Everyday Celebrating

DIY: Strawberry tree in urn

Last week, I posted a picture of the strawberry tree centerpieces I had at my 2003 wedding.

This week, here's a different version of the strawberry tree.  Chocolate covered AND in an urn.  

Here's how you create it:

First, let me say that this is not a dessert that is easily transported.  This would be something you'd want to either serve at your home or assemble after you arrive at your destination.

You'll need:

 - one styrofoam cone.  Use styrofoam, not floral cone.  The floral oasis isn't as sturdy. 

 - toothpicks

 - 3 lbs of strawberries to cover a 9X4 cone

 - chocolate melt

 - a block of styrofoam

 - one urn

 - hot glue/gun

 - kale

You'll want to dip your strawberries first.  Wash and cut the green off each strawberry and dip it into melted chocolate.  Stick all the strawberries into the freezer so a) the chocolate can set and b) the strawberries get hard.  A harder strawberry is easier to work with in getting a secure fit.

Next, you'll want to fill up the urn.  You have two ways of achieving this. You can either get a larger cone that will go to the bottom of the urn (shaving off the sides to make it fit) or you can stick a piece of styrofoam in the bottom and glue the cone on top.

In the photo above, I filled the urn with styrofoam and newspaper. I then covered the entire top of the urn in kale.  I did this by using toothpicks and gluing the kale down.

From here, break toothpicks in half and start working your way up from the bottom.  You want to put your largest strawberries on the bottom and work your way up in sizes.  There may be places where the strawberries don't meet.  For those places, you can stick in a few pieces of kale or sprigs of mint to cover the styrofoam.

 

Finally, you can decorate your urn with a ribbon or other festive ornament.   Easy and makes a great centerpiece for your dessert table!

This dessert is great for other occasions too like July 4th, showers, Valentine's Day, etc.

Your favorite holiday tradition!

'Tis the season for traditions! I'd venture to say that Christmas holds the most traditions for families and for good reason!

I have a five year old son and as a family, we're just now starting our traditions. Having a child means some of your traditions and priorities shift like maybe in the early years making sure your home for Christmas so Santa can find you. ;)

Something that is emerging as a tradition for us is hosting two meals. We have a full Christmas Eve dinner. I like to serve Italian. Why? Well, I love it. And it's just different. I feel like we just had Thanksgiving and that type of food and it's nice to go a different route. So I make soup, salad and lasagna, etc.

Around mid-morning on Christmas Day, I make a large breakfast. This is after my son has opened his gifts and oohhed and ahhhed over Santa coming. This meal will include everything from biscuits to fruit to hashbrown casserole, muffins and plenty of hot coffee!

This works out nicely for our family. Usually with eating a large breakfast, we are full for several hours. The rest of the day is spent relaxing and watching my son play with his gifts and just being together. Later in the day, we'll eat snacks, but no other large meal is prepared.

What are YOUR favorite holiday traditions? Baking with family? Crafting?

Tell International Delight what your favorite holiday tradition is for a chance to win a $200 Target gift card from BlogFrog.

Add some cheer to your coffee or baking this season with International Delight's holiday flavors. Enjoy the taste of Peppermint Mocha, Pumpkin Pie Spice, White Chocolate Raspberry, Vanilla Spiced Rum or Gingerbread Latte and stir up a moment of sweet inspiration.

TellTeTeTell International Delight what your favorite holiday treat is for a chance to win a $200 Walmart Gift Card.

Capture the flavors of the holiday’s in every cup of coffee with International Delight creamers. Available in a variety of flavors, such as Cinnabon, Almond Joy and Pumpkin Spice, International Delight can make everyday feel like a holiday.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of International Delight. The opinions expressed by me do not necessarily reflect the view of the International Delight Brand.

Printable Christmas Subway art

I ran across this free Christmas printable from It is what it is and loved the simplity and color scheme.

Not only can you frame it as shown above, but I love her ideas for using it in your holiday wrapping.

Simply print out and glue to a paper bag, add a simple ribbon.

or wrap around a bottle of nice wine....

The image is free for download and personal use.  Add an original piece of art to your holiday wrapping!

Display your holiday cards!

A super easy way to display all those beautiful cards you're getting.

All you need is a cabinet, ribbon and clothespins.

Just cut a long length of ribbon, wrap it around your cabinet door and tie the ends in the back.

Pin the cards on as you receive them.

A great and easy way to enjoy your cards all season!

DIY: Christmas Present Tree Stand

Do you put up several Christmas trees?  Or are you not a fan of tree skirts?  

Looking for a unique way to hide the tree stand?

Hide your tree stand in a present!   

Here's how you do it:

1.  Find a box that is at least as big as your tree stand.  Also, make sure the box will clear the bottom of your tree.  I lucked out with this box!   Just happened to be in my garage.  You'll notice that I cut off two of the flaps.  I cut off two flaps so I wouldn't have to cut through 4 flaps when making the hole for the tree.

2.  Place the stand inside the box (like above).  Close the flaps and tape together.  Then cut a hole in the top of the box so it coordinates in placement with the hole in the stand inside.

3.  From there, wrap the box like you would a present.  Depending on the size of the box and how much room the stand has to move or flip over, you may want to wrap the box without flipping it over like you would a normal present.  I wrapped this one by putting the seam on the top and back of the box.  This way, the front of the box would be smooth with no seam.  Also, make sure you add a bow or other embellishments before you install the tree. After you finish wrapping, cut the same hole in the wrapping paper, so the stand is visible from the outside of the wrapped box.

4.  You'll need help with the next step.  Have one person lower the tree into the box.  The other person will guide the tree into the stand inside the box.  If your box is much bigger than the stand, you may want to cut a larger hole so that one of your hands can move the stand if needed.

Done!  No more ugly stand!

A perfect addition to a decorative tree that you may not be using as your main tree.

 
Stay tuned ... lots more holiday decor ideas to come! 

DIY: Layered Ribbon tree

We all remember the coffee filter trees that were the craze last year.  Well... here's another fun DIY tree that you can make with ribbon.

These fab trees are from Sparkle and she gives a tutorial on how to create them. 

While she suggest uses styrofoam bases, remember that you can roll poster board for the same affect.  Styrofoam is expensive if you're creating several of these trees.  Here's where I talk about creating cones out of poster board.  2 sheets for $1 at the Dollar Tree and... you can create any size you need depending on how you cut/roll it.

 

Easy rich Marshmallow Mocha Hot Chocolate

 

It's getting to be that time of year. When you begin planning your holiday menus and gathering your supplies!

One easy hostess item to have on hand to serve is a great, rich hot chocolate. Easy and fast to prepare for guests that drop in unannounced! What makes it so good? Like a hot chocolate you'd get at a coffee shop?

International Delight!

Here's how you make it:

Mix 8 oz of milk with 2 oz of International Delight of Marshmallow Mocha

That's it! Easy as that?

Like coffee? Add a shot of coffee or espresso.

Want REALLY rich hot chocolate? Add Marshmallow Mocha to already prepared hot chocolate!

Don't forget a garnish! Add whipped cream and sprinkle with crushed candy canes. Or rim the glass. Just crush candy canes and place it on a saucer. Dip the rim in water and then dip it into the candy canes.

Tell International Delight what YOUR favorite holiday treat is for a chance to win a $200 Walmart gift card.

Capture the flavors of the holidays in every cup of coffee with International Delight Creamers. Available in a variety of flavors, such as, Pumpkin Pie Spice, Vanilla Spiced Rum and White Chocolate Raspberry.

TellTeTeTell International Delight what your favorite holiday treat is for a chance to win a $200 Walmart Gift Card.

Capture the flavors of the holiday’s in every cup of coffee with International Delight creamers. Available in a variety of flavors, such as Cinnabon, Almond Joy and Pumpkin Spice, International Delight can make everyday feel like a holiday.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of International Delight. The opinions expressed by me do not necessarily reflect the view of the International Delight Brand.

Almost that time - Holiday cards 2011!

Well, before we knew it, Halloween was over and it was already November.  NOVEMBER!  Doesn't it feel like we were JUST celebrating the beginning of summer?

So with the holidays on the horizon, all the planners, like me, are already drooling over holiday card designs!  And Tiny Prints has you covered with a brand new line for the 2011 season.

There are so many things that I love about Tiny Prints but one is all the options they offer.

With Tiny Prints, you can get square or rounded corners.  Semi-glossy or matte finish.

Also, quite a few cards offer a beautifully designed back for your card.

They offer several envelope options.  Also matching address labels and even thank you cards! 

They'll even pre-ship your envelopes so you can begin addressing them while your cards are being printed.  This is especially helpful if you are in a time crunch or are maybe having a calligrapher address your envelopes.

I also love these circle card options.  Perfect to hang on your tree.  Or, they'll even give you the option of using this same design in a typical card size.

With 434 card designs for 2011, you'll definitely find something that works for you!  You may have MY problem, even... there are TOO MANY that I love!

Want to win 50 free GORGEOUS cards!!!?

Simply head to Tiny Prints and leave a comment letting me know which card you'd choose if you won!

Contest ends this Friday evening, 11/11 at 6pm EST.

DIY: Personalized Dinnerware!

So I'm gonna say flat out.  I WILL be doing this.  You know how there are some crafts you come across that makes you just stop in your tracks?  That was me with this.  LOVE!

I stumbled upon this great trick over at Brooklyn Limestone.  And while I've written on plates in the past, this just really stood out to me.  

Basically, she bought inexpensive white dishes.  (Hint: Goodwill or even Dollar Tree)

Then she wrote on them using a Porcelaine 150 pen.  Want to write text like in the photo?  Use painters tape to create the lines.

Want a damask or other design?  Use a stencil.

This opens up unlimited possibilities for holiday dishes.  Write the words to your favorite Christmas Carol!  Write a message to someone on their birthday!  Write the words to your wedding song on your anniversary.  ENDLESS possibilities.

And making a set would make a great gift!

Hop over to her blog and check out the rest of the photos.  

Target Find: Cocktail Picks

First of all, I want to thank every one of you for continuing to drop by and check on me even while I took a blogging break.  I was working on a rather large (1200 person) black tie event and now that that is done and DONE, I can jump back into entertaining you with random finds and tips. :)  Like my Facebook page to see pics.

So... I'm gonna jump right back in!   Everyone knows that I love to share fab entertaining finds!  And here's what I've found over the weekend.

Fabulous pom cocktail picks at the Dollar Spot at Target!  These come 24 to a pack and they have so many color combinations and uses!  

And get this... they are on clearance now and at my Target were 30 CENTS per pack!   

They are glittery and fuzzy and would make a great addition to your celebration.  Let me give you a run down of occasions to use them: 

• Red/Green - Christmas
• Black/Red - Christmas
• Black - New Year's Eve
• Green/Black - Halloween
• Red/Black - Spiderman/Iron Man Birthday or Fraternity/Sorority 
• Red - Valentine's Day
• What about gluing on googly eyes for Halloween?

These are great to stick in cupcakes, meatballs, hold sandwiches together, make mini fruit kabobs, hold drink garnishes (olives), etc.  

Head to Target and get them while you can!  There are MANY uses for them in the coming months!