kate's bakery

Super cute bakery-inspired party for Jennie's daughter, Kate. I adore the personalized aprons and the pink, red and white color scheme! Kate's birthday was during the holidays, so her guests decorated gingerbread houses at the party. This could be easily adapted to suit the time of year your child was born. For much more of this party, click on over to over cocktails.

(gen says...) backtracking: a christmas post

From Gen:

"I have finally caught my breath from a crazy holiday season and wanted to share a few photos from our "Cabin Christmas" in Nashville!

Christmas Dinner: This year for our family Christmas dinner, I set the table with little christmas treats for everyone! I am just in love with these Jonathan Adler Christmas ornaments- the turquoise box is adorable and adds the perfect hit of color to our red dot paper table cloth...from Ikea.

Family Photo: Ready for the holiday festivities to begin! I am a huge fan of anything vintage! I found this amazing Jade Green Silk Dress last year at a thrift store and finally had it altered-just in time for the holiday party season! Benjamin's bow tie and pocket square are thrift store treasures as well.

Christmas Tree: Our Christmas Tree is filled with vintage treasures and hand made ornaments created by our kids..I just love the eclectic feel of old meets new!

Gift details: I love wrapping christmas gifts...unfortunately I am always in a last minute rush to finish. To save time and find the best bargains...I usually stock up on my favorite wrapping paper, ribbon, and gift tags at the end of the christmas season. This year I stock piled "loads" of this Red and White dot paper from Ikea! I am just in love with this pattern!

Vintage Santa: My favorite new Christmas decoration- picked up at a thrift store for $20.

Christmas morning breakfast tradition: Every year my husband makes the yummiest Eggs Benedict for Christmas breakfast! Yes..those fabulous red napkins are also from Ikea!

Oden playing legos: My mother's christmas tradition was to give my brother and I new Christmas jammies each year on Christmas eve. This year I carried on the tradition for Oden with these darling green and red stripe PJ's from Hanna Andersson.

Hope you all had a wonderful Holiday Season!!!! -Gen"

more pretty holiday

This girl is sooo talented, I eat up everything she does. And she's only 21! (Makes me feel old to write that). If you haven't checked out A Field Journal...get yourself over there- now!

Some of her pretty Christmas wrappings, above.

sweet, sweet paul

I just love this holiday tableau from sweet paul! The decor feels as relevant for a New Years party as for Christmas.

note to self: keep this in my idea file for next year!

cookie beauty

I love this image from Martha Stewart.

etsy holiday

So many fun vintage party finds on etsy. I stumbled upon these here, here, here and here. 

holiday table

I just love this table setting by Chelsea of frolic!

gen says...holiday wrap!

From Gen:

"I am so excited to finally be getting to my holiday wrapping and prettying up the house for upcoming Christmas festivities! Thought I would pass along some fun holiday finds in stores now.

I am in love with this mix of graphic holiday papers.... 

Modern Black Floral: Old Navy 

Drummer Boy: Martha Stewart for Kmart 

Graphic Green Tree: Old Navy 

Candy Cane: Target 

Gold Star: Martha Stewart for Kmart 

Fun Details... 

Dot and Stripe Napkins: Michael's dollar section 

Dot and Stripe Paper Table Cloth: Martha Stewart for Michael's 

Cupcake Holders: Martha Stewart for Michael's 

Drummer Boy Gift Tag: Martha Stewart for Kmart 

Glittery Letters: Martha Stewart for Michael's 

Butcher Paper Cookie Boxes: Martha Stewart for Michael's 

White Gift Labels: Martha Stewart for Michael's 

Dot Ribbons: Michael's 

Happy Decorating!!!  -Gen"

holiday DIY's

I spotted these amazing salt dough ornaments on red thread, which led me to Katy Elliot's beautiful blog... choc full of amazing DIY holiday projects! Some of my favorites, above. Check out Katy's blog for much, much more.

my new favorite thing

The hit gift at Christmas was this little album I gave to the grandparents. I created it on iphoto (I'm on a Mac) in under 10 minutes. The album is slightly larger then a credit card, and contains up to 14 images. A pack of 3 (you can't buy them as a single) costs about $18 with shipping. But be prepared to wait...it took over a week and half to arrive. I loved it so much I ordered a second pack of three to give to other relatives and to have one for myself!

fyi: I realize sometimes I sound like an advertisement for certain things/companies, but NO ONE pays me anything to say anything! I promise, if I ever do get paid for something like that- I am totally transparent and won't try to pass it off as a 'post.'

almost moving on...

Our christmas tree is down as are our decorations. But for some reason I'm having a hard time moving on from the season! This is the last holiday post, I promise. 

But I couldn't resist this (via unpretentious style). I'm a sucker for any story that pulls on the heart strings. Apparently this one wreath company has donated thousands of wreaths to Arlington memorial each year. Makes me want to get my wreath from them this coming christmas. Click here to read the full story.

hable construction stockings

I'm still buzzing after running into power couple Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman while picking up lunch this afternoon. And yes- she is as pretty in person- damn her! 

I'm also having to calm myself from all of the sales going on...including my fave Hable Construction holiday stockings. Lucky for me, we already have a mantel full of them, but I am very tempted by the dog bones motif for my two labs. Their shipping prices are ABSURD however, so for the time being, that's keeping me in check. 

They have a great new feature on their site called 'design your mantel.' Just click and drag stockings from their selection to see how they will look together. It's fun to play around with, even if you don't buy. 

Christmas at Gen's

Gen had a little soirée at her beautiful mod log cabin yesterday. Unfortunately, the level of natural light was not great- so the pictures are a tad blurry, but you still get a sense of the setting. It was so fun to have all of the kids and good friends together. Everyone was in a festive mood! I hope you are enjoying your time off with family and friends.

merry christmas

I'm off for a couple of days. Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays to you and your family!

images via the style file

holiday odds & ends

I'm starting to wrap up this week's posts and am left with an odds & ends pile of 'stuff', that I can't bear not to post - simply to archive them, if nothing else.

My all-time fave Christmas tree via MS Kids; lovely pom-pom ideas via Black Eiffel; advent calendar and gift tags from my friend Brooke; super creative ideas for the Charley Harper puzzles at Old Navy via Creature Comforts; jingle garland, deer placecard box and cellophane wreath from Design Sponge; vintage holiday party pic (with hilarious commentary) via Peak of Chic.