Category Archives: Winter

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Citrus and Chinese New Year

Being from Florida, I am partial to eating oranges in the winter, since they are at their freshest. Turns out, oranges are also popular for Chinese New Year (or lunar new year). They are considered symbols of abundance and good fortune {and their golden hue doesn’t hurt!} so they are often seen around town, used for decorations and gifts. We even have one in our office!

As Chinese New Year is quickly approaching {we have a couple of days off next week!}, here’s a beautiful wreath from Design*Sponge using winter citrus. Make it just for fun, or to add to a celebration of dumplings and fireworks this weekend!

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Traditions Old & New

As everyone starts to trickle back into work, I’m betting there will be plenty of water cooler talk about what everyone did for the holidays, including your family’s traditions. While we,unfortunately, weren’t with family this year (we did get see them via Skype!) we made sure to keep up with some of our traditions to help the holidays feel merry. In some cases we added new activities {that I hope will become traditions!} or twists on the old that maintained our excitement of being in a new place.

My birthday is right before Christmas, making the holidays a bit of a marathon {but ensures I get everything done early!}. Usually I go shopping with my mom, then out to dinner. My husband treated us to a spa day {with an amazing view!} then out dinner {also a nice view}, a ride on the ferry, and ending with cupcakes, as we did for his birthday.

On Christmas Eve, we took a hike {a new tradition!} and ended the day with hot chocolate and something sweet {in the US I would have sugar cookies, but here we had stollen, a german rum bread that was amazing!}.

On Christmas Day we started with breakfast and presents {breakfast first, per tradition}, decorate a gingerbread house {as we started in 2010} while watching Love Actually, then we went out to dinner at one of my favorite restaurants {the scallops and parsnips puree were so good!}. They gave us hats and antlers, so we took an impromptu picture {nearly holiday card worthy, no?}. And, here in Hong Kong, Boxing Day, the 26th, is also a holiday {thanks Brits, for that legacy!}, so we headed over to a friend’s house to hang out for the day {this is me, riding the subway wearing a Christmas present from my mom.}

For New Year’s Eve, after much back and forth, we decide to enjoy our new apartment and spend our first moments of 2013 on our terrace. I can’t say that we have strong traditions for this holiday, other than a bottle of nice bubbly! Some of our provisions below {champagne and the makings for s’mores with speculoos cookies in place of graham crackers}.

What are your family traditions? Did you parktake in them this year?

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A Year in Review

As we relax and recover on this first day of 2013, I’d like to take a moment to reflect on the past year. Since today is a day for goal setting and good fortune, it helps me to know where I am going when I see where I came from, both personally and professionally. Care to take a journey of 2012 in pictures?

The year started out with much excitement and hope as we settled into a new routine in Washington DC.

I managed some weddings for a few amazing couples– {Helen & Joel, A bike couple, Erin & Adam}

And one incredible 5 year-old’s birthday party.

Hosted some casual parties– {book club, dinner party, gold cocktails, kitty party, impromptu hosting, indoor picnic}

And did some fun DIYs.{Sprinkle covered marshmallows, Christmas tree, Gold planters, drip paint pots, flower design, balloon backdrop, polka dot tablecloths, gold barrettes, star chandelier}

I also had the good fortune to travel a good bit this year. 

And, most recently, picked up the family and moved to Hong Kong.

Thank you so much for taking this journey with me, whether today, this past year, or over the past nearly 3 years since I’ve been blogging. I am so grateful at all I’ve been able to do and share with you. I’m looking forward to seeing what 2013 has in store — and hope you will join me!! xoxo

 

 

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New Year’s Menu Planning

Have you recovered from Christmas yet? Put away your presents? Eaten all of your leftovers?

If not, eh, you’ve got the weekend– then we can start preparing for our next holiday extravaganza… New Year’s Eve!

I love brussel sprouts, something I just discovered in the last few years. It’s now one of my favorite vegetables and I ask for it often {that’s saying a lot, since I’m a bit of a meat and potatoes kind of girl}.  These Brussel Sprout Crostinis look amazing. They will definitely be on our New Year’s Eve menu.

See the recipe here.

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Christmas Day DIY

If you are having guests visit for the holidays, for a day or for a week, you might be looking for activities to keep everyone entertained. This fun DIY would be a great way to busy hands and commemorate the visit— or another trip.

Take a map from your city, your hometown, or a place that you and your guests went together and use it to make a personalized ornament. Cut up the pages into shapes, add a ribbon to create a map ornament,one for each person to take home. This one is in a circle, but your could try triangle christmas tree shapes, or paper mache the map on the ball.

See full directions here.

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Last Minute Christmas Decorations

Need some last minute holiday cheer? Or does your study or bathroom or other small space need a some decoration? Is it Christmas Eve and you thought you could do without a tree but with the holiday upon us, did you realize it doesn’t feel right without it?

If any of that sounds like you, here are some quick, small space ideas for adding a Christmas tree to your life this year. Most of these things you probably already have around the house– all you need is bare wall. 

1: Add some sparkly ribbon around a cone 

2: Draw a tree on chalkboard

3: Cut some fringe to give your tree some texture

4: Fold up some newspaper and give it a little pop with green paint 

5: Cut a few strips of paper and attach with washi tape 

6: Put up some pictures in the shape of a tree

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A Get Well Kit

We are taking a little break from the holidays today, with a little TLC– for others.

Do you know a ton of people who are sick or getting sick? I do. I don’t know if it’s the change in weather, or all the running around and socializing we do this time of year, but it seems like people are dropping like flies. So I loved this idea from Creature Comforts of putting together a little get-well-soon care package.

This simple but thoughtful collection would warm anyones heart– and throat. You can find a downloadable printable on her site for a lemon and honey mixture, but feel free to include any little goodies that you think would help the recipient. Some tea, an airplane sized whiskey, orange juice, nose spray, a magazine or dvd, a fuzzy bear to cuddle– I’m sure anything would be appreciated.

Remember to take care of yourself this holiday season!

 

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