Gifts for your Girlfriends under $20

Fast Web

Last week I wrote about gift ideas to give to a host/hostess for under $20. Now, I have found some great gifts to give to your girlfriends for under $20 as well. The coffee shop gift card is always a good "go to" gift, but if you want something different stick around for some great ideas that won't break the bank.

Have some fun with a gift that says what she means to you. Not to mention, at this price you could throw in the coffee shop gift card too so you can meet to discuss your next adventure.

Etsy, Partner in Crime Bracelet $6.25

Break out of the boring candle mode and give her a candle that is luxurious in its appearance and scent.

Anthropologie, Voluspa Maison Jardin Candle $16

Give the friend who loves having pictures of her children on her fridge an arty way to display them with these adorable magnetic frames. At this price she can have an entire gallery.

CB2, Mini Magnetic Frames $1.95 (ea.)

Does your friend love to entertain? These gorgeous salad servers add a pop of color and style to any party.

French Bull, Ring Salad Servers $12

For the fitness lover, this water bottle with built in juicer makes her ordinary water taste a whole lot more interesting.

Zing Anything, Citrus Zinger $15.99

Bring out the fashionista in her with essie's Encrusted Treasures Nail Collection. For less than $9 each you can buy two.

Target, essie's Encrusted Treasures Nail Collection $8.49

For the letter writer. Give her a set (or two) of gorgeous notecards for her to express herself.

Paper Source, Pool Dome Gold Foil Stationary $9.00 (pack of 10)

Ideas like these will make your holiday gift giving a breeze. Not to mention giving your wallet a break.

Happy shopping!

It's a Wrap 2

Home Chic Home

Well, I did it! All the presents are bought and wrapped and ready to go under the tree. I cannot believe that for once I am actually ahead of the game. As promised, I am following up my It's a Wrap post with my own gift wrapping results. 

Santa is alive and well in our house so all gifts from Santa are wrapped in special Santa paper and adorned with a Santa gift tag. Curling ribbon is also used to keep them separate and distinct from the non-Santa presents. It is also important that they have special Santa tags. I found these adorable free printable gift tags at Sugar Bee Crafts. To make identifying each child's gifts easy, my son's gifts are wrapped in blue paper and my daughter's in pink. 

Home Chic Home

As for the non-Santa presents, all manner of wrapping papers are used. I always use fabric ribbon to decorate the presents because I love how it looks and it is easy to do. Candy cane stripes and dark green ribbon on this gift shout Merry Christmas!

Home Chic Home

I used purple ribbon paired with a silver wire ribbon to give a sparkle to the purple penguin paper. Just as cute as the girl who will receive it.

Home Chic Home

Simple green paper is finished with a plaid bow and bell to add some holiday jingle to this package.

Home Chic Home

Gift bags can be boring. Silver and red tissue paper and a sparkly red wire ribbon give this peppermint candy bag some style.

Home Chic Home

I layered red polka dotted paper over the striped one for a little added flair. A green grosgrain ribbon and floral pick complete the packaging. This paper is actually double sided. The stripes are on one side and the polka dots on the other. The same is true for the blue Santa paper which is white with candy canes on the other side. Not only do I get two for one but the paper is extra thick so it lays nicely and resists tearing.

Home Chic Home

Chalkboard is all the rage right now. I love this chalkboard inspired wrapping paper. The red, white and black are not traditional holiday colors but it looks amazing when paired with red and silver ribbon. The gift tag completes the look.

Home Chic Home

The holidays are around the corner. Even if wrapping gifts is not one of your favorite tasks, making them pretty will make you feel like it was worth the effort.

Happy Holidays!

It's a Wrap

Burton Girls

This year I am under the gun to have all my holiday shopping complete earlier that usual. Late next week we will be out of town until the day before Christmas Eve so I will not have time for last minute shopping and wrapping. Therefore, yesterday and today are being spent wrapping the many gifts that will find their way under the tree.

For some, wrapping is a mundane and unenjoyable task. But, for others like me, it is part of what makes the holidays special. I am never content just wrapping a gift and slapping a pre-made bow on it. Rather, I like presents that almost look too good to open. To me it says that I care a lot about the person opening it to take the time to make it look as good as the present is inside.

Here are some inspiring gift wrapping ideas to try out yourself. Some are easy and others are for those who want a challenge.

Simple craft style wrapping paper, a coordinating fabric ribbon and a paper initial look stylish under the tree but make identifying the receiver a breeze.

In My Own Style

Effortlessly beautiful, this present is wrapped in simple white paper, tied with string and adorned with a rosemary sprig.

Love that Party

Want a challenge? Put Santa suits on some of all of your presents. How cute is this?

E How

Create beautiful designs on plain wrapping paper with a marker or stamp. The more random the pattern the better it looks.

Kelli Murray

Layer it. Layer different but coordinating wrapping papers for an elegant presentation. 

Moms by Heart

Embellish it. Add floral picks, beautiful gift tags, bells, small ornaments or whatever you wish to add some flair to your packages.

Good Housekeeping

For the best results, and most enjoyable experience, always use good quality wrapping paper. It lays nicely and does not tear easily. Fabric ribbon is also easy to tie and looks elegant. Try your hand at one of these designs and take your gift giving to a whole new level. Check back with me to see how my wrapping came out.

Happy Holidays!

Decorating for the Holidays

Lia Griffith

I love decorating for the holidays. Especially with homemade decorations. This year my children and I are attempting to make a holiday village. It should not be a surprise that we have different ideas on how the houses should look. I want them white with vellum windows and white glitter that looks like snow. They want them to have decorated windows and glitter in red and green. No matter how they turn out, I will love them because we made them together. 

I am always on the lookout for great decorating ideas that I, and usually my children, can recreate. Here are some that I would like to try.

Strips of red fabric tied around a styrofoam wreath make a festive display. Cinched in the middle with a black fabric belt, and adorned with white letters, it would make the perfect wreath for my front door.

Frazzled Fabulous

This is a great alternative to garland on the banister. Sprigs of pine branches are paired with sticks, faux berries and miniature bulbs and are secured to the balusters with ribbon.

Midwest Living

Sprigs of holly branches add a festive touch to floating votive candles. They would look great in groups on a mantel or table.

House Hunt

Felt, buttons, ribbon, stuffing and thread are all you need to make these adorable ornaments. Find a mitten template online, cut out the pieces and sew using a simple running stitch. These would be so cute on the tree or strung together to make a banner.

Polka Dot Creek

Hosting dinner this year? Let everyone know where to sit by using place cards. Craft store miniature chalkboards painted red make a festive addition to any table. Add ribbon, mini pinecones or other small decorations for more impact.

House and Home

I love creating my own holiday decor. You can too with simple ideas like these. Not only will you have unique decor but, you will make memories creating them.

Happy Holidays!

Make it Last

At Home in Arkansas

Holiday decorating is wonderful, but exhausting at the same time. Not only are some decorations expensive, but it is not so fun when it is time to put them away. However, did you know that many holiday decorations don't have to be put away when the season is done? If you choose wisely, you can leave many decorations out all year with a little clever reuse. Try some of these ideas on for size.

1. Christmas Lights. Not only are they a pain to put up, but they are an even bigger pain to put away. Decorate your backyard trees with white lights and leave them up to be enjoyed all year. They look beautiful on a summer night.

Chickabug

2. Figurines. Gold, white or silver decorations can make an easy transition throughout the seasons. Place them on tables, nestled on bookcases or displayed on shelves. Choose items that do not have glitter and preferably ones with simple lines. Once all your other holiday items are removed they will just look like stylish additions to your space.

A White Carousel

3. Candles. Replace those glittery candles with glass vases, votives and cranberries. When the holidays are done, swap out the cranberries for other seasonal decor to make this decoration last throughout the year.

Pinterest

3. Christmas Ornaments. When you are ready to take them down from the tree use them for display in a glass bowl, on a mantle or in a glass jar. If you choose non-traditional colors you can extend their use year round.

Pinterest

Make putting away your holiday decorations much easier by reusing them. Choosing decor which is neutral and has simple lines will make their transition from season to season a breeze. Maybe you will finally splurge on that holiday item you have been wanting!

Happy Holidays!

Deck the Halls

Interiorholic

The holidays are full of decorating and decking the halls. In our house, the merriment begins Thanksgiving weekend when we cut down our tree and begin decorating the house both inside and out. As much as I adore decorating the inside of our house, decorating the outside is equally important. Sharing the joy of the season with our guests and neighbors is all part of the fun to me. These are some of my favorite decked out homes for the holiday season.

Simple but beautiful. Wood letters, ice skates, a simple wreath and a basket filled with pine cuttings, mittens and a plaid scarf say holidays in a cozy way.

Fynes Designs

Mercury hanging ornaments, lanterns scattered about, twig trees and swag, meld traditional and rustic decorating perfectly. My favorite is the door ornament made with pewter pitchers strung from a ribbon.

Alhowa

Fill empty planters with tree trimmings, branches, pinecones and ornaments for an easy festive display. Add string lights to highlight it at night.

Setting for Four

Glass vases filled with "snow", cranberries and votives are an inviting way to herald in your guests. Boughs of greenery add texture and color.

BHG

I cannot wait to begin decorating for the holidays. Natural elements, pine wreaths, greenery and everyday items can make for an amazing display. Try out some new festive displays. They may just become a new tradition.

Happy Holidays!

Wayfair

Home for the Holidays

It is that time of year again. Time for family and friends to come to stay and celebrate the holidays. When guests stay at our house, I want to make them feel at home and not a burden. I like to bring a touch of the holidays into their space and give them a mini-home away from home. Adding a few simple touches can make all the difference for your guests.

Cozy bedding that reflects the season creates a comfortable space for your guests that is warm and inviting. Even just adding a holiday themed accent pillow or a throw reminiscent of the season will do the trick.

Pottery Barn

World Market

Add some simple holiday decor to their space to make a festive retreat. Flowers in colors of red and white, lights or other simple decor can make the holidays come alive in their space.

Julie Blanner

Stonewall Kitchen

Songbird

Leave little sundries, books, toiletries, extra blankets or towels in their room so your guests do not feel like they have to ask. A well stocked room gives your guests the chance to relax and recharge after a busy day.

Darling Doodles

Lowes

Create a space that welcomes your guests and gets them into the holiday spirit. Being away from home for the holidays can be difficult, make it a little easier on your guests with a few thoughtful touches and make the experience better for all involved.

Happy Holidays!