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You are here: Home / Uncategorized / HOLIDAY 2019

HOLIDAY 2019

December 27, 2019

Candy Gingerbread House

Last time I touched base with you all, we were jogging into the holidays.

Before you knew it, that jog became a full-time sprint.

Joy on Porch

I had so many decorations yet to pull out.

Aren’t Mr. and Mrs. Claus darling?

Vintage Christmas

I found them at the Bins last month — and they currently reside on my porch.

With lots of other vintage friends.

Front Porch Vintage Christmas

There’ve been sleepovers for Charlotte and a gaggle of friends.

Smoothie Sleepover Berry Girls

Dinner for a crowd? I love making a rice bowl buffet. I put out different ingredients each time, but for her sleepover I offered out pan-griddled chicken, marinated and sauteed tofu, veggies and peanut sauce. Everyone adds as much or as little as they’d like of each ingredient and add other sauces to further customize as they see fit.

Holiday Sleepover Meal

Come breakfast time, who doesn’t love buttermilk pancakes with vanilla maple syrup in the morning?

Pancakes for Sleepover

There’ve been a handful of big bakes for friends in the ‘hood.

Mint Chocolate Sugar Cookies

(My apologies if you’re a pal who lives further out — I’ll hit you up in 2020, I promise!).

And I’ve baked for people I’ve met in the Providence Cancer Center.

Cookies for Tyler and Gerard

I met a father and son really struggling with treatments there so I decided to surprise them one day at the hospital with his-and-his freezer friendly packages of their favorite cookies.

Cookies for Gerard

What else to show you?

I brought something to this event.

Bake America Great Again Portland

Lindsay and Bethany are two Portland kick-ass foodies and professionals who organize this event every December to benefit those marginalized in our society (refugees and immigrants) and they ask for homemade donations which are then sold to the public during a fun holiday party.

Holidays Snack Mix

I made an extra big batch of Holiday Snack Mix and dropped it off for sale.

Holidays Snack Mix

Holidays Snack Mix

One last thing needed doing in the Kline household.

Once Oliver came home from college, we gathered supplies for our annual gingerbread house decorating.

This year Charlotte and I separated all the various candies by color.

Candy Gingerbread House

(I find that muffin pans are the ideal candy separating device; we used it to our heart’s content and then passed it on to another family who’d yet to decorate their own.)

The house was finished up and has been on the porch this past week and a half to greet holidays visitors.

candy gingerbread house

It was made just in time! That — and a few last decorations to put out (all of this found below found at the Bins this last year!)–

and then it was time for our Christmas Eve Neighborhood Open House.

My Mom and stepfather had just arrived so there were many hands on deck.

Holiday Family Photo

I had about fifty people show up — but luckily I had a massive spread planned.

Christmas Party Menu

We had so much fun and around fifty of us noshed and sipped Mimosas and got caught up.

Grain Salad Christmas Eve Party

Roast Beef Sandwiches

White Chocolate Dipped Palmiers

Vintage Inspired Holiday Napkins

I love my community and my friends– many of which I met in the first months I lived here sixteen years ago.

Christmas Eve Party

Everyone at my party got a little gift to take home.

Inspired by my pal craft maven Laurie, I made a big handful of candy canes using mid-century glass beads and every family got to pick one of these to take home.

They also each got a wood basket of homemade treats to enjoy later.

Christmas Hostess Gifts

I made those tiny wreaths all of out Bins finds (including those little pearls!) and included my favorite holiday cookies.

Chocolate Espresso Snowcaps

I’ve told you about these Chocolate Espresso Snowcaps before — and they are unbelievable.

Chocolate Espresso Snowcaps

So you see it’s been busy.

And it’s so wonderful to have my handsome fella home, front and center.

Everything tastes better

sushi Rice Bowl with Shrimp

and is more fun to do– and share

Porter and Oliver

and watch — when we’re together.

(Like all the holiday favorites. Elf never disappoints.)

Elf Holiday movie

I hope that your holiday too was cheery,

Vintage Snowman

decadent,

Chocolate Mousse Cake

and surrounded by loved ones.

Peanut Christmas

Wishing us all love, health and happiness for 2020.

Vintage Glass Beads

XO

Filed Under: Uncategorized

« HOLIDAY RUN UP
HOLIDAY BREAK? IT’S A WRAP. »

Comments

  1. Donna says

    December 28, 2019 at 5:26 pm

    Hello! I tried to find the recipe for the Holiday snack mix. Do you have a recipe for that? It looks wonderful and would be excellent for small gifts to others. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Sarah Kline says

      December 28, 2019 at 7:44 pm

      Hello Donna! No I don’t have a recipe for it but it’s mostly just butter (I use two sticks for a regular sized batch), cumin, lots of garlic (both fresh and dried), cumin (a tablespoon or two), Sriracha, a little lime juice and a couple splashes of Worchestershire sauce. Sometimes I also add in copious amounts of the chili lime salt from Trader Joe’s, sometimes a dried ranch topping. I think the secret to a great snack mix is fantastic chips (I add Fritos, ridged Kettle Chips, Doritos and whatever else is calling me at the time)in addition to the Chex Mix, and everything seasoned and salted well. Happy Holidays to you!

      Reply
  2. Suzanne Milbourn says

    December 28, 2019 at 9:26 pm

    Beautiful Family and Fabulous Mother/Friend/Wife and Neighbor, your spirit is inspirational … love you Sarah!!!

    Reply
    • Sarah Kline says

      December 29, 2019 at 2:57 pm

      You are such a dear to take time out of your busy schedule to send love our way. It’s been a rough last week so your words are extra appreciated. I loved all your family pictures and am so grateful you’ve come into our lives. Happy New Year’s!

      Reply
  3. Jen says

    December 30, 2019 at 7:43 am

    Aww,I always love your posts. I love how you “just do it” and spread the love and do what you do best. Bin finds recreated and cooking and baking and passing out the goods. I love it all and enjoy reading your posts. I feel inspired, always, after seeing what you do and your love for your family always shows through. Wishing you all the best in 2020. I rarely comment but love the posts and recipes. I think maybe I met you many years ago, around 1993-1995, I think it was, when I worked in the Williams Sonoma Sample Room! Anyway, love the blog so thanks for taking the time to do it.

    Reply
    • Sarah Kline says

      January 7, 2020 at 3:56 pm

      Howdy Jen! That’s so funny that we may have met all those years ago. Forgive me if I don’t remember (I have the worst memory EVER) but oh, that sample room! You are so kind to chime in here and say such kind things. It can be a lonely thing putting thoughts out to cyberspace but hearing from people like you means the world. Where do you live now? Wishing you all the best and again thanks!

      Reply
  4. Patricia says

    January 6, 2020 at 5:00 pm

    Dear Sarah,
    I thought of you this morning….your son has returned to the east coast, & everyday life begins again. It’s always an adjustment no matter how special the visit was. Thank you for taking the the time to write your holiday post. You are an inspiration in the kindness & joy you share with others. The beautiful smiles of your children also show what a special mother that you are. Sending wishes for happiness in your home in this new decade & most of all, healing for your husband.
    Take care.

    Reply
    • Sarah Kline says

      January 7, 2020 at 3:58 pm

      Hi Patricia. I’m so grateful that you took time out of your busy day to make mine. Big things ahead– which is daunting and nerve-wracking but I’m surrounded by so much love and support. Wishing you so much health and happiness! Please keep in touch. Sarah

      Reply

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