HAPPY 2nd BIRTHDAY!

I cannot believe I have stuck to one certain project for this long and haven't gotten bored! ITS MODERN MARIE'S 2nd BIRTHDAY! Exactly 2 years ago today I created this little site.

I want to thank all of YOU, my readers, for making this such a pleasant and informative process! You are all so sweet and your comments always make my day. I love visiting each of your blogs (I add you to a folder under blogs if you leave a comment) and learning all sorts of new things and seeing all your marvelous ideas. I feel like I have made blogging a part of my life and worked it into my schedule, so I never see stopping this anywhere in the near future! But I want to make Modern Marie even more exciting and enticing and want to hear from you how I can make my blog even better by my 3rd birthday next year!

In honor of the SECOND anniversary, this week's playlist - all songs that have to do with "2":

1. Two – Ryan Adams
2. The Special Two – Missy Higgins
3. Two Times – The Blakes
4. With My Own Two Hands – Ben Harper
5. Two Hearts – Ryan Adams
6. Leaving For Paris No. 2 – Rufus Wainwright
7. Wish I Was Dead Pt.2 – Shout Out Louds
8. Speed Dial No. 2 – Zero7
9. The Perfect Crime #2 – The Decemberists
10. Happy Meal 2 – The Cardigans

THANK YOU AND I LOVE Y'ALL!

I Want LOTS of Clothes

Lily Allen's music video for her single "The Fear" for her new album due out soon! Its a doll-like Lily walking through a palace full of presents, men, balloons, clothes, and desserts, yet none of it makes her happy. Inspiration from another famous fashionista's life? (Marie maybe?)

I love the video and song - I can't wait for the new album :D

Why Can’t It Be Christmastime All Year?

I cant believe Christmas is THURSDAY!!! I am going out of town to visit the family and grandparents per usual! I will be back on Sunday! I want to wish you a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and give you some gifts to dream about ;)

1. Why Can’t It Be Christmastime All Year – Rosie Thomas
cookies, Eleni's Bakery NYC

2. Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer – Jack Johnson

Window clings, Martha Stewart Crafts

3. Blue Christmas – Nicole Atkins

dress, 3.1 Philip Lim

4. What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve? – Rufus Wainwright

calendar, fredflare.com



5. Frosty the Snowman – Fiona Apple

cookie, Eleni's Bakery NYC



6. Jingle Bell Rock – Bobby Helms
pin, fredflare.com

7. I’ll Be Home For Christmas – Holly Conan

CD, itunes


8. The Christmas Song – Diana Krall

cookbook, fredflare.com



9. Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home) – KT Tunstall

dress, AKA New York

10. Holy, Holy, Holy – Sufjan Stevens

cards, Kate Spade

Oh! Holly Night

Yes, I am aware of the misspelling in the title (hehe get it - soooo extremely corny!).
I made this cake last year for a friend's Christmas party. It was a red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting. To make the hollies and leaves, I stuck cherry candies and lime and pear gummy candies (as the leaves) all over the cake. The letters are those store bought ones on the cake mix aisle! Pretty easy!

Happy Holidays and ....

Elf Pillows

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This weeks Christmas Playlist:

1. I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm – Dean Martin
2. All That I Want – The Weepies
3. A Winter’s Sky – The Pipettes
4. We Wish You The Merriest – Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby
5. Christmas TV – Slow Club
6. The Christmas Song – Catherine Feeny
7. That Was The Worst Christmas Ever! – Sufjan Stevens
8. Auld Lange Syne - The Hotel Café Presents Winter Songs Album
9. 2000 Miles – KT Tunstall
10. Silent Night – Priscilla Ahn

Rock'n Around The Christmas Tree

Layer 1: O.P.I. in Siberian Nights

Layer 2: O.P.I. in My Private Jet

Layer 3: cheap red glitter nail polish from the dollar section in Target

The Spirit Of Giving

Christmas Playlist #2, but this time there are items- - gift ideas to get for other people or things to ask for yourself - to go with each song! I know I am coveting all of these goodies!

1. Last Christmas – Jimmy Eat World

dress, Acne

2. December Baby – Ingrid Michaelson

perfume, fredflare.com

3. I Heard The Bells on Christmas Day – Sarah McLachlan

earphones, fredflare.com

4. Sleigh Ride – Ella Fitzgerald

dress, CoutureCouture

5. Winter Song – Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson

cookies, Eleni's Bakery NYC

6. It Don’t Have To Change – John Legend

shoes, modcloth.com

7. My Dear Acquaintance (A Happy New Year) – Regina Spektor

2009 planner, Kate Spade

8. The Spirit of Giving – The New Pornographers

gift wrap, fredflare.com

9. Little Saint Nick – The Beach Boys

fredflare.com

10. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen – Bright Eyes

candy cane shot glasses, fredflare.com

Christmas in the Black Forest

After going to Germany last fall, I was inspired for that year's annual Christmas party theme: Christmas in the Black Forest! Snow covered red mushrooms, the dark evergreen trees, the pattern of wood, and a gingerbread house, all sprinkled with the lightest coating of glitter. I wanted to create a place that if you thought you saw a cute little gnome out of the corner of your eye, chances were you actually did.



I made a yule log (a German chocolate cake roll) that was supposed to look like an actual log of wood complete with meringue mushrooms.




I'm not gonna lie, these mushrooms were difficult to make. I stuck the stems in styrofoam and covered it with snow.

Toadstool cupcakes - recipe here!


Gingerbread Trees


I bought the gingerbread house already made from Target.

The drink station over the stove: I put a large poster frame over the burners to make it like another surface.

I put branches from the Christmas tree under the glass.



We served German classics: different sausages and bratwurst, cheesy spatzle, salad, etc.

I affixed faux flocked branches onto the light fixture above the food.



This wrapping paper by Martha Stewart crafts served at the table cloth and motif for the party.







Besides doing a "hot potato" gift game, I gave favors of this CD full of cool Christmas songs. I made the label using the wood pattern and put shroom polka dots all over.

Auf Wiedersehen!