Easy Last Minute Holiday Ideas

OK, so the Christmas countdown begins and we're all racing to the finish line. The last minute Holiday rush can have us all feeling frazzled, but there's still time to whip up something with a "Wow" factor. Here are some ideas that are low on effort but high on impact!

Savory Shrimp Spread

This recipe was given to me by a neighbor years ago and it's been my go to dish ever since. With just a few ingredients, it's quick to fix and is sure to be a hit with the holiday crowd and a party pleaser any time of year. Get ready for recipe requests!

Ingredients:

(1) 8oz brick of cream cheese softened

(1) stick of butter softened

(2) 4oz cans of tiny shrimp (rinsed & drained)

(1) medium to large onion finely chopped

Blend cream cheese and butter.

With a fork throughly mix in onion & shrimp.

Serve with assorted crackers, bagel crisps etc.

Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.

*This makes a lot and will easy serve a crowd of 20,

for smaller gatherings cut the recipe in half.

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Pretty Palmiers

My french Mother-in-law used to buy these at a local french bakery. Named "Palmiers" as they resemble the top of a palm tree, I love the crispy texture, not too sweet taste and delicate look. I'm getting pretty brave with baking lately and actually decided to tackle these this year. I could not believe how easy they were to make! No mixing, no measuring... just roll, sprinkle, cut and bake!

I found the recipe HERE

Be sure to click on the easy to follow how to video at the top of the page.

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Icy Votives

Better Homes and Gardens

Aren't these gorgeous? Used in multiples as a centerpiece or set about the house, these little frosty numbers will definitely add some cool to the party! If you've got 24 hours, plastic cups, some petals, greens, and votive candles you can do this. Go natural with a few poinsettia blossoms, a sprig of greenery and fresh berries. Or dig into your stash of Christmas decor and fake it. Either way this sure makes and elegant impression!

You can find the simple instructions here at Better Homes and Gardens

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Wishing you all a Christmas that's Merry and Bright and filled with...

A Hip Holiday Giveaway!

Just in time for the holidays

Sandy of Reluctant Entertainer and I are hosting a holiday giveaway!

Enter to WIN a copy of her new book "Reluctant Entertainer" and our "Christmas Cookie" Apron. Makes for a fabulous gift for a lady on your list, or just treat yourself. Either way it's a festive way to bake up a batch of joy this Holiday Season!

Giveaway closes Friday December 10th at midnight.

Click HERE to enter

Good Luck!

This Giveaway has closed.

Hip Holidays

It's The Hip Hostess here...

Serving up some Hip Holiday Savings!

By the way, isn't she gorgeous?

Meet "Alex." All decked out in our "Espresso Swirl" Sheath Style Apron and designed exclusively for us by Sandy of Ooh La La Frou Frou.

You'll fall head over heels in love with this glamorous line of fabulously feminine greeting cards! You can take a peek at all the posh designs Here

---

December 1-19th

Get 20% OFF with Promo Code

HIPHOLIDAY20

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Tie on one of our hip little numbers this holiday season and bake up a batch of joy!

Today!

We were tickled pink and absolutely over the moon last week when our "Hip Little Aprons" were featured on the NBC Today Show! Daily Candy's Editor-at-Large Dannielle Kyrillos featured our aprons for her segment on Holiday Entertaining!

Dannielle is also a judge on Bravo's Top Chef's "Just Desserts" and believes the best gift you can give to your friends and family is an invitation to your home. We couldn't agree more!

In the segment she shares the some creative and fun ways to entertain for the holidays, (including our aprons of course, how flattering is that?) You'll love her dazzling tips & tricks on playing The Hip Hostess this Holiday Season. Our flat our favorite is the Mashed Potato Martini Glasses!

You can view our national TV debut and the entire segment HERE:

A Huge Bouquet of Thanks to Dannielle for including us. We're totally flattered and ever so grateful!

What's New?

We're serving up something pretty in pink...

"Hot Pink Icing"

You'll definitely add some Sparkle & Shine to your Holiday Party wearing this hot little number! An eye catching color combo of Hot Pink & Frosty White.

Available in Sheath & Demi Style & of course matching Tea Towels

November Savings...

Get 15% OFF your order when you use Promo Code:

SAVENOV

Winner!

Someone has just won "Dinner in Paris!"

No, she's not going to France, but she has won our latest Apron arrival "Dinner in Paris" along with a lovely set of coordinating recipe cards designed by Lorena of suenos encantados.

Drum roll please.... Our Lucky Winner is Kate!

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

17

Timestamp: 2010-10-23 13:18:26 UTC

Huge Congrats and Cheers to Kate!

Our Latest Arrival & Giveaway!

Introducing...

"Dinner in Paris"

Kind of gives new meaning to the term, French Cooking.
Don't you think?

And guess what.
We're giving one away!

The Lucky Winner of this Giveaway will receive a

"Dinner in Paris" Apron in choice of either Sheath or Demi Style!

But wait there's more...

The winner will also be receiving this!

A set of 12 coordinating recipe cards custom designed exclusively for this Giveaway

by Lorena of sueniosencantados

Lorena has an incredibly creative line of printable stationery and partyware you are simply going to love. Her line of upscale Halloween printables are not to be missed!

So, here's how to enter:

1. Visit Lorena's Etsy shop: HERE then come back and leave a comment telling us which of Lorena's divine designs caught your eye.

For an extra entries:

1. Become of Fan of Lorena's FaceBook Page HERE

2. Tweet this Giveaway:

I just entered to WIN the new "Dinner in Paris"Apron from @TheHipHostess! Have you?

http://tiny.cc/fuax2et9b1

*Please leave a separate comment for each entry.

Giveaway Ends Friday October 22th
The only question now is...Will you give it or keep it?

This Giveaway is now closed.

A Blissful Hip Hostess Giveaway!

Ladies...

Would you like be a "Blissful Hip Hostess?"

There's a Hip Hostess Apron Giveaway going on at

Enter to WIN any one of our Seriously, Stylish Aprons!

Hosted by

The ever clever and always creative Mrs. Bliss!

Discover all her amazing tips & tricks on traditional

domestics arts & the finer points of Nesting.

Giveaway ends Tuesday Oct 12th so be sure to stop by and enter soon.

Mrs. Bliss will be delighted to see you... she loves drop in guests!

Clean Sweep!

Time for a Clean Sweep!

Does this lady know how to wear an Apron?

Meet Coryanne!

A Modern Traditionalist Housewife sharing the finer points of nesting at

HOUSEWIFE BLISS

Her delightful photo is the perfect way to announce our

CLEAN SWEEP SALE!

Making room for upcoming new designs, we're doing a Clean Sweep with Super Savings we think you're going to find irresistible!

Click on photos below for more info

Little Girl's Sweet Petites... SALE Price $22

Select Sheath Style Aprons... SALE Price $29

All Cafe Style Aprons... SALE Price $24

Tea Towels... SALE Price $7

Matching Magnet Sets... SALE Price $7

Hurry over to get these goodies while we've still got them!

Sale Ends OCT 15

September Savings

Available in Sheath or Demi Style

Now thru September 30th

Use Promo Code

SEPT

and save 15% OFF your order!

Backyard Bouquets

I have a thing for fresh flowers. Absolutely love them. I mean really who doesn't? After we moved into our cozy little cottage in the north country of Michigan last year I was so inspired to bring fresh flowers into the house to reflect all the natural beauty surrounding us. I made an effort to pick up fresh blooms now and again at the grocery store. Even indulged myself once or twice at the pricey local florist. But it was for the most part a half-hearted attempt, and only when we were expecting company.

Then I came upon a post by my lovely and gracious Twitter friend Wenderly. Her New Year's resolution was to always have fresh flowers about the house. Taking her lead I made the same vow and quickly discovered that incorporating fresh into your routine is surprisingly not that difficult, and so worth the effort!

So here are the results of my Summer quest for fresh!

I started my mission in June with this 5 dollar grocery store bouquet...made a bit more interesting with a few sprigs of fake.

Another fresh from the store find added a touch of charm to a ladies lunch.

But as Summer approached... I decided no more store bought blooms.

I would limit my flower picking to my own backyard. But planting anything on this rocky slope has been to say the least: challenging. Our backyard garden is still a work in progress & not exactly a bounty of botanical beauty...

I was limited to a very few pretties gracing the landscape and at times it was slim pickings.

But I was blessed with an abundance of these beauties...

and a few of these pretty petals planted last Spring.

I found these simple leafy branches...

a trio of tiny vases...

and a bit of garden ivy made for some elegant understated centerpieces.

Just the look I was going for.

I even decked out the deck...

with absolutely anything

and everything I could pick, pluck or cut!

Whatever even resembled a flower was fair game to me.
My friend asked if this was a bucket of weeds.
You be the judge.

The front entrance table became a focal point of fresh...

and the first thing to greet the flurry of friends & family

who stayed with us this summer.

Changing blooms from one week to the next...

I love the way they say "Welcome" without saying a word.

So there you have it, my backyard bouquets!

And though it's now time to open the door to Autumn...

I've kept a few of these hanging around to remind me of Summer past.

Thank you Wenderly for inspiring me to say yes to fresh!

What inspires you to bring fresh flowers in the house?