Christmas with the Campbells
Christmas was so enjoyable this year that I didn’t want it to end! It was the first time we got to spend it in our very own home and it was literally the most relaxing, sweetest Christmas we have had. Maybe I have become a homebody after this year, or maybe it was the wine (lol), but I think we finally got into our groove after a crazy year and got to enjoy that good mojo feeling this holiday season. And despite being cooped up, we made the most of it. Here’s a recap of all the fun things we did while staying put at home!
Decorated like no other year
This year was a record - I decorated the house in mid-November! I guess when you don’t have much else to do and you want something to look forward to, decorating is an easy way to brighten your mood. This year was all about creating a classic Christmas while playing off our European / English / French farmhouse vibe. What’s even crazier though is that I had all these decorations already and have been lugging them around from place to place! Don’t ask my husband what he thinks about all that…but it sure made for a wonderfully festive background to our everyday lives!
Had fun with holiday florals
Looking for a last minute centerpiece for your table or an 11th hour, Hail-mary gift? Honestly, Ralph’s Grocery has some of the best, long lasting roses! And sometimes they are on sale too. 😉 Just get a couple of bunches of different colors roses of varying sizes, trim the stems to size, add the rose food to the vase, add water, and arrange from there! We had a blast pulling together different looks with different centerpieces throughout the month.
Made lots of treats
From cupcakes and cookies, to fudge and fancy desserts, we went crazy with baking this holiday season! One winner we had though were these Mini Spiced Berry & Vanilla Cream Pavlovas, which were a huge success for our neighbor treats this year! Traditionally made with fluffy meringue, jam, fruit, and cream, this dessert is part of my “desserts around the world” series. I virtually traveled to Australia for this recipe and embellished with my own flair! The dessert was originally created for a famous Russian ballet dancer while on tour in Australia and New Zealand in the 1920s. Since then it has become a national dessert for celebrations. We paired these with a family favorite: Macadamia Nut Bars. They are salty, sweet, and everything in between! Made from my Rose’s Christmas Cookie Book that was passed down to me by my Grandma Penny, who inspired me to be the baker that I am today. On top of that, our take on S’mores Fudge was a decadent addition to the mix!
I hope you had an equally enjoyable holiday, but more importantly, I hope you are staying healthy this holiday season. Wishing you good health and happiness in the New Year!