My Holiday Decorations

You guys deserve a post; it’s been a while.  Tis the season for overbooking and little time for blogging.  We have been enjoying the festivities.

Josie visited Santa for the first time…

I shared her Christmas wish list on Instagram; she would like spoons, paper, boxes and menus.  After posting, a friend of mine sent me this hilarious article on a ten month old’s Christmas wishes.

This past Saturday, we hosted Graham’s family for a fake Christmas celebration since we will be with my family this year.  I finally got my butt in gear and put together a festive tablescape.

 I tried to keep the Christmas decor a bit more natural with a burlap runner, monk bells, vintage ornaments and an antler.

I also went natural for our mantle –

The door was also dressed up –

And Fido, our lovely, always well behaved dog, is now in his Christmas best –

I was on the hunt this year to switch out our old Pottery Barn stockings for new ones for the whole family but I couldn’t pull the trigger on anything.  I want them to be really special and our forever stockings.  For the time being, I went to China Town and found Josie this adorable needlepoint tiny stocking.

With all those Christmas decorations under wrap, I’m feeling very festive.  How about you?  Are you feeling ready for Christmas?

Shop Small Gift Guide for the Ladies

Not to worry, I wasn’t about to let a Christmas season pass without a gift guide for the ladies.  It seems like Christmas kind of snuck up on us this year.  But, there is still time to order and I would fancy any one of these beautiful delights so I’m guessing the lady in your life might as well.  Everything on my gift guide are from small independent shops…

 

necklace, purse, necklace, shoes, shorts, ring, dress

I have the Freda Salvador shoes and they are my go to.  They go with everything plus they are a hide shoe and so Josie loves to pet them.  I love how the purse converts into a backpack.  I’ve been dying for an opportunity to get a Camilyn Beth dress.  And I’m lucky enough to include both incredibly talented jewelry designers – Irene Wood and Ariel Gordon friends.

Now, if you like shopping small and vintage, I’ve got a round up for you as well….

vintage round up

weekender bag. earrings, ring, clutch, necklace, jacket

 

If Graham didn’t have some surprise Christmas gift up his sleeve, I’d be hinting hard for that 1960’s leopard jacket.  The weekender bag is perfect for a winter getaway.  The necklace is super oversized and worth a visit to the site just to see the size.  And those vintage earings…my oh my!

Happy shopping or happy hinting!!

Gift Guide for the Little Ones

Beyond just the decorating, Christmas has me very excited for shopping for the little ones.  You can find the most wonderful things on ETSY and I love to help out small businesses for some feel good shopping.

I tend more towards the preppy side of life.  Put a monogram on it and I swoon.  Plus, I say, “swoon” that right there makes me preppy.  Scallops, stripes, blue and white are calling out my little one’s name…

sailor doll; crayon wallet; glittery headband; toothfairy pillow; monogrammed dress; navy pea coat; toddler bow tie; retro kid apron

I’m especially fond of the doll, dress and tooth fairy pillow.  Josie doesn’t even have teeth yet and I can’t stop thinking about the pillow…must I wait 6 more years?

Fear not for the non prepsters, I’ve got something for you as well.  ETSY has got plenty for the hipsters; there are literary hundreds of toddler harem pants for sale.  We all have a hipster friend, the kind that can’t help but put an arrow on it.  So this is for all those mustache friend’s little ones whose baby you really can’t tell the sex of cause they are dressed in head to toe black and white.

button down; bow tie; harem pant; sweater; shoes; infinity scarf

Yes, that is a toddler unisex navajo infinity scarf – kind of amazing.  If I had a boy,Id snatch up the sweater and shirt in a heartbeat.

Bah Humbug No More

How was your Thanksgiving?  Ours was wonderful.  It has to be by far the best holiday.  I love a great excuse to see family, be thankful and to dress up…

You know I had fun dressing Little for the part…

Now that Thanksgiving has past, it’s time to get knee deep in Christmas decorating.  We cut down our tree the Saturday after Thanksgiving…

We went for an itty bitty tree this year that can fit on our table because I just didn’t want to be constantly chasing after Josie as she grabbed off ornaments, stuck branches in her mouth or used the tree as a mechanism to pull herself up. Practicality was talking when we went for a three footer but I’ve got to say that I love it.  It fit in the trunk of our car; Graham could bring it up the stairs himself and it’s really cute.

I’m into a paired down, more natural look this year.  Here is what is inspiring me…

 

Elements of Style – Erin Gates

Desire to Inspire

Meet Me In Philadelphia

I’m so much more into the holidays this year compared to last year.  Last year, at this point, I was huge, uncomfortable, with the worst acid reflux and all I wanted was my little girl; Christmas had nothing on an impending new baby.  We left our tree undecorated for about three weeks before putting on a single ornament. Bah humbug!  Well, now that I’ve got the little one to celebrate Christmas with, I am all in.  Bring on the Christmas spirit!  Time to get decorating.