a snipet of the Christmas party

As we mentioned we had been planning a little Christmas gathering for the kids and about 15 of their friends.  We created two dessert tables, crafting and a visit with Santa. Santa came from Party Peeple and did a great job!  We were lucky enough to have a cousin, and wonderful photographer take pictures.  I am waiting for those, but for now I will put up a couple of pictures. 
The red and white dessert table had a four layer red and white cake iced with peppermint icing and decorated with candy canes and crushed candy.  We had red velvet cupcakes, Christmas tree cakes and red chocolate dipped pretzels.



my dressed up little party goer

pokeno party

This was a weekend full of parties! Friday night I hosted our monthly Pokeno game. Pokeno is  a cross between bingo and cards. We play with a core group of about 8 with new people joining in sometimes.  I hosted just our core of 8 (including Gabby and myself). As always we drank, played a couple of rounds, won and lost quarters, ate and did I mention drank. The menu had a citrus and cranberry theme; I made wine poached steak, stuffed mushrooms, cranberry meatballs, mini quiches (from Sam's), orange chutney and brie on water crackers, prosciutto roll up with a wheel of cheese, celery gratin and for dessert earl grey truffles, meringues and citrus bundt cake with a tangerine glaze. To drink we had red and white wine, cranberry sparklers, eggnog spiked with cognac and champagne.  I don't have any pictures of my decor but it was red and black theme (a la' suites of cards).



drink table



food table

close up

close up

dessert

Gabby's Needlepoint

Hi,

Here's my wreath! I googled "diy modern wreath" and followed that basic model.  Pretty easy except that I should've bought two rolls of ribbon.