Mustard Seed Love |

I just came across the 'Miss Mustard Seed' blog and it is fabulous! Miss Mustard seed is so talented and has so many great ideas. This image below of her barn door mantel display is one of my favourties so far!

Check out more of her holiday ideas!!

Our 'Rustic Forest' Themed Christmas Tree |

Wood ornaments, grapevine garland,

little glass birds in rafia nests, metal jingle bells,

large acorns, golden pine cones,

rustic picture frame ornaments, fuzzy snowflakes,

moose and trees, quilted tree skirt made by grandma,

and an uncovnetional tree topper (that is supposed to be a wall hanging)

tied with cross stitch 'Merry Christmas' ribbon.

Creative Christmas Cookies |

I LOVE Christmas baking, and this year being that I won't be in exams leading up to Christmas for the fisr time in 5 years, I hope to have more time to bake a number of different things.

In the past I have made 'Reindeer Cookies' unsing graham crackers as the head but I came across a similar cookie that uses these peanut shaped cookies for the head and thought they were so cute. So I hope to find cookies like these somewhere (I'm thinking that might be a US treat though?) but if you have ever seen them in Canada let me know.

I will probably use chocolate chips for the eyes and a sweedish berry for the nose (as that's what I used last time and they looked cute!)

I also want to do a lot of sugar cookies. I usually just do the basic icing (in different colours) and then put sliver ball sprinles on them. However this year I would like to try my hand at piping! And I really like the pastel colours like in the picture below.

I also want to use coconut on my sugar cookies. I will use white coconut on the snowmen and snoflakes and then I will die some coconut green for the on the trees (to make them look like pine needles). And then I would even use for for trimming / fur on the stocking cookies and for feathers on the angle wings. I think the coconut will bring a nice dimension to the cookies as well as a yummy texture.

I might also make my 'snowman cupcakes' again this year. they were a big hit with the kids at our family Christmas party. They too use coconut and are very easy to make. I simply made plain vanilla cupcakes with white frosting, then I dunked them in a bowl of coconut to make them look snowy. Then I used a Christmas coloured candy corn for the nose and chocolate chips for the eyes and mouth. I then glued a ribbon around the base of the cupcake to make it look like a scarf. This year I might even try sticking pretzels in in sides of the cupcake to look like the snowman's arms.

Picture of my snowman cupcake:

I would also like to try 'twist cookies' again this year. I made candy cane twist cookies a few years ago but they were way too big. This year I made try twisting the different doughs together in a straight/stick cookie (great for dipping in hot chocolates) and I will make them a lot smaller/thinner this time.

Candy Cane Twist Cookies from a few years ago:

Pictures of my 2010 cookies to come!

Wreath Re-Creation |

I use the same grape vine wreath for every season. I simply change out the ribbon and folliage that I place on it.

Christmas 2009:

Summer 2010: Fall 2010: Christmas 2010:

Winter 2010:

I have also made an Easter wreath using branches of pastel colour eggs, a colorful summer wreath with plad ribbon and fruit, as well as a Valentines Day wreath using heart garland and a felt 'Love' word. (I don't have pictures of those wreaths).

Using a grape vine wreath with simple additions to it is an inexpensive way have a wreath for every season!

Last Year's Tree |

Our little Christmas tree from last year.

It was a real tree potted so that we could plant it outside later.

It was more of an old-fashioned theme with golds, browns, creams and Burgundy.

Complete with popcorn string, acorns and gingerbread garland is was a cute change of pace from the fake tree we usually use.

Underneath is the beautiful tree skirt that my grandma quilted for us.

Christmas Tree Makeover |

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With Halloween over I am already getting excited about Christmas!

Being in our new home this year I have begun to think what we are going to do for a Christmas tree this year.

It got me thinking about how you can give any tree a 'makeover'!
Here are a few inexpensive ideas that will change up your current Christmas tree and give it a whole new feel!

1. Instead of the classic Christmas tree skirt this year, why not place your Christmas tree in a basket or a metal pail? Not only is this a nice casual and rustic look, but it also doubles as a cover for the water bucket that your tree is sitting in.

2. Set up in a new location! Placing your tree in a new spot in your home such as the dinning room, the kitchen, the foyer or any where different in your home gives your tree a whole new feel, and will make your Christmas celebrations feel different by gathering with your family in a new space in your home.

3. Make some new inexpensive ornaments for your tree by using fruit! Dried orange sliced look lovely as well as hanging apples and pears. Placing cloves in the fruit also add to their beauty and make the room smell lovely!


4. Instead of a classic star or angel topper for your tree this year why not try sticking branches in the top of the tree for a 'foresty' and natural look.
Go on a family walk in the country to collect these branches to make it a memorable event! Collect some pine cones while you are at it and stick them in the branches to add to the natural flare.


5. Do you usually buy a natural tree? Well for the same price as one natural tree why not buy three mini artificial trees? Who says you have to have ONE Christmas tree. These cute rustic pines would look great in a display with each tree on a different level. Decorate them all to coordinate, or decorate each in a different style of colour scheme.

Hope you have fun choosing, decorating and setting up your Christmas tree this year!