Christmas Decorations

I have always been intrigued by tradition, especially at the holidays. Some of my favorites have to do with cooking and decorating. My mom's family is Italian, so Christmas day is all about the Italian feast. Antipasto, ravioli, stuffed shells, etc. It's an amazing tradition that I know myself and my sisters will carry on for the rest of our lives. It's just not Christmas without it. This year, our grandma gave us a lesson in making gnocchi, her specialty. It's one of several lessons over the years, but the first one I really remember. I must say, it's quite the task (spanning several hours), but it's definitely worth it.

As far as decorating, it's a tradition in my family to start decorating for Christmas on the Saturday after Thanksgiving... which usually means getting the real Christmas tree that day. Unfortunately, we get our tree late this year, but it still turned out wonderfully! In my parents' house over the last 15 years or so, we have had two Christmas trees. The "theme" tree in the living room that matches the decor in that room, and the "memory" tree that has all of our ornaments from growing up. I cannot wait to have two trees once our family is more than my husband and I, but for now, we have only a "theme" tree. Here's our tree this year:



My mom does a fabulous job decorating my parents' house - she changes out virtually everything. I love the different feel that it always gives, and I wanted to do something similar when I first moved into my own place. The colors that I chose for Christmas at my house a few years ago were silver, lime green, turquoise and navy blue. This year I decided to transition the house for Christmas, and I will keep these colors in the house through the Winter/early Spring. When it starts to get really hot (or just when I feel like changing), we will go back to the greens/purples/oranges that are typically for our general living space. This pillow below is one of two new pillows I got this year - I love the new addition to the house!


Another important aspect of Christmas to me is gift wrapping... I didn't go all out this year, but beautiful paper and pretty adornments are always important to me. These are just a few of the gifts that I have left to give this year!

Conclusion: I'm sad to put away the decorations this weekend, but at least I know the house will continue to have a little different feel going forward! What traditions does your family observe at the Holidays?

Stationery

I love stationery. I could spend days walking around stationery stores just marveling at the different papers, styles, colors, etc. Papyrus is especially inspiring to me - I love how they use glitter on everything! I was in Dallas last year visiting Kristin and while we were at the mall, I discovered Paper Source. Walking into the store, I felt this wave of creativity crash over me. At that point, I was the ultimate "kid in a candy store."

I have always loved paper, pictures, etc. As a result, I scrapbooked for a long time. I eventually got bored, but had all of the paper, accessories, adornments and glitters left over. Until that moment walking into Paper Source, these goodies remained dormant. Since I love stationery and the idea of mailing notes so much, I decided to start making it! I started small with a few notes, just to see how they came out. I bought some stamps and patterned cards, and then used some plain paper and jewels I already had.

When Michelle and Pete were planning their wedding, Michelle sent me the draft of her invitations, and their monogram was on them. So, unbeknowndst to her, I had a stamp made with their monogram. I bought some flat cards and decorated them all differently, but each had the same stamp on them. Although some turned out well, I didn't love all of them. But, again, I'm just starting...

My latest endeavor was lining envelopes. My sister just moved to San Diego, and I wanted to give her some new low-key stationery that had her first real address on it! So, I printed her name on flat cards and return addresses on the envelopes. I thought they were a little too plain, so I decided to line the envelopes. It was so easy, and it made all the difference.



Conclusion: I would love to start making stationery on a larger (and better) level, so when I get some time, that will by my new goal! It seems like a great gift-giving idea, doesn't it? (I guess it ties into the monogram post below as well)!

California Photography

In late September, Andy and I visited California with Andy's parents. We went to San Francisco, Sonoma Valley and Yosemite National Park. I love taking photographs, so here are some that I shot along the way. They aren't professional, but they are the best I can do with a normal digital camera!

View from the Native American History Museum in Yosemite.

El Capitan as a reflection in the stream on our bike ride (Yosemite).

Sun filtering through the giant sequoias (Yosemite).

Sculpture garden at Visitor's Center/Winery in Sonoma Valley.

Fog and Golden Gate Bridge after we crossed on the way to Sonoma.

Conclusion: Photography is a really great hobby! Not only does it help preserve the memories in your life, but it also gives you great subject to create wonderful projects with. Be proud of those pictures you take - frame and display them in your house! I am planning to create a wall of photographs in our office - one from each trip that my husband and I have taken together. Every time we enter the office, we will be reminded of all the wonderful trips we have taken and how lucky we are!

Monograms

When my husband and I got married, personalized monograms were just becoming popular. I missed the boat then, but had several friends who had them created for their own weddings later. I was inordinately jealous, so I had several created for us after the fact.

I have been using them to create stationery, calling cards, etc. I love the idea of bringing a bottle of wine to a friend's house with a monogrammed calling card attached, or throwing one in a gift when you have forgotten a card. How easy, right?

But, back to the whole wedding conversation... So many people are now having these monograms created and I figure, if they took the time to have it created, wouldn't they want something that they can use down the road with that monogram on it? After going through the whole wedding process, I am definitely one of those people that typically recommends a gift from the registry, even it's sheets or towels. Registries are the couples' way of telling you the things that they really want in their house, no matter how strange you feel giving it as a gift. I would have loved, however, to receive a gift with my monogram on it, had I gone out of my way to have it created. So, I have started giving gifts with monograms... whether it's a crystal champagne bucket with the monogram etched on it, or stationery made from a stamp I had created with another friend's monogram. The possibilities are endless!

These gifts don't just stop with wedding presents either... with the trend of naming children before they are born and having gifts personalized with that new name already, why not have a monogram for the baby created? If the parents already had one designed, order them a gift with that monogram on it!

Conclusion: monograms make gift-giving fun, especially if the recipient has put the effort into having one created!

PS - need a monogram created? Our pictures above were created by Sarah... Belletristics.

Dessert Club

So, first real post... here we go!

There is a wonderful group of ladies in Jacksonville that graciously invited me to be a part of their dessert club. The club meets once a month (well, for desserts at least) and the hostess rotates monthly around the group. The only requirement is that you actually serve a "homemade" dessert. Well, and there are always cocktails... though not a requirement:).

My first attempt at hosting dessert club was March, and I decided that my 'theme' (again, not a requirement, but I can't help it) was the colors pink and orange. The main events of my club were homemade white cupcakes with buttercream icing (with a little bit of colored sugar to give them some hue)...

In addition to the cupcakes (in pink and orange, of course), I also made little chocolate chip meltaways covered in colored sugar and some "Kill Devil Punch." The cocktail was a huge hit - and it even turned out pink and orange (without trying)!

Presentation was important to me, and I felt like it was a success! The ladies enjoyed it, and that's really all that matters.

Recipes:

http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/kill-devil-punch-cocktails-2008

http://www.perfectentertaining.com/page1441.html

WONDERFUL buttercream icing:

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Quick-and-Almost-Professional-Buttercream-Icing/Detail.aspx

could this be the start of something new?

I have always been one to question things. I want to analyze everything I can get my hands on, so of course, figuring out my life path would be a difficult thing for me. There are so many things that interest me, and I have no idea how to harness all of them. So, I embrace that, and try not to go crazy as a result of my head spinning with the wealth of information (or needless crap) I enter into it.

As a result, I have struggled with "what I want to do with my life" for many years, and I continue to do so. Whenever I resume searching for the answer, something always leads me back to what really makes me happy... doing something I love or creating something, enjoying it myself and hopefully watching someone else enjoy it as well. Is there a way I can turn all of my questions and forays into random things into a life path/career? Who knows, that's the big question. I have enjoyed my steady climb up the corporate ladder, and I cannot see myself straying from that path for the time being. I know, however, that my future is not on the *exact* path I am currently following, but how do I pick which path to follow?

Well, I know I'm not going to come up with the answers right now, but I do know that I work to have a life - work isn't my life. So, besides my wonderful husband, family and fabulous friends, what else do I need to do to fulfill my life outside of the 9 to 5? I'm hoping to work through that question here... to display all of my recent creative efforts, and continue on my quest to do things I enjoy every single day. Whether it's making stationery or traveling across the world, I am hoping that every day leads me closer to the answer, "what do I want to do with my life?" I am, however, going to enjoy every single day as I take that journey.