THE BEST WAY TO SPREAD CHRISTMAS CHEER

IS BY SINGING LOUD FOR ALL TO HEAR!

Oh Buddy...I definitely feel you on the unbridled enthusiasm for this holiday.  Sparked by my unabashed capitalism, Pinterest, and having a 5-year-old in the house.

Today was our neighborhood holiday brunch.  I volunteered to host because it's a potluck and the host doesn't have to cook.  I'm sort of the Sandra Lee (of Semi-Homemade fame) of parties. I rarely bake anything from scratch, and if I didn't burn whatever it is I'm cooking, it's a bannerhead day, but a good tablescape?  Dressing thematically?  Signature drink bar?  I'm on it.

The mason jars are rimmed in dipping chocolate, then dipped in sprinkles, with a Christmas peep garnish and a red/white twisty straw. There were also marshmallows, more peeps, peppermint bark, candy canes, and chocolate spoons (with yet more marshmallows!) as a sort of hot chocolate bar.  The kids loved it!  Pitcher and champagne flutes were for bellinis (we also had mimosas but the pitcher wasn't as pretty so we kept it in the kitchen).  

I MADE THIS!  It was super easy, just wrap glittery wired ribbon around a styrofoam wreath form, glue on a pre-made bow and then take any old ornament and glue it on top.  Told ya, super easy.

I made this too.  Just as easy, more time consuming.  Wrap the styrofoam wreath form in ribbon or fabric (you want it to be pretty and thematic, as some might peek through).  Glue the large bow at the bottom, then glue your smaller bows all over the wreath.  Finally, glue an ornament on top of the large bow.  I would guess this wreath has about 50 smaller bows glued to it.  It took me about an hour from start to finish, but I'm slow at tying bows.

Grinch poster--had it printed at Vistaprint last year.  It came out super cute and cost like $5, then I got the frame at Michaels with a coupon for another $5ish.  (It says: Then the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice-cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling...how could it be so?  It came without ribbons!  It came without tags!  It came without packages, boxes, or bags!  And he puzzled and puzzled, 'til his puzzler was sore.  Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before.  What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store?  What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more?)

Banner, bought the digital files on etsy from Colley Designs (super cute banner, and the couple is using the proceeds of their sales to save for an adoption, awwwwwwww!)

FOCJ (that's Friends of CJ)

One of my favorite students bought me the candy jar...the Santa and Mrs Claus were made with my mom when I was in middle school.

Official hot chocolate tester.

The big man himself made an appearance!

I'm wearing:
J Crew Cashmere sweater (not sure of the name, you can't really see it but there's a bow at the shoulder and it's kind of boatneck)
J Crew Minnie Pants
Tory Burch flats
Bracelet by skyejuice via etsy (love these, have a blue/gold one too for Navy spirit)

CJ's whole ensemble is by Gymboree. I bought it last year on sale (duh...) but they have a bunch of cute stuff there now too if you're in the market.  PS--check out her blog-model pose: head tilted to the side, legs crossed in front, not looking at camera, not really smiling...NAILED IT!  How is my 5-year-old better at taking pictures than me?