Christmas Brunch Table Ideas

Every year on Christmas Day, my family has a pretty casual breakfast — saffron buns and my mom’s famous Christmas bread by the tree.  Later in the morning we sit down for a more formal brunch of eggs, bacon, and Monkey Bread (only my mom made this stuff before it was cool).  This got me thinking all about Christmas brunch table ideas because I love a good table setting!  🙂  I’ve put together two different ideas — one for a more formal brunch, and one for an event a bit more casual.

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First up is the more formal table.  You’ll see that I used the dining table in the Brick Room (I showed you the table’s centerpiece in yesterday’s post).

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I used a combination of my mother-in-law’s Lenox china and silverware, some gilded plates from Pier 1, and red chargers to keep things festive.

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 Gold-dipped pine cones and a small ornament ball add a little bit of glitz and fun.

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 I love the details on these little demitasse spoons.  Champagne flutes are from Crate and Barrel.  Stemless and simple!

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 Super obsessed with these Christmas tree plates, too.  I love the pops of berry red!

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Moving on to the more casual table…

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 I used Christmas-themed dishes for this table setting, as well as a layer of everyday dinnerware.  Ruffled chargers, and everyday flatware.

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 I love using napkins like this on a table.  The coffee cups match the middle layered plate, and the saucers match the Christmas variety.  I just looped some faux greenery and set the coffee cup in the center.  And added an ornament ball, because they are fun and add some color!  🙂

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I think this setting goes really nicely with the centerpiece!

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Which one is your favorite?

Snowy Village

Guys.  Today is my 101st post!  How cool is that?  Silly me, I missed my 100th post birthday, so 101st celebration it is.  🙂

I hope you had a great weekend.  Mine was super productive with both my work and home to-do lists — I love when that happens!

Today I am sharing a little vignette that I am loving in the house.  It lives in the Brick Room, where the TV is and where the super cozy chairs are that I love to sit on while I write.  This is my favorite room in the whole house — especially this time of the year!

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Let’s get a closer look…

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The inspiration for this little vignette comes from here, but I love all of the fresh greenery, faux berries and candles that make ours a little bit more special.  The whole centerpiece rests on a really cool Lazy Susan, so it is easily turned and positioned.

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 I love the little houses.  🙂

Make sure you come back tomorrow because I’m sharing two Christmas brunch-inspired table settings with ya!  Can you even believe Christmas is next week?

Gift Guide: For Him

Hey there, friends.  I hope you are having a great weekend.  It has been pretty cold here the last couple of days so I have been enjoying bundling up in coats/jackets/blankets.  Last night Grey and I took a little trip to the mall and it was craziness there!  It looks like everyone is busy busy shopping.  🙂  Which brings me to today’s post — a gift guide for the men in your life!  Husbands, boyfriends, dads, brothers, friends, co-workers…  Just some ideas for everyone on your list.  Some of these are things that I know my husband/dad/father-in-law love, and others just look cool.

I hope you enjoy the rest of your Sunday!

Screen Shot 2017-03-15 at 1.32.29 PMCompartes Chocolate

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Moscow Mule Candle | Terrain

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Table Clock | Z Gallerie

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Loafers | Gucci

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Boostcase | Barneys

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Bottle Opener | Anthropologie

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Shaving Cream | The Art of Shaving

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Money Clip | Coach

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VANS Slip-On Sneakers | Barneys

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Messenger Bag | Jack Spade

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Polo | Burberry

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Cocktail Kit | Terrain

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Flannel Pajama Set | J. Crew

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Fitbit Surge | Brookstone

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Copper Desk Accessories | Anthropologie

Fifth Wall Friday

Screen Shot 2017-03-15 at 1.29.39 PMDesignboom

Can you believe that this ceiling has been installed with a system of colored threads, creating this unbelievable design?  I can’t think of a more spectacular sight than seeing this in person!  Loving the colors — one of my favorite combinations.

Another week in the books, and it only seemed to get busier as it progressed.  This means that I have a full weekend ahead of me of work, work, work (plus a little bit of fun thrown in there for good measure).  I hope you have a calm couple of days away from the office or wherever you spend your weeks.  Enjoy!

Tiny Trees

It’s almost Friday!  🙂  I think I love Thursdays for just that reason.  The promise of the weekend fills the air!  😉

I think it’s no secret or surprise that my mother-in-law goes all-out for Christmas decorating.  Or basically any decorating.  And even her pared-down decorating is still all-out.  There’s less Christmas decor up this year, but it doesn’t feel any less warm or special.  Typically decorating around this time of year takes her 3-4 days to get everything up.  This year, she opted for 1-2 days of decorating.  Which brings me to tiny trees.

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This is an old snapped picture of the kitchen tree.  It’s not up this year, but it sure is cute!  There are lots of fun food ornaments on this tree, as well as those baked cinnamon ornaments that are a fun project around Christmastime.  Which got me thinking about the adorableness of having a small tree in a small space, or just a small tree in lieu of a big tree!  I’m not picky, I just like ’em!

Screen Shot 2017-03-15 at 1.17.47 PMReggie Darling

I love the vintage-y, super-traditional feeling of this tree.  And the silver urn (or maybe that is an ice bucket?)!  You know me, I like anything shiny.  🙂

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How about this super-metallic tree?  It’s classic but has a little bit of modern elegance to it, too.

Screen Shot 2017-03-15 at 1.19.29 PMEtt Rott Monogram

A quirky, simple, Charlie-Brown-esque tree.

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Traditional Home

This tree reminds me so much of the little tree that my brother and I used to decorate at my Gramma’s house when we were little.  I think it’s the beads.  They were always my favorite part of her tree!

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Does this still count as a tiny tree?  I think it does!  🙂  It’s imperfect and loaded with ornaments and I love it.

Do you decorate any small trees in your home?

Christmas Brooch Tree

A pretty little Christmas craft has made its way into the dining/library room.

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The best part is that it has sentimental value, too.

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 My mother-in-law made this out of her mother’s collection of brooches that were given to her.  I think it is a pretty perfect combination of these two inspirational projects:

Screen Shot 2017-03-15 at 1.12.43 PMSomething Created Everyday

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Mommy Shorts

All of the pieces have been glued to a soft piece of fabric on cardboard, and then placed in a frame to finish it.

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 A lovely sparkly something that my mom-in-law can bring out at Christmastime year after year.  🙂

Color Study: Taupe

Taupe is my color.

Screen Shot 2017-03-15 at 12.57.40 PMSouth Shore Decorating Blog

Not in fashion.  Nope, that’s not when taupe is my color.  (Although I do love a good taupe nail polish).

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But in the design world?  Taupe is my color.

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Peter Fehrentz

If a spirit animal could be a color, well then…

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You know what my spirit animal would be.

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Red River Interiors

Pair taupe seamlessly with gray, metallics, and nearly any wood finish.  This is a very forgiving color.  A very kind color.

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Architectural Digest

Toss in virtually any pop of color, and you just added an element of modernity to your space.  Any crisp color will do the trick.

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In my brain, taupe promotes peace.  My ultimate zen color.

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Home Bunch

Snowball Centerpiece

Hey there, Happy Monday to you!  I hope that you had a great weekend.  Ours was really nice, ending on Sunday with a big birthday celebration for my husband, father-in-law, and mother-in-law (their birthdays are all within a week of each other)!

Today I’m taking you into the dining/library room where there are little touches of Christmas all around, although I am only showing one spot today — the cute little centerpiece on the table.

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 My mom-in-law says that when she was little, there was always a snowball candle in her home at Christmastime.  She says these are hard to find these days, but she found hers in a specialty candle shop in Prescott, AZ.

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 The centerpiece is simple — just a silver tray, fake snow, greenery, berries for color, and the snowball candle, of course!

Gift Guide: For Her

Hey there, and Happy Weekend!  I, for one, and soaking up the relaxation.  Spending time by the tree, watching endless amounts of Christmas movies, and neglecting my e-mails.  😉  I’ve got to admit — it’s been blissful.

I have some great gifts ‘for her’ to share with you today.  Some of these are things that I have received and love, and some are things that I saw and think are great.  ‘Tis the season of giving!

Screen Shot 2017-03-15 at 12.32.13 PMScarlett Slippers | Kate Spade

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Crystal Pens | Swarovski

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Dior Addict Lip Glow | Saks Fifth Avenue

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Simone Zip Wallet | Z Gallerie

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Leather-Bound Notepad | Barney’s New York

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Clustered Crest Cuff | Anthropologie

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Brilliance iPhone Case | Nieman Marcus

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Lucite Desk Accessories | Z Gallerie

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Connor Shoe Cards | Barney’s New York

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Smythson Notebook | Barney’s New York

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Diptyque Candle | Nieman Marcus

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Champagne Bottle Pajamas | Nordstrom

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Designer Tube Clock | Barney’s New York

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Jane Austen Classic Novels | Anthropologie

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Underwear Pouch | MochiThings

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Elements of Style Book | Amazon

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Chanel Nail Polish | Chanel

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Laguiole Cheese Knife Set | Terrain

Happy Shopping!

Fifth Wall Friday

Screen Shot 2017-03-15 at 12.29.03 PMPretty Pink Tulips

Funky mirrored ceiling, amazing bubble light fixture, and just the right amount of gray + white + neutral colors, textures, and tones.  It is safe to say that this room is inspiring to me on many levels — not the least of which is the striking minimalism that is achieved without it feeling ice cold, baby!

I hope you’ve all had a great week.  The pace has slowed down a bit for me and I am enjoying lots of time working by the tree, shoving my feet in piles of blankets, and grabbing an occasional sweet seasonal beverage from S-bux.  (Not good for my waistline, but puts me in the spirit!)

Have a great weekend!