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My Favorite Things | 2017 Holiday Gift Guide

December 15, 2017

I know I’m not the only one that loved watching Oprah’s Favorite Things segment on her talk show. It was always thrilling to see which items made her list every year. And so fun to see the audience go crazy when they received one of everything. To celebrate the season of gifting, I’ve created my own Favorite Things Gift Guide. From fashion and function, to inspiration and little indulgences, my favorite things list is guaranteed to bring joy!

p.s. today is Free Shipping Friday so it’s a great time to do a little shopping and get many of these items shipped for free.

1 // Ryobi Cordless Glue Gun–if you’ve ever used a hot glue gun you recognize the genius in this item. No more cords to limit where you can take your glue gun or what you can use it on. This is a crafters dream! $29.97 from Home Depot.

2 // These black and white Emalina Ball Drop Earrings from BaubleBar are too cute. I can see these dressed down with jeans and a tee or worn with something a little more fancy. $38.00!

3 // I wear a lot of MAC cosmetics and this Eye Compact kit contains a nice assortment of colors and is a great value. $29.50 from Nordstrom.

4 // I shared this book earlier this year and have to do it again because it really is one of my all time favorite books. In The Company of Women is a must for women that wants amazing business and life inspiration at their fingertips. $35.00.

5 // Philosophy body care products are some of the best on the market. This Grace Gift Set makes such a nice gift and is a great price–$18.00.

6 // The Nest Holiday Candle is one of my favorite holiday candles and I’ve even been known to burn it at other times of the year too. Votive–$16.00/ 8 oz jar $40.00.

7 // Blue and White Ceramic Ginger Jar Vase Set–If you know someone who loves blue and white this is the perfect gift for them. $24.99.

8 // Malibu Beaded Necklace–I love how bold and dynamic this statement necklace is. Its available in fuchsia or turquoise blue. $48.00.

9 // I decorated my Christmas tree in my favorite colors of pink and red so it’s kinda hard for me to pass up my a fashion piece in these colors. This Checked Infinity Scarf would definitely brighten up a cold winter day. $48.00 from Anthropologie.

10 // Glass Jug Vase–I can’t tell you how many times I’ve looked at these vases from Chip and Joanna Gaines’ Hearth & Hand collection at Target. The color is so rich and pretty and I so tempted to buy one for myself. 3 sizes–$16.99-$29.99.

11 // There are tons of great gifts at Steve McKenzie’s but one of my favorite items is the Blenko Water Bottles. Handmade and mouth-blown, Blenko water bottles are made in West Virginia and have been produced for over 75 years. They are available in a mini ($45) or larger size ($55) and come in a range of colors. This is the perfect gift for someone who loves to entertain. FYI–if you can’t make it to the Steve McKenzie store, you can order online and have it shipped.

12 // I have several of these Monogram Mugs from Williams Sonoma and love them. They are a great gift for men, women and kids and are currently on sale for $7.96.

13 // Glamorous Wash in Katina–This laundry detergent is specifically made for fine washables and linens and smells amazing. I also use it when I’m washing out sleepwear. The DIVA scent is pretty fabulous too! $28.50 for a 32 oz bottle.

14 // There’s nothing more luxurious than waking up on a cold morning and slipping into a cozy robe. This Pottery Barn Faux Fur Robe with Chinchilla trim was made for cold mornings. $90.

15 // Monogram Address Labels make a great gift especially for that person that’s hard to buy for. I love the selection of labels from Zazzle and recently ordered this classic blue and white design. $3.30 for a sheet of 18 labels but you can save 25% with the code 25OFFSITEZAZ.

16 // So I had to include a splurge gift on my favorite things lis and this Olive Leaf Band Ring from Tiffany is it. This beautiful ring is designed by Paloma Picasso and crafted of sterling silver and is definitely meant for someone special. $325.

MY FAVORITE THINGS 2017

Stop by the blog tomorrow where I’ll be sharing my holiday gift wrap and lots of gift wrap tips.

Holiday Gift Guide | For Decor Lovers

December 12, 2017

Happy Tuesday friends! It’s Holiday Gift Guide day here on the blog and today’s guide is extra special. Not only have I rounded up decor gifts that will be perfect for the decorator on your Christmas list, but I’m sharing a few decorating tips for each item! There are 11 items in today’s gift guide and every single one is something I’d love to own (or do). And I’ve included price-points ranging from $12.99 all the way up to $159 but most of the items are under $50. Happy shopping!

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DECOR GIFTS UNDER $50

1 // Here’s proof that stylish home decor items don’t have to be expensive. These Pierced Lanterns are just $12.99 for the set of 2. Plus they are perfect for decorating during the holidays or anytime of the year. design tip: transform a decorative lantern into a flower vase by simply dropping a clear glass vase inside the lantern to hold flowers.

2 // Animal Print Velvet Pillow — I’ve seen this pillow at my local TJMaxx and its gorgeous. It’s lush and the 22″ X 22″ size ($39.99) is perfect as an accent pillow on a sofa or bed. It’s also available in a 14″ x 26″ size ($29.99). design tip: animal prints are a classic design element that will never go out of style.

3 // After seeing this Etched Glass Globe in Dear Lillie’s home office, I had to have it. It’s a unique decorative piece that will make a great gift for guys or gals. And it’s on sale for $34.99. design tip: don’t relegate globes to the home office, they make a nice decorative statement as part of a tabletop vignette.

4 // I used these Acrylic Candle Holders on a client’s fireplace mantel and they are stunning. The brass base and acrylic stem create the perfect mix of traditional and modern styling. Two sizes–small $34.00 and large $41.00. design tip: using candle holders in different sizes will add depth and dimension to a candle arrangement. But if your pair of candle holders are the same height, use pillars or taper candles in different heights to create the same dimensional effect.

CLASSIC DECOR GIFTS

5 // Have you noticed how hard it is to find stylish bud vases? Well, I’ve found the one! This gorgeous Clear Mini Glass Vase is fluted and looks much more expensive than its $5.99 price. design tip: A grouping of single bud vases down the middle of dining table can have just a much impact as a large floral arrangement. And bud vases are great at each individual place setting.

6 // I absolutely love this Rattan Ice Bucket. It’s casually chic and would look great on a bar cart or in a butler’s pantry. $59.50 design tip: ice buckets also make great flower vases! Here’s a great example.

7 // There’s not much from Serena & Lily that I don’t love. I’d use this Bedford Tray as part of a coffee table arrangement. $148.00 design tip: if your tray has an open weave bottom, have a piece of clear acrylic cut to fit so the tray becomes functional for serving.

UNIQUE & CHIC DECOR GIFTS

8 // I own this Faux Fur Soft Throw Blanket and can’t begin to tell you how soft it is. It’s available in three colors but this grey is my favorite. $59.99 d design tip: when not in use, drape throw blankets over the backs of chairs or across a footstool as a decorative statement.

9 // I just adore this blue and white Tassel Cachpot from Wayfair and hope Santa brings it my way for Christmas. $159.99 design tip: planters are not just for plants. Oversized planters make great containers for magazine, blankets or towel storage in a bathroom.

10 // Magnifying glasses like the Zamora Magnifier Glass are a fun accessory to add to a coffee table or bookshelf vignette. And they are a good men’s gift too! $49.95 design tip: group three or more similar items together to create an instant collection. Check out this grouping of magnifying glasses.

11 // How cute is this White Elephant Match Holder? Pair this with your favorite candle and you’ve got an awesome gift anyone would love. $38.00 design tip: whenever you’re shopping for decorative accessories, think about additional ways an item can be used. This match holder could be used as a flower vase, ring holder or vanity accessory in the bathroom.

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That’s it for today! I’ll be back tomorrow for the finale of the Merry & Bright Holiday Home Tour so be sure to stop by. I’ll be sharing the rest of my holiday decor with you. Here’s a little sneak peek…

2017 Merry & Bright Holiday Home Tour–Part 1

November 29, 2017

Welcome to the Merry & Bright Holiday Home Tour. I’m so excited for this year’s home tour and all of the fabulous bloggers that are participating. Plus we have two awesome brand sponsors for this year’s tour, Amara and SmithHonig. I’ll share more about these great brands throughout the home tour series.

p.s. You’ll find links to all of the participating bloggers holiday home tours at the bottom of the blog post.

If you’re coming over from M. Jones Style, welcome! My friend Marsha is a southern girl at heart so entertaining comes naturally to her. Her holiday drink station is beautiful and makes me want to sit down and have a hot toddy. I can’t wait to see more of her holiday decor in the coming weeks.

Every year I start my holiday home tour by sharing the inspiration for my decor. If you recall, my theme this year was using my favorite colors, pink and red along with touches of white and green. I wanted our decor to be classic and playful at the same time and my original vision came to life just as I imagined.

Here’s a look at the inspiration boards I created earlier this year.

And here’s how it all turned out…

My Holiday Home

The foundation of my Christmas decor is always our tree and if I must say so myself, she’s a beauty.

I’ve been so busy these days that when my friend Don offered to help decorate my tree, I squealed with joy. Don worked for me when I had my store and is one of the most creative people I know. He came over one afternoon and we got to work adding honeycomb balls, deco mesh and close to 400 ornaments to the tree.

I topped the tree with a big silver star that I purchased over 25 years ago on a buying trip to San Francisco when I worked for Eddie Bauer.

I used a variety of ornaments on the tree including some beautiful blush pink ones from Amara. Amara is a UK-based home and interiors brand. The company sells a variety of decor and gift items from over 300 of the world’s more luxurious home fashion brands. And while based in the UK, Amara ships all across the globe making their product available to everyone.

Amara has a great selection of Christmas ornaments and decor and the blush pink set was perfect for my theme. The set includes 4 styles of round ornaments– shiny solid, solid matt and two glitter styles. I love the quality of the ornaments, and the variety of styles added to the whimsy of my tree.

My Favorite Colors: Hot Pink & Red

In addition to ornaments, I used a red and pink striped deco mesh instead of ribbon and love the wow factor it gave the tree.

decor mesh

And for even more WOW, check out these paper honeycomb balls that are nestled at the top and throughout the tree. How fun!

med & large paper honeycomb balls // small honeycomb ball from Ikea

red mercury glass trees from HomeGoods

Now let’s move over to the fireplace. Since we haven’t had our mantel installed yet, I draped my garland around the fireplace using Command Hooks to hold it in place. I hug a small wreath in the center and added clusters of ornaments to each corner of the garland. holiday decorating tip: clustering ornaments in groups of three is a great way to add impact on a tree or garland.

I also embellished the corners with bows made of pink and red ribbon from PaperMart.

1 1/2″ wide red ribbon // 7/8″ wide pink ribbon

I didn’t do much decorating on the bookshelves that flank the fireplace. I filled a couple of vintage bowls with ornaments and added a small mercury glass tree to one shelf.

You can learn how I made my rolling holiday giftwrap crate here.

blush pink ornaments from Amara

I absolutely love my Christmas decor and wish I could keep it up year round. It’s definitely beginning to look a lot like Christmas at my house but there’s still more to see. Come back next Wednesday, 12/6 for part 2 of the Merry & Bright Holiday Home tour. I’ll be sharing my dining room along with more of my holiday decor throughout the house.

Next on the tour is Love Your Abode. I had the pleasure of finally meeting Yuni a few weeks ago and she is such a doll. You all are going to love her holiday home…it so fun and festive. Hop over to Love Your Abode and show Yuni some love.

And be sure to stop by the other bloggers in the tour for more holiday decor and inspiration.

Merry & Bright Holiday Home Tour Participants:

Yuni @ Love Your Abode

Kate @ Chic On A Shoestring Decorating

Melanie @ Rover At Home

Tamyra @ Positively Southern

Meg @ Green With Decor

Marsha @ M. Jones Style

disclosure: I received products from Amara to use in my Christmas Decor. I am a big fan of the company and only share products and brands that I love. All opinions are my own.

Holiday Gift Guide | Gifts For Him

November 28, 2017

I don’t know about the rest of you ladies but when it comes to buying Christmas gifts for men, I find myself stumped more often than not.

Take my husband for instance. Whenever I ask him what he wants for Christmas, his typical response is “whatever you get me is great.” What’s a girl to do with that? And just how many sweaters does one man need?

Then there’s my brother. He is a ‘techie’ and loves electronics and computer stuff but if he wants something, he buys it for himself. When Christmas rolls around, I’m left clueless as to what to get him.

So in honor of all the hard-to-buy-for-men out there, here are some great gift ideas I think will garner a big hug on Christmas morning.

Gift Guide: Gifts For Him

1 // I love when a man wears a suit and takes the time to add a pocket square. It’s such a simple detail that adds so much style. This 5 pc. Hankerchief Set comes in a 20 different pattern and color sets and is just $12.99!

2 // Another fashion staple I think every man should own in a set of cuff links. This monogrammed pair of Brass Cuff Links is classic and timeless. $40.00

3 // I shared my husbands review of Harry’s shaving products earlier this year so this gift suggestion comes from the both of us. Limited Edition Storm Gray Shave Set–$30.00

4 // We received the Amazon Echo from my techie brother a couple of years ago and we love it. There are so many cool features beyond playing music and getting a daily news update. Snag is baby while it’s currently on sale at Amazon. $79.99 (affiliate link)

5 // I bought my hubby this a few Christmas’ ago and this Breville Panini Press & Grill has become his favorite kitchen tool. He loves to cook steaks on it or grill sandwiches on the weekend. $129.95

6 // This just might be one of the coolest gifts your guy will ever receive. And if he’s a football fan, he’ll love this Heated Stadium Seat. It’s cordless, lightweight, and portable so he can take it anywhere. And the rechargeable heating system provides up to six hours of heat so he can stay comfy in the cold. $61.95 p.s. this might be a one for him, one for you kind of gift if you’re a football fan too.

7 // When it comes to water bottles with a masculine look, the Swell Teakwood Water Bottle wins hands down. And I love that you can have it personalized with a monogram too! $35.00 + $10 for monogram

8 // This is for the man who does a lot of traveling and hates to iron. The Harvey Tie Roll holds several ties and keeps them wrinkle-free when traveling. $99 + $9.50 to monogram

9 // This is the perfect watch for a summer vacation or for casual outfits. The Ryder Nylon Watch is available in two colors. $99.00

10 // My husband is obsessive about his shoes so this will make a great gift he can throw in his briefcase or keep in the car. It’s also great for traveling. Portable Shoe Shine Kit–$20.00

11// Anything with retro styling is popular theses days. If the men in your life love photography, the Fujifilm Digital Camera is a great compact camera they’ll love taking everywhere. The FUJIFILM is the first X-Series camera with a touchscreen display that rotates 180 degrees. $699.00.

So there you have it…my top picks for men’s gifts this Christmas.

If you have a hard-to-buy-for-guy in your life, leave me a comment and let me know what Santa is bringing him this year.

And if you want to add a little something DIY to his wrapped gift, check out my easy DIY Leather Gift Tag tutorial here.

Free Printable Merry & Bright Gift Tags

November 27, 2017

Happy Holidays friends! Did you have a great Thanksgiving and first official weekend of the Christmas season? We sure did.

I know many of you were out and about this weekend, taking advantage of the Black Friday deals. I was right there with you and I’m happy to say I now have most of my gift list checked off. Now it is time to start thinking about gift wrapping. . . one of my favorite things!

If you have wrapping gifts on your to-do list, I’ve got a special gift just for you. I created a fun gift tag collection that I’m calling Merry & Bright for you to download and print for FREE. The set of tags includes classic and bright colors in a variety of designs to work with just about any holiday decor theme. These can be printed onto a white card stock and trimmed. Add narrow ribbon or twine to the holes and use that to tie them onto my gifts. Click here to download FREE Printable Merry & Bright Christmas Gift Tags. Enjoy!

Click here to download FREE Printable Merry & Bright Christmas Gift Tags

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For those of you living in the Atlanta area and needing some gift wrap inspiration, be sure to join me this Saturday, Dec. 2nd from 10:00-11:00 am at Steve McKenzie’s for my holiday gift wrap workshop. It’s going to be a fun morning and there will be giveaways too! All workshop attendees are invited to bring 1 small boxed gift to wrap in a creative way. Paper and wrapping supplies will be provided.

Click the Eventbrite link to register and reserve your spot today. I hope to see you there.

Be sure to stop by tomorrow for another holiday gift guide. This weeks gift guide includes some really awesome items for the men in your life. Shopping for men’s gifts can be challenging but my gift guide will make it a little easier this year. You can view my previous gift guides here:

Gift Guide: For The Fashionista

Gift Guide: Hostess Gifts

Holiday Gift Guide | Hostess Gifts

November 21, 2017

This time of year is super busy with holiday gatherings and parties, and chances are you’ve got a party or two to attend. I don’t want you to show up empty handed so check out my Hostess Gift Guide. I’ve searched high and low to round-up twelve awesome gifts to bring the hostess as a little thank you!

P.S. Some of these gifts are also perfect to wrap up and put under the tree for family or friends to open on Christmas morning.

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Read the Post

Christmas At Queen Of Hearts Antiques & Interiors

November 17, 2017

Last Thursday I attended a special event at Queen of Hearts Antiques and Interiors in Alpharetta. The store invited interior designers and bloggers to an early morning shopping event before they opened their doors for their holiday open house. We had the full run of the store so I was able to browse (and shop) the wonderful selection of antiques, vintage decor and holiday items.

If you live in the Atlanta area but aren’t familiar with Queen of Hearts, let me tell you a little about the store and business. Queen of Hearts opened it first store in 1998 and today there are three stores in the Atlanta area–Alpharetta, Marietta and Buford. Each store is made up hundreds of dealer-merchants with individual booths to sell their goods. You’ll find a wide range of products ranging from furniture, housewares and decor to fashion and personal accessories.

While each location has the Queen of Hearts signature set up – wide, easy-to-navigate aisles named after streets in Charleston, S.C. – each also has its own personality. Dealers in Alpharetta feature products targeted to designers and decorators. Marietta is more of a traditional antiques store, while Buford has a lot of dealers who are creatively repurposing old items for new uses.

Queen of Hearts has been branded to be a one-stop shop for antiques and home interiors merchandise which you’ll quickly recognize the minute you enter the store.

I arrived at the store around 8:45 am and was immediately taken in by the beautiful holiday displays and merchandising vignettes. I knew I had to whip out my phone and snap a few pictures so I could share it all with you. Enjoy my tour through Queen of Hearts and take note of the creative holiday decorating ideas I’m pointing out along the way. ***Warning, this is photo heavy post, guaranteed to make you want to go shopping!

Queen Of Hearts Antiques & Interiors

If you have a love for antique and vintage china, the store is choke full of ironstone, milk glass and transferware.

Everyday Decor…

Once I stopped drooling over all the beautiful china I focused in on the everyday decor.

These marble bookends were just stunning!

I almost bought this bell for those occasion when I want to summon the butler (not)!

This bamboo bench was a beauty. I really wanted it but there’s just one problem…I don’t have a place to put it.

I loved this arrangement of frames and antique mirrors on a mantel. Talk about a super budget-friendly and dynamic mantel decorating idea.

Collectibles of all kinds filled the shelves.

These pretty decanters were also something I thought about purchasing. I loved everything about them except the price 🙁

And then there was the Christmas decor…

Hold your horses because this is going to be good.

New and vintage ornaments displayed in bowls and containers. This is one of the easiest holiday decorating ideas ever. Look around your house, I’m sure you have a spot or two that could use an ornament arrangement.

I bought a few small vintage ornaments to use in my holiday decor. There were a lot of dealers with vintage ornament collections and most ornaments were priced between $3 and $6 each.

One of the things I enjoyed seeing was all of the unique wreath decorating ideas.

This was a small wreath that had an oversized candy cane ornaments attached to it. The wreath was used as a place setting on a holiday tablescape.

For more rustic themed holiday decor, this grapevine wreath was beautifully decorated with a big linen bow, faux magnolia leaves and pinecones.

One trend I’m seeing everywhere right now are wreaths with just the upper or lower area decorated, similar to a Laurel Wreath.

Christmas Inspiration…

In addition to wreaths, there were beautiful decor pieces using greenery stems and swags.

Greenery stems nestled around holiday decor in a large metal tray.

I love the idea of placing greenery picks under a glass dome.

I’m so stealing this idea of using a ceramic swan vase to hold holiday greens.

There were lots of these wood star decor pieces. I see the stars at flea markets and antique stores all the time and love how they can be transformed using greenery, pinecones and a bow.

Or for a more traditional look, holiday ornaments.

Here’s a quick and easy DIY you can do for your own home. Tie a greenery pick and leaf stem to a vintage silver-plated tray. Then add a big bow to finish it off. An arrangement like this can be hung on a front door or any wall space in your home.

Just about every aisle in the store had Christmas decor of some kind. There were lots of pillows, tabletop items and unique gifts.

This vintage sled was not cheap but boy was it cool. It would look great hung on a wall in a kids room.

And last but not least were the pretty holiday dinner napkins that I loved.

Wasn’t that shopping tour fun?! You can only image how I felt shopping the store in person.

Queen of Hearts is a treasure trove of goodies so plan on spending some time when you decide to go shopping. And for those of you that can’t make it to the store, they also showcase a lot of the items for sale on Craigslist. You can shop from the comforts of home and then contact the store to make your purchase.

Follow Queen of Hearts on Facebook for regular photo updates from all the stores. And sign up for their newsletter here to be notified of store events.

Queen of Hearts store locations:

Alpharetta–670 Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009

Marietta–2745 Sandy Plains Road, Marietta, GA 30066

Buford–4125 GA Hwy 20, Buford, GA 30518 (next to Hobby Lobby)

Happy shopping friends!

When Did Sweatshirts Get So Stylish?

October 26, 2017

How many of you have a stack of sweatshirts in your closet that you pull on in the evening or maybe wear when running errands on the weekend? My stack consist of your typical crewneck style with long sleeves. And I also have a few sweatshirts with my college logo on them just to remind of my wild and crazy college days.

The other day I was walking through Nordstrom and noticed lots of sweatshirts hanging on the racks. These weren’t your typical athletic sweatshirts. These sweatshirts had fun fashion details and came in pretty colors. Every sweatshirt I picked up was cuter than the next and I found myself asking…when did sweatshirts become so stylish?

When athleisure started to grow in popularity, designers began making sweatshirts that had old-school comfort but more fashionable details to meet the trend. Sweatshirts now have ruffles and bows, bell sleeves and are being made in street wear fabrics.

I for one am thrilled with the fashion sweatshirt trend and have already picked up a couple of styles to add to my weekend wardrobe.

Today I’m sharing 6 stylish sweatshirts perfect for the colder weather ahead.

one // When your outfit calls for a more sporty look, the Original Funnel Neck Sweatshirt is what you want. The relaxed turtleneck makes it feel like a mix between a sweatshirt and a sweater. This is definitely weekend lounging material.

two // I’m all about embellishments when it comes to fashion so the Pleione Tie Back Sweatshirt was a must-have. I love the tie detail in the back and the slightly billowy sleeve. It’s adorable and comes in black, burgundy, ivory and navy.

three // The ruffle craze has found its way to sweatshirts. This Ruffle Sleeve Sweatshirt is super cute and I love the pale pink color. And its 40% off right now which makes it a pretty good deal. Here’s a similar ruffle sleeve sweatshirt for only $16.99 which I snagged at a local store.

four // I love, love, love this Tie Front Sweatshirt. It’s a little dresser than the other styles so you could easily wear it with jeans and boots. And I would hesitate to pair it with a pair of cropped black pants either.

five // In case you hadn’t noticed, velvet is a hot fashion trend for fall and winter. This Velvet Panel Sweatshirt is so adorable and great when you need a more polished look.

six // If a full-blown sweatshirt is not your style, how about this cute sweatshirt bomber jacket? The pintuck detail dresses it up a bit but it’s still a great piece to lounge around in.

I popped in to TJMaxx and Marshalls the other day and noticed lots of great sweatshirts styles on their racks. And you can even find some cute styles at JC Penney and Target. This embroidered sweatshirt at JC Penney is only $22 when you use their sale code (39forYou).