
I never quite know how it will come together, 
but I know it will be the focal point for the family room
and we always, always enjoy the festive look.

Then there is the upstairs banister.....
I love to lace it with garland and lights so you
can see it from the outside and also as you enter our home...
this gives a very festive look!

How about bottlebrush trees?
I think they are essential to use in small vignettes,
however they seem to be rather pricey this year......

Oh the coastal Christmas trees.....
If you live in Florida or perhaps have
a sunporch, it would be delightful to have
soft blues and ornaments that remind you of
your love for all things oceanside.....

I love a huge REAL tree....the smell of pine,
hundreds of lights all aglow and treasured ornaments
from the past.....this is stunning isn't it?

And, don't overlook an understated smaller tree...
this look from Sincerely Marie is simple, but darling....
How cute to hang tiny stockings on the branches....

I adore this look....it's a primitive look and just charming.....

This tree is featuring the love of Rae Dunn....
I can see this is a family room with warm wood floors
and rustic décor..
I had no idea she made ribbon!!!

This tree is rather striking using all red ornaments
and the smart weave of the ribbon...
I feel it shows up very well on the tree......

Now, we see what gold accents kick up the drama on a tree
that featured bold reds in the ornaments and mixed
patterns of ribbon.....

Beautiful tree....
even though this tree is not flocked...
the use of cotton strips make it look
like a snowy tree found in the mountains...
a beautiful entry look....

I love, love, love the look of this tree...
first of all, I love the tree itself...
and the use of cream, and bronze ornaments....
it has an elegance to it.....

If you are a lover of the FARMHOUSE style,
this tree may be perfect for your vibe......

So, perhaps this gave you some ideas on your 2022 style...
visions of sugarplums are beginning to appear to me,
but not before we continue to enjoy the fall season
and gathering for Thanksgiving.....
it really is the most wonderful time of the year isn't it?

THANKSGIVING PREPARATIONS

Now...I just have to say this to y'all this morning....
what is going on with all the rush to skip over
Thanksgiving and push forward to Christmas?
My head is swimming with all the social media platforms
and so many buying Christmas décor right and left
then showing their homes fully decorated with
magazine worthy decorations!!! 

I did not grow up this way, nor have I ever

decorated for Christmas before the fall season 
came to a close and we celebrated Thanksgiving.
which happens to be our favorite holiday!

That being said, if you cannot wait for your
home to now reflect the Christmas season, then
do what brings you joy!
I will catch up with you in December and
hopefully, bring you some delightful posts
and recipes......

We will be hosting about twelve for this Thanksgiving and
I am preparing two tables to seat everyone comfortably....
The china has been washed, the crystal and silver have
been polished and the linens ironed and pressed....
Most of the menu has been bought and the serving dishes
have been selected and are ready for the buffet.
Family will be coming in at different times and a few
friends will be joining in the festivities this year
I am designing our second table with a bit of whimsy
and less formal look....it's going to be darling I think.....

I have shown y'all this sweet couple for years now....

they haven't missed a Thanksgiving for the past

thirty years....they came from the Gooseberry Patch days.....

I have a lovely autumn fruit garland which will
run the length of the table.....I love how rustic it looks....

This is the tablecloth I selected and I love it!

I also will be using white pumpkins and this luminaria was

purchased from Bath and Body Works back in the mid 1990's......

You can see how often I use this little candle....I have used it over and over again.....

I selected these napkins and napkin rings because I love the deep
fall colors they bring to the tablescape.....

And....I chose these placemats....
I bought these last year when they were on sale
from Hester and Cook.....
I think they are an unexpected bit of fun whimsy.....
I am really excited to see how this table comes together and
everyone may choose the table they wish to sit at......

I think we are expecting cold weather which is fine....
jut please no rain...THANKSGIVING DAY in Texas is
normally perfection.....

Then..comes round two....
our son works on Thanksgiving day in Austin,
so we hold a second round of celebration on Saturday...
I think I will be somewhat exhausted after this,
so I may be a tad late getting Christmas on display!
We have an out of town trip scheduled for the first
week in December celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary
therefore I am going to take my time as we enjoy this time away....

I know we are so excited for this day to get together and
celebrate as a family.....feeling blessed and thankful
and I wish this for each of you also....