Quietly judging
Whilst the Americans are soaking in a warm bath of gratitude, mash and turkey gravy I have been deciding who will make the cut for this year's B & P Christmas shindigs.
Red dresses with tartan scarves, kugelhopf, hot toddies and Fortnum &Mason's pie have all been given a nod and a wink.
But there are some sneaky little beacons of naffery looming on the horizon; Petticoat Tails, Yule logs complete with felt Bambis
and that lurid omnishambles of a truly retro Christmas; the Snowball cocktail, the downfall of every maiden aunt.
I wonder if I could keep it down now that I am an adult?
Anything retro putting in an appearance in your festive plans this year or have you put away childish things?
Me, put away childish thing? Never. We have just taken delivery of a nativity scene that lights up and a Christmas without shortbread is simply not Christmas. I may even be found in a dark corner with a snowball - I think I was weaned on them. It's almost time for me to whip out the Minnie Mouse pyjamas and I will never tire of a Cadbury's filled stocking.
ReplyDeleteSulky Basil would take his paw off your face if you even tried!
DeleteYes I've only just remembered Snowballs, I feel a night of sickly tipples coming on.
I love the petticoats, but I should really leave them as they don't do my hips any good, but they are oh so good. I'll take the dress though, it looks wonderful :)) xx
ReplyDeleteLa Femme Nouvelle
Exactly, once I start on shortbread there is no stopping me, and all that inner ear noise that eating them creates, deafens me to the cries of 'stop eating fatso"
DeleteI must have the red dress. I am going to dig up a red scarf to wear with a red dress I already own! What a brilliant look! I have just gotten out the christmas china, am watching Santa Claus arrive in New York City, and am thinking of how to clean my house and decorate all at once! It is quite a mess after the last few week's issues and so am going to try and ut some order into things! I do not think I have ever had a snowball cocktail, so you know what is on my list now!
ReplyDeleteWMM, do you know what's really annoying? I sent that dress back last year, look at it, I want it to, I am cursing myself. You might be sick after the snowball, maybe even during it!
DeleteI know. I have been known to eat cotton candy and then curse myself. But I still eat it....
DeleteWMM: Every time I ate that as a child it would have to be cut out of my hair.
DeleteMitch Miller Christmas Carols on the Victrola!
ReplyDeleteSue- it's official, I am excited about Christmas.
DeleteWILD CHILD Tabs truly fab frock and secretly thrilled at that tartan scarf. You really are better off red! Like Sulky, flannel snowflake pajamas plus Charlie Brown's Christmas, a slightly naff Bûche de Noël, and the 12 Cocktails of Christmas at the ready. (My faves: the Christmas Orange - clementine juice and leftover champagne and the Red Hot Santa - with chili infused vodka and a cocoa-cayenne or chipotle powder glass rim - I know, acquired tastes.) Every year I wish Fortnum would deliver hampers and/or pies over here - and you're NOT helping ;-)
ReplyDeleteGet Fresh - the red hot Santa? I'm on it! That sounds incredible.
DeleteI sent that dress back last year - pfffft.
Make own chili vodka easey peasey, but Absolut etc. OK too. You want same ratio of chili vodka and either grey goose chocolate vodka, Godiva or Scharffen Berger DARK chocolate liqueur or good quality creme de cacao, based on your preference.
DeleteI know JC leggings are big crave, but at least a red jumper at Xmas - is your colour!
Ooh, look at you Miss Glam fur and Hermes boots! Red dress and tartan, I like that. I have never tried a Snowball but as it's my first British Christmas for twelve years I am willing to give it a whirl!
ReplyDeleteListening to Christmas CDs by Bing Crosby and Andy Williams, eating homemade shortbread till I turn slightly green, washing it all down with that disgusting concoction called Eggnog.
ReplyDeleteWatching 'Its a Wonderful Life' and having a rip roaring family argument over something inconsequential.
I've given up on Christmas lightbulb earrings and made hubby stop wearing his Santa Hat with the glowing Pom Pom on top.
What is in a Snowball cocktail...it may need to make an appearance at my festivities?
Bing and Andy both remind me of my Dad, mum and I always argue over which one most looks like him.
DeleteMy Christmas music playlist will be back on for next Friday night, I can't wait oh and the sobfest of It's A Wonderful Life is a must.
Oh it's advocaat and lemonade and a bit of lime juice, sickly beyond your imagination but the froth makes it so alluring.
i'd like to think i'm always doing something a little retro but i have no big plans to do so. thank you tabitha for always leaving me such thoughtful witty comments and mostly for writing this beautiful blog. xoxo
ReplyDeleteHi Tabs. Thought of you this morning as I poured bourbon into the Thanksgiving gravy. Nothing retro about this meal, but I've worked so hard on it, that I'm doing something almost sacreligious for Hanukkah. Bringing in Southern BBQ, including pork ribs! Will buy latkes from Whole Foods, and hiring a magician for entertainment. I grew up celebrating Christmas, but both of our exes got Christmas in the divorce ~ so we now celebrate Hanukkah. Will probably have a great family poker game as well. Very excited about today though, and can't wait for it to be over as well. My usual feeling about a lot of things. In the spirit of the American Thanksgiving though, I do want to thank you for your incredible blog and some of the wittiest writing I've ever encountered. Big hug (It's an American thing.)
ReplyDeleteOh and for you and Sulky - David is spending the morning watching
ReplyDeleteYouTube videos on proper turkey carving. It's cracking me up endlessly. He taking it so seriously, you'd think he was prepping for brain surgery.
Kathy - I'll always take a hug from you. I love the image of David studying up on the carving, I bet he carved like a conductor.
DeleteThat dress is so beautiful, and I'm obsessed with Tartan now. Happy Turkey Day!
ReplyDeleteJenn
apopofstyle.blogspot.com
Put away childish things?! As IF! We put the tree up and I finally caved to neighborhood peer pressure and tarted up the front garden Xmas light fashion. I love it. I've only just got over the fact I'm too old for Santa, I'll have to live vicariously through the kids. Retro food wise It's all about summer here and you cannot go past a prawn cocktail. I'm avoiding my usual habit of feeding my face on chocolate scorched almonds in the name of weightloss and it is killing me I tell you.
ReplyDeleteI'm pushing the boat out this year as I am in the UK after so long away. Funnily enough I was just talking to Hubs about drinking Snowballs. Do they still sell Babycham? When I was young I was always allowed a little Babycham at Christmas (perhaps that's the reason I am tee-total now ;-)
ReplyDeleteVanessa why yes they do! My friend N and I love it, it's our dirty little secret and who doesn't love a Bambi?
DeleteOh I think I'll have to post on it.
Love your tip of the hat to our holiday. I personally can't wait to sip hot cocoa while looking at fairy lights.
ReplyDeleteThe children received their Christmas emails from Santa last night. Yes, he's got with the times and sends a personal video message to them, complete with the knowledge of what they want, a photo of them in his book, notation on their behaviour all year and then shows you his reindeer all ready to go and the elves busy in the workshop. Impossible not to get into the spirit by looking at their excited faces. We have the Buche de Noel log as well, I love the little gnome like figures on top. Frankly, Christmas is a world of kitsch to me - I've always thought it strange that here in Oz, where the temperature will often be around 35 C on the day we decorate our Fir trees with snowmen and snowflakes and all ye olde worlde symbols of a European Christmas. A little incongruous.
ReplyDeleteThere aren't many Hanukkah traditions with the same emotional pull as the Christmas ones. I miss decorating for Christmas, and sometimes will sneak in a "Winter Solstice" garland for the mantle. I used to love the really kitschy Christmas decorations. I'd kill for a strand of those big bulb tree lights like we had when we were kids. Fire hazard and all.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean, all of my Jewish chums have trees anyway, it's really a pagan tradition.
DeleteOh, and kitschy "swingin' " Christmas music is a must. Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Bing Crosby.
ReplyDeleteI AM childish, as I refuse to "grow up" (one of my advisers in grad school told me to never grow up).
ReplyDeleteMy youngest girl and cousins and friends are playing Ms. Pacman and Dig Dug. I just played a few rounds of slayer on Halo with my eldest daughter.
I Drank some Scotish apple cider, have a fire in the fireplace, and am now listening to Schubert Piano Sonatas, on Philips vinyl, via Alfred Brendel while waiting for the turkey to finish baking... I am SO hungry!
For the upcoming holiday I expect to have a lot of fun getting my 3 girls fab presents. "Never grow up, Never give in"
Happy T-day Tabitha!
Scale Worm - you really have the loveliest spirit, your family are lucky to have you.
Deleteare you wearing Hermes riding boots? Fancy.
ReplyDeleteWe go retro and old school.
But because it is boiling we do a lot of seafood champagne and pavlova too.
I long for a cold Christmas. You are lucky xxx
Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole and Dean Martin...
ReplyDeleteand Diana Krall are heard within these walls.
Mr. HB made snowballs after watching Pop Larking make them on Darling Buds of May. It was years ago and he used cream if I recollect although I was nearly under the table after sipping two and getting the turkey cooked was rather dodgy business.
We opt for mimosas on Xmas morning, have Santa sacks with lots of fun little things inside.
Love you in the fur and boots, proving yet again that elegance is never out of style.
Gorgeous!
Oh I'm a big Rat Pack fan at any time of year but especially Christmas time.
DeleteCan you drink in the morning? I just can't, I don't have the stomach for it.
Have you heard Harry Belafonte's Christmas album? That one is right up there with Misters Crosby and Cole.
ReplyDeleteYour fur and boots are my dream outfit!!
Dannie, how are you? I haven't but I'm sure that mum loves his music.
DeleteThe Hermes jumping boots kill me every time I see them here! And that red dress - so gorgeous!!
ReplyDeleteA box of Quality Street chocolates is our guilty, nostalgic indulgence over the holidays. I once read the nutrition label on the back of the box and was horrified... but it won't stop me from eating them. It's just once a year, right??
Oh yes, that or Roses is a must here too.
DeleteSanta is always on the horizon.
ReplyDeletei. want. those. boots!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteY: I hereby bequeath thee - no bumping off ok?
Deleteno promisses on that, they're VERRRRRRY tempting. afraid they look way better on you than they'd on me, you aetheral creature, you.
ReplyDeleteTabitha m'dear -- do please post a recipe for the Snow Ball cocktail. I have a number of maiden aunts that I'd like to ply said cocktail with! Reggie
ReplyDeleteHave added it on to Monday's post!
Deletethe dress and tartan scarf are perfection in a picture! and a snowball cocktail sounds decadent!!!
ReplyDeletexox P
Sorry, 'grown up' and 'Christmas' just don't fit into the same sentence in our house. Come to think of it, Bill doesn't manage 'grown up' any time of year...
ReplyDeletemy red roll neck sweater will be key to my A/W12 look this christmas............and tartan is never far away!!
ReplyDeleteTabitha,
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you know but thought I would put this in writing anyhow. JCREW is offering free shipping, free returns and duty-free shopping through December 30th!! Also, I know you sent it back but who made the red dress?
M: It was over a year ago, I think it was from Matches.
DeleteSorry cant even think about Christmas yet! yes Im a last minute person.
ReplyDeleteHave gone back to work, gasp.. full time. I have to leave the house and everything! will get back on track have missed so many of my favourite bloggers thoughts!
smr: full time? You must feel like a spinning top.
DeleteEvery holiday season is when I bring out the old school candies - Almond Roca!
ReplyDeleteLast christmas I bought a pack of Snowball drinks, I think it was four bottles, out of sheer nostalgia for christmas past. I had one, it was OK. The other three bottles sat in the fridge until about August when I had to throw them out. I shall have to try again.
ReplyDeleteI love petticoat tails too. Shortbread with cheese always reminds me of childhood New Year parties when my mum would have canapes and punch. I think punch should make a comeback!
Love that red dress and scarf - I am now craving a red tartan scarf, I can feel a shopping trip coming on!
LA Rona - oh there were some foul things at New Year, the black bun and that awful awful wine, was it ginger? Something like that, oh it was foul. I saw it in a shop the other day, who drinks it?
ReplyDeleteCan't wait for details on the Snowball cocktail...lovely images...make me think a Scottish Christmas is the score!
ReplyDeletemy inner child is always under the surface that really roars forward after a toddy or snowball cocktail
ReplyDeletelove the boots!
debra
I do love that red dress with the tartan scarf - beautiful. And you look gorgeous in that coat and boots.
ReplyDeleteQuietly judging...in your Hermes boots...haha. I just bought my daughter a bright red dress. She asked, do I really need this? And my reply was that if you look that fabulous in a red dress, need is not the question. Now I'll be in search of a red tartan scarf!
ReplyDeletexo
annie