Gift Guide: For Him

Today's gift guide is all about the man in your life! These gifts can really span all ages, from Dad to brother to husband or boyfriend. Lucky for Stephen he owns a lot of these...and we are cutting back on our gifts to each other so we can set aside that money for our master bath renovation! Sorry honey if any of these are tempting ;)

I included two bottle openers because I really couldn't decide which was better! The wood bottle opener is so unique and I love the rustic, manly look to it. Perfect for a man cave, or, in our case, a man shed. The credit card bottle opener came to mind after we were tailgating over Thanksgiving and I witnessed the guys try to open beer bottles on shoes, trees, other beer bottles and unfortunately even teeth! Eek!!! This fits right in their wallet. If your man doesn't own a pair of Ugg slippers, Christmas is a great time to give him that luxury. I never thought Stephen would be hooked on his but he definitely appreciates them as much as I do mine! What is it with guys and socks now? I do think it is pretty fun to not go with just the basic black, so I picked out two pairs, the dot socks are a little more expensive and trendy {but I love them!!}; the stripe socks are right at a good price point. Last year, my brother made all the guys in the family a custom wooden beer holder and this is a really similar look. It's fun and has a bottle opener on the side: craft beer holder. Stephen really likes the Travis Matthew brand and this is a great jacket for an avid golfer. Last but not least, if he doesn't own his own moscow mule mugs, go ahead and get him some. Since Stephen already has his, I am thinking he should get a years supply of ginger beer {this will give him a head start} ....not joking!!

You can also check out my gift guide from last year which might give you a few more ideas:

Shopping for the Men in Your Life {the bose speaker and another pair of slippers are great!

Gift Guide: For The Christmas Decor Lover

This was such a fun roundup to pull together! If you were to walk through my house, these things below are an accurate portrayal of the mixed style I love. A healthy dose of blue and white, metallics {mainly gold!} and a dash of whimsy. All of these would be such a fun gift to give or receive!

First things first, lets start with the blue and white! I adore this ginger jar cocktail napkin set, perfectly chic for the entertainer of all ages.  Next up, this small poinsettia framed art is so fun because you can change out the art whenever you want for a new look. It is just a magnetic frame and perfect for a print lover! How cute are the whim sheets with the snow globes? I can't decide if I want them for us...or for Weeks! I have always loved changing up my standard wine glass aroudn the holidays and I think either one of these sets are so cute:  wine glass set/4 deer and the wine glass set/4 antlers. I love that the design is subtle and etched. I can't descide which I like more, but I love the pineapple ornament and the polka dot ornament!  I love a fun frame  for the holidays and it's always fun to pull them out each year and look at the photograph from years past. Gift giving tip: go ahead and fill the frame with a cherished photograph before wrapping it up! We are all about Christmas mugs too, and this mug is just beautiful. Another gift for all ages I think!

I am wrapping up my Christmas decor this weekend and doing some other festive things. Hope you all have a great December weekend! 

Gift Guide: Cozy Christmas

Fact: I love gift guides. I really look forward to this time of year when I can click around and see what others suggest as tried and true gifts, and also new things that I need to know about. Gift guides are incredibly helpful to me, and you all have always given me great feedback in years past...so I won't leave you hanging! I have come up with some really fun Gift Guides that will be rolling out within the next few weeks. As for the rest of the month, expect a whole lotta Christmas and holiday cheer related posts! It is such a fun month and really one of my favorite times to read blogs and blog myself! 

 

I thought I would kick it all off with a guide that is near and dear to me, being cozy! I appreciate comfort and things that just make you feel good at the end of the day, or a bright way to start your morning. Let's get started!

I may or may not have taken advantage of the dreamy cotton pant on Black Friday. Have you tried J.Crew's dreamy cotton pjs? Oh my goodness, they feel SO good.  I was gifted this UGG double knit robe last year in ivory and it is absolutely perfect for the winter months. I love a good robe and this one will keep you warm and cozy all winter long. I mentioned the dakota slipper before, but I really do believe every gal needs a pair! Stephen has loved his way through 2 pairs of Ugg Slippers, so these might be a good idea for him. Another Black Friday steal, this pom pom beanie {$5!} is so cute for a cold morning with second day hair ;) We definitely have a sock monster in our house and I would love some new pairs in my stocking, How cure are these bunny socks ? 

Not seen above but, we all love a gift card do we not? It's extra fun to have several in your stocking, even if the dollar amount is not high! I'll take this hot cocoa mix {yum,} and who knew there was such a thing as a whipped cream dispenser? Just add ingredients and shake! That sounds perfect instead of pulling out the mixer for fresh whipped cream. And it is Christmas, so please, don't hold the whipped. We love having an assortment of fun mugs to choose from each morning, and this mug would be such a sweet gift for a friend at a great price point!

Let me know if you have any gift guide topics you want covered, I am all ears!

Happy Friday + Happy Shopping

Happy Friday Y'all! I don't know about you but I am still stuffed from all of the incredible food we ate yesterday. It was a jam packed day for us from fixing mashed potatoes at 8 am to rolling in the door at 9:30 and ready to hit the hay. We were with tons of family and it was really, just so nice. I missed my parents and my sister and her family, but it just makes me that much more thankful for getting together for {most} holidays!

Ok, so I guess I will cut to the chase now. Today is kind of all about shopping! I've highlighted a few spots below that I have been checking out, and a few things that caught my eye at each one. I will say this: DONT FORGET your local shops! I understand not braving the malls and outlets etc, but make sure you pay a visit to your favorite boutique or gift shop. Those people have likely put in a lot of time and effort for the holidays and have some specials waiting for you as well :)

GAP is offering 50% off with code BLKFRIDAY {hello, what woman doesn't enjoy hearing those words!} This robe looks incredibly cozy, this sweater is the prettiest shade of pink, and these moto ponte pants are a steal! Weeks has this shirt and it is the softest little thing! He is also so adorable in these flannel lined khakis- too cute. 

J.CREW is offering 30% off and an extra 40% off sale items with code HOLIDAY! I love their pajamas- I have these from last year in red and they are the most comfortable pair I own! I love this tunic sweater in the bright red, and this turtleneck is on my wish list for layering.

NORDSTROM is offering additional markdowns on selected items. Good gracious, if you do not own a pair of Ugg slippers, get yourself a pair now for a steal. And while you are at it, buy like 3 more pairs for people on your Christmas list! They will love you forever! I am loving beanies and this one is precious and this one is practical but yet still so cute.

FURBISH is offering 20% off and I love supporting smaller stores! These tortoise hurricanes are gorg as well as this blue and white vase.

I'll keep updating this list as I come across more goodies. Hope you all had a wonderful, thankful, special Thanksgiving with your loved ones. xo.

Flocked Trees + DIY No Sew Tree Skirt!

One thing I get asked year after year about is our flocked Christmas tree. Unfortunately, I am never able to give an exact source because I got it years and years ago from a wholesale florist supplier and I cannot even recall the name! But, I have kept an eye out while I've been out shopping, for other flocked trees that are lookalikes to mine. I rounded up a few below from the web that I think are all good options. Disclaimer: these are not cheap trees but if they are like mine you will be using them for multiple years, getting your money's worth! I don't think they are that bad of a deal when you consider size, quality and usage!

vickerman flocked 7.5 ft tree // northlight 6.5 ft tree // donner & blitzen 6.5 ft tree {also available 9 ft}  // national tree co 7.5 ft tree //  northlight seasonal 7.5 ft tree

Side note, this past year we had to add some lights to our tree because we had some go out. After using for about 5 years, I was expecting as much. I don't mind the additional strands of lights added to it and we might consider replacing it in the future. I am hooked on flocked trees though, there is something magical about them!

Next up, my new DIY Buffalo Check Tree Skirt! I know everyone is busy pulling their meals together for Thursday, but this would be a fun, quick project to do on an afternoon this coming weekend. I put this together yesterday afternoon and it couldn't have been easier. I remember seeing an easy tree skirt tutorial last year on Courtney's blog and was inspired by the easy design. Mine is more or less the same but I will highlight below what I did. Hers has more detailed instructions if you need that too. PS. It's NO SEW :)

You need: 
2 yards of fabric{I used fleece and it doesn't unravel! Also had extra}
Scissors
Ribbon for measuring
Chalk
Tinsel or other decorative trim
Glue gun

Fold your fabric in half. I wanted my tree skirt to be 48 inches wide, and so I cut a piece of ribbon 24 inches. When the fabric unfolds it will double in size, making it 48. Use this ribbon strip to rotate around in a semi circle from your center point. I used a piece of chalk to mark the 24 inches all the way around.

Cut along chalk line.

Next, fold your fabric in half again so its in the shape of a pie piece. Cut another small semi circle out for your tree base. I just eye balled it. You want it to fit around the base of your tree.

Now unfold that again so you are here:

I then cut along the line of the check {on just one side} to make a slit for the back of the skirt, allowing it to go around the base of your tree.

Next, add your tinsel! I bought this on sale last year and had been waiting to do something fun with it. You could also use pom poms, bells, ribbon, etc. The options are endless!

That's it! So easy and so adorable.

I'll be cooking up a storm tomorrow and heading to Raleigh to prepare for Thanksgiving. I hope you all have a wonderful day on Thursday. Happy Thanksgiving.

Shine Home Love + House Changes!

Remember how I have mentioned some changes taking place in our home? Well, I am finally filling y'all in on the details! Let's start from the beginning. Stephen and I have toyed with the idea of making some bigger renovation changes to better our home. The two big areas of interest are the kitchen and closing in the exterior carport {it's actually a pretty carport but that is the only way I can describe it!} Of course, the full gut job on the kitchen is self explanatory, but we also feel like we need more storage {it is an old house and that's a given} and we need to use our space better. One upgrade already was our living room bookcases...hey, every bit counts! I plan on using those for extra dishes, glasses and seasonal platters that do not fit in our dining room cabinet or kitchen. 

The next idea to better utilize our space was to swap our den with our dining room. I am so happy with the change and it feels like the right layout for us and our home. But, you have to head over to Lisa's blog Shine Your Light to hear more and see a sneak peek of the new "keeping room"! I am joining her today on her series Shine Home Love and I am just thrilled to be there. Having only read her blog, exchanged emails and had social media interactions, I can tell you this woman is incredibly talented and one of the most heartwarming and genuine people you will encounter in this "blogging world!" So please go check out my feature and Shine Your Light, you won't be disappointed! 

Thanksgiving: Plans, Recipes and Inspiration

This year our Thanksgiving is going to look a little different. Since we have been married, Stephen and I have been able to swing dual Thanksgivings with our families. Even though are families are based in different cities, his extended family actually lives in pretty close proximity to mine. This has allowed us to do Thanksgiving lunch with his large extended family, and then we head to my parents house for the later afternoon and a Thanksgiving dinner. We just figure that if we can split it, why not? I love being able to celebrate with both even if we cut back a teensy bit on the amount of time with each group.

So, this year my older sister is on baby watch and my parents are heading up to Philly this week to be with them as they anticipate the arrival of my nephew Jack! An exciting time for sure, but of course this means my family will be splitting up. Yes, I have to admit I am a little sad as it is the very first Thanksgiving that I will not be at "home" with my family for dinner. We do have a full schedule however to keep us busy that day! We will continue our tradition for lunch with Stephen's fam at the farm, and then we will head down the road to have dinner at my brother & sister in laws new house house with her family. 

source

Stephen and I have never hosted Thanksgiving but I really think it would be so much fun {and a lot of "fun" work!} I would definitely spend way too much time creating a tablescape, but how fun would that be? Mine would include my fave- magnolia leaves right from our yard. I love the simplicity and the elegance. 

I want to be sure I am doing my part and I will be bringing a dish to each get together. So far, these are my top contenders:

Pioneer Woman Mashed Potatoes

My Mom made these last year and they were a huge hit. A big indulgence for sure once I saw the ingredients but, they tasted that good for a reason!

Pumpkin Tart with Whipped Cream and Almond Toffee 

Guess I'll be bringing the calories, right! I saw this on Natalies blog yesterday and it seems like such a tasty twist on dessert. I usually don't spring for Pumpkin Pie. 

My other favorites will be something from my Mom's recipe stash and I want to incorporate that somehow too! Do you have a favorite dish you bring to dinner year after year?