Goodbye Christmas, Hello winter!

Just as my Christmas goodbyes were being said (in the form of packing up ornaments, little trees, big trees, wreaths, santas) well you get my meaning...

the skies opened up and blessed us with snow!

It feels like the perfect winter day. Christmas is cleaned up, it's snowing, the dogs are sleeping by the fire, there's soup and cornbread for dinner, and the bonus... I'm home alone! Perrrrrrrrrrfct!!!

Happy winter!

Laurie

Merry Christmas

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful. ~Norman Vincent Peale

Merry Christmas from our house to yours...

Wishing you a wonderful Christmas an adventurous New year!
Gary and Laurie, Blake, Chelsea

Cookie Exchange

For the past seven years my daughter, sister and I have hosted a cookie exchange at my house. It gets a little wilder and crazier each year. It's not only a cookie exchange but a contest too. It started out innocently enough with voting for the best tasting cookie. Because the chocolate always seemed to win we added a non-chocolate category as well. Then decided to add best recipe card then best presentation... It seems to have taken on a life of it's own!

We had over 30 competitors this year! It was so much fun. Here are some of the memories...

We started with a mixer to get to know each other. What better way than digging through each other's purses. The room was divided into two teams. Each team was given a list of various items you might find in a purse, the team with the most found items got to start their cookie sampling first!

Wonderful family and friends...

Just look at these cookies...

And the winners...

Best presentation was won by Sharon Hocking...

Best tasting chocolate went to my extremely talented sister-in-law/friend/business partner, Debbie Taylor. The Chocolate Pomegranate Cookies were here own recipe! Congrats Debbie!

Best tasting non-chocolate went to JoAnn Taylor (no relation to Debbie). Not only did JoAnn win for best tasting, guest judge Kimberly Koch from truly scrumptious boutique bakery voted for JoAnn's maple cookies because they reminded her of warm pancakes!

Best recipe card went to Kim Woon (this is Kim's fabulous presentation, her cards are hiding behind it and they were gorgeous)...

We also give out a prize for the 18 years and under group. Best tasting, for her Oreo Balls went to my niece Faith Burton...

Best presentation went to the amazingly creative Jessica Melberg, is that cute or what! Her meringues were great too...

It was such a fun way to kick off the holiday season!

Monticello Christmas Show

The countdown begins...

This Friday, December 4th, the doors to Monticello Antique Marketplace will open at 8:00am for their beautiful show, An Old Fashioned Christmas...

The lineup of guest vendors is staggering... You will find many ideas and treasures from these fabulous vendors... Barn House, Sparrow, Queen of Tarte, Duchess, Madison Park, Bella, All My Favorite Things, Jeff & Julie's Primitives, Annie, Fannie & Abigail, Kindred Roses, My Shabby Roses, Vintage Trifles, Molly Mo, Manor Bourne, Auntie Joy, Where Sisters Gather.

You will also find Worthy Goods in our sweet little space... Here's a little peek at what we've been up to...

So, here's all the information you will need...

The show goes from December 4th - 27th. There is a storewide sale opening weekend (4th-6th). There will be wine tasting this weekend hosted by Hip Chicks Do Wine! Many of the vendors will be there to greet you on December 4th.

The address is: 8600 SE Stark Street, Portland, OR 97216

phone #: (503)256-8600

If that's not enough, click here to check out Monticello's blog!

See you there,

Laurie