I got such great feedback a few weeks back about my 3-ingredient appetizer idea that I decided to try another combination for a little blogger holiday party thrown by my friend Elizabeth this weekend. And for this little snack I chose one my all time favorite cheese, a creamy french brie… yum. I rolled out thawed puff pastry dough (store bought, from the frozen food section!) and spread a thin layer of strawberry jam across the surface, and spaced out the slices of cheese. Then I rolled the dough over the ingredients and sealed off the edges before cutting it into pinwheel slices. I baked the pinwheels — on baking sheet with a light mist of cooking spray — for about 12 minutes at 400 degrees. Let them cool a bit before removing them from the baking sheet so all of the cheese doesn’t ooze out — you don’t want any of that going to waste! I think this is going to be a new entertaining staple, it took about 5 minutes of prep time and they flew off the plate! 
I am totally behind and haven’t brought out a single holiday decoration at my house yet this year. That has to change this weekend, I’m in the market for a cute little apartment sized tree that I plan to wrap up with vintage tinsel and big twinkly bulb lights. But in the meantime, I’m adding a little festive flair to the blog today and rounding up a few of the Christmas decorations I have my eye on! Have you started decorating yet?
Mistletoe print | Pom-Pom Garland | Cheers Tumblers | Holiday Cards | Glitter Ornament | Deer Wine Stopper | Christmas Napkins | Macaron Ornament | Donut Ornament
I hate to play favorites, but I think I saved the best handmade holiday gift idea for last this week — painted cork coasters. Using plain cork coasters, I painted stripes and color blocks in pink, teal, and gold, and then finished off the top of them with a matte sealer to keep them waterproof. You could play around with color combinations that match your gift recipients’ home and style to make a customized gift, and pair them with their favorite wine or spirit. Are you trying any homemade gifts this year?
Looking for more DIY present ideas? Check them out here.
This is a DIY gift that I can nearly guarantee anyone would love to receive, homemade simple syrups. Sometimes I wonder, do they call it simple syrup because it’s so simple to make? I think they might! I used this recipe, and added apples for my own twist. Then I packaged it up in mini-mason jars and labeled the tops with brown craft paper, bakers twine, and recipe tags. Experiment with flavors and come up with your own mixture (I’ve used this recipe before too) — it’ll make your gift even more unique when you give it your own spin!
Looking for more DIY present ideas? Check them out here.
Today’s handmade holiday idea is all about creating a simple hostess gift. I purchased a few different sizes of wooden spoons, and taped off stripes at various intervals with painter’s tape, and then painted in the lines with black paint. After the paint thoroughly dried, I peeled back the tape to reveal the pretty stripes. Make sure you add a matte coat of clear finish over the top so that they’re safe to hand-wash. And of course, presentation is everything — I wrapped the set up in a shiny silk ribbon to make them gift-giving-ready!
Looking for more DIY present ideas? Check them out here.
Ready for another simple handmade holiday gift? This is another under-5-minutes DIY — glittery rhinestone filled ornaments. To make these, I purchased clear ornaments from my local craft store, and filled them up with rhinestones in various colors, shapes and sizes. Then I added a bright pink silk ribbon to the top for hanging. While I sort of want to keep these shiny little decorations for myself, I think they’d make a great gift for your girlfriends, customized in colors to match their style. Or tie a few onto a wrapped present as a special decoration that the recipient can add to their tree!
Looking for more DIY present ideas? Check them out here.
I am slowly recovering from my long weekend of feasting and am ready to kick-off some holiday-talk this week! Last year I had so much fun sharing DIY gift ideas, so I thought I would share a few new ideas this season too. This mulling spice kit is a super simple idea that would be great for hostess or teachers gifts — and it’ll take you only about 5-minutes to put together. I purchased some stacking organizers from the Container Store and in each layer added in a different spice — cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, anise, allspice, are all common mulling spices you could use here — pick the ones you like best! After all of the containers were filled, I stacked them back up and tied some whole cinnamon sticks to the container with a festive red ribbon. Consider pairing these with a bottle of red wine, some spice-bags, and a little handwritten note with your favorite mulled-wine recipe!
Looking for more DIY present ideas? Check them out here.
Next week I have a few fun DIY ideas for handmade holiday gifts — but in the meantime I thought I would share a few of my favorite DIY gifts from last year to get you in the crafting-mood! My favorite of these is the festive bottle stoppers, I gave them out as gifts last year and they were a hit — plus I still have a few hanging around that I plan on using for holiday entertaining! Do you have any plans for homemade gifts this year?
Festive Bottle Stoppers | Cookie Mix Jars | Glitter Hangers | Polka Dot Candle Holder | Monogrammed Coffee Mugs
Hope your day is filled with family time and lots of pie!
This year, instead of sharing a week of gift guides I decided to mix things up and think a little more local! I’m sharing interviews with local Boston business owners to get their tips for holiday gift giving, entertaining, and attire! Today we’re getting the dish on what to wear for the holidays from the stylish Jessika of Holiday Boutique:
K: The holiday season is upon us, and with party invitations piling up, I want to go out and buy a whole new wardrobe so I have something to wear! Any advice for how bring in new pieces that can update things you might already have in your closet?
HB: I suppose the most obvious answer is accessories! But think beyond jewelry… I love wearing colored opaque tights this time of year. Instead of basic black, try red or cream with a staple dress you already own. Try a vintage fur collars or scarves; a skinny scarf looks super chic folded and pinned — I like to wear one in place of a necklace with a cashmere sweater. I’m also mad for shoe clips — they can transform a boring pump into magic. Also something as simple as a fabulous manicure or professional blow-out can make you feel just as great (sometimes better) than buying a new dress.
K: In the age of email and text invites, it can often be less than clear what the attire recommendation is at different holiday events. What is your fail-proof outfit advice for holiday party dressing?
HB: Holiday party dressing should be festive and celebratory. I’d much rather show up to an event slightly over-dressed than under-dressed. I avoid leggings or denim for evening events and take full advantage of dresses and skirts. My go-to is generally black this time of year, but I also LOVE mixing in a statement color via a clutch, shoe or even a simple barrette. Red always pops on black, as does gold and leopard. Another go-to for me is cream — I’m a fan of winter whites– especially in lace. It’s classic and feminine. If you’re the hostess you’ll have even more freedom to experiment. Vintage pieces can make an incredible one-of-a-kind statement… try a vintage kimono and ballet flats! Soooo chic!
K: New Years Eve is my absolute favorite holiday, but I’m a little bored with the glittery cocktail dress look — what kind of looks do you recommend for counting down to midnight?
HB: New Years Eve is a fabulous excuse to do something slightly unexpected or even a little gutsy! Try a headpiece, hat or turban! If you want a little sparkle, a sequin beret is a darling choice — especially if the rest of your look is simple.
K: Any fun trends you’re excited about bringing into Holiday for, well, the holidays?
HB: My shop never gets too into “trend”– though this year we are embracing tartan and pom-poms! A classic plaid cashmere scarf and a knit hat with a giant pom-pom on top is both cute and cozy. We also love our re-worked vintage fur vests. For accessories, we’re all about a big, bold vintage inspired pin that can instantly make almost anything feel and look special. Our hand beaded monogram clutches are uber popular and a major (personal) statement piece.
Thanks to Jessika for all of her great advice! Don’t forget to #shoplocal on this holiday season!
