Series Wrap Up: A Season of Serenity at Home

We made it! It's Christmas Eve. As I write this, the kids are in bed, the lights on the tree are lit, and the house is quiet. It feels pretty serene, so I'd say this series did its job! I wanted to take today to look back at this year's Christmas inspiration series, and to thank all the wonderful bloggers who contributed this year.

I definitely had my "moments" this Christmas season. Losing my temper with grumpy kids, freaking out about running out of lights for the tree, stressing over spending another Christmas running around town to "put time in" on Christmas day, feeling that sting of envy looking at another blogger's beautifully decorated holiday home when mine is strewn with toys. 

But, overall, this series gave me the time I needed this month to "detox" from blog stuff. Instead of staying up late to edit photos or work on projects, I was able to wrap gifts and watch Christmas movies. I read stories to my girls instead of throwing together another craft to feature on the blog. 

It was wonderful.

I know that series aren't always popular with readers. We like to see new, regular content from blog owners as often as possible. But blog writers are men and women with families too, and this blog writer knew she needed a Season of Serenity at Home! I appreciate the positive, encouraging comments that many of you left on the posts for the series.

My blogging friends came through this year with inspirational posts, projects, crafts, party ideas, style tips, and recipes. I read each post with all of you, taking notes for next year's Christmas fun.

I hope you found something new and inspiring to take away with you from this series. You can find a round-up of all the posts here. 

Thanks to Imparting Grace, Random Thoughts of a SUPERMOM, She's {Kinda} Crafty, At the Picket Fence, Yummy Mummy Kitchen, It's Overflowing, Two Twenty One, and Michaela Noelle Designs for taking time out of your busy holiday season to share inspiring content with us! You all made my December so much more pleasant and relaxing.

I'll have a short holiday message up tomorrow, but for today, I want to wish each and every one of you a beautiful, blessed Christmas! I'm off to get ready for our annual "dessert buffet" with family tonight!

What are your plans for Christmas?

Holiday Hair Tips (Style Guide)

The month of December can be so busy that we often run out of time to think about ways to dress up our day-to-day looks. I started thinking about what I'll wear on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and realized I needed to change things up again with my Holiday Style. Today my friend Michaela from Michaela Noelle Designs is going to share some fabulous style tips for your tresses this holiday season!

Please help me welcome Michaela!

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Hello, friends and readers of Amanda! I'm Michaela, author of Michaela Noelle Designs. Normally I write about interior design, but occasionally throw in some lifestyle posts. I'm so excited to be here today sharing a few fun hairstyles you can add to your holiday style repertoire. Let's get started, shall we?!

Fishtail braid

Materials:
comb, elastic, bobby pins, hairspray

Fishtail Braid how-to:
Start by taking a small section of hair from the right side of your head and cross it to the left. Gently pull. {No need to twist it under other strands or anything. Just leave it on top!} Take a small strand of hair from the left side and cross it over to the right side. Gently pull. Continue doing this until you run out of hair. Secure with elastic at the end and follow the rest of the instructions to complete the up-do.

Despite popular belief, a fishtail braid is much easier than a french braid-- all you're doing is criss-crossing sections of hair instead of actually braiding.

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No-Heat Curls

Materials:
elastic headband, possibly a few bobby pins, hairspray

No-heat curls how-to:
After you're done wrapping hair around the headband, just lightly hairspray, go to sleep and wake up to take out the headband. I always end up touching up the top layer with my 3/4" barrel curling iron, but other than that, the curls come out great. Give it a whirl :)

All photos via michaela noelle designs and victoria carlson photography.

What hair styles are you planning to try this holiday season?

Thanks for inviting me here today, Amanda. Merry Christmas!! :)

Love,

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Thank you so much, Michaela, for putting together a fabulous guest post for me!

Michaela Noelle Designs is a beautifully styled blog full of design and fashion inspiration. Most importantly, Michaela is as beautiful inside and she is on the outside (aren't you jealous of that gorgeous hair?!). Her sweet spirit shines through in each post she writes. Please give her a visit and let her know I sent you!

This post is part of my Season of Serenity at Home series; a Christmas round-up of projects, activities, ideas, and tips to help you have a beautiful holiday at home without all the stress. Click here for a round-up of all the posts to date.

Get your party hats on! My Weekend Bloggy Reading link party is scheduled as usual for tomorrow morning (8 am ET), so be sure to swing by with your best post of the week.
Here's the button code for the party if you want to get a head start! Recipes, crafts, home decor, party ideas, tips and tricks, you name it. Come prepared to showcase your blog and find some great weekend reads.

<a href=" http://www.serenitynowblog.com/ " target="_blank"><img src="http://i985.photobucket.com/albums/ae332/Amanda_SerenityNow/Blog%20Party%20Buttons/WeekendBloggyReading.png" border="0" alt="Weekend Bloggy Reading"></a>

If you enjoyed this post or found it helpful, I hope you'll click your "Pin It" button to add this post to Pinterest, or a +1 for Google+.

Free Christmas Printable: Jingle On

I love incorporating printables into my seasonal decor. You can find a pretty printable for almost any holiday on the blogosphere. Today's edition of my Season of Serenity at Home series brings you a cute, Free Christmas Printable. Courtney from Sweet C's Designs put this one together especially for this series...nothing says "stress-free" like printing your decor and making a stylish holiday vignette with things you have on hand! And the chalkboard theme is very current. You'll find the code for the printable embedded near the bottom of the post.

Please welcome Courtney to the blog today!

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Here's the link to download this printable in an 8 x 10 format:

Jingle on PDF


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What an excellent reminder for us all...when the holiday stress starts creeping in, just take a peek at your printable and remember to take a deep breath and focus on the joy!

Thank you, Courtney, for putting together such a fun printable for the series.

If you haven't "met" Courtney yet, please stop by Sweet C's Designs and say "hello." Courtney's blog is a lovely collection of crafts, entertaining ideas, recipes, photography tips, and more. She also has a beautiful Etsy shop filled with all sorts of goodies.

Do you incorporate printables into your seasonal decor?

*Don't miss the rest of the holiday inspiration lined up in my current Christmas series, A Season of Serenity at Home. Have a beautiful holiday season without all the stress!

If you enjoyed this post or found it helpful, I'd love for you to click your "Pin It" button to add this post to Pinterest, or a +1 for Google+.

DIY Christmas Card Holder (Simple Christmas Craft)

It's mid-December, and by now the Christmas cards are piling up. Do you have a pretty way to display your holiday cards? My lovely, talented, and stylish friend Chelsea (seriously, I have a love affair with bubble necklaces because of her) from Two Twenty One has a simple solution for those of us who are tired of finding ways to lean and pile cards on bookshelves, hutches, and sideboards. Keep reading for her Ribbon Christmas Card Holder tutorial.

Say "hello" to Chelsea!

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Hey, Serenity Now readers! Happy holidays! I'm Chelsea from Two Twenty One, and I'm here to share my Simple Christmas Card Holder with you. It's so easy to execute you could do it in your sleep. Well, kinda; I wouldn't recommend using sharp objects, like scissors and thumbtacks, in your sleep.

This is the perfect card holder if you don't have your cards displayed yet and your family is coming over for Christmas. Because if they're like some people I know, they won't see their card displayed and ask if you received it, and you'll have to be all like, "Yeah, it's in that pile over there...?" Don't worry, I'm here to help.

All you need is ribbon, thumbtacks, double sided tape, scissors, and Christmas cards.

Cut your ribbon to your desired length (mine were about 40 inches). Attach the ribbon to your walls with thumbtacks. If you're lucky, you'll find the same holes that you made the previous year.

Grab your double sided tape. Slap a small piece of tape on the ribbon. Slap a card on top. Repeat until you cover the ribbon with cards. I leave about an inch in between each card. After putting all the cards on I secure the bottom of each ribbon with a small piece of double sided tape. That way when someone walks by the cards aren't flapping around.

If you're a weirdo like me, and keep Christmas cards every year for no apparent reason other than the fact that you have hoarding tendencies, don't fret about the double sided tape sticking to other cards when you store them away in your Ziploc storage bag labeled "2011". Most of the time the tape peels off. If it doesn't, I put a little piece of paper over the tape so it can't attack other cards.

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Love it, Chelsea! I totally need to do this!

If you haven't stopped by Two Twenty One yet, you simply must. Chelsea is as funny in real life as she is on the blog, and she has super-fabulous style. If you like well-photographed recipes, home decor inspiration, and crafts, then Chelsea is your girl. Be sure to tell her I sent ya!

This post is part of my Season of Serenity at Home Christmas inspiration series. I have a great line up of recipes, ideas, crafts, activities, and more to inspire you...and keep your holiday stress-free! You'll find the line-up of all the posts (to-date) here!

If you enjoyed this post or found it helpful, I hope you'll click your "Pin It" button to add this post to Pinterest, or a +1 for Google+. 

Chocolate Brownie Trifle (Easy Holiday Dessert)

The simple recipe I want to share with you today is a family favorite. I usually make it on Christmas Eve, to the great delight of T and my brother-in-law. It's a fabulous recipe to use during Christmastime because it's so easy to throw together. You can make it the day or night before, and forget about it until it's time to serve. Hope you enjoy this Chocolate Brownie Trifle! Stress-free ideas like this are part of my current Christmas series.

Here's what you'll need to make your own:

-Trifle Bowl 

-Box of brownie mix (and whatever the recipe calls for)

-1 container of chocolate or devil's food Jell-O pudding (and enough milk to make it)

-Large container of Cool Whip

-Chocolate Syrup

-Caramel Syrup (optional)

-Peanut Butter drizzle (optional)

-1 candy bar (optional)

Directions:

1. Make the chocolate pudding and brownies according to the package directions. Place pudding in fridge to cool and set brownies aside to cool.

2. To begin the trifle, cut some cooled brownie squares and place a layer in the bottom of your trifle bowl.

3. Add a layer of Cool Whip. Smooth down.

4. (Optional) Add some drizzle of chocolate, peanut butter, and caramel.

5. Add a layer of pudding on top of the cool Whip.

6. Put another layer of brownies in and repeat the process.

You want the last layer to be Cool Whip. I usually add some more drizzle to the very top and the chop up some candy bar slices as "garnish."

Cover and refrigerate overnight. Serve cold!

This is such a tasty, easy dessert, and it's a real crowd pleaser! It's so rich that I seldom make it more than once a year, but everyone loves it.

What's your family's favorite holiday dessert?

*This post is part of my current Christmas inspiration series, A Season of Serenity at Home. I have some fantastic posts with projects, recipes, activities, and ideas that will bring some creativity to your Christmas without the stress! You'll find all the posts to date rounded up here.

If you liked this post or found it helpful, I hope you'll click your "Pin It" button to add this post to Pinterest, or a +1 for Google+.

Linking to Positively Splendid

Holiday Photo Tips and Inspiration

I think we all turn into little shutterbug-paparazzi people during the holidays. Snapshots of the tree, pics of your holiday tablescape, photographs of loved ones as they open their gifts. Photos are such a wonderful way to preserve your holiday memories, aren't they? There's a lot of pressure on moms to get those "perfect shots" during the Christmas season, so I invited Aimee from It's Overflowing to share some Holiday Photo Tips with us as part of my Season of Serenity at Home Christmas inspiration series. She sent some "inspiration shots" for you to take note of and try on your own at home!

Please help me welcome Aimee to the blog today!

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I'm Aimee Lane, and I blog at It’s Overflowing, a blog devoted to Simply Inspired Home Living. The focus of my blog is simple: functional decor, the use of natural fibers combined with high quality pieces, delicious recipes, polished photography, and seeking out solutions to simplify life. Blogging energizes me! I love sharing new tutorials, inspirational decor, and lots of useful household tips with my readers.

I am so thankful that Amanda included me in her series...ways to simplify Christmas. I'm a huge believer in traditions. Helping children know they belong to a bigger circle than just themselves is an awesome responsibility. Handing down stories, beliefs, and customs from one generation to another helps to establish a strong sense of identity.

Pictures are practical tools to share these stories! At times this Christmas season, you may wonder if your labor of love is worth your effort. You're in the business of shaping hearts and that's HUGE...keep making it special!

Here are some of my favorite pictures to capture each Christmas with the purpose of sharing special memories with my sweeties:

1. Our family's Christmas tree, all lit up

2. Child with his/her favorite ornament

3. Stockings hanging in a row

4. Pictures with Santa

5. Reading a favorite Christmas story

6. Kids in pajamas on Christmas Eve

7. Santa's Milk and Cookies

source

I attached a link to each of these pictures so you can enjoy more scoop (just in case you're a bit nosy inquisitive, like me). It's Overflowing is updated at least once a day and you are totally invited to stop by regularly for visits. I am so excited to meet each of you! XO, Aimee

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Thanks, Aimee! There are one or two photos on your list that we haven't done before. I need to add them to my mental list.

If you stop by It's Overflowing, please be sure to tell Aimee that I sent you!

*My Christmas series is designed to bring you a beautiful holiday at home...without all the stress! You can see all of the posts in A Season of Serenity at Home by clicking here.

If you enjoyed this post or found it helpful, I hope you'll click your "Pin It" button to add this post to Pinterest, or a +1 for Google+. 

Ugly Christmas Sweater Party: Girls' Night Out!

When I mentioned I was planning on throwing another Ugly Christmas Sweater Party, a bunch of readers commented and asked to see pictures of this year's event. How could I not share some holiday hideousness with you? {wink} This year, I organized the Girls' Night Out for my MOPS group with my sister-in-law (SuSu), and we added a twist...a Tacky White Elephant Gift Exchange. It was a night to remember!

If you want some ideas for throwing your own Ugly Christmas Sweater Party, you can click here to read last year's post, or just check out today's pics. We're pretty loose when it comes to party rules:

• Any tacky attire is welcome (ugly sweaters, vests, puffy painted sweatshirts, plaid pants, crazy socks, accessories) The tackier, the better!
• Guests bring an appetizer or dessert to share
• Each guest brings a wrapped tacky white elephant gift with their name signed somewhere inconspicuous (ie. From: Amanda T)
• Tacky gifts should be $5 or less, or even something from your own home. Tacky gift wrap (torn newspaper, non-Christmas bags, an old sock) is highly encouraged

We encouraged the ladies to get into the fun of the evening by offering prizes for Tackiest Outfit and Tackiest Gift. The moms walked the "runway" as I narrated the show ("Sally is wearing a brilliantly shiny Vegas-style sequined top tonight. Don't you love her suspenders?"), and then we voted on whose outfit we liked best. The winning mom, in a green tutu, won a $20 gift card to Charming Charlie so she could go out any buy some actual cute accessories.

For the gift exchange, we had each mom select a gift and then we sat in a circle and the moms took turns opening their gift, saying who it was from, and displaying it for everyone to see. We had a foot massager from the Goodwill, a Santa toilet seat cover, some really gross skull and feather earrings, and a Christmas gnome missing an arm. 

The gift wrap was a hoot--one was taped with blue painters tape, Christy brought a Valentine's Bag with "Happy Valentine's" crossed out and "Merry Christmas" written in Sharpie, and I wrapped mine in newspaper and made a "bow" with a coffee filter.  

Our lovely friend, Angie, offered to host the event for us, which was perfect since she has a large home and it was decorated for Christmas in time for the party. We had Christmas music in the background, and lots of tasty food to sample.

If you've never hosted an Ugly Christmas Sweater Party before, I highly recommend it! So much less stressful than hosting something formal, and always good for some laughs! (I'm in the back row wearing the "tacky" snow hat I received in the gift exchange)

What's the best Christmas or holiday party you've ever attended?

*This post is part of my Christmas series, A Season of Serenity at Home. Please visit this link for a round-up of all the current posts to date. Lots of Christmas inspiration to inspire your stress-free Christmas holiday!

*Don't forget to enter this week's Framed Photo Canvas Giveaway! I'm giving 3 away, plus free shipping!

If you enjoyed this post or found it helpful, I hope you'll click your "Pin It" button to add this post to Pinterest, or a +1 for Google+. 

Salted Peppermint Bark Chocolate Cookies (Holiday Treat)

'Tis the season for holiday treats! I was thrilled that Marina from Yummy Mummy Kitchen agreed to stop by the blog and share a Christmas recipe for Salted Peppermint Bark Chocolate Cookies as part of my ongoing Christmas inspiration series. These would be a fabulous teacher or neighbor gift...or (let's be honest) your family could just devour them yourselves. Either way, these cookies look like fun to make, and fun to eat!

Please help me welcome Marina to the blog today.

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Hello, Serenity Now readers! I am honored to be contributing here, as this is one of my very favorite blogs that fills me with inspiration and joy, and is a little slice of serenity in the sometimes-chaos of motherhood. I'm excited to share one of my favorite holiday cookie recipes. These are rich and delicious and perfect to satisfy that chocolate craving. Chopped up peppermint bark makes these festive and even tastier (think peppermint mocha flavors). 

The dough turned out a little too sweet, so we added a tiny pinch of fleur de sel to the tops before baking and they were perfect. See, licking the spoon is important! 

These would make the perfect gift to give for the holidays. Or just for mommy to enjoy after the kids go to bed. Either way :) 

Salted Peppermint Bark Chocolate Cookies

printer-friendly recipe

makes about 24 cookies 

1 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup cocoa powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup chopped peppermint bark

1/2 teaspoon fleur de sel or large sea salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 

In large bowl, beat butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla until light and fluffy. Combine the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt; stir into the butter mixture until well blended. Mix in the peppermint bark chunks. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. Sprinkle with salt if using. Refrigerate 20 minutes.

Bake for 10 minutes or just until set. Cool slightly on the cookie sheets before transferring to wire racks to cool completely. 

adapted from AllRecipes chocolate cookies

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 Many thanks to you, Marina, for taking the time to put together something to share with us!

If you haven't visited Yummy Mummy Kitchen yet, you are missing out on a delight! Marina's blog is filled with beautifully photographed, delicious recipes. You'll find everything from lunchbox ideas, to family dinners, breakfasts, happy hour treats, and more! Please stop by Marina's blog and be sure to tell her I sent you.

*Don't forget to enter this week's Giveaway for 3 Framed Canvas Prints from SnapBox (any size! plus free shipping). It's a good one!

If you've missed the other Season of Serenity at Home posts, you can find them rounded up here. It's a series of Christmas inspiration (crafts, recipes, home decor, style, and more) dedicated to keep the serenity in your home this year!

If you enjoyed this post or found it helpful, I hope you'll click your "Pin It" button to add this post to Pinterest, or a +1 for Google+.