Holiday Settings: The Christmas Tablescape

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas around Places In The Home. One of our neighbors walked down last night to see our 2012 Christmas tablescape.  He asks the same question every year, “Now, are we going to eat Christmas dinner at this table, or is this a just for decoration holiday tablescape?”

We are going to enjoy the holiday out of it!

I like to set the table with china and accents in traditional colors of the season. The ebony, brick, red, and gold colors of the runners and placemats accent the dining room color palette while offering a twist on tradition.

My bright idea from last year’s holiday tablescape of attaching the dinner napkin to the placemat with decorative rhinestone buttons is again featured on the holiday table.

The rhinestone buttons are from a bridal shop, the grosgrain ribbon gives a nod to the traditional peppermint, and the ebony placemat ties the rich deep colors of the runners  to the color palette. The ribbon is loosely tied to the dinner napkin, which is folded handkerchief style.

finial

Vintage and soon to be vintage crystal accessories make their yearly trek from the china cabinet to the table (that’s a whole lot of cleaning and polishing, folks!).  I knew I wanted to find a spot for the Royal Vienna plate somewhere on the table. I placed it all around, thinking in terms of tradition and conventional placement. Nothing worked or suited me until I thought out of the box. Funny how that works the best most of the time for me and my tastes. 

antique-plate1

The centerpiece base consists of pyracantha, magnolia leaves, cuttings from a fresh cut Ruscus garland, and red and white glass ornaments. The vintage crystal candelabra is a Tennessee treasure found antiquing in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

ornaments

I can’t begin to tell you how fantastic this centerpiece smells!  Our dining room does not catch much direct sunlight which helps to keep the greenery from losing its appeal or drying out prematurely.

sideboard1

Decorative touches of  Louisiana and the local landscape join the celebration. Enter the cotton stalks and decorative gold pine cone I used at Thanksgiving. I paired them with the plaid ribbon, sterling candlesticks, and taper candles with a touch of ivory to keep things festive and uncomplicated.

The Christmas goose has been part of our holiday scene for years, and Christmas would not be Christmas without him. ‘Tis better to be stuffed than cooked!

Christmas-goose1

The temperatures have dropped, the table is set, the Christmas dinner menu planned, the sweets of the season baked and Christmas memories are being made.  Happy Holidays!

Love your style!

 

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While Visions Of Cookie Truffles Danced In Their Heads

How sweet the season is!  Delicious delights at this time of year include an ingredient more important than flour and sugar, chocolate or vanilla.  As corny as it may sound, the main ingredient of most dishes prepared at the holidays is love- plain, pure, and simple.

No calories.

No guilt.

No nasty aftertaste.

Baking is a large part of the holidays at our house.  Baking brings us all together, initiates conversation, involves family, friends, and neighbors (in different ways but each of equal importance), and ensures everyone is touched by the meaning behind each dish, cookie, or candy.  Dave the Builder is taking two trays to work with him tomorrow, Apple Nut cakes were delivered to two of our neighbors last week, and I’ve spent the afternoon preparing cookie baskets for our other neighbors.  Let me share with you an easy, inexpensive, and impressive treat- Cookie Truffles.

Better Homes & Gardens

Ingredients

1 18-oz. pkg. chocolate sandwich cookies with white filling, finely crushed

1 8-oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened

1 lb. white baking chocolate, melted

sugar crystals, optional

Directions

In large bowl combine crushed cookies and cream cheese.

Beat with mixer on low speed until well blended.  Form 1-inch balls by hand.

Dip balls in white chocolate; place on baking sheet covered with waxed paper.  The skewers didn’t work and toothpicks failed me.  I used two teaspoons and it worked great.

Refrigerate 1 hour or until firm. To store, cover and refrigerate. Makes 50 truffles.

The crushed cookie merged with the chocolate and produced the perfect Christmas cookie, or so that was what the reviews stated. I thought I would include a pic of the cookie tray made for Dave & Co.

enjoy

 

 

 

 

 

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Holiday Inspiration and Festive Favorites

The holiday season is in full swing, and there is so many sites and sights to glean holiday inspiration from.

This is the time of year when treasures, goodies, ideas, and pretty images flood the day in the best possible way.

Holiday inspiration is all around.

holiday inspirationPinterest

Olive by Farrow & Ball is festively featured in the gentleman’s study designed by Tammy Connor at  The Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles Christmas House.

the night before Christmas

The 12 Days of Christmas crackers from Williams-Sonoma are a Noël novelty done elegantly and festively right.

George Sheridan KnowlesPinterest

The Duet by George Sheridan Knowles masterfully exhibits the allure of green in shades of trend.

vintage Christmas

Fox Photos / Getty Images as seen on BuzzFeed

When I can’t sleep I don’t count sheep, I try to recall the stores and shops that lined the downtown area from when I was a kid.

Do you remember shopping downtown at Christmas time?

Santa Claus in his red house with white trimmed windows, Christmas lights and tinsel stars strung from store front to store front, and department stores display windows decked out in holiday finery.

Lerner Shops, Bakers, JCPenney, W.T. Grant, S. H. Kress & Co., Rexall, Morgan & Lindsey’s…

Charlie Brown Christmas

Christmas time is here!

Have a great weekend!

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Welcome Holiday Guests Not Holiday Stress

Stress free holiday entertaining ideas put the merry in a holiday good time.

From the planned casual holiday soiree to the not so planned we saw your lights on holiday surprise drop-in, these stock items can cut the stress, welcome guests, ward off the holiday bah humflubug, and make things festive.

wreath on front doorTraditional Home

Let me share with you some of the staples I keep on hand and filed under tried-and-true stress free holiday entertaining ideas.

 

winter-holiday-scented-liquid-foaming-hand-soap

Mingle responsibly.

It’s not only the holidays, but the cold and flu season as well.

Lest we forget Covid-19.

Won’t we all be glad when we can!

alice-cut-glass-votive-cup-o

Votive candles instantly add that cozy and homey feel to the setting.

I don’t know if it’s the warmth they exude or the soft glow, but votive candles create a relaxing atmosphere.

Stock up on these home decor and entertaining staples.

homefortheholidayscoirchristmasdoormatoverheadshotsiloimage

Put out the welcome mat.

Head off mud, slush, and dirt at the door.

alton brown hot cocoa recipeThe Chive

Festive need not be expensive.

The package sells the product, and a festive presentation impresses the harshest holiday critic.

My darling maternal grandmother taught me through her gracious example.

She loved Lady Borden Vanilla ice cream- her signature dessert offering.

She lived alone, and with single serving sizes not yet on the market, the large container ice cream would often fall victim to  freezer burn.

What the ice cream lacked in taste was more than made up in serving presentation.

Halette+Pedestal+Cups+Cake+Stand

Reed and Barton® Francis I spoon

She always served two scoops of Lady Borden Vanilla in a glass sherbet dish accompanied by a sterling silver spoon.

 

hot-chocolate-bar

A simple  coffee or decorative holiday mug from the dollar store filled with hot cocoa and garnished with a peppermint stick and marshmallows or red hot apple cider garnished with a cinnamon stick is holiday comfort in a cup!

cocoa

I recommend preparing this recipe for homemade marshmallows while listening to the ever fitting Christmas classic “A Marshmallow World” performed by the ever cool Dean Martin.

Marshmallows (French Laundry)

Ingredients

3  envelopes of unflavored Knox gelatin

½  cup cold water

2 cups granulated sugar

2/3 cups corn syrup

¼  cup water

¼  teaspoon salt

1 Tablespoon vanilla extract

Confectioners’ sugar for dredging

Directions

In the bowl of an electric mixer, sprinkle gelatin over 1/2 cup cold water. Soak for 10 minutes.

Combine sugar, corn syrup, and 1/4 cup water in a small saucepan.  Bring to a boil and boil hard for 1 minute.  Pour boiling syrup into gelatin and mix at high speed.  Add the salt and beat for 12 minutes.  Add vanilla and incorporate into mixture.  Scrape into a 9 x 9-inch pan lined with oiled plastic wrap and spread evenly.

(Note: Lightly oil hands and spatula or bowl scraper).

After pouring marshmallow mixture into the pan, take another piece of plastic wrap and press mixture into the pan.

Let mixture sit for a few hours.  Remove from pan, dredge the marshmallow slab with confectioners’ sugar and cut into 12 equal pieces with scissors (the best tool for the job) or a chef’s knife.  Dredge each piece of marshmallow in confectioners’ sugar.

Yield: 12 large marshmallows

fleece-throws

Baby, it’s cold outside.

I pick up inexpensive fleece throws when I find them on holiday special.

This little touch of  homey and cozy is a big hit with our guests as we celebrate the holiday moments of our lives.

raffia

gift-tag

Tie them up with raffia, attach a holiday gift tag, and place them in a basket.

seagrass-basket

The inexpensive fleece throws make a nice holiday “from our home to yours” parting gift.

White-Christmas

Hand them out to your guests to ward off the chill while watching a classic holiday movie or hanging out listening to holiday music.

Let’s not forget that a holiday playlist queued up and ready to shuffle is always a hit.

Holiday get-togethers as well as the unexpected drop in visit often turn out to be a stress free and fun time.

Stock up.

De-stress.

Enjoy!

Love your style!

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Vanilla Bread Pudding With Vanilla Sauce Recipe

Nothing gets the Places In The Home gang’s attention more when I announce dessert will be my Vanilla Bread Pudding with Vanilla Sauce recipe.

vanilla bread pudding with vanilla sauce recipe

Scrolling the Places In The Home Facebook feed a particular post from NESTLÉ Coffee-mate Natural Bliss caught my attention.

Coffee-mate posted the details of a current Publish My Bliss Recipe contest, and the rules for the contest seemed simple enough.

Rules deemed the recipe submission must include at least one (1) Coffee-mate Natural Bliss ingredient (all-natural Caramel, Sweet Cream, Vanilla, or Low-Fat Vanilla), step-by-step instructions, preparation instructions, cooking time and temperature, and recipe title.

recipe-contest-Claire-Robinson

You can only imagine how thrilled I was to receive an email notification stating my recipe, Vanilla Bread Pudding with Vanilla Sauce, was 1 of 10 selected in the Publish My Bliss recipe contest and would be included in the cookbook, Blissfully Delicious.

Sweet gatherings showcase delicious desserts, and my contest winning Vanilla Bread Pudding with Vanilla Sauce recipe is a requested favorite.

vanilla bread pudding with vanilla sauce in pan

Vanilla Bread Pudding with Vanilla Sauce

Ingredients

For the Bread Pudding:

1 loaf (1 pound) French bread

2 tablespoons butter or margarine

1 cup granulated sugar

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup half-and-half

2 cups heavy whipping cream

1 cup Vanilla Flavor NESTLÉ Coffee-mate Natural Bliss All-Natural Coffee Creamer

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)

For the sauce

½ cup butter or margarine

½ cup firmly packed brown sugar

½ cup granulated sugar

¼ cup heavy whipping cream

¼ cup Vanilla Flavor NESTLÉ Coffee-mate Natural Bliss All-Natural Coffee Creamer

1 Tablespoon vanilla extract

Directions

For bread pudding:

Preheat oven to 350. Spray 13 X 9-inch baking pan with cooking spray.

Break French bread into small pieces; place into prepared pan. Melt butter or margarine.  Pour over bread. Combine sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract in large bowl.  Add cream, half and half, and Coffee-mate Natural Bliss; mix well. Pour over bread pieces.

Bake for 40 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Sprinkle with ground cinnamon.

For the sauce

Combine butter or margarine, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cream, and Coffee-mate Natural Bliss in small saucepan.  Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes or until mixture thickens and comes to a full boil.  Remove from heat.

Stir in vanilla extract.

Serve warm with bread pudding.

cookbook-forward

enjoy-graphic

 

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New Traditional Christmas Decorating Color Ideas For The Holiday Season

Decorating for the holidays takes planning, and with planning the first line of defense is time.

It may still be November, but the window for decorating, trimming, and decking our houses, trees and halls to the point of what defines holiday perfection closes sooner than later.

My rule of holiday decorating thumb is as follows:

Give yourself at least ten days to admire the fruits of your holiday decorating labor.

I’m deep in holiday color palette planning– leaning heavily toward a new traditional palette in the Christmas decorating color ideas department.

Pinterest

Christmas Decorating Color Ideas

Traditional green and red remain timeless favorites, but have you seen some of the gorgeous color combinations decking the halls out there at the holidays?

I am so taken with some I thought a post matching interior paint colors with the holiday ornaments and decorations might inspire me and maybe some of you to take a more permanent position with the color palettes.

Inspiration is everywhere, especially at this time of year!

pharaoh gold

Farrow and Ball paint colors

Hot ~ Sherwin-Williams SW6843

Strawberry Fields~ Sherwin-Williams SW1582

First Kiss ~ Valspar C1220

Strawberry Fields ~ Valspar C1219

Pharaoh Gold ~ Modern Masters ME660

Arsenic ~ Farrow & Ball No 214

Canadian Living

Victorian Mauve

Blue Orchid ~ Benjamin Moore  2069-50

Seal Brown ~ Pittsburgh Paint

Purple Easter Egg ~ Benjamin Moore 2073-50

Rookwood Medium Brown ~ SW2807

North Cascades ~ Benjamin Moore 1411

Victorian Mauve ~ Benjamin Moore 2114-50

Ashland Slate ~ Benjamin Moore 1608

Traditional Home

Louis chair

 

Heritage Red~ Benjamin Moore

Blagdon Yellow ~ Benjamin Moore DC-43

Cajun Red ~ Sherwin-Williams SW0008

Riding Boots ~ Benjamin Moore CSP-300

Gold Ingot ~ Dutch Boy 2C 6

House and Home

Sherwin Williams paint colors

Tricorn Black ~ Sherwin-Williams SW

First palette card from left to right:

Thyme Green ~ Behr 420D-6

Saguaro ~ Sherwin-Williams 6419

Toque White ~ Sherwin-Williams SW7003

Kelp Green ~ Dutch Boy G14-2

Iguana Green ~ Benjamin Moore 2028-10

Second palette card:

Gecko ~ Sherwin-Williams SW6719

Jolly Green ~ Sherwin-Williams SW6931

Country Living

tree-colors

 

From top left to right:

Tranquil Aqua ~ Sherwin-Williams SW7611

Parakeet ~ Sherwin-Williams SW6711

Nantucket Dune ~ Sherwin-Williams SW7527

Leap of Faith ~ Benjamin Moore 210

Silver Splendor ~ Valspar 7006-20

Jute ~ Olympic C14-4

Manakiki Greens ~ Devoe 30GY 12/257

Stone Blue ~ Farrow & Ball #86

Artichoke ~ Valspar 6003-28

Universal Umber ~ Valspar 3003-9B

love signature

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Holiday Potpourri

I really wanted to title this post “What to do with all the left over fruit that did not make the holiday fruit salad cut” but Holiday Potpourri recipe had a much better ring to it.  Apples, oranges, homegrown fresh lemons (thanks, Mrs. JoAnn!) and spices of the season do a house good as they come together over low heat.  Our Thanksgiving celebration ushered in the first hint of Christmas with the simple yet perfect scents of the season simmering in the crock pot to welcome family, guest, and delicious memories.

fruit-for-potpourri

Holiday Potpourri

Ingredients

3  apples, sliced

3 oranges, sliced

1 large lemon, sliced

4 cinnamon sticks

1 Tablespoon whole cloves

2 teaspoons ground cloves

2 teaspoons ground nutmeg

2 bay leaves

6  cups water

Directions

Fill stoneware liner with water.  Turn setting to high.  Slice apples, oranges, and lemon and place in water.  Add spices.  Continue with setting on high for at least 2 hours.  Reduce setting to low, careful to monitor water level.  Add water as needed.

Graphics Fairy

I sincerely believe music is the core note of holiday celebrations, and Places In The Home is full holiday celebration mode!  I’ll Be Home For Christmas is the core sentiment of our holiday celebrations.

Love your style!

 

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Home For The Holidays Dining Room Decorating Ideas

I like dining room decorating ideas that deliver year round, classic, and wow factor beauty.

I believe these home decor accents and accessories will do exactly that.

The magnificent mix and match movement continues to gather decorative momentum, and why not?

It’s the sure cure for boring interiors.

Ever wonder why a table setting set with mismatched flatware makes such a visual impression?

gold-silver-flatware-mix

Unique and unconventional styling, different styles and finishes paired together, and furniture placement never fails to catch the eye.

Hooker-Furniture-Sanctuary-4-Door-Console-Table

The ribbons, pears and pomegranates design of this early 19th Century Aubusson panel from art1 epitomize the grace of the French motif.

You can’t go wrong with gold-rimmed white dinner plates from Dollar Tree.

Neutral.

Classic.

Elegant.

Affordable.

Now that’s striking entertaining gold.

To keep the emphasis on elegant affordability, may I suggest the Hampton Forge Sophia 20 piece flatware set.

I view charger plates as the picture frame of the total place setting picture.

wood-charger

I like to use key decorative foundation pieces in neutral colors.

It justifies the initial investment for quality pieces, and makes it easier to use those pieces from holiday to holiday.

soup-tureen

Beautifully shine a little light on your holiday celebration with the help of elegant and affordable table lamps in year round style.

gold buffet lamps

Serving pieces are the jewelry of holiday dining tables, buffets, and sideboards.

Add magnolia leaves and a fresh green garland and let the impressive holiday dining season begin.

garland-decoration

One of the best parts of holiday decorating is decking out the dining room in the colors and decor of the season.

Love your style!

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