Cinderella is Proof that a New Pair of Shoes Can Change a Girl’s Life!

Great new shoe ornaments in stock this year! Two new styles of glass slippers from Inge-Glas of Germany.

This new white glittery high heel shoe just came in from Germany.  Silvery white high heel shoe Christmas ornament with glittered swirl design. Made of European mouth blown, hand painted glass in Germany. Measures approximately 4 1/4″ This high heel shoe ornament also comes in  stunning red version.

If a more whimsical shoe fits your need, RAZ has come out with some new Pixie Elf Shoes. These shoes are a great combination of red, black, white, stripes and polka dots.
The Pixie in a Shoe is a set of two assorted styles. These are large ornaments measuring 6.5″ x 11″ and 10.5″ x 8″ These would look great as wall decorations, on wreath, even hanging from mantels.

The Pixie in a Shoe is a RAZ Exclusive designed by one of their most popular designers, Vela Burke and from the “Puttin on the Ritz” collection.

Pixies and Elves are very popular this year in the RAZ collections, in both the “Puttin on the Ritz” and “Gumdrops and Jellybeans.”

Another style of shoe ornament from Vela Burke is a Pixie perched on the heel of a shoe that is smaller and made of resin. This ornament is also red, black, white and green and is sold in a set of two ornaments.

We have four other sets of RAZ High Heel Shoe ornaments and a set of boots.

These RAZ High Heel Shoe ornaments are made of glass and are very popular. They make great table favors too. They are made of glass and measure about 3.5″. Also from the “Puttin on the Ritz” collection.

These red and silver glittered shoes are new for 2011 and also from the “Puttin on the Ritz” collection. They are larger at 4″ and made of plastic. A really nice choice for the younger girls. These red and silver shoe ornaments haven’t arrived just yet to Trendy Tree but should be coming in within the next few weeks.

This collection from “Puttin on the Ritz” is called RAZ Diva High Heels. A shiny assortment of sling back heels decorated in green, lime green and red. These are sold in a set of 4.

And, the Boot Collection. Always popular. Again in the green, lime green and red. Sold in sets of 4 and measure about 4 inches.

This is a short sampling of our shoe Christmas ornaments. We have more! Just do a search on “shoe” and you’ll find glittery Halloween shoes, Ruby Slippers – two styles, one from Inge-Glas and one from Old World Christmas, a Glass Slipper from Old World and even a Victorian Shoe.

If the shoe fits……we have it!

"Peaches are in!"

If you live in Pontotoc County, the words you’re waiting to hear each summer are “peaches are in!” Course, most of my blog readers are not from Pontotoc County I’m sure, but in Pontotoc we have the Cherry Creek Orchard who supplies the community with the best peaches you’ve ever eaten!

Sliced peaches with fresh whipped cream is a favorite dessert around our place. No extra sugar on the peaches is required and they are just dripping with juice. Our only problem is keeping enough peeled and sliced for the grand kids)))

Now, I’ll have to say that strawberries and whipped cream is their all time favorite thing to eat, but peaches run a close second…..or neck and neck perhaps)))

Whipped cream is super easy to make and you always substitute a little non-sugar sweetener if you’re trying to cut back on calories or for diabetic diets. If you’d like to see my recipe, just click on Whipped Cream.

The Fuzzy Peach Christmas ornament from Inge-Glas of Germay was introduced in 2010. It looks like a ripe peach with dark green leaf. Made of European mouth blown, hand painted glass and measures approximately 2 3/4″ It is probably the most realistic looking piece of fruit ornament I’ve ever seen.

Great keepsake for those luscious Cherry Creek Peaches))

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Vermont Cheesemakers Festival

Shelburne, VT July 24, 2011

Sample more than 100 cheeses from 40 local creameries, or try artisanal smoked meats, cider, and breads. Early bird bonus: Some creameries will open the day before for free tours.

For more information visit vtcheesefest.com


Great keepsakes cheeses are plentiful at Trendy Tree! Our gourmet section of cheese just keeps growing and growing! This year we've added Livarot, French Saint Marcellin and a French Blue Cheese. We also still have the old standbys of Gouda, Swiss, Roquefort, Goat Cheese, Camembert, Epoisse, and Cheese and Crackers.

SAY Cheeeeezzzzzzzzz!

Friday the 13th!!

Today is Friday the 13th! Some say it is the unluckiest day of the year.....maybe....maybe not. But a brief search on the Internet showed these interesting Friday the 13th facts (facts can be taken with a grain of salt......these are Internet searches....don't go to the bank with them.)

May 13, 1648 Margaret Jones of Plymouth was found guilty of witchcraft and sentenced to hang.

May 13, 1779 The War of Bavarian Succession Ended


May 13, 1846 United States declares war on Mexico after fighting has already begun.




May 13, 1944 Allied forces in Italy break through break through the German Gustav line into the Liri Valley.


May 13, 1854 The first big American billiards match was held at Malcolm Hall, Syracuse, NY




May 13, 1880 Thomas Edison tested his experimental electric railway in Menlo Park.



May 13, 1911 The New York Giants set a major league baseball record when ten runners crossed home plate before the first out of the game against St. Louis.


May 13, 1917 Three peasant children near Fatima, Portugal, reported seeing a vision of the Virgin Mary.



May 13, 1918 The first airmail postage stamps were issued with airplanes on them. The denominations were 6, 16 and 24 cents. Hang Tag on the ornament reads: Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds," is engraved on the U.S. Postal Service building in New York. Americans send over 2.1 billion Christmas cards each year as a way of expressing how much they care for their family and friends.


May 13, 1975 Hail stones the size of tennis balls hit Wenerville, TN


So, Friday the 13th is not always associated with bad luck))) In fact, today could be your lucky day! If you're reading this post, and are in need of Christmas ornaments.....shop early.....right now we have a free shipping coupon for orders of $50 or more. It covers glass ornaments from Old World Christmas, Radko, Inge-Glas of Germany, Santa Klaus and Varsovia. It's good for the 48 Continental states (excludes Alaska, Hawaii, APO and International addresses). Just enter the code "free" in the discount coupon space on your checkout page. If you have any difficulties with the code, just drop us an email. The code is good through May 31, 2011.

Visit us at Trendy Tree today and take advantage of this free shipping on glass Christmas ornaments!

Absinth to Sip

Absinth....or Absinthe is a most unusual drink according to Wikipedia. This ornament was created in Germany by Inge-Glas. It is made of mouth blown, hand painted glass and will be arriving in a few weeks to Trendy Tree. I didn't know what the drink was actually so I did a little reading and was quite surprised at it's history.

Traditionally, absinthe is prepared by placing a sugar cube on top of a specially designed slotted spoon and then placing the spoon on the glass which has been filled with a shot of absinthe. Ice-cold water is then poured or dripped over the sugar cube so that the water is slowly and evenly displaced into the absinthe, typically 1 part absinthe and 3 to 5 parts water. During this process, components not soluble in water (mainly those from anise, fennel, and star anise) come out of solution and cloud the drink. The resulting milky opalescence is called the louche (Fr. "opaque" or "shady", IPA [luʃ]). Releasing these components allows herbal aromas and flavours to "blossom" or "bloom" and brings out subtleties originally over-powered by the anise. This is often referred to as "The French Method." (Wikipedia)

Sounds too difficult and time consuming to me....but I'm not a fan of liquors....so I'm not a good judge. Apparently there was quite a lot of misinformation out there about Absinth being hallucinogenic....and having an ingredient found in cannabis....this eventually was proven wrong but there are a lot of writings from literature greats that give typical hallucinogenic descriptions with its use. It was actually banned from the United States. That ban was lifted in 2007 after clarification of the business with the cannabis ingredient was cleared up.

To read more detail, visit Wikipedia.

Visit us at Trendy Tree to see more great Inge-Glas Christmas ornaments arriving soon!

Betty Crocker Chocolate Eclairs

An éclair is a long thin pastry made with choux dough filled with a cream and topped with icing. (Choux dough only contains water, flour, butter, egg. Instead of a raising agent, it uses high moisture content to create steam during cooking to puff the pastry.)

The éclair probably originated in France during the nineteenth century. It is a popular type of cake served all over the world. The word is first attested both in English and in French in the 1860s. Some food historians speculate that éclairs were first made by Antonin Carême (1784–1833), the famous French chef. The first known English-language recipe for éclairs appears in the Boston Cooking School Cook Book by Mrs. D.A. Lincoln, published in 1884. (Wikipedia)

In the Betty Crocker Picture Cookbook , 1950, the Chocolate Eclair is made from a basic cream puff recipe described as a French-born delicacy....crisp, hollow.

To make Chocolate Eclairs, start with the recipe for Cream Puffs.

Heat to rolling boiling point in saucepan ...

1 cup water

1/2 cup butter

Stir in all at once...

1 cup sifted Gold Medal flour

Stir vigorously over low heat until mixture leaves the pan and forms into a ball (about 1 min). Remove from heat.

Beat in, 1 at a time, 4 eggs

Beat mixture until smooth and velvety. Drop from spoon onto ungreased baking sheet. Bake until dry. Allow to cool slowly.

Temp: 400 degrees (mod. hot oven)

Time: 45 to 50 minutes

Amount: 8 large puffs

Chocolate Eclairs: Follow recipe above except put dough through pastry tube, or shape with spatula into 12 fingers 4" long and 1" wide. Fill with Rich Custard Filling, and frost with Thin Chocolate Icing.

Amount: 12 eclairs.

Well, I didn't have a pastry tube, so I had to spread mine with a spoon and spatula. I wasn't quite sure how thick to leave them, so it was sort of a guess. In hindsight, next time I will spread them 4" long and 1" wide and about 1" thick. My recipe actually made 14, so some were a little thin.

Next time I'll try a pastry tube. Spreading with a spatula (long narr0w cake style, not a spatula for frying eggs) was a little time consuming. A pastry tube would have to be much quicker and neater.

Also I used parchment paper on my cookie sheets. I thought that the baking time of 45 to 50 minutes would surely be too long because they browned pretty quickly, I thought they would over overcook. But actually it took the complete time and even at that, they were still a little damp in the middle. But I'm coming to that.

Cut off tops with a sharp knife. Scoop out any filaments of soft dough. (I used a bread knife or one with a serrated edge, worked great.)

Fill with sweetened whipped cream for Cream Puffs, replace tops and dust with confectioners' sugar. Serve cold.

For Chocolate Eclairs, fill with Rich Custard Filling.

Rich Custard Filling

Mix together in saucepan ...

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 tsp. salt

6 tbsp. Gold Medal flour

Stir in ....

2 cups top milk (or milk and cream) (Top milk is an old term describing fresh milk in the top of the jar that contains the cream. The cream would settle to the top and was skimmed off to make butter. Not having any "fresh" milk today, I used what was available in the frig...2%, and the recipe turned out just fine! I could have used some evaporated milk too, but too late.)

Cook over low heat, stirring until it boils. Boil 1 minute. Remove from heat. Stir a little of this mixture into ......

4 egg yolks (or 2 eggs), beaten

Blend into hot mixture in saucepan. (Adding a little bit of the hot mixture to the eggs, will help keep your eggs from curdling.)

Bring to a boiling point. Cool and blend in.....

2 tsp. vanilla or other flavoring (I used vanillla. Note: The mixture was a lovely pale yellow color and I never thought about using clear vanilla. I used regular brown vanilla and it colored my mixture a little.

Frost with Thin Chocolate Icing (this was the best part!)

Thin Chocolate Icing

(For Boston Cream Pie, Cream Puffs, and such.)

Melt together over hot water ......

1 sq. unsweetened chocolate (1 oz)

1 tsp butter

Remove from over the hot water.

Blend in .....

2 tbsp. boiling water

1 cup sifted confectioners' sugar

Beat only until smooth but not stiff.

Well I didn't take the time to dig out my double boiler for this small amount, I used the microwave at 20 second intervals. I added a few more drops of water to make the icing a tiny bit thinner.

After the eclairs were filled with the custard and tops replaced, I drizzled chocolate icing over them with a spoon. Typically, Chocolate Eclairs have the icing spread over the tops, but I wasn't sure how far my chocolate was going to go, so I drizzled to be sure everything got covered with some chocolate. I could have made a second batch of Thin Chocolate Icing and covered them perfectly, but I was crunched for time.



They turned out very tasty, not too sweet and for me, the dark chocolate was the perfect final touch. They really were not hard to make and next time I know I can make them look prettier, but you know......next time I may just buy some small crossaints, toast them.....and just make the custard filling and chocolate icing.......speed queen Chocolate Eclairs!



The Chocolate Dizzle Christmas ornament from Inge-Glas looks a lot like my Chocolate Eclair! What a great gift idea......make someone a batch from this 1950 Betty Crocker recipe, or package the ingredients in a gift basket, and put in a keepsake German made Christmas ornament that will last for years to come.

Hot Chocolate ! It didn't start out as hot chocolate.......

Cortez, the Spanish conquistador, was the first European to taste chocolate. Montezuma, the Aztec emperor of Mexico, gave a big feast and served "chocolatl" to his guest in a golden goblet. it was really a bitter mush, served stone cold. Cacao beans had been roasted and ground, then mixed with corn meal, vanilla, peppers, spices and herbs. Cortez learned that the cacao beans were used as money among the Indians. he procured some. Soon the Dutch, Italians, Austrians and French were experimenting with these beans. in 1637, a notice to a London newspaper announced that a Frenchman in Bishopgate street was offering an excellent West Indian drink, "jacolatte." Chocolate houses sprang up where society gathered afternoon to gossip and drink the new delicacy. Soon chocolate was being served by English colonist in America. (Betty Crocker picture cookbook, 1950)

Type of Cocoa and Chocolate Available Today (Betty Crocker, 1950)

Unsweetened Chocolate: Made from cocoa beans with no fat removed.

Semi-Sweet Chocolate: just enough sweetening added to give a partially sweet flavor. More cocoa butter is also added.

Cocoa: Made for cocoa beans with varying amount of cocoa butter removed.

Breakfast Cocoa: Has a minimum of 22% cocoa fat.

Dutch Process Cocoa: Made from special cocoa beans processed to make the more soluble.

Ready to Serve Cocoa: Needs only addition of hot or cold water or milk to be ready to serve.

Hot Cocoa: For each cup of cocoa, mix together 1 tsp. sugar, 2 tsp. cocoa and 1/4 cup cold water. Cook over low heat (boil about 4 minutes). Add 1 cup of milk. Heat until scalded, but do not boil. Add a pinch of salt (a drop of vanilla, too, if desired.) Just before serving, stir until smooth. Serve hot. Pour over a marshmallow in each cup.

Hot Chocolate: For 6 servings, heat over low heat 2 squares of unsweetened chocolate (2 ounces) and 1 cup of water, stirring until chocolate melts. Add a pinch of salt and 3 to 4 tablespoons of sugar. Boil 4 min., stirring. Then slowly stir in 3 cups of milk. heat until scalded. Do not boil. Just before serving, beat with rotary beater until smooth. Top with whipped cream. Serve hot.

Iced Chocolate: Make cocoa or chocolate your favorite way. Cool. Serve in glasses with chopped ice. Top with sweetened whipped cream.

(recipes from Betty Crocker Picture Cookbook, 1950 - my mothers cookbook)

Visit us on Trendy Tree for more great Christmas ornaments and gifting ideas from Inge-Glas of Germany.

Happy the Hedgehog

Happy the Hedgehog is a new clip on style Christmas ornament from the 2011 Animals on Parade Collection.
We haven't had a lot of animal style ornaments at Trendy Tree from Inge-Glas so I'm really anxious to see the new styles coming in for this year. And a hedgehog is very different! Not something you're likelyl to see at your favorite department store Christmas section))

According to Wikipedia: A hedgehog is any of the spiny mammals of the subfamily Erinaceinae and the order Erinaceomorpha. There are 17 species of hedgehog in five genera, found through parts of Europe, Asia, Africa, and New Zealand. There are no hedgehogs native to Australia, and no living species native to North America; those in New Zealand are introduced. Hedgehogs have changed little over the last 15 million years. Like many of the first mammals they have adapted to a nocturnal, insectivorous way of life. The name 'hedgehog' came into use around the year 1450, derived from the Middle English 'heyghoge', from 'heyg', 'hegge' = hedge, because it frequents hedgerows, and 'hoge', 'hogge' = hog, from its piglike snout.Other names include 'urchin', 'hedgepig' and 'furze-pig' .

Hedgehogs are a food source in many cultures. Hedgehogs were eaten in Ancient Egypt, and some recipes of the Late Middle Ages call for hedgehog meat^. In the Middle East and especially among Bedouins, hedgehog meat is considered medicinal, and thought to cure rheumatism and arthritis. Romani people supposedly still eat it, and also use the blood and the fat for its supposed medicinal value. One method for killing the animal suggests holding it up by one of its hind legs and cutting off the tip of its nose when it unrolls, which kills it and drains the blood at the same time. The animal is then cleaned and boiled or roasted.


During the 1980s, "hedgehog-flavour" crisps were introduced in Britain, although the product did not in fact contain any hedgehog.

Wikipedia Image of a Hedgehog

Interesting material from Wikipedia!

Think I'll just stick with the Hedgehog Christmas Ornament)))  Isn't the likeness of the ornament to the real thing remarkable)) Visit us at Trendy Tree to see more ornaments from the Animals on Parade Collection by Inge-Glas of Germany.

Black London Taxi Cab

According to Wikipedia:
A hackney or hackney carriage (also called a cab, black cab, hack or London taxi) is a carriage or automobile for hire. A livery carriage superior to the hackney was called a remise.
In the United Kingdom, the name hackney carriage refers to a taxicab licensed by the Public Carriage Office in Greater London or by the local authority (non-metropolitan district councils or unitary authorities) in other parts of Great Britain, or by the Department of the Environment in Northern Ireland.
In the United States, the police department of the city of Boston has a Hackney Carriage Unit, analogous to taxicab regulators in other cities, that issues Hackney Carriage medallions to its taxi operators.

London Cab - Wikidpedia Image

 

 

Our London Cab is from the Inge-Glas 2011 Christmas Visions collection and will be arriving in just a few weeks! Great keepsake for that European vacation! Visit us at Trendy Tree to see more of the 2011 Christmas Visions collection!

Making Memories

Making Memories is a Christmas stocking shaped ornament in assorted colors studded with Swarovski Elements. Stocking is glittered with a scroll design and gold glittered top. Priced individually, choose from green, red or gold.  Measures approximately 4"

Inge-Glas has created a series of exclusive ornaments, which shine with multi-faceted crystals on the Christmas tree. These extraordinary pieces fascinate through the incomparable play of light and color. All of the ornaments in this collection are mouth-blown in the Inge-Glas workshop in Germany, using old tradition and handicraft and carefully hand painted with much detail. They are decorated with sparkling Swarvoski Elements, which intensify in the twinkling Christmas lights.

 Visit us at Trendy Tree to see more great heirloom ornaments from Inge-Glas. 2011 Ornaments will be arriving in just a few weeks!

It's Five O'Clock Somewhere!

"It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" How many times have you heard that phrase)))))

Well, now you have a keepsake ornament to make it come true! Whimsical clock face with 5:00 pm on the face. Perfect for that office ornament exchange and for those who like to frequent happy hour)).

This ornament will be arriving to Trendy Tree along with about 70 other new styles in the next few weeks. Come browse our growing inventory of over 250 styles of Inge-Glas European keepsake glass Christmas Ornament.

Also "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" is a song performed by Alan Jackson with Jimmy Buffett, and written by Jim "Moose" Brown and Don Rollins. The song hit number 17 on the US Hot 100, making it the biggest pop hit Jackson and the first top forty for Buffet since the seventies. On November 5, 2003, it also won the Country Music Association (CMA) Award for Vocal Event of the Year. It is also Buffett's only Number One country hit. (Wikipedia)

Lil' Red Riding Hood - New for 2011

Christmas ornament made of mouth blown, hand painted glass using the unique "Life Touch" method by Inge-Glas. Classic storybook character, Little Red Riding Hood on her way to her grandmother house with her basket of goodies. Measures approximately 4 3/4"

"Fairytale Forest" collection by Inge-Glas.

Somewhere our there, deep in the forest, live beautiful princesses, gallant knights and fabulous creatures of folklore and myth.

Browse the Inge-Glas collection at Trendy Tree. Our collection has grown to over 250 unique styles and we're in the process of adding over 70 new styles for 2011!

New 2011 Ornaments

Just placed our 2011 order with Inge-Glas. Have over 70 styles of new ornaments coming in from Germany! They will arrive in April/May.

So many new styles....can't wait to see them. Will start posting them to Trendy Tree soon! Visit us today to see our collection of over 250 ornaments already in stock! Added a new link to our Inge-Glas category on the navigation side bar at your request.

Fantastic New Japanese Culinary Treat at Trendy Tree

Great new ornament just arrived from Inge-Glas. This Japanese Culinary Treat - Uramaki Sushi

This delicious looking little ornament just arrived at Trendy Tree on Monday, was posted to the website Monday night and we recieved for first order for one on Tuesday! I think.....this is a good sign that this ornament will be popular)))

New Arrival! My Winter Friend Snowman

My Winter Friend arrived today at Trendy Tree! These ornaments from Inge-Glas are just beautiful. We have about three different styles. The hang tags on the ornaments give a bit of "kinder" history. The hang tags says:

 "Snow Kinder" Nearly every child waits for a white Christmas with lots of snow, sledding, a time for fun outdoors and the joys of winter! "Snow Kinder" (German for children) playing on the branches of the green fir Christmas tree, the bright eyes of the children are shining in the candle light, bringing happiness and peace to the hearts of the young and old.

Visit us on Trendy Tree to see the other stunning ornaments from this collection of Inge-Glas.

New Ornaments on the Way to Trendy Tree!

Just received notice last week of a new shipment set to arrive at Trendy Tree this week from Inge-Glas!

 This new shipment will contain will contain several ornaments we’ve never had before! My Winter Friend, Old Saint Nick, Star Shine tree topper, and Poinsettia. A stunning Bridal collection in a wooden keepsake box, along with a miniature Bridal collection will make a unique addition to our German glass inventory.

So, visit us on Trendy Tree to see these spectactular new items! 

Packing Your Inge-Glas Ornament for Gifting

Heirloom Christmas ornaments are a beautiful, thoughtful gift. Presenting a gorgeous ornament in a clear cellophane package, nestled among sparkly paper shred allows the receiver to view the gift and save the opening for later. Great packing for ornament swap parties!

White Silver Blend Paper Shred

Visit us on Trendy Tree to see the Giftwrap Collection for more colors of paper shred, cellophane rolls and ribbon!

Display your Christmas Ornaments - Think Outside the........Christmas Tree!

Who says Christmas ornaments have to be displayed on Christmas trees, ornament trees, or even ornament hangers! A great way to display food items is to use your favorite serving pieces. Consider these ideas:

Pedestal Cake Stand for Cupcakes, Dessert Cakes, anything sweet!

Wicker Basket - great for holding the Baguette

 Use a wooden cheese board for slices of  Swiss, Gouda, Goat Cheese, Roquefort

Fill a wine cooler with a Christmas napkin and add bottles of Wines, Champagne and Water

Twig Bird Nests to hold delicate glass Bird Ornaments

  Twig Baskets to hold Easter Ornaments

Clear Crystal bowls for Ball Ornaments

Let your Fruits and Veggie ornaments spill out of a Cornucopia

Use your silver coffee service tray for Espresso, Mocha, Hot Chocolate and Iced Coffee Ornaments

Visit us on Trendy Tree for more Christmas decorating ideas and to see hundreds of heirloom Christmas ornaments Inge-Glas of Germany.