12 December DIYs
Click on each image to go to the project.
All photos copyright of their respective sites unless otherwise noted.
Click on each image to go to the project.
All photos copyright of their respective sites unless otherwise noted.
Some of you mentioned wanting to see more of the house after our curb appeal preview and office tree – ask and you shall receive! (Well, some of the time at least.) I’d mentioned keeping things more minimal than usual this year, and I have to admit just how good it feels. It doesn’t feel like the entire place has been upended and I’m not dreading the breakdown of it all next month. Am I onto something here?
I made room for a few of my favorite decorations on the bookcase in the living room, two pink bottlebrush trees that I’ve had for more than a handful of years and a few unfinished wooden trees with my reindeer friend who can’t stand on his own.
The hall closet door has become the place where all holiday cards are gathered as they arrive. I love watching it fill up and overflow onto the wall! It brings a little dose of joy into an otherwise neglected corner of the house.
The mantle and hearth are simple yet festive. My favorite shade of poinsettia – faded red – sits atop the mantle and a strand of battery-operated mercury glass lights are strung below. The mercury glass gets carried down to the floor with the addition of my growing tree collection, I’m currently up to four with the tallest standing around two feet.
A little bit more mercury glass on the dining room table and a big pitcher full of eucalyptus and greenery. It lasts throughout the season and then some when watered regularly! The little canvas snowman on the credenza makes me smile, which is the only reason I looked for when decorating this year.
The bathroom off the dining room has one of my favorite wreaths on its door, a grapevine decorated with pinecones and felt mistletoe. There’s also a vase on the counter with a bunch of dried evergreens that I’ve left up since last Christmas, simply because I like them.
Last year I bought my friend and I this same wooden owl, and mine is proudly perched near the cooktop in the kitchen. He brings a much needed dose of color and merriment to an otherwise undecorated room as well as a reminder of her.
And finally – the tree. This is the first real tree I’ve ever had, a Norfolk Island Pine, and insisted that it be potted so that I can either plant it outside or keep it potted indoors once the season is over. It’s giving off a lot of Charlie Brown vibes, but I really love it. It has not one but two tops, can’t hold heavy ornaments, and can barely support the two strands of lights on its branches. But the charm. In spades, for days.
So there you have it! Not the most heavily decorated place, but all the things I love which is really what it’s all about.
Posted In behind the scenes, christmas, holidays, living, my houseI miss doing big Christmas dinners, but brunches have their own kind of charm. There’s definite appeal in being able to do so much prep work the day before, and it’s nice being able to put out an equally sweet and savory spread that caters to everyone’s tastes. I chose recipes that are easy to grab and eat while you’re catching up around the tree to pair with a selection of cocktails and traditional non-alcoholic options. As far as decorations go, this year I’ve really been drawn to fresh greenery, golds, and glass – you’ll see all three below in decor as well as on the table. (If you’d like even more inspiration check out prior Christmases 2013, 2014, and 2015!)
Live Eucalyptus Garland // Boxwood + Myrtle Half Wreath // Glittery Stars Garland // Green and Silver Tinsel Tree // Clear Igloo Globe String Lights // Jewel Votive Holder // Brass Laurel Wreath // Skultana Small Candlestick // Walnut Tree Skirt
Boozy Blood Orange Punch // Breakfast Bramble Cocktail // Cardamom Coffee //
Creamy Almond + Cashew Nog // Hot Blender Chocolate // Winter Vanilla Paloma
Battuto Serving Bowl // Belgian Flax Linen Table Runner // Dauville Dinner Plate // Instant Karma XL Platter // 5-pc Ivory Flatware Set // Marble Trivet // Marta Double Old-Fashioned Glasses // Seafoam Enamel Tray // Beaker Glass Tea Light Candle Holders
Apple Walnut Strudel with Cardamom // Bacon, Egg, and Toast Cups // Butternut Squash Breakfast Muffins // Cinnamon Streusel French Toast Cups // Easy Vegetarian Make-Ahead Breakfast Casserole // Easy Twisted Pumpkin Spice Danish // Gingerbread Scones // Mini Cheese Quiche // Mixed Berry Croissant Bread Pudding // Orange, Vanilla & Cardamom Challah Wreath and White Chocolate Glaze // Roasted Rosemary Beets // Spiralized Potato Thyme Casserole
Posted In christmas, cocktails, entertaining, food, holidays, living, round up, series
This holiday we’ve teamed up with surface pattern designer Vivian Kvitka, aka the Good Viv, to bring you a gorgeously illustrated printable! Vivian created art full of wintery holiday windows, constellations, and stars that was turned into gift wrap and tags for you to print and cover your gifts with. The mustard and indigo lend themselves to all December holidays, whichever you celebrate, and can be used all winter long. The download includes colored as well as black and white versions of the gift tags, letter-sized sheets, and 11 x 17″ sheets. Enjoy!
Download Winter Nights Gift Wrap + Tags HERE
Posted In christmas, create, downloads, holidays, illustration, living, series
I’m way behind on, well, everything this holiday season. (Very unlike me.) Next weekend I’ll need to cram in any and all baking I plan on doing before Christmas and I haven’t even chosen my recipes! Do you make the same ones every year or search out new? I’ve rounded up 48 cookie recipes that look irresistible for you to consider.
1/ Marshmallow Christmas Wreaths 2/ Coffee and Cream Shortbreads 3/ Gingerbread Cranberry Linzer Cookies 4/ Llama Orange-Spice Cookies 5/ Thin and Chewy Spiced Oatmeal Cookies with Brown Butter Icing 6/ Chocolate Peppermint Ganache Cookies
7/ Sugar-Dusted Macaroon Trees 8/ Raspberry Almond Shortbread Thumbprint Cookies 9/ Chocolate Gingerbread Petit Fours (GF) 10/ Sugar Cookie Bark 11/ Lemon Poppyseed Shortbread 12/ S’mores Cookie Sandwiches
13/ Citrusy Chocolate Chip Cookies with Rosemary Salt (GF) 14/ Black and White Brownie Sandwich Cookies 15/ Chocolate Sugar Cutout Cookies 16/ Salted Caramel Shortbread Thumbprint Cookies 17/ Cinnamon Apple Pie Cookies 18/ Spicy Ginger Sandwich Cookies filled with Pumpkin Butter
19/ Matcha Shortbread Men 20/ Swedish Chocolate Cookies 21/ Espresso Caramel Shortbread Bars 22/ Peppermint Sugar Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting 23/ Eggnog Cookies 24/ Brown Butter Shortbread (GF + SF)
25/ Coffee Sables 26/ Mini Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies 27/ Lemon Olive Oil Cookies 28/ Red Velvet Snowflake Cookies 29/ Rhubarb Linzer Cookies 30/ Crispy Spicy Almond Rococo Italian Cookies
31/ Brown Butter Sugar Cookies 32/ Split Second Red Jam Cookies 33/ Chocolate, Orange, and Almond Biscotti 34/ Citrus Cornmeal Shortbread 35/ Mexican Chocolate Sandwich Cookies with Dulce de Leche Filling 36/ Dark Chocolate Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies
37/ Salted Caramel Sugar Cookies 38/ Chocolate Blackout Cookies 39/ Chocolate Chip Spelt Cookies with Pecans + Orange 40/ Cardamom Linzer Cookies with Cinnamon Persimmon Jam 41/ Christmas Spice, Hazelnut & Chocolate Cookies 42/ Intense Brown Butter Shortbread Cookies
43/ Decorated Honey Gingerbread Cookies 44/ Mitten Cookies 45/ Festive Italian Pizzelle 46/ Milk Chocolate Cookies and Cream Cookies 47/ Allsorts Sugar Cookies 48/ Orange Cranberry Cookies
Posted In christmas, food, holidays, living, round up, seriesSo, Christmas is just over two weeks away. TWO. WEEKS. Are you right on schedule? Because I am admittedly running behind. Normally all the gifts are bought by this point, but this year I still have two important ones to find. Earlier this week I finished putting up lights in the big front window of the house and pulling out a few more favorite decorations. If you’re still in decorating mode here thirty pieces of holiday flair to either buy or DIY!
1/ Multi Coloured Berry Lights 2/ DIY Eucalyptus Christmas Wreath 3/ DIY Mini Wood Christmas Trees 4/ DIY Fresh Cranberry Chandelier 5/ Fluro Pink Tinsel 6/ DIY Hand-Dipped Bayberry Candles
7/ Recycled Tire Christmas Tree Base 8/ DIY Mid-Century Inspired Wreath 9/ DIY Felt Ball Garland 10/ DIY Rosemary Wreath 11/ Metal Floral Wreath 12/ Pom Pom Garland
13/ DIY Yarn Wreath 14/ DIY Origami Poinsettias 15/ DIY Pom-Pom Tree Topper 16/ DIY Marble Gift Labels 17/ DIY Life-Sized Folded Paper Christmas Tree 18/ DIY Paper Leaf Garland
19/ Gold Foil-Dipped 3D Paper Tree Centerpieces 20/ DIY Paper Bottlebrush Trees 21/ DIY Oversized Paper Stockings 22/ DIY Wooden Dowel Christmas Tree 23/ DIY Ombre Paper Leaf Wreaths 24/ DIY Felt Garland
25/ DIY Gingerbread Letter Garlands 26/ Spruce Plaid Stocking 27/ Chunky Hand-Knitted Christmas Stocking 28/ Stitched Linen Tree Skirt 29/ DIY No-Sew Christmas Tree Skirt 30/ DIY Magnolia Table Runner
Posted In christmas, holidays, living, round up, seriesAs I write up this post it’s nearly 8pm and I’m sipping a beer. Between forgetting half of my grocery bags at the checkout today (only to realize it once I got home) and trying to finish up my holiday shopping, it’s just what this day called for. If you’ve been having one – or ten – of those days this December, enjoy perusing this carefully curated selection of 66 cocktails that are sure to aid you through the Alcoholidays.
1/ Tart Cherry Red Wine Spritzer 2/ Merry Mai Tai Christmas Cocktail 3/ Pecan Pie Manhattan
4/ Rosemary Grapefruit Milk Punch 5/ Rosemary Infused Holiday Cocktail 6/ Cranberry Pear Moscow Mules
7/ Cinnamon Rosemary Old Fashioned 8/ The Whiskey Rose 9/ Meyer Lemon Margarita with Rosemary Simple Syrup 10/ Honeycrisp Old Fashioned 11/ The Cider Mill 12/ Gin Cocktail with Honey and Lemon Cordial
13/ Mulled Apple Cider Punch 14/ White Wine, Clementine & Vanilla Cocktail 15/ White Chocolate + Bourbon Cocktail 16/ Spiced Pineapple Cocktail 17/ Pomegranate Manhattan 18/ Spiced Maple Manhattan
19/ Grapefruit Whiskey Sour 20/ The Red Queen 21/ Balsam Gin Sparkler 22/ Blood Orange Bourbon Smash with Spicy Vanilla Sugar 23/ Cranberry Orange Margaritas 24/ Hot Cider with Apple-Cinnamon Bourbon
25/ Sparkling Spiced Pear Cocktail 26/ Maple Bourbon Pear Martini 27/ Autumn Sangria with Apples, Pomegranate, and Figs 28/ Blood Orange & Pomegranate Thyme Spritz 29/ Apple, Pear, and Gin Cocktail 30/ Cranberry Chai Sangria
31/ Sage Ginger Prosecco Cocktail 32/ Bourbon Grapefruit Cocktail 33/ Gingerbread White Russian
34/ Eggnog Colada 35/ Roasted Cranberry Maragaritas 36/ Ginger, Cardamom, and Rosemary Gin Cocktail
37/ The Nutty Apple Martini 38/ Pomegranate Vanilla Bean Margaritas 39/ The North Pole Cocktail
40/ Hot Buttered Rum 41/ Winter Thyme & Key Lime Cocktail 42/ Blue Ridge Cocktail
43/ Black Cherry Bourbon Cola Smash 44/ Spiced Cranberry Hot Toddy 45/ Rosemary Ginger Margaritas 46/ Hot Buttered Hazelnut Whisky 47/ Honey-Pomegranate Mulled Wine 48/ Golden Bubbles Champagne Cocktail
49/ Red Moon Over Manhattan 50/ Cranberry Cinnamon Whiskey Sour 51/ Red Wine Gin Sour
52/ Rosemary Citrus Gin and Tonic 53/ Kumquat Bourbon Sour 54/ Spiced Plum, Fig & Kombucha Cocktail
55/ Whiskey + Maple Syrup Sours 56/ Meyer Lemon + Sage Sour 57/ Rose, Gin & Pink Peppercorn Cocktail 58/ Apple Brandy Allspice Fizz Cocktail 59/ 5-Spice Bourbon Punch 60/ Basil Fig Vodka Smash
61/ Spiced Pomegranate Cocktail 62/ Indian Winter 63/ The Golden Ladder 64/ Honey Sweetened Blueberry Hot Toddy 65/ Fizzy Spiked Pear Punch 66/ Chai Tea Cocktail
Posted In christmas, cocktails, holidays, living, round up, series
This holiday I’ve opted to keep things minimal, and from what I’ve seen online a lot of you are choosing to do the same. The living room has a simple live potted tree that’s about four feet tall, decorated with a handful of ornaments and lights. The rest of the first floor has a few decorations here and there – a poinsettia, a few wreaths, not too much. And my office has this little silver tree that’s followed me from my last design firm job over five years ago. Since I spend a good part of my days here it only makes sense for it to feel festive as I dig through my inbox and comb the internet.
Inspired by the colors in my workspace and traditional wooden ornaments I came up with these modern bells. Covered in bright paint and fresh patterns, they’re a great match for the sparkle of the tiny tree.
Materials
• wooden cones with pre-drilled holes
• wooden balls with pre-drilled holes
• craft paints
• paintbrushes in various sizes
• jute twine
This little project took me about an hour and was a great respite from what’s proving to be a hectic month. I sat down with a roll of paper towels and a cup full of water for cleaning my brushes and got to work with Christmas music playing in the background.
Once all of my cones and balls were painted, patterned, and dry I cut roughly 14-inch lengths of jute twine. I doubled each up in length and tied off a loop about 1 1/2-inches long, then pushed the loose ends through the cone and ball, tying them off once pulled through with a knot or two. If the jute got hung up I just used a wood skewer to help it through.
And tada! An instantly festive artful tree.
Posted In christmas, holidays, living, make it
1/ Celestial Iridescent Glass Ornament 2/ Leather Stag Ornament 3/ DIY Beaded Gift Toppers/Ornaments 4/ DIY Clay Pot Ornament 5/ DIY Glitter Dust Filled Ornament
6/ Clear Glass Bubble Ornaments 7/ Crackled Globe Ornament 8/ DIY Marbled Tree Ornaments 9/ DIY Metallic Wooden Ball Ornaments 10/ DIY Pinanta Ornaments
11/ Crystal Quartz Ornaments 12/ Gliding Swan Ornament 13/ DIY Recycled Sweater Ornament 14/ DIY Snowflake Pattern Ornament 15/ DIY Color Block Wood Ornaments
16/ Handblown Metallic Glass Globe Ornament 17/ Monogram Glitter Ornament 18/ Porcelain Stamped Tree Ornaments 19/ Quadrilateral Glass Ornaments 20/ DIY Fabric Covered Tree Ornaments
Posted In christmas, holidays, living, make it, round up, seriesYour coworkers. The mail carrier. Your child’s teachers. Neighbors.
This list could easily be a mile long, it’s the one that names everyone who deserves a little something special this holiday season. And nothing says thank you for being amazing more than a homemade gift, bonus points if that gift is edible. Here are twelve recipes sure to put a smile on each and every one of those faces.
Click on each image to go to the recipe.
All photos copyright of their respective sites unless otherwise noted.