“There is something so comforting, so soothing about a mug of hot chocolate. No matter how old I am, I think chocolat chaud will always have the ability to take me back to special times, when all of the world's problems seemed to melt away by consuming one simple beverage.”
― Lisa Schroeder, My Secret Guide to Paris

Good morning!

I hope you are having a restful weekend and are starting to feel the holiday spirit surround you. If not...that is okay...it has been a strange year...but...you may find something in our newsletter today that will spark your creativity or take you down memory lane.

We usually wait until after Thanksgiving to decorate for Christmas but this year we got a head start hanging greens around the barn. And as things typically happen around here...one project led to another...and greens were added to the patio, the front door, and delivered to a few neighbors. I intended to capture some of this activity on video...but alas...I forgot to press the record button. Arrg! I did captured some of the progress on my camera though so you can follow along.

You will also find an air-dry clay DIY project, and a creative way to keep your face mask fresh between uses!

But first! You might want to make a cup of hot chocolate! Heavy on the marshmallows for me please!

Time for Hot Cocoa

Does hot cocoa have the ability to take you back to special times? Perhaps visiting a grandparent, or ice skating, or finding the perfect cafe during a winter storm?

Are you a whipped cream fan or a marshmallow purest? Sprinkles perhaps? Do you eat the marshmallows before they melt or let them become part of the drink? Are you an "instant" cocoa junky or a "made from scratch" only person?

These are important questions to be examined! Each decision is part of the ritual and your traditions.

The smell of hot chocolate takes me back to our family camping trips when I was a kid...

Sitting around the campfire...feeling the warm mug in my hands

..swirling the marshmallows around with a spoon until they were half melted...and then slurping them into my mouth...probably leaving a gooey white mustache and sticky hands...but who cares when you are a kid..right?

Cookies and Decor

With every cup of cocoa...there should be cookies! FYI...Trader Joe's has chocolate mint star cookies again!

Tis the season!

Tiny stars that are cute and delicious!

Decorating Tip: Fill different sized glass jars with small cookies and tie them with a ribbon. Place the jars on top of candle holders and you will have an instant holiday display for your kitchen.

Treasures from the Past

I'm curious...Do you have a collection of handwritten family recipes stored in a box or in a binder?

I was looking through a box of memorabilia this week and found an old book of recipes. It was stuffed with mostly handwritten cards, well "loved" with food stains and yellow from age.

I assume the book belonged to my great aunt Mabel because it was published by the Women's Association of Goldendale, Washington and that is where she lived.

As I leafed through the book, I was struck by the amount of history and the number of friendships that were represented in the recipes. Each one identified by the author and probably given with a great deal of love and thought.

This recipe is from Grace Speck...Cheers to Grace and her fig pudding! May her memory live on through these photos.

We still use our handwritten family recipes but I often reach for my phone to search new recipes. Tradition vs Technology...how will it all play out in the future?

I did a quick search and there is an app called The Recipe Box. Somehow I don't think it will hold the same sentiment as an old book stuffed with yellow cards.

If you are looking for a Christmas present idea...consider sharing a family recipe on a handwritten card!

Hanging the Greens

Hanging the greens is one of my very favorite Christmas traditions. The smell of fresh cut evergreens is intoxicating!

We are lucky to have an abundance of evergreen trees on our property and a very nice neighbor who lets us forage greens on their property as well! We trade finished wreaths for blue spruce and holly!

We fill the wagon and wheelbarrow with a combination of pine and cedar boughs and forage other greens around the property.

Then we bring a table outside and begin creating swags and wreaths for the barn, patio, and garden shed.

Inside the barn there is always a simmering pot of hot mulled wine...all part of the tradition!

Evergreen wreaths are easy to make...if you would like to give it a try, there is a simple instruction video here.

I thought this wreath was huge until we hung it on the barn...now it looks tiny!

Our decorations are simple this year..just fresh greens with lots of different textures and pine cones for added interest.

On the Patio

Inspiration for the patio decor started with two magnolia wreaths that I found at the Portland wholesale flower market.

One wreath was placed on the fireplace mantel as a focal point and the other wreath was placed on the coffee table underneath a copper lantern.

A second copper lantern was placed on the dining table and embellished with greens and pinecones.

More lanterns…

and twigs, greens, and pinecones on the bar.

Helpful hint: Outdoor greens do not have to be "physically attached" to anything but they do need to have a visual anchor. Choose a focal point...like this lantern...and lay your greens so they radiate from that point.

Apply the same method for a fireplace mantel...it can be symmetrical or asymmetrical with the focal point on one side or in the middle. For example, I used a wreath for the focal point at one end of the mantel which created an asymmetrical design with boughs radiating from that point.

Front Door Decor

Every decorating project starts by making a mess!

We removed pumpkins and dead foliage from the planters and then filled them with cedar, pine, and laurels. Each variety of greens added their own texture and color making an interesting arrangement. After the greens were in place I added large pinecones and faux sugared apples for a pop of color.

You can see the same method also applied here. Greens are radiating from the focal point.

A candle holder and more greens were added to the stone bench beside the front door.

A poinsettia was added to each side of the walkway to finish the look.

This is an excerpt from our bi-monthly newsletter. You can read the full article here and subscribe to our newsletter here to be the first to receive discounts and studio updates.