A Very Grinch-y Christmas Eve

The prospect of my great-nephew, Oliver, coming to our home on Christmas Eve made me giddy with excitement.  I enjoy my family and love to be surrounded by them, not only during the holidays, but all throughout the year.  However, having a child in the house at Christmas, well, that's just too special, and I was not about to let this opportunity to play slip through my fingers!

The plans began to take shape when, on a very ordinary trip to Costco, I found the ribbon that became the inspiration for the table.  Glittery polka dots in red and green made me think of Dr. Seuss and The Grinch.  The very stories that were beginning to interest Oliver!

Did you know that the animated version of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year?  I did not know this at first, but I wonder if subliminal messages from marketers and the media didn't work their way into my subconscious as I made my plans.  Maybe my finding that ribbon at Costco wasn't coincidental at all!

Regardless, it was a jolly theme, and so . . . a tablescape was born!

But first, the house had to be Grinch-ified.  The kitchen . . .

Then, the Dining Room . . .

The stairs . . .

And, yes, the mantle, too . . .  

Even the tree received a dose of Grinch-iness!

With lots of green and red sparkle, and tings, and glittery ornaments!

The door was made merry . . .

And, although not particularly Grinchy, tartan was deployed throughout the house, because . . . it just isn't Christmas without it!

Cozy pillows, too . . .

There's nothing more soothing than a white tablecloth to anchor a great table setting and to let other colors take center stage, so that became the starting point. 

A dear friend designed the menu cards in the round, then I had them printed and cut by a local printer.

Who would have imagined that pink would work so well at Christmas?  It was an unexpected, but very welcome addition to the table.  This pink lover thoroughly approved.

The Grinch-y napkins were such fun to have and added so much to the theme!  I'll probably never use them again, but it's difficult to regret buying them when I remember the big smiles they elicited.

For those who do not speak Who-ish, let me translate the menu for you:  Cindy-Lou Who Salad (Romaine, dried cranberries, apple and pecans with an herbed balsamic vinaigrette), Roast Beast (Beef tenderloin roast, au jus), Who Mash (Mashed Potatoes), Winter Vegetable Medley (Roasted butternut squash and Brussels Sprouts with garlic and olive oil), Grinch Beans Amandine (Green Beans Amandine).

The desserts, I remembered to photograph:  Who Pudding Trio:  Vanilla (my mother's Vanilla Custard), Chocolate (with Rumchata and Godiva Chocolate liqueurs), and Raspberry Fool - more pink! (a classic raspberry fool with a splash of Chambord).

Mt. Crumpit Cupcakes - chocolate peppermint and eggnog.

Who-ville cookies (assorted Christmas cookies, including green almond cookies, with a little Grinch-y heart in its center) . . .

And some macarons, Pistachio, Red Velvet, Strawberry, and Champagne . . .

A little present to remember this Grinch-y night was placed at each place setting . . .

A glass heart to hang on the tree . . .

And remind us all of the possibilities for love . . .

I hope you were able to share Christmas with your very own Whos, and that the Grinch of your acquaintance (we all know one) was tamed, at least for the day.  God bless!

Joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday and Michael Lee at Rattlebridge Farm for Foodie Friday and Everything Else - New Year's Party.  Stop in and join the fun!

Christmas Eve 2012

It wouldn't feel like Christmas unless plaid was happening somewhere in our house . . . This year, right on the Dining Room table . . .

I filled glass cylinders with pinecones and silver balls . . . Thanks for the inspiration, Alycia!  If you want to see some amazing tablescapes you HAVE to visit Alycia Nichols at Tablescapes at Table 21.  She uses those glass cylinders in so many creative ways it'll make your head spin!

I never seem to tire of white roses . . . they are so lovely . . .

I bought the green raffia ribbon on impulse, but I love how it brightens the little packages.  Sometimes, the best decisions come on the spur of the moment.  The little pinecones came from The Dollar Store.

The floral arrangement was created by my friend, Robert, who has been doing flowers for us since our wedding, 28 years ago!

I used my Lenox, Federal Platinum bone china . . . The tablecloth (Carson plaid) and the napkins (Kirkwood plaid) are both from Pottery Barn, as are the silver-plated napkin rings . . . The crystal glasses were my mother's . . .

The flatware is Woodland, by Spode . . .  Here's the detail from the knife and teaspoon . . .  I used them at Thanksgiving, too - click here for that post - but I don't think I've gotten them out of my system yet . . .

Somebody, get this camera away from me!  I can't stop shooting!

How many flower pictures are too many . . . ?

The table is set . . .  And the Christmas tree is lit . . . I love that hour before a party starts when the house looks just beautiful, and there are a few minutes to relax and enjoy it . . .

 Here's the family, in a dignified pose . . .

And here's what happened when the antlers came out . . . My son suggested that the title for this table should be “A Nutty Little Christmas.” 

After all, nuts could be found everywhere . . .

The picture of the entire dessert buffet came out blurry, unfortunately, so I'm doubly happy to at least have been able to capture some of the treats!  Here are the Snowmen cookies (from Starbucks, alas, I didn't bake them!)

Vanilla chocolate chip pudding parfaits . . . These were so delish!

Cointreau mini-cupcakes with buttercream frosting and sprinkled with sugar crystals . . .

They are looking pretty cute, considering that this is what happened a couple of hours earlier . . . What would Christmas be without a few bloopers . . . ?

 And what was inside those little red party favor boxes . . . ?

I hope your Christmas Eve was as much fun as ours!  May you have a blessed Christmas day! 

I'm joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday and Kathleeen at Cuisine Kathleen.  Please stop by to see too many fabulous tablescapes to count!

A Telepathic Connection: Little Santas Everywhere

A Christmas present arrived by mail today from Angela and Doug.  Just look at this wrapping paper.  It's got busy little Santas all over, reminding me of the wrapping paper I bought and blogged about on my last post! (Click here to read about it).

This is like cosmic confirmation that I'm on the right track with the Christmas theme this year!  Great minds do think alike, and maybe even transmit the same thought frequencies!

I HATE YOU, CONTAINER STORE!

No . . . No . . . I didn't mean it! . . . It's just a little holiday stress! . . .  Please don't banish me from your store!  I'm usually a very sane sort of human . . . perfectly rational most of the time . . . until I enter your premises . . . especially at Christmas time . . . with your wrapping papers . . . when I completely lose my head!  All those choices!  Do I want traditional?  Modern?  Crafty?  Religious?  Do I want snowflakes?  Penguins?  Owls . . . ?  How about this beautiful green . . . ?  But I did green last year . . . Didn't I already decide before I stepped in the store that I was going to go with my red tablecloth for Christmas Eve, and I came exclusively to find wrapping paper for the little favors that go on the table?  Maria, you are not doing a Woodland Christmas this year!  You did that a couple of years ago!  Get away from the owls!   I don't care how cute they are!  And, no, you are not celebrating Hannukah!  You are NOT, repeat, NOT going to get paper with Hannukah candles or menorahs . . . !  

Your store clerk was so helpful . . . I told her that my theme this year was going to be “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” . . . She showed me every Santa paper you had in stock . . . until I fell in love . . .

"Working Santa" was the name on this roll . . . right for the theme . . .

I could get matching tissue paper . . .



Perfect for a little box, and it looks nice against the red napkins . . .

But now I'm thinking that these Santas are so cute and little . . . maybe I'll change the theme to “A Merry Little Christmas” . . . And that sort of ties in to the mini desserts table that I'm planning . . .   See what you've started?

The beauty of Christmas ain't always purty . . .

Please pardon my attire.  I did not realize when I came down early to wrap presents that I would be posing for pictures . . .  Oops, my head was partially cut off . . . It's just as well, I still had bed hair . . .

Note to self:  Don't ever buy silver wrapping paper again!  My family thought I was insane for trying to use hot glue to seal these packages . . .  They were right!  I made the mistake of buying this silver wrapping paper and I hated how the Scotch tape strips showed.  I tried three different kinds of tape, a satin, a matte, and another one labeled "Gift Wrap Tape" but none of them worked all that well . . . 

Second note to self:  Do not attempt to use the glue gun right after getting a manicure!  The hot glue was a bust anyway - there were thin strands of glue that looked like spun sugar flying all over the place and sticking to everything . . . not to mention the glops on the table and the burns . . .

Third note to self:  I can't think of a third one but there ought to be another one, don't you think . . . ?