New Christmas Eve Traditions

   I hope everyone had a blessed, cozy, warm Christmas spent with those that they love most dearly!  I sure did!  We hosted Christmas eve dinner here at our house, which was fun and easy.  My husband's family has a long-standing tradition of serving clam chowder for Christmas Eve but because one family member recently discovered a shellfish allergy, we decided to try salmon chowder this year instead.  It was delish!  I managed to snap one good photo of our table all set for dinner that night.  I wish I would have taken more but I was too busy playing hostess to have a full-on photo shoot of the table before everyone sat down to eat.  It was a fairly simple setting but I used a pretty toile topper that I'd made, my Mikasa Italian Countryside dishes, accented with one Grandma's Johnson Brother's Rose Chintz and the other Grandma's Fostoria Kimberly wine glasses.  The boys and I made place cards for the grandparents and Aunty attending that evening featuring their hand prints touched up to look like darling little reindeer (an idea I borrowed from a clever blogger...but I can't remember who it was!  Let me know if you know so that I can give them credit and share a link!)

With all of the meal preparations, gift buying and gift giving, card writing, party planning, Santa visits and everything else to do with the Christmas season, it is easy to lose focus of the true meaning of Christmas.  Our good friends gave us a copy of "The Nativity Story" dvd for Christmas a year or two ago.  I am embarrassed to say that when we pulled it out of the cupboard to watch it this year, it was still in it's wrapper!  I must say, I am so glad that my hubby opened it up and put it in the dvd player last week.  It was such a wonderful portrayal of the first Christmas and reminder of what we are celebrating.  We really enjoyed it and it's now on our list of must-see movies for watching each year at Christmastime!  In fact, I think we'll add it to our agenda for Christmas Eve dinner next year...along with the new found favorite Salmon Chowder!  I highly recommend you pick up a copy of this dvd for your own family if you don't have it already!

That's it for now!  I am hoping to share some pretty things with you later in the week!  I am dreading taking down all of the Christmas decor...aren't you?  The house always looks so stark to me after the tree and all of it's glittery glory goes away.  Maybe if I get busy and make some pretty new throw pillows or get creative with new decor ideas for the mantles, I will get motivated to put away the Christmas stuff.  Surely my fav. bloggers will have some inspiration for me this week!  I'll start seeking that inspiration by heading off to the Show of Your Cottage Party at House in The Roses!  I am also joining in on the fun at Tablescape Thursday at BNOTP.

Best wishes to you all and many blessings!
Amanda