Hope you all have a safe and happy holiday! I'm still tying up loose ends-literally. Wrap city! Plus, I'm a slave to custom tags so I'm playing on the computer a lot as well. Below are some of the goodies I gave to co-workers last week.
Looking forward to getting back to some quality blogging and chatting with you after the new year!
My friend Kristin sent me these photos of a very sweet traffic jam that she worked on with her son and niece last weekend. They used Williams-Sonoma cake molds for the cars, crushed chocolate graham crackers for the road and powdered sugar with green sugar sprinkles for the snow-covered grass. The cars molds are no longer for sale on the WS site, but I found a similar train car pan. Fun!
Welcome! I'm happy to be part of the Hooked on Holiday House Tour hosted by Hooked on Houses. Come on in and stay awhile...
Above is my living room-not the most Christmasey colors so my only decor is a pre-lit tree (below left) inherited from my in-laws. I went with icy branches and my funkier ornaments.
The other inherited tree (below right) is in my office that's open to the living room. My office is painted a very pale mint green so I was happy to find these green glitter snowflakes...20 for $4.
I love anything with a vintage feel at the holidays. This antique piece above is by my kitchen table-great for rotating displays. I filled this big ol' stoneware tub below with extra ornaments and fake snow.
LEFT: My sister just gave me this pretty snow globe and my mom found the mirrored picks that I used on all of my garland this year. RIGHT: I love this glitter tree in my powder room-it's about 4 feet tall. If you touch it, you'll have glitter on you for days!
My eat-in kitchen is open to my family room so I try to keep everything uniform. I went with all of my silver decorations and mercury glass and glitter with white lights this year.
The star of the show! I don't do any themes with my main tree other than some silver sequined picks and ornaments we've collected over the years. Favorites include clothespin characters that Jim's Mom handmade when he was little, a funny Santa that my mom gave us after our Christmastime engagement five years ago (he's naked-she thought he was wearing long johns!) and anything with a photo. There's Chewie below!
I couldn't find a good place for this pillow so it ended up on the built-ins around the fireplace!
Decorating the mantle is a little awkward when you're competing with a TV. I grabbed some oversized vases and extra apothecary jars and started playing. I used mirrored star drink coasters to reflect the lights along with some mini disco balls.
Have a wonderful holiday! Don't forget to check out all of the other lovely homes on the Hooked on Houses tour!
So many beautiful cards, what to do? I found some great ideas to help you out. I'm a big fan of hanging cards from a garland of ribbon with mini clothespins. You can find 50 for $1.87 at California Paper Goods.
Oh, and a great tip! Don't throw those cards away. Cut off the fronts to use as gift tags next year.
Photo via Domino
Photo via Grace Amore blog
Photo via Good Housekeeping
Photo via House to Home
Photo: Country Living
Photo: Team Sugar
Thanks to Meg at Pigtown Design for sending me this Christmasey photo of the 1850's house where she works. It's an Italian gothic - 16 inch thick stone walls!
I was shopping for Christmas goodies at Wal-Mart last week (did I mention that I love a bargain?) and saw some cool plantable gift tags. The tags are made of recyclable paper with wildflower seeds. How fun! I found some great items online that have the same idea.
Botanical Paperworks has a great selection of items from Christmas cards, wedding stationary and a variety of plantable papers if you'd like to get crafty and make something yourself.
Jingle Bell from Botanical Paperworks
Set of holiday gift tags from Botanical Paperworks
I have some great jewelry suggestions for you today.
First, a suggestion from the always chic Gwyneth Paltrow via her lifestyle site, GOOP. I love this Chris BoltonTag Necklace, $150 for 14k gold, $120 for sterling. Gwyneth says, "I personalized mine and I wear it everyday."
My next pick is from my sister Christy. The proceeds from the sale of this beautiful Lotus Jewelry Studio necklace go to the National Breast Cancer Foundation in honor of a friend who is unfortunately fighting the disease. Hang in there, Rachel! $40 with silver tag, $50 with gold.
Design Editor reader and friend Lucy suggested this Etsy shop owned by Heidi Leech. I love these Clear Quartz Circle Earrings for $30.
Go have some fun with Anthropologie's Fa-la-la filter. Browse through their movable feast of ornaments. What are your favorites?
P.S. Thanks to Rachel for the tip!
Welcome to another installment of Design Editor's Gift Guide. I hope these girly finds will help you with your shopping lists. Email me if you have any suggestions!
BluLima Let Them Eat Cake poster, $12.00. Note: Any purchase of $12.00 or more will get one free 9x12" "Keep Calm and Carry On" print!
Williams-Sonoma Chocolate Penguins, $19.95
Cath Kidston Bath Melts, £8.00
Urban Outfitters Artist Series iPhone Skins, $15.00
Plow & Hearth Sheep Slippers, $67.95
Happy shopping!
Welcome to the first installment of Design Editor's Gift Guide! I'll be writing several posts leading up to the holidays to give you affordable and stylish gift ideas. If you have any suggestions, I'd love to hear from you. Email me!
Basic French is a great resource for the Francophiles in your life. Owner Carol B. Neiley explains why she created the shop: For me, the beauty of France, it's uniqueness, it's culture is most readily found in the small things and their basicness, basic French products - soap, linens, stationery, toothpaste, sponges, clothes, shampoo, flowers. It's found in things used in day-to-day life (la vie quotidienne).
Here are some of my picks for great gifts:
Cereal Bowl: $12 each.
Mir Dish Detergent + Polka-dot Sponge: $12, detergent. $3 sponge
Joie de Vivre: Simple French Style for Everyday Living: $32
Carambars candy: $3 for 10
Happy shopping!
