Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Christmas Day - Tablescape, Food and Family

Christmas Day came early as we were hosting dinner at our house with everyone arriving at two o'clock.
I prepared a breakfast casserole a day in advance and popped it into the oven.
Eggs, cheese, bread cubes, sausage, ground mustard.
Bake for an hour at 350-degrees.
It's become our Christmas morning tradition.
I forgot to buy orange juice so my Mom and I had cranberry Bellini's instead of mimosas.
I had to rearrange things from our Open House to make way for Christmas dinner.
First on my list was to move my centerpiece to our entry table.
I threw this arrangement together at the last minute before my cookie exchange and I think it turned out pretty good giving it was a bunch of fake items from Michael's.
Then I put together our Christmas dinner table scape.
I really had no idea what I was going to do until Christmas Eve.
All of my creative juices were spent on our Open House menu and decor. 
This just came to me at the last minute.
I think it turned our perfect giving I used items we already had at the house.
I love to tablescape any time of the year.
I've been this way since I was a little girl.
My job on holidays was to always set the table.
I can remember wanting to live like The Ewing's from the hit 80's show Dallas and trying to put together a table like theirs.
LOL!
When putting together dinner I cut up a pomegranate for us ladies to put in a glass of champagne.
The last I had around for the holiday season.
For dinner Brad made a prime rib.
It's his favorite thing too cook other than jambalaya and homemade pizzas.
I attempted the Louisiana traditional rice dressing but started it too early and kept adding water to it to keep it moist until I ruined it.
I was so mad.
I had to go upstairs to recoup from my anger.
But.. then realized we already had a ton of food and since we had been eating for 3-days it wasn't a big deal.
The rest of our meal consisted of broccoli salad, deviled eggs, herb and cheese scalloped potatoes, rolls, pecan pie and all the left over cookies and treats from the Open House.
Before all of our dinner hoopla we exchanged gifts.
My parents stayed with us so we did ours after breakfast.
Other than the Botox that my brother and his kids gave my Mom, I think her 2nd favorite gift was this Shutterfly book I made.
She cried.
I got Brad a Kindle Fire.
He's in love.
Buddy got a new bed so we can keep one of his others at the lake for good.
He also scored a few fuzzy blankets to be wrapped up in.
My big gift were these gorgeous cowboy boots.
I picked them out weeks ago and was with Brad when he bought them.
Sorta lame?
Oh, well.
I also received these cute ornaments from my MIL.
She said the shoe reminded her of my wedding shoes.
I agree!
So pretty and perfect!
Speaking of MIL, Brad picked up this sign for the dock at the lake.
We all got a good laugh!
Thanks to Classic Annie's suggestion, FIL and my Dad both received a Polar Bear Cooler.
Can't wait to see how they like them.
I had never even heard of the brand.
Paigee received a kitchen set from my parents.
Reed received a motorcycle toy from my parents and a remote control car from Uncle Brad and I.
He was entertained.
I wanted to buy Paige this trunk of dress up costumes last year but didn't.
This year, I couldn't resist.
All princess, all the time.
Of course, I didn't mention all the wonderful things we were given but that would take forever.
The best gift we received was that of family being together this year.
It was the first year for my family(minus my brother and his kids), and Brad's family to do Christmas together.
I feel so lucky to have in-laws that are drama-free.
I look forward to many more holidays together!
Until then, we're resting up!!!
Happy New Year Everyone!

20 comments:

Claire Kiefer said...

Looks amazing! The table, the food, the gifts--everything! It's so frustrating when you screw up something you're cooking, but sounds like y'all had plenty of other stuff. :) And how bout the Saints' big win yesterday? I almost cried when Brees broke Marino's record!! What a Christmas gift!!!

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful table! You did a lovely job decorating for the holidays.

nomo wino daph said...

Looks like a fantastic Christmas!!!!!!

Everyhting looked beautiful, yummy & awesome:)

As far as Polar Bear Coolers go, we have 4 :) They will be greatly loved!! We have 3 sizes and the backpack :p

Ashley said...

Chunky Dunk! LOL!!!
And her 2nd favorite gift after botox made me laugh! We made a shutterfly book for Andrew's brother. It was a pain in my butt! Took forever! I LOVE your table scape :) You are such a good hostess! My mom made prime rib and people were half hour late and it got over cooked and my mom was pissed and had to take a break to get over her anger :)

Impulsive Addict said...

Your table is all kinds of fancy and beautiful! You need to come and do that at my house! I used my china but none of our family is very fancy. I'd have to work them into a table cloth and fancy napkins etc. But I would have LOVED sitting at that table. Very nice job!

Sounds like your Christmas was perfect! Love the boots. Not lame that you picked them out. At least you got something you wanted, right?

DSS said...

I adore everything about this post!! Your table is gorgeous. Buddy by the fire is pure happiness :) That your brother gave your mother botox is fantastic. I wish he would have given me some!

Looks like you all truly had a fantastic Christmas, and I'm so glad!!

Anonymous said...

Your breakfast casserole looks so good! I made one for the first time awhile ago but it doesn't look nearly as good as yours! I'll have to try it the way you made it sometime!

And in all of your pictures, the decorations always look amazing! You are so talanted! Beautiful!

I'm so glad you had a great Christmas! It looks like you had such a wonderful time! Happy New Year! :)

Lauren

http://www.laurensweetnothings.blogspot.com/

I Do Declare said...

I think Sue Ellen would have felt right at home at your Christmas!!! Love the Dallas reference!

Blair @ Reasonably Swanky said...

Loved seeing all of your Christmas pics!! Your tablescape looked so beautiful!

Deviled Megs said...

Looks like a wonderful Christmas!

donatelli98 said...

Your meal sounds so much like ours - defiled eggs, scalloped potatoes, pecan pie - all of the true southern goodies. It wouldn't be the holidays without them! We got my dad a kindle fire too and i picked my gift out online and told D what to buy! Love the red shoe ornament-I have a silver one just like it!

Allyson and Dave said...

That table is gorgeous!!! And I love the cowboy boots!

Leigh Powell Hines said...

I always wanted to be Pamela Ewing or at least look like Victoria Principal.

Love your table, and getting a glimpse into your holiday.

Happy New Year!

Lyns said...

Dallas! Love it! I thought you made the casserole w/ apples and bacon you gave me last year, but I agree the sausage one is always a winner.

Girl in Carolina said...

Great pics! And that breakfast casserole...amazing! Whoa. Your table was beautiful :)

Annie said...

Wow you guys had an amazing Christmas!

We make the same breakfast casserole! Your tablescape looks great!

Glad your boys liked their coolers! Love your boots!

Monica said...

I love that little Buddy. Glad he had a good Christmas and the rest of you too!

Nikki said...

I think the adults look more excited than the kids! Must have been a long day. Your table looks fab and so does your mother. Did she really get botox for Christmas?! Lol!

starnes family said...

I posted the same breakfast casserole on my MLS Facebook page! Our tradition!

Everything looks fab. Well done!

My Beautiful World said...

So nice to meet you just found your beautiful blog and so happy I did. I have enjoyed looking around and I'm now following you, if you find a spare minute hope you visit me sometime and follow back so nice to meet new friends. Sending you special wishes for a wonderful New Year I’m looking forward to keeping in touch in 2012.

Always Wendy