Southern Living December 2019

I’M NOT much of a baker. I basically make two things: biscuits and pancakes. Both of them are Southern Living recipes involving a lot of butter and buttermilk, and both have become popular in the Evans house on weekend mornings. This year, I decided to try my hand at cookies, mostly because my daughter, Phoebe, has taken a keen interest in baking and eating them. Until recently, it hadn’t occurred to her to make cookies for someone else, but I thought there might be a nice Christmas lesson here. We decided to test an old Southern Living recipe for Marble Snickerdoodles (by Ben Mims, December 2013). If they turned out well, we’d eat a few and take the rest to her brother, who’s away at school. If they didn’t, we’d…

The Mantel Greenery: An olive branch garland is fresh, airy, and modern. For a full wreath, wire a slightly smaller form inside the larger one. Cover with bay leaves, olive branches, and silver dollar eucalyptus. Ornaments: Gently press the wire loops into candlestick sockets to keep them secure. Candles: Choose unexpected colors that work with the room, and vary the heights. The Banister Greenery: A fresh juniper garland smells heavenly and makes an elegant statement cascading down the stairway. Ornaments: Cluster balls in assorted shades along the garland, and wire streamers of ribbon to the top and bottom of the railing for a polished touch. Candle: A hurricane with greenery, metallic orbs, and a neutral pillar candle creates an understated Christmas look that can extend to New Year’s. The Credenza Greenery: If you have an existing gallery wall or…

THE ABSOLUTE HAPPIEST that I see my mom all year is when my family is all together on Christmas Day eating, drinking tequila, and just hanging out,” says Cristina Lynch. “Growing up, everything in our house was always bright and festive.” Inspired by her heritage (Lynch’s mom is from Torreón, Mexico), she launched Mi Golondrina, a fresh and vibrant home-accessories and clothing line made in partnership with female Mexican artisans. While her work involves traveling back and forth from Dallas to Mexico, Lynch also prioritizes time with her girlfriends. Around the holidays, she hosts her annual dinner party, pulling ideas from her family’s Christmas rituals. She sends out save-the-date text messages in November followed by Paperless Post invitations two weeks before the party. “They’re less formal than printed ones and…

FOR YOUR MOM Count on her rejoicing when she sees and smells this clementine tree (available from South Carolina-based fast-growing-trees.com). Place the original plastic pot into another plastic planter to prevent leaks. Then slip it into a brown kraft paper bag with the edges folded down. Top the soil with reindeer moss and ornaments. String ribbons and bells around the pot as you like. Clementine trees need full sun and are best kept indoors until spring when flowers start to bloom. Fruit begins to ripen in fall. FOR YOUR SISTER A bare amaryllis bulb always looks nice with pretty packaging, but the real wow factor of this gift is watching it grow. Fill a clear plastic bag with pebbles (available at garden centers), place the bulb on top, tie the bag with a…

Let Sparkles Fly In CeCe Colhoun’s lattice-wrapped garden room, a 12-foot Fraser fir displays ornaments made by her children. Glittery gold, light pink, and rose gold baubles with a sumptuous 4-inch gold ribbon polish off the look while also carefully camouflaging any gaps between the branches. CECE COLHOUN was born and raised in New Orleans, in homes so old they literally crumbled before her eyes. When she was leaving for school each morning, it wasn’t unusual to find the front steps littered with bits of molding the house had shed overnight. “I know how much work goes into maintaining a centuries-old home, and I admire people who do that,” she says. When she and her husband, Trevor, moved back to the Big Easy, they chose a new house that was surrounded by…

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS Every year around the holidays, I receive gift plants such as poinsettia, Christmas cactus, African violet, cyclamen, and peace lily, but they usually die in a few weeks. Is it just me? —DARLA It isn’t just you. Many gift plants fail to make it beyond New Year’s for a variety of reasons. The most common one is overwatering. Let the soil surface go dry to the touch before giving your plant a drink. Make sure the container has a drainage hole that isn’t blocked by foil, and don’t let the pot sit in a saucer full of water. Avoid fertilizing in winter—plants don’t need it then. Finally, provide bright light, and keep them away from cold windows and heating vents. COOL VEGGIES I have a small garden bed here in Delaware and would…