peace & joy

Christmas is almost here, and I'm excited to take some time off to really savor it. Wishing you all a wonderful holiday spent with the ones you love.

pinterest

All is peaceful here at my house. We're just waiting for Santa now.

And maybe some snow.

pretty paperwhites

So pretty in a big urn, or planted in a bunch of small containers, paperwhites are lovely to have in the house around Christmas, and the bonus is they'll last for much of winter, brightening many dark days.

tobi fairley

merriment events

bhg

country living

Ideally, you should plant your bulbs, in peat or just stones and water, weeks before the holiday for them to bloom in time. I didn't get mine in nearly early enough, but I'm still excited to have them blooming in January and February. And in fact, maybe next year I'll stagger a few containers so I've got blooms going all through winter.

pinterest

I think paperwhites are essential to have in the house in winter. How do you (want to) display yours?

a dog in the house

We're getting a dog for Christmas! Well, okay, we're dog sitting for Christmas. I'm heading to Connecticut today to pick up my sister's family's dog while they go out of town for a few weeks. Dixie is such a good girl. It's going to be fun to have a dog around the house, especially this time of year, when we can be home with her more.

country living

Do you think pets make a happier home? I am feeling that way lately. After the holidays we might need one of our own.

room of the week

I've never felt the need to do a room of the week feature, until now. I guess lately I'm really starting to see some that are so worthy. And this week's has nothing to do with the holiday, though those chandeliers have a bit of sparkle, and I wouldn't mind cooking breakfast and gathering here on Christmas morning.

See, kitchen plans around our house had slowed way down...until I saw this ad for Aya Kitchens in the latest House & Home, and it got us talking again.

I'm especially loving the simple cabinet style and rich color. The hardware. The rustic open shelving. The subway tile. There's not much we don't like, and this may just be guiding us as we get back to the kitchen planning, in the hopes of starting in January. Yay! Happy Monday, all. Enjoy this special week!

counting the days

I don't have too much going on this weekend, and for that I'm thankful. It's time to sit back and just enjoy the season. Christmas is just 8 days away! Are you ready?

If you're counting the days in your house, this advent calendar found over at Lovely Things is one charming way to do it. It's the most fun and creative I've seen. And loving the entire gorgeous vignette created around it. But it would still be an inexpensive and easy project. If you're inspired, go to it!

If you're looking for more diy decor, Pewter + Sage's pinecone garland struck me as so simple and perfect. A little bit of time outdoors gathering pinecones and half an hour wrapping twine and you're done. My kind of project.

I also love My Many Moments mossy twig wreath, another simple, inexpensive (actually free!), rustic diy.

You can find more ideas on my Pinterest Holidays board, where I'm pinning lots of inspirations lately. Follow all my boards here. And happy weekend before Christmas, everyone!

cozy christmas bedroom

With all the other rooms in our house looking so warm and sparkly and inviting for the holidays, I can't resist creating that same atmosphere in my other rooms. I especially love soft white lights in the bedroom, and this year I added balsam and pine roping and a few ribbon accents.

I can't decide whether the lights on the bed are tacky or lovely and romantic. But I don't really care! At night they look so great and give the room such a perfect glow, I'm not taking them down. Do you decorate your bedroom for the holidays? There's nothing better at Christmas than settling in for a long winter's night in a room that's been dressed for the season...

christmastime is here

It's finally feeling like Christmas around here. We decorated this weekend, and I'm so happy that our home is now looking so festive. All the lights are lovely, and it smells wonderful through the whole house, and I wasn't planning on having people over but now I'm tempted to entertain and show off the decor! Either that or stay inside and get cozy on a snowy, cold night with some hot cocoa. Yup, I said it. I'm ready for snow.

To start, this is a standard balsam wreath that I spruced up with some white pine and (not real but still great) pinecones. I like using my olive green ribbon as a simple hanger.

 

Honestly, the foyer has never looked this good. It's usually completely neglected.

There's still not much going on, but I did manage to create a little vignette with burlap, some vintage ribbon, gold berries, and oversized lantern.

I love this little daybed spot. It feels so much more special now with the boxwood swags hanging on the windows. And Kasssapanola's red polka dot pillow just makes it!

I'm often tempted to crawl into that knit throw and not come out til spring.

A closeup of the swag with more of those gold berry sprigs and olive ribbon.

And the other side of the room is my favorite.

The balsam and white pine roping makes all the difference here. I don't have a fireplace or mantel, but can you tell I want one? I treated my credenza the same way. 

Imagine a fire in place of the television. That's what I do! And that basket could hold firewood instead of magazines ;-)

A wider shot into the kitchen. Oh yes, all the rooms get into the act, I do throw some lights up on the cabinets. How cheesy! But at night, it really works.

Even the office gets some greenery. And oh yes, the bedroom absolutely got decorated too. But this post is already too many pictures long! So stay tuned and I'll show you the last room very soon. And happy decorating, if you haven't already! When it's decorating for Christmas, and about lights and candles and greens, I think it's good for the soul.

gift ideas for women with everything

I'll be honest, I've been having a very hard time thinking of things I wanted or even needed for Christmas. In a year when I fell in love, when he moved in and we started our life together, what material thing could even be on my radar right now? I truly don't want anything else. But I know gift-giving comes with Christmas, and it makes everyone feel good to give to the ones they love. So for those family and friends who want to spoil me, even more than I already am this season, I managed to choose a few luxuries. And if you're buying for a woman in your life, these are some things that might make her happy—or even happier than she already is!

{1} Cashmere cardigan. $148. Garnet Hill. {2} Monogram mug. $8. Anthropologie.

{3} Leather boots. $178. Boden. {4} Tarte LipSurgence in Fever. $24. Sephora.

{5} Leopard queen duvet set. $75. Ballard Designs. {6} Cashmere gloves. $29. Garnet Hill.

{7} Leather tote. $120. Studio 731. {8} Knot link bracelet. $800. Blue Nile.

{9} Extra large round basket. $129. Pottery Barn.

it's beginning to look a little like christmas

Yup, just a little.

Lighted twigs with bittersweet branches.

And my new red polka dot pillow—which still needs an insert!—and cozy throw on the daybed.

But honestly, this is all I have so far! Are your trees up? Wreaths and garlands? Another busy, busy week has gone by, but I'm thrilled to have finaly time off. I have today and Saturday and Sunday at home to add to the Christmas spirit around here. Decking the halls starts...now...

holiday gift wrap diys

I think my favorite part of gift giving is decorating the package. I'm not into the ribbons and expensive paper, though, are you? My style is more simple and cheap yet stylish. These ideas are all easy to achieve, affordable, creative—and pretty! Now I just need some more gifts to put in these lovely packages.

charlotte jenks lewis

It's so easy to dress up kraft paper. I like these letter stamps and simple striped ribbon. I've also used gold paint to make my own designs on kraft paper. And you can pair it with any kind of ribbon, really.

style at home

Gold spray paint really is your friend here, dressing up some pinecones as ornaments on this gift.

via the crafting chicks

Newspaper is not my favorite look for wrap, but this style is making me take a second look. It feels so fresh and crisp here paired with bold red. The baker's twine is great and the letter tags would be simple to print and cut out.

via pinterest

More kraft paper but it looks so transformed here, thanks to being topped with a snowflake cut from red paper. So clever!

gap interiors

More kraft paper—love all these different looks. These packages feel so vintage, with dried citrus tied up on top. Do you have a favorite look?

a monday in december

How is it Monday already? I need a few more days added to the weekend, please. I actually did start decorating for Christmas, but I didn't get nearly done enough to show you all anything. Too much work, too many chores, and not enough time to relax, nevermind play around with decorating. It'll come, maybe tomorrow.

anyone know the source? my best guess is house and home

In the meantime, I'm going to get some inspiration and will start with this image, which I saved to my computer last year—last year!—and can happily finally share! It is that time of year again, whether we're ready to not!