christmas tablescapes

around the holidays the dining table always serves as the central gathering place for friends and family to share dinner, stories, laughter and memories. being that the table is so important really for any holiday i always like to feature some great ideas for tablescapes. this year i have gathered some ideas for natural decor that you can find in your own backyard. 

 [sweet something designs]

glass cylinder vases serve as the centerpiece for this naturally beautiful tablescape. a vintage camp blanket has been used in place of a tablecloth and sets the color palette of classic red and green.

for added height and interest the glass vases have been placed on cedar stumps. love that detail!

 

burlap has been cut into placemats and garland. black napkins have been wrapped with jute and accented with a jingle bell and boxwood trimmings. the final result is so beautiful!

 

[better homes and gardens]

here a glass cloche as been filled with clear glass ornaments (with the caps removed), along with pinecones and evergreen trimmings. sprinkle a few evergreen trimming around the cloche for a nice finishing touch. simple and classy!

  [martha stewart]

line a variety of white vases down the center of your dining table and fill them with trimmings from cedar trees, white spider mums, and seeded eucalyptus (available from a florist). 

 [pinterest]

bring the outdoors in by creating a table runner of gorgeous evergreen trimmings accented with pinecones and finished with rustic candlelit lanterns. 

[good housekeeping]

use a pearl topped pin to make a pear into the perfect name card holder. scatter greenery on a burlap table runner and mix in pears and glass candleholders.

houseplants

every home needs plants! they are beautiful, add character and life, and best of all they clean the air.

use a windowsill for displaying an herb garden. they are beautiful, fragrant, and perfect for adding flavor to almost any dish.

use a vintage crate as storage for gorgeous succulents. this is a project i have been wanting to work on myself.

*all photos are from pinterest

out with the old in with the GOLD!

i can't speak for all of us, but in my opinion stainless steel and brushed nickel have seen better days. they have been a mainstay for years in kitchens and bathrooms alike. personally, i'm ready for something new, something bold, and something gold!

[design sponge]

i love how the gold accents really warm up this living room.

[amber interior design blog]

this kitchen actually has a mixture of both stainless steel and brass. they actually work really well together so don't feel like you have to ditch all your stainless stuff for gold. you can easily incorporate the new with the old.

[house beautiful]

this bathroom is gorgeously outfitted in a color scheme of gold and white. the gold mosaic tile looks beatiful paired with the metal base vanity.

 [erin ever after blog]

what a beautiful room! gorgeous gold damask printed wallpaper has been framed to serve as a lovely focal point for this living room.

 [etsy]

this gold leafed chevron tray is one of the most gorgeous home accessories i have seen in a while. best of all, it's handmade. find it here.

 [apartment therapy]

call me wierd, but i'm a sucker for hammered metals. these hammered gold pendants really pop against the palette of white. sometimes simplicity is the best.

[gretel home]

if you aren't quite ready to take a giant leap into the world of gold maybe it's best to take a baby step by purchasing gorgeous gold silverware.

[decor pad]

i never tire of an intricate antique guilded mirror. they are a classic and work in contemporary spaces as well as traditional.

[decor pad]

this is such a classy little office space.

[decor pad]

wow, what a room! that mirror is fantastic. it's all about details with this dining room - beautiful fabrics, lamps, and textured grasscloth wallpaper.

tasty tuesday [a day late] and holiday happenings!

so this past weekend was filled with lovely holiday happenings! saturday we took a roadtrip to north carolina for a Christmas party hosted by a couple of dear friends. for this occasion i made oreo truffles which were great because not only are they extremely easy to make, but they also were a big hit! my sweet husband, Benji, bought us tickets to see the Nutcracker at the Fabulous Fox Theatre in Atlanta. any occasion that allows me to dress up makes me extremely happy. so for a night we pretended to be a couple of sophisticates who wined and dined and watched ballet.

[Oreo Truffles]

adapted from chef in training blog

INGREDIENTS

- 1 package oreos

- 1 package 8oz cream cheese, softened

- 3 packages 6oz white bakers chocolate

DIRECTIONS

grind oreos in a food processor until well blended. set aside a 1/4 cup or so of crumbs.

mix oreos and softened cream cheese together until well combined. [hands work best for this.]

roll into 1" balls and place on a wax paper covered cookie sheet. freeze for 15 minutes.

while balls are in freezer melt chocolate in microwave according to directions.

pull oreos out of freezer and dip in chocolate. before chocolate has set garnish with oreo crumbs.

refrigerate for 1 hour and enjoy!!

[cutest party house]

[kelly and i with rachael, the sweet hostess]

[my dashing date for the evening]

 happy holidays!

closet envy.

 [pinterest]

is this a closet or a bedroom? it's HUGE and has it's own fireplace! i could deal with that.

 [pinterest]

what a lovely room! the colorful wardrobe sings in the otherwise neutral room. this is a great solution for those who live in older homes, some of which don't come equipped with designated closets.

 [pinterest]

love the layered mirrors on the floor of this closet. they add depth and dimension to the room.

 [In Style Magazine]

this posh closet belongs to Chloe Kardashian. what a gorgeous light fixture! 

[by christelle blog]

this is also from Chole's closet. oh, what a rainbow of shoes!

 

 [designsponge]

add a rug and a tufted seat to your closet for ultimate comfort and style!

 [pinterest]

now that's what i call a colorful wardrobe! utilizing one color and style of hanger for your closet will instantly give it an organized look. for personalization add a feminine chair in a great fabric to your closet.

[pinterest]

another great solution for a non closet home - an antique wardrobe. you can find gorgeous antique wardrobes very inexpensively these days. if you really want to make it your own, try painting it and adding colorful wallpaper on the interior.

[domino]


what great built-in cabinetry! color coding your wardrobe always makes life easier.

oven love!

when you have the urge to renovate or update your kitchen and you find yourself at home depot tiring of the same ole, same ole selection it's time to check out la cornue. if an oven could ever be 'pretty' it would undoubtedly be from this french based company. with colors ranging from robin's egg blue to eggplant  purple, there is something sure to strike your fancy.

[archi expo]

[decor pad]

[decor pad]

outfit inspiration for holiday parties

 

[pinterest]

what i appreciate about this outfit is that it's cute and foolproof. pair a sparkly shift dress with black tights and ankle boots and wah-la! 

 

[chictopia]

from the hair to the green mini, this outfit is perfect. i would totally wear this! 

 

[pinterest]

this maxi dress is divine and comfortable i'm sure! i love the way it has been accessorized with a neutral skinny belt and a glitzy vintage necklace. 

[pinterest]

green skinnies pair perfectly with an over-size neutral top. the clutch and peeptoe heels finish the look to perfection. 

 [pinterest]

these are staples in almost every girl's closet - leopard print top, black skirt, black tights, and a blazer. pair them together for a sophisticated party outfit! 

[chictopia]

 i love the shape of this dress and the unexpected edge that the studded belt lends to this outfit. perfect!

 

[pinterest]

this is outfit is cozy and nothing short of stylish. pair your favorite sweater with a plaid button up, a black skirt and a glitzy necklace for a great holiday look! 

 

[chictopia]

i love the shape of this dress and the glitter of course. add a pop of color with the shoes and a skinny belt! 

 

[pinterest]

if it's too cold in your neck of the woods to be sporting shorts and peeptoes this time of year i suggest layering this outfit with a pair of black tights and a black blazer. love the sparkly shorts with the flowy top!