A Holiday Wish for You

 

Super Simple Date and Brie Appetizer for Holiday Entertaining

  This simple combination of date, brie and almond is so delicious it has become my new secret weapon for impressive entertaining.  Full disclosure: I have no idea where this combination came from, so I apologize if I am talking about a well known recipe.  I had these tasty little treats at a champagne reception, and it was a wonderful pairing (with the champagne, I mean ;-).

Sometimes, simple flavors are the best. 


 

 This is simply brie chunks stuffed into pitted dates, and topped with  raw almonds.  So simple.  Delicious.  Somewhat healthy.  And amazing with champagne.  The buttery flavor of the brie, the sweetness of the dates and the subtle almond flavor just melts in your mouth with just the right amount of crunch.   Enjoy ;-)

Stay tuned in 2014 for more "Entertaining with 6 Wilson."

My Christmas Dining Room and House Tour

Who's up for a Christmas tour?  The house is finally done, and while I'm on to menu planning and finishing shopping,  come on in and see what I've been up to, getting ready for entertaining and just relaxing (well, not really on that one ;-)

The view of the living room, above, is what you see when you come down the stairs.  We hang our stockings along the stairs because we used to use the fireplace a lot, and this was the only other place that worked.
 

If you've read this post, you've seen some of the living room, but let's check it out anyway...

On the right of the green chair above is my secretary.  The reflection in the window is pretty cool, I think!

Just below these doors, my daughter's painting sits on the desk...

My other daughter's painting of a cardinal is on the end table next to the sofa.  I think art used on furniture is a great alternative to hanging it on the wall.

 Check out the photo-bomber...

So now to the dining room.

The sideboard is pretty simple.  This first image is a bit overexposed, but I kind of like it that way ;-)

Below is the true duck egg color of the drapes...

The chandelier looks a lot like it did last year, but I put my white dove back in, and added a flocked nest...

The inspiration for the dining room this year came from this sleigh I bought on clearance (for a whopping $8), when I went to the store for something else entirely.  The whole room just came together around it, all with things I already owned.  Meant to be.

Can you imagine I had these gifts still wrapped from my Christmas 2011 table? (I heard you say "hoarder.")  And the pine cones are the bleached ones I shared on instagram (@6Wilson).   Here's some more...

Okay, okay, I'm obsessed with the sleigh...

I know I've used this angle with the tree for my other Christmas tablescapes here and here, but it works.  Can't help it.

Here's looking into the living room.  See the chair to the left of the tree?  Getting a major makeover right after Christmas.  Dying to do it.  I can't wait to show you what I'm up to with that!

To the left of the clock is the doorway to the kitchen.  These guys are hanging on my little black chandelier in there.  This is my one and only nod to cute.

  And then of course, there's Santa in the family room.  That room's not on the tour, it needs too much work.  Maybe next year ;-)

Well, phew!  That's it for 2013.  Thanks for joining me, and I hope you are enjoying your own Christmas magic in your own home, no matter how grand or humble.  Decorating is wonderful, but nothing is more beautiful than the reason for it all.

I'll be back in a day or so with a quick and delicious appetizer for you holiday entertaining!

I'm linking up over at Between Naps on the Porch, and French Country Cottage so come over and see lots of gorgeous Christmas inspiration!

Thanks for reading,

Scenes from Christmas in Boston

  My husband and I had a little getaway in Boston this weekend, and it was fabulous.  Christmas loveliness was everywhere, and I thought you all might like to see a bit of it.  If you follow me on Instagram (@6Wilson), here's more!  If you're not a follower, catch up on some New England prettiness, starting with Beacon Street this morning, across from the Boston Common...

 I loved the purple this home used, it really stood out from the other Brownstones...

 Here's a little more traditional colors...

I loved this window wreath on the next brownstone.  It was a bit to small for the window, but it was perfect, and I adore the shutters on the inside.

I really liked this sweet window box below, framed in by the iron on the window...

So classic, sooo New England.  Yet another black door.  Check out the amazing detail.

 I think black wrought iron is just.so.beautiful.

 And look at this iron masterpiece fencing of sorts...

This walk down Beacon Street took us to breakfast at Paramount on Charles Street (a cool, very popular diner that is a must on your next trip in).  After some great food, we walked through the Boston Common to do some shopping on Newbury Street.

This is exactly how gray it was today.   Over on Newbury, where the shopping is amazing, was this building with a beautifully decorated balcony...

 The window of Ralph Lauren was dashing...

And at this point, I was just too cold to keep taking pictures outside.  Inside a family favorite, Jack Wills, I loved the way they decorated a mantel in their shop...

 Isn't that fun?

 The night before all of this, on Saturday, the snow was flying and the temperature frigid, but it didn't stop us from going out to dinner with my husband's cousin, who was in town for the weekend and was the reason for the adventure.

I will end with this amazing gingerbread house, in the window of a gorgeous little shop in Harvard Square.

I hope you have a chance to do something out of your usual holiday routine this season, and find joy in simple things like walking in the snow or sharing a hot cider with someone you don't often see.

Enjoy this last week before chaos hits ;-)

Pillow Giveaway Winner!!

  Happy Saturday, all!  There were 21 entries (I deleted the comments were people added their email in an extra comment), and the winner of the 6 Wilson Pillow Cover Giveaway is.......

Nancy at the blog Maritimer!  Congratulations, Nancy!!!

Thanks to all of you who entered and thanks for visiting 6 Wilson.

I will be back this week with some new Christmas inspiration.  Till then, have a warm and safe weekend for those of you getting lots of snow.