Hello my Friends, I hope your Holiday was lovely and you ate, drank and were very very Merry. We certainly had one Marvelous time here at La Maison Parisienne. Everything was lovely. Now we are full speed ahead plotting, planning and designing a most glorious Holiday Season. We finished our annual Gingerbread House a couple weeks ago and our home is filled with the aroma of cinnamon and spices. When we light the house up in the evening, the stain glass windows glow and we truly believe a little Christmas Family lives happily inside. The warmth from the light makes the aroma even more delicious.
I have been making this since I was in my late 20′s and no matter how many times I insist I am no longer going to make it, I end up making it again and I must say I agree with my family…it just wouldn’t be the same around here without our homemade Gingerbread House.
My tips for making a gingerbread house are as follows:
1) Make it on a dry cool day so the gingerbread gets firm and your house doesn’t crumble.
2) Keep the top pieces a little bit lighter and the bottom and side pieces thicker so they support your house.
3) I always double the gingerbread recipe
a. My sons love eating the leftovers
b. I love eating the leftovers
c. I always need more dough than I think I’ll need
4) Make the house when you have time and can concentrate so you are not stressed.
5) Make sure you have a candy thermometer if you are pouring stain glass windows. Do not let children near the hot candy syrup!!
6) Have your ‘Mis en Place’ , make sure everything you need is in its place, organized and ready to go.
7) Remember, you can always buy one already assembled or a kit and have your children do it. Oliver loves holding onto my hand and learning how to pipe the icing on the house. This is much more fun and important to me than having a perfectly decorated house!!
A few pictures from our Thanksgiving dinner. A very warm and glowing evening by the fireside.
Dishes all are a part of The Paris House’s Collection. We used one type of flower for impact, orange/peach roses clustered in crystal glasses we purchased in San Francisco. All linens are from a local wool shop in Pennsylvania. ( We live an hour outside of Manhattan and an hour from historic areas in PA so we have great sources surrounding us)
Now onto the real fun part…FASHION!! I may be a very busy lady but I still have time to put on heels and some lipstick. A trick that I do when I am very busy and can’t get to my salon for my blow-outs is to wash my hair the night before, put in the styling products that work well on my naturally curly hair and then I braid it. The next day I take out the braid and I have long waves. It saves me a lot of time, however my favorite is when my hairdresser Megan does my blow outs, no one can do it like her. I’ll be lost is she ever moves. The dress is a chocolate brown little number by Michael Kors and the shoes are Jimmy Choo, you may have seen them in the episode on Sex and the City with SJP.
Today the party is over, no more Jimmy Choos, I’m still in my workout clothes and sneakers. It sure is fun to dress up every now and then.
I can’t let you go without something delicious to kick off the Christmas and Holiday season with.
Click here to find the recipe.
Have a lovely day sweetie-pies.
and speaking of sweetie pies, We only have one life to live, do something beautiful today, eat something delicious, tell someone you love them and if possible kiss a very sexy someone today 
Yummy Pumpkin Pie
{ I am also so thankful that my sweet father was released from the hospital on Thanksgiving morning and able to celebrate the day with family}
Oh Bunny, the very best part of this post is that your sweet daddy got to go home from the hospital for Thanksgiving, I am so happy! Your gingerbread house is adorable and how precious that little Oliver likes to hold your hand and help with the frosting! Hello Oliver!!! I am sure a little Gingerbread Family DOES live inside of that! You are so glamorous Bunny, and look stunning in your beautiful designer dress and shoes… if I looked like you, I would dress up every day! I wore my beautiful flowered necklace I won in your giveaway with a black turtleneck, and the necklace looked so pretty, merci! Love to you sweet friend… Bisous… Julie Marie
Bunny, Bunny, Bunny!
I want to sip a Dreamtini with you and learn how to make the perfect gingerbread house in person! You live the life my dear friend, and I love reading every single detail! So happy to know your Papa was able to enjoy dinner with his beloved family. Definitely so many things to be thankful for!
Bises,
Melissa
Oh là là Bunny… You are the most perfect host. Your treats just seem succulent. And your style. So classy! I admire women who can cook and are great hosts:)
I am so impressed Bunny! You made a gingerbread house! Every time I make one, something doesn’t fit. I can put a dollhouse together but not a gingerbread house. Weird.
And I love the photos of your Thanksgiving dinner AND your Jimmy Choos!
Please pour me a cc dreamtini……
WOW MOMMMA ILOVE IT YOUR POST LOVE YA GOODY THE PICS TO XOXO OLIVER
Hi Sweet Friend!
I’m so happy to hear that your Dad got to come home for Thanksgiving, wonderful news!
Your gingerbread house is amazing and I’ve only attempted to make one with a pre-made kit! I may have to try my hand at making one from scratch.
Fabulous photos and you truly are the hostess with the mostess!
Oliver’s comment brought a big smile to my face!
Love and hugs to you sweet friend!
Bunny…You so inspire me. Where oh where do you find all your time..gingerbread houses…beautiful dinners? Please send some of that magical energy my way. Plus you always looks so good to boot! I am so so happy your dad got home..what a blessing. I have not received the parcel yet but our mail is usually so slow…really it is snail mail up in Canada. Maybe this week…I have something to look forward too. Sending you much love as you head into the holiday season…I look forward to all your lovely posts and Christmas tips my friend. xoxoxo
Hey Bunny…
So glad to hear your Thanksgiving was lovely and I LOVE the tablescape…beautiful. I had a quiet but nice day myself, with my son, mom, aunt and uncle…low key but a great day with good food!
I am hoping to get my xmas stuff up in the next couple days…I have a tiny house with no storage at all, but I manage a full sized tree and lots of other goodies. I live for xmas time…I must try your Dreamtini this year too, yummy! Oh and the gingerbread house…you are amazing! I wish I had just an inch of your style and creativity!!! (I buy the kit at Michael’s, but to my son…it’s a grand event to decorate that house with all the candy, he loves it!)
This year I give thanks for family and of course friends like you who I am so blessed to know and share time with online….you are a lovely person and I feel like I know you and your family!
And a big Woo-Hoo for your father…Im SO SO SO glad he was able to share the day with you!!! Wonderful!!!
Have a great weekend…
Hugs, Danielle
Oh Bunny, it sounds like you had such a perfect Thanksgiving! I am so glad your dad was able to come home!!! YAY! Your table looks gorgeous, I love the gingerbread house too!!! Perfect and so much fun! You look gorgeous as always! I always love seeing what you wear
:)
Hugs,
Amy
With your Dad home it truly was a Thanksgiving! Hoping he’s on his way to a full recovery. And you looked HOT girlfriend! I see we have the same mixer
but I’ve never made gingerbread cookies. I probably should give that a try. Hope you’re enjoying your weekend (hugs)
Wow, I am so impressed with that gingerbread house. Looks like an awesome thanksgiving! May u always have much to be thankful for. *kisses* HH
I’ve never made a gingerbread house….it’s beautiful! And so are you!!
I love Nov and Dec….glowing lights, family and friends, food….now, I just need a reason to dress up!!! Wait…maybe all those are reasons. Your dress is gorgeous….and your pictures are so fun.
Happy Holidays Bunny!!
Hugs,
Mimi
I am an old lady and would not attempt that.
You are a challenger, the post is fun and very interesting. and music too.
Just love this blogging. I am a newbee at it..
Yvonne.
I have one burning question today, are you related to the Energizer Bunny? You never cease to amaze me in every endeavor! The Thanksgiving pdf was fabulous, but honey, I need that recipe for the corn pudding.
I’ve cooked my turkey much like your suggestion for years, but I do breast down (30 min) side (30 min) other side (30 min) breast up the rest of the time. 425 degrees for the first 30 min and then 325 degrees, just as you do. Perfect and beautiful every time! Learned that from Martha Stewart years ago.
Your gingerbread house is adorable and I love that you include your son in the preparation. I can’t wait to see all your posts this month, I am going to do Christmas vicariously through my blogging friends and The Bunny House is on the top of my list!
xoxoxoxoxo
You looked amazing. Those Choos are delicious of course! Almost as much as the gingerbread house looks. Yum!
Bunny, Thank you so much for checking on me!!! Life has been caotic to say the least. I have ordered a pig and rooster cutting board, and they are to be Christmas gifts. I’m sorry it took me so long to get it done.
I’m so happy your dad is home. A true Thanksgiving.
Love your Gingerbread house. It is so cute. I really want to make one. Thanks for the tips!
Is the yellow house on the sidebar your house?? It is so cute!!!
xxx kim
Do you have a good recipe for the basic gingerbread???
xxx kim