Merry Christmas!

The celebration has begun!  

And the feasting... 
Have a very Merry Christmas!!

May the peace and the joy of the season be with you and yours!!

Tablescape Thursday

I am doing this tablescape in memory of my Great Aunt Rita.  She would invite my family to her home every year after Christmas but before New Years for a beautiful candlelight dinner.  Aunt Rita pulled out all the stops, just like you tablescapers.  She would use her best china, crystal, and silver.  It was just magic to dine like that.  I always enjoyed so much visiting her and having that annual dinner invitation.  Memories like that are what the holidays are for.

I created just one place setting and a centerpiece.  Please join Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for her 70th Tablescape Thursday and enjoy all the tablescapes everyone has posted.

 

China- Imperial China- Whitney

Silver- Gorham-English Gadroon

Pewter- Wilton Armetale

Goblet & Wine- thrift store

Cakestand- Ebay

Recycled candle light- Recycled candle jar post

 

The First Christmas Cards

We have been receiving Christmas cards each day and usually do right up until the New Year. Did you ever wonder how long people have been exchanging Christmas cards?  The originals were actually postcards.  In the 19th century, a new railway system made the postal service the century's communication revolution.  The custom of sending Christmas cards started in the 1840's when the first Penny Post deliveries began.  Christmas cards were soon produced in large numbers from about 1860.  This postcard is from my collection and it dates from the early 1900's. 

Ten Things I Can't Live Without At La Dolce Vita

The beautiful Paloma of La Dolce Vita has asked me to join in on her "Ten Things I Can't Live Without" series.  You can check it out here

Right now I'm at the hospital for Baby #2.  And my husband will keep you posted!  Have a very Merry Christmas!!!!! 

xoxoxo

Lauren (David typing)

Peanut Butter Christmas Cookies in the Kitchen!

This year we had so much fun baking Christmas cookies!  Christian is at an age (2 1/2) where he loves helping & doing projects.  Our kitchen's working really well for us...

...  and as you can see from the pics below, Christian was THRILLED   to help bake cookies for our friends. (when we were rolling the cookies into balls he couldn't stop giggling)

 

Here he is below with the peanut butter cookies all laid out in nice rows, waiting patiently after being told he STILL can't eat them...

And finally, our work paid off!!!  (We have a HUGE stock of Hershey bars in the pantry from s'more season leftover so we used chocolate bar pieces instead of hershey kisses.)  And mm mm mm!!  We gave out the cookies to family friends and of course had to keep a few for ourselves ;)  It's the little simple things about Christmas that make it so special & fun. 

We had a huge snowstorm here in Northern Virginia this weekend & school's been cancelled, so my husband is totally OFF for Christmas now!!  Still no baby but I'll keep you posted!!  Wishing you all a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS & Happy Holidays!!!

xoxo,

lauren

Mosaic Monday

I am once again joining Mary over at Little Red House for Mosaic Monday.  Please go over to her site and view all the lovely mosaics.  I have been in the kitchen, so I focused this mosaic on food and entertaining.  Thank you for viewing my mosaic.  If you are interested in how to do this mosaic Mary has a tutorial in how to make them. 

One More Decorating Idea

If you have ribbon streamed off of decorations somewhere in your home, try pinning some of your favorite Christmas cards to it.  It gives the display more appeal and you can enjoy some of those really pretty cards.  I have pinned my cards with quilting pins.  

Enjoy your weekend Christmas is almost here!