{Christmas} Day 17: Wreaths

Wreaths are welcomed in homes all year round but during the Christmas season, they make their grandest appearance!  This year, they adorn our front gate and grace our headboard in the master bedroom.  In year’s past, I’ve been partial to boxwood wreaths but really love the appearance of the rustic, wispy evergreen this holiday season.

Displaying wreaths in your own home can be left up to your own interpretation. At Christmas time, it’s not unlikely to find them in expected places of the home. But here is some food for thought!  Have you ever thought about clustering them on one wall, displaying them perched on shelves, suspending them in each window, placing petite wreaths on the back of each dining chair or dangling them over your serving table?

Photo via

Photo via

Finally, there are endless options on how you choose to decorate your wreaths. You can leave them bare, layer them on top of one another, integrate ornaments, herbs, fruit, berries, and/or ribbon.  You can even create the illusion of a wreath using your Christmas cards.  So this Christmas, think creatively about your wreaths & enjoy displaying them throughout your home!

XOXO,

Jill

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{Bake} Winter Luxe Confections

Winter Luxe Confections is the title of my latest magazine contribution.  Sweet treats infused with a glistening wintery palette.  I set out to inspire readers to think beyond their store bought confections.  Think custom. Think {Winter Luxe Confections}.

Photography by Jessica Downey Photo

Add shimmer to your confections with metallic edible trimmings. Dip store bought cookies in white chocolate & glitz with sprinkles.  Note to self: I will include a cookie tutorial on the blog as we move closer to the holidays.

Photography by Jessica Downey Photo

Don’t you just love the stylistic white chocolate trees?  They are even more beautiful in person.  So beautiful that I displayed a few in my kitchen for a whole week.  They were too pretty to toss!  Plan for a separate tutorial on how to create these shimmering trees.  With a few easy steps, I guarantee your guests will {oooh & aaah}!

Photograpy by Jessica Downey Photo

I had my local bakery create a 3-tiered marble cake finished off with smooth buttercream.  For less than $20, I had a cake base to work with.  I purchased 2 metallic tones of satin ribbon from Michael’s, pinned it on the cake & topped with the white chocolate trees.  Voila!

The {Peppermint Icing} recipe is found in The Party Dress magazine on page 33. I will also post the recipe on my blog at a later date.  Growing up, my mother used this recipe for her brownies.  It marry’s perfectly with the chocolate fudge. Once frosted, cut the brownies into bite sizes & place in small papers.  Serve or package up for a sweet delivery to a friend.

Photography by Jessica Downey Photo

I hope these {Winter Luxe Confections} inspire you to think creatively.  This holiday season, tell a story with your confections & {wow} your guests!

XOXO,

Jill