Cozy Holiday Home Tour

Hi friends! We're all decked out for this special holiday season and I've been so excited to show you around! First, we have had such a fun time checking out all of the inspiring and lovely decor that you have shared on Instagram and Facebook! Everyone has such a unique style and I just love the personal touches people create in their homes. On that note, design blogger and author, Jennifer Rizzo, has once again kindly opened up her 'blog doors' for all to share their decorated homes for a big ol' holiday 'link' party! This tour is linked there today, among so many beautifully cozy and festive homes. This isn't a voting thing, just a fun way to peek inside other peoples homes. You know you want to. (I totally do!!!) Follow the link below if you'd like to check it out!

We're kind of big on birthdays in our family, blowing up balloons and hanging streamers and banners. It's a lot of fun to decorate our home as a reflection of our celebrating the birthday person. Decorating our home for the holidays is just one of the ways we celebrate Jesus' humble birth. His birth was anticipated for 400 years before He even arrived, and still today, we celebrate. We celebrate the hope that our loving Father sent His children through the birth of this baby. 

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Romans 15:13

Alright, here goes! I hope you're comfy and enjoy the 'tour'! I'm so glad you've stopped by. I thought it appropriate to start in the dining room, as this is the one room we always come together as a family most days.

Dining Room

With Fall passing us by so quickly, I wanted to use some Fall-ish elements, like pinecones, to connect the seasons together. I've had them out since October!

I was going to wait until after the holidays to share our newest build, but here it is! Our industrial pipe shelves! These were really fun to design and put together, (and surprisingly easy!), and I'll share all the deets very soon! Styling them for Christmas was a real treat.

Since we've got a decent collection of Christmas décor, accumulated over 8 years of marriage, I didn't buy hardly a thing this year. But this kissing ball? Well that was a no brainer. :)

 While our metal chairs are great for dining with little ones, (super easy to clean), they're a little chilly on the toosh in the winter! I found a really thick faux fur bath rug from HomeGoods on clearance, cut it four ways, and placed quarters over the seats. An inexpensive answer to an icy situation!

Living Room

A few small sprigs of fresh Christmas tree, (grab them from the tree lots!), replace the tea lights I usually keep in these small brass hangers.

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I spy a StyleMutt Holiday DIY project!

This magazine tree was really fun to make, (and ridiculously easy)! Love this whimsical take on the Christmas tree.

The cute wooden stag came from my Grandma. It looks very homemade, like something you'd find at a craft fair, and I just love it. Aren't the oldest decorations just the best!

On another note, there are the geo painted coasters I shared from a few weeks ago, (another one of our Holiday DIYs)!

Master Bed

A few twiggy branches from the backyard bring a little of the outdoors in. The pom-pom garland from last year and some cheery red touches add some festive warmth.

Oh, look at that - another Holiday DIY project! This pom-pom wreath uses the same steps as the pom-pom garland! Learn how to make pom-poms once and you've got a couple easy projects you could try out!

Front Entrance

The last stop is a quick peek at our front entrance. Our homemade spoon shelf is the perfect spot for hanging coats, while the red toolbox serves as a bench for the little ones to pull their shoes on and off in the winter. The paper wreath is one of my favorite, (and oldest!), DIYs and stays up year round!

I hope you've enjoyed this little holiday tour and please hop over to the Holiday 'House Walk' to see more - so many beautifully decorated homes, all unique and true to their owners. I sure have enjoyed seeing everyone's creativity and personal touches!

Have a wonderful week, friends! Thank you so much for stopping by!

Rustic Votive Holders {Holiday DIY No. 4}

Hey guys! We're barely into December but the holiday festivities are truckin' right along. We've been under the weather in our home since the week of Thanksgiving, and that's forced us, (me), to really lay the brakes on and focus the small reserve of energy on what I really care about; my people. Here are some of my favorite moments from the last week and a half...

Goodness me, there is much to be grateful for. (I was singing a different tune a week ago when we were bogged down by the flu and I was hosting one of the worlds largest pity parties. Such a wuss! But so grateful.)

I'm excited to share this DIY project today because, truthfully, it was a happy accident! Over the summer we changed the legs on our sectional sofa - we, (Matt), ended up making the new legs from cut up blocks of 4 x 4 which we stained in Minwax 'Ash'. Since we had three extras sitting out in the garage, I thought they'd make awesome votive holders! I wasn't wrong...

This was really, really easy, folks. We pre-drilled a hole about 2" into the center of each block, and screwed in a hanger, (to do this, just wrap a dry cloth around the hanger, then use pliers to twist the hanger into the hole).

I left the top bare, but you could have some serious fun painting a complementing color to your own décor.

Then I screwed a hole into the bottom of the candle, about an inch to an inch and a half deep, just to keep it secure.

All done!

If the thought of cutting a 4 x 4 plank of wood doesn't excite you, you could either a) Grab a hardware store employee and ask them to cut it for you, (they do this for free at the big chains like Home Depot and Lowes), or b) Ask a store employee if there is any scrap wood leftover from other people's cuts which you could take.

Rather BUY than DIY?

Check these out from Tellus360Shop on Etsy!

I'll be signing off until Monday when I'll be back to share our full holiday home tour, but Cate's got another goodie for ya coming up tomorrow, (Friday)!

Thank you so much for stopping by! Have a fab weekend!

Christmas Tree Alternatives

Hi friends! Happy Thanksgiving eve! As many of you may be getting ready to get your tree over the next few weeks, I am so excited about today's topic - Christmas tree alternatives! Don't get me wrong; I love me a big ol' Douglas Fir. But, I got to thinking about all the reasons why one might not be able to swing a real tree. Many apartments don't allow you to have a real tree, (such was the case with our first apartment). Or perhaps you live on a high floor with no elevator, (you can ask our beloved Cate about that). Or maybe there is literally no space for a tree, (my sister, Casey, has all the tips and tricks to living in 150sq feet). And for many, the price of a tree is hard to justify. 

For all these reasons, and I'm sure more, you may be opting out of doing a real Christmas tree this year. Well, have I got some fun news for you! There are some seriously epic Christmas tree alternative options out there! Here are some favorites that I found:

Source: Apartment Therapy

Source: Apartment Therapy

Source: Design Milk

Source: Design Milk

Source unknown, feel free to tag if you do!

Source unknown, feel free to tag if you do!

Source unknown, feel free to tag if you do!

Goodness, aren't these alternative trees so much fun?! Even if you're getting a real tree, any of these whimsical DIY options would make a wonderfully festive touch in another room, (oh my gosh, my kids would probably LOVE having a 'tree' in their own rooms)! If you stop by on Friday, I'll be sharing a smaller Christmas tree alternative made from magazines!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, friends. Cate and I are counting you in our blessings this year and we are very grateful for your encouragement of StyleMutt. Thank you, all.

~Chelsea