Christmas Decorating on the Porch

I’m coming up for air!  I’ve been running around like a chicken with it’s head…well, you know… getting ready for the neighborhood cookie party. Last count…expecting around 25 people. I’ve been grocery shopping, vacuuming, cleaning, cleaning some more, dusting…did I mention I’ve been cleaning!

I’ve been de-furring the chairs…Max has his favorite spots for his afternoon naps and I don’t think my neighbors want to take reminders of Max home with them after the party!

I’ve been wrapping gifts to go under the tree. I drove up to a local church where I used to buy my Christmas tree each year (before I finally caved in and bought an artificial one) to beg for their “scraps”…the part folks have them trim off before they haul their tree away. I always use those to decorate my mantel and other areas in the house. Plus, it gives the house that Christmas tree smell.

Remember our party in a pot…well…the party just rowdier! Here’s the before…

And now… Whoo, Hoo! We have a serious Party in a Pot now!

Couldn’t find any of the small garland with white lights…and I kind of like the colored ones here…what do you think? Does it work?

And I’ve been baking these….

for this…
Yum…cranberry trifle.  I usually make one that has devil’s food cake, crushed Heath candy bar and kahlua…but I decided to try something different this year. Surprisingly this trifle doesn’t have any alcohol in it at all. ..that’s usually an ingredient in most trifles. I’ll let you know if it’s any good. I know you aren’t supposed to try a new recipe for the first time when you are expecting guests…but that’s usually when I’m itching to try something different. Keep your fingers crossed that it taste as good as the picture looks.

Ok, breaks over…time to get back at it…still gotta mop the laundry room floor and start working on the mantel. Whew!

*If a post is sponsored or a product was provided at no charge, it will be stated in post. Some links may be affiliate links and as an Amazon Associate, I may earn from qualifying purchases. *



 Never miss a Between Naps on the Porch post! 

*Subscribe to have updates delivered to your Inbox. 



Comments

  1. Happy To Be says

    Oh girl you have been so..yes I like the new chair look..and I wished I was closer to help you Susan..I hear Debbie coming also how fun..you don’t forget pictures this time of 2 of my favorite gals together now..Have a great party !!hugs and smiles…stop by some time when you can..hugs and smiles Gloria

  2. Lady Katherine says

    The pot of ornaments and lights turned out wonderful! I knew you would come up with something special! Wow, baking, tree shopping, tree scarping, you are busy! I love the trifle, let me know, it looks delicious! I want the recipe! Please, when you catch your breath!

  3. Thanks for popping in and updating us! I think the garland with colored lights definitely works with the party in the pot. Good luck with your cookie party. Can’t wait to hear about it!

  4. deep breaths! deeeeep breaths! don’t worry too much about things! your home is wonderful…and hey…what’s a pair of “fur pants” between friends anyways! lol (the cat hair) lol
    I used to tease that I could upgrade everyone to a fur outfit when both my kitties were still alive!
    deep breaths…you amaze me girl…send me some of that!

  5. Linda/ "Mom..." says

    *****You're reeeeally cracking me up here, Sweet Susan!!! You REEEALLY "KNOW" all will go INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFULLY, don't you?!?! Here's a quickie 4 you to smile/laugh/"whatever" re "prepping for parties"~ I USED to even get down & clean UNDER the BED (when YOUNGER, of course! I can still get DOWN, just not UP again!)…Uh-huh! When Jim would ask my "Why in heaven's name?!?!?", my harried answer was something like this, said BREATHLESSLY & rambling, of course!: "Well, they'll want a house tour, & what if someone's looking at our bedroom & loses an earing & gets down to look for it & sees…. eeeksss…. "stuff" of untold nature UNDER our bed?!?!?!?"…. (I'm STILL, alll these years later, surprised at the look of HIS SURPRISE in "those days", re THAT silliness!!! Looking forward to hearing/seeing.reading alllll about it!!! WHATCHA WEARING???? Big hugs, Linda (BTW, DON'T "pull a Lucy" n' lose your ring in any bread dough or anything now!!!)~~~

  6. profenretraite says

    Ohhhh Susan…I love the additions to your party in a pot. I think the colored lights do add a little rowdy touch! Don’t wear yourself out, although I do understand about cat hair. I am likely to import more cat hair than I would export. Your desserst look so yummy! And…eeeeeee!!…I can’t wait to meet you! :-)…Debbie

  7. Terrie's Lil' Piece of Serenity says

    I really love your Christmas in a pot with the colored lights. I bet that trifle is yummy!!

  8. Melissa Miller says

    OOOHHH!
    I love the warmth of the lights around the chair!
    Have a wonderful time. 😉

  9. I’m tired for you! Hope your party goes well….

  10. Whooo Hoooo Susan!!! The party in a pot is sheer perfection! I love the colored lights on it too. Ok, I'm having major sugar issues this season & could probably wolf down a whole loaf of your cake right now & I'm not hungry… If it's a keeper, please post the recipe! (It looks like a definite keeper…) ☺♥☺ Diane

  11. Glenda/MidSouth says

    Your decorations look great and bet the trifle will be yummy. Have a great party!.

  12. Barb @ GritsandGlamour says

    Wow I could even read the energy jumping off the page. You go girl! I know how it is – if you stop for one second you may not start back up so you just keep going. Just don’t wear yourself out for your own party. One of my fave signs in my home says “No outfit is complete without some cat hair.” Just consider it a “hostess gift” to your guests. LOL Love the cahir – have a great time and I can’t wait to see all the pics. Blessings, Barb

  13. Darlene - Our Creative Life says

    Have a wonderful party! Wish I could come!!

  14. glimpse of my world says

    WOW! U R BUSY! Take a breath and enjoy the moment!

    Big OL’ hUgS!

    Valarie

  15. Hope you had a wonderful time. The rowdy chair looks beautiful. And I’m hoping you post the recipes. They look delicious.
    Hugs,
    Gollum

  16. You sure have been busy. Everything looks so nice. I love the Party in the pot. Clever and pretty too. you party sounds fun, wish I could come. Dont’t worry about the kitty fluff, just feed’em lots of cookies and they’ll be happy.
    Shanda

  17. You have been very busy I can see but I am sure it is all worth it. I love your party in the pot with the lights. Very nice.

  18. Honey, the Energizer Bunny’s got nothing on you. In fact, if he’s waiting on you, he’s backing up.
    I’ve made a lot of things, but never a trifle. Let us know how it comes out. I may need to get your old recipe that you have tried and liked. I think it is actually smart to use guests as guinea pigs. After all, they’ll go home, and if you used family as guinea pigs, you’ll be living with your victims. That might prove a little too hazzardous for comfort. Better I think, for your neighbors to think you are not the greatest cook, than to put yourself in possible jeopardy.
    Love the garland on the chair, the perfect finishing touch.

  19. The chair looks very happy and content now that it’s all dressed up for Christmas.LOL

    Hugs,
    Chris

  20. Have fun, save some trifle for me!

  21. Yum! The Cranberry Trifle looks beautiful and sounds wonderful. What fun to have a celebrations with good friends during the holidays and the good thing is about that is that no one care if the end result isn’t picture perfect.

    Blessings.

  22. Hi Susan…

    Hehee…I do love how that party in the pot has gotten rowdier!!! It’s perfect!!! Girl, that cranberry trifle sounds delicious…and so pretty for a Christmas party!!! I just know that your party will be “grand” and that you are going to “wow everyone’s socks off”…Have lots of fun! I’ll be waiting to read all about it!

    Love ya,
    Chari

  23. Oh the cranberry trifle looks like a real Yum-Yum!! I LOVE the “colored-up” pary in a pot! Too pretty!
    Can’t wait to see..read..all about the party! I’m so glad you and Debbie are going to meet. I’m just getting to know her and she’s such a sweetie!
    It’s stressful now..but just remember you are fixing to have MAJOR FUN come tomorrow!! 🙂
    Laura

  24. Lady of the Mote says

    the party in a pot looks festive!
    that dessert looks yummy!!

  25. Glad you came up for a bit of air. I know you’re having a ball getting ready. Can’t wait to see “all” the pictures you girls are going to share. The recipe looks yummy…Wish I could hop on a plane and join you..I know you’re going to have a ball.. EVeryone will love Maxx…
    hugs ~lynne~

  26. the chair looks awesome.you best get a little rest.you don’t want to get sick.i hope it’s all a blast.you know it will be…ann

  27. Suzann @ Lavender and Roses says

    Well, you sure are a busy gal! I’m certain that everything will be just perfect for your gathering.

  28. Linda/ "Mom..." says

    ~~~ Just stoppin' by to say I'm thinking of you & to "REMEMBER to RELAAAAAX n' just HAVE F-U-N today", Sweetie~~~ you KNOW from experience that the rest will "somehow" take care of itself! You worked HARD, so now's the time to ENJOY your friends n' neighbors! (And a niiiice glass of wine, w/ your FAV GIRLFRIENDS, when it's all over!!!). Love, Linda

  29. texasdaisey says

    That trifle looks yummy & sounds even better. I love the little chair & I think the colored lights look really pretty. I really loved the pot of ornaments idea. I am always looking for new ideas for my vintage ornaments.
    Debbie

  30. Oh Shoot! I wanna come to the party! It’s going to be so much fun. Yes, I like that rowdy chair. I’m afraid tomorrow night, you are going to collapse! Take care of yourself, and enjoy your party. laurie

  31. I’m curious to know how the trifle ends up :0) It does look fabulous!!

  32. Everything looks perfect! Enjoy your friends, the conversation, the laughter, the day! And, tell us all about it.

  33. Have a grand day Susan, I am sure your house looks just gorgeous, and everyone is going to have a wonderful time. Love the rowdy party pot totally decorated. It is a lot of work hosting for that many people, I hope you have help with the cleanup! I am off to spend the holidays with the grandkids (and their parents, lol) and the rest of our family up in the snow and cold. Take care and a Very Merry christmas to you!

  34. Oh the pot looks gorgeous, and all the goodies are wonderful. Wish I could be there to taste them. So glad Debbie’s going to go. Can’t wait to see all the pictures. You gals have a great time. Marty

  35. Really Rainey says

    Now that’s a “Party in a Pot” I love it… ohhhh and I love the pound cake you baked for your trifle… I looks so beautiful… Let us know how it tastes! I might have to beg the recipe from you so I can take that to Christmas dinner..

  36. Love the Party in the Pot and the colored lights are just perfect! What’s next…Boyfriend in a Box?
    Send me one of those, will you?

    Can’t wait to see and hear all about the party. The trifle looks delish!

  37. Wow! Busy bee! The party pot looks awesome! That dessert looks delicious! I do something similar with berries, vanilla pudding, cool whip and pound cake…yummy! Have a great party!

  38. That Chair is SO CUTE!!! And it’s sound like you’ve been TOTALLY busy! Let us know how the cranberry trifle comes out!

  39. You just have to post the recipe for the trifle. Let us know how the party goes. Hope all we well for you Susan.
    Blossom

  40. Pat@Back Porch Musings says

    I like the colored lights. Very pretty. I make the heath bar trifle. We call it Death by Chocolate. No kalua, though.

  41. Oh, the colored lights add just the right embellishment to the chair. All best wishes for a great party.
    My Christmas decorating has been interrupted since I am currently a refugee from the power outage caused by a big ice storm here in Massachusetts. I woke up Friday to no heat, no light, actually no electricity. So also no internet, no home telephone and sheets of ice over everything on my deck outside. Trees were snapped and hanging across my smashed side fence, across the front lawn. Thankfully none struck the house. I and my 90-year-old mother are now 50 miles south with my sister and her family. I hope to return on Monday as that’s when the electric company’s web site estimates the power will be back on.
    Carrie

  42. Miss Janice says

    Love that party in a pot and your centerpiece is awesome. I can’t wait to see pictures of the event! Have fun:)

  43. Meadowsweet Days says

    Have fun today! Let us know how the trifle is…. looks like it will be yummy! The house looks wonderful! Love the fresh centerpiece!

    Carol

  44. Eileen Terwilliger says

    Oh my, the chair is just LOVELY! I am always looking for Christmas porch ideas that will work here in Alaska. Today it’s about -10, really COLD (Brrrr…..), but this would warm up my Christmar porch a whole lot! Thank you ~

  45. Oh Susan, everything is coming together so nicely.I know it is a lot of work but you do such a beautiful job.Our friend Debbie is coming to your party and she is so excited and I am so excited for her.You will have a wonderful time.The chair is perfect, I like the colored lights,I think it is more festive.The trifle sounds wonderful. Have a great party,Kathysue

  46. Beautiful!
    Blessings,
    Madeline

I'd love to hear from you! Please leave a comment!

*