Celebrate Christmas with the First Ladies and the Noise Girls

In preparation for the holiday season, which is quickly approaching, we've asked several of the Noise Girls to help us celebrate, decorate and get ready for the upcoming Christmas holiday.

The Noise Girls are a group of dedicated, female bloggers who work together to combine their reach to heighten brand awareness and make some noise!

They're making some noise about our holiday book, Christmas with the First Ladies: The White House Decorating Tradition from Jacqueline Kennedy to Michelle Obama, and we'd love to have you join in the fun and get into the holiday spirit with us.

Author and interior decorator, Coleen Christian Burke, shares the holiday magic in this book that captures the Christmas decorating history and techniques from Jacqueline Kennedy through Michelle Obama.

Each First Lady's design aesthetic is profiled, including Lady Bird Johnson's themes of home and family to help heal the nation after John F. Kennedy's death; Nancy Reagan's interest in renewing a childlike sense of wonder; and Laura Bush's "Red, White, and Blue" Christmas for a nation banding together.

In alignment with the individual aesthetics of each participating Noise Girl, they will be selecting a craft, recipe or decorating idea from the book to create on their own that speaks to them. 

Sarah, from East 9th Street will be creating Betty Ford's Cranberry Tree, Danielle from Simmworks Family Blog is going to bake Nancy Reagan's Monkey Bread, Tiffany from Fabulous Finds will be making Lady Bird's Cranberry Salad Mold, and Kerri, The Maven of Social Media is working on Betty Ford's Clothespin Cardinal.

The Noise Girls will also be hosting a Pinterest contest to help you get in the holiday spirit so keep your eyes out for these bloggers and make sure to follow our Christmas with the First Ladies Pinterest board for more great ideas from the First Ladies and the Noise Girls.

 

Meet the participating Noise Girls!

Formula Mom grew out of Mariah’s experiences as a new mom. They quickly taught her that parenthood is all about figuring out a formula that works for your family! For her family, it takes a village with multiple generations living under the same roof and helping with the little one! Formula Mom features parenting tips from Mariah’s perspective as a mother and an elementary school teacher. Tips for affordable family fun, recipes, craft ideas, and product reviews are also featured. Formula Mom is a PR friendly blog and offers both local and national event and conference coverage.

7 on a Shoestring is the ramblings of a SAHM of 5 from toddlers to teens living vicariously through the internet. We feature product reviews, giveaways, brand ambassadorships, press releases, and posts about families living everyday life. We continue to grow our PR friendly blog through various conferences and events and are always up for more!

Simmworks Family Blog is home to Danielle, an eco-friendly work-at-home mom who enjoys the benefits, and makes the best of the drawbacks, of being at home full time to care for her two beautiful kids. The main focus of Simmworks Family Blog is to document her family’s life in a way that remembers the big and little events that happen to the family, including the places and products they love.

The Maven of Social Media creates awareness of great brands and products through personal testimonials, product reviews, and press releases. The Maven actively participates in local events and travels to several conferences nationwide each year.

East9thStreet is about one mom’s transition from the corporate life to a corporate wife. Everyone can find something they can relate to whether is delicious recipes, an easy DIY project or simple ways to entertain the family.

At Fabulous Finds you will find a nice assortment of product reviews for babies, toddlers and children. When Tiffany gets the chance, she reviews products for babies, children, the kitchen, mom, and even dad. She also enjoys sharing her love for fashion, photography and life in general. At Fabulous Finds you’ll also find fun product and cash giveaways. Fabulous Finds is geared toward families with small children looking to shop savvy and get the inside scoop on all the latest products on the market today!

International Women's Day

It's a great day to be a woman as International Women's Day celebrates moms, sisters, daughters, female athletes, artists, actresses and women of all walks of life.

We have a great list of female names and faces among our publications, whether she's the subject of the book or the author. 

Celebrate in style with these books by or for women everywhere:

Charmed by Audrey

The World's Best Advice From the World's Wisest Women
written by BJ Gallegher

Dressing a Galaxy: The Costumes of Star Wars
written by Trisha Biggar

Accidental Inventions

written by Birgit Krols

The Titanic Notebook
written by Claire Hawcock

Charles Dickens
written by Lucinda Dickens Hawksley

Jerry Garcia
written by April Higashi

Christmas with the First Ladies
written by Coleen Christian Burke

The Art of Madagascar 3
by Barbara Robertson

White House Christmas Trivia

Over the last few weeks, author Coleen Christian Burke has been asking trivia questions about the White House Christmas traditions over on her Twitter account. 

Here are the questions and answers, most of which can be found inside her book, "Christmas with the First Ladies." If you're a history buff, this book will appeal to you, no matter what time of year it is.

Q: Which of the First Ladies liked to bring in Celebrity Santas for the White House Christmas celebration?
A: Nancy Reagan invited Willard Scott from the Today show, The A Team's Mr. T, and Larry Hagman of Dallas appeared as Santas during the time Mrs. Regan was a First Lady.

Q: Who bought President Nixon a Colt .45 for Christmas?
A: On December 20, Elvis came to the White House to bring President Nixon an early Christmas present!

Q: What was Mrs. Obama's favorite childhood Christmas gift?
A: Revealed to Oprah Winfrey in 2009, Mrs. Obama recalled the Easy Bake oven she adored, but her favorite Christmas present was a dollhouse.

Q: Which three First Ladies used "Nutcracker" as a theme for the holiday decor in the White House?
A: Jacqueline Kennedy (1961), Barbara Bush (1990), and Hillary Clinton (1996).

Q: What was the annual Johnson family holiday photo affectionately known as?
A: "The Annual Christmas Horror Show"

Q: What did Pat Nixon ask Santa to bring her for Christmas in 1969?
A:  As reported in the Washington Post, Pat Nixon asked Santa for a diamond necklace.

Q: Which First Daughter supposedly asked for a chain saw for Christmas?
A:  In 1977, a young friend of Amy Carter mistakenly told this to a reporter.

Q: Which First Lady brought her husband a puppy for Christmas?
A: Hillary bought President Clinton a puppy in 1997 after her 'empty nest' feelings after Chelsea left for college.

Q: How much did the gingerbread house weigh that was displayed in the State Dining Room?
A:  In 2010, the gingerbread house tipped the scales at four hundred pounds.

Q: Which First Lady chose "All Creatures Great and Small" as one of her holiday themes?
A: Laura Bush chose this theme in 2002.

Q: Which First Lady appeared on The Mary Tyler Moore show?
A:  Betty Ford appeared on the show after Christmas in late 1975.

Q: What was Nancy Reagan's annual holiday gift to the press?
A:  Monkey Bread (the recipe is included inside the book).

Q: Which President & First Lady sent out Christmas Party invitations in the shape of a Christmas tree?
A: President and Mrs. Carter in 1978.

Q: Which First Lady had handicap ramps installed at the White House to provide access to all?
A: Pat Nixon had the first ramps installed in 1971.

Q: What is this year's holiday theme at the White House?
A: Shine, Share Give.

Q: Which First Daughter celebrated a White House Wedding in December with 650 guests?
A: Lynda Bird Johnson married Major Charles Robb on December 9th, 1967.

Q: Which First Lady won a bake-off against Barbara Bush with her Chocolate Chip Cookies?
A:  Hillary Clinton won during the 1992 election.

Q: Which character from Sesame Street came to visit the White House in 1976?
A:  Big Bird made an appearance at the White House for the second time. His first appearance was during President Nixon's term.

Q: Which Presidents suffered through the holiday season - with the live trees & flowers - despite their allergies?

A: Both President Reagan and President Clinton had artificial decorations in their living quarters.

Q: Which First Lady was voted the Nation's Ideal Housewife?
A:  In 1957, when Pat Nixon was Second Lady, she was voted "the Nation's Ideal Housewife" in a Homemakers Forum contest, voted on by over a million people.

Q: Which First Lady teamed up with Hallmark to design her own Christmas cards?
A:  In 1963, Jacqueline Kennedy teamed up with Hallmark to design her own Christmas cards.


Featuring photographs from the Presidential Libraries, recipes for some of the First Ladies' favorite holiday treats and instructions to duplicate some of their decorating ideas, pick up a copy of Coleen Christian Burke's "Christmas with the First Ladies."

Holiday recipes from the White House

Spending the holidays in a home decorated for the occasion makes the celebration all the sweeter. But with the whole world watching, coming up with a theme and decorating the White House is not an easy task.

Interior decorator, Coleen Christian Burke, was invited to decorate the White House by First Lady Laura and President Bush. It was this experience that helped inspire her new book, "Christmas with the First Ladies: The White House Decorating Tradition from Jacqueline Kennedy to Michelle Obama."

The book is a perfect blend of White House history and holiday recipes and craft ideas, with detailed instructions for treats & projects, including:

• Jacqueline Kennedy's Enchanted Christmas-Present Tree
• Lady Bird's Christmas Cranberry Salad Mold
• Pat Nixon's Elegant Chandelier Ringed with Greens
• Betty Ford's Cranberry Tree
• Rosalyn Carter's Festive Birthday Hat Ornaments
• Nancy Regan's Monkey Bread
• Barbara Bush's Embellished Ballet Slippers
• Hillary Clinton's Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Laura Bush's Shimmering Topiary Champagne Buckets
• Michelle Obama's Gingerbread Ornaments 

Coleen Christian Burke will be appearing on Good Morning America this Friday morning, followed by a Black Friday book signing at Saks Fifth Avenue in New York City.

White House Christmas Traditions

Did you know the Obamas had twenty-seven trees their first Christmas in the White House, or that the first official White House Christmas theme was the "Nutcracker," chosen by Jacqueline Kennedy in 1961?

Interior decorator, Coleen Christian Burke, uncovers the White House holiday traditions of First Ladies Jacqueline Kennedy, Lady Bird Johnson, Pat Nixon, Betty Ford, Rosalynn Carter, Nancy Reagan, Barbara Bush, Hillary Clinton, Laura Bush, and Michelle Obama in her new book, "Christmas with the First Ladies."

With recipes, photographs, decorating ideas and instructions, Burke reveals the traditions and celebrations of the White House from the past several decades, filling readers with holiday spirit.