ITALIAN HOLIDAY DINNER PARTY

I decided to make ravoli one night.  I made some pumpkin filling.  The result was an impromptu dinner party to celebrate a friend's birthday.

I made the flat bread crackers and bread sticks, too.  A guest brought the salad which also included candied almonds and the birthday guest treated us to a trio of mini cheesecakes.

 I used clear Christmas ornaments to serve individual servings of wine in.

 The actual bowls that I used were white with black writing on the rim.  One of the words was "Ravoli!"

 The chargers were galvanized ti n from Kirkland and the evergreen placemats were from Pier One.  My black dinnerware was from Target many years ago and the printed plates and bowls were from Home goods years ago.

My friend added candied almonds and poppyseed dressing.

  

RED? IN ARIZONA.....NOT FOR TEN YEARS!

I DECIDED TO BRING OUT EVERY LITTLE BIT OF RED THAT I HAD FOR CHRISTMAS IN ARIZONA.

LAST YEAR I HAD RED IN OUR MINNESOTA HOME, BUT I HAVEN'T USED RED IN THIS HOUSE EVER.  I DID USE RED ONE YEAR IN THE HOUSE THAT WE BUILT WHEN WE FIRST MOVED DOWN HERE AND IT HAS BEEN IN THE ATTIC EVER SINCE.

LAST YEAR OUR HOUSE IN ARIZONA WAS THE MOST GLAMOUROUS IT HAD EVER BEEN.  THIS YEAR, I WENT SIMPLE.  NO ANGELS, MADONNAS OR CRECHES.

I ACTUALLY BOUGHT TWO POINSETTIAS TOO!  WE USUALLY NEVER USE THEM.

THREE OF MY ORCHIDS WERE IN BLOOM.

I HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PHOTOS!

THIS WAS MY GINGERBREAD CREATION THIS YEAR.  AFTER FINDING OUT THAT DON AND I ARE ALMOST A QUARTER IRISH, THIS WAS MY TRIBUTE TO OUR HERITAGE.

I BOUGHT THIS TIN HOUSE TWO YEARS AGO AT OUR GROCERY STORE AFTER CHRISTMAS.  THEY ALSO CAME IN WHITE OR RED ENAMEL.   SOME HOW THE GALVANIZED ONE APPEALED TO ME.  IT HAS SAT OUTSIDE BY THE FRONT DOOR FOR TWO YEARS!

I WILL BE HOSTING A SMALL CAROLING PARTY FOR A FRIEND'S BIRTHDAY, SO I CHOSE TO USE CANDY CANES AS THE KITCHEN THEME.

INSIDE OUR FRONT DOOR IN THE DINING ROOM IS THIS WREATH.

LAST YEAR, I USED MY DOUGH BOWL ON THE ISLAND WITH THE MERCURY GLASS BALLS AND HURRICANE CANDLE HOLDERS.  THIS YEAR THEY ARE IN THE DINING ROOM.  MY DINING ROOM TREE IS VERY MINIMAL...ONLY 5 ORNAMENTS ON IT!

I BROUGHT A STOCKING FROM THE MINNESOTA HOUSE.

OUR TREE IS RATHER SPARSE THIS YEAR.  I USED ALL THE RED THAT I HAD, INCLUDING HEART ORNAMENTS THAT NO ONE BOUGHT AT MY GARAGE SALE.

AFTER I LOOKED AT THIS PICTURE, I DECIDED THAT THE FAUX AMARYLLIS SHOULD HAVE CRANBERRIES AND WATER!

THREE OF MY ORCHIDS WERE IN BLOOM THIS YEAR.

I USED MINIMAL RED ON OUR BIG WREATH.

THE BATH ROOMS AND BEDROOM:

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I COPIED THE WHITE HOUSE AND THEN THEY COPIED ME!

I HAVE SEEN SOME LOVELY  CHRISTMAS TREES AT THE WHITE HOUSE.  THIS YEAR, I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE BRINGING OUT HUNDREDS OF GLASS ORNAMENTS, SO I COPIED TREES THAT LAURA BUSH DID IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

I SPENT UNDER $5.00 ON MY "SNOW" AND TINSEL!

TODAY, I READ A BLOG ON THE TRUMP WHITE HOUSE.  AND TO MY SURPRISE, I AM RIGHT IN STYLE!

THESE WERE THE TREES THAT MRS. TRUMP DECORATED THE GREAT HALL WITH!

MY INSPIRATION WAS LAURA BUSH'S GREAT HALL TREES!

I DECIDED THIS SUMMER THAT THIS WOULD MY CHRISTMAS LOOK UP NORTH!  

NOW MY TREE ISN'T AS GRAND, BUT I DON'T LIVE IN THE WHITE HOUSE, EITHER!  I AM CHOOSING TO CELEBRATE SNOW FOR THE FORMAL HOLIDAY WITH MY FAMILY AND SNOWMEN WITH MY GRANDCHILDREN.

SO HERE IS MY MINNESOTA CHRISTMAS.....

I DID A TRIAL RUN FOR MY GRANDDAUGHTER'S DINNER AND THE CHRISTMAS DAY DINNER FOR OUR FAMILY.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!