Innholdsfortegnelse for Celebrate Holiday 2012 i Southern Lady

It truly is the most wonderful time of the year! Th e holiday season inspires the entertaining spirit within me. I love gathering everyone together, whipping up goodies, and reliving our family traditions. One of my favorite traditions is snuggling in for a casual Christmas Eve, and beginning on page 68, you will find wonderful inspiration for such a gathering. When Neal and I got married, we started a silver bell collection. It is always enchanting to unpack them and polish them to a gleaming shine. I love the way they reflect the glow from our tiny tree lights. Th ere is something very special about adding to our collection year after year. And I love hosting holiday get-togethers, but sometimes it can be hard to not get swept up…

HIGHLIGHTED PERFORMANCE Everyday candles are ready to shine this season once adorned with jute and cinnamon sticks. Gather greenery from the yard to form a ring, add candles, and place atop a vintage cake stand for casual flair. POINSETTIAS AND PINECONES Create this comfortable look by using an antique box to house a pastel yellow poinsettia. Fill in under the blooms with miniature pinecones. Remember, poinsettias are tropical flowers and will love being near a sunny window. CREATIVE COMBINATIONS Assemble glass vases, paperwhites, and kumquats for a centerpiece that will stay strong through the new year. Fill a small vase with pebbles for drainage, then transfer your blooming bulbs, and top with lime green reindeer moss. Place this vase inside a larger one, and fill in with kumquats. Mix and…

Tis the season for sharing and giving—simply wonderful reasons to gather friends. For a different take on a holiday party, host a brunch complete with a gift-giving game that lets each guest share one of her favorite things. The rules of the game are simple—find a gift that costs less than $10, and bring three of them (see all the rules on page 53). You never know who will take home something you love or what you will receive yourself. And as the classic tune reminds us, sharing a few of your favorite things is sure to brighten anyone’s day. For this gathering, try a new holiday color palette—soft grays and warm pinks. We created a tablescape of cableknit details, milk glass, silver antlers, distressed flatware, and shiny ornaments. Then…

The key to achieving this bright and cozy atmosphere is in the details. Gather milk glass—search flea markets or estate sales for great finds—and fill them with pink peonies and roses. If you don’t have a cable-knit runner, a throw or a scarf will do the trick. And using velvet ribbon to tie place tags to napkins adds soft texture. PARTY Download, and print out our paper package at celebratemag.com. • Favorite Things Invitation • Favorite Things Menu • Favorite Things Place Tags • Favorite Things Gift Tags • Favorite Things Tent Cards…

Pop the Champagne These bottles (available at save-on-crafts.com) are actually filled with confetti—perfect for popping open as the clock strikes midnight. Of course, keep glasses of bubbly at hand for toasting as the confetti falls. If there was ever an occasion to cover with shimmer and glam, it is New Year’s Eve. A new year offers promise and hope, and that’s a reason to celebrate to the nines. Assemble a polished and tasteful display of gold and white candles, shimmery tinsel fringe, and gilt-rimmed flutes, with accents of gold glitter and trim. Serve fancy yet easily prepared hors d’oeuvres to add another level of sophistication, and, of course, offer champagne for guests to sip throughout the night. Gold Accents These candles were taped and then spraypainted with gold and glitter-gold…

PEPPERMINT-MOCHA BROWNIES Makes 8 servings 1 (18.75-ounce) box brownie mix* 2 teaspoons instant coffee granules 1½ teaspoons peppermint extract 8 small peppermint candy canes 1 tablespoon confectioners’ sugar Preheat oven to 325°. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with aluminum foil, allowing edges of foil to extend 2 inches over sides of pan. Spray foil with nonstick cooking spray. Prepare brownie mix according to package directions, adding coffee granules and peppermint extract to batter. Spoon batter into prepared pan. Bake according to package directions. While brownie is still warm, top with candy canes, lightly pressing into warm brownie. Let cool completely in pan on a wire rack. Lift brownie from pan, using edges of foil as handles. Cut between candy canes into 8 brownies. Sift confectioners’ sugar over brownies. *We…

GINGERSNAP WHOOPIE PIES WITH EGGNOG ICING Makes 30 whoopie pies 2 ounces cream cheese, softened . cup butter, softened 2 tablespoons pasteurized eggnog, chilled . teaspoon vanilla extract ? teaspoon ground cinnamon ? teaspoon ground nutmeg ? teaspoon ground cloves ? teaspoon rum extract 5 cups confectioners’ sugar 60 (1-inch) gingersnap cookies In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat cream cheese and butter at medium-high speed until smooth. Add eggnog, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and rum extract, stirring to combine. Reduce speed to low. Add confectioners’ sugar, 1 cup at a time, beating until blended and smooth. Spoon icing into a piping bag fitted with a star tip. Pipe icing onto the flat sides of 30 cookies. Top each cookie with another cookie, flat…

I love the magic of the Christmas season. Ever since I was a little girl, I can remember it all beginning the weekend after Th anksgiving. This is when we set out looking for the perfect tree at a local nursery. Our home was then immediately transformed with the twinkling of lights and the scent of Scotch pine. Unwrapping the hodgepodge of ornaments collected over the years is still probably the most nostalgic thing we do over the holidays. And despite the hustle and bustle, I love getting up a bit earlier each morning to sit by the tree, reflect on my loved ones, and take stock of our many blessings. This issue, our team has pulled together some wonderful parties for sharing your hospitality. These articles have everything you…

There’s a certain Christmas joy that often goes unmentioned. We talk and sing about decking the halls, holiday feasts, the sweet smell of pine, and a blanket of sugary snow. But there’s another pleasure I cherish each year—opening my mailbox and finding it full of beautiful envelopes that seal wishes from dear friends. And as much as I love receiving cards, I adore sending them even more. So much goes into the tradition of sending Christmas cards: What message do you and your family want to share this season? And what card is just right for spreading your love and joy? I’ve found several beautiful cards by talented designers. Some double as ornaments, while others perfectly complement pretty wrapping paper and gift tags. Here are my favorites in two different…

1.BRING YOUR FAVORITE GIFT Pick up something you know anyone at the party is sure to enjoy, keeping the price under $10. Bring three of each item wrapped in pretty paper! 2.PICK A NAME Before the party, the hostess should write the names of each guest on three slips of paper and place in a bowl. Each gift giver draws three names (if you draw someone’s name more than once in one round, or if you draw your own, put it back in the bowl, and choose another). 3.GIVE YOUR GIFT Present your packages to the three people whose names you drew. Let the recipients open them all at once. At the end of the party, each person should leave with three presents.…

One of the most beautiful aspects of Christmastime is joining friends and family in celebrating the holidays with festivities that yield treasured memories. In her book Th e Collected Tabletop: Inspirations for Creative Entertaining, Kathryn Crisp Greeley shares this sentiment: “I have long believed that many memories and experiences make the most amazing gifts.” Th e Collected Tabletop features 12 elaborate party ideas, from the Black-Tie Birthday Celebration to the High-On-Th e Hog Bar- B-Que. Each event is very different from the next, but Greeley’s heart for hosting and passion for detail are evident on every page. Her expert guidance and fresh ideas for invitations, china, tablescapes, recipes, and favors will have you anxious to start planning your own event. Whether your holiday tradition is to simply gather for Christmas…

dry snow gloves Recycled jars are perfect for creating your own winter scenes. Gather an assortment of small Christmas decorations and miniatures from around the house (or search dollar stores and craft stores), and set inside the jars on top of craft snow. Epsom salts can also be used to create a snowy look. wrapped with joy Capture extra cheer this season with this fun and easy project. Thoroughly wrap multipurpose sisal twine around 12-inch papier-mâché letters, and secure ends with a few dots of hot glue. natural combinations A touch of burlap exudes a vintage and nostalgic feeling no matter how it is used. Here stockings are right at home with an evergreen garland accented with cotton. see our burlap wrealth how-to on page 44 burlap wreath HOW-TO Try…

Magnolia Topiary Craft a lovely holiday arrangement for your buffet by covering Styrofoam cones with Magnolia leaves and finishing with a collar of other greenery and berries. See the full how-to on page 76. Magnolia Topiary how-to WHAT TO GATHER dry floral oasis; urn or planter; 3/16x6-inch wooden dowel; hand drill; Styrofoam cone; Magnolia leaves; straight pins; ribbon STEP 1. Place oasis in planter, keeping it flush with the top. Secure the wooden dowel 3 inches down into the center of the oasis, leaving the remaining 3 inches sticking out. Predrill a hole in the bottom of the cone, and gently tap down onto the dowel. STEP 2. Trim the stems off the bottoms of leaves, and attach to the cone, using straight pins and beginning at the base of…

SPANISH TUNA-AND-WHITEBEAN DIP Makes about 6 cups 2 (4.5-ounce) cans oil-packed tuna, undrained 1 (15.5-ounce) can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained 2 cups jarred roasted red peppers, chopped 1 cup whole Marcona almonds ½ cup chopped fresh parsley 2 tablespoons olive oil ½ teaspoon smoked paprika 1 teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper Pita chips In a large bowl, stir together tuna, beans, peppers, almonds, parsley, olive oil, paprika, salt, and pepper. Serve with pita chips. ARTICHOKEMASCARPONE DIP Makes 4 cups 1 (12-ounce) jar marinated artichokes, drained and chopped 1 (8-ounce) container mascarpone cheese, softened 1 cup bread crumbs, divided ½ cup chopped onion ⅓ cup mayonnaise 4 ounces part-skim mozzarella cheese, shredded ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese, divided 1 clove garlic, minced 1 teaspoon smoked paprika 1…

DECK THE HALLS Page 28–ribbon, Midori Page 29–gold tree, Hobby Lobby Page 30–hurricanes, Z Gallerie; salad plate, Herend; linens and martini glass, Table Matters; flatware, west elm Page 31–black tray, Table Matters; candleholders, High Street Market Page 32–ornament garland, Z Gallerie; stockings, Kindred Spirit; glass candleholders, Tag Page 34–white tree, Balsam Hill; deer, Z Gallerie; mercury-glass trees, Table Matters Page 35–glass candleholder, Tag HANDMADE HOLIDAYS Page 38–stockings, Park Hill Collection Page 39– cotton garland and tree, Park Hill Collection Page 40–pinecone garland, HomArt; antler plaque, Horchow OUR FAVORITE THINGS Page 42–gray throw, Macys; antler bowl, Magenta Page 43–antler, Z Gallerie Page 44–flatware, TableArt; chargers and plates, Juliska; linen, Patricia Spratt; velvet ribbon, Hip Chicks Designs Page 45–peonies, Fifty Flowers Page 46–white oval platter, Magenta; sugar bowl, Bromberg’s Page 47–mugs, Vietri…