Trying to Keep Up on Skis
Apres-ski is social activity and entertainment at a lodge, after a day of skiing on the slopes.
I can tell you from experience, it’s also an opportunity to warm yourself by a fire, while having something to drink that warms you from the inside out! Not to mention, an opportunity to wear some cute fuzzy boots and other sporty ski attire.
It’s one of my favorite aspects of skiing, because it also means I survived another day on the mountain!
My guys love…check that…adore skiing. They are all about the speed. Me, not so much. I need to feel I’m in some control. That’s why I make wide S’s, with big loops down the slopes. The three of them are always waiting patiently for me at the bottom of each run. Seriously, I think they miss out on all that beautiful scenery. The joke is that I see two to four times as much mountain as they do!
Today, I have an apres-ski buffet, featuring my collection of winter and lodge-themed serving pieces and décor.
Decorating with a Lodge Theme
To replicate the apres-ski atmosphere at home, I used a lodge theme when we remodeled the game room several years ago. Here’s my dearly loved, obviously faux moose head. The moose is sporting a Santa hat and ‘lights’ for the holiday. I decorate his anthers to match the seasons.
Mr. Moose is eyeballing the apres-ski buffet across the room, set upon cabinets from Pottery Barn’s Printer’s Collection. I like how the furniture looks vintage (it also comes in black), and replicates the look of a typesetter’s cabinet.
Behind those glass doors are lots and lots of games. We are a game playing family and its nice having them handy to pull out.
Those are real snow shoes in the corner. Not that they’ve ever gotten put to use! The real skis, boots and poles are too modern looking and are stored elsewhere.
Apres-Ski Party at the Lodge
In the center of the apres-ski lodge buffet is my prized reindeer punch bowl, surrounded by matching cups. It’s not silver or pewter so it doesn’t really tarnish. A little soap and water does the trick. I think its’ made of a kind of aluminum or alloy?
Tucked around the table are some other decorative elements, including real anthers. There is also some faux snow I commented about in Polar Bear Frolic Tablescape.
On one end of the apres-ski buffet is a pair of white, tree stump cake stands. I found them several years ago at Marshall’s and TJ Maxx. The cake stands came in three sizes, and I still see them on occasion in the stores.
The tree stump servers are perfect for serving desserts and other treats. Tucked around their bases are frosted pinecones of various sizes, along with artificial evergreen branches. A circular tray under the larger cake stand matches the reindeer punch bowl with it’s border of deer and trees. A tall white feather tree stands in the corner.
The set of mini skis, poles and sled on the buffet were borrowed from Muffy and Hoppy Vanderbear (dressed as a pilgrim and Indian in Thanksgiving Figures Decorate Home), who must be off in the hot tub?!
Lodge Shopping
Moving back towards the center, is a good view of the snowshoe tabletop lamp. I found it at a boutique shop near Seven Springs ski resort. My sister-in-law and I needed some retail therapy and a break (pun not intended!) from freezing on the slopes.
The Welcome, Apres Ski Lodge sign was purchased online from a ski town shop in Colorado a number of years ago. It normally hangs on the wall on the other side of the room.
On the shelves next to it are some of my stuffed moose and collection of family ski trip photographs.
On the opposite end of the buffet I have a long oblong tray (it’s part of the same collection as the punch bowl) set on a red toboggan, ready to hold more delicious apres-ski snacks.
You might recognize the deer and the toboggan from the centerpiece in Enchanting Woodland Tablescape.
Both the wooden deer and toboggan normally decorate the downstairs game room.
Depending on what I’m serving, I sometimes use a large twig basket with deer head instead of the toboggan platter. The basket is great to fill with rolls or flatware wrapped in napkins (especially my new twig flatware from Pier One this year).
In that case, I move the long toboggan and tray to the coffee table (originally an ammunition crate) seen above.
Recognize those candles and twig hurricane from Brunch at the Red Barn Tablescape? I really enjoy creating centerpieces by mixing things up décor elements and accessories from around the house.
Bringing Colorado Home
The very best part of trying to keep up with my guys on skis, has been the opportunity for fun-filled family vacations. We’ve been fortunate to ski in some truly wonderful towns, set in in the middle of breathtaking mountain scenery. Places like Whistler, Canada, and Aspen, Snowmass and Steamboat Colorado.
More recently, hubby and I have enjoyed trips to Breathtaking Breckenridge and Terrific Telluride.
Do you ski? Have a favorite ski town or resort you’d recommend?
Link Parties
I regularly participate in: Metamorphous Monday, Share Your Style, Tablescape Thursday, Thursday Favorite Things, Crafty Creators, Saturday Sparks, Happiness is Homemade, and Love Your Creativity.
Fun to see all the ski design elements you used! The punch bowl and cups have to be my favorites. I think it would be great to come for a convivial evening – especially if we could skip the skiing part! Lol! (My one and only attempt at skiing was an unmitigated disaster)
The punch bowl was a splurge at the time, along with where would I store it? But, I’m soooo glad I have it! I hope you didn’t break anything on your ski attempt? I resisted taking it up (my husband already loved it when I married him), until we had the boys. They took to it immediately at like age 3! No fear. Me, I have fear. Still. But, I’ve learned to insist on staying within my comfort zone. My husband has gotten great at reading ski maps so that we can ride up on the same lift, I then take a blue and he a black diamond slope, and meet at the bottom of the mountain.
This is very unique and thanks for sharing it at Celebrate Your Story!
Sandra,I’m glad you like it! I enjoy seeing the weekly posts for inspiration. So many talented, creative folk out there!
HI Debbee- I love this theme. You have some really great serving pieces and accents. I see a Wendell August tray in the mix! Your family is very athletic and I agree with you that speed skiing has to cut down on enjoying the view! I did a lot of snowmobiling many years ago but skiing only once. Playing games with the family can be great fun!
Well, the guys are athletic, I just try to keep up as best I can! That is a WA tray — good eye for details! My only attempt at snowmobiling was while at Steamboat (our first Rockies ski trip), with buffalo on the flat plain below. Hubby and I each had one of our sons riding along with us. I managed to get stuck in a drift on a tight up mountain climb. Later, on the flats, when we were told we could ramp up the speed, I hit a bump and the snowmobile when airborne. My son thought it was a blast — I decided to retire from snowmobiling (at least driving) LOL!