Christmas Tour of Casa de Phillips

I am playing along with BooMama (whose blog you MUST read because it is nothing short of hilarious) and hosting a Christmas tour of my home.

So pour yourself a steaming cup of hot chocolate, overflowing with marshmallows and sprinkles because that is the only way to drink it, and welcome to casa de phililps at Christmastime.

First, the tree....We purchased this little tree during after-Christmas sales the year we were engaged. Sadly, this is the final year this Christmas tree will be with us. It has been faithful for seven Christmas seasons, but is getting old (and is currently being held up with a few back issues of Sports Illustrated) and is going into retirement.

I must point out that I only decorate and wrap presents in red and gold....mismatched paper and decor make me a tad anxious.
Saturday night, husband and I attended a Christmas concert by our local symphony orchestra. Apparently we also enrolled in the "Sweater of the Month" club as well....
The Christmas we were engaged, I made ornaments with each of our names on them. For those Days of Our Lives fans...does this remind you of anything? For some reason I decided to make Tobe's silver and blue (and have an unintentional Dallas Cowboys feel), which does not match the whole red and gold theme. I have offered every year to make him a new one, but he wants to stick with the original.


Isaac and Evelyn's ornaments




The Rocking R....the farm brand from Tobe's Grandparents farm. I made these one year for his entire extended family.Our tribute to our respective home states....these always hang side by side on the tree Our Piano

The fireplace....eagerly awaiting two more stocking holders so Tobe and I can hang our socks next to the children's.

Because we live in an area that doesn't see much cold weather, there really is no reason for us to have a fire roaring in the fireplace. I chose to place greenery, large ornaments, and Christmas lights in there instead. My Santa collection....each year I purchase a new Santa. I always write the date on the bottom of his foot so I can remember which Santa was purchased during what year. I began a snowman collection for Evelyn this year, which means she has better come to love snowmen or she is going to dread her holiday decorations each year.
The Kitchen Table...which I keep "set" during the month of December. The tree on this table is decorated with cookie cutters and is often redecorated many times during the day by an unnamed toddler.
Something new we started this year is eating dinner by candlelight every night in December. Although this can be a bit tricky with a curious two year old, it does set a relaxing and mellow mood for the evening.
This is just a sampling of our Christmas decor....we have decorations throughout the house, including trees in each of the children's rooms, our room, and the guest bathroom.

Because you were so kind to stop by and tour casa de phillips, I want to share the (in)famous Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Cookie Recipe.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened (Use the real stuff....your cookies will thank you)

3/4 cup peanut butter

1/3 cup sugar

1/3 cup packed light brown sugar

1 egg

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

48 red M&M's (approx.)

96 mini chocolate chips (approx)

Pretzels, broken into 96 1-inch pieces

* Preheat oven to 375 degrees

*Beat together butter, peanut butter, and sugars on med. speed for about two minutes

*Add egg and vanilla..beat until combined

*Sift together dry ingredients, then slowly add to wet ingredients

*Roll dough into one inch balls and place one inch apart on baking stone

*Press down light with hand, then get ready to decorate

*Broken pretzels are the antlers, chocolate chips the eyes, and the M&M's are the nose. I had better results decorating before baking, although you can do it immediately after cookies come from the oven if you prefer.

*Bake for about 8-10 minutes

Merry Christmas!