A Fireside Gathering

We've had quite a full weekend of gatherings - it's that time of the year. Christmas parties from work, a dessert open house with friends, and family dinners...

But one that was a little different the year was a simple get together in the afternoon with some friends.

We made a little fire pit in the back yard, set up a table with lots of festive drinks like hot cocoa for the kids (with all the fun toppings), eggnog, and warm apple cider, and had a tray of things for smores by the fire.

When it got too cold outside, we came in for big pot of soup, with bread and meat and cheese.

The night ended inside by the fire, with a glass of Port and a record playing in the background.

What kid doesn't want to make their own cup of cocoa with piles of marshmallows, peppermint sticks, and chocolate shavings? 

It's funny because most of us are in that young family stage. But usually, Christmas parties don't include the kids, or they have to go to bed when all the fun seems to be going on downstairs. But I've really tried to include them this year, and this party was actually fun for them. They loved it.

And for the adult party? We moved the TV to their bedroom, and they got to have a pajama party in their beds with Christmas popcorn. They didn't mind staying upstairs one bit! 

Today, as it's raining outside, and all hope for a White Christmas has been lost, I've been unpacking the last of my Christmas parcels that have arrived in the mail and am double checking my Christmas list before I finish up the last of my shopping.

Ps. That beautiful green table above? That is going to be my coffee table. It's a beautiful antique farm table that will be cut down and hopefully stripped, or, if I decide I prefer it, painted.

An Annual Cookie Exchange

This past weekend was my annual cookie exchange with my mom and sisters, aunts and cousins from my mom's side of the family.

We all bake half a dozen cookies for each person attending and a dozen to sample the night of. Then we enjoy eating the delicious assortment of cookies while sipping festive drinks like eggnog, mulled cider, cocoa, and tea.

It's a lovely way to spend an evening catching up.

And the best part? At the end of the evening you're left with dozens of different Christmas cookies and all your Christmas baking done! 

That Saturday morning I had popped out to something new and wonderful in my neighborhood. A Vintage Christmas market. Though I didn't find anything for myself this time, I did leave very inspired. There were some lovely vintage finds from Oliver and Rust, as usual, gorgeous flowers by Fleurish Design Studio, handmade soaps from Harmony and lots of other unique Christmas ideas from local vendors.

Needing something for the buffet and tables, I went from there to the shop to pick up a few cut flowers to make my own arrangement.

This little silver plated piece was found at a new thrift store in town, Renewed Thrift and Vintage. 

It was $1.

We've been making these little arrangements at the shop since we opened, and we love finding new things to create them in.

It was small, and fit just right on the buffet. It worked well with the silver plated tea and coffee pots.

I tied the leftover greens with some snipped Narcissus blooms for a small bouquet for the table.

The living room is almost finished for Christmas. I simply need to hang my garland on the hooks in the bay window and maybe add a few touches to the cabinet.

How delicious do these cookies look? I'm always amazed at what arrives each year. They're always different, and make a lovely assortment.

This year, I actually went to two different exchanges. For the first I made Buckeye Brownie Cookies; a brownie cookie bottom with a peanut butter ball on top, covered in chocolate and sea salt. The other was a Turtle Thumbprint; a chocolate cookie rolled in pecans, filled with caramel and drizzled with milk chocolate.

If you're interested, there's another Vintage Christmas Market happening the evening of December 11th from 6:30 until 9. The details will be posted on either the Fleurish or the Oliver and Rust website linked above.