Ornamental Pizzazz

Since we bought our home, I've always been super excited about the holidays.  Instead of just having a Christmas tree now there's a fireplace and stairs to adorn with lights and greens.  Every December I slowly fill our home with more and more splashes of ornamental color and sparkle.  You might have seen some of the ideas below from various magazines, sites, or friends (which is what inspired me), so hopefully it will show you how easy it is to dress up your home a tid-bit more.  Plus, most of what I did only took mere seconds or minutes to do!

I have a very simple fireplace (without decor) because I really can't decide how to decorate it.  But, with greenery, stockings, and ornaments added, it's becomes a little nicer.  If you have greens on the mantle, add a few ornaments to dress it up!  Also, grab a couple vases that aren't being used and fill them with extra sparkle to add some color...I used my trifle bowl stacked on top of cookie tins for some height...plus it draws attention away from our white speaker.

This is my China cabinet.  It's not a traditional cabinet, but hey, I love it and it works.  It's actually an armoire that we saved from our local ReStore shop.  What a bargain it was, plus it helps out Habitat for Humanity!  So, on top I added another vase of ornaments and a little candle holder as well as some festive wording.  I love color, color, color, if you can't tell :)

This is our breakfast table with more ornaments.  This time I hung ornaments from the curtain rod and set the table with chargers and a full bowl.

I didn't realize how many ornaments I had until I filled so many vases and bowls up!  This next one sits on my coffee table.  You might think I overdid it with the filled bowls, but I absolutely love it and it feels so much more holiday-ish.

Lastly, I thought I'd throw on a glimpse of our tree....

With all these pictures, hopefully this served as a little inspiration to you :)  It's never too late to add a little more Christmas pizzazz to your home.

Our Family Christmas Cookies

For years my mom would use a different cookie recipe (I’ll share that down the road).  However, once my grandma found this version using sour cream we never went back.  The cookies just turn out softer than others.  They freeze really well too.  Occasionally I’ll put little sprinkles on a select few.  The sprinkled ones are my Love’s favorites because he says they have freckles like he does J This may sound silly but I used to dream about marrying a guy with freckles…funny how some of the wildest things come true!  Back to the cookies though, I don’t sprinkle them all because the colors can sometimes bleed onto the icing if I defrost them and have to refreeze again.  Nonetheless, the cookies taste just as yummy!

Word to the wise, this recipe requires time.  I reserve this process when I have a day off and can blast the Christmas music as loud as I want or watch Parenthood on Netflix all day.  If you have little kids or family around this would be a great way to spend time together!    It makes between 9-10 dozen cookies.  After making this a few times, I definitely had an appreciation for grandma doing this every year. 

Holiday Cut Out Cookies

2 C butter                  

3 C white sugar        

5 eggs                       

¼ C water                 

1 C sour cream

1 t baking soda

1 t baking powder

1 t vanilla

7 C flour

Add sugar and butter, then add eggs, water, and sour cream.

Add dry ingredients, chill dough. Roll and cut out. (You may

Need to add more flour so dough isn’t too sticky.)  Bake at

350 degrees for 8 minutes. DON’T OVERBAKE. Bake until

Puffed up.

Icing 

½ stick oleo/butter

½ t salt

2 t vanilla

¼ C milk

3 C powdered sugar

Beat all together.

*can substitute 2 egg whites for milk

*about 1.5-2 batches for 1 batch of cookies, depending on how much frosting you prefer

From Grandma’s kitchen, to mine, to yours – Enjoy!

Enfuselle and ProSante under the Christmas Tree

To all the guys out there - let me help you this Christmas!  Visit anewleaf.myshaklee.com and check out Shaklee's beauty care line.  It's the perfect Christmas gift for your wife, girlfriend, mom, mom-in-law, aunties, grandmas, etc!!!  Give your special loved ones a trip to their own little spa-at-home with some of these boutique-like products that I've tried and loved.  I know some of my family members will be receiving these goodies!  Even more importantly, the products are paraben free without the worry of "potentially harmful" or questionable preservatives.

Give her a mineral masque and an exfoliator

You know those cliche scenes in moves where the women soak in warm bubble baths with music playing?  Yeah, that's me, and I own it.  Nothing makes me feel more pampered and relaxed than applying a luxurious masque and soaking in a bath with a glass of wine.  Instead of music I'd probably watch a cute movie on Netflix....but that's my time to unwind, de-stress, and take care of myself.  How about the moms out there?  When's the last time you did something for you?  Having seen how hard my mom worked raising my brothers and me, I wish growing up she would have taken more time to pamper herself..the Lord knows she deserved it with all we put her through.  My picks - Enfuselle Refining Polisher, Enfuselle Infusing Mineral Masque.  PURCHASE HERE

Or a cleanser and moisturizer.

This is probably one of the most important parts of my day, for my skin at least.  Our face is the most visible part that our friends and family see.  Why not take care of it?  Clean the day's make-up off and hydrate the laugh-lines to refresh and revitalize your skin.  I'm not a beleiver in Botox and cosmetic surgeries, but I do believe that taking care of myself is my responsibility.  Maybe it's all the years of dealing with acne-prone skin, but having a healthy, glowing complextion makes me feel a little prettier inside :)  My picks - Enfuselle Purifying Cleansing Gel, Enfuselle Hydrating Moisturizer.  PURCHASE HERE

  



Let her feel beautiful from head to toe.

 How often do we talk about those good and bad hair days?  Shaklee has your salon-at-home needs in one place.  From shampoos to scalp treatments, there's something for everyone.  Whenever I go to the hair dresser, I always call my hair "virgin hair" because I've never colored it.  Too hard to part with the money in my wallet I suppose...but nonetheless, whether you enjoy coloring your lovely locks or not, these products are safe for any type of hair.  My picks - ProSante Revitalizing Shampoo, ProSante Replenishing Conditioner, ProSante Long-Lasting Finishing Spray.  PURCHASE HERE


Need more ideas?  Just send me a note below and I'll be happy to help you finish you Christmas shopping list.  The gifts aren't the most important thing of the holiday, but we can sure use it as a time to show our family and friends how much they are loved.