My Grandma turned 90 this year and has finally agreed to relinquish cookie making duties to me this Christmas. (She’ll still be making her famous-among-hundreds nut rolls, however.) I’ve done a few cookie swaps over the years, and I have to admit they make the cookie task much more interesting. I love trying other peoples’ tried and true family recipes, and I love the variety that comes with a good ‘ol fashioned swap. Do you have a go-to?
I’m not feeling very in the holiday spirit this year, but I’m hoping the tree I’ll be putting up soon will kick in like some sort of Christmas upper and get me there fast. I’ve upgraded from a 6-foot tall tree to a 9-foot since my ceilings in this new place are higher. The curved staircase has this perfect little nook that seems tailor-made for a tree (I’ll be sure and Instagram a photo or ten once it’s decked out). I’ve picked up a few new ornaments to make sure I have enough, and I’m wishing these shiny things below were on that list.
Today the 24 Merry Days spotlight is shining right here, and we’re giving away $300 to spend at Anthropologie! As a frequent Anthro shopper this is a perfect match, and I’m already jealous of the future winner. What would you blow it on? The official start of winter being two weeks away, I think I’d opt for some cozy accoutrements to aid me through the year’s chilliest months. Things like hats and scarves, throw blankets, and candles for my home. This giveaway is open worldwide, so scroll down to see a few of my favorites and for 20 chances to enter and win! (PS: Don’t miss out on Saturday and Sunday’s worldwide giveaways to Baba Souk and Artsy Modern!)
Come winter I prefer to layer a super soft scarf under my coat, rather than over it. I’ve found it keeps me warmer, and I can pull as much or as little out of the collar as I want!
I love adding a bright throw to my bedroom to snuggle under with a book or for weekend mornings spent lingering in bed. And I have to admit, the cats don’t seems to mind it one bit either…
My 114 year old fireplace is non-functioning, so I filled it with lots of votive and pillar candles and mercury glass to reflect all of the light. At least as good as a real fire!
This week on Design Crush:
Are you following along with 24 Merry Days? Twenty-four bloggers are doing giveaways for 24 days this month. Drake General Store x Design Crush is giving away a cherry-picked prize pack worth a whopping $1,000! Check out eight art prints I’ve got my eye on this month.
Crushing on the ceramic work of RedRaven Studios.
Time to start fresh with some clean stockings this Christmas?
The wall hangings of artist Heather Levine are stunning.
More holiday cards, just in case you have yet to pick yours out!
This monthly art subscription – Papirmass – is perfect for the art lover on your list.
Showstopping hand-painted wallpaper from Voutsa. 2015 calendars, part 5 to get you ready for January!
Sharing the last room on the first floor of my home, the kitchen.
A bevy of drinks for holiday entertaining and coping – Happy Alcoholidays!
The holidays can be tough, not on everyone but certainly for us introverts out there. And while proper amounts of imbibing and etiquette are preferred, alcohol can definitely be the social lubrication necessary to get through all of those get togethers from November through January. Here’s a slew that I’ve bookmarked for this winter. (See also: Alcoholidays 2011, Alcoholidays 2012, Alcoholidays 2013)
Are stockings a holiday tradition in your family? In my home growing up I had one that I swear was nearly as tall as I was. I could stand in the thing. It always hung in the same spot (on a closet door) and was one of the best parts of Christmas morning. We also had them at my grandparents’ house until several years ago when the whole lot just disappeared. Stockings are still one of my favorite traditions during the holidays, so I rounded up a few that I’d love to hang on my mantle this December.
Drake General Store is a traditional hotel gift shop, a classic general store, a flea market stand, and a museum shop all rolled into one. They have the biggest and best Canadian pride and love supporting homegrown artists and designers, making them a perfect match for Design Crush and our sensibilities.
Please tell me you took 1.5 seconds to read that graphic, because we’re giving away a $1,000 prize pack!Drake General Store is my favorite shop north of the U.S. border and I’m pumped to be partnering with them for the second December in a row to give you all a HUGE something awesome. I’ve cherry picked my favorite pieces from their classic, modern goods that are a mix of sensible (socks, throws, kitchen pieces) and not so sensible (tarot cards, incense, wind chime) and everything in between.
I KNOW! So many well designed pieces and so many little luxuries to help get you through winter. You could either go the Happy Holidays to Me! route and keep it all for yourself or the My Shopping is Done! route and dive up your winnings as gifts for everyone on your list. Either way it’s a win. (But if you do spy something you’d like to gift know that Drake General Store has worldwide flat rate shipping!)
You guys, IT’S TIME! For the third year in a row 24 Merry Days is here to rock your socks right across the room. Maybe even clear out the front door.
Mastermind Audrey has once again matched up 24 bloggers and 24 prizes. Every day from December 1st through the 14th a different giveaway will be announced on a different blog and revealed on the 24 Merry Days site. I’ll be tweeting the latest one each day (@designcrush) along with hosting one that you’re definitely going to want to enter.
