DIY Christmas Wreath

When looking up DIY wreaths for the Christmas season, we stumbled upon this beauty from Romantic Homes. Check out her step by step instructions on how to create this wreath below!


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What You’ll Need

-Six to eight (in total) oranges and clementines (more if you want leftovers)

-Six to eight evergreen boughs trimmed in 12-inch lengths (we used juniper)

-Dried floral bits (we used magnolia leaves, seeded eucalyptus, silver brunia berries)

-Floral wire (or any thin wire will do)

-Snips

What You’ll Do

  1. Cut the citrus in about one-quarter of an inch slices. Compost the end pieces that have the orange rind covering them. The variety in the sizes of the discs will add visual interest to your wreath.

  2. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and lay out your citrus circles in rows. Bake in an oven at 200 degrees Fahrenheit for about four hours, flipping the fruit over at about the two-hour mark.

  3. When your oranges look dried and wrinkly, they are done. Remove from oven and let cool on the baking trays.

  4. Make the base of your wreath with evergreens cut in 12-inch lengths. With some floral wire, attach your juniper boughs tightly together to form a circle.

  5. Using the floral wire, create dried orange bundles (each with three slices) by threading the wire through the circles. Leave enough wire on your bundles so you can attach them to the wreath.

  6. Use the same process to make little bundles with the dried florals – or simply poke the dried florals into the wire that is holding the wreath together.

  7. When you’ve finished positioning the citrus bunches, fill the wreath in with dried florals. Magnolia leaves, seeded eucalyptus, and silver brunia berries add texture to the wreath and allow the vibrant citrus to truly shine.

  8. Finish off with a pretty silk ribbon bow and hang in a spot where the winter sunshine will illuminate the citrus slices.

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Hostess Gifts for the Christmas Season

With all the parties + festivities surrounding the Christmas holiday, you may have a lot of host/hostess gifts to buy! Well we wanted to make life a little simpler for you so we put together a list of various gifts that you may consider.

Check them out below!


Bake Something!

Lemon Poppyseed Bread-Click for recipe!

Lemon Poppyseed Bread-Click for recipe!

Chewy Gingerbread Cookies-Click for recipe!

Chewy Gingerbread Cookies-Click for recipe!

Christmas Puppy Chow-Click for recipe!

Christmas Puppy Chow-Click for recipe!

 

Plants!

Christmas Cactus

Christmas Cactus

Rosemary Plant

Rosemary Plant

Poinsettia (These also come in white!)

Poinsettia (These also come in white!)

 

MISC

Christmas Simmer Packet

Christmas Simmer Packet

Christmas Soap + Hand Towel Combo

Christmas Soap + Hand Towel Combo

Mulled Wine Kit

Mulled Wine Kit

Vanilla Extract

Vanilla Extract

Christmas Themed Cheese Knives

Christmas Themed Cheese Knives

Spiced Nuts

Spiced Nuts

 

Cranberry Moscow Mules

Looking for an easy + delicious Christmas drink recipe for your upcoming festivities?
Try making a Cranberry Moscow Mule!

This recipe is a twist on the classic mule, subtle enough that anyone will enjoy!

Check it out below!


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INGREDIENTS:

  • Fresh lime

  • Ginger beer

  • Titos Vodka

  • Cranberry cocktail

  • Cranberries


DIRECTIONS:

Add juice from one fresh squeezed lime to copper mug. Then add 2oz vodka + a splash of cranberry cocktail (adjust according to preference). Fill mug with ice and top with ginger beer. Garnish with a lime slice + cranberries.

Easy Honey Butter Pumpkin Beer Bread

Photo by: Half Baked Harvest

Photo by: Half Baked Harvest

INGREDIENTS:

  • 3 cups flour

  • 4 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • 1/4 cup brown sugar loosely packed

  • Cinnamon to taste

  • 12 ounces of you favorite pumpkin beer

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a 9x5 loaf pan with nonstick spray.

  1. Add the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt to a mixing bowl. Pour in the beer and stir with a mixing spoon until just combined. Pour the batter into the loaf pan. Bake for 45-55 minutes or until the top of the bread is lightly browned and the middle is set.

  2. Allow to sit 15 minutes before serving.