Silver Bells

One of my very favorite, very beautiful friends had me photograph her family for their Christmas cards. They are one of my very favorite subjects to photograph for two reasons. First, my friend is SO creative and really willing to try anything. Secondly, they are so incredibly photogenic!  

This was one of my very favorite!

This is the one that made the cut for their Christmas cards! I love this one too!

For the photo shoot we had such a great time, we had a little tea party on my patio. 

This was another sweet one.

I always have such a great time when I am able to hang around this family! :)

Mistletoe

A few of my favorite pictures I took around Christmas of my favorite muse.

Favorite Things

For months I tried to think up a theme for a Christmas party for my best girlfriends. I finally came across the cutest idea ever on Pinterest. It's a spin on Oprah's yearly tradition of giving her favorite things to her audience. Instead of going the Oprah direction, I drew more ideas from the Sound of Music song "Favorite Things". Each girl was told they needed to bring 1 favorite thing, enough to share with 5 girls. The only rule was the one item could not cost more than $6.00. When each guest arrived she placed her 5 items on the favorite things table and placed 5 cards with her name on them in a jar. Then she picked a number off of the silver twig tree. The names in the jar were for everyone to draw 5 names from to give their favorite things to and the number picked from the twig tree set the order we all went in to give out our five favorite things. 

In Florida we have such beautiful weather for December so, I decided to have the party outside by the pool with a nice little fire in the chimney. I served my favorite meal: Italian Torte, Maggiano's Spinach Salad, and Amaretto Snowflake Cakes. We also sipped on yummy Blue Christmas and Blue Margarita drinks. 

This was the favorite things table before everyone arrived:

Every girl received a brown paper bag tied with string, so they had something to carry their new favorite items home in. 

I also made each girl a wine glass with the letter of her first name painted on it. I thought they turned out so cute! 

Wrapped Tolberone bars in brown paper tied with strings

Doorbells & Sleigh bells
 (Lindor Chocolate tied with jingle bells on the ribbon)

I packaged my favorite things in little snowflake bags.
Each bag had Samoa Girl Scout Cookies, Lindor Chocolate and Ghirardelli chocolate squares.

I personalized the table by displaying pictures of me and my favorite girls
 (my guests)  across all the tables.

I decorated everything in snowy white snowflakes and cobalt blue.

White snowflake skewers with frozen blueberries.

Blue Christmas & Blue Cranberry Margaritas

My friends are so creative! Look at what my girls brought: 

Jenny brought coconut water and an olive oil hair conditioning mask.
Stefanie brought her childhood favorite, ring-pops.

Jennifer brought Tazo Chai Tea.

Elizabeth brought Arbor Mist wine.
Amanda brought tins of white chocolate macadamia cookies.

Heather brought lip gloss.
Kathy brought tweezers.
Tammy brought Godiva chocolate bars.

The completely filled up favorite things table.

I am pretty sure this was my very favorite party I have ever thrown and my new yearly tradition.

 I had such a great time, I hope all my favorite girls did too.

Favorite Things, Part 2

Recipes

Italian Torta
Recipe originally found in Wilton Entertaining Appetizers to Desserts


Wilton 9 inch Spring Form Pan 
1 package hot roll mix (16 oz)
1 lb of ground beef
1/2 medium onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon basil
1/2 cup water 
1 can (6 oz) tomato paste
1 package (10 oz) frozen chopped spinach, thawed 
1 cup of ricotta or cottage cheese, drained
Salt and pepper to taste
1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
1 egg beaten


Prepare hot roll mix according to package directions. While dough is rising brown ground beef and onion; drain fat. Add seasonings, water, and tomato paste. Squeeze excess moisture from spinach and combine with ricotta cheese. Salt and pepper to taste. After fillings are prepared, divide dough into 3 portions and roll each into a 9 inch circle. Fit one portion into a buttered 9 inch Springform Pan. Spread meat almost to edges of dough. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top of meat. Add next layer of dough and allow to rise 10 minutes. Spread with spinach mixture. Place remaining dough on top and cover with damp cloth. Set pan in warm place and allow to rise about 40 minutes. When doubled in size, score top with sharp knife into 8 pie shaped wedges. Brush top with egg. Bake on lower oven rack at 350 degrees for 40-50 minutes or until crust is golden brown. Let set 15 minutes before slicing. 


Makes 8 servings.

Snowflake Amaretto Cakes
Originally called Pitter Patter Petits Fours


1 package white cake mix (plus)
1 1/4 cups water
1/3 cups oil
3 eggs


Icing
2 tablespoons amaretto
3 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup water
3 Tablespoons light corn syrup
2 Tablespoons margarine, melted
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon almond extract


Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour jelly roll pan (15X10). Prepare cake mix as directed on package. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Allow to cool.


Brush top of cake with Amaretto. To avoid crumbs, freeze cake 1 hour before cutting. Cut cake into pieces using 1" or 2" cookie cutters. Return to freezer. In a small bowl combine remaining icing ingredients. Blend at low speed until powdered sugar is moistened. Beat at highest speed until smooth. If necessary add 2 or 3 teaspoons of water. Set cake pieces on wire rack over jelly pan or wax paper. Spoon evenly over top and sides of cake. After 1 coat of icing is dry you may apply more. 




I found the recipes for the beverages on pinterest. Here are the links to the recipes:

Cranberry Margaritas
With the Cranberry Margaritas I used white cranberry juice with peach and a 1/4 cup of blue curacao.

Blue Christmas
I made two recipes of this at the party. In one recipe, I used vodka and in the other I used coconut rum... I called that one my Hawaiian Blue Christmas, I think that was my favorite concoction. 

Deck the Halls

Some new friends I met at a birthday party a few months ago asked me to do a photo session for them for Christmas. They are such a beautiful family! I was so excited! 

Here are my favorites from their session:

 Aren't they just gorgeous?!?!

 The kids were at the perfect age to do this shot! It turned out so cute!

 I love this one too!

 This one is my favorite!