Guest post- Christmas with Cupcake Caramel

OK our second guest blogger is from the lovely Rebekah at Cupcake Caramel.

Rebekah writes a fab blog all about her efforts to live a chic and french-inspired life; channelling her inner-Bridget Bardot as she goes along. Her posts are very witty, sometimes quite serious, but always gives me food-for-thought (talking of food her recipes are great also) She really is Texas' answer to the Domestic Goddess ;-)

Here's a peep through Rebekah's Texas window this Christmas.

What are you most hoping to find under the Christmas tree this year?
I assume we’re discussing reality, yes? If so, then I would love a box of Fran’s sea salt caramels, a bottle of Krug or Tattinger, Jo Malone bath gel, and an antique letter opener.

Nat King Cole,Michael Bublé, Handel's Messiah or Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite?
Nat King Cole AND Handel’s Messiah. My husband and I have one tradition during the Christmas season: tickets to the symphony to see The Messiah. One of these years I’m going to locate a sing-along and participate. There are some beautiful second soprano parts. I get my singing-fix satisfied by participating in the church choir for their annual Christmas concert.

Turkey or not?
Not; I’d rather indulge in roast beef or prime rib, pan drippings and Yorkshire pudding.

Best Christmas film?
Love Actually


What French details/ dishes will you ensure your Christmas includes this year?
We usually attend church on Christmas Eve at 11 PM, but we’re not Catholic – so I guess I would celebrate in a more Huguenot tradition. We also give gifts to the needy at this time of the year, such as Operation Christmas Box, which packages gifts to send to orphanages, and Project Angel Tree, which sponsors a child of an incarcerated parent. I like to use natural ornaments in my decorations, so I’m really into the idea of hanging homemade orange pomanders and strings of cranberries. As far as French food traditions, a buche de Noel is calling to me right now!

If you could spend Christmas in any other place other than the US, where would you choose?
England! I have a fantasy of attending church services in an idyllic, old church and attending a concert at St. Martin in the Fields. Then we’d do the cracker thing, drink hot rum, and eat pudding all day.

What one book are you hoping to receive this Christmas?
I’d like the entire collection of the Mitford sisters’ letters.




What beauty product is your 'Christmas fail-safe'?
Jo Malone’s Pomegranate Noir (I still have samples I’m using); it is dark and heavy – perfect for the holiday events you are attending, as well as for a special night at home. It drives my husband wild.

Flats or heels on Christmas Day?
Flats; we tend to wear nice jeans, great sweaters (NO Reindeer ones), and our indoor shoes, which are usually old driving moccasins. Christmas remains fairly casual, unless we are off to church services.

How do you hope to make Christmas different this year from other years (either by something you do or simply because of a change of perspective)?
We do not live around family, and we do not have children, so it is both liberating and challenging that we fully dictate how our Christmas is spent. We’ve had a rather full year and need some relaxation time for the holidays. I would like to open our home for friends to drop by for afternoon tea and share in the dessert celebration. I won’t be making treize desserts as they do in Provence, but I wouldn’t mind having an excuse to make the buche de Noel and some other goodies to share with friends.

Thank you so much Rebekah. Wishing you a wonderful Texan Christmas, and all you wish for yourself in 2012.

p.s love the fact Rebekah wants to spend Christmas in England (feeling a little smug now ;-)