Poor Christmas tree!

I hosted book club last week and my stuffed crescent roll tree appetizer (above) didn't turn out exactly like the one in the recipe (below). So I threw some cranberries at it, hoping that would help the presentation. Ha! But it tasted good, because it was stuffed with spinach artichoke dip and you can't go wrong there.

 

It inspired Beth to make a pizza crescent roll candy cane, and hers looked a lot better.

But my decorations turned out well, and setting a pretty table is for me the best part of hosting a party.

Here we are! We had lasagne, meatballs, stuffed mushrooms, fruit salad, Caesar salad, a veggie tray, wine and a decadent Texas chocolate sheet cake for the December birthday girls (Judy, Kristina and me).

I have my beloved little white lights everywhere, and I turn them all on first thing in the morning and at dusk. The ones over the window stay up all year and I turn them on every evening because they remind me of stars and make it feel cozy.

Last night I got into cookie baking mode and made chocolate crinkles and ginger molasses cookies. Next up will be sugar cookie cutouts.

And speaking of holiday decorations, people here hang ornaments from their outdoor trees because we don't have to worry about bad weather knocking them down.

Here's Juniper with her stocking that I made and some sentimental ornaments that I sent to her. I can't wait to cuddle with her soon! I don't think I'll let her go the entire visit, except when she cries and then she'll go to Mom.

Have a colorful day