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!
Christmas Greetings Garland // DIY Veneer Wood Chain // Front Door Wreath // Found Wood Sled // Glass Jug Lantern Candle Holder // Ivory Bottle Brush Tree // Libra Christmas Tree Stand // Lit Acrylic Starburst Tree Topper // Metal Bells // Metal Star Banner // Silver Tuscany Tinsel Faux Tree // Vintage Snowflake String Lights
Cranberry, Clementine + Rosemary Cocktails // Fresh Mint Cocoa with Matcha Marshmallows // Glogg AKA Scandinavian Mulled Wine // Holiday Spiced Tea // Persimmon Spiced Rum Old Fashioned // Pomegranate Cider Mimosas with a Salted Caramel Rim
18th Street Cereal Bowl // 20-piece Rush Gold Flatware Set // Crush Wine Glass // DIY Air Plant Wreath Place Cards // Green Glass Jug Vases // Hewn Teak Charger // Hibi Tumblers (Set of 4) // Holly Leaves Trivet // Jingle Bell Twine Napkin Ring (Set of 4) // Maebry Copper Punch Mugs (Set of 4) // Mango Wood Taper Candle Holder // Poplin Plum Napkins // Rose Gold Salt and Pepper Grinders // Mercer Dinner Plates // Wood Marble Tree Board
Chocolate Cheesecake Swirl Muffins // Goat Cheese Scrambled Eggs // Maple Oatmeal Biscuits // Pumpkin Spice Croissants // Maple Roasted Beets and Carrots // Overnight Caramel French Toast // Parmesan Crusted Delicata Squash // Potato and Apple Home Fries // Pumpkin Spice Belgian Waffles + Toasted Pecans // Slow Cooker Steel Cut Oats with Apple and Cranberries // Warm Kale Salad with Goat Cheese, Pine Nuts + Sweet Onion Balsamic // Zucchini Herb Fritters
Cocoa Pot with Acacia Finish // Divided Oval Serving Bowl // Fishs Eddy Gilded Serving Platter // Glass Pitcher // Mango Wood Serving Bowl // Marble + Brass Cake Stand // Gold Mixing Bowl Set of 3 // Open Kitchen Handled Platter // Pattern 127 Serving Spoon
Posted In christmas, holidays, living
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!
1/ Cardboard Ornaments, Set of 2
2/ Agate Slice Ornament
3/ Beaded Eye Ornaments, Set of 3
4/ Budding Monogram Ornament
5/ Ceramic Open Ball Ornament
6/ Double-Dip Ceramic Moon Ornament
7/ Geo Tassel Ornament
8/ Glass Ball Ornaments, Set of 4
9/ Glass Candle Clip Ornament
10/ Glinted Houseplant Ornament
11/ Handpainted Ornament
12/ Jingle Bell Tree Ornament
13/ Luna Stars, Set of 6
14/ Metal Bell with Velvet Ribbon Ornament
15/ Mini Gold Reindeer Ornament
16/ Muted Metallic Ball Ornaments, Set of 4
17/ Rainbow Iridescent Ornaments, Set of 3
18/ Shiny-Brite Bird Ornaments, Set of 6
19/ Wooden Starburst Ornament
20/ Wooden Tree Ornament Set
1/ DIY Alcohol Ink Ornaments
2/ DIY Brass Ornaments
3/ DIY Wood Beads Wreath Ornament
4/ DIY Disco Ball Ornaments
5/ DIY Fresh Greenery Ornaments
6/ DIY Glitter Scallop Ornaments
7/ DIY Gradient Ornaments
8/ DIY Mini Wall Hanging Ornaments
9/ DIY Mini Wreath Ornaments
10/ DIY Need Felted Star Ornament
11/ DIY Modern Diorama Ornament
12/ DIY Paper Candle Ornaments
13/ DIY Reindeer Clothespin Ornaments
14/ DIY Wooden Modern Bell Ornaments
15/ DIY Wooden Ornaments
16/ DIY Minimal Wrapped Tree Ornaments
17/ DIY Geode Ornament
18/ DIY Scented Baking Soda Ornaments
19/ DIY Memphis Design Ornaments
20/ DIY Zodiac Rhinestone Ornament
Also known as Christmas Crack because it’s so difficult to stop eating, I’m sure this confection has crossed your lips at some point. My mom has made it every December for years, whether to include in a cookie swap, gift to coworkers, or just have on hand at home for guests. I asked her to show me how she makes it and was completely surprised that so little went into something so delicious – there are only four ingredients!
Ingredients
• 1 tube of Saltines, about 40 crackers
• 1 C butter, salted or unsalted but not margarine
• 1 C + 2 Tbsp firmly packed brown sugar (we used light)
• 1 bag semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 – 3/4 C toasted chopped pecans or toasted chopped almonds (optional)
Preheat the oven to 350-degrees. Cover a standard sized cookie sheet with foil, then spray with non-stick cooking spray. Line crackers end-to-end, breaking to fit the ends and sides if necessary.
In a saucepan melt the butter on low heat, then add brown sugar and crank it up to medium. Continue stirring until boiling, then boil for 3 minutes. Pour over crackers, spreading evenly and working quickly before it begins to set.
Place cookie sheet in the oven and bake for 5 minutes or until crackers look like they’re jumping up and down and bubbles appear on the surface. Remove and spread chocolate chips as evenly as possible over the top, then place a sheet of foil over the pan and allow to melt for about 3 minutes. (Or you can pop it back in the oven for 1 minute.)
Spread melted chocolate over the top evenly. Add nuts to top if you prefer, then replace foil and refrigerate until set. Once ready break into snack-sized pieces – the individual crackers act as a great guide. If you’re feeling adventurous try replacing the Saltines with graham crackers or adding something festive on top, like sprinkles or edible gold stars. They look great packaged up in glassine bags and will keep in an airtight container for several weeks.
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
Posted In accessories, beauty bag, food, holidays, house and home, kitchen, living, recipes, round up, series, style
1/ Almond Buckwheat Chocolate Brittle
2/ Apple Walnut Oatmeal Cookies
3/ Belgium Waffle Maple Fudge
4/ Caramel and Cardamom Kisses
5/ Cardamom Cake Mix Cookies with Saffron Sugar
6/ Caramel Apple Spice Thumbprints
7/ Cashew Filled Baklava Rolls
8/ Carrot Cake Cookies
9/ Chai Spiced Salted Caramel Macarons
10/ Cherry & Lime Macaroons
11/ Cherry Chestnut Chocolate Chip Cookies
12/ Chocolate Flecked Slice and Bake Cookies
13/ Chocolate Graham Crackers (GF)
14/ Chocolate Salted Caramel Cookies
15/ Chocolate Tahini Fudge
16/ Chocolate-Peanut Butter Marbled Biscotti
17/ Cinnamon Sugar Pie Crust Cookies
18/ Cranberry and Almond Oatmeal Cookies
19/ Cranberry Cherry Ribbon Cookies
20/ Cranberry Wafer Cookies
21/ Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Shortbread Cookies
22/ Dulce de Leche Cookie Bars
23/ Easy No-Bake White Chocolate Thin Mints
24/ Espresso Caramel Shortbread Bites
25/ Fluffy Vanilla Nougat
26/ Frosted Soft Sugar Cookie Bars
27/ Gingerbread and Honey Jumbles
28/ Gluten-Free Chocolate Dipped Gingersnaps
29/ Hazelnut & Caramel Cookies
30/ Healthy Almond and Cinnamon Christmas Stars
31/ Homemade Chocolate Bars
32/ Lemon Cranberry Biscotti
33/ Malted Hazelnut & Nutella Chocolate Chip Cookies
34/ Christmas Maple Sugar Cookies
35/ Matcha Oreos
36/ Lemon Shortbread Cookies
37/ Meyer Lemon Pizzelle
38/ Middle Eastern Millionaire’s Shortbread
39/ Nutter Butters
40/ Oatmeal Chewies
41/ Orange Chocolate Cantucci Biscuits
42/ Pecan Praline Cookies
43/ Pumpkin Ginger Sandwich Cookies
44/ Rosemary Chocolate Biscotti
45/ S’mores Bites
46/ Salted Caramel Cookies + Coffee Chocolate Drizzle
47/ Salted Dark Chocolate Chip and Roasted Pecan Cookies
48/ Peppermint Bark Cannoli
49/ Chewy Gingerbread Cookies
50/ Walnut Mushroom Cookies
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.