New Year's Eve Cocktails.....Punch and Pondering.

New year's Eve. Nostalgia...another year has come an gone. Have we met our goals? Are our lives better, the same or do they need improvements or overhauls? Was 2011 a good year? What could I have done differently? No wonder New Year's Eve is emotional, filled with self reflection, new plans and goals. It's a time to ponder over the old and look forward to the new. So, today, I will enjoy my New Year's Eve Decorations, clean up some more of the Christmas fragments that lie about and watch all 2011 top news stories and count-down shows. For now my only goal is to make it to midnight before dosing off. That's life with two small kids.

 I know there will be a toast or two so, here are some cocktail ideas for the big night....maybe you can drowned your sorrows, dance on the table, get romantic, or scheme for the coming year with a little holiday cheer!

 What were her thoughts on New Year's Eve? What were her regrets and goals for a better life? Were they similar to ours today? I bet she had Champagne.

http://neobeatificvision.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/rero-lady-clock-maybe-1910.jpg


What will I toast, ponder and plan with?? So many choices! How about this beautiful and tasty Cranberry Margarita!

http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/guest-post/festive-new-years-cocktail-cranberry-margarita-holiday-guest-post-from-yvette-of-muy-bueno-cookbook--135625


I love the festive look of these "Christmas Sparklers", especially since it's so hard for me to let go of Christmas. Maybe a few of these:

Christmas Sparklers from Recipes.com. Yes, please. Check out all their Champagne recipes. Some great Champagne punches as well!!
http://www.recipe.com/recipes/drinks/cocktails-mixed/champagne/popular/?sssdmh=dm17.569952&esrc=nwrc122911&email=1127625594

Champagne recipes....yum!

If you do decide on punch....this is a great idea from a blog last year. The blog gives you step by step detail on how to make the numbers! Fun idea!

http://www.aholidayhaven.com/2010/12/new-years-punch.html

How about an ice ring....for your punch or cranberries floating about as well?

This just happened to be an ice "block" I remember not being able to find a bundt cake pan that year....something so festive about oranges and cranberries.

However, my all time favorite "Champagne Cocktail" is the classic French, Kir Royal. Nothing like it.

All my friends know it will be one (if not the only) choice when they come over! Just a little Chambord or Crème De Cassis at the bottom of your flute and an orange twist.......Cheers! I have never met anyone that DOESN'T like it.

Enjoy your evening! And, of course, Happy New Year!!!!!!!!

New Year's Eve In The Making!

I've started slowly taking down Christmas and mixing in some New Year's fun.

I love my banner from The TomKat Studio. It was so easy to print out. I used photo paper so it was thick and shiny. Love it.

I just used clothes pins, that I sprayed with adhesive spray and sprinkled with Epsom salt, to clip onto a cute black and white ribbon. The clothe-spins look like snow.

 Also from The TomKat Studio, My "new print" I framed...."Time To Drink Champagne And Dance On The Tables." I think they made that just for me. This was also a free printable from The TomKat Studio.  (http://www.thetomkatstudio.com/)  It matches my banner and ties everything together. I printed it out on photo paper and it looks fantastic!

Some clocks to accent the print....countdown time!!

More clocks on the mantel....all of which are printed on photo paper...all free printables on line. Google "clock faces" in images. I added glitter to the numbers and or edges, with a Martha Stewart glue pen...those pens are wonderful! That made them more fun and sparkly and isn't that what New Year's Eve is all about.......fun and sparkly?

More mantel clocks in antique flower frogs. I am so limited as what to put on my mantel. I believe it's about 3" in width. So I am happy with my little clocks.

Okay.....I still have really cute Champagne tags to use....need some pictures of those. Might need to open a bottle of Champagne early just for blog *wink* Here is picture of those from The TomKat Studio:

Aren't they cool?

Mini Mincemeat Pies.

I know. I know. About as popular as fruitcake but, really, they are so good! The first time I had them I was a young girl and my Mom's English friend, Pat, brought them to a party. She was my heroine after that.

These were so easy, too. I used pre-made pie dough and a mincemeat filling in a jar. Fresh mincemeat is surly the way to go but, I opted for easy way...but still with home-made look and feel.

Dating back to the 11 Th century, Mincemeat pies are a wonderful holiday tradition. Contrary to popular belief....there is no meat in these pies! It got it's name from it's original use in preserving meat in ancient times. However, today it's a mixture of dried fruits, often spirits, and peel or zest from oranges and the like. The spices and orange fragrances fill your home with the smells of Christmas.

These were as easy as pie.....funny, huh? I used Robertson's Mincemeat for two reasons; it can be found in most grocery stores and it's imported from the UK where mincemeat is well liked.

Roll out pie crust and make small discs a bit bigger than the form. Use cooking spray so they don't stick.

Fill with one teaspoon of your mincemeat.

Add cute garnishes of pie dough if you see fit. I used holly leaves and hearts. Just brush them with an egg wash (beat an egg with about a teaspoon of water). That's it. Then you bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 8-10 minutes. Easy.

My house smells divine. I am in the Christmas spirit and feeling very British. I think I'll have a spot of tea and try a few of these little gems.

Silver Bowls....Silver Bowls.

My husband just rolled his eyes when I showed him my silver bowl from Goodwill. It's beautiful to me. Okay, it has some scuffs on the inside of the bowl....but how cute will be filled with something? Pretty. At $1.99 I am going to be a sucker for silver. I have no choice. So, to prove that I am going to use it, here you go.

First, find a place in my crowded small house.

 My silver bowl. $1.99 Behind it, my $1 wreath from a garage sale....in November!!! That was a great find, the garage sale and the wreath! The bowl needs more......

So, I'll fill it with my garage sale candles wrapped in plaid ribbon. Finally a place for those, too. Very simple to make. Now for some greenry.....

We have no fir trees in the yard but, I have rosemary! I love to use it at Christmastime!

Et, Voilà. A little Christmas display all for about $3.50....well, the ribbon was $5. I got that for 50% at Michael's. I have a ton left, though. I like the feel of this. Merry Christmas. Time to light the candles!

Mod-Podging Shoe Scuffs!

Well, let's face it; Mod Podge is to the crafter like keys to a piano. You gotta have it. So, going through Lucie's closet today, I debated throwing away these scuffed up boots. I wish I had taken a before picture.....any who...I filled in the scuffs with a black Sharpie, like I always do, and then the idea came to me...........MOD PODGE. It dries shiny and everything. Okay, the boots aren't perfect on close inspection but, they really look good! This just made my day! LOL. It's the little things.

Pretty good.......fine for the monkey bars tomorrow! Give it a try next time!!!