"A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn."

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Time to party...in the snow!

Two weekends ago our house hosted our 3rd annual Christmas Party!  We shopped and backed until we couldn't anymore.

We had the invitations printed and sent out the week of Thanksgiving and planned our menu the next.  We  each decided to make three dishes for the party and split the cost of the paper goods.  If multiple people are throwing the party that's the easiest way to go!

If you're in the party planning mood or just want some yummy Christmas food here are a two new recipes I tried this year:

Eggnog Cupcakes with Bourbon Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting 
and  
Peppermint Mocha Cupcakes! 
(these turned out a little salty for my taste)

One roommate painstakingly created this gingerbread house.  It took her three days to make it and every kind of candy you can imagine!  This is the book where she found the blueprint and instructions: Gingerbread Architecture.  

And the best part of the party was the snow!

Right in the middle of our Christmas party, while we were all on the porch watching the Belhaven Singing Christmas Tree, snow started falling!!!  There were predictions all week, but being in Mississippi and being continually disappointed with no snow, we didn't quite believe them.  It was a small early Christmas miracle :)

Our "Narian" lamppost  in the snow!

My poor basil didn't make it inside in time...oh well, at least I made several recipes of pesto to put in the freezer a month ago. 

It's not the easiest to see in the dark, but the front of the house covered in snow with the Christmas lights was a beautiful sight! 

The snow fell all night and there were still remnants of some snowmen along our street for a few days.  
(That's a big deal in Mississippi)

And Around the Rest of the House....

Here is the rest of our Christmas decor!  Much is the same as last year, but we added the color red to our scheme this year instead of just green and white.  Who says you have to go all out every year with brand new ideas?  Not me!

The Mantle

I used the same moss wreath that I made last year, the same ribbon and  the "same" (it is fresh) Jackson vine as last year.  We each added red to our stockings -mine is the one with the ruffles :) I am particularly delighted about the glittered candles on the mantle.  I made them myself.   Here are the instructions.

The "chandelier" over the dining room table.

I was inspired by this picture in Pottery Barn.

I loved the look of this hanging from a light fixture, but we don't have a Pottery Barn in Mississippi and I didn't want to spend most of my decorating budget on a few large Christmas ornaments.

Solution: same ornaments as last year, fishing line and a bow.

*Sorry I didn't take many pictures of the construction*
With the help of my roommates I hung the ornaments (some individually and some tied together) from the arms of the light fixture with fishing line.

Then I took a smaller length of fishing line, wrapped it around all of the strands and the center of the fixture and tied it tight.  You can play around with the height of the knot and length of the strands to make "patterns" with the color of the ornaments.  Add a bow to the top at the knot and there you go!

The Front Door

Same garland and lights as last year, but this time I tucked in all the extra Jackson Vine* for a more lush look.

The wreath for is one I have used before, but the decorations are new.

I am not a fan of plastic ornaments AT ALL, but will use them outdoors in a heartbeat.  No one wants to worry about their wreath anytime the doors shuts.  I found these ornaments at the store and tied them in clusters with floral wire.  I then spaced them out on the wreath and tied them to the form.  The bow is made with ribbon from Hobby lobby - no surprise there :)

And that's all folks!

*Jackson Vine is the layman's term for Smilax smallii.

** For great bow-making instructions check out Martha's. 

Happy December...Let the Decorating Extravaganza begin!

I now have no shame in my Christmas Extravaganza.  And to be truthful, we put up most of the inside decor before Thanksgiving - the Christmas season just isn't long enough!

On Sunday afternoon there was a sight to see in our household.  Three girls (I, being one of them) managed to put up an 8 ft. Christmas Tree.  And no, we didn't break anything or hurt ourselves in the process.  I must say the key to our success was THE BEST CHRISTMAS TREE STAND EVER.  Here is a link so you can go buy one yourself.  It is made for trees that might have a crooked trunk, but is is super easy to use and I think I will use one forever more.  We did have to trim off two bottom branches with a hand saw, but that wasn't too much trouble.  

On Monday night we decorated it.  I have a vast collection or ornaments at my parents house and brought back all of my non-breakable ones for this tree (I'm a bit protective of my collection).  The roommates and I started the tradition of giving each other a small gift last year, which was really an ornament exchange and we continued it this year too.  

Here are the ones that were added to my collection this year.  

All of us  received this one from one roommate! - A picture of our house and the date.

Someone knows me well... War Eagle!

And this one isn't on my tree in Mississippi, but it's the one my mother gave me this year.  Ever since I moved to MS we have been looking for a magnolia ornament and this year she found one! 

Here is the a picture of our finished tree!  In the past we have decorated but never put up a tree and it really is wonderful to have one in the house.  In fact, I would rather not go anywhere this month and just sit in our living room.  

Oh Christmas Tree!

Each year Belhaven College (our neighbor) constructs a giant Christmas tree shaped stand in the middle of a field on campus.  On Friday and Saturday night of the first weekend in December the "tree" is covered in "angels" who sing Christmas carols for the enjoyment of on-lookers and neighbors.  It is the oldest singing Christmas Tree in the South and Southern Living though enough to write it up last year. 

The best part about the tree is that it is across the street from my house.  We can listen and watch the crowed from our front porch and if it's too cold, we can listen from inside.  We always have friends asking if they can park in our driveway or let their kids use the bathroom...we usually oblige :) 

If you're in Jackson this Christmas, or an other Christmas for that matter, try to stop by the tree - it will put you in the Christmas Spirit!