Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from Holiday Handbook! Wishing you and your family a wonderful season full of holiday warmth, cheer, and cookies.

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Christmas Decor: Imperial Purple & Tranquil Blue

A colour scheme for your festive decor can make your decorating more cohesive, and much simpler. Try these various shades of purple and blue.

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Purple is a nontraditional colour for Christmas decor, but the various shades of lilac and amethyst work perfectly with modern decorative themes. To add an elegant touch to any holiday decor, use pale shades of lilac and mauve; the light colours will add a youthful feeling to your interior decor. To create a more mature look to your design, use ornaments in shades of dark mulberry or plum. Use round bulbs in these colours and pour them into a large vase or set them atop a cake platter and place them in the centre of the table, on a mantel, or on the counter; guests will find them exceptionally eye-catching. Also try mixing and matching the different shades of purples and put together your own holiday place settings. 

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Blue is a wonderful colour for Christmas because it works perfectly with the wintry season... so the decorations can be kept up for longer! Start off by making a dinner table covered with icy blues and see where it takes you. Mantels are always a great place to spread holiday cheer, so try using aqua-coloured stockings, or add sapphire bows to the year-round decorations. Live near the sea? Try trimming the tree with shells with hints of blue. For a more traditional flair, use bulbs in darker shades such as royal blue. 

Christmas Decor: Winter White & Playful Pink

Christmas is a wonderful time of year because it brings in a new look to your interior design. Holiday decor is a great way to express yourself during this season, and playing with different colours will truly show off your holiday spirit during the festive months.

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Winter white is a great colour for the holiday season because it gives a sophisticated look to your overall design. Covering the tree with all-white ornaments in shapes such as snowflakes will give it that perfect snow-tipped look. White lights are another classic look that work well with the white theme. For a step further, try a tree with white boughs. Carry this white-theme all through the house including mantels and tables. White candles with ceramic centerpieces are a simple way of bringing holiday cheer to your Christmas dinner. 

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For a more fun alternative, try playful pink. Pink ornaments such as bulbs and all other shapes are easy to find during this season, and they add a beautiful sparkle to any Christmas tree. When it comes to under the tree, wrap all your gifts in various pink papers; everyone will know who the present came from, and it will look great with your overall colour scheme. Entirely pink Christmas trees will make your living room look pretty this holiday season; find smaller-scale versions for other rooms in the house as well. To spread the theme even further, fill clear bowls and vases with many different pink ornaments and set them in the middle of tables, on the kitchen counter, or above the fireplace.

Gingerbread & Shortbread: Two Holiday Favourites

Gingerbread and shortbread are two holiday baking essentials. Which do you prefer? Gingerbread brings a crunchier, spicier flavour to the cookie jar. Gingerbread cookies are household favourites for their decorating abilities, making everything from cute people cut-outs, to elaborate houses, to intricately embellished snowflakes and other shapes. Gingerbread cookies add a fun flair to your holiday baking list.

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Shortbread is another wonderful treat during the holidays. It adds a little something extra to your baking with its soft and creamy texture. Shortbread can be formed into a variety of designs from basic cutouts dipped in chocolate, to shapes covered with sprinkles, and balls rolled with icing sugar and finished off with a candied cherry. Whether gingerbread or shortbread this season, it's bound to bring some holiday goodness to your Christmas baking. 

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A Hot Chocolate Christmas

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It's that time of year when there's nothing nicer than a big cup of hot chocolate. There are so many different flavours of hot chocolate out there, why not try them all? Peppermint and caramel hot chocolate flavours are a favourite for many, as they add that little bit of Christmas spirit to your cup. White hot chocolate is another great alternative, as it takes away from the richness of regular hot chocolate, and makes it a little lighter and creamier.

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What's hot chocolate without marshmallows? Flavoured marshmallows are another awesome way to add that extra something to your cocoa. Make them yourself, or find different flavours in a variety of stores. Want something with a little more bite? Cinnamon can be sprinkled on the top of your hot chocolate to add some warmth, or even use a full stick of cinnamon to mix the flavour right in. Mexican is another popular variety of hot chocolate during this season, and there are many renditions that add lots of luscious ingredients including cinnamon, chili and even nuts. Hot chocolate on a stick can also be used as a great stocking stuffer for this holiday season. Simply take a warm cup of milk and everything else needed is compacted right onto the end of the stir stick. 

Happy Thanksgiving Weekend

Thanksgiving is here, and it's time to celebrate a relaxing weekend with family and friends. Thanksgiving means it's also time for my personal favourite: pumpkin pie... and lots of it! This weekend marks the first time of the year when my family makes pumpkin pies, and knowing how much I love it, they make lots of them! 

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We have such a large family that we generally celebrate with a few feasts over the course of the weekend. This year, after feasting with the family, I'm going to make my very first Thanksgiving dinner for just me and my boyfriend, and I hope it will be a success! Between turkey and mashed potatoes, salad and stuffing, I'm sure it will result in a tasty banquet. All in all, whether you have pumpkin pie, apple pie, or no pie at all, make sure to celebrate with all of your loved ones. 

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Dazzle Your Neighbourhood with Sparkling Pumpkins

Want something a little bit different from the classic carved pumpkins? Be sure to try this fantastic idea for decorating your doorstep. Cover your pumpkins from top to bottom with sparkles in bright shining colours and watch them twinkle under the night sky, just the same as if they were lit with a candle. It adds a sophisticated look to your seasonal decor and will be sure to grab the attention of the whole neighbourhood!

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Light Up the Season with Halloween Candles

Let's light up this chilly season with some warm, Halloween-inspired candles. Filling hurricane vases with  some hard candies adds a fun touch to some regular pillar candles. As well, try sticking black pipe cleaners into the sides of miniature ornamental pumpkins to create a creepy spider look, as shown below. Want to create an eerie atmosphere? Black paper cut-outs stuck onto the outside of candleholders will produce a spooky shape on the wall when the candle shines on it from behind. No time for crafting your own this season? Check your local home decor store to find lots of great candles and other fashionable items for your home this spooky season. 

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Spooky Wreaths: Decor Inspired by this Halloween Season

It's now October, and Halloween is just around the corner. Although it's still a little too early for carving pumpkins, there are many other great Halloween decorating ideas. Wreaths are not only for the winter season anymore; try adding a spooky flair to the door decor to make them an autumn tradition as well. Try using various items from around your house to create these spooky decorations, such as ribbons and boas in Halloween hues. Want a little more detail? Visit a local dollar store or arts and crafts store to find more Halloween items. Cupcake decorations shaped like spiders, scaredy cats, or other Halloween figures would add the perfect haunted look to your frightening home decor.

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Decorate During this Harvest Season

Looking for some new decorating tips during this harvest season? The natural tones of this time of year are guaranteed to give your house a warm and cozy feeling. Pumpkins aren't just meant for Halloween anymore; try painting them with warm colours such as a shiny gold to bring some warmth to your hearth or doorstep. Also, find miniature ornamental pumpkins at your local grocery store, and place them creatively in glass jars to make an inventive autumn centrepiece.

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Harvest vegetables can also add a creative twist to lighting your house during the cooler season. Rather than carving scary Jack-o-lantern faces, try punching holes into pumpkins or other autumn gourds in unique designs, and create your own fall candle holders. Can't make it to the pumpkin patch? Fall florals are another great way of adding that vibrant colour to your mantlepiece. Try mixing and matching the various colours to find something that fits your style. Also, candy isn't just for children on Halloween night; fill jars with assorted candies such as candy corn to add a playful touch to your home decor.

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An Autumn Tradition: Apple Picking

Apple picking is a great tradition for any family, group of friends, or individuals who want a fun outdoor activity as the chilly winter weather fast approaches. In my particular region of the world, apples are bountiful, and come in every size, shape and colour (from vibrant reds, to neon greens, and yellow such as the apple-pear). However, this activity is not for the faint of heart, it includes outdoor walks, the accumulation of delicious fruits, and fresh air!

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Unsure of how to use those apples once you've picked them? There are so many delicious apple desserts that are perfect for this time of year. Things like apple muffins and apple pies are simple treats that are always enjoyable. To test your apple-baking skills, try more difficult recipes, such as apple streudel and the apple cheesecake squares shown below. Whatever your choice of apple treat, the oven is bound to keep your house warm and smelling good. 

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Hot Ideas for Cool Summer Drinks

Need help cooling off this summer holiday? Check out some of these great drink ideas for your next summer outing. Fresh apple juice during the summer months is great, but apple slushies are that much better. Tart but sweet at the same time, the apple flavour adds a nice twist to the traditional slushed beverage.

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Like the fresh flavours of citrus in the summertime? Lime is a fantastic ingredient for refreshing summer drinks. Whether it's a classic mojito with fresh-squeezed lime or a glass of limeade, all of the drinks below are guaranteed to be a success. Try simply adding slices of lime to spice up more basic beverages as well. Soda water with lime and cucumber (or muddled kiwi) is a popular mix among my family!

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Coconut is a classic creamy flavour for the summer holidays. Mix it with pineapple to create a classic pina colada, or else stick a straw right in! Coconut milk is a tasty beverage in itself. For another tropical mix, blend in a banana and top it off with a miniature umbrella to really kick off this summer holiday.

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Blooming Beauties

Although it may be a little late to plant flowers to bloom this summer, it's always a great time to pick out the ones that you would like in your garden boxes next year. When choosing flowers for your yard, make sure you consider the climate in which you live. Each flower has its own personality, and this greatly affects how it will grow and survive in your region. Make sure to also read the labels that come with the flowers when you pick them out at the nursery. They will let you know quick tips such as whether or not that particular flower is suited for shade. Below are some summer-blooming flowers that I found particularly eye-catching!

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A Treat of Heavenly Goodness

Roasting marshmallows is a popular pastime during the summer holidays, but have you ever tried roasting these marshmallows? After first having tried homemade raspberry marshmallows a couple of months ago, I have since fallen in love with many different flavours of the fluffy treat. Chocolate marshmallows are fantastic for roasting over the campfire, while fruit flavoured marshmallows add a nice look to any cup of hot chocolate on a cooler summer night. Coconut marshmallows (try Jet-Puffed Toasted Coconut) are my absolute favourite, and are a dessert in themselves!

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Get Creative with Summer Baking

Get baking this summer! With so many unique ways of presenting your baking skills, why not try out all of them? The cupcake pops and ice cream-shaped cupcakes are bound to be a crowd pleaser at any family gathering, especially with kids. I also love the flower shaped cupcake tins- it's an easy way to add a creative spin onto any cupcake recipe. For a more traditional setting, look for fruits that are in season to make delicious pies. Guaranteed they will be enjoyed!

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For the more "seasoned" baker, try some of these great baking tips! Use different piping tips for frosting; each tip gives an entirely different look to the treat. Also, props are a fantastic way of adding that something-extra to your baked goods. Visit your local craft supplies store to find miniature figures for your baking. Also, different ingredients such as coconut and graham cracker crumbs will add an extra dimension to your baked treats; check out this idea on the beach cupcake at the bottom. For a fun gathering, why not try out a cupcake-cake? It's a fun and artistic project to work on for this summer holiday. The turtle is just one of many possible designs!

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Light Up Summer Nights

When the sun goes down, summery-themed lanterns and candles are a great way to decorate that front porch or backyard pergola. I especially like the vibrant reds and golds for late night marshmallow roasting. The intensity of the colours keeps the warmth of summer going all night long. For a beachy theme, try using antiqued candleholders of various shapes, and round hanging lanterns that sway nicely in the summer breeze.

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A Summer of Seasonal Fruits

Seasonal fruits are a great selection for any summertime gathering. While simple fruit salads are always a favourite, mix it up at your next party with some of these fresh ideas. Try fruit-filled tea sandwiches, very berry cakes, and sweet fruit tarts!

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