Holiday Home Tour 2017 (Living Room)

It's Christmas house tour time!

We've had our halls mostly decked since the weekend before Thanksgiving.  It's been our tradition for the past 5 years or so.  We travel for Thanksgiving so we decorate the Sunday before and just pretend it's not there until we leave mid-week (because who wants to overshadow Thanksgiving? Mmmm, pie.). And then we come home to a Winter wonderland!  

(Do you spy the dog looking for leftovers in Clark's booster seat?  Nothing but professional photos around these parts.)

Part of couch buying decision making process included making sure we had room our Christmas tree.  It works really well in this spot.  First holiday crisis avoided.

We've got the decorating of the 12' tree down to a science. We did have a fuse issue that left the top half of our tree dark for a few days but all is well again. Phew. Second holiday crisis avoided.

The ornaments are nothing fancy and there's a concentration of them unevenly spaced at the bottom. Everyone asks how we keep Clark out of the tree.  We have a few kid friendly ornaments picked out that Clark is allowed to move around. He's a rule follower like his parents so this is working to our advantage. He keeps repeating "Mine decorated that. Hang the ornaments."  It's pretty darling.  He is quite bossy though and demands the lights on during his awake hours.  No arguments here.

We splurge on fresh garland for the mantel.  The smell is worth every single penny. Nate and I both agree it's not Christmas until there is pine smelling garland in the house!  And a mess of pine needles on the floor.

I really hate clutter so I replace a few items that normally live on our bookshelves with some vintage finds. Like that elf.  He's not one of those hipster trouble making elves. He's old. And doesn't move and has zero magical powers. I will not succumb to elf peer pressure.  (This is more of a pep talk for my future self.)

Ike is dreaming of dog bones and day where he isn't bossed around by a toddler. 

I'll share some other spots around the house later this week or next. Until then here's a peek into our kitchen. 

SHOP THIS POST/RELATED POSTS

I hope you enjoyed the tour! I'll be back with more once I'm done watching like ten terrible Christmas romance movies on Netflix (Hit me up with your recommendations)!  I'm clearly terribly busy so this post may need to wait until next week.

Gift Ideas for Women

Today I'm sharing some items on my Christmas wish list.  Just like my toddler, I need none of the following items but it's fun to dream!

First up, a couple items from the Hearth and Hand line at Target. Like every other 30-something in America, I will take one of everything from Joanna's line. These towels and blanket are at the top of my list. Oh, and all of the candles. Then there is the cross pillow. I actually just purchased a few of these for our basement and I'm obsessed. I thought you might be too!  Speaking of our basement (which I can't wait to share!), I'm looking for some unique prints and this Stranger Things poster fits the bill!

Hand Towels, Blanket, Pillow, Stranger Things Print

I'm madly in love with both of these dresses from Amazon. I already own one of each but I want them in all of the colors. They are super comfy and they have pockets. Need I say more. They are easy to dress up and down.  I also really want a clothes steamer which seems like the nerdiest gift. But ironing is terrible. 

Short sleeve dress, Long sleeve dress, Clothes Steamer

I've taken an interest in Hand Lettering and watercolors.  I own the Hand Lettering book and it's so good!  The brush pens and watercolor book are on my list!  I'm really into learning new skills lately and a 30 day challenge sounds like fun!

Hand Lettering 101, Tombow Brush Pens, Everyday Watercolor

I also enjoy shopping small for gifts.  This wallet from my friend Jen's shop (Paisley + Sparrow) is just the right size.  Everything in Jen's shop has a PURPOSE. This item's purpose creates sustainable business opportunities for women locally and globally.  I think these family portraits are perfection. Simple yet charming.  I'm really into big earrings lately and this shop has so many cute colors/patterns to choose from!

Wallet, Family Portrait, Earrings

What's topping your holiday wish list/giving list?

Gift Ideas for Toddlers

I figured since I went full on Christmas yesterday that we might as well keep the train rolling!  

I find a lot of great gift ideas from other bloggers so I thought I'd share what's on our wish lists this year.  Maybe you can find some Black Friday deals!

We'll start with the toddler edition. Keep in mind that my kid needs absolutely none of this.  Currently his favorite toys are an oven mitt and spray water bottle.  Both of which he pilfered from the kitchen. Oh, and my Swiffer duster.  Another hot item.  

Play Kitchen and Cleaning

Last year we got Clark this KidKraft kitchen. It has been a hit. He really isn't into toys but he does play with this quite often. Probably because it appears to be an adult thing to do.

(Note: allow PLENTY of time to construct this kitchen. Nate is obviously very good at building and this still took him 3-4 hours. Also, I think I purchased this for around $75 during the Black Friday time period so keep an eye out for sales if it's on your list!)

Beings the kitchen is a hit, I added a few accessories to his list. I love the Wood Eats products. We gave him the coffee maker for his birthday.  He's a pro at lattes now (if only they were real.....).  He's also crazy into cleaning. He received the Melissa and Doug Let's Play House set last year as a gift and it's probably his most used toy. I figured I might get my water bottle back if he has the kit below.

Wood Eats Pizza, Wood Eats Toaster, Wood Eats Mixer, Melissa and Doug Ice Cream Set,  Melissa and Doug Cleaning Set, KidKraft Chef Accessory Kit

Trucks and Blocks

Skid-steers, garbage trucks and fire trucks! Oh my! Trucks and building are a huge hit around these parts!

Garbage Truck, Melissa and Doug Emergency Vehicle Carrier, Melissa and Doug Construction Trucks, Melissa and Doug Vehicles Puzzle, Magna-Tiles, Blocks Set

Books

We read. A lot. These are a few titles that have been on my (I mean, Clark's) list for awhile. We check out Gotta Go, Buffalo from the library at least once a month so it may need to be added to our collection!

Gotta Go, Buffalo, Noisy Night, Triangle, Home, Lovely, Dinosaurs Love Underpants

Random Things

(How do you like that heading? I need another latte!)

These are random toys that I found that might entertain my kid for more than 30 seconds.

Hape Counting Stacker, Schleich North America Farm Animals, Doll Stroller, Boon Building Bath Pipes, Alpha-Bots, Trampoline

Do you have a toddler in your life? What's on their wish list?