Holiday Mantel Inspiration

When the Christmas season rolls around, there are a few key areas of your house where you can really make a design statement - the entry table, Christmas tree, and of course, the fireplace mantel.  Depending on what look you'd like to achieve, the design possibilities are endless. Here are some mantels that caught my eye.  Which style did you go for this year?

Rustic Mantel.  The burlap stockings and wooden sign really make this cozy holiday rustic look.  I also love the initials on the stockings.  

Whimsical Mantel.  Tell me this mantel doesn't make you smile?  It's just so fun and full of joy, you just can't help but think that this is a fun household!  Click on the link to see the home tour of these bloggers.  Every room is different and equally beautiful.

Blue Mantel.  Around the holidays, light blue makes us think of snowflakes, snow, (Queen Elsa anyone?) and is a common color used in decorating this time of year.  This mantel adds just enough blue with the ball ornaments on the garland, and the blue bow on the wreath adds just the right touch to pull the look together.

Modern Mantel.  White and gold take center stage in this design with lovely art pieces and ornaments.  Dark velvet stockings complete the look.

Stylish Mantel.  Gift boxes wrapped in gold and silver paper with modern patterns make for a stylish mantel vignette.  

Playful Mantel.  In a fun twist, wrapped gift boxes go playful in this cheerful and colorful design.   

Red and Green Mantel.  No two colors represent Christmas better than red and green.  Check out the link to find out how to make these beautiful carnation wreaths.

Tis the season to let your festive mantels shine!

xo,

Carly

Mom Musings - Being a Girl Mom

As soon as Shaylin was born, the first thing I noticed about her was that she had a dimple in the exact same place that I have one.  Instantly, I knew she was mine.  Then I heard her siren of a scream and I also instantly knew I was in trouble.  :)

Shay has inherited a lot of traits that make her my mini-me (maternal, emotional, stubborn, etc.) but now that she's almost 4, I'm noticing that she's picking up a lot of my behaviors as well.  Lately, her thing is "decorating", because mommy decorates ALL the time.  Regular everyday decorations, party decorations, holiday decorations....we do it all in this house.  Oh and don't even get me started on her excitement for Christmas decorations!

Here's some of Shay's recent decorating in our living room, using her stuffed animals and toys.  She was so proud!  "Mommy, do you want to decorate with me?"  How could I resist that question?  I love that she has picked this up from me because hopefully it is something that she will want to do with me through the years.  

Being a girl mom is at times challenging.  There's just something about that mother-daughter relationship that we all know exists, but is hard to explain.  Shay and I butt heads a lot because she knows exactly how to push my buttons, and during those terrible twos there were days where just I sat and cried out of frustration.  But with great clashing there is also great love.  The mother-daughter relationship requires a lot of patience, which is something I work on every single day.  Moments like this make it all worth it.

I tell her at least a million times a day that she is beautiful and that I love her.  The world can be a tough place for a female and I know as much as I want to, I can't protect her from everything.  But I hope to raise her to be a confident and strong woman so she can go out there, take care of herself, and be awesome!  

I'll never forget when Shay was born, one of my good friends told me "you'll always be her first call in life", and I hope that will always be true.  

She drives me bonkers every day, but I do love my mini-me!  I can't resist this chocolate chip cookie covered face. 

 Stay tuned for my post on being a boy mom, which is a completely different and amazing experience that I love equally as much!

xo,

Carly

Favorite Holiday Movies

Happy first day of December everyone!  I had already started Christmas decorating before Thanksgiving, but there's just something about the calendar changing to December that really gets me excited for Christmas.  Today I found myself DVRing holiday movies left and right, as they seemed to be playing all day.  Seeing all of these movies pop up reminded me just how much I love a good holiday movie.  After all, one of my favorite things to do around the holidays is curl up on the couch with a warm blanket, hot chocolate, popcorn, Christmas tree lights twinkling in the background, and a holiday movie playing on the TV.  I even like having holiday movies on in the background as I'm just doing chores around the house!  Here are a few of my faves.  What are some of yours?

Love Actually.  I was late to the game with this movie and in fact, my hubby saw this before I ever did.  It features a fantastic cast, and is definitely an annual favorite!

Four Christmases.  This one happened to be on TV tonight and yes I did watch it!  Vince Vaughn is entertaining here, and Reese Witherspoon lovely as always.

Home Alone.  An oldie but goodie.  I feel like I watched this movie A LOT growing up and it was funny every single time.  Still amazed at how a little kid could pull off so many tricks!

The Holiday.  If you love holiday movies and if you love romantic chick flicks then this is the movie for you!   

Elf.  This is the perfect Christmas movie for both adults and kids and features great performances by Will Ferrell and Zooey Deschanel.  If you have not yet seen this movie, I insist you watch it and it's guaranteed to put a smile on your face.  

"The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear" - Buddy the Elf

Happy viewing!

xo,

Carly

Thanksgiving Reflections

On this Thanksgiving Eve, I took some time to think about being thankful.  Being thankful is not something that we should think about once a year...it's something we should think about every day.  I admit, this gets lost on me among the every day hustle and bustle of life with two toddlers.  But I'm working on it!   

This list caught my eye when one of my mommy friends shared it on Facebook (thanks Jen!).  All 10 of the items on the list are things that I complain about on a pretty regular basis, but reading this really put things into perspective.  

While I would love a few more minutes of sleep, or for the laundry to wash itself, I wouldn't trade any of it because it means I have all I need - a home, food, and family.  And for those things, I am forever thankful.

Happy Thanksgiving!

xo,
Carly

Glitter and Gold

There's something about the holiday season that makes me think about glitter. And decorating with glitter becomes that much more acceptable because it's the holidays!  So if you love glitter, now is the time to take advantage.  Glitter with gold is one of my favorite sparkly combinations because it's equal parts glam and festive.

Glitter and gold throw pillows.  Ooh la la.

Glitter dipped gold mason jars.  Such a pretty way to display your favorite flowers.

A gold and hot pink dessert table.  This version looks perfect for a bridal shower or bachelorette party but I could also see this setup for the holidays as a New Years Eve party table.

(source unknown)

Assortment of glitter and gold vases for wedding decor create a beautiful vintage look any time of year.

These Kate Spade glitter studs are perfect for the holidays.  They are only $38 and come in gold, silver.  (Multi-color version shown is currently sold out)

Glitter styrofoam balls with gold dipped toothpicks make a fun decor piece.

I love this pretty vintage display of gold and pink ornaments with glitter star accents.

Do you have jewelry to give out this holiday season?  Put them in these gold top boxes and you don't need wrapping paper!

Have a great week!

xo,

Carly

Mom Must-Haves: Ju-Ju-Be Be Quick

Four years ago when I was preparing for my first child, I researched a TON of diaper bags, organizational pouches, etc.  You see, I have a bit of an addiction to bags.  And a bit of an addiction to organization.  One of the most functional bags I bought back then was the Ju-Ju-Be "Be Quick" pouch, and in pink of course because I was having a girl.

My intended use for it at the time was a spare clothes pouch to keep in the diaper bag.  I'm the type of mom that needs to have small bags within a large bag to keep organized.  Everything just thrown into one large diaper bag would drive me bonkers!  

Since that first purchase, I have bought three more of the exact same bag in different patterns and have even bought some as gifts.  They're just so versatile!  The Be Quick is lightweight, has a detachable strap that turns the pouch into a wristlet or purse, and comes in a variety of colors and patterns to suit your style.  Also, Ju-Ju-Be bags are made with an antimicrobial fabric and are machine washable.  Dimensions for the Be Quick are 11.5" x 7" x 1.5".

Here are some of the many uses I've had for the Ju-Ju-Be "Be Quick":

Diaper Clutch

great for quick changes at a restaurant, in an airplane, at the park, etc. when you don't want to lug your entire diaper bag

- diapers

- wipes

- small folded changing pad

- plastic bags

Pool Bag Insert

for inside the pool bag, keep things dry and separate

- swim diapers

- plastic bags

- sunscreen (adult and kid)

- kid's sunglasses

- keys

Food Bag (Dry Items)

sometimes you just need a small bag of food for quick trips with the kids

- crackers

- squeezable fruit/veggie pouches

- applesauce cups

- fruit snacks

- pretzels

- dry cereal

Food Bag (Cold Items)

sometimes you just need a small bag of food for quick trips with the kids

- cold pack

- bags of fruit

- string cheese

Lotions & Potions Bag

cause babies need a lot of stuff, and I like to be prepared

- diaper cream

- hand sanitizer

- bandaids

- alcohol wipes

- pacifier wipes

- aquafor

- sunscreen

- baby lotion

Recently, Jujube came out with their Legacy Collection, which features bold black and white patterns that are a little more modern and a little less mommy.

I bought the striped one, called the First Lady, and use this strictly as a mommy pouch.

Mommy Pouch

Keep your personal items easily accessible within your diaper bag.  This eliminates the need for a separate purse.

- wallet

- phone

- keys

- compact

- lipgloss
- pens, pencil
- pocket calendar (for the old school hand writers, and yes I am one)
- comb & hairspray
- small notebook
- hand sanitizer
- measuring tape (go ahead and laugh, but if you buy a lot of home decor like me, this comes in handy!)

Now that my kids are past the baby stage, I actually hardly carry a diaper bag anymore.  I throw my mommy pouch Be Quick, and my diaper clutch Be Quick into my normal purse along with other essentials like sunglasses, water, etc.  And I'm out the door!  

Try the Ju-Ju-Be "Be Quick"!  It's a mommy must-have for its versatility and convenience.

xo,
Carly

Holiday Cards - A Lookback

I know it's not even Thanksgiving yet, but it's getting really close to holiday card time!  Where did this year go??  We'll be doing our annual family photos this week, so I thought it would be fun to take a trip down memory lane at our past cards.

2011

There is no doubt I'm a first time mom here judging by how many pictures of Shay I put in!  Geez, I just couldn't just pick one photo.  Most of my extended family aren't on social media so for many of them, this would be only time they see pictures.  But really....excessive much?  I couldn't resist that smile.

2012

I was 4.5 months pregnant with Landon here but you can't really tell with the sitting down picture (even though I think my face looks bigger).  Some of our standing photos were much more obvious.  

2013

Shaylin had a meltdown this year and we didn't get one family photo or individual photo of her smiling.  So I added in a picture I took of her at the park one day.  It was a half smile, but better than nothing.  She was right in the middle of her terrible two's so it was very hard to get cooperation.

But terrible twos or not, Shaylin has never had an easy time during our holiday photo shoots.  

7 months

18 months

2 1/2 years

Fun times!  But those are memories, and I wouldn't trade them for anything.  Since the kids are very young, I know that getting a family photo with everyone smiling is a longshot and frankly, quite unrealistic. We have days like the above, and it's really A-OK! 

xo,

Carly

Friday Favorites

Happy Friday everyone!  I don't know about you all, but having a holiday this Tuesday completely threw off my routine.  I'm just not feeling like it should be Friday yet.  Not that I'm complaining or anything!  With hubby off on Tuesday, we got to spend a wonderful day at the San Diego Safari Park with the kids.  At one point both kids fell asleep, and we got to enjoy a peaceful lunch overlooking the beautiful safari, and even saw some ziplining!

Now on to my Friday Favorites.  Here are some cool things that caught my eye this week.

Favorite Office Accessories.  Love the glam look of the gold with the pop of pink.  It really makes me want my own office space rather than working wherever I happen to plop my laptop down.

Favorite Winter Coat.  Coats in bright colors are so fun and are great if you like to stand out!  Plus, you can throw this orange coat on over even the most casual of outfits and it'll style it up instantly. 

Favorite Outdoor Living Space. This covered patio complete with a fireplace, TV, and steps from a pool is definitely a dream backyard.

Favorite Unexpected Item.  What a fantastic idea, a USB drive disguised as a Chanel lipstick.

Favorite Piece of Clothing.  Gingham shirt, styled four different ways.
1. with shorts.  2. with jeans and military vest  3.  with a skirt  4. as outerwear

Favorite Big Boy Room.  This orange, navy, gray, chartreuse color palate is what Landon's room is currently decorated with.  Let's get realistic here, with my decorating OCD, it's not likely that I will keep the same color scheme when Landon's room is up for a redecoration session.   But it was cool to see what the colors look like when decorated for an older child.  I like!

Favorite Use of my Favorite Color.  Anthropologie scores again with this beautiful phone case.  I love the glitter and broken glass look, and of course that it's in my favorite turquoise color. I loved putting together this Love of Turquoise post a couple of months ago.

And because I've been sprinkling in some Christmas inspiration at the end of my recent posts, how about a Favorite Holiday Meal.  These red velvet pancakes with cream cheese glaze are so festive and look absolutely delicious.  They are going on the menu for Christmas breakfast.  YUM.

Enjoy your weekend!

xo,

Carly