Annual Christmas Dessert Night

Forgot to post a pic. of this Thanksgiving "Turkey" that my Mom made for the grand kids.  She had seen it in a magazine and thought it would be a fun centerpiece! It's actually cake!! The center is cake covered with rolled out melted caramel.  The drumsticks are  Twinkies wrapped with caramel and the stuffing overflowing is pound cake cubes with green food coloring coconut! I'm sure this might have been plastered all over Pinterest as well, but since I don't allow myself that vice very often, I never saw it.  We  aren't ashamed of  kickin' it old school and finding ideas on paper! :)

 Here's Mom and Dad, a.k.a. "Mata and Pata". 

My sister Cherie surprisingly asked me to help decorate her dessert table once again this year at her church.  Even after I overstepped my bounds last year by demanding that she match the dessert she was making to my table decor. I don't think it was actually that harsh, but it has become somewhat of a household joke now. She is the first born and definitely much more mature, pragmatic and chill than this rowdy, abrasive, control-freak second born can be. It all worked great in the end and tried to be on my best behavior this year so she'd keep on asking me back.

This is an annual dessert tea that Central Wesleyan Church hosts the first week in December.  It really is a fantastic way to spend time with other women, slow down and focus on what's truly important. This year, we enjoyed a devotional time that highlighting the relationship between Mary, Jesus' mother and her cousin Elizabeth who gave birth to John the Baptist way beyond child bearing years. What a great reminder that when things look impossible for us, (as they did in Mary and Elizabeth's situation), NOTHING is impossible with God. 

Find this incredible story in the book of Luke in the Bible. 

If you don't have a Bible, would you let me buy you one? God's word (and His grace) is the only thing that is able to soften and change this impossibly prone-to- wander second born!  I recommend it! :)

 Even though I tend to shy away from the usual suspects of red and green in my own home at Christmas, I pulled out all my red/white decor that I had somehow accumulated, threw it in a pile and picked out what would work.  I had the candy stripes plates from a sale last year, along with the striped scrapbook paper from Hobby Lobby.  I found the striped tissue paper in a tote of mine along with the silver napkins from the Burley Park Flea Market this summer! Score!

 I even had the water glasses I bought 3 years ago when I first was asked to do a table. Dollar General-a buck a piece. I use them every day at home. 
The centerpiece in this pic, waiting to hold Cherie's yummy dessert (yes, it will match), was given to me as a gift years ago. The santa hats are actually glittery and my MIL gave me those last year. I have about 15 but we only could fit four. I can't remember where I found the Merry Christmas printed burlap, but it was cheap!

 The HO HO HO burlap wrapped tins I found one day before the event at Target! Ironically, they had just 8 left of that style and I snatched them all up! Love these! $1.oo each in the dollar bin section!

The tables were decorated so beautifully, just like last year.  Here were some of my favorites:

 Are these blurry to you, or do I now need to wear my reading glasses when I blog as well!? UGH!
How precious is this little personal sized cake at each place-setting, perfectly matching the charger and plates? Second born perhaps?  Fellow decorator? Control freak? :)

 My friend Alison, a senior in highschool made this cake. Her Grandma decorated the table. So fun.

 LOVED this winter wonderland!!

I didn't get a great pic of it, but this was my fave. 

 This was totes adorbs too. Is that saying so 2012?

 Loved this dessert!

 Look at this: Amazing! Please tell me that this was hired out and done by The Cakery.

And yes, the dessert DID indeed compliment my table decor. Thank you Cherie!!

I feel like one of Santa's elves working on all the sign orders from you Champs. Thank you. I will post pics of some of the new ones soon, but don't want to ruin any Christmas surprises. Meet you back here soon.