'Tis the Season.....again

Sorry for the absence. Two weeks ago Ryan went to Children's Hospital North after having an attack of croup. A few days later I came down with it, only the adult version, which is essentially a nasty upper respiratory infection that had me in bed for 3 days straight and I am still recovering (nearly 2 weeks later). I have been able to sleep and get rest, but my voice is still hoarse and I still cough from time to time. I am thankful that it's mostly over though. Ryan received a steroid that reduced inflammation and his cough was gone in a couple of days. Now Brooklyn has quite the runny nose and had a terrible fever, and thus a terrible day, on Christmas. She did not enjoy opening her presents. Poor little thing. She is still recovering now, but is on the mend.
As for Christmas, Tom surprised me by coming home early on Christmas Eve, roses in hand! I was so happy to see him. It had been a hard two weeks without him as he is off in Salt Lake City for job training. He returned to his training the day after Christmas and will be gone a total of 3 1/2 weeks when it's all said and done. Overall it was a good Christmas, but a very busy one that passed very quickly.


 For a dessert at our Christmas dinner, I made a Chocolate Mint Cheesecake. It turned out really good. I have posted the recipe below, and it was really easy: 

Grahm Cracker pie crust
1 box chocolate pudding
1 8oz tub of Cool Whip
1 pkg Candy Cane Mint dip mix
3 egg whites
2/3 c. sugar
1 tsp Vanilla
2 8oz cream cheese
1/4 cup milk
3 Tb flour


Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In bowl mix together cream cheese, sugar and vanilla. Add in chocolate pudding, milk and flour.  In separate bowl beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. Add egg whites to cheesecake mixture and blend on high for 3 mins. Pour mixture into pie crust and spread to edges. Cook at 425 degrees for 20 mins. Then lower oven temperature to 375 degrees and cook for 45 mins.
While cheesecake is cooking, mix together Cool Whip and Candy Cane dip mix. Set aside in fridge.
When cheesecake is done allow to cool completely. Top with Cool Whip mixture and add crushed candy canes or mints (pictured is Andes Mints). Enjoy!

'Tis the Season

I just love this Vineyard Bowl. Adding seasonal decorations makes it the centerpiece of my style.

As for Christmas, I can't wait to see to look on my child's face as he realizes that the "surprises," as he calls them, under the tree are ready to open! It is also special because it is my daughter's first Christmas. She will be 7 months old next week. Christmas is always a special time in our house. Not just because this is a time where  traditions are passed along and family is celebrated, but because our house is a house that truly celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. We understand that His coming was our heavenly Father's way of bringing salvation to men. Christ's birth was the initiation of redemption. And for that, we celebrate. One of our Christmas traditions is that Santa brings ours kids a personal letter every year. Santa loves being the vessel for which to deliver presents under the tree, but he wants our children to understand the real meaning of his annual trip. He takes the time to explain that without Christ he would have no reason to bring his gifts. He explains how grace and mercy from God are the best gifts anyone could receive and that his fancy wrapping and shiny bows are just a symbol for the beauty that is beheld in Christ.

One day I hope my children will read back on all those letters Santa plans to bring and be able to relish the joy of the season. Yes, I want them to have great memories of all the glitter and fancy, the visits with family, the snow and hot chocolate...but I also pray that Christmas stirs in their hearts a love and thanksgiving for our greatest gift: Jesus Christ.

Bring in the New Year with New stuff!

Sooooo, coming this January is our new Spring/Summer catalog with over 40 new items to choose from. Not only are there new products, but some of the prices have lowered on the current catalog items! This is a flier for our January specials for our hosts and customers. 

What's super exciting is that you'll hardly get the 1895 Pillar Candle Set for cheaper than $38 - the only way you could get it cheaper is to use all the credit you earned as my host to buy it, which makes it FREE (or close to it)! How, you ask? Well, as my host you'll get a free "host bag" filled with goodies to serve at your party. Then, you invite all your friends, co-workers, family and neighbors to your party (who doesn't want to be the hostess with the mostess?). Then, let's say you have 10 wonderful friends show up. Just for getting 10 people there I will buy you a bottle of wine (or a happy substitution if needed). Then, let's say you have the average party of $500 in sales (and yes, this is more than possibly) - now you automatically have a free customer special (see below), $75 in credit (which can be used toward any item(s) in the catalog) AND two items at half price.

 So let's break this down: you use your credit to get the, oh let's say, the Vineyard Bowl priced at $79.98. You get a free customer special so you choose the Bamboo Cheese Board, and you your two half-priced items are the Damask Kitchen Towel set ($19.98) and the Savory Tuscan Bread mix ($21.98).
Vineyard Bowl = $4.98 (because of using the $75 towards the price)
Bamboo Cheese Board = Free
Kitchen Towels = $9.99
Bread Mix = $10.99
To buy all that separately would cost you $142.00 but will now cost only $26.00!

That's HUGE - and just for inviting friends over for food, fun and drinks. Really? YES! And the food you made for the party came in your pack, so a trip to the store may not even be necessary. Double YES! aka YES YES!!

So now what? Just contact me with any questions about hosting. Not sure about it? I can help you - I want to help you - I want you to get all the FREE stuff you can! You can go to my website and click on "contact me" or simply email me at inspirationsbybmw@gmail.com or call 904.923.0220.

Bright and Merry

Here is more fun from my house to yours. I apologize for the lack of quality photographs (hopefully that will change soon), but I will not apologize for having fun decorating my Cake Stand! In the first picture I have used the "celebration" towel set inside the hurricane and placed a penguin box head on top. The penguin once came with goodies inside of it, but now it's just my Christmas penguin.

 In this next picture I took my Christmas tree and Santa from a little village I have and used it as the decor. Lit with candles I'd say Santa is having a grand ol' time.

 Ho! Ho! Ho!

Again, I know the picture quality isn't that great. It was night time and the flash is all I had. If you know me, I am a picture snob, thus I require and desire "good" pictures. But I still had fun. Right now, I've settled for a scented peppermint oil bottle with wooden dispersing rods sticking out as my decor using this cake stand and hurricane.

New Items for Sale in December

For 30 more days only, these items are currently 50-75% off! They just sent me an email today showing me these items, and I am so excited! Now this is what I'm talking about! To order, just visit www.biltmoreinspirations.com/bwassmer and click on "shop online" and enter the codes of the items you want! They will ship directly to your door. All orders must be in by Dec. 12 to assure delivery before Christmas.