Foodie Friday: Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas! Here's our Christmas Eve spread. We usually do appetizers in prep for the big dinner...

Come on in and grab a plate...

Take a napkin and start with the veggie tray...

And sushi...

Buffalo wings and mini crabcakes...

...and aged English cheddar with red pepper jelly...

Mmm...cheese fondue...with chunks of bread...

Notice anything in back of the chipotle meatballs?

It's Ralphie's house, from "A Christmas Story." Our family *loves* this movie!

Have a little dessert...peppermint crunch candy and red velvet cake balls...

Cheese Fondue ala The Melting Pot:

Heat 4-6 oz white wine, juice of 1/2 lemon, 1/2 t garlic, 4 cups emmenthalar and gruyere, shredded and lightly dusted with flour, add in nutmeg, fresh ground pepper, and Kirschwasser (cherry brandy) when ready to serve...

After you visit Michael at Designs by Gollum, be sure to get nestled snug in your bed so Santa can come visit you. May he bring you everything you wish for!

Tablescape Thursday: Merry Christmas!

My camera lens was borken last week, so this week you get two tablescapes for the price of one! this first tablescape is the one that I've got all set up and ready to go for Christmas day. I tried my hand at making a "Colonial Williamsburg" type centerpiece. I first saw this on Susan's blog last year.

I got the placemats at K-Mart last year on clearance...

I'm using gold chargers and my Spode Christmas Tree plates...

I used my treble clef flatware as this is the time to make a joyful noise unto the Lord...

Santa's eyeview...

This place is set for my son Nick...not St. Nick!

My small Dept. 56 Dickens Village collection...

The candyland tree in my dining room...

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This is the tablescape I was going to post last week, but since I only got my new camera lens on Monday, I thought I'd post it this week...

The salad plates and tureen are by Portmeirion...

Rudolph's eyeview...

Please visit Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday, and have a Merry Christmas!

Deck The Halls 12/22

I finally have a new lens for my camera, so I got together a post of most of the rest of my Christmas decorations.

This is the tablescape I was going to post last week...better late than never!




'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house not a creature was stirring...not even a mouse...eek!




I call this my Krinkles tree. It's got lots of Christmas Krinkles ornaments by Patience Brewster. I just love her whimsical Krinkles ornaments.

Cute little Mr. and Mrs. Squirrel...

A little gingerbread couple, by Lenox...

This is the Bath and Bodyworks gingerbread house luminary that's taken the blog world by storm. I was lucky enough to find one locally...

Dept. 56 Dickens Village...

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A couple of bloggers made the chocolate mice last year and I thought they were so cute. This year I decided to try my hand at making them. I wasn't brave enough, though, to try to give them any eyes! To make these cute little critters just melt some chocolate. Then dip stemmed maraschino cherries into the chocolate and place on a waxed paper lined cookie sheet. Next attach a Hershey's Kiss next to the chocolate-covered cherry to form the head (the melted chocolate will act as your glue). And finally, slip two sliced almonds in between the Kiss and the chocolate cherry to make ears, and...voila...you have a chocolate mouse.

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Stop by and visit and visit Susan at Thoughts From Over The Rainbow for Deck The Halls.

***There's still time to take advantage of the discount of $15 off an order of $60 or more that Colonial Candle is offering my readers. Use promotional code MAMAISON15 at checkout. This is good through 12/31/09.

I Believe...

...in Santa...

...and elves...

...and fairies...

Do you believe? I love this magical time of the year, filled with love and hope, when anything seems possible.