Frost and Flame

I'm getting ready for Hanukkah.

Hanukkah is a very minor holiday in the Jewish tradition. It is a celebration of a victory of the Maccabees over the Syrians and a miracle of lights. The Syrians destroyed the Jewish Temple and the only thing to survive was an oil lamp. The light lasted for eight days when it only had enough oil to last one. That is the reason we light eight candles, one for each night of the miracle. Hanukkah is a wonderful holiday of renewed dedication, faith, hope and spiritual light. It's a holiday that says: "Never lose hope."
We are having a special Hanukkah dinner with traditional potato latkes with applesauce and brisket. Yumm!

I made a white snowflake pom-pom on marabou ribbon. So cute and winter-y! My sons have complained that our home isn't decorated enough for Hanukkah so this year I went all out.
Eight packages, one for each night. Isn't the snow outside beautiful? I love it.

I chose to decorate with the combination of Frost and Flame. We are in the midst of a major snowstorm and Friday night starts the miracle of lights. I thought that it is a very appropriate color combination.

Frost and Flame

Hanukkah Decorations

My MIL saved this Hanukkah banner from the 1960's. She gave it to me and I love the retro colors of orange, mustard, turquoise and white. I would have never guessed that when I sprayed the Goodwill lamps orange, I could find a million places to show them off! The menorahs on the table have been collected from my husbands family and some we have added along the way. It is really beautiful if you light one for every person in the family. Be careful by the end of the week that is a lot of flames! (8 nights)
Isn't it pretty close up? I love it taped up letters and all....

Happy Festival of Lights!

Hanukkah Decorations

Winter Decor

Hanukkah came sooo early this year that it was over in a blink.

It finally seems like winter here in Denver so I thought I would decorate a little snowy.....(I love the snow)

I love the menorah my son made in summer camp. It is made of twigs and a rock. It really is beautiful.
New Year.....new decorations....I have a time thing going on......(I can safely tell time now so things are a BIG improvement over last year at this time)
Well except for that clock on the left there.....at least the hands are in the right position! I must have been standing on my head when I set it. My mom bought the hourglass for me....she lugged it all the way to Maui. I love it!! Thanks mom!!

Winter Decor

Tabletop Menorah

I used mismatched candlesticks to create a tabletop Menorah. ( I bought them at my favorite boutique, you may have heard of it?....The Goodwill) I picked them up all in one trip! I think that it turned out pretty cute. Normally the candles would not be lit all at once, but since it is just a table decoration I lit them for the picture.
This year our boys are very fortunate, their grandmother will join us for a Hanukkah dinner, and my parents will be here during Christmas. The boys and I normally go to my parents house to celebrate Christmas, but this year they are coming to us. Hooray! Now I can decorate for both. Now that our boys are older, the "Holiday Dilemma" is a little easier to deal with. The holidays can be a little tricky, and we don't normally celebrate Christmas in our house, BUT since my parents are coming I think doing both will be fun for everyone! Finally a White Christmas, and not a California Foggy Christmas! We can't wait.

Tabletop Menorah

Happy Hanukkah Yeeeee Haw

Love this! My MIL sent this to me. She's right, this would have been GREAT at my son's Dude Ranch Bar Mitzvah. Yeee Haw! I've watched it 5 times already.

Happy Hanukkah Yeeeee Haw

The Giving Gals

I belong to a neighborhood group of ladies that meet once a month and have lunch and donate to a new charity. (how come food looks yucky with flash photography?) It was deelicious! Our December lunch was at my friend Carlyn's home that was decked out in all of it's Christmas finest! Each table setting was different and it made a really beautiful, eclectic table. She and a friend of hers gave each other one table setting for Christmas every year so now her table is filled with different plates, bowls and chargers. It really looked amazing! What a great idea!

Here is my table setting with a blue Hanukkah type plate...she is sooo thoughtful.....oh and she picked it up at the G-Dub because she knows me so well! I love all of the beautiful ways you could make a table with mismatched items. It looked amazing. Thanks Carlyn!!

Guess where we are going in January? A Goodwill Field Trip! We are each bringing donations along with a little shopping excursion as well. I can't wait!

The Giving Gals

A Season for Giving

Best...

Hanukkah....
Gift....

EVER!...

A Season for Giving

WIWW The jacket edition...

Pink Plaid Jacket -Jason? Brand Goodwill

H&M Button Down Shirt from Goodwill

Jeans The Gap via Goodwill

Boots Target (I loooove them can you tell?)

Vintage Wool Coat Goodwill (It could be a childs coat but I don't care!)

H&M Shirt again....I love that thing.

Cable Knit Skirt Goodwill

Boots Nine West

Doggie---Casey

Close up of the cable knit skirt.
I was at an event for Safe House Denver...

Long Coat - No Tag Inside Goodwill
Riding Pants Anne Taylor Loft
Wing Tip Shoes- Steve Madden Goodwill

Setting the Hanukkah Table

I like to call these my Colorado Winter Seasonal Decorations...just go with it...

Banana Republic Sweater Dress
Old Navy Denim Jacket
All Goodwill all the time!

I wore this outfit to "dress" our Lafayette Chamber of Commerce members for the VIP Shopping Event for the new Goodwill Store opening in Lafayette, Colorado!
*I snagged the BEST pair of red cowboy boots as I was picking out outfits for the ladies! (I pulled them aside for my own cart!)
**Have I mentioned that I blog for Goodwill? I shop all of the different stores and find the most amazing things! Just so you know...I shop in the retail part ONLY. I don't get any behind the scenes shopping privileges.

http://www.thriftingdenver.org/

WIWW The jacket edition...

Hanukkah Tablescape

Hanukkah Tablescape