Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Extra holiday bits

We started our family Christmas with a toast in our antique sherry glasses that belonged to my step-grandmother. We had sparkling cider for those who don't drink and champagne cocktails for those who do.

christmas toast
{christmas toast}

Normally I would just dish out champagne plain, but it turns out when you make orangettes you are left with the most fabulous orange flavored simple syrup. Throwing it out would be a sin. So we poured it in a jar and kept it in the fridge and stirred a spoonful into our champagne. Heavenly. I tried to get fancy and decorate the rims of the glasses with orange peel, but I gave up and just chucked it in the bottom of the glass, along with a couple cranberries. Works for me.

The night before New Year's Eve we decided to host at our apartment. It was a completely non-fancy dinner, but I couldn't resist dressing up the table.

new year's eve table
{new year's eve table}

After I dug up all three of the candle holders we own I realized that they weren't going to cut it. So I dug around a bit more and pulled out some of the glass jars that have been taking up space in our cupboard because we have a hard time just throwing them out.

new year's eve table
{new year's eve table}

I picked out a variety of sizes (which turned out to be easy - I didn't realize how out of control our jar collection has gotten) and popped a votive in each one. We also gave everyone a champagne glass, a squat wine glass and a tall water glass, to add to the overabundance of glassware.

new year's eve table
{new year's eve table}

We missed the New Year by one minute (distracted) but we toasted anyways.

25 comments:

  1. aw your new years eve table looked beautiful! way cuter than ours that was decorated with sushi take-out boxes!

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  2. I love the table covered in tealights! What an easy idea, that turned out gorgeous!

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  3. Wonderful! this is the idea I've had for my centerpieces at my wedding. Mix n' match candles in glass. It looks great for you and that gives me hope that mine will look good too. :)

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  4. I love the jars filled with candles. Great last minute idea. Happy New Year!

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  5. beautiful. you can't beat the glow of a tea light in a mason jar!

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  6. Love it! I can never resist a chance to pull out the cloth napkins, fresh flowers, candles, and silver :)

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  7. Ha ha. I had exactly the same orangettes thing happen. Hooray for simple syrup!

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  8. gosh, i absolutely love everything you do. the candles in the different sized glass jars are amazing. so simple yet SO elegant and gorgeous!! xo

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  9. First of all - happy new year!
    Second of all - I love the simplicity and elegance of the candles in the glass jars. It's lovely but not over the top. We're having a party in a few weeks and I will definitely be using this idea.

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  10. we missed new year's eve by a minute too (distracted also) but it was fun no matter. what a pretty table!

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  11. I love love love all the glasses! The varying heights really add to the visual interest. You always decorate so nicely!

    Happy New Year!

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  12. Hmm, I'm intrigued by that orange champagne you are talking about. Please bring that lovely concoction to our next girls' party!

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  13. I love it! I do the same thing with my insane collection of canning jars. I also make floral arrangements in the olive oil tins I can't seem to part with. :)

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  14. love the addition to the champagne! everything looks lovely!

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  15. your grandmother's glassware is gorgeous and the champagne cocktails sound delicious -- happy new year!

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  16. Ahh! I love the glassware and china I have from my grandparents too. It's always lovely to take it out and gather around friends to use it. Your photos are stunning.

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  17. I'm hosting a "favorite things" blog swap! I'd love you and Heart of Light readers to join!

    http://davidandblairmcleod.blogspot.com/2010/01/favorite-things-swap.html

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  18. so pretty! i love the simple look of white china and votives in clear glass. i get small glass containers/votives/cups at goodwill and put them everywhere around the house. it's so cozy. i like the idea of putting flavored syrup in champagne-great idea!

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  19. Lovely setting! Makes me want to celebrate New Years all over again!


    ellenitza

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  20. 1) Lovely
    2) I want to know what your menu was for dinner!

    :o)

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  21. Very pretty! I love the soothing and warm light candles provide.

    http://thebusiestbee.blogspot.com/

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  22. oooh. i don't think i could love a table more. you won me over with the glass jars, but those antique glasses with a scrap of orangette inside are just fabulous. i'm sure your guests were dazzled.

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  23. Lovely! I did something similar for Christmas...tied some pretties around them and filled them partially with snow. If you head over to my blog and scroll down a bit, you can see them. They're gorgeous over a mirror!

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  24. where did you find those fantastic napkins?? ~ Gwyn

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