We returned from our cousin’s lovely wedding in Northern California and had just a few days to put together a last minute Christmas dinner for us and a few friends who were in town. I love incorporating natural materials into decor whenever I can.  Last year we spent Christmas in North Carolina and grabbed some amazing pinecones from my father-in-law’s backyard which I’ve saved to use in our winter party decor.  Since we didn’t have a real tree, but we love that pine smell, my husband clipped a few small branches from the pine trees outside our condo, and we added to that some fresh cut roses and red carnations and…