I'm Back but I'm Sick

Well Christmas was great at the Monogram household and if it wasn't official before, it certainly is now, that the mini monograms are probably the most spoiled children in all the land. More to come with pictures and details next week, I promise.

We headed to my parent's house in Atlanta on Christmas afternoon and I ended up staying a day longer than expected. Of course, with 6 kids (the mini's and their cousins) and no less than 12 adults in the house at all times, it should only be expected that those little monkeys who are breeding grounds for colds and virus' managed to get me sick. Mind you, no one else is sick, but my head could quite possibly explode any minute now from all the congestion and sinus pressure. Nice, huh?

Anyway, I'm hopping off here to get back in the bed as preppy puppy has me under strict house (and bed) arrest until the veil of sickness starts to lift and I am certainly not complaining. If you've emailed me about the ongoing fiasco of Inviting Smiles, then don't worry, I WILL get back to you. As the saying goes, It's not over until the fat lady sings and ya'll have NOT heard monogram momma singing yet! ;-)

Have a GREAT weekend!

Merry Christmas!

Well, Christmas is really in the air now, here at the Monogram household. Right now, we are all busy preparing the big Christmas Eve feast of fishes and pasta and filet's oh my! Our table will host not only fresh calamari, cleaned, cut and fried to perfection by the Monogram's, but also octopus. Yep, OCTOPUS. I myself, do not partake in the octopus but it's always on our Christmas Eve table none-the-less. I'll fill you in on all the details later in the week, but for now, here's a little peek of the happenings around here this week.

The cookies have been baked with the help of my trusty assistants, mini monogram #1 & 2….

The Gingerbread House and it's trusty little Train...

The stockings have been hung by the Chimney with care…

The house is bedazzled, hoping Santa soon will be there...

The entryway’s gleaming all shining with lights…

And a mere two streets away, in the second floor window of my neighbors house, sits this little sight...

(I have one thing to say.... FRAH-GEEEL-AY!)

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL,

& TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!

P.S. Monogram Momma is taking a little blogging vacation and probably won't return until Thursday, the 28th; but you never know.. I still might pop in to say and quick hello before then!

Annnnnnd The Winner IS!!

Once again I am just amazed by all my creative and fun loving preppy readers! You guys are the BEST! I swear! I really love doing this contest because you guys never dissapoint!

Now I must say, this was a close one and we actually have a tie for first place. I counted everyone who got a vote. So even if someone placed two votes, both people they voted for received votes. And now, what you've ALLLLLLLLLL been waiting for!!!

The tie goes to....

Alyssa (the Preppy Princess)

and

Lauren!!!

Horray!!! Horray!!! Great job everyone!!!

Thanks to everyone who took the time to email their cards to me for the contest, and also everyone who voted. I am so excited by all the excitement from you guys and LOVE your participation. You guys really make this so much fun for everyone!

The winners will each be receiving monogrammed ribbon cuff bracelets by Creative Ta Da. This is the one I have, with my monogram in a circle and I ADORE it. I'll be sending you each an email today to get yuor personal information and monogram! Congratulations!!!

Update: Inviting Smiles Disaster

Not to bring down the mood over here at monogram momma's, but I really needed to hop on and leave an update for all the people finding their way to me by Googling "Inviting Smiles + customer service" or something of the like. I think we all know by now that Inviting Smiles and customer service is an oxymoron. As Clark Howard says, it's more like "customer no-service".

At this point in time, this is what I am recommending...Call your credit card company and have the charges reversed due to non-delivery of goods ASAP. I have now heard from roughly 30 people, if you can believe that. I am so amazed at this whole sham they've created this Christmas, and can't BELIEVE they would do this to honest, paying customers during the holidays. NOBODY takes advantage of my readers and gets away with it, that's for sure! Truly, when they realized they were in over their heads, they should have stopped taking orders. But nope, they kept on taking them, and even letting people pay for expedited shipping even though they knew the cards wouldn't get out on time.

I've sent the owner 10 emails so far, as well as the consumerist. I know how disapointing and maddening this at the same time and i am SO SORRY for all the trouble this company has caused you. I am furious due to the fact that I recommended them and they have taken advantage of so many of my own readers. That is just NOT ok with me.

I'm sure by now many of you have come up with a back-up plan, although I know it's not what you've had in mind this year. Again, I'm so sorry for the trouble and please know I'm really trying to do everything I possibly can to get this company to take responsibility for this mess they created. In the mean time, I also urge you to file a claim (as others are doing) with the Better Business Bureau.

If you've sent me a personal email with your dilema the last 24 hours, know that it has been read by me and put into my "Inviting Smiles" folder. But due to the sheer volume of emails I'm receiving on this issue, I simply don't have time over the next day or two to email you all individually. I PROMISE, I will. But I hope in the meantime, this little bit of information will help you put an end to this mess once and for all, until we can hopefully get a response from these people after the holidays.

Good Luck!

Simple Silver Cleaning

I am so far behind in all my holiday endeavors this year, that I haven't even had time to polish my sterling yet. Not to worry! You know me, in the true spirit of Martha and all things proper I would never serve my guests with tarnished silver. But instead of spending hours upon endless hours with this daunting and boring task, I'm going to give this little trick a try. Actually, my job shouldn't be so difficult since I keep my sterling in it's proper box it was meant to live in, but I still have a few pieces here and there that could use a little sprucing up, as we all probably do.

Many thanks to one of my new favorite websites, the Consumerist, for posting this little gem. I knew you all would love this little silver polishing short-cut.

Add baking soda and a bit of aluminum foil to a pot of water, add the silver you want to polish and boil away to your hearts content!

In other news, I can't believe it's already Thursday and Christmas Eve is just 3 days away. Where have the days gone? I swear it's like I've been asleep all fall and now, all of the sudden, Christmas is here and this momma is just not ready. I've still got some shopping to do myself, all the wrapping has to be done, decorating the dining room, and the cleaning. OH, the cleaning. UGHH. If there ever was a time I needed a Christmas miracle, it would be now (okay, so technically, a second Christmas miracle since my first was the discovery of my heisted wedding set last week).


At any rate, I will be hopping on probably a few times today and making more posts than usual because well, I just have a lot to say I guess! We had a great time yesterday with friends and today we're making and baking our cookies. Kroger here we come! (that is really more of a warning than an announcement to you Kroger employees, btw, since I will have the mischievous mini monograms in tow)

Center Stage

If there’s one thing about my mother, she has always made a big to-do about setting the formal dining room. Even as a little girl, I can remember getting to help properly set the table with all the fine china, crystal and silver. What a treat to go pull everything ever so gently out of the large armoire in the entry way, listening to the bone china ding and rattle against each other as I carried the cups and saucers, one stacked inside another. Of course, by today’s standards it would be considered vintage given that they’ve been married 41 years, but I digress.

The table always looked beautiful with beautiful fine linens and napkins, place cards, and floral centerpieces. But it’s not just the centerpieces. Leave it to my mom to sporadically place other small accessories and decorative items along the table to as we sat and dined, there was always something to look at and see down the tablescape. I guess she was my first "Martha."

So really it should come as no small surprise, that I get a lot of joy in setting my own dining room. It just really brings me back to being a little girl in my Christmas finery, white tights and black patent leather mary-janes. And while I do no have the expansive 14’ table my parents do, I really enjoy setting my formal china, crystal and sterling at the holidays, and also coming up with creative centerpieces. Although I admit, mine never looks anything like my mom’s with the multiple fabrics and runners, ribbons, and flowers galore, but it’s it usually ends up being more than I end up having time for so it’s just fine for the Monograms.

Last year I was determined to be prepared with lots of great ideas for my table centerpieces this year, so I pulled some great ideas out of a "Christmas Ideas 2005" magazine (which I *think* was put out by MSLO). So I thought I'd share them in case you are hosting that final party or gather this weekend, or for Christmas Eve or Day, or even for New Years. Of course, you know monogram momma has your back so they are all simple and fresh ideas, that you can pull together in no time flat, but that will really sit center stage on your dining room table.



Cyndrilical Rose Arrangement I have picked up these glass cylinder vases for under $4 at my JoAnn's store, so I'm guessing you probably can too. Strip the rose stems of all thorns and leaves (saving the leaves), then cut each stem to the same length, which should be shorter than the height of the vase. Fill each vase inside with the roses, trying to make them stand up as straight as possible with on leaning. Then take your leaves and line them up around the outside of the vase, securing them with a rubber band, then topping that off (and hiding the rubber band) with a pretty red taffeta bow. Now THAT'S simple!



Coffee Bean Design If you've been hanging around me long enough, you already know that I love to decorate with natural things that I can easily pick up at the grocery, such as split peas, coffee beans, kumquats and cranberries. By sticking a smaller vase with your water and actual flowers inside the taller, large vase here, you can then pack the larger vase, surrounding the inner one, with coffee beans (to keep them dry). In shorter, smaller vases, just fill with coffee beans and place a votive inside. When the votive starts warming up, it will gently warm the coffee beans and exude that fresh coffee aroma.




Mint Julep There are so many things you can do with mint julep cups. Seriously. And although the hydrangea's (as shown here) are near impossible to find this time of year, you can still fill your mint julep cups, or small silver vases, with moss and minty green holiday balls for a festive table top look. How great would these look sporadically placed along a buffet table?







Rustic Holiday Table If you've got that more rustic or woodsy holiday look going for you, then I love this. This would look great even more casually on the kitchen table or island also. And I know we've all got extra greenery and tree branches at our disposal this time of year too. If you don't have any extra laying around your garage as I do, then run over to your local tree lot and they are usually happy to give the trimmings away for free to anyone who wants them. By placing them in a pretty red flower pot, including some burlap in the mix, a few red ornaments and pine cones, you've got yourself the perfect little pot.



White Christmas Artificial trees can pretty much be found anywhere right now. Heck I even saw small ones for sale at Walgreens Drug Store when I ran in there on Saturday to pick up a prescription. And this close to Christmas, everyone is practically giving them away too. So pop your head in, pick up a small one, spray paint it white, followed by a can of spray Snow, and you'll have yourself this lovely little white tree. They've used star ornaments here, and placed it in a very inexpensive aluminum tin that you can pick up in the paint department of your local home improvement store. And to create the look of snow in the bottom of the pail, pick up a large container of good old fashioned Epsom Rock Salt to add to that wintry, White Christmas look.



Rosemary I love these bushes. I love their shape, their smell, just everything about them is so wonderfully Christmassy to me. So dash on over to your local garden center and pick up two in whatever size you want (make it fit with the size of your dining room. For instance, if you're room is large with high ceilings, then get larger ones. But if it's on the smaller size with a low hanging chandelier, then pick up bushes on the smaller size), then place them in pretty decorative pots on the table. Add some festive ribbon and for little effort and cost, you've got a great statement.




Single Rose How simple is this? Well if you like a more streamlined and contemporary design, then place one single large bloom (either real or good quality faux) in a round vase. These vases are inexpensive in the floral section of the craft store. You can do several of these all the way down the center of your table at spaced intervals.




NOEL Who doesn't have extra candlesticks and ornaments hanging around this time of year? This is a simple and fast centerpiece but yet very eye catching, don't you think? It's a little casual for me, but this would also work on a mantle, sideboard, or sofa table and look very festive.








Low Lying Color Want something a little closer to the table and not hovering high above your head, obstucting your view from the person accross the table from you? Then this is just for you. If it were me, I'd use one of my elongated silver bread platters, lay down some festive greenery and leaves, then put some colorful Christmas balls on top for my low lying splash of color.







Wreath Who says it has to belong on the door? Run over to your local craft store and pick up a few wreaths and use them as centerpieces with candles in the center, or by placing your dishes in the center of the wreath. I love this idea for a buffet table, where you can put your caserole right in the center, while drawing attention to the dish with the greenery that surrounds it.




Wrap it Up You're already in the midst of wrapping, so why not wrap up a few extra packages and place them on the table for your centerpiece, or on teh buffet table. If you opt to use them on teh buffet table, then use lay the boxes so the bows are in the dront, and you can place dishes and napkins and food on top of the boxes, giving you all those levels and heights you know monogram momma is always so keen on doing.






Peppermint Sticks This is fun and kitschy but at the same time, sort of elegant. Either Glue or use a rubber band to affix the peppermint sticks to your glass vase, then wrap a ribbon around it, add a little florist foam inside and stick in all those beautiful roses to create that heaping festive mound.

Show Me Yours, I'll Show You Mine: Holiday Cards

First of all, let me start by apologizing for the delay, and thanking you guys for your patience. As you know I HATE to be late and really pride myself on being prompt and on time, and today I have been anything but. It seems I had a little "holiday emergency" pop up that could only be solved by this one lady on this one afternoon and yada yada yada, 3 hours later, I was still needing this lady's hand out of the jam I was in and it was dark by the time my car rounded the corner into our neighborhood (as an aside, a SERIOUS hug to my neighbor who was waiting patiently at the house with the mini monograms, probably wondering if I had deserted her to raise them alone).

But you know what? Enough about that! Let's see all these fabulous cards you've all sent in already!

Show Me Yours......!

Kicking things off this go round is none other than the Preppy Princess herself (card 1 of 3). Seriously, can you find a better suited card for royal heiness? I didn't think so.

Alright, so this one is pretty dog-gone cute too. Shoppers! In a window! Window shopping! ..as in Shopping with the Preppy Princess!

So there's no shopping theme, but you gotta love the girl for never being afraid to show off her inner preppy and love of all things pink and green (card 3 of 3).

I must say, every one's favorite Preppy Rider has done a fine job herself of picking out the perfect holiday card as well! Expecting her first baby in February (within days of mini #1's due date I might add), Marissa has chosen the perfect classic preppy pregnant paper this year if I do say so myself. P.S. Worthy of note here is that she did try awfully hard to capture her two pups for a photo card, but let's just say they weren't exactly being cooperative.

J has decided to give everyone a run for their money with her hand made cards this year (1 of 3). Most impressive, J!

This is my personal fave of hers, all tied up with a bow!

Woo-Hoo! Check out all that detail (card 3 of 3)

What in the WORLD are the chances we would have a second Marisa enter the contest at monogram momma's?! I guess that means I need to go play the lottery tonight! At any rate, Marisa put this hand-made card together and in lieu of a photo, opted instead to share a recipe for "Charleston Shrimp & Grits." This is most fitting since her hubby is the executive chef at a 5 star Southern resort!

A fellow Auburn Tiger hand made this little number, complete with preppy trees and all! Love that round enclosure, Melissa!

Looks like someone has been shopping on Paper Source avec moi! Monogram momma reader, Pam, has done a bang-up job with this ultra chic blue and brown color scheme accompanied by the black and white photo in the pocket.

For our celebrity entry today, we have none other than THE Lauren Goessling's holiday card! Of course, you know we would expect something terrific and perfectly preppy from Lauren and she does not disappoint! In the pocket is a lovely B&W photo of the Goessling gang.

You know I had to show the enclosure on Lauren's card too. It wouldn't be complete without the signature "G" we've all come to know and love!

Watch out everybody because once again, Scarlett is back in the contest bearing that Burberry plaid. You may remember her pugs donning Burberry in the first Show Me Yours competition, which secured the win for her. Looks like she's is SERIOUS about winning again, folks! P.S. She completely did this herself in photo shop too!!

Another repeat contestant and regular monogram momma reader, Alyson has sent in this photo of her little Christmas cuties. Clearly she has opted to go the "Black Tie Optional" route this year and dressed her little ones up to the nines for the monogram momma contest! Much appreciated! P.S. Alyson ordered the top part of her card from an ebay seller and then assembled it all onto a black card stock.

Preppy Mom sent in two cards of her sweet girls. Here they are all decked out in Hanna Anderson pj's and all their baking garb and enclosed is a sugar cookie recipe from Martha. Sweet, PM!

So this is the card that Preppy Mom opted to send. Adorable girls hugging in their Hanna Anderson striped holiday pj's!

Now you know I love someone who can take a theme and run with it and Gena really exudes that preppy pink and green monogram momma spirit with this card!


Sunny is no stranger to monogram momma contest's either. She has shown us "hers" more than once and we are happy to see her back again, in all her holiday finery, candy cane ears and all.


Marta sent in this card of her little cutie, Summer. This is so classic and pretty and what's that I see? Smocking on the gown? Extra points for Marta for smocking!

This is Madigan looking very merry and bright in her Kelly green cable-knit sweater and matching bow. She is a preppy in training if I ever saw one!

On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to meeeeeeeeeeee... some Whitney English Stationeryyyyyyyyy. Second place winners in the Preppy Pumpkin contest, the Phillips family have also really stepped up their game by sending in their holiday card with two little cuties in red Pottery Barn Kids pj's hanging out under the Christmas tree.

Now, I'll Show You Mine!!

Sporting pink popped collars, the light blue Phillip Pant, white RL cable knit sweaters, and A. Tierney grosgrain belts the mini's are a perfect preppy picture if I do say so myself! I always like to take our Holiday card picture at the beach in October and the green Adirondack with the swaying sea grass sends warm wishes to our friends and family. Noticeably missing is preppy puppy who opted against participating in the portrait this year.

Did you really expect anything other than a pink and green themed greeting from the Monogram family this year? P.S. Not pictured is the large square sticker that was placed on the back of each envelope bearing the large "M" in green as shown above, with "The Monograms" over it in pink.

So now that you've seen mine and I've seen yours it's time to vote! So whether you sent in a card or not, start commenting and voting! You guys never fail to disappoint and I really do have the most creative and inspiring readers! Thanks to ALL who participated and proudly displayed their inner prep and/or inner Martha with everyone!

Unlike past contests, I'm leaving the voting open all week since I know we're all busy and not everyone can hop on every day. As always, you can always count on a great prize for the winner from monogram momma!

In Search of Rudolph ( & Dominick)

This weekend proved to be another busy one, as it probably was for most of you as well. And since I am intent on trying to create the most picture perfect Christmas for the mini monograms each year, I was determined to find some reindeer this weekend. You'll be happy to know I not only succeeded in finding reindeer (the real reindeer's understudy's, as we told the mini's), but a few other frolicking holiday friends as well...

Christmas wouldn't be complete without the Three Wisemen's camels...

Star, the understudy

FYI She is awfully pushy for some apple

Random goat that would not leave us alone (there were MANY goats)

Now these are Donkey's the Monogram's can relate to. Italian Donkey's like our famous furry donkey friend, Dominick.

Speaking of Dominick the Donkey, if you aren't familiar with this holiday classic by Lou Monte, then the mini's insist you watch this little video and listen to their favorite christmas song. This is our annual favorite in the Monogram household. Even Mr. Monogram joins in on this one!

In case you're wondering about the Show Me Yours contest, don't fret. They're coming later this afternoon, I promise! It seems my digital camera needs new batteries so until I get out the door and pick up some new ones so I can take the pictures of my own card, it looks like I won't be able to Show You Mine. But they'll all be up this afternoon so not to worry!

Last Call: Show Me Yours Entries

Last week I was so good about getting up and getting to mass but so far it's not looking like I'm going to make it this week as planned. At any rate, this is the last call and final warning for entries into the Show Me Yours, I'll Show You Mine: Holiday Card contest.

All entries must be submitted by this evening!

Email holiday card's to:

monogrammomma@charter.net

Happy Sunday!

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas Cocktail

This morning I awoke cautiously optimistic that today will be a little more subdued and hopefully void of too much exercise and excitement like we experienced on Wednesday. Really, one day like that a week is plenty for me, thank you very much. Plus, it is Friday after all, and since mini #1 has pre-school this morning that means it’s just mini #2 and I left to our devises for a little while. Also, Mr. Monogram has been out of town since Wednesday morning and will arrive home late tonight after the boys are asleep and usually they start winding down a bit if they know their dad Is on his way home. But don’t worry; I’ll keep you posted on the home front.

However, in the event today does start to take a turn as Wednesday did (or *someone* decides to start playing with mommy’s jewelry again), I’ve already figured out how to stay one step ahead of the mini’s or at least calm my nerves a bit more, and that my friends, is in the form of my friend, Mr. Martini. Yep, when times get tough, the tough get drinking. But it is the holidays’ after all and if I’m going to turn into a lush that only Sandra Lee could appreciate, then these martinis might as well be merry, right? So for your own drinking pleasure and enjoyment, or more realistically, for your own holiday get together’s, here are a few merry martinis and Christmas cocktails to get your party started. Que the Black Eyed Peas....Everybody, everybody, let's get into it.Get stupid.Get it started, get it started, get it started.Let's get it started (ha), let's get it started in here. Let's get it started (ha), let's get it started in here!

Santa's Sleigh Cocktail
White sugar crystals, preferably coarse
2 cups store-bought eggnog, chilled
1/2 cup brandy
1/2 cup amaretto liqueur
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 scoops vanilla ice cream
4 cinnamon sticks

Dampen the rims of 4 martini glasses and then line the rims with sugar crystals.
Combine eggnog, brandy, amaretto, nutmeg, and ice cream in a blender; process until smooth. Pour mixture into martini glasses and garnish each glass with a whole cinnamon stick.

Peppermint Twist
1 oz. Peppermint Schnapps
1 oz. Kahlua®
1 oz. Brown Creme de Cacao

Fill a shaker half full with ice cubes. Pour all ingredients into shaker and shake well. Strain drink into a Cocktail glass and serve.

Spiced Martini
1/2 cup cinnamon vodka
3/4 cup vanilla vodka
3/4 plain vodka
4 ounces Amareto

In a pitcher combine 1/2 cup cinnamon vodka, 3/4 cup vanilla vodka, and 3/4 plain vodka Using a mini pumpkin as a glass, measure 3 ounces spiced vodka and 1 ounce Amaretto

Ginger Snap
3/4 oz. Captain Morgan's Spiced Rum®
1/2 oz. Ginger Flavored Brandy
4 oz. Egg Nog
1 Ginger Snap

Whirl ingredients in blender. If desired, garnish with additional ginger snap for dunking.

Sparkling Pear & Cranberry Cocktail
Serves 8; Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 20 minutes
2 tablespoons dry cranberries
1/2 cup organic pear nectar
32 ounces Moscato d'Asti wine
8 small sprigs fresh rosemary

Put cranberries in a small bowl; add 2 tablespoons warm water. Soak until cool, about 15 minutes. Drain, pat dry, and refrigerate until serving. Divide pear nectar evenly among eight tall champagne glasses. Add cranberries, and then gently pour the Moscato d'Asti into the glasses. Garnish each with a rosemary sprig.

Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer
1 1/4 oz. Light Rum
1 1/2 oz. Lemon Juice
1/2 oz. Grenadine

Mix the light rum, lemon juice, and grenadine. Add the ice cubes and fill to your own taste with Cranberry juice. Add a wedge of lemon on your glass and voila! Enjoy!

Cranberry Tree
1/2 cup chilled champagne
1/2 cup cranberry juice
Fresh cranberries threaded on a skewer

In a champagne glass combine chilled champagne and cranberry juice. Garnish with cranberry skewer. Makes 1 serving.

Holiday Raspberry Champagne
1/2 cup chilled champange
1/2 cup raspberry syrup
Fresh or frozen raspberries

In a champagne glass combine chilled champagne and raspberry syrup. Garnish with raspberries. Makes 1 serving

Mistletoe Kiss
1/2 cup chilled champagne
1/2 cup pear juice
Mint sprig
Tiny green holiday ornament

In a champagne glass combine chilled champagne and pear juice. Garnish with mint sprig and ornament. Makes 1 serving.

Pomegranate Martinis
1 orange, cut into wedges
Sugar
3 cups vodka or gin
3/4 cup pomegranate syrup
1/3 cup dry vermouth
Ice cubes
Small pomegranates (optional)

Rub orange wedges around rims of 12 martini glasses. Invert glasses into a dish of sugar to coat rims; set glasses aside. In a small pitcher, combine the vodka, pomegranate syrup, and vermouth. Place ice cubes in a martini shaker. For each drink, add 1/3 cup of the syrup mixture; shake. Strain into one of the prepared martini glasses. Garnish with a small pomegranate, if desired. Makes 12 drinks.