Lumberjack Party

In years past, after spending months to create a happy holiday season come December 26 I sorta felt bummed the season was over. It wasn’t a feeling of disappointment per se but more of a “I’ve had such a good time, I wish we could keep this going for just a bit longer” sort of feeling. Does that ever happen to you?

I remember distinctly the day I decided I wasn’t going to let those feelings happen to me this year. It was the first Friday of November and I was drinking hot chocolate and reading through stacks of Christmas magazines. I came across an article filled with a snowy scenery and people wearing plaid by the fireplace. It was then and there I decided I was going to have a Lumberjack Party so that I could keep a continuous holiday spirit and celebrate into the New Year.

We culled our calendars and after it was all said and done there was only one day we would all be in town – December 26^th.   So in the midst of wrapping presents, baking brownies and singing Christmas carols I started putting this little holiday party together and it couldn’t have gone better.

I knew the days leading up to the party would be hectic so I chose a simple soup buffet and easy to put together sandwiches, chips and dips, olives, cheeses and crackers. For dessert I made peppermint brownies and we bought a Yule Log Cake from Fresh Market.

The centerpiece cost around $2.50. I painted old cookie tins I picked up at thrift stores and made the bunting from holiday scrapbook papers. I’ve had these crystal bowls and serving pieces for years. The wood scoop was a recent Christmas present from my blogging friends from Vicki and Jenn at 2 Bees in a Pod and those cute napkins came from Lisa at Concord Cottage.

I made all the moose plates. I think my Dad was a little hesitant to eat on them after he found out I had used a Sharpie and baked them in the oven. He hung in there like a champ though and thankfully didn’t leave hungry.

The table was a labor of love and literally came together just days before the party. It was my dream for the party to sit under a blanket of stars and twinkling lights all of us at a big farm table just like this one.

I found the fabric at Joann Fabrics and it was 50% off. The centerpiece that runs the length of the table is made of pinecones, silver trays, candles and lanterns I’ve had for a long time. I use and reuse all of these pieces all the time.

The ornaments were from Dollar General and they were also 50% off.

I picked up vintage Santa mugs from various thrift stores over a two month period. I paid as low as 50 cents for some while I picked up others from the Dollar Store. You may also recognize the wire glass drying rack from World Market.

I love hot drinks on a cold night so I wanted to have a place where everyone could fix their favorites.

Even though the low was only set to be 60 degrees that’s still really cold for native Floridians so I made sure to have plenty of seats by the fire pit and

of course plenty of seats and blankets for the outdoor movie.

I made a hot chocolate mix for each family to take home in addition to the Santa mugs each person got to take home. I even found lollipops in the shape of Santa’s beard for the kids to take home too. They were so excited!

I had a huge mess to clean up before heading out of town to continue our family festivities at Loblolly Manor but I didn’t have the “Christmas is over, what a major bummer blues,” so I was happily cleaning everything up way past midnight.

And it was totally worth it.

Many blessings for a fun filled weekend,

CoCo