My silly girl’s 4th birthday is coming up on December 27th. Last year I thought I’d be all smart at wait ’til late January to throw her a party. Then, I was sad because I missed out on that lovely January lull with the fresh starts and the getting things accomplished. This year, I’ve decided to go a little early and try to squeeze one in before Christmas. Crazy, I know. We are going to have a candy house party though so pre-holidays seems right. Notice I said “candy house” and not “gingerbread house”. What’s the difference, you ask?

Well, instead of pulling my hair our making my own gingerbread/graham cracker forms or spending a small fortune on store bought ones, we’re making our candy houses using these.


This is a standard gable box with an oval window from your craft store’s cake section. I added the window square and the roof, and ta-da! A naked little house just waiting for a 4-year old to smear it with icing and candy. We are going to mount them on cake boards for the party and for easy transport.

I went to a party years ago where we used cardboard forms, which I found odd at the time. Now, it makes perfect sense to me. It will sit on the counter for two weeks while the kids pick the candy off, and then chunk. Into the trash. Anyhoo, I’ve been busily amassing an assortment of candy and honestly, I’d better get busy on the rest of the party. T-minus five days and counting!

Before I go, I’d love to share a little inspiration with you. Over the Thanksgiving holiday I closed up shop, and my husband and I snuck away for a few days sans kiddos to The Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC. We recently celebrated our 10th anniversary, and the GPI is where we went on our honeymoon. It is absolutely amazing–this huge stone mass overlooking the most beautiful mountains, enormous stone fireplaces, a state-of-the-art spa. Here was our view from the restaurant on their terrace.

When we last visited it was early November, so we missed the GPI’s Annual National Gingerbread House Competition and Display, now in its 19th year. What luck that we’d timed it right this time!  I was excited about the chance to get some inspiration for materials to use on our own houses. Here are a few of my favorites.

OK. After I saw this one, I had to know what the contest rules were. Entries had to be 75% gingerbread and entirely edible, I believe. Participants were encouraged to get creative with their interpretations.

I loved the Ritz cracker roof on this one. Sweet little birdies!

This tree lot entry was pretty stinking cute, too. There were DOZENS more to see including some pretty amazing entries in the Teen category–an Eiffel Tower and the Despicable Me house. Too cute, and so artful! This year the Grove Park Inn is adding a Grove “Bark” Inn Gingerbread Dog House competition, which is on display now! Just wanted to share this fun with you before you see our house artwork. I am so in awe of bakers and their mad engineering and decorating skills.

If you’re even in that area during the holidays, you should check it out!