Some Decembers an actual tree just isn’t feasible. Maybe you’ll be gone most of the month and it doesn’t seem worth the trouble. Maybe your place is on the small side and space is at a premium. Maybe money is tight and every dollar is going toward your bills. No matter the case there are plenty of options for making your home holiday ready! Have a look at the twenty options below for inspiration and DIY projects that think outside the tree. (Sorry, I had to.)
Agate is one of those things that never really goes out of style. Case in point: I still remember the brown agate drink coasters we had on the coffee table when I was a kid! The banded stone has been back in the spotlight for a few years and I’ve been looking for a project that would make it the star. Here are three different ways to use agate and birch slices in your holiday season in three super easy DIY projects. I love how they all turned out and can’t wait to add them to my own festivities and gifts!
All three of these projects start the same way, by matching up the birch and agate pieces. Once you’ve done that work quickly to place a few drops of superglue on the wood before affixing the stone and pressing together firmly. Because we don’t need the pre-drilled hole for this gift topper, go ahead and cover it with the agate slice. I really like this DIY because sometimes a plain kraft box looks so nice on its own but needs something extra – the gift topper is a sweet little extra that the recipient can keep.
For this colorful birch and agate place card repeat the first few steps from above. Once the two pieces are firmly attached to one another use your permanent metallic marker to write out each guest’s name. I chose to follow the natural shape of the stone with my letters.
Again follow the first few steps outlined above, this time leaving the pre-drilled hole in the birch accessible. You may need to use a small nail or skewer to clear any wood pulp debris from the opening before threading the string and tying a knot. (Use a pair of needle nose pliers if you need a little help pulling it through.) I used 6-inch lengths of single-strand white thread to make it as invisible as possible.
What kind of stockings did you grow up with as a kid? Mine was the red felt kind that you can still buy literally anywhere, with my name written on the white part in glitter. I loved it and it still hangs at my Mom’s house every Christmas! Stockings are my favorite part of gift opening, so I thought it apt to do a Buy or DIY post dedicated to this very special holiday tradition.
Does your holiday crew favor a big dinner on Christmas Eve or Day, or are you more into brunch like my family? I grew up for years with a dinner on the 25th, but at some point in the last decade everyone voted to switch over to a more casual brunch. There’s the chance that at some point I may inherit the event, so I’m always planning how things might play out in my mind – and usually here as well. The big thing of course is the menu. I like to have a close to 50/50 split of sweet and savory to make sure everyone is happy. Keep reading for some holiday brunch inspiration and check out past years – 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 – for more!
Somehow, through no planning on my part, a magical window of time opened up the Saturday after Thanksgiving and I was able to decorate my tree. This is the first time I’ve ever had a white one and I’m very into the way all of my brighter colored ornaments pop against it. I have a great ornament project coming your way next week, but in the meantime here are twenty to buy and twenty to DIY!
Have you decorated your entire place or not even started? Are you going all out or keeping things simple? This year I find myself in the DONE and SIMPLE categories and I’m 100% find with it. The first thing I did the day after Thanksgiving was hang my favorite wreath on the front door… because last year’s decoration boxes never got put away but rather sat at the top of the cellar stairs. (How’s that for Insta ready?!) During the holidays it seems you have to pick your battles, and some of them include whether you want to spend hours crafting or would rather place an order online. I getcha and I’ve got your back with this selection of wreaths you can either buy or DIY.
Homemade gifts are so thoughtful, and they’re also great to have on hand for some other reasons. Unexpected guests, coworkers, and stockings to name a few! I’ve pulled together twelve simple DIY projects and twelve recipes that would make for great give, I’ve also shared what to pair them with to create and extra sweet and thoughtful gift!
PAIR WITH a bottle of wine or new book
PAIR WITH a set of vintage candleholders
PAIR WITH a bottle of lavender pillow spray (see below)
PAIR WITH a simple soap dish
PAIR WITH a pair of linen pillowcases
PAIR WITH a package of your favorite pasta and a jar of sauce
PAIR WITH a nice box of matches
PAIR WITH a bouquet of fresh eucalyptus
PAIR WITH a pretty candlesnuffer
PAIR WITH a tray to arrange them in
PAIR WITH a pottery dish to set it in
PAIR WITH a few tiny baskets to set them in drawers, closets, etc
PAIR WITH toothpicks and a large bowl
PAIR WITH a loaf of fresh local bread
PAIR WITH the recipe!
PAIR WITH quality hot chocolate mix
PAIR WITH a pair of small glass tumblers
PAIR WITH a wooden cutting board
PAIR WITH a nice candy dish
PAIR WITH a linen dish towel – tie them up in a bundle
PAIR WITH a small dish or cake stand that can be used year-round
PAIR WITH a recipe for English muffins or crumpets and a spreader
PAIR WITH a pair of new mugs and tea strainer
PAIR WITH an air-tight tin that can be reused again and again for storage
1/ 3 Pack of Assorted Mini Air Plants
After the sad little air plant (tillandsia) that never grew, but that I’d managed to keep alive for three years, kicked the bucket last month I picked up some new babies/victims. I also bought some for my Grandma as a Christmas gift because she’s another plant lover and had never heard of them! Now to keep those alive for at least a few weeks…
2/ 7 ft Pre-Lit Alberta Spruce Tree
I picked up this tree last year post-holiday season and love it! The lights are so bright that I don’t plan on using any lamps in my living room until I take it down in January, and the white branches create such a pretty canvas for all of my ornaments.
3/ House Bud Vase
If you haven’t checked out Target’s Hearth & Hand collection yet please do so, because it’s one of the best I’ve seen there in many years. Along with a few large vases and potholders, I picked up one of these house bud vases to add to my collection.
4/ Bombas Socks
I love a buy one/give one business model, so I couldn’t resist when Bombas asked me to check out their socks. My expectations weren’t all that high and I ended up being beyond impressed – no stretching out and no slouching down! Right now get 20% off using code COZY20, and returning customers can get 20% off any holiday product using FAVORITES20.
5/ IKEA 365+ Glasses
These short little glasses are perfect for so many things, though I uses them most frequently for wine. They’re safe for both hot and cold temperatures and can act as glasses or bowls, and for $3.99/6 pack you can’t beat ’em.
6/ Tatiana Loafers
Loafers are everywhere this autumn, and I couldn’t resist this burgundy suede pair. The first time I wore them I received so many compliments that I knew I’d made the right call. They’re also available in desert rose and metallic leather options. Right now ABLE is offering free shipping on all jewelry orders and all orders over $99.
7/ Case Study Planters
I’ve owned three of these for a few years now, but every time I water my plants I’m reminded of just how well-crafted and beautiful they are. The planters themselves are available in both black and white pottery while the plinths and stands have a light and dark wood option.
8/ Aera Diffuser
This is a new addition to my battle against having a home that smells like my pets. Since I started using it about two weeks ago my home has been smelling consistently good. Aera has an adjustable strength setting and is so quiet that I hardly notice it’s working. Oh, and it works with your smartphone!
9/ Trap Pitcher
You just can’t wrong with a simple glass pitcher. This one was a Black Friday purchase last year that I use for water, cocktails, and even as a vase. It’s just the right size – not too big and not too small – at about 9-inches tall.
