Winter Wonderland Christmas with Martha Stewart

November 10, 2015

I’m breaking my own no Christmas decor before Thanksgiving rule to share a peek at this year’s Martha Stewart Living at The Home Depot Holiday decor. It was really fun to team up and scheme up a white and gold themed space that would feel welcoming for all who come and go through our house in December. We spend a lot of time in these rooms with family and friends. It’s no secret my husband Gabe dreams of Christmas all year so he was more than willing to help lend a hand. My poor children are a little confused although their excited squeals over the christmas tree had us really looking forward to December 25th.

Christmas room

 
winter wonderland decor
 
Box wreaths
 holiday bar cart
 

 

Here’s a breakdown of how we decorated:

-I loved how the faux boxwood and berry wreaths looked so fresh. I hung those above our double mirrors in the dining room, and the winter wonder wreath above the bar cart. (The removable hooks work great for these if you don’t want to worry about additional nail holes in your wall.

 

These ornaments are stunning in person (they are larger than standard size). I put a bunch in a bowl for the bar cart as well as a vintage coffee pot, mugs, gold rimmed glasses, cantor, candlesticks, and a vase full of easy to grab napkins. A little something for everyone.

 

-For the tree, we found some wooden beaded strands to loop around the tree, the gold and champagne ornaments from this set, and a deep blue tree skirt. I can’t wait to curl up on the couch with the lit tree and garland at night to read a good advent book or two. Here’s hoping!

 

-Since Gabe added shelves in the living room this year we wanted to bring a little Sparkling Pine garland in to loop across the shelves and underneath a nativity set. (We like to put a nativity set in almost every room!) The two 9 ft. strands worked really well for the 12 ft. wall, and we used nails in the wood board to secure. Makes for a fun winter wonderland effect.

 

-For the dining room table we used three placemats as the runner and added the golden reindeer (who my children have already named Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, and Rudolph), golden trees, votives, and a few gold candlesticks.

trim the tree

 
Christmas bar cart
 Nativity
 Christmas Dining Roon
 holiday dining room

 

christmas glow
 

It should be noted our family room tree is usually a wonderfully tacky mix of sentimental ornaments and tacky bulbs and I really love it that way. It was fun to actually have a somewhat co-ordinated tree for this project. Do you all have a tradition around your Christmas tree? We love to decorate it together close to Christmas with the traditions of cocoa, Bing Crosby, and a fire going strong in the fireplace.

Here’s to a peaceful season ahead!

*This post is in partnership with Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, and all opinions are my own.

Buildable Wardrobe: November Edition

November 5, 2015

Buildable wardrobe
 
DIY garment rack
 

Last week I was going through my closet to bring some stacks of clothes home to my sisters and realized I had wayyyy to many of the same type of sweaters going on. Sometimes it’s easier to keep things in bins or stacks than to address the excess problem. Out they went and here are some key players staying in my wardrobe for this season. Some of these were gifted items which means I had to come up with a stack of items to gift to my sisters and the local thrift store. This has been a great rule for me to live by. 

closet staples

Buildable Wardrobe: November edition:

Cadet Blazer
Satchel Tote
Mira Pump
Checked Scarf
Marsala Skinnies
Backpack/Clutch
Double Collar Blouse
Distressed Denim
Milligan Booties
Checked Cardigan

Again, as much as I love cheap prices, I really don’t like what comes behind their production so trying to promote made in the U.S. or ethically made products. However, I am still learning and have a long way to go so bear with me! I am always open to hearing about new shops doing so! I’ll update again soon with November’s finders and keepers. Until then, you can catch up on my buildable wardrobe progress HERE.

x, Anna

Breakfast nook makeover.

November 3, 2015

I found our kitchen table at a flea market last year and it only had a cheap primer slapped onto it. Since then, it has been a well loved table being used as a both a breakfast table by morning and an art table by day. I never got around to painting it, so it got pretty beat up. The island behind the table was also in sore need of a fix up.

 Breakfast nook

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Bartaile Convertible Bags

November 2, 2015

I am always an advocate of supporting small businesses and ethically made companies, and also an advocate of functional stylish pieces. Bartaile launches today with the hope to bring multi-purpose, long lasting designs to a fashionable level….

foldover clutch

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Halloween Menu

November 1, 2015

As our family grows, holidays become a little more exciting each year. Granted, a little more challenging (costumes for 6 is a marathon friends), but definitely a blast. My sisters and brothers came over for an All Hallow’s Eve // Saint’s Day feast after trick-or-treating. I just borrowed recipes from my good friend Pinterest.

 

Fall feast | In Honor of Design

 

autumn feast | IHOD

Chocolate caramel apples

Halloween Menu:
Gabe’s chili
Mini pumpkin bread rolls
Caramel Apples (I just dipped in caramel, chocolate, and rolled in nuts)
Spiced Pumpkin Cheeseballs
Oranges (with apple core tops to turn them into mini pumpkins)
Pomegranate, Olive, and Cheeseboard (Havarti dill, goat cheese, and gouda)
Sugar cookies
Mulled Cider

Pumpkin cheeseballs

caramel apples and cookies

pomegranate, olives, and cheese

I think our family theme costumes are probably coming to an end as Gabriel gets older, but this year, my kids were crazy about this movie, and so they were more than eager to play the part…

Hope you all aren’t suffering from too much Daylight savings // halloween candy hangovers. I vote for Halloween on Saturday every year!

Happy first of November!

Items featured:

 

A little autumn home tour.

October 30, 2015

We tend to put all our energy towards Christmas decor every year, so I am lucky if I get a fall wreath on the front door, but this year I decided if I actually thought about it early enough, I could smatter a few pumpkins throughout the home too. Low expectations and you won’t be disappointed right?? Hey, anything is an achievement when you have four sweet tots consuming your attention. So here’s my best efforts for a festive home to warm us up in the evenings where the sun sets at a godforsaken hour. (I am looking at you daylight savings!!)

autumn mantle

 

Vases: Target, West Elm, Target, West Elm

IMG_4928-2

 

Bar Cart Details: Bar Cart, Glasses, Vase, Bourbon bottle, and Napkins. 

Autumn wreath
 
In Honor of Design
 
Autumn table centerpiece

 

(Table centerpiece DIY video here.)

via In Honor of Design

I hope you all have a fun Halloween weekend/ feast of el dia de los muertos!. I can’t wait to trick-or-treating with my children…basically an excuse to dress them up and squeeze their cheeks more than usual. Will be sharing their costumes over here.

Cheers!

Items featured:

Throwback: Holly Golightly Costume x 5

October 29, 2015

Holly Golightly | In Honor of Design
 
Holly GoLightly | IHOD
 
Holly Golightly and "Cat" - IHOD
 
Holly Golightly - Audrey Hepburn
 
Moon River

 
I am scrambling to gather costumes for 6 of us this weekend (whew!), and looking forward to some food and festivities with family and friends.

Here’s a quick Throwback Thursday to Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s that I styled for Martha Stewart. DIY Mask details here.

What are you all going to dress up as? I love hearing all the ideas!
x, Anna

P.S. If you need some last minute ideas: Maypole Costume, Kate Middleton, and last year’s family costume🙂

*Photos by Chelsey Heidorn

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