Now that Thanksgiving is behind us…!
My Favorite Holiday Decor.
CHRISTMAS BELLS (SIMILAR TO THOSE SEEN ABOVE — TIE TO A WREATH!)
MINI FLOCKED TREE ($3!!! — BOUGHT ONE FOR MINI’S ROOM!)
MINI PRESERVED BOXWOOD WREATHS (TIE WITH A HUGE SATIN RIBBON AND HANG OVER THE BACK OF A DINING CHAIR OR IN A WINDOW!)
LOVE THE IDEA OF CREATING A LITTLE VILLAGE ON A MANTLETOP — ADORE THESE, THESE, OR THESE
JULISKA COUNTRY ESTATE TABLE SETTING (LOOK FOR LESS WITH THIS)
NYC TAXI ORNAMENT (<<I GIVE MR. MAGPIE A NEW ORNAMENT EVERY YEAR; THIS WAS LAST YEAR’S!)
ANY OF THE HOLIDAY ARRANGEMENTS FROM FARMGIRL FLOWERS! <<HAVE HAD THE BEST EXPERIENCES WITH THEM; SO IMPRESSED
I also set out a peg doll nativity set and an advent calendar for mini. I like to leave her a very small surprise in the advent calendar every day leading up to Christmas — sometimes a box of raisins or a lollipop and other times something a little bigger, like a scribble scrubbie or book. We have this advent calendar, and I like its unfussy straightforwardness, but it is really small and so I often have to prop her “surprise” up on the floor. I would like to upgrade to something larger like this or this next year.
Christmas Books for Little Ones.
Christmas Baking.
I shared two of my favorite holiday recipes — pecan bars and sugar cookies — here, and a couple of my favorite ideas for Christmas morning breakfast here. I also want to share a treasured cookie recipe from my Italian grandmother, who made these every Christmas Eve, and now my mother and youngest sister maintain the tradition. I am certain I will also carry it forward with mini the first year we spend away from my parents. They are buttery pockets of dough filled with apricot jam that are actually making my mouth water as I type this. We always simply called these “Horns” in our home, owing to their shape, but I am sure there is an elegant Italian name for them…
Christmas Horns
Work 3 tablespoons sugar into 5 cups flour and add 1 pound butter. Mix in ½ cup sour cream and 2 dry yeast packets. Add 3 beaten egg yolks and two tablespoons vinegar. Knead. Store in fridge over night. Shape dough and roll in circles. Fill with 1 tablespoon apricot jam and roll like crescents. Brush with beaten egg white and sprinkle with chopped walnuts. Bake 15-20 minutes at 350 and sprinkle heavily with powdered sugar.
What to Wear on Christmas.
I’ll probably share some alternative thoughts for less-dressy options, but here’s what I’m eyeing (several items already purchased!):
TARTAN FLOUNCE DRESS (UNDER $100!!!)
CECILIE BAHNSEN VIBES FOR $120
P.S. Gifts for loved ones and gifts for toddlers.