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{How to attach garland to a fireplace mantel}

Ok.. this is totally an “in progress” picture.  My mantel isn’t quite finished, but I’m loving the direction it’s headed!  I wasn’t going to post a pic of it yet, but when I shared a few progress clips on IG stories I got so many questions that I thought it would be easier to just explain how I got this look here on my blog.  Seriously doesn’t this greenery look SO real!?  I could not be more impressed with it.  It’s this faux cedar garland but it unfortunately sold out!  Below are some other beautiful garland options that I love!

First question: “How many garlands did you use to create this look?”  I used five!  But remember.. this fireplace mantel in my family room is HUGE.  It’s so big.  Too big!  I always struggle to decorate it.  For a standard mantel I would recommend buying at least two garlands so that they can meet in the middle and drape off the sides.  I would buy three if you want to lay one more on top to give it a fuller look like I did.

Second question: “How did you attach the garlands to hang like this?”

I used white command hooks that support 5 pounds (larger hooks just to be safe!) and green vine twist ties.

I snapped some quick cell phone pics tonight to show you!  I used three of the command hooks and placed them on the top of my mantle towards the front.  One in the middle and one close to each end of the mantel.  *Sidenote.. my candles looked too short so I set them on a cutting board to elevate them!  I told you this huge mantel is tricky for me. ;) 

I just laid the first two garlands across the mantel (they met in the middle and draped off the sides), but the second two garlands I wanted to hang down a little lower so I used the command hooks to hold them.  (Then I obviously covered the white command hooks with greenery.. easy to hide!)

Then I used the green twist ties to tie the two garlands together in a couple of spots.  After the four garlands were attached, I laid one more across the top to give it an even fuller look.

{Brass Candle Holders/Similar Stockings/Flameless Wax Candles/Faux Cedar Garland/Wood Bead Garland}

I love how it turned out!  And I know.  Buying multiple garlands is pricey (I have a few more I’m adding in another room!), but I feel like for me they were such a great investment.  Now I can use them them year after year in different ways.  I can decorate for Christmas three months early if I want!  And keep it all up through February!  Not that I would.. but it doesn’t sound half bad. ;)

This pic above is of my stairs about 4 years ago at Christmas with real garland.  I LOVE the look of real greenery but HATE the mess.  I just can’t handle the dry needles all over the place two weeks later!  Drives me crazy.  This was the last year I messed with it and I’ve been looking for good faux options ever since.  This faux cedar garland is the answer to my Christmas greenery prayers.  Ha. ;)

(Btw.. I always hang our past Christmas cards on my stairs.  A fun tradition some of you might remember I started years ago!  You can see more details about it in this post.)

{Bed/Chandelier/Lamps/Merry and Bright Pillowcases/Similar Reindeer Sheets/Similar Red Pillow Shams/Similar Duvet Cover/Similar Red Throw/X base stools/Rug/White Tray/Reindeer}

In other fun holiday news I got our guest bedroom Christmas sheets on and still love this look I created last year for our guests!  My cute reindeer sheets were from PB but I found almost identical sheets for such a great price!  I also found some other fun Christmas sheets on-line I’ll link below.  I’m in love with these little green pine tree sheets and debating them for Kole’s room this year!

CUTE HOLIDAY SHEETS:

All is right in the world when your sheets are covered in red prancing reindeer and your pillow cases say Merry and Bright. ;)

Date night tonight!  I snapped a quick pic in my bathroom before we walked out the door (sorry about the bad lighting!).  This cozy sweater I’ve been loving and wearing every three days is on sale!  This is a GOOD sale weekend you guys.  I’ve rounded up some other favorites that are marked down below and my SHOP PAGE is updated with favorites too. :)

Kenny and I grabbed some Mexican food and enjoyed an un-interrupted conversation that will hopefully sustain us until we can talk again next Saturday night.  Sad but true!  We are going a million miles a minute in this stage of life with our kids.  I know many of you can relate!  But it’s all good because LIGHTS ARE UP ON THE PALM TREES!  It’s officially Christmas in San Diego.  Christmas lights on the Palm Trees and a fun dinner with my husband.  Those are the two things that are going on my gratitude card for today. :)

Enjoy the rest of your weekend everyone!

{POST SOURCES and FUN WEEKEND SALES!}

Favorites on sale this weekend at Anthro (20% off all HOME!)

Favorites on sale this weekend at Nordstrom

Favorites on sale this weekend at PB and other stores are all linked on my updated SHOP PAGE!  

Ok.. massive picture dump today! I feel like I have so much to share with you all lately my head might explode. FUN decorating is happening at my house for Christmas at the moment and I can’t wait to share it all with you soon! But first I have some pics from the past two weeks to share.  A trip, some fun home decor, a little fashion, a great cookie recipe. Basically I’m all over the place in this one so you’ve been warned. ;)

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Back track quickly to Halloween.  I asked Kole what he wanted to dress up as and he told me “I wish I could just wear my robe and be comfy all day.”  (If that doesn’t give away that he belongs to me I don’t know what does! Ha. I honestly LOVE the recent time change for that very reason!  I can put on my pjs even earlier.)  I told him we could totally make that happen and went on a costume hunt looking for anything that would work with a black and red checkered robe!

{Fall Porch}

So happy late Halloween from the Big Bad Wolf, Little Red Riding Hood and .. her grandpa?  Our fairytale is tweaked ever so slightly. ;)

Love the outtakes from our quick 2 minute photo shoot.  Let’s just adjust that mustache.

Kole could not stop laughing at Kenny’s wolf costume!  My girls were cracking up at it too.. the nose on it was just funny looking.  This man is such a good sport.

I was thrilled when I found costumes that went with his beloved robe so perfectly!

Do you all remember when I gave this to him last year before Christmas?  He has honestly LIVED in it for the past year.  It’s so funny to me that he loves it so much!  But I get it.  Softest robe ever!

I put in a dedicated hook for it in his bedroom between his closet and bathroom.  :)  I also bought him the same robe in another fun pattern to give him this year for Christmas.  It’s this Tucker an Tate Hooded Plush Robe and it’s honestly so soft and warm and cozy.  Read the reviews and you’ll see why Kole is obsessed with his!  I’m loving the patterns they came out with for girls this year too!  If my girls were younger I’d be giving them the pink buffalo check or the red Christmas tree robe for Christmas.  FUN gift idea if you have little kids!

{2018 Family Room Christmas Tree/Wool Jute Rug}

This pic of my kids watching Rudolph is a favorite from last year. :)

We made a quick trip to SLC the weekend before Halloween to surprise my sister’s husband for his 40th birthday.  It was so funny!  My sister told him and the kids that there would be an activity Saturday morning so they didn’t plan anything else.. something that would take the whole day.  They kept asking questions.. “Do we need to wear certain clothes?  Will it be cold?  Will we like it?”  My sister was laughing because they were all dreading this “activity” she had planned!  Our flight left San Diego at 4 am so we got to her house around 9:30 and they were all still in pjs.  She told them to head to the mailbox to see dad’s gift before they got dressed for the “activity” and we were all waiting at the mail box!  Too much fun!  They kids were SO excited when they saw us.. jumping up and down and Shawn was cracking up when I yelled “Surprise!  We’re the activity!”  We have so much fun with my sister and her family and loved surprising them!  We had a fun day planned.

{K’s shoes/K’s vest/my sweater/jeans/similar boots here or here}

First a quick trip to Gardner’s Village.  The weather was beautiful during the day!  Crisp and cold and the leaves in SLC are stunning this time of year.  Got to wear my new favorite sweater I shared in my last post. :)

We go to Gardner’s Village to see all of the witches at the witch festival!  My kids have fun memories of this activity every Fall when we visit my sister and her family.

They have a fun scavenger hunt for kids to see how many witches you can find (they are all the place and dressed up so funny).  We ate and shopped and enjoyed some fun Fall activities and then went to my sister’s house.

Then that evening we gave Shawn our gift.. tickets for everyone to go to the football game.  Go UTES!  This was supposed to be a party for Shawn after all. :)

Game was fun but I FROZE to death.  It got so cold and San Diego has made me a cold weather wimp!  This pic made me laugh because my eyes look like they are glazed over.  I was struggling.. ha!  I love my green coat but I need something warmer this year.  Below are the coats I’ve been looking at and considering!

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The next morning it snowed!  So much fun!  My kids were loving it.

{my blue crewneck sweater (so cute and comes in lots of colors!)/AG jeans/similar wedge booties}

It melted fast but was such a fun way to end our time in SLC!  We let the kids all hang out together at the house and the 4 of us got lunch together before it was time to leave.  A quick trip but so worth it!  We wish we all lived closer to each other but have learned we just have to prioritize time together like this throughout the year.

I snapped some pics of my sister’s house quick with my phone while I was there.. it was so cute and cozy for Fall!

Her style is a little different from mine.. more modern and moody.. but I love it!

Happy 40th Shawn!  I actually brought my sister and her husband together years ago.  Cute story for another day.. they forever owe me. ;)

Car and I spent a lot of time sitting here in front of her cozy fireplace catching up!  I love how she had a seat made for it and added pillows!  It’s so inviting.  Thinking I want to do that for mine because our marble is so cold and hard to sit on.

She had her Halloween pics on a string in front of her kitchen window and I loved it!  Such a fun idea!  This would be a cute way to also display Christmas pictures or cards this season.

Ok.. totally switching gears because this random post isn’t long enough. ;)  Addison and I made some pumpkin cookies and they were so quick and easy!  Thought I’d share the recipe quick if you’re interested.  Ad has a severe egg allergy so baked good are usually a hard NO for her.  (Makes birthday parties rough!)

This pumpkin cookie recipe has only THREE ingredients and no eggs!  Right up our alley. :)

They didn’t bake quite as fluffy without the eggs and vanilla but still tasted really good considering!  If you don’t have egg allergy issues in your family I’d try this pumpkin cookie recipe below.  They are delicious and still so easy! (We followed this minus the egg and vanilla.)

• 1 box spice cake mix
• 1 15 oz can of pumpkin puree
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• chocolate chips (the more the better) ;)

*Bake at 375° for 10 or so minutes.

Ok.. last but not least I’ve had so many questions lately coming in about artificial Christmas trees!  I get mine all over.  I’ve had trees from Balsam Hill, Wayfair, Pottery Barn, Home Depot, Tai Pan, etc.  I rounded up a few that look amazing below if you’re looking for a new tree this year!

Enjoy your day!  I’m off to finish adding greenery to my mantel.. it’s looking so pretty!  Can’t wait to share it soon. :)

*This post is sponsored by Walmart and affiliate links are used. All opinions and product selections are my own!

You guys!  Our house is so seasonally confused right now.  Ha!  I have pumpkins and bats up in my kitchen, Christmas starting in our mudroom/family room and Summer decor still lingering in our powder bathroom/living room.  Ellie is having friends over for Halloween and I’m a little worried that they might walk in and think they’ve entered the Twilight Zone.  Either that or they won’t even notice because.. teens. ;)

So I know it’s Halloween week but ahhhh!  I’m so excited about today’s post!  Walmart has released some new holiday items this year that are honestly so perfect!  Cute and cozy and such amazing quality for the price!  I ordered quite a few things on-line to check out thinking I would just keep a few items but I can’t send anything back!  I was playing around with all of the fun pillows and throws I ordered and decided I’d let you help me choose.  And if you say keep it all.. well.. I’ll have no choice but to oblige. :)  Below I’ve styled my mudroom bench three different ways.  Each of these combos would be so cute over any chair or couch or bench for the holidays!

Combo #1!  K.. this Modern Braided Fur Blanket is honestly a dream!  So soft and cozy!  I’m definitely keeping this, but it will be parked on my couch corner where I sit every night.  I’ve already claimed it as my companion during all Hallmark Christmas movies this year.

Looks so cute with red doesn’t it?  This Red Knit Pillow and the Sweater Knit Tassel Pillow are just FUN for the holidays.

Is this making anyone else so beyond ready for all that is to come!?  I can hear Michael Bublé in the background.  He’s singing It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas and my fresh pine candle is burning and the house is clean and decorated and I’m sitting next to the lights of my Christmas tree humming along without a care in the world.  Well.. there are cares, but in this fantasy I’m choosing to ignore them.  :)

Combo #2!  Isn’t this Red and White Snowflake blanket adorable!?  One of my trees might be heading in a snowflake direction (I’ll share more details on it soon!) so I HAD to have this blanket!  I love the ice-skates and people skiing and red tassels on it too.

I paired it with this Ombre Fur Pillow and Neutral Fringe Pillow.  Seriously.. these pillows are so nice.  I can’t get over the quality for the price I paid for them.

Combo #3 – This Kniteed Burgandy Blanket is a Christmas staple.  Perfect throw that looks great over any couch, chair, bench or at the bottom of a bed.  It has a beautiful texture and the long tassels could not be more perfect.  In my humble opinion. :)

I paired it with the large Ombre pillow and the cutest Red Ticking Stripe Pillow.

This combo might be my favorite!  Because stripes.  But no wait.. I love #1!  And #2.

Ok.  You’ve all convinced me.  I’m keeping it all.

Your work here is done. ;)

Honestly though I’ve saved the best for last.  Want to see something else I’m LOVING and so excited about for the holidays this year!?

How much fun is this beautiful Plaid Area Rug!?  LOVE the pattern.  LOVE the traditional Christmas colors.  And I LOVE that it’s honestly one of the softest rugs in my home.  It laid flat so nicely (no turned up corners!) and my kids have all each commented multiple times about how soft it is and can we please keep it up all year because they like it so much better than the rug I usually have in this space.  Ha.  I might have to move to a year long red color scheme because we will all be so sad to take it down after Christmas!  I haven’t styled my table yet (I mean.. let’s at least go trick-or-treating and take the bats down first) ;) but this cute green fir tree is working until I get around to it and will make a fun new addition to a console table or mantel at some point.  YEA!  I have so many fun ideas and can’t wait to start implementing them all!  I told Kenny to get ready for the marathon I train for all year.  Christmas decorating baby!  BRING IT ON. ;)

Links to all of these fun holiday favorites are below!  If you love any of them I would seriously snag them fast because I have no doubt every one of these items will sell out fast.  You can see other cute holiday items from Walmart here.  I also love this plaid buffalo blanket, this white loop throw pillow, these Sherpa Queen/Full blankets (would be so cute for holiday bedroom decor!) this marble serving platter (perfect for entertaining and just $13!) and isn’t this black and white checkered accent chair fun!?  Honestly Walmart has stepped up their game with home decor BIG time.  So many cute things!

Now back to rounding up all things Halloween.  I know I’ve got the accessories for Kole’s costume somewhere.  Are they next to the Spring tulips in my living room?  The mums and pumpkins on my porch?  Or the Christmas throws in the mudroom?

Good thing my family loves me. ;)

1 – Fringe Pillow  2 – Red Striped Pillow   3 – Red Knit Pillow   4 –  Ombre Fur Pillow

5 –  Knit Tassels Pillow  6 – Rustic Ottoman   7 –  Berry Wreath   8 – Plaid Rug   9 – Fir Tree

10 –  Faux Fur Blanket   11 – Snowflake Blanket  12 –Burgundy Blanket

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