Chinese Market Soup

For the last few years I've made what I've termed Chinese Market Soup. The idea came about when I read an article about a open market. Where a soup vendor had a hot broth and you got to add the ingredients you wanted in the soup. And they poured the hot broth over it and you had a soup just the way you like it.

I line up all the ingredients for everyone to pick from. I always have the staples of a soup, carrots, beans, pasta, potatoes, etc. I have also put out bok choy, bean sprouts, watercress to name a few things.

The trick to serving this soup is make sure the broth is super hot. Once the broth is poured over the ingredients it cools off a bit.

The kids love it. They get to pick what they want and usually they eat the whole thing cause after all they made it themselves. LOL

Thanks for stopping by
XOXO
Esther

A Snowy Gingerbread Party

For this year's annual Gingerbread House party I decided to go with a Snowy decorating theme. I found these snow covered greenery

I used an vintage watering can to hold the greenery and placed the wintery painting I painted this year.

I used the wreath I created last year. (you can read about it here) along with reindeer. I use snow batting and fake snow around the legs.

In the corner I set up for the house pieces were set up with a couple of trees also with snow batting and fake snow. 

On the trays with that held the house pieces I sprinkled sugar on it for the snow effect.



And hung Christmas lights on the ceiling for a extra touch. I love the way the lights look so much I am considering keeping them up year round.

Here is a look at all the candy laid out ready to decorate houses.

Here is a look at the houses that were created.

Everyone had a great time and went home with a Gingerbread House they created

Thanks for stopping by
XOXO
Esther

Christmas front porch

 I normally decorate a little more traditional. Here is a picture from last year

I wanted something a little more christmasy for the front porch this year. I decided to go with Christmas ball. First I wanted to do one big ball on top of each each but I couldn't find a ball the size I wanted. I found these from the Christmas tree shop.

I used 3 different sizes on each urn.

 



To add the Christmas balls to the urns and wheel barrow. I glued chop sticks to balls and stuck them into the dirt so they wouldn't blow around. Here is a picture of adding the balls to the wheel barrow.

 

I added fake snow and sparkles as a finishing touch.



 

 

I loved the look of sprinkled snow. It added a really nice touch for the Christmas season.

Thanks for stopping by
XOXO
Esther

Christmas Cards

What a busy December! Between work, shopping and getting ready for the Holiday. December passed by very quickly. One thing I promised myself last year was to take is easier this year and not try to do it all and be everywhere. Would you believe it I actually did. I spent a few quite evenings at home enjoying the Christmas movies that were on. I just love watching all those Christmas movies from the classical It's a wonderful life (my personal favorite) to the sappy love ones like Matchmaker Santa. I really do try to watch as many as I can every December. Corny I know... but it's my thing... can't help myself. One other thing I did was create my Christmas Cards.

Here is one that I created

 I got this idea from a shadow box I saw with all the days of the month and little nick knacks from Christmas. I originally wanted to put all the days of the month on the card like I saw in the inspiration piece, but quickly realized there just wasn't going to be enough room.

Then I though I would just mixed up the number from 1 through 10 using different kinds of mediums. Playing cards, stamps, etc. Talk about happy accidents. With out any planning I picked the #2 from the miniature playing cards and the number 5 from my stamps and accidentally put them together.

 

 

 

The card came together rather quickly after that. I stamped out all the pieces I needed.

 

 

 

 

Cut them out and colored them in.

 

 

 

Put it all together.

 

 

 

Love the way it came out. I might not have gotten all the numbers on the card like I saw in the inspiration piece but I did get the feel of it. 12 for the twelve days of Christmas. The clock to represent the counting down. A calender like item for the year we wait until christmas comes. A star for the christmas star and a Christmas ornament. And of course the big day itself the number 25.

 

Thanks for stopping by

XOXO

Esther