Merry Christmas to All!

I'm online doing a little bit of research on Holiday Cocktails for Christmas Dinner. So far these are in the running. {Martha Stewart's recipes, of course}

Pear & Cranberry Bellini

And this yummy looking Holiday Citrus Punch

Decisions, decisions.  I love days where something so trivial as "Which cocktail should I make?" is the biggest decision I'll have to make!

My hubby is on the couch next to me playing some PS3 game {what a grown-up!} and we just finished watching Home Alone while devouring the delicious cinnamon rolls we made for breakfast.  Life is pretty good right now, and I intend to enjoy what's left of the Holidays...computer free!

So Merry Christmas!

From our little family to yours!

{Martha's} DIY Pin-Up Christmas Card Wreath

This is an oldie ~ but a goody!

Martha first published this DIY project in her 2002 issue of Martha Stewart Living.  I was feeling a little crafty,  but with the Holidays approaching I didn't have a whole lot of extra cash lying around to run out and buy a whole bunch of items for a project.  This was right up my alley.  Plus, I LOVE receiving Christmas cards, but I could never think of a clever {and lovely} way to display all of them. 

Here's what Martha says about the project:

Decorate a wall or an interior door by hanging a holiday-card wreath. Using *wood glue, affix miniature wooden clothespins to a large (about 14-inch-diameter) embroidery hoop. Alternate clothespins to point outward and inward, spaced 1 1/2 inches apart. Suspend from a ribbon, and clip your cards in place as you receive them.

*I used a hot glue gun and it worked like a charm!

Fun Fact:  This project is CHEAP!  I had the ribbon and hot glue lying around the house, so all I needed to buy were some small clothespins and an embroidery loop.  I bought everything at Michael's for under $3!

Here's my Pin-up Wreath!  I think it's so great ~ and I will be using it in years to come.  I love that all you need to do to "update" the style is to switch out the ribbon to match your decor or taste.

Looking for a last-minute {and inexpensive} gift for a loved one this Christmas?  Consider making this lovely Holiday wreath!

A Very Minnie 2nd Birthday Party!

We did our first official kids party as Yours Truly ~ Wedding & Event Design yesterday!  The party girl was my adorable niece Madison who will be turning two this Wednesday.  The theme was Minnie, so we stuck with the red and black color scheme and threw in touches of zebra.  It turned out great, and it was such a fun day for Maddie!

Head over to our BLOG to check out more pictures from the party! And if you are not a follower yet, we'd love for you to be!  You can also keep up with us on FACEBOOK!

Wishing you all a restful few days before Christmas!

Christmas Time in the Klitzing Home!

Don't you just love decorating for the Holidays?  Christmas decorations are my favorite - whether your style is modern, traditional, or glitz & glamor, Christmas decorations have a natural way of making you feel warm and fuzzy inside!

Here are a few snapshots of our home.  My husband and I have been married for two and a half years now.  Time sure has flown!  I can remember the first Christmas we were married when both of our mothers handed down their old Christmas decor to us, and I took my first Christmas decor shopping trip and realized CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS ARE EXPENSIVE WHEN YOU ARE STARTING FROM SQUARE ONE!  Although there are times when I just wish I could go out and blow a thousand dollars on seasonal decor, it's been so fun to work with the hand-me-downs and the new items we've accumulated in the past few years.  

Our front door - the little tree to the left lights up, but other than that we have no Christmas lights outside.  We just can't bring ourselves to spend the money on lights each year.  Maybe when we have kids who can appreciate them!

A little bit of Christmas spirit in our home office. This little "Joy" tree is special to us because my husband's Nana passed it down to us for our first Christmas.

Christmas in the kitchen!  Our kitchen color scheme is light yellow and greens.  I love when Christmas rolls around so I can add a touch of red. 

The breakfast nook gets a touch of Christmas too...

This hutch is at least 100 years old, and has been passed down to us from my dad's grandmother.  It's a perfect piece to hold our Crate & Barrel Samoa Dinnerware and our Willow Tree Nativity.

Close up of the Nativity ~ our collection is almost complete!  And I love our new PB Noel sign thanks to my mother-in-law!

Dining Area with festive placemats and centerpiece

Neat little Party Lite Apothecary Holder with some festive ornaments inside = instant centerpiece!

I was looking all over Etsy for a holiday banner last year.  A little thought popped into my head...I could make that!  So I purchased some cardstock and used some ribbon I had lying around the house and voila!  I couldn't find a stenciled letter that I liked so I just drew the letters freehand.  This is this banner's second year up, and it still looks great!  I love it because it folds up so nicely for easy storage.

Our entryway with a touch of Christmas

I took some inspiration from Martha and created this DIY Christmas Pin-Up Wreath.  So easy and inexpensive.  I think this whole project cost me a whopping $5!  This is a must-make!

Ahh...my favorite.  I love walking in the door to this cozy sight every day!  This sofa {which I posted about here} was an early Christmas gift we got for ourselves.  Let's just say...we are having ZERO buyer's remorse.  I'm blogging from that chaise lounge over there by the fire place as we speak.  It's "my spot."

 

The tree!  Yep, it's real.

Some of my favorite ornaments...

Our precious little Angel Nieces, Madison & Ella.  Definitely the cutest things on our tree!

I am a sucker for all things that glitter ~ so Christmas is a perfect excuse for me to put out things that are super sparkly.  These Crate & Barrel glitter trees are my favorite!

I managed to squeeze in a bit of Christmas decor in our guest bath that typically has a very beachy feel.  Just added a touch of cinnamon pinecones, embroidered guest towels, a lantern, and a little Christmas pillow.

I wish it could be Christmas in our home all year long!

12 Days of Cookies!

12 Days of Cookies have officially come and gone.  Here are the last of the 12 days of cookies {I posted the first 6 here}. 

Before we start...I did make Paula Deen's Gooey Butter Cookies and the verdict is...

 ...mmm...mmm...MMMM!  I have a feeling these will become a staple.  So yummy!

OK, now on to the last 6 days of cookies...

Day 7:  Rasberry Cake Bars

These look super easy - they remind me of a simpler version of Martha's peanut butter & jelly bars.

Day 8:  PB&J Thumbprints

These are right up my alley!  I love peanut butter and jelly anything, and I am a sucker for any cookie with a cute jam puddle in the middle of it!

Day 9:  Fruit & Nut Shortbread

Ehh...not too sure of how I feel about these ones.  The ingredients sound yummy...but they just don't scream "holiday cookie" to me.  Maybe they just don't sound unhealthy enough.

Day 10:  Chocolate Peppermint Pinwheel Cookies

These look so pretty and sound intriguing!

Day 11:  Polvorones {Walnut Meltaways}

These sound melt-in-your-mouth delicious!

Day 12:  Crazy Oatmeal Cookies

I am a sucker for a good oatmeal cookie.  These ones are dangerously tempting.

I hope you are all finding time to enjoy lights, joy, Christmas songs, family, and sweets this holiday season! 

{All photos courtesy of Food Network, where all recipes can be found}

Ba-Humbug! Feeling a Little Like...

I'm feeling a little like The Grinch...

...or even worse - Ebenezer Scrooge....

...and I'm not liking it!

It seems as though there are so many holiday events going on - and there's just not enough time in each day!

I need to snap out of this BA-HUMBUG attitude, and get with the program.

I really, really do love Christmas.  It just seems like each year is busier than the last.  I am going to snap myself out of it, and keep reminding myself that Christmas isn't about the presents, the shopping, the parties, the baking, or even the decorating.  It's about this precious little guy named Jesus...the savior of the world, born in a lowly manger, who came to die for the sins of you and me, so that we may have everlasting life.

AMEN!

12 Days of Cookies Countdown!

Have you been keeping up with Food Network's 12 Days of Cookies countdown?  I hadn't been, until today.  I have cornered myself into {yet again} a weekend where I have committed to doing too many things and being at too many places.  Eeek!  I was in desperate need of a quick cookie recipe {I've been a little cupcake crazy lately}.  I turned to Food Network and ya know what?  They never disappoint.

Take a look at their first 6 Days of Cookies!

Day 1:  Paula Deen's Chocolate Gooey Butter Cookies

These babies are the cookies I will be making this weekend - can't wait!  The recipe looks quick, easy, and delicious!

Day 2:  Aarti's Ginger Cookie With Garam Masala

Day 3:   Barefoot Contessa's Coconut Macaroons

I make these every year and they are amazing!  Even better dipped in some dark chocolate.

Day 4: Anne's Dried Cherry and Almond Biscotti 

Yum!  I wish these could somehow miraculously appear on my doorstep tomorrow to enjoy with my morning coffee.

Day 5: Giada's Lemon Ricotta Cookies With Lemon Glaze

Day 6: Claire Robinson's Turtle Graham Bars

These didn't make the countdown, but these Chocolate Cheesecake Candy Cane Bars are definitely on my Christmas Cookie-Making To Do List this year...

WOW!

Wishing you a SWEET weekend!