Xmas Tree decors as centerpiece

Last Saturday, I hosted 10 Juliana's (our home address) first Xmas dinner for 2011.  It was for my girlfriends whom I worked with in the same company before.  Until 4 pm of Saturday, I was looking for an inspiration for the table setting.  I was starting to panic, the guests will be arriving in about two hours and table is not yet made and I still need to prepare pasta and salad!  I wanted it to be glamorous, festive and dramatic but I didn't want to spend for new decors.  

So I went looking around the house and found the black hanging screens  that we sell at i.m.home.  Thought it will be a great anchor for the table setting.  But still, nothing ON the table.  As I was putting out the plates, chargers, etc, I found purple napkins...BANG!  That created the black, gold and purple theme!  And where else can I get purple stuff?  I got lots from my jewel-toned tree!    I got my majestic bird, balls, baubles, beads and mini tree.  I think it turned out nice!  It was glamorous, festive and dramatic! I was happy and I finished just in time :-)

So next time you are setting the table, look around your house first before buying new ones.  Don't be limited with candles and flowers.  Now good luck to me for the balance Xmas dinners!  I hope I don't run out of inspirations!

I would love to hear your thoughts!

More Xmas Balls...

More balls... but this time it's my yummy cheese ball!  I thought I won't be doing it this year but it's hard to refuse friends who have made my cheese ball part of their Xmas dinner spread; while some graciously give them as presents to special friends and family.  And of course there are new friends who just discovered my cheese ball.  So how can I say  no, right?  So together with the help, we are again busy chopping, mixing, moulding and wrapping!  Just like last year!   So there you have it, it's not a decor scene for this post, but I still consider this a Xmas vignette in Casa Insigne!  (This is the third, so 17 more to come!)

I would love to hear your thoughts!

20 'til 25

'Tis the time to be happy!!  Just like a child, I am always excited when Christmas comes!  Last week, amidst the busy schedule, I was able to squeeze in two days to set up the Xmas tree and all the other decors that come with it.  Thought I'll share with you 20 Xmas vignettes around my home...So here's the first...

This is the same tree as last year.  Jewel-toned trimmings and ribbons adorn the tree.  On the foreground is our home made Advent wreath.  It's been a tradition for the last 5 years to make our own wreath as a family.  This is a good bonding time for the family and a tradition that is worth passing on to the children.  If you'd like to make your own wreath next year, you can check here for the tutorial.  


So how about you?  Have you set up your tree?  Would be nice to see yours!


I would love to hear your thoughts!

A Very Cheesy Week

My kitchen smells cheesy this week!  Been busy chopping, mixing, moulding and wrapping my home made cheese balls!  As orders start to pour in, I might not be able to post anything 'til next week.  I'm not complaining though!  It's always nice to share this piece of me on the Xmas table of dear friends.  So even if it's just Thursday, I wish you a happy weekend my dear readers and enjoy the last week of Advent.  One more week, and we get to open presents!  Yay!!  

And lest I forget, for those who started the Simbang Gabi (Dawn Mass), I wish you will get to complete all 9 Masses.  Last year, Raphael my son and his Yaya Bel did all 9 Masses and it looks like they're determined to do it again this year.   HE is the reason for the Season, so why not, right?

I would love to hear your thoughts!

The Cutest Gingerbread House

Isn't this the cutest gingerbread house?  The moment I saw this photo, I wanted to make myself a cup of hot choco!  Stuff like this brings more cheer to the Holidays!  It would be a shame not to credit the creative, (or maybe artistic is the more appropriate word?) lady behind these little houses.  Check Megan's blog and be inspired with her projects, you can't help but be envious with her amazing talent and creativity! Don't be misled though..its not Martha!  ;-)

May these little houses bring excitement to our weekend as we do our countdown to Christmas...14 days to go!!!  Happy weekend dear readers!

I would love to hear your thoughts!

My Best Friend for the Holidays

Meet my best friend for the holidays...Mr. Cutter.  He was a birthday gift from my good friend Trish.  And since I started wrapping gifts, he's been with me, never leaving my side.  He is such a big helper, providing perfect and evenly cut tape at a single turn of the wheel.  How easy is that?  So from hereon, I declare, Mr. Cutter as my best friend for the holidays!

I conquered this area in our family room and set up a table to be my wrapping station for the meantime (or as hubby calls it, Santa's workstation).  Poor family, they have to be squished on the couch when watching TV.  I love wrapping gifts and I use a whole lot of different wrappers, ribbons, bags and small trinkets.  How about you?  Have you started wrapping your Xmas gifts?  To my dear friend Trish, thank you so much for giving me Mr. Cutter!  I'm loving him, especially this season! :-)

I would love to hear your thoughts!

All About Wreath

One of our favorite family Christmas tradition is making our own Advent wreath.  We are on our fifth year now, and counting.  It's simple to do and a great bonding time for the family.  This is how we made it...

Easy, right?  So if you got inspired with this simple DIY Xmas project, why don't you start gathering your materials and make one for your home.  You can also print the prayer from here. 

Our wreath from last year

Wreath from Christmas 2008

I've also done a bit of work on our old wreaths to give it a fresher look.

This used to be red and green, now it's blue and gold.  Sits on the dining table.

This wreath holds a big cinnamon candle, decorated with holly and cones.

Rapha's fabric Xmas wreath.  He made this in school when he was in first grade.

Wreath on the main door.

Isn't Christmas just soo exciting!  There's so much to do with the family, and everyone's busy but at the same time, in high spirits!  Enjoy the first week of Advent my dear readers!

I would love to hear your thoughts.

Christmas Came Knocking on our Door

Can't delay it no more...Christmas came knocking on our door!  When you have kids in the family and a husband who loves celebrations and hosting family and friends, you get all the pressure of keeping your home spic and span and in sync with the season.  (Not that I'm complaining...it's my joy to give my family a beautiful home.)   And of course, Christmas is the biggest, grandest of them all!  It took hours and hours to finish decorating the house and setting up the tree, but it's all worth it!  Come take a look...

As you enter our house, you will be greeted by this nativity set on our console.  Christmas won't be complete without it, right?

In my previous  post, you will remember that I said I was leaning on a silvery, glittery Xmas decor.  Well..it did not happen.  I got inspired of a family dinner we hosted few weeks back.  I prepped our table using jewel-toned linens, plates and candle holders.   And since then, I started to dream of sapphires, rubies, emeralds, tiger's eye, lapis, amethyst and topaz!

That's why the silver, glass and white were forgotten and replaced by the very rich tones of jewels!  And everyone's happy with it.

There are more Christmas vignettes around the house and I shall share them with you soon.  For the meantime, enjoy your weekend and I wish you all the joy as you start making your home Christmas-sy over the weekend (if you haven't done so!).   As for my family, we are looking forward to the first Sunday of Advent.  Two more sleeps and we will be making our traditional family Advent wreath!

I'm guessing we will be working on our wreath here in our lanai.  Happy weekend everyone!


 I would love to hear your thoughts.

TGIF..A Sneak Peek

I am sooo excited...but I can't tell you why just yet.  So keep visiting because there's something cooking up at Casa Insigne!  Are you loving the colors and texture of the objects on the photo above?  I do! (hint! hint!)

We did an after-dinner walk around the neighbourhood and these are some of the photos that Bianca (my daughter) took along the way.  It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in our village.  And you know what happens during this time of the year, right?  Everyone is smiling and simply happy!  Enjoy your weekend and spread the JOY..it's never too early!!!

I would love to hear your thoughts!

Holiday Visions

We can't deny it...'tis the season, and it seems everyone's twitching to Christmas shopping and decorating mode.  My kids are always excited to do our traditional Advent wreath making  (more on that later) and tree decorating.  But hubby is even more excited!  As soon as Halloween was over, He demanded for Xmas decors.  Unfortunately, since this is our first Xmas at our new home, I don't have enough decors yet, nor a concrete decor plan.  Lately though, I have visions of a glittery, silvery Xmas.  Since most of my pieces are wood and brown, I thought it would be refreshing to see decors that are light, translucent and delicate.  I'm leaning towards creating subtle and elegant vignettes this year.  What do you think of these??...

Images from here and here.

I haven't really gone out and checked what decors are available out there, so I'm guessing I might change my theme later on.  I had visions of Filipino crafts too!  And of course, I need my nativity set (It can't be Xmas without it, right?).   But for now, I'm loving silver and glass. :-)


I would love to hear your thoughts!