Celebrating
November/December 2013
everyday life
with Jennifer Carroll
P R E V I E W winter
Wonderland Made with Love Easy Gifts from the Kitchen
Hot Cocoa Porch Party Create a Cozy Party to Welcome Friends and Family French Country Cottage Celebrate the Season with Charming Decor for Your Home Ideas to Inspire A Christmas Hop Thankful Table Decorating with Silver and more...
november • december 2013
hello
Happy Holidays!
This truly is the most wonderful time of year, isn't it? People tend to smile more and the Hallmark channel runs “feel-good” Christmas movies round-the-clock (I'm a sucker for those!). My daughter is almost three and is taking a big interest in being in the kitchen with me, so I'm looking forward to baking cookies together this year. She's also become obsessed with the gingerbread houses featured on pages 98103, and so I'm sure we'll be making some of those too! In this issue my friends and I have photo: Jen Fariello gathered some of our favorite crafts, recipes and decorating ideas, which I sincerely hope will take a little stress out of your holiday and add lots and lots of joy! There are fun gift wrapping ideas, delicious Christmas recipes and some easy but charming gift ideas. Even though the tempreature is dropping it doesn't mean we have to stay inside. I've created a Hot Cocoa Front Porch Party (page 54) to prove my theory that with a warm cup of cheer and a blanket or two, you can cozy up outside too. We also step inside an enchanting “French Country Cottage” (page 68) and relish in the beauty of this beguiling home decorated for the holidays. Looking to refresh your Advent tradition? Check out the mason jar Advent project on page 106 and read Vanessa's humorous tale of how she learned to celebrate with joy, even when it wasn't picture-perfect. I also share my beloved collection of Tartanware (page 80) and share a little about its history. I hope that no matter where you are you know that this holiday season you are loved and that you are special. I sincerely want to thank you for joining me in Celebrating Everyday Life this holiday season. I hope your hearts are glowing in anticipation of all the beauty and hope to be found in this sacred and festive season of Joy! Happy Celebrating!
Jennifer
Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly
Merry Christmas. Peg Bracken
CelebratingEverydayLife.com | November/december 2013 3
Contents
November | December 2013 celebrate . everyday
114
54 80
74
24 8 Contributors
All the lovely ladies involved.
12 Products We Heart
A collection of products to help you check off your holiday gift list.
14 On Our Bookshelf
Books to enjoy while sitting snuggled up by the fire with a cup of cocoa.
16 Christmas Simmering Scent Perfume the air with memories of Christmases past with this festive Christmas Boil.
18 Felt Stash Wrapping
Bits from your wool and yarn stash become wrapping that is a gift in itself.
20 Cookie Gift Tags
Gift wrapping has gotten even sweeter with these cookie gift tags!
22 Grain Sack Star Ornaments Add farmhouse charm with these Grain Sack Star Ornaments.
24 Heirloom Linens
Create your own table linens to be used each year and handed down the generations.
26 Forcing Bulbs
Plant tulips in layers to stretch the bulb-forcing season.
30 Pomegranate Topiaries
Pomegranates are a festive fruit that also make for equally festive holiday home decor.
32 At Your Service
Tips for incorporating silver serving dishes into your home decor.
36 Tidings of Great Joy
Natural elements, textures, and colors bring about a rustic cabin feel for a holiday scheme that is both cozy and outdoorsy.
68
Contents
November | December 2013
112 40 DIY Yarn Trees
Deck your halls, tables, and more with this simple yet stunning yarn tree craft.
42 Business is Bliss
Lisa Davis Gilly, owner of LD Linens and Decor and Josephine in Louisiana, shares her insights on running her dream business.
44 A Thankful Table
The Thanksgiving table is all about abundance. It should reflect the gratitude of the harvest-time soul.
50 Made with Love
A mix of homemade and store-bought goodies make these gifts simple to prepare yet delightful to give.
54 The Hot Cocoa Front Porch Party
A tempting hot cocoa bar with all the trimmings is the centerpiece of this festive front porch party.
62 Sweet Dreams
With a few simple touches you can turn your guest room into a luxury retreat your guests won't want to leave.
66 A Fairy-Tale Forest
These sweet Pinecone Christmas Trees are a quick, easy way to combine nature’s trimmings with muchloved treasures.
68 Joyeux Noël
Step inside this French Country Cottage and be inspired by the enchanting decor that makes this home unforgettable.
74 Tea Time
A gentle pause in an otherwise bustling season.
80 The Ideals of “Balmorality” A romantic study in Tartan.
90 The Christmas Party Hop
32
Rock around the Christmas tree with us at a glamorous holiday bash that's filled with some of our favorite things!
celebrate . everyday 98 Craft a Winter Wonderland
A stenciled table runner with lacy accents and a village of gingerbread set the scene for a nostalgic holiday dinner.
106 Adventures in Advent
One mother's tale of learning to celebrate with joy, even when the event isn't picture-perfect.
108 Don't Open Until...Christmas
Beautiful ribbons and embellishments make these gifts almost too pretty to open!
112 Toast the New Year
This cranberry-pomegranate cocktail and mocktail is a refreshing way to toast 2014.
114 Chocolate-Orange Mini Bundt Cakes
90
116 Christmas Morning Brunch
98
Classic holiday flavors are perfectly blended in these hand-held marbled cakes. This menu includes beloved holiday flavors but uses a few shortcuts to get you out of the kitchen faster.
120 Have a Cup of Cheer
These sweet and easy recipes will have you clinking glasses and celebrating with ease.
122 Cookies for Santa
These scrumptious cookies are sure to delight jolly elfs both young and old!
124 Mexican Chicken Soup
A savory soup, inspired by the flavors of Mexico, is perfect for warming up after a busy day of Christmas shopping.
126 The Manual
Your source for recipes & instructions to all the inspiration featured in this issue!
145 Resources
Details on where you can find many of the items featured in this issue.
146 Next Time
A quick look at some of what’s coming up in the next issue!
Contributors
What is your favorite holiday tradition?
Lucy Ancheta-Akins www.craftberrybush.com
Tracey Fisher www.helanaandali.blogspot.com
Jill Flory www.sewafineseam.com
Barb Garrett www.everydayhomeblog.com
My favourite holiday tradition is counting down to midnight on December 24th and opening gifts as soon as the clock strikes 12:00am on December 25th.
I give my daughters pajamas on Christmas Eve. They always look forward to it, even now as teenagers. Last year I got them these great super-soft onesies and that means I have already been thinking of how to top that this year.
I love the festive feel in the air as I pull the boxes from storage and "deck the halls!" From tinsel and glitter to nativities and wise men, I decorate my house from top to bottom to remind us all of the Advent Season – and the reason for it – Jesus our Savior and King!
My favorite holiday tradition is that my son and daughter-inlaw and three grandloves stay at our house on Christmas Eve, and we all wear silly Christmas pajamas and exchange gifts and eat The Garrett Christmas Eve Chili.
Jennifer Holmes www.dearlillie.com My favorite holiday tradition growing up was going with my family over to my uncle's Christmas tree farm the day after Thanksgiving for a sleigh ride out to pick out our tree and then hot cocoa and warm homemade doughnuts afterwards!
Vanessa Hunt www.atthepicketfence.com
Selina Lake selinalake.blogspot.com
Decorating our family Christmas tree. Pulling out all of the paper angels and popsicle-stick ornaments and reminisce over each one before they are hung up by the kids, usually all clumped together on one side of the tree.
I love going to buy our Norway Spruce Christmas Tree. At home, my husband arranges the white twinkling lights, and I decorate it with my collection of pretty vintage baubles, including some inherited from our grandparents.
8 November/december 2013 | CelebratingEverydayLife.com
photo: Rebekah Musser
Dara Powers Parker www.darapowersparker.com When my family watches Scrooged with Bill Murray, laughing at the same jokes until our sides split every year!
Heather Patterson www.atthepicketfence.com
Amy Renea www.anestforallseasons.com
Reni www.blissandtellblog.com
Kelly Rinzema www.thelilypadcottage.com
My favorite holiday tradition is making my husband's Mamaw's Southern Pecan Pie every Thanksgiving and Christmas for his family. She taught me how to make it before she passed away and every time I take a bite, it brings back so many wonderful memories of her.
More than any one thing, I love watching the way my husband and I bring our own traditions to our kids, molding and shaping new memories for them for years to come. Biting the heads off animal sugar cookies and making burnt fudge has never been so fun.
I love, and cherish, the times I get to share time in the kitchen with my mom, making old family recipes and creating new ones together.
I always get the kids new pajamas to wear Christmas morning. I love to wake up early with them and watch all the excitement.
Lisa TutmanOglesby www.celebrate-creativity.com
Aimee Twigger www.twiggstudios.com
Jennifer Rizzo www.jenniferrizzo.com
Debi Treloar debitreloar.com
We love going to church on Christmas Eve. At the end of service the entire congregation goes around the manger and sings "Silent Night." It's beautiful. We go home and have a great family dinner and spend the night together. It makes the night special every year.
I am not someone who has traditions, though my children seem to veer towards the tradition of wanting me to buy them burgers on holidays or food we normally don't eat at home. I lean towards finding the nearest place to do yoga or have a massage.
Both my kids get to pick one holiday dish to make themselves. Whatever they want, no rules, no limits. The tradition has resulted in some unusual additions to our dinner table over the years, but it’s always fun to see what they come up with.
My favorite holiday tradition is decorating the Christmas tree. We always make the day of it and listen to Christmas music while we are putting up the tree. It makes you feel full of Christmas spirit.
CelebratingEverydayLife.com | November/december 2013 9
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November | December 2013 Editor & Designer Jennifer Carroll
Staff Writer
Dara Powers Parker
Celebrating Everyday Life the magazine and Principal Photographers Jennifer Carroll Celebrating Everyday Life Debi Treloar the blog are divisions of Jennifer Carroll Media, LLC. Contributors Lucy Ancheta-Akins
Tracey Fisher Jill Flory Barb Garrett Jennifer Holmes Follow Vanessa Hunt Celebrating Everyday Life Selina Lake online: Heather Patterson Amy Renea MAGAZINE WEBSITE: Reni www.JenniferCarrollMedia.com Kelly Rinzema Jennifer Rizzo BLOG: Lisa Tutman-Oglesby www.CelebratingEverydayLife.com Aimee Twigger Karianne Wood
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Pinterest: pinterest.com/jencarrollva Twitter: twitter.com/jencarrollva
Hair & Makeup Stylist Lucinda Riley
JCM Webmaster David Riley
Special Consultant Lisa Gladwell
Manuscripts and artwork can be accepted only on the understanding that Celebrating Everyday Life is not liable for their safekeeping. Unfortunately We Cannot Accept Any Unsolicited Manuscripts. Although we make every effort to quote the correct price of all merchandise, it is possible some prices may have changed since we went to press. While we always do our best to ensure that firms and organizations mentioned in the issue are reputable, the Editor can give no guarantee that they will fulfill their obligations under any circumstances. Celebrating Everyday Life is published bi-monthly (6 issues per year) by Jennifer Carroll Media, LLC. ISSN 2327-9028 (print); ISSN 2327-9044 (online); Š A Publication of Jennifer Carroll Media, LLC
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