The Christmas Table

T'was the night before Christmas, the table setting was prepared and linens pressed. The pudding was on a low simmer on the oven top while the crust was warming in the oven below. The night before I had prepared a delightful arrangement of roses and fresh pine and polished the fine crystal... so what was left to do (besides making sure the pudding didn't burn?) fill every inch of our wonderful home with Christmas!

I wanted to share with everyone the delightful idea I had come up with on a budget for this holiday table! I remember when I was young, my mom would have the most distinguished table setting, traditional settings, with large chandeliers gracing things table delightfully playing in the candle light. I think as we all get older Christmas fades from being about gifts and what we give or even what receive as being replaced by the Christmas dinners with family and friends. The conversation of a year well done, the amazing travels or life experiences that we have encountered. The things I remember the most of my moms home was the warmth of Christmas spirit - A combination of candles glowing, music playing and a extra heaping Christmas plate. As we've gotten older I've also began to see my dad open up and begin to tell the stories of our Christmas's past or of our journey to Canada from France.

So what was the budget for the table? 50$ (or less... preferably less) Drum roll please! 16$ ribbon, 21$ flowers, 15$ Table Cloth, 5$ tea lights! If my Christmas math is correct it was a total cost of 57. Not too shabby.

So without further hush hush, I'll show you the first place setting before I went all out!

Are you ready for the big finally? I sure was! After ironing the table 5 times washing it then ironing it again 5 more times, I think that me and this table cloth don't have "The love" but finally after hours at the iron, my grandma had shared some pressing secrets to a tidy table cloth!

Then I had to quickly bustle lover to the store nearby and grab some flowers so that I could make a perfect setting.



So here we are, waiting for our friends and family to arrive, to sing and laugh. But until then, I'll still be here... pie simmering with some candles lit and Judy Garland saying the most wonderful words "Have yourself a merry little Christmas now".



The Perfect Peacock

With the holiday season blooming, the Christmas shoppers bustling I always like to take a moment to sit down and refect on this years blessings. Christmas presents nestled under the tree, cookies baked, Christmas cards sent. All for what I call the perfect moment. Andy Williams Christmas vinyl playing, the sweet aroma of pine flowing freely in the air lighting the warmth of the Christmas spirit all around you. Friends new and old gathered sipping on a beautiful red. Perfect.

I was lucky enough to get a bit of a Christmas challenge this year! Rhys Mother was looking for a tree change (and I don't mean the upside down Christmas trees!). She was wanting to have her total tree revamped. Rhys and I had wanted to do something special for his mom, something with bright colours (she loves peacock green and blue). And with a more modern twist for her lovely new condo. Lets take a peek at what we have to work with!

Before:

We were given the sky as the limit for colour choices and styles with a budget of 60$. Now, I will say that under normal circumstances.... and those of you who decorate your Christmas trees splendidly, 60$ can be a bit of a tight pinch. But with Michael's, coupons, some left over peacock feathers from his moms wedding this past year we were able to pull a little Christmas miracle of our own.
After:

Some really cool things we did to cut corners and get more bang four our buck: that tree skirt underneath? It's not a tree skirt at all, we actually thought on a sixty some dollar budget that a twenty some dollar tree skirt would just eat up way too much of what we had to spend so we went out and got a window panel and wrapped it around the tree for 5$! I find to get that beautiful "full" tree look, the easiest thing is to use outside fillers, twigs, branches, flowers, ribbon, feathers. Fill that tree to express who you are. Care to take a closer look at the topper!?

Well! With the snow falling down as I sit down here at my home, the home made hot chocolate warming on the stove, the cookies freshly baked I look forward to a visit from Santa.

Wishing you a happy holiday season :)