Don’t burn your retinas,

From our homes to yours, we wish you a joyful and peaceful holiday season. Thanks so much for spending time with us over these past few months and brightening our days with your comments. We love each of them!

As a token of gratitude, here are two ideas to creatively display all of the Christmas mail that comes with the season.

Strung on corkboard

I would never think to use chain, but I love the result!

Love,

This newspaper garland fits into my neutral decor obsession perfectly

These bells are perfection

A garland can double as an advent calendar, who knew?

Not technically a garland, but I love the group of stars (and see, there’s a garland below….)

While we’re at it, these snowflakes are fabulous too!

Merry Christmas Eve,

I am obsessed with this photo that originally appeared in the late Cottage Living (*tear*), posted by the lovely Marianne

Love all the rustic elements in this shot

These stockings are perfect, and I’m already planning on replicating them next year.

The Lettered Cottage has mastered the look:

Check out the tutorial for this cinnamon-stick candle

Burlap garland, a girl after my own heart!

And now, here is my finished product:

We have a tree skirt (an adorable quilted one from my mother), but I think I need to extend it That, or buy smaller presents.

Overall, I’m very happy with how it turned out. Our house feels calmer this year, something G always appreciates.

What’s your holiday style – bright and glam, neutral and home-y, or something in between?

Love,

Dress up a mirror

Make a lovely table runner

Fabulous on a banister

And who could forget J’s lovely ornament wreath?

Hope your Christmas is shiny,

Ornaments on presents

Christmas lights do double duty as bows

I LOVE the natural elements used on this package (AND the tree in a basket. I’m a sucker for wicker)

These glitter-ed cookie cutters are ornaments, but I think they would be fabulous tied to a present. Skip the glitter and they would still be functional – bonus gift!

Beautifully wrapped gifts can do double-duty as decor!

I love how Sarah incorporated holiday cheer into her everyday look.

Wrap small boxes for cheap and festive ornaments

Or use them for a lovely centerpiece

Don’t run with scissors,

Well, I did nothing to remedy my bare door yesterday. Instead I got my blog reading caught up (yes, all 588 posts) and spent the remainder of the day on the couch reading a book from start to finish (I’m not going to tell you the title; it’s too shameful. I’ll just say chick-lit and I get along very well). Let me tell you, it was not from lack of inspiration. Check out these adorable wreaths I found in the blogosphere:

Love the jingle-bells (AND that bow)!

Wreath Chandelier

If you’re an overachiever you can hang three in a row

I can’t get enough of this sweet paper bow wreath

Let Christmas-week begin!

Tonight A. wanted some sugar cookies. We were watching Elf and feeling festive, and he wanted to decorate and get his fill of frosting. Only…I am the baker in this marriage, and when it comes to sugar cookies, I’m not a frosting kind of gal.

I only love my grandma Sadie’s sugar cookies. She always keeps them in a big glass cookie jar, and they are delightfully crunchy, sweet, and tart. When I asked for the recipe, she sent me an index card covered in her beloved, sprawling hand:

Sadie’s Sugar Cookies

• 1 stick oleo (shortening) or butter
• 1/2 C oil
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 1/2 C flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp cream of tartar
• 1/4 tsp salt

Cream the first five ingredients in a mixer. Add the dry ingredients and mix well. Roll the dough into small balls. Flatten them with the bottom of a glass dipped in sugar. Bake at 350 for about 9 minutes (don’t let them brown).

I like them even better the second day!

Unfortunately, A. wasn’t satisfied with my less-than-exciting approach to Christmas sugar cookies. So he took matters into his own hands. A series of mistakes followed.

First, he chose to be irritated with me for meddling with his baking and forcing suggestions on him. Then he chose a recipe for drop cookies instead of roll-outs. Things went downhill from there.

A few swears and some unused frosting later, I apologized for nagging, and he forgave me. And then this happened:

Ho Ho(listentoyourwifesheknowswhatshe’stalkingabout) Ho,

Well, loves, it’s almost noon and I’m just getting around to deciding what to do with my day. What I NEED to do is something about my front door. It is currently bare. Yes, BARE, for the whole neighborhood to see. It’s not that I don’t have holiday spirit. I have just focused my efforts on the interior. I tried to re-create this last weekend:

(Note: I saved this on my computer without the source. I saw it in a blog, that I know. However, my blog-reader currently contains 588 unread posts. Yes, you saw that right. I’ve searched and searched but can’t find the original post. If this is your front door, PLEASE send me the link and I will credit you.)

Many thanks to my good friend, Jamie, for sending me the link. The fabulous front door belongs to Becca. Stop by, say “hi”, and get inspired!

But it looked TERRIBLE. My ornaments aren’t nearly that cute, I don’t have an empty frame on hand, and the bow I tried to make looks like an uber-tacky floral shop cast-off. And now that Christmas is less than a week away I think I may have missed the boat this year.

What’s on your door for the holidays?

Bah-Humbug,

In keeping with the theme of the day, I have assembled a lovely selection of seasonal crafts to get you inspired. Ladies (and Gentlemen), plug in your glue guns!

Linda at Craftaholics Anonymous made these adorable paper lollipop ornaments (say that three times fast!). What’s not to love – they combine three of my favorite things: fancy paper, lollipops, and decorating!

Make sure you check out her easy tutorial!

Next is this fabulous ornament wreath by the lovely Vanessa.

How cute is that?!? Stop by to check out her tutorial and tell her how fabulous she is.

I found this pillow on Creative Little Daisy and am in love! I hope I am getting a sewing machine for Christmas, HINT HINT, and this is definitely on my list to make!

Her post is actually devoted to the amazing slipcover she made (I love everything about that ruffle!), but I am a beginner so I’m going to stick to the pillow

Bridget used book pages to create this adorable ornament. Paper definitely fits into my natural Christmas decor (which, by the way, I am super happy with. Stay tuned for pics.) and I can’t wait to make one myself! Now, which of G’s books to destroy…….

And finally, this post wouldn’t be complete without this amazing ruffly wreath. I love wreaths AND ruffles, so naturally I am a fan of this project. I love the idea of using a neutral colored felt and hanging it with a ribbon that could be changed seasonally. Oh, the possibilities….

Which one to do first?

Craft Carefully,