This time of year the kitchen is a mess. I love our big kitchen island but it is used all the time. Right now it is filled with cookies cooling from the oven and the gingerbread house is still a work in process. But between cleanings I was able to snap a few pictures.

The Santa art above the stove is one of my favorites. I love the elves assisting Santa with his cooking.

If you need to know how to say Merry Christmas in 10 languages, check out the board below!

Our well-used coffee station was jollied up a bit with holiday themed mugs, napkins and faux berries.

The patisserie glass stand on the island is fun to decorate each season.

The kitchen themed Christmas tree has fruits, vegetables, pots and pans as ornaments.

Even the double ovens get holiday towels to perk up a rather plain space.

Pinecones, red berries and greens adorn the breakfast room mantle during the day.

And at night, the fairy lights give it a magical glow.

Various types of “snowflakes” are hung on the individual kitchen window panes. Even though the grass outside is green, the snowflakes give the kitchen a wintery feel. At night, they really stand out against the evening backdrop.

A holiday favorite.

Thanks for joining me today, especially with Christmas less than 1 week away! I still haven’t completed my holiday shopping….I don’t know why I am procrastinating but I really need to focus in on that TODAY! Have a fabulous Thursday!

It seems counterintuitive to be harvesting from a garden in December, but that is the beauty of living in Phoenix, Arizona.

When other parts of the country are having winter and snow, it is now our “autumn” as the leaves are changing color and dropping. Even the grapevine entrance to the garden turns a beautiful burgundy.

This fall I changed up my garden a bit. Typically I plant lots of tomatoes, but since we do occasionally have freezing temperatures, it takes a great deal of effort to protect those plants in the winter. So I focused away from tomatoes and more toward greens and hearty winter vegetables.

There are a few tomato plants but they have sprung up on their own, from seeds from the summer. It will take some warmer temps before they are a brilliant red. If freezing temperatures come, I will cover them with frost cloth or heavy clear plastic and hang Christmas lights around the plants for some additional warmth.

Increased quantities of broccoli and cauliflower plants this year which should be ready to cut within the next few weeks. Just in time for our New Year’s resolution of eating healthier!

I planted peppers (two of them) this summer, but I am not sure what kind they are. I thought I had purchase jalapeños, but these are too big. I think they are poblano and as a result I have been letting them grow. One plant has nice, green peppers.

The other was affected by our most recent cold snap and now the peppers look like this.

The greens are so happy~we’ve had a bit of rain this month and the cooler temps have the bok choy, arugula, kale and different types of lettuces looking extremely healthy.

Some years I cannot grow sage, but this year, it has taken off! Mint, parsley, basil (until it freezes), chives, and there’s even a little dill left are in the herb garden.

I have three mystery squash plants. It could be spaghetti squash but until it bears fruit, I have no idea. It might be a good idea to keep a garden diary….or those little plastic name tags near the plants.

The orchard is nearly ready to give us weeks of fresh citrus~~different varieties of oranges, grapefruit, kumquats, limes, lemons and limequats. There is nothing better than having fresh squeezed orange juice from our favorite tree.

It seems a bit early but hollyhocks are growing EVERYWHERE. However, there is only one in bloom right now, but I expect there to be a riot of color in the spring.

This time of year is one of my favorites. Our street is lined with mature ash trees that become a brilliant yellow. Our yard has its share of deciduous trees so lots of raking required.

Wishing you a terrific Tuesday!

This week we had our annual neighborhood board holiday party. Nothing like having guests to motivate you to get things done! Unfortunately, I failed to take any great pictures, as I was too busy setting everything up. Photos taken in natural light are the best and of course, these were done in the evening.

In addition to a sampling of hors d’hoeurves and desserts, I served a light supper of turkey chili (see recipe here) and homemade cranberry/cherry walnut sourdough bread. Even though it was a crisp evening, the back terrace and the full moon provided the perfect backdrop for the festivities.

The house is almost completely decorated. I keep adding things as I go, but I am happy with what we did this year.

Each year we send out Christmas cards and my deadline is to get them in the mail no later than December 15th. The cards arrived yesterday from Minted late in the day so guess what I am doing this weekend. This is the first year we had Minted put the addresses on the envelopes. I kept an updated address spreadsheet this year and I am happy we went to the additional expense to have them do the addressing.

Making a gingerbread house last year for the first time was such fun! The goal is to make another this week. Hoping for successful results!

Here are some photos of the holiday decorations around the house. Every year I always hope to do a video tour but that never seems to happen!

Instead of wrapping light strands in the fresh garland on the bannister, I used remote controlled candles on each step.

The living room mantle, like the dining room, has a bit of a tree theme. The challenge with this mantle is the depth~~garland alone tends to look a bit wimpy. I added faux red berries and greens to beef it up.

The homemade stockings are typically stretched out along the mantle. This year I gathered them to one side, which I like better.

Pillows from Pottery Barn and Ikea dress up the living room sofa.

The front entrance is my husband’s project as he puts up the numerous trees that line the entry.

Battery operated candles are in each window, something my mother would do every year at our home in Connecticut.

This next week will be last minute shopping, baking cookies, making my gingerbread house, and creating a Christmas dinner menu. It’s a bit difficult not to get swept up into the anxiety of the holidays. The magic of Christmas happens every year and I keep assuring myself that it will all come together and just B-R-E-A-T-H-E.

Happy Saturday!

I am always impressed with people who have the courage and entrepreneurship to start a small business. I make a concerted effort to go out of my way and support them. Since I just received products from 2 small businesses in Maine, I wanted to share their stories with you.

Maine Maid Primitives started her Etsy shop a few years ago, crocheting chicken ornaments. She was so successful that she recruited her younger sister to help with the orders. This business has helped fund their college tuitions.

I heard about Maine Maid Primitives from a feature done by Lisa at Fresh Eggs Daily. I ordered 5 chickens and 3 duck ornaments and they are so adorable and well-made!

They are such a nice addition to my kitchen countertop Christmas tree.

Another Maine resource came from my friend, Gabie at Tea End Blog. Gabie is my go-to person regarding tea due to her knowledge and expertise.

Homegrown Herb and Tea Company is located in Portland, Maine. The owner, Sarah has based her business on a strong philosophy for blending medicinal herbal teas in the tradition of the Old World Apothecary. Not only is each infusion hand blended to order in small batches, but every ingredient is used within three months of its’ harvest to achieve the best possible freshness and complexity.

The teas arrive wrapped in the local newspaper and each batch is secured in brown waxed paper.

The brewing instructions are on the package ~~unlike some teas.

Especially this time of year, taking a break and having a cup of this tea reminds you that this product was made by someone who truly cares about helping you find wellness.

Today I sampled the Cranberry Apple Pie tea.

Look how beautiful the ingredients are!

Another treat is adding a bit of Crozier honey. This honey is made by beekeepers Bruce and Janiece, my in-laws in Texas and it is such a treat to receive a jar of it.

Look at the beautiful and rich color of the tea!

This time I ordered Cranberry Apple Pie, The Stress Doctor, The Nightcap and Sniffle Tea with a Sore Throat Kiss. My previous order was Peace, Aphrodi-Tea and Nightcap. All ingredients are listed in detail on their website and I highly recommend them. The quality is superb! Also be aware that it may take some time to fill your order as each type of tea is made in small batches.

Remember to take a break and do something nice for yourself during the holidays….and support small businesses along the way.

I am so excited to share the holiday changes to our dining room this year. Every year, literally, every year, I have done the same thing when it comes to holiday decorating.

When your holiday decorating is repetitive, it’s difficult to imagine the space differently. I was a bit stumped on what to do but somehow it just magically came together!

Here are photos of the dining room in previous years ( I think my photography skills have improved a bit!). The dining room has always been where we displayed the countless snow globes we have. Since I have been buying one for each child X 3 children up to age 21, you can do the math. We have ALOT of snow globes.

The glittery village has continually occupied to top of the buffet lending to the general snow/winter theme in this room.

But this year, being our first as empty nesters, I decided not to unpack the snow globes or glitter houses.

Ordering a 100 foot roll of garland*, I decided to use the fresh cedar greens on the mantle. Over the summer we had the room painted a clean white and added 2 white upholstered chairs in attempts to lightened the impact of the dark dining room table (which I would love to change).

The expensive Oriental rug has been in our family for a very long time so I don’t see it being replaced anytime soon. With deep tones of cranberry and some pinks, it made sense to keep the decorations in that color category.

The blush bottle brush trees are from Pier 1 Imports. The selection of bottle brush trees at Michaels was pathetic so I was delighted to find these at Pier 1. The glittery gold trees are from Pottery Barn purchased last year.

The pink and white snow ornaments are from Michaels and are hung from the chandelier with fishing line.

I love our white chairs from Ballard Designs and added the boxwood wreaths (also from Ballard Designs) with a sheer green ribbon pinned to the top of the chair.

The buffet will be filled with food for the holidays so it was left undecorated this year. I will be adding some fresh cut flowers and greens for our holiday event tomorrow evening. My sweet husband polished all the silver which makes the room sparkle.

Overall, the decorations feel cleaner and lighter this year.

I hope you enjoyed the decorating changes made to the dining room. Enjoy this beautiful Tuesday and keep jolly!

*Greens purchased from Torchio Nursery at the San Francisco Flower Market.

This is the time of year we we always have people drop in for some holiday cheer. Some events are more formal than others. I always keep some standard items on hand, just in case I need to throw together an hors d’oeuvre tray or cocktail snacks.

My go-to place if I am entertaining a crowd is Costco. Here are a few of their products that are my favorite to use.

For a charcuterie tray, a mixture of cured meats, cheeses, fruits, vegetables, and items I use to fill the empty spaces~~olives, nuts, and berries can be purchased in one grocery run.

These spiral minis are so delicious. You can add a slice of pickle or wrap them with a chive blade to customize the look.

Fresh crab is a special treat that can be served many ways. This one from Phillips is the best I have found so far. I shared my warm crab dip a few blog posts ago (click here for recipe). Nothing like having something hot and bubbly to dip your cracker or bread into on a chilly winter night.

This cheese pack comes with 4 different kinds of cheeses and is already pre-sliced. Pull out a holiday cookie cutter and you can make your tray instantly festive.

Boursin cheese (with 3 different flavors) is not only yummy but I like the size for tucking into my board.

Everyone loves Brie and it is only $5.49 ~~this one is whole (5″ in diameter) and perfect for baking. Place the wheel on an oven-safe serving dish, bake at 350 degrees for 5-7 minutes (longer if you want it softer or runny). Any leftover cranberry sauce from Thanksgiving? Pour some over the top; add walnuts if you’d like or some orange zest, garnish with rosemary. Viola! You have a holiday themed Brie in under 15 minutes! Sour cherry or fig jam will work equally as well.

This attractive goat cheese log is filled with holiday flavors-cinnamon and cranberries. Another good cheese to just unpack and put out. It is best at room temperature.

Olives are a staple in our refrigerator all year. This 3 pack is $9.99 and are very flavorful.

Two delicious dips: The Spinach Artichoke Parmesan dip can be put in a bread bowl or warmed up in an over safe container, too.

Costco’s selection of fresh berries is rather good. I tend to do berries vs. cut apples to minimize the prep work.

For a dessert tray, you can’t beat these mini cream puffs. The extras can go into the freezer to nibble on later. That can be a good and bad thing!

Every Christmas, my dear friend, Linda would make the most delicious macarons. I swear they were better than the ones I’ve tasted in Paris. However, she abandoned me to get married and move to the east coast so now I buy these. They do well in a pinch.

The key to making a warm and welcoming spread for you family and guests is to be creative in the presentation. If the food looks enticing, then you know it will taste good.

Here are some photos from the Inspire Workshop that I attended in October in Texas, hosted by KariAnne from Thistlewood Farms. I met Barb from Gasthaus on the Meadow, who catered the event. She is absolutely brilliant in her presentation~~using different heights and props to display the food.

How cute is this? Adding a candle to the tray and writing a message on the wood slice is clever. I believe you can purchase these at Michaels or a similar craft store.

Combining textures, colors and heights makes this very exciting….see how she displayed the mini spirals from Costco?

The added touches of chrysanthemum flowers and sprigs of ivy add color and dimension this sandwich board.

What about this dessert display? Incredible!

Even if you don’t have a Costco nearby, I am hoping you can find the same or similar items at your grocery store. We have such a great selection here in Phoenix.

I hope you have enjoyed these tips and will take it up a notch this year and create beautiful food displays during the holidays.