DECK THE HOLIDAY'S

   This diy comes from www.acaseofthemundays.com .  These look really cool and "old world".  Use them on your tree, in a wreath or hang them with some fancy ribbon in a window. DIY: mercury glass ornaments I am slightly obsessed w/ mercury glass this year!!! {lovely globes from pb } {pretty pretty candlesticks - also from pb} which got me to thinking about mercury glass christmas ornaments. ... lovely, right? {and again pb} okay okay. so apparently - based on my googling - mercury glass was sort of the thing last christmas. but this is one bandwagon i don't mind jumping on late. the problem : i'm cut off on decor this year. {okay not true. but we did just get married a little over 2 months ago ... i have plenty of new decorations around the house w/out going overboard for christmas.} the solution : i decided to make my own! supplies: * clear glass ball ornaments. (hurry to michael's - they are 50% off!) * can of metallic spray

   Nothing is better on a cold autumn day than a cup of hot chocolate.  Nothing is better to give as a gift to that special someone than hot chocolate on a stick.  Even if you don't want to heat up some milk, you could eat this decadance right off the stick.  Theses recipies are brought to you by www.whipperberry.com .  Make some cookies for dunking and enjoy a cup of cocoa! Hot Chocolate on a Stick    Yes you heard me right…Hot Chocolate on a Stick!! This is the cutest idea of the season and I just had to share. I was inspired by Make and Takes via Pen & Paperflowers, thanks ladies!!    First, make the Chocolate Ganache Blocks … { Click on the image to see the recipe } Next, make the homemade Rustic Marshmallows … { Click on image to see recipe .}    Then you assemble. Place a ganache block on the bottom, a marshmallow on top, then skewer with a stick.   Embellish the stick with Divine Twine or ribbon…    Try to resist

   Some of the celebrations we associate with Christmas today began way before Christianity developed, so that by medieval times traditions of mid-winter feasting were long established. Later the Puritans banned some festivities, but other 'holyday' pleasures still survived. It was not until the reign of Queen Victoria that many of today's customs - such as decorating fir trees - really took off. Medieval Fire, light and evergreens    Pre-Christian, northern societies used to enliven the dark days of the winter solstice with a celebration of fire, light and jollity, to create relief in the season of nature's dormancy and to hurry along the renewal of springtime. Christmas, as the celebration of the birth of Christ, was also a winter festival which gradually incorporated many pagan traditions, one of which was the burning of fires to ward away dark and evil spirits.    The tradition of decorating the home with native evergreens is a truly ancient