2 Ways to Transform Your Home into a Winter Wonderland
Oh, the holidays. So much delicious food, the best decorations ever and, sigh, a whole lot of tiring travel. Anjelika Temple here, Executive Creative Director at Brit + Co and holiday traveler extraordinaire. You think one or two Christmases is a lot? Try FIVE. For real. Ever since my husband and I moved to the west coast and started skipping family Thanksgiving, Christmas has become quite the east coast tour. We’ve got five sets of parents and that doesn’t even cover the random cousin/aunt/friend-hosted dinners and lunches that end up making it into the mix. But guess what? This Christmas we’re taking a break from tour. We’ve got a baby on the way and are taking some time to just be the two of us (before we’re three!).
Hello, Friends-mas is obviously the new Friendsgiving! ;) We’re not the only ones staying local this holiday season, so we’re inviting our nearest (geographically) and dearest to partake in a holiday potluck. Set up a scene that’s equal parts traditional and casual — we’ve all got the friend who might show up with a frozen box of pizza bites as well as the one who will design a *bespoke* holiday cocktail riddled with elderflower, thyme and more.
HOST A FRIENDS-MAS POTLUCK
Stock Up On Classy Serveware: You’ll want enough serving dishes, plates and bowls for your own homemade goodies but you also want to make sure you’ve got places for your guests’ delicious goodies to go.
: Without fail, people tend to forget to bring dessert to a potluck so we can recommend providing some bites that are easy to keep for a few days after. The right platter, like this
can make even a mismatched bunch of cookies, cakes and donuts look v fancy. We also adorned our bundt cake with a Red Berry Garland to give it a little extra color.
Pep Up Your Peppermint: Think beyond the candy cane ;)
: We love heirloom ornaments and basic baubles, but it’s a good idea to add a few new characters to your tree each year. (Our faves from Hallmark Gold Crown include:
; Flamingo Signature Ornament; Pinata Navidena Ornament; Peppermint Swirl Christmas Cupcakes; Keepsake Kids Snowball the Polar Bear; Decorative Gold Glass Ball Ornament; Regional Mountain Lodge Ornament; Coffee Signature Ceramic Ornament; Mitten Cookie Cutter Ornament; and Winter Wonderland ornament.)
: That husband of mine is a real star, don’t you think? It’s hard to find a star that doesn’t feel overly cheesy so we were pumped to come across
!
: Admittedly, I’ve forgotten how essential a tree skirt is on more than one occasion. Thankfully, Hallmark Gold Crown has a
(part of their Heritage Collection) that’ll pretty up your tree in a jiffy.
Of course, it’s always handy to keep a stem of mistletoe at the ready ;)
Now that you’ve hosted all your friends, you can sit back and let the laziness of holiday break set in. Revel in the comfort of your home, filled with cozy blankets and pillows — and let any stress about being productive or getting out of the house melt away. Take this time to enjoy your favorite person in the world, whether they’re your bestie or your boo.
REVEL IN A COZY STAYCATION
: To make a true nest, you need to pile on lots of pillows and blankets, and pretty much any other cozy textile you can find. We started with a furry rug as the base and added a
; Cable Knit Pillow; and Woodland Santa Pillow.
: You’re going to need sustenance to get through a day (or week) spent lazing around. We stocked up on
and picked up a matching Mug Set, Snowflake Mug and Woodland Santa Mug to seal the deal.
Did we mention… COOKIES?!: Sugar cookies, chocolate chip cookies and ginger snaps for a little sass.
: Technically this is a
but we think it makes a perfectly cute water bowl for Turkey Temple.
: Okay, maybe those
aren’t actually going to make your hands warm, but the effect is still pretty darn heartwarming.
: Who doesn’t love Christmas socks? I know I get them in my stocking every year and this year will be *no* exception. For my husband David, I gave him a pair of
.
And there you have it. Two cheers for staying in!
A whole sleigh full of presents? Yes please.
No day spent snuggling is complete without a sneak attack from your resident pup.
FEED THE BABY! At least that’s what I’ll tell myself when I’m on my fifth cookie… ;)
