If you’re looking for a great top this holiday season to wear with denim and won’t break the bank, this is it!  It’s only $20 and I love the way it fits!  It doesn’t hurt either that it matches my color scheme I’ve got going on downstairs here. (Bow belt purchased a few years ago.)

 

Last year I tied large pink velvet bows on my pendants in the kitchen because they looked like huge presents to me and it was so fun.  So this year I went even bigger and fancier.  I contacted one of my favorite wholesalers because I didn’t see any retailers selling what I wanted and could envision in my head and my Google searches left me coming up empty.

 

 

 

The other night I shared on my Instagram stories how I took some white roses and green clippings from Trader Joe’s and made some simple, yet elegant, Christmas floral arrangements to put in my kitchen.  It smells so good!  I love the aroma of fresh pine!

 

This is the same ribbon I used on my tree and it is so stunning!  I had to use it to create a beautiful bow on this simple wreath and add it to my pantry.

 

 

 

I was telling everyone on Instagram the other day that if I put out candy around the holidays where I can see it, I want nothing to do with it.  But if I hide it in the pantry, then it becomes a temptation.  Funny, right?! So I have it sprinkled throughout the kitchen for guests.

 

I kept these gold wreaths out from my fall decor as they were perfect for Christmas too! I used 3M hooks on my glass cabinets.

I love adding just a little ribbon to my gold canisters at Christmas time.  They add a festive touch!

 

 

 

 

White & Gold Hot Cocoa Bar Cart

 

 

I always put out a hot cocoa bar cart as soon as it gets cold. The kids and their friends and our guests always love it.  I made this cute banner years ago but have it saved on my computer.  If you’re interested, I’d love to share it in a blog post and offer it as a free download!

 

 

White & Gold Christmas Dining Table & Buffet

The one thing I miss having in this house is a formal dining room and I’m dying to build again for that reason alone because I’m one that loves to entertain.  Putting a buffet at the end of our dining area helps it feel more like a dining space and also gives me a perfect space to put my nativity set at Christmas time.  I especially love that it’s just to the side of my “Walking On Water” canvas by Reflections Of Christ.

I found it years ago at a garage sale for $5 when we lived in Waco. It’s in perfect condition and I just love it so much! The reflection in the mirror of my tree here is one of my favorite views from this part of my kitchen.

I wrapped these all around the candle sticks this year and I cut each one in half.

Last year I purchased these little wreaths (you can pull off the darker berries if you wish) and sprayed some faux snow spray, glued some maribou feather, and then glued some mini village ornaments.  This year, I switched the ribbon on top and added some simple gold and white grosgrain ribbon and used the 3M hooks to the back of the chairs to hang them.

One more gold leaf wreath on a cake stand with my angel, glitter Christmas tree candles, and mercury glass votives seemed to be the perfect centerpiece. At night, the votive candle give the angel a beautiful glow.

 

Tomorrow I’m sharing my tall 12′ Christmas tree in my entry! Make sure to come back for that and for my bedroom tour on Friday!

 

WHEN DOES THE NORDSTROM ANNIVERSARY SALE 2019 START?

The sale starts for Nordstrom card holders (it’s called “Early Access”) on Friday the 12th. If you haven’t signed up for a card you still can so you can get early access to the sale before it opens to the public on July 19th and runs through August 4th. Sign up for a card here. Also if you haven’t checked out the catalog yet, take a peek here to see some of the pieces styled.

So let’s get right to it, shall we?!! These are my top picks in home, fashion, accessories, beauty, shoes and more.

This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy and here for my privacy & cookies policy.  All opinions are my own.

Click on any image to shop!  Note that many items come in other colors so make sure to click on it to see variables!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are a few of the things from above that I tried on and loved!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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These melamine plates above are our favorite (linked at end of post too).  They’re so easy to take out back and they just wash and rinse off so quickly and are so easy to use most nights.  The cute melamine pink goblets are from HomeGoods and I found them in blue also and bought them in several different sizes (goblets, tall and small tumblers) for outdoor dining.

I found the cutest pink plasticware and at HomeGoods and also this caddy that I use and keep this and other plasticware or flatware in so we can just grab it and take it outside.  It makes dinner time so easy.

These plates again!  You can mix and match them with so many different things to make different place settings.  They’re so darling and so versatile!  I also love these hobnail melamine goblets.  They’re another summer dining staple of mine.

I love pulling out all my fun plates and mixing fun summery colors, whether we are eating indoors or outdoor, for summer dining. 

I have soooo many different plates, especially for spring and summer, so I like to make a point to pull them out since we aren’t rushing around in the summer.  

This pretty blue dress is one of my new favorite summer dresses.  I’ve been a big fan of Rachel Parcell’s dresses and own almost a dozen of them.  This blue dress is so light, airy, feminine, and has the prettiest ruffled sleeves and layers.  It’s so comfortable and so flattering!

 

I like to be a little more thoughtful about setting a simple but lovely table for my family and especially for friends when they come and join us.  I love using the plates and napkins in my cabinets and not just saving them for a blog post or a special occasion.  That doesn’t make sense to me.

Summer Living Room

Guess what?  My summer living room is staying exactly the same! I changed it for spring and love the blush and green so much that it’s staying.

The only thing I was going to change was the custom drapes that are being made for the downstairs but they’re not finished yet.  Stay tuned for that.  I’m so excited to share those with you!

Pink and green is so fresh, don’t you think?!  Last year I did pink and blue and loved it but really wanted something different and new this year.

I don’t know why I was so nervous about the green….maybe because I’d never decorated with it before.  Ok not true…I did about 11 years ago but it’s been forever.  But green with the blush….oh I just loved it.

 

Summer Kitchen

My summer kitchen means two things…..fresh flowers and fresh fruit.  All the time.  Yep.  We love it.

I just cut the rest of the peonies off of my peony bushes and brought them inside.  I have a large rose garden too and many other types of flowers in my garden so I love cutting them and bringing them in.  I don’t grow my own fruit yet (planted my first apple and lemon trees) but we go and pick our own fruit here at all the orchards around town and have TONS of fruit constantly.  It’s heavenly!

Summer Entry Way – New Hand-painted Chinoiserie Framed Panels

I love this warm glow in my entry in the summer afternoons!  This long lace kimono and a light blue pair of denim is the perfect go-to for an evening out (since it’s not so hot in the evenings) like a concert in the park, dinner out on the restaurant patio, dinner and shopping downtown…whatever.  It’s light and feminine and very summery.

My friends from the Collective and Company reached out to me earlier this year and introduced their GORGEOUS hand-painted chinoiserie panels to me.  I was so excited to receive these beautiful panels in my home and knew exactly where they’d go.  I’d been looking for the perfect art work for a year and a half since we moved in here.  

 

They are even more gorgeous in person and come in several different color options.  My largest ginger jar with faux dogwood branches at the top of the first stair landing was a beautiful compliment to the panels.

They make such a dramatic and stunning statement when you walk in the door now.  It’s exactly what this entry needed!!!!

I changed my entry from pink and blue to this gorgeous light seafoam or spa blue color and some darker blue accents.

 Did you see my Instagram stories the other day?  This was my ugly Salvation Army ginger jar for $2.49 (it was yellow and green sunflower-patterned) and I hand-painted it a white-blue ombre with acrylic and chalk paint I had here at home.  I love how it turned out for my entry!

 

I found this darling bird at Canon Beach at a boutique on Spring Break.  It’s perfect for my new entry!

This new ornate candle holder from HomeGoods was also the perfect addition for my entry.  I have a new runner on the way for my entry and new bench that both arrive by Friday so I’ll update this post with them AND share them on Instagram so stay tuned for that.  Other than that and this candle holder, I didn’t want to buy any new decor for the summer.  I wanted to shop my home and move things around.  Speaking of….

I brought this chair down from the bonus room (that has also been in the family room) and switched out what was here to give a fresh new look.  I’m loving it!  Do you ever “shop your home” and move stuff around?  It’s a great way to save money and a great way to re-love your things again when you get sick of your spaces.

Simple white summer dresses, sandals, messy buns, and straw totes are a great summer staple!  I’ll link a bunch of great summer white dresses below.  This was my favorite from last year but there are so many cute ones for sale online right now that I’m tempted to buy.  (How many white sundresses does a girl need?  haha) Oh, and don’t forget big earrings!  I love big earrings with a messy bun.

 

 

Please make sure to stop by and visit my other friends that are sharing today! 

Summer Adams | Fashionable Hostess | A Blissful Nest

Citrine Living | Remington Avenue | Alicia Wood Lifestyle

 

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It still had the glam factor but the kids absolutely LOVED it and I was so grateful that you all fell in love with it as well!

3- Master Bedroom Updates For Fall & Winter  I loved partnering with my darling friends at Pom Pom At Home when they asked me to share their gorgeous bedding.

It also featured a few of the pretty pumpkins that HotSkwash sent me.

 

4- Master Bedroom Summer Refresh  I love being in my bedroom and I’m glad you all loved another master bedroom post as well.  Thank you so much!  

Click here on the post to see more on my new nightstands and other details.

5- Free Printable 2018 Calendar  I couldn’t believe how many of you visited the blog for this calendar all through December!  I was so pleasantly surprised. Guess what?  My 2019 calendar will be available on the blog TOMORROW so make sure to check back for it!  It’s going to be beautiful!  I hoped to have it available last week but we decided to go home to California for the holidays so I’m a tad behind.

6- The Prettiest Ways To Style Pumpkins For The Fall  This was fun because it’s really the first year that I’ve truly been excited for fall decor.

I had so many fun glam pumpkin vignettes but the blush pumpkin table might have been my favorite.  The best part was getting your emails and messages with pics of your “pink fall decor” in your home after feeling so inspired by my posts.  See!  This is why I love creating and sharing!  We all grab inspiration and ideas from each other and can create our own versions in our own homes.  It’s a beautiful thing!  Keep sharing your homes with me.  I love it!

10- French Inspired Back Patio Dining Even into the winter, this post was being read and pinned over and over.  So, I think we can all agree that there’s something special about being outdoors in a beautiful setting and enjoying delicious food while the sun sets.  That was our summer here in the Pacific Northwest (notice all the new and small flowers I had just planted) and it was divine!

After living in Texas most of the last 15 years (I’m a Cali girl who married a Texan and we’ve mostly lived there) and a couple years in Vegas, it has been soooo refreshing to live in such a gorgeous green area where you can grow almost anything and it actually cools down in the evening and eating outdoors is pleasant and delightful.  I love it here and I can’t wait to keep landscaping our back and side yards and eat outside again!  We also added a striped french-style retractable awning that extends over the patio and I’ll share it with you this spring.

Stay tuned for lots of fun outdoor additions, including a step-by-step tutorial on this DIY putting green that I secretly made in a day for my husband for Fathers’ Day last summer!  Beckham’s trying it out here.  My husband LOVED it!!!!  I thought he was going to cry!  He was soooo surprised and I think it’s his favorite gift ever.  I almost paid a few thousand dollars for someone to build me one BUT I decided to do it myself for under $500.  Look for this in March or April 2019.

That’s all folks!  I hope you’ll take the time to visit my top 10 posts of 2018!

 

Now please take a minute to check out my DIY and Home blogger friends top posts in 2018! This is the very best the web has to offer!

TIDBITS | Miss Mustard Seed | Farmhouse on Boone | Maison De Pax | A Burst of Beautiful

Simply Designing | Bless’er House | Taryn Whiteaker Designs | Designthusiasm | Unskinny Boppy

Live Laugh Rowe | Kendra John Designs | House by Hoff | So Much Better With Age | Life On Virginia Street

ZDesign At Home | Town and Country Living | Shabbyfufu | Happy Happy Nester | Stacy Risenmay

Cherished bliss | Clean and Scentsible | anderson + grant | The Happy Housie | Summer Adams

Decor Gold Designs | Maison de Cinq | Seeking Lavender Lane

 

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I would love it if you could subscribe at the top of the page in order to receive my weekly emails of all my latest blog posts and see everything I’m working on!  You can also follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook to see what I’m up to in creating a home and lifestyle of inspiration!

xoxo,

 

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Want to shop my Instagram posts?  Click on any square below! 

 

This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience. Click here to read my
full disclosure policy and here for my privacy & cookies policy.  All opinions are my own.

Here are the shopping links for my pajamas, slippers, throw blanket, and gift boxes above.  Click HERE for more on my living room tree, pictured.

First…An easy way to shop all my gift ideas and posts – Like To Know It

Do you follow me on the Like To Know It?  They have an app or you can shop on your desktop site, either way.  It’s like having hundreds of personal shoppers (or as many as you want to follow) at your fingertips and we, influencers, link all our favorite things and do the hunting for you. 

Here’s a super quick explanation below of how and why to use the Like To Know It App and website if you prefer to use that.

 

Honestly, that’s how I do most of my shopping!  It’s FABULOUS!!
Below is a quick tutorial on how to shop on your phone with the app.

 

Isn’t that brilliant?!  I promise you’ll love me for it.  Make sure to follow me on Instagram and on LikeToKnowIt.  You can download the app for free in your app store and it’s simple to create an account and start shopping.

The Ultimate Gift Guides

First, I’ve gathered some of my favorite gift ideas and put them here in front of my tree to share with you.  

While I love a nice handbag, I really LOVE a nice crossbody purse as well.  When I’m out Christmas shopping and don’t have a shopping cart to put my purse in, like at the mall, carrying a handbag is just too heavy and makes shopping exhausting.  But a small and lovely crossbody is the perfect solution to allow me to shop for hours without back and shoulder and neck pain.  These 3 shown here are under $30 and I’ll link them below.  I’ll also link a few high-end pieces that I have and love as well.

These ornament candles have been so popular this holiday season.  They are a great gift idea and you can keep them around all winter long.

 

 

Do you have a gift exchange where the gift has to be handmade?  Make a pretty gingerbread house that can be displayed in their kitchen.  The pretty cake stand alone also makes a great gift.

Cute mugs are always a darling idea.  Everyone seems to love my mug with the fur collar and it keeps your hands off the hot mug.

Slippers are my favorite shoes….at home at least.  I wear them all year long.  In the summer, I wear open-toed slippers, or house shoes, because it’s just more comfortable on the hard floor.  These are so affordable and I get so many compliments.

Pretty treats are always a huge plus.

Candle accessories are always a good idea.  I love this brass wick trimmer above.

Also, this flameless lighter (charged by a USB cord) has been one of YOUR favorite things I’ve shared this season on my LikeToKnowIt feed.  I’ve enjoyed all your feedback!

I forgot to add these pieces to my first photo BUT…
I use these gorgeous pink milk glass pieces to serve treats and drinks to guests, like my one-hour orange rolls (soooo good) and they would make the perfect gift, as would the tray!

 

More slippers!  But these are special because I like to wear them with my favorite robe.

I first shared these ideas in my Loveliest Looks of Christmas Tour, sponsored by Pottery Barn, earlier this season and you all looooved them!  I know many women put them on their wish lists so I’m crossing my fingers for all of you!  In fact, just gift them to yourself!!

This glittering glass tray is so gorgeous and it would be perfect for your bathroom or to put candles on or jewelry.

A small monthly perfume membership to Scentbird is such a cool idea!  For $14.95 a month and free shipping, you get to select from their collection of 450+ designer and niche fragrances and line up your monthly queue. Get a generous supply of fragrance (0.27oz/ 8ml) in a travel-friendly spray (see white tube above in pic). Free refillable case with your first order.  You can cancel ANY time. I  love it!!  I have wanted to try soooo many fragrance but I’m not wanting pay $100 a bottle.  If I love it, I order another month of it.  You can cancel at ANY time!  Click HERE to see more and get a free month of perfume with my link!  I’ve been subscribing for over a year and I love it!

Stackable bracelets are a brilliant and thoughtful gift.

Unique ornaments are things I love getting at Christmas as well

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Candles, candles, and more candles…always a good gift idea.

How about giving the gift of the PUREST and SAFEST beauty products that exist?  BeautyCounter is my new favorite cosmetic line (foundation and lipstick shown above – the skincare is amazing).  With all the health problems I’ve been trying to solve lately (my regular readers know this) I’m now clean-eating, I gave up Diet Coke (still sad about that!!!!!), and switched to the most FABULOUS skin care and beauty line I’ve ever used.  Coming from former make-up artist who has literally tried EVERYTHING, that is saying a LOT.  No joke, my skin has never looked and felt so good.  I’m 40 so I’m only going to use the best from here on out. You’ll hear me talk much more about this in the new year!

Variety of gifts in pink

I couldn’t resist linking a TON of fabulous gift ideas (home, fashion, beauty) for the girl who loves pink!  Like me!  But if they don’t like pink, no worries because most items you click on will probably offer one or more other color options.

 

 

Gift ideas for the stylish homemaker who keeps a clean home

A clean house is a happy house!  That’s my mantre.  However, just as I like pink items to bake and cook, I like pink items to clean my home.  I looove NORWEX so much that I signed up as a rep and now they are producing many items (some of my faves above) in Rose Quartz & Champagne.  Hallelujah!  They are so pretty.  Anyway….I’m done with chemicals and all I’ve learned about them causing lung cancer etc.  My housekeeper won’t even use chemicals to clean.  She was using “natural/safe cleaners” but we found they weren’t that natural or safe after all.  Norwex microfiber is the only company with a patent on their self-cleaning sterling silver microfiber threads. Shop all their products HERE.  I was like a kid on Christmas morning when all my “pink cleaning things” arrived a few months ago (they’re prettier in person).  I’m obsessed!

Gift ideas for the Tween or Teen Girl

Ok, so I’m going to through these ideas in here too because they are so fun!  Maybe you’re shopping for a tween or teen girl?  I certainly am and these are all Brooklyn-approved (my almost-13 yr old) so I’m sure they’re good picks.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I would love it if you could subscribe at the top of the page in order to receive my weekly emails of all my latest blog posts and see everything I’m working on!  You can also follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook to see what I’m up to in creating a home and lifestyle of inspiration!

xoxo,

It is sooooo fun to turn them all on at night, along with the Christmas tree lights, and walk into our home.  It’s just the kind of experience I envisioned for those walking into our home.  It’s not only elegant but also feels magical.

I added these little white fur trees I found last year and placed them on the ends.

 

 

I started with a faux fur table runner on the bottom, added the trees and then placed this lovely gold glitter garland (found at JoAnn’s) across the front.  I love the way it all sparkles and glistens!

Still loving this tall 5′ mirror  I purchased a few months ago!  It’s such a stunning backdrop for my trees.

I’ve been looking for a golden/champagne Christmas wreath and was thrilled when I found this one at HomeGoods a couple of weeks ago.  It was the perfect addition to this vignette!

Elegant Flocked Christmas Tree In Mixed Metals

This year I chose a 12′ Flocked Slim Christmas Tree from King Of Christmas.  A pencil tree was way too thin and the regular size was way too much, as I didn’t want to brush past the tree on our way to the living room and didn’t want to feel  squished in the hallway.  This slim version was just perfect for this space.  Guess what?  It has 6 sections and we actually took 1 off and just used 5, as it was plenty tall.  

I found the cutest sleigh at a local boutique, years ago.  It’s perfect for displaying gifts on, next to the tree, with my cute little dear friends.  Brooklyn and Beckham nick-named them “Snowflake” and “Snowball” years ago when they were younger, ha!  Isn’t that cute?!

On this tree, I used sparkly Christmas magnolia and poinsettia stems.

I cut pieces of this pretty tinsel wired ribbon in pieces around 12-18 inches and just tucked them in the tree all over.

 

I used gold glittery and metallic leaf stems and places them throughout the tree.

 

Then I grabbed all my ornaments I’ve collected over the years and also the pretty gift boxes and matching wrapping paper.  As I do more gift wrapping, you’ll see a post on all my creative and beautiful ways I like to wrap gifts.  Make sure to come back for that!

More Of The Entry

A cozy faux fur settee to sit on and take off and put on your shoes is the perfect piece to have here in this elegant Christmas entry way.  Next week I’ll share a fun and easy Christmas DIY for this area so stay tuned.

 

I recently made these glitter jeweled candle rings.  I had made them for my candlesticks but then decided I needed a couple more for these wall sconces on the sides of the front door and it looks so perfect for the holidays.  Look for a tutorial on these in just a few days!

Loveliest Looks Of Christmas – Faux Fur Coats

You’ll hear it said that faux fur throws, pillows, rugs, and just about anything else faux fur is a MUST as Christmas nears and as the temperatures drop.  I would also say that a stunning faux fur coat is a winter essential for the holiday season and should be a staple in your wardrobe capsule.  This soft ivory coat is one of my absolute favorites!

I love that I can put it on with a skirt, dress, or pants but also a sparkly top with jeans and heels for a dinner or holiday party.  Whether you dress it up or dress it down, it’s the perfect coat for all your events this winter.

Getting Cozy With Pottery Barn Faux Fur Robes, Slippers & Throw Blankets

My favorite thing on a cold winter morning is to dress in a warm robe and slippers and head down to breakfast and make some tea.  When I saw Pottery Barn’s new robes and slippers this year, I just knew I had to have a specific set.  The Dune Leopard Faux Fur Hooded Bathrobe and the matching slippers have become my new favorite set.  The robe is the softest and most comfortable one I’ve ever worn.

If you saw my fall & winter bedroom post already, you know how much I love this other faux fur throw blanket from Pottery Barn Teen.  Isn’t it so pretty draped over my bed?  I also purchased that long faux fur lumbar pillow from Pottery Barn for my bed and it just makes my bed look so inviting and cozy after a long cold day.  I feel like every bed and sofa needs a faux throw in the winter.

Starting tomorrow, I’ll be revealing my living room mantel, then my other Christmas trees, including this year’s blush office tree (see last year’s office tree HERE), my Christmas kitchen, Christmas tables, touches of Christmas decor in our bedrooms, AND our new bonus room makeover with touches of Christmas as well.  I have more holiday traditions, recipes, pink gingerbread houses and the prettiest gift wrapping ideas coming too so stay tuned!  

Summer Adams | A Blissful Nest | Kristy Wicks | Fashionable Hostess

Palm Beach Lately | The Lush List | Bonjour Bliss Blog | A Touch Of Pink | Jess Cathell

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Thanks so much for stopping by today for our Loveliest Looks Of Christmas Tour!  I would love it if you could subscribe at the top of the page in order to receive my weekly emails of all my latest blog posts and see everything I’m working on!  You can also follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook to see what I’m up to in creating a home and lifestyle of inspiration!

xoxo,