The week after Christmas is always one of my favorite weeks of the year.  I love shopping the after-Christmas sales, working on puzzles and playing with new toys, relaxing with family, and going to movies.  I hope you've enjoyed a wonderful Christmas season.  Now, onto the next holiday!  New Years Eve is in a few short days- planning a party?  Here are some great ideas to get you ready to ring in the new year!

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I'm not much of a collector.  I've never had the patience or drive to collect stamps, spoons, thimbles, or stuffed elephants.  The one thing I do collect, however, is Christmas nativities.   It's practically in my blood to love them.  Both my mother and grandmother have collected them for years, and between the three of us, we've got well over 100 nativities from all over the world.  

I really love all of the unique and interesting ways different cultures depict the birth of the Christ child.  But most touching to me, is that no matter what country you come from or language you speak, some things are universal to the human race.  

Merry Christmas!

And now, here are a handful of my favorite nativities at my house...

from Argentina

from Africa

 made by my husband

from Canada

from Germany

from Africa

Amish Nativity

from Jerusalem

Is anyone sick of sugar yet?  I can't even look at all of the junk on my countertop without getting a stomach ache!  My mom brought a huge veggie tray to a Christmas party we went to the other night, and never did a carrot look so appetizing.  The sun-dried tomato dip was deliciously mind blowing, and a very welcome break from all the sugar I've been eating.  It was definitely the hit at the party.  So, if you're looking for a lighter tasting holiday appetizer, look no further.  This veggie dip will rock your world!

Sun-dried Tomato Dip

from the Barefoot Cotessa

1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained and chopped (8 tomatoes)

8 ounces cream cheese at room temperature

1/2 cup sour cream

1/2 cup mayonnaise

10 dashes Tabasco sauce (I left this out- use it if you want more of a kick)

1 teaspoon kosher salt

3/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

2 green onions, thinly sliced (white and green parts)

Puree the tomatoes, cream cheese, sour cream mayonnaise, Tabasco sauce, and salt and pepper in a food processor or blender.  Add the green onions and pulse twice.  Serve at room temperature with crackers, chips, or fresh vegetables. 

Gift giving is one of the things I enjoy very most about the holidays.  I love the process of hunting to find the perfect gift for everyone on my list.  While I'd like to think of myself as a pretty thoughtful gift giver, I totally and utterly fail in the gift wrapping department.  Let's just say I've been known to give gifts wrapped in their original shopping bags because I was too lazy to round up paper and a bow.  I'm not proud.

Anyway.  My goal this Christmas is to step it up and wrap packages that will wow.  I've realized that most people aren't slackers like me, and that wrapping presents is actually an art. These packages are all so beautiful, creative and awe inspiring.  I'm going to start wrapping right now so I can finish in time for Christmas....

What kind of a gift wrapper are you?

Sources:

http://pinterest.com/pin/199847302184487442/

http://pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=wrapping+christmas+presents

http://www.marthastewart.com/274678/gift-wrapping-ideas/@center/307035/santas-workshop#296113

http://theberry.com/2012/12/05/a-few-christmas-wrapping-ideas-32-photos/

http://www.olderandwisor.com/search?updated-max=2011-10-15T09%3A44%3A00-05%3A00&max-results=5

http://splashofsomething.com/2012/12/05/wrapping-week-2012-martha-inspired-shopping-bag-bows/

http://howaboutorange.blogspot.com/2012/12/printable-monogram-gift-tags.html

http://paperyandcakery.com/2011/12/three-gift-wrap-ideas.html

http://kaamhandmade.blogspot.de/2012/12/diy-gift-wrap-no1.html

http://www.trinketsinbloom.com/crafts-diy/holiday-gift-wrap-diy/

http://blog.whimseybox.com/diy-textured-gift-wrap-ideas

http://warmhotchocolate.com/2011/12/12/fringed-paper-tree-village/

http://sugarandcloth.com/2012/11/gift-wrap-diys-products-inspirations/

The holiday season definitely wouldn't be the same for me without Christmas movies!  Growing up, every year on December 1st, my parents surprised my siblings and I with a new Christmas movie to add to our collection.  It's a tradition I loved as a kid, and have continued doing with my own little family. 

After years and years of watching the same Christmas movies over and over, my brothers and sister and I can quote them all pretty much word for word.  As adults, we still get together to watch our favorites.  We usually end up watching the funniest scenes over and over again, and always laugh so hard we cry.  Here are a handful of my personal favorites....

What are your favorite Christmas movies??

While there is always a place for faux fur in the design world, it's especially hot this season when it comes to fashion and home decor.  Faux fur is the perfect ingredient to help create a warm, cozy, luxurious, and festive ambiance in your home this winter.  Who doesn't want that?!  So pick up a soft faux fur rug, plush pillow, or snuggly throw, and sit back and relax in style!

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What do you think of the faux fur trend?

With the holidays upon us, I've been busy making some new Christmas decorations to add to my ever growing and slightly out of control collection.  I love all the bling and color associated with this time of year, but lately I've been drawn to simple, natural looking decor.  If you're looking for a simple, inexpensive, understated holiday craft, this one fits the bill!

Here's what you'll need:

small sticks (I literally walked around my backyard and picked most of them off the ground)

glitter blast glitter spray (I chose a gold hue)

a piece of canvas

strong super glue (I used E-6000)

a little piece of gold tinsel

1. Gather a bunch of little sticks (look for sticks that are fairly straight), and spray them with the glitter blast spray paint.  

2. Next, get a piece of white canvas and start arranging the sticks in order from big to small, making the shape of a triangle, or Christmas tree.  Trim sticks as needed, and glue those puppies on with some heavy duty super glue! (I left some of my sticks natural in addition to using the glittery sticks just to have a variety.)

3.  Add a little piece of tinsel on top for your star, and there you have it!

So simple, minimal and pretty.

The mantle is always the very last place in my house to get decorated at Christmas time.    I'm not sure why I find it so intimidating, but every year it totally stumps me.  In fact, it's been completely bare for the past three days.  I'm still hoping for a sudden stroke of inspiration.  Here are some photos of fun Christmas mantles that are getting the wheels in my brain turning.....

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What does your mantle look like this year?