'Tis The Season

Hello my dears! So, despite the pandemic let's spread more hope and love this Holiday season. Even though another Holiday season will be different and difficult for many, my friends, we all deserve a little bit of joy during this time of the year.

I always enjoy decorating our home making it festive and bright. Christmas decorations stir up feelings of nostalgia and pure joy and always make me feel happier. 

I've put up together 5 ideas for decorating a Holiday table perfect for your Christmas Eve that won't cost you a lot of time or money. Just practical, easy and pretty!

1. Put greenery in the center of the table. Go for fresh cedar branches and fresh holly springs. Add a colorful mix of pomegranates and gold or silver glittery pine cones for a pop of color. 

2. Create mood lighting with votive candles in  different size glass jars. I'm a sucker for a candle lit glow!

3. Put some Christmas ornaments and small gifts on the table for it's the sentimental elements that make a sentimental Holiday season.

4. Attach natural pine needles or evergreen branches to linen napkins for making them festive.

5. Build up your Christmas table with tall candlesticks. 

Red bows, greenery, wreaths on the front door,  twinkle lights...there are so many ideas and small ways to make your home festive this Christmas.

Hope you have a nice and warm Holiday season! xx

(Top photo of Alfred Hitchcock with his grandchildren, 1960, Christmas table centerpiece via One Kindesign , Bottom photo via .)

Inspired by...

Happy Friday! I can't believe that Christmas is a mere two weeks away. Oh yes! It is the most...

Last Week's Best Moments

Friday already? Gosh, what a quick week this has been. It seems like I've hardly gotten anything done...I will happily say, however, that I did manage to get the Christmas tree up (photos will follow soon), so at least that's something! ;)

It has been a very cold past week. Some days it can be difficult to simply get out of bed in the morning. Cold winters call for a cozy night in, sitting by the fireplace, with a good book, and a glass of red wine to warm the heart.

While browsing the internet the other day, I stumbled upon this inspirational video, The Man On The Moon - it moved me to tears. It really did.
The message is simple yet powerful: "Show someone they're loved this Christmas."
I hope you love it as much as I do.

My dears, hope you have a great weekend! Wishing you the magic and love of this season today and everyday. xx

(Video via METRO.)

Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays and a very Merry Christmas to you all!! I wanted to say a big thank-you, truly, for such a wonderful year and for reading Cut and Dry. It means so much to me. Hope you have a fabulous and relaxing time with friends and family. May your holidays be absolutely wonder-filled, and sending you lots of love. Thank you, again, for all your encouragement and support over the years. I couldn't have done it without you.

Hope you're having a wonderful week.

Some shots from the archives for you. xx

I wish every kid will have a toy for Christmas.

Christmas Wonderland. 

Have a great one!:))

P.S. Hopefully we will be back to regular posting on January 6th!

December 21st...

No, it's not the end of the world! {St. James's Park, Central London, UK.}

Freshly baked on site puff pastry filled with mincemeat and fresh double cream topped with Red Currants. 

May your holidays be merry and bright. Wishing you all the best this holiday season! xx

The next few days on Facebook via Douglas Padesta on G+

We wish everyone a happy, safe and fun holiday season! xx

Happy Holidays!

How will you spend the holidays this year? I'll be spending Christmas with my family and look forward to lovingly welcoming and hugging some  beloved relatives of mine.

At this point, I'd like to encourage all who will be spending Christmas Eve alone through choice, or not through choice.
I have had Christmas all alone, once, and it was not my favourite Christmas, but there are definitely many ways to make it better.
Make a list of what makes it feel like Christmas. Put up a tree, or hang some lights and garlands.
Bring some Christmas magic into your home.
May this holiday season be so special that you never ever feel lonely again and be surrounded by loved ones throughout!

Here are a few little bits of Christmas.

Christmas is a time of making memories, a time of remembering...

Home sweet home...

London, Holiday season 2010.

Potatoes fried and spiced-up. Yummy! Plymouth Christmas Market, Holiday Season 2010.

Plymouth Christmas Market is situated in the centre of Plymouth, England, providing a wonderfully memorable experience to everyone.
This event promises a host of tasty treats and original, handmade arts and crafts.

Christmas treats.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and may this festival bring abundant joy and happiness in your life!

My darlings, may your holidays be filled with special memories shared with your loved ones. May all your dreams come true in the New Year! Lots of love! xx

P.S. Here's my very first Christmas post in 2009, if you'd like to see.

Five Likes Tuesday

Twinkling lights.  

Christmas day will be here eventually and I can't help but wonder if Christmas magic it's only for kids. Realizing that many of us (including me) will have someone we love missing from the celebrations this year, it's easy to want to echo the Grinch's sentiment- " I must find a way to keep Christmas from coming!"

But it helps to remember what Christmas really means...peace, love and a joy of life every day of the year. 

And it's always important to remember the simple things in life that bring you joy. After all, it is the little things that count and help us enjoy every day. 

Focusing on what brightens our day, even in the smallest ways, I think it's a great way to get yourself in a good mood.

Christmas ornaments.

Christmas fairy tale decoration. (Without a doubt, this one always brought out the "child" in me!).

Winter blooms.

Chocolate Strawberry Cake.

I read somewhere that "Christmas gets all glammed up, but at the heart of it all, it celebrates a very quiet moment..." xx

Have a Beautiful Holiday!

Where will you be spending the holidays? My aunt Anne is visiting and it's so nice to have her around. She lives

and works in Brussels , one of my favourite European cities. So I'll be spending Christmas with my family and lovely auntie.
Christmas after all is all about family. Isn't it?

Moments of simple pleasure.                  

It's that time almost to look bac oer the last year; remembering good times, relationships with friends, and lessons learned helps to keep present-day frustration in perspective. But I am sure that everyone has something they look back on what could have been better.

How cheery are these Christmas little ornaments. You could keep them up all year!

 How cute are these?                 

Pretty little candles.

Here's a golden key to keep the evil spirits away, and these Christmas decorations

keep making me smile, so I figured I'd share them with you.

Have a fabulous Holiday, my darlings! No matter how you spend it, may it be filled with joy and delights. xx
                                                                       

(Photos by B.M.)