It's Beginning to Look A lot Like Christmas

I'm sitting here looking out of my kitchen window at 50 foot pine trees blanketed in snow. It still falling steadily and I feel truly surrounded by this wintry wonderland and I must say it really helps to get one into the Christmas spirit as I listen to Vince Guaraldi Trio Holiday radio on Pandora. The only downside to this beautiful weather is that it has caused us to postpone our family Christmas party tonight. It is a Christmas tradition that my entire family looks forward to all year, it is filled with food, family and fun. C'est la vie! We will have the party in a few days when the weather clears up and the roads are not so treacherous!

So here I am at home with nothing to do! (ha!) My plan is to spend the next two days sifting through all of my magazine clippings, photos and interesting new design discoveries so that come the new year I have a ton of great ideas to share with you! I also think I might cook something delicious for dinner & make a few more batches of cookies.

Until I post again, enjoy my photos of our first big snow of the winter!

Merry Christmas

Overwhelmed with Christmas Spirit

I feel like I have abandoned you! I have been so busy in the last week getting ready for the impending holidays and on top of it all my cute little macintosh computer is having some major issues. It has decided that I should get a new computer for Christmas! So there goes my savings account!

Anyway, my cards are mailed cookies baked and presents are wrapped. I can't believe Christmas is only a week away and I really can't wait until I am free of work for a few days!

On Sunday I had a couple of girlfriends over for a Christmas cookie baking party. It was a ton of fun and so simple to throw together last minute. I served a delicious eggnog complete with Irish Whiskey, an assortment of cheeses and veggies and a friend made a fabulous Cidercar drink!

Here are some photos of what I have been up too!

Eggnog is so delicious. Check Martha's reciepe here.

The infamous kitchenaid mixer. A must have!

My Christmas wrapping! The brown paper came from my office and the cute birdy paper from Paper Source, so economical. For other wrapping ideas go here!



We made Gingerbread houses at work.
Being architects we went all out, yellow snow and all!

Our completed rustic cabin. For more gingerbread construction ideas you should buy the book The Gingerbread Architect

A very talented colleauge recreated a famous SOM building in gingerbread.
The Airforce Academy Chapel in Colorado Springs.

Fill You Home with Holiday Smells

My favorite thing about Christmas are all of the wonderful smells that seem to fill the home around the holidays. From the fresh pine tree, sugar cookies and cinnamon baking in the oven and the woody smell of a log burning fire. All of these smells remind me of friends and family and being together during this special time of year.

One of my favorite things to make that really brings the best of holiday scents together are traditional Orange Pomander Balls. These decorative balls have a long history dating back to the 15th century when they were used to freshen closets or drawers. Even queens wore pomander balls on their wrists so that a wonderful aroma would follow them around. I like to make a half dozen of these and sit them in a beautiful bowl or add a ribbon and hang them from the most unexpected places~

I must admit, I haven't made my pomander balls yet so this picture is from one of my favorite blogs Habitually Chic

You can made your own gorgeous holiday aromatic using oranges, and whole cloves. Here are some simple directions.

Cocktail Party Part Deux

Okay, so hopefully you read my previous post where I mused about becoming the hostess of the century, throwing lavish parties and pulling together casual soirees with the flick of my wrist at a moments notice.  But seriously, we should continue where I left off. 

I hope you have set up and stocked your holiday bar by now with all of the essentials.  Now you need to serve those cocktails.  There are all sorts of rules and thoughts about what glasses are appropriate for each type of drink but I don't think it needs to be all that complicated.  You should own, at a minimum, some all purpose wine glasses (about 12), some low tumbler glasses (old-fashioned glass), taller high ball glasses, beer glasses (pint) and if you want some cocktail glasses.  

I was out shopping the other day and I went into The Hour Shop  in Old Town Alexandria, VA.  They sell a great assortment of vintage & new bar ware, glasses, trays, tools, etc.  This would be a fabulous place to pick up a gift for that hostess / friend who has everything.  I would relish anything from this store (hint, hint)!  

So back to your spectacular party, no bar is complete without the tools to make your lovely libations.  A beautiful bar set makes another great gift and is essential to the home bartender.  However, buyer beware, this is an area where you may want to splurge for something that is well made and will stand up to heavy use!  I trust almost anything Williams-Sonoma sells so I am recommending these bar tools and this shaker.   I am also partial to Design Within Reach so I would recommend this as well. 

Okay so your all set, right?!  Well if you are anything like me you are wondering what drinks to serve and how to make them.  I suggest that if having a small intimate party with friends you let them mix their own drinks, if your bar is well appointed then they should have no problem finding everything they need.  If you are having a larger party you may want to help serve drinks.  For this I would suggest picking one or two signature drinks of the evening and mastering these, before the party.  You could even let everyone know what you are planning to serve on the invitation, "Come Celebrate with Merry Christmas Manhattans."  There are about a million cocktail recipes I couldn't possibly begin to scratch the surface but according to the website Art of Manliness these are the top 5 classic cocktails that every man (and woman) should know how to make.

Riedel "O" Trio Wine Tumblers- 

These are great for red wine, when shopping for wine glasses pick something that is all purpose.

Set of 3, $30.00

Pottery Barn Essentials Wine Glasses 

These are great all purpose wine glasses.  Another important wine glass feature is the thickness of the lip, the thinner the lip the finer the glass and the more enjoyable to drink out of.

Pottery Barn Set of 8, $49.00

Crate & Barrel High-ball and Old-Fashioned Glass

A high ball glass is used for drinks with a liquor base and a larger proportion of a non-alcoholic mixer (think gin & tonic or jack & coke).  An old fashioned or low ball glass is a tumbler used for drinks on the rocks (with ice)

$6.95 each

Williams - Sonoma Dorset Highball and Old Fashioned Glasses

These have great styling and have a very hefty weight to them.

Highball Set of 4, $88.00  Double Old Fashioned Set of 4, $72.00

Pottery Barn - PB Classic Stemware Martini Glass

This cocktail glass, often called a martini glass has classic proportions.

Set of 6, $21.00

Pottery Barn - British Pint Glass

I absolutely love this pint glass, it has the measurement markings that are required by law in all British pubs!

Set of 6, $28.00

Happy Thanksgiving

Good Morning! I hope everyone is at home with family and friends, baking pies and watching the Macy's Day Parade.
Last night we made REAL homemade pumpkin pie, with fresh pumpkin and homemade crust. We haven't tried it yet but it smells delicious!

Cooked Pumpkins

Pumpkin Puree

Canned Pumpkin or Beautiful Pumpkin Puree- Pick One!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Baking Bonanza

I spent the weekend searching antique stores and baking! Two of my most favorite things to do. I decided I had better start getting all of my holiday recipes under control and start testing out any new recipes that I want to add to my repertoire. Yesterday I made a pumpkin roulade with marscarpone butter cream filling, which is delicious. Its a great alternative to a pumpkin pie.

You can find the recipe here

I also made these amazing Chewy Molasses Cookies from Martha Stewart. They turned out crunchy and chewy at the same time and are not too molasses-y but just right! I think I am going to make these along with my traditional Snowballs (aka Russian Tea Cakes) and either a Chocolate Crinkle Cookie or Snicker doodle. So while I was baking I got to thinking about how to package all of these delectable treats. There are so many great, inexpensive ways to present your holiday gifts I had to share a few with you.

These are my Chewy Molasses Cookies packaged in a mason jar!

You can find most of these gift packaging ideas at Martha Stewart

The Cocktail Party

Picture this....in a by gone era couples gather casually in each other's living rooms or front yards in their suburban neighborhoods, drinks in hand to gossip about the neighbors or compare golf scores.

Now I'm not advocating we all move to the suburbs, start a family, get dogs and start the inevitable heavy drinking - but I am advocating the return of the cocktail and the cocktail party. I often contemplate what it would have been like to live in the early 60's a la Mad Men. Would I have been a chic housewife like Betty or a working woman like Joan? Regardless of my career situation, my 60's fantasy always includes me as the ultimate hostess at my very own cocktail party. Dutifully freshening guests' drinks while laughing at witty stories among friends.

My 60's bar, complete with cigarettes and spam.

Then I snap out of it and wonder why young people don't get together in this way as frequently anymore? In this age of cell phones, text messaging & twitter updates are we just too busy to commit to something as concrete as (oh no!!) a relaxed evening with friends? Does it always have to be "hey, I might stop by so and sos bar tonight, if I'm not too overbooked that is."

Why don't you start a new tradition with your friends. Invite everyone over for casual cocktails on a tuesday night, or make it an event on a Saturday. All you have to do is create the perfect bar and set the mood. In the next couple weeks I'll post about all of the essentially for hosting a fabulous cocktail party! But if you need immediate advice don't hesitate to call.

Setting Up Your Bar

- Designate a bar area: you don't have to have a real bar but having everything you need in a beautiful set-up will make your like easier and impress your guests. A side table or even an area on your bookshelf could work well.

- Stock your bar with all the essentials. This is an investment to be sure, but you will be able to host plenty of small gatherings with this supply. Also, you could always ask your guests to bring something to share.

I love the idea of putting all the liquors in a large low basket. It keeps everything organized and can be a year round accessory.

Bar Essentials List:

Liquor

blended whiskey
sour mash whiskey
bourbon
brandy
champagne
gin
vodka
tequila
vermouth (dry & sweet)
scotch
rum
liqueures (coffee, orange, cherry)
sherry (dry & sweet)

Mixers

tonic
club soda
ginger ale
cola
fruit juice (pineapple, orange)
bottled water
sparkling water

A beautiful summery bar.

I picture this bar surrounded by deep chestnut leather sofas and a crackling fireplace.

Stay Tuned for Cocktail Parties Part II