Let it Snow series: The Holiday Decor

All the decorations are a mix of things of my mom's, my grandma's and a few things I have made plus a few things my friends have given to me. I don't always put everything up that we have, as to try and change it up each year. This year I tried to make little "display zones" of all kinds of holiday goodness. *we are also light on snowmen themed items since we put those up in January.

Let it Snow, Let it Snow Series: The Game Plan for Holiday Baking

This year my mom and I are taking over the baking of the holiday cookies (my grandma always bakes an amazing amount of yummy cookies and mails them out to our family). The baking has already begun and I am seriously going to try to make all of the ones she makes plus add a few new ones to the mix (there are around 20 varieties that she makes and I am adding in at least 5, maybe 10 to that). The game plan is to bake one or two types of cookies a day and then several varieties on the weekend. Yesterday, I picked up the glass bowl for my mixer (yes, I am in love with this! the pour spout and size make it simply fabulous).

Besides the baking of the cookies, I really wanted to create more of a "present" feel in the presentation. With several trips to Michael's and Joann's to stock up on Martha Stewart baking boxes, Paula Deen boxes, cellophane bags, and printed tissue, along with a few cute things to decorate the packages.

Here is our dining table stacked with a bunch of "tag" making supplies. (I didn't really know what most of the cookies were called so I am going to make little labels using stamps, glitter, stickers, and attach them using bakers twine, ribbon, etc.) Today, I plan to make the labels for the cookies that are already done that way just in case I don't get all the cookies baked, I won't have random labels laying around.

As a finishing touch, I decided I would make a Christmas ornament that will have Xmas Cookies 2010 embroidered on the back. Starting a new little tradition with that. In the craft stuff that my grandma gave me there was a little thing for Christmas ornaments that are common quilt blocks. For this years I chose the "Grandmothers Flower Garden" (mainly because it is the quickest and the fact that I love hexagons). The fabric I am going to be using is Kate Spain's 12 Days of Christmas from Moda. The squares of fabric have all been cut and the hexagons have also been cut out, it looks like this evening I will doing a little hand sewing.

What are some of your big holiday plans in the baking area?

Introducing the Let it Snow, Let it Snow, series...

now that the holiday season is upon us, I am completely obsessed with all the possibilities of baking, creating, wrapping, making, dressing and just how awesome the holiday season can be (and one of my goals is to really enjoy and do a ton of fun things throughout the holidays so this series is really going to help me get that crossed off). From projects to fashion to decor to festivities,  I want to share my holiday with you! (*I am also going to try to have a couple of giveaways in the next two months as well because who doesn't love receiving packages in the mail.)

First off, I thought I would share where I tend to get some of my holiday inspiration from (the ones in magazine form anyways). I also have tear outs from past issues of magazines that are all organized in a binder.

Of course no holiday would be complete with out a little dose of Martha. I have already marked a few recipes to make, a couple of decoration ideas and just a few little things that I love and hope to try. 

I also love Lucky magazine:

this is one of my go to magazine during the holiday (best gift ideas plus I love the all the fashion). A few other magazines I like to pick up include Country Living, Food Network, and Cooking Paula Deen.

I also have tons of inspiration I found online (I will be sharing some of those links next week). Where do you start looking for inspiration for the holidays? Next up some of my holiday must do list!