In decorating for Christmas, I realized there are very few available, flat surfaces in our apartment. We did what we could! You like?

And yes, that is a stocking for the kitties.

Love this series from Yvonne Wong. So happy, great light. Wouldn’t it be such a fun indulgence to have a photo shoot every year on your anniversary?

See more here.

{from flickr}

Are you a ritualistic sort of person? I definitely am. I love traditions of all sorts, and though I’m not a stickler for doing things exactly as they’ve always been done (ahem sisters), I do have a few activities I try to make a habit of doing every December.

Make peppermint hot chocolate and watch Christmas movies (I want to try my hand at homemade marshmallows next!)
Go ice skating outside
Hang an Advent calendar and open it through December
Drive around to look at the neighborhood Christmas lights (inherited this one from my grandmother!)
Hunt for a Christmas tree at a cut-your-own farm
Make tweeks to my Christmas decorations
Make and mail out Christmas cards to friends and family
Attend the candlelight Christmas Eve service(s) at my church
Buy a new Christmas CD
Bake cookies
Pick (or make) the perfect gift for family and friends (seriously — one of my favorite things)
Get creative wrapping gifts
Attend a performance of the Nutcracker
Put up a wreath
Go to a Christmas concert
Read the Christmas story from the Bible
Eat Monkey Bread on Christmas morning

{via Real Simple}

I’m thinking something like this could look neat on the high-boy (cocktail) tables at Kate and Cormac’s reception. They most likely won’t be having sit-down tables and instead will have a collection of higher and lower cocktail tables. We’ve been scouting for a low-cost, low-floral, simple-to-set-up arrangement, and this one, by Michelle Rago for Real Simple, would fit the bill, I think. The manzanita is even evocative of driftwood! (Remember, driftwood is an important part of the scheme.)

Sister Kim and I tried our hand at these floral flowers (so cute! so easy! photos coming soon!) over Thanksgiving and think they would look great in place of the tissue ones Michelle used. I’m seeing crisp navy and white stripe fabric flowers alternating with yellow and white striped ones.

Any other ideas for an arrangement that is:
— low-cost
— low-floral
— easy-to-set-up
— appropriate for the afternoon (i.e. no candles)
— able to stand up to the wind?

Thoughts?