Christmas In Paris

It started with our 2 day stop in the Cotswolds- you might remember we were winging it and deciding where we wanted to stay each day. And we did fine until the last day we were there and we couldn’t find a hotel and our taxi driver was laughing that we decided to wing it on a bank holiday weekend. He was so great to help us find something- thankfully- but thus the European comedy of errors began.

Christmas in Paris

Between leftover travel restrictions, overbooked everything and stock supply issues- making a Christmas shoot happen in Paris during the summer of 2022 had more than a few hiccups. It was a team effort making this shoot happen for sure! Thank goodness for Balsam Hill and Balsam Hill France and all of their help. They jumped in to make a twinkling tree in Paris in August happen -they had a full size tree, small tree and foliage in stock we could use and they were amazing and sent them to the Paris apartment for the shoot. The apartment was with Paris Perfect- a beautiful backdrop for us to work in with the most perfect views. Beyond thankful for both of these partners and their help making this happen.

While in the apartment -I was planning on shooting for the Christmas book, another print project, working on social media videos and photos (which need to be different from book work) and also trying to squeeze in a bit of vacation- all over just about 3 days. And it was HOT in Paris at that time so I am certain that neighbors thought we were a tad nuts shooting Christmas trees in shorts in 90 degree weather haha.

The apt had guests in it until the day we arrived and so, we were unable to have anything shipped directly there but there was a market a block from the apartment that accepted packages which was perfect. Nothing was due to arrive the first day we were in the apartment- so we were settling in and wandered over to pick up supplies for the shoot and I worked on another photo styling that evening.

When we got a notification the boxes were here – we went to the market to grab them and that was when the hiccups started. After a lot of back and forth and searching, they discovered due to some kind of a restriction – they had been delivered to a pick up ‘mailbox’ type place a few miles away and they were unable to deliver. So I punched in the address to map us and we walked to the pick up location. When we got there, I had just 3% battery on my phone. We waited in line to get the boxes – and right when we just got up to the service desk, my phone died. I explained the packages, my name etc. but the man explained unless I had the bar code from the email (which was on my dead phone) I could not pick up the packages. No exceptions. My husband was about ready to take me out at that point since we had a short time before the mailbox store closed, no phone, no barcode & no way to pick up packages.

We walked outside and started looking around the street and it was almost like a beaming light shining across the street and 1 block down. There was a cell phone repair shop- thank goodness! We were able to get a fast charger, go back to the mailbox shop and plug in and charge for a few minutes- enough to get the barcode and get our packages before they closed the doors. We had a good laugh with the mailbox guy after all that haha.

Then it was on to find a taxi that was large enough to find big boxes in it in a city where small taxi’s are king. We called Paris Perfect and they recommend a larger taxi service they use and the taxi came about an hour later and shuffled us and our boxes back to the apartment. We got right to work decorating to try to be able to photograph the tree during evening light.

After we set up in the living room -my camera would not turn on even though I had charged the battery all night. Both the batteries I brought would not charge on the new international charger I brought with me. So I used my iPhone in Raw to photograph the living tree and then several more trips walking to stores and helpful folks later- they figured out the issue, we bought another new charger and then I moved the tree to the dining room. I filled the tree with the fresh flowers we had used for other photoshoots. It was an unplanned shoot and I absolutely loved how it turned out. We then moved the large tree up to the patio that afternoon to try to capture the Eiffel Tower with the tree at night.

Pure Magic!

As you can see, Murphys Law was in full force that trip it seems haha! And did I mention that about a week before we left for Europe I had pulled my calf muscle and was able to barely walk a short time & only in heels by the time we got on the plane? I wore heeled boots the whole time we were there just to even be able to walk. A trip filled with a few glitches- but it was honestly so amazing and so many memories were made. I loved every crazy minute!

And you know, I am an emotional kind of girl and I will admit- I was a bit teary that trip. All the crazy aside- it truly was a pinch me moment when I stopped for a second and just soaked it up -it was BEYOND. In my wildest dreams I don’t know that I ever imagined I would be traveling to Paris to style and shoot photos for a book that I was writing. There are several big dreams come true all in that moment!

Living Room Tree

Decorated with the ribbons, ornaments and citrus slices and candles we brought.

The Secrets Here? We bought brown paper and wrapped various small things we found around the apartment to be gifts. Books, dishes, tissue paper boxes, etc. We then placed them on the toile bedspread from one of the guest beds that was used as the tree skirt.

Dining Room Tree

We moved the tree to the dining room for a photo by the window with the buildings in the background.

The Secrets: We had to wait for the right sunlight to get this photo- the light in Paris is incredible and it bounced off the buildings in this room which made it feel like sunshine filled light all day long. The tree skirt is a lovely throw from the sofa. The flowers are all fresh from the flower markets there and were used for another photoshoot. This tree was a last minute addition to our shoot schedule- originally not planned but I was inspired and decided to start decorating it while my husband was off on an errand. As you can see, the same ornaments and ribbons- but with the flowers, the tree looks a little different.

Eiffel Tower Tree

A tree on the patio with the Eiffel Tower and Paris architecture as the backdrop- perfection.

The Secrets: It was pretty windy the day we had this tree set up. I scrambled to get the tree moved through the small doors to the patio and then get some simple decor on it quickly. I left it with just a few baubles and ribbons and candlesticks and a faux fur throw underneath and started shooting just before the sunset was glowing. I had about 10 minutes to capture all the photos and videos I wanted before the purple pink glow disappeared. These photos were actually taken with my iPhone rather than my DSLR. My iPhone shooting photos in Raw was king on this trip for the photos!

Beyond amazing – this was a big magic filled moment for sure.

So there you have a bit behind this Christmas photoshoot in Paris. I hope you have enjoyed hearing a little bit about what goes on behind the scenes. You can see more of this shoot in my Christmas Book HERE.

See more of the Cotswolds HERE

And our stay in this beautiful Paris Apartment HERE

I am slowing a bit the next few days to simmer and soak up all the Christmas magic of the season. I will pop on and share a bit more before taking a break and then will see you after Christmas for NYE inspiration and a look back at the year that was along with dreams for 2024.

Happy Friday All.

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This is a wreath I made several years ago that uses fresh and dried elements. Whole oranges and slices are both included along with other dried citrus- and I love how it turned out.

For my book, I created a new wreath inspired by the dried citrus. This one has a bunch of pinecones mixed in as well.

Whether you are look at creating a wreath, decorating a tree or making a garland- or just scattering dried citrus here and there for a festive touch. It is so easy to make your own if you would like to- and it smells amazing in the house while you are doing it.

Whole oranges & Slices

First things first- whole oranges. You might have seen pomanders which are dried oranges with cloves in designs and patterns. They are beautiful as well- but today we are talking about simple sliced whole oranges and slices of oranges.

How To

Preheat your oven from 175- 200 f and take your whole oranges and simply make slits all around them. You can slice about 1/4″ deep but not much further and don’t connect all the slices at the top or bottom- you want the orange to maintain the shape. Place the whole orange on parchment paper or aluminum foil on a baking tray and bake for about 12-24 hours or until they are dry. The larger the orange- the longer it takes. I have also done this same thing with small tangerines, limes and lemons, etc. for a different look.

For the slices- simply cut your orange into slices and place them on the tray to bake. They will not take nearly as long- probably only about 3 hours depending on how thick the slices are and how juicy the oranges are.

Remember to flip both whole and sliced oranges about 1x per hour so that they dry more evenly. When they are dry- cool them at room temperature before using them for potpourri, ornaments, garlands etc.

Simple and sweet and so easy to make. They will last and last as long as they are dry enough and you should be able to enjoy them for several years.

Get the Look

• Dried Whole Oranges
• Dried Orange Slices
• Dried Whole Lime
• Dried Lemon Slices
• Burnt Orange velvet ribbon
• French Country Cottage Christmas Book
• Olive Green Velvet Ribbon

Happy Thursday all!

*some affiliate links

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All about 25 gift ideas that are all under $25 this afternoon. Simple, sweet and thoughtful – and inexpensive. That seems to be the gifting motto this year and I am all for it. I love to give a gift that is something that someone can really use, or something they really want or something that is really unique that they will love. This year we are mostly shopping for the grand babies- and how much fun is that! We are picking up a couple little things for our grown up big kids too though. And I will admit- they get harder and harder to buy for. Anyone else feel the same? Maybe one of these ideas below will help.

25 Gift Ideas under $25

Felted Mice & Dogs Gifts & Package Toppers

I am obsessed with these darling little felted mice – I have them on the attic tree this year and they just make you happy when you see them. Technically they are not under $25 if gifting the whole set but if breaking it down into 6 gifts- you are good to go.

There are 3 different sets of them- mice with latte’s, cups of tea and such

forager mice with mushrooms & foraging bits

and flowers and coastal mice that are wearing bright blue stripes and have lovely little coastal charm.

They even have one that is Me. Yep- you guessed it – the mouse with the denim jacket and French market bag filled with flowers. Just so darling!

I also think they would be lovely as gifts- since they come in a set of 6 you can easily break the set up to gift to 6 friends – maybe there is one mouse that fits some of your friends personalities? I love tying one to a present as a package topper. Absolutely sweet. And actually, since we were talking about place setting details in our earlier blog post- they would be darling tied to napkins for a festive look and take a

Of course, if you don’t like the mice- the wee dogs will steal your heart.

Shop them each below:

• Coastal Mice Set
• Forest Forager Mice Set
• Latte Ladies Mice Set
• Felt Dog Reindeer Set
• Lit wooden village (just because it is shown here as well)

For Her

• Jade Gua Sha & Roller
• White Sage Candle
• Reed Diffuser
• Insulated Travel Mug
• Filtered Reusable Water Bottle
• Flowering Teapot

For Him

• Headlamp Pro
• Portable Crock Pot
• Zip Fleece Jacket
• Cotton Cardigan
• Beard Balm
• Razor shaving set

For anyone

• Spa Gift Set
• Wireless Headphones
• Ring Light for the Computer
• Wearable Blanket Sweatshirt
• Lindt Chocolates Truffles Gift
• Sunflower basket Spa Gift
• Bonsai Tree Starter Kit
• Cookies Gift Set
• Magical Moon lamp

*some affiliate links

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Christmas Table Setting ideas

I am going to keep it simple and sweet with the chatter today- but can I just say- Can you believe that Christmas is less than a week away? I honestly cannot believe that it is almost already here. Maybe it is because I have been on the go with the book tour for the past couple of months but I feel like it is nowhere near Christmas yet. Yes, I do know we had Thanksgiving- I am just saying, it feels like the calendar flipped to December and it flipped all the way to the week before Christmas. Where in the world has the month (past several months!) gone?

That said, I am all about keeping things easy this week. I have been slowing down and soaking up the twinkling trees and not running around like a wild woman. I have been more intentional about what I am working on or doing each day. And I am planning the table and fun for Christmas Day with family. We are hosting the kids and grands this year and I am SO EXCITED for all the magic and memory making!

So today, I am sharing a few ideas and a little bit of some of my favorite table settings from over the years and in my Christmas book. I hope that you can find some inspiration as well.

Merry Place Settings

Place settings filled with a little touch of merry – and also double as a take away gift. I found these charming wood word cutouts and knew they would be perfect for placing on the plates for a holiday table.

Beautiful Blue & White

Using your favorite colors and not just the traditional red and green is a wonderful way to add your own personality to your table.

For the place settings- a blue and white floral napkin tied with navy velvet ribbon is a sweet little place setting touch.

Foliage placemat

For a unique look -use fresh or faux greens to create a ‘placemat’ and accent each place setting.

Vintage Ornaments

I always love vintage ornaments anywhere and everywhere and on the table is no different. I have used them dotting the foliage centerpiece and for this table I decided to use vintage cherub ornaments on the napkins. These are old chipped plaster but I have found some get the look options that I will link below.

Gingham & Blush

Back to the non-traditional looks- this gingham and blush table was a favorite of mine from my book. I love the way the soft gray gingham mingles with the blush roses and fresh greens – a country Christmas feeling.

Fresh Garland

Fresh garland of all kinds is perfect as a centerpiece.

From faux to fresh evergreen to eucalyptus.

Tuck in a few roses or other flowers and baubles and it is perfection.

Get the Look

• French Country Cottage Christmas
• Merry Wood Cutouts
• Blue White Floral Napkins
• Vintage Green Napkins
• Gold detail Goblets
• Faux Blush Roses
• Navy Velvet ribbon
• Pewter Velvet Ribbon

I hope this helps give you some ideas for creating place setting details and centerpieces that are easy to do and beautiful as well.

Happy Tuesday all.

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Breakfast Grazing Table

This breakfast grazing table starts with you and your favorites for serving when you have guests in the house. It really is so easy to customize- from vegan options to cooked options like quiche to fruit and yogurt, oatmeal, you name it. I decided to go in the direction of a lovely French sweets and bakery inspired breakfast. Which meant allllll the pastries on repeat.

What you need

As mentioned- it is really what you would like to include. Here is a bit of what we included in this table.

• Parchment paper

This is for lining your island or table or counters and placing your food on.

Something to note– Especially if you have marble or a stone that will absorb grease or oils- take care to first put down a barrier like aluminum foil and then place the parchment paper on top of that. You won’t see it underneath the parchment paper and it will help to keep your counters from absorbing any oils, sugary glazes, etc. Otherwise, the oils can seep through to your counters and might stain them.

• Pastries

From delicious sweet breads to nut breads to donuts, fritters and other specialty pastries.

Croissants, waffles, muffins, French toast, biscotti- and more. All kinds of bakery fresh pastries were layered on the island. Aside from looking beautiful- it offers something for everyone. With fresh fruits and yogurts, granola to muffins and all.those.sweets for the sweet tooth folks who love something sweet with their coffee in the morning.

• Fruit, Eggs, Yogurt and Oatmeal

Grapes, figs, melon, oranges, berries, etc- anything goes.
You can set out some scrambled or hard boiled or any type of eggs along with yogurt and oatmeal as well.

• Coffee & Tea

Coffee, tea, juices, lemon water- whatever beverages you would like to serve is perfect. Simply set out a French press or pitcher and cups for guests to serve themselves.

Kitchen Corner

In the kitchen corner, Texas toast is ready for making into fresh French toast- you can also create a parfait station with bowls of fresh berries and syrups with your yogurt and granolas for self serving.

This is such a simple fun idea that is so easy to put together in the morning before everyone gets up and makes enjoying a Christmas breakfast or brunch much less work without doing all the cooking in the morning. I love how it is so customizable for any type of breakfast, brunch, lunch or even dinner and dessert food. Guests will love the informal grab what speaks to you way of serving- and you can pack up and send home little gift boxes full of extras of their favorites with them too.

What do you think of this holiday grazing breakfast?

You can find more ideas in my book- and you can get it for just $20 with free 2 day shipping right now. (its a great gift!) Shop the look below:

• French Country Cottage Christmas
• Parchment paper
• French Press

For more on holiday food ideas- you can find another Holiday Breakfast Platter idea Here

*some affiliate links

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Blue & White Chinoiserie Christmas Tree

Blue and white on repeat and repeat and repeat.. that is what this tree and styling is all about. And it was inspired by that beautiful antique pot that the tree is placed in. My grandfather gave us this pot when as a housewarming gift when we first moved in. Back when the house was a big old disaster- every room and every corner needed some love and attention. The siding was rotten. The windows were falling out of the frames. The ceiling in the bathroom was non existent and Yellowjackets, rats and even bats were residents of the house before we moved in. (and after too unfortunately) But in the middle of all that work and mess and basically a house that looked like a tear down-we saw potential for a beautiful home for our family. And my grandfathers first comment when he stepped inside the house before we bought it was about the dance parties that the large living room could hold. He saw past the yuck too. I definitely think it is a carpenter/contractor/crazy person trait. To clarify- my grandfather was a carpenter, my dad a contractor and me- well I am the crazy person. lol.

Nonetheless, Gramps came by to see the place after we moved in and take a look at all the different plants and trees that were on the acreage. He had a gardening business after he retired and he was the one who told us that the overgrown crazy in the front of the house was a huge old growth camellia. He also brought along a blue and white pot that had a beautiful Japanese scene on it. It was a house warming gift for the house that he knew would be beautiful like that planter pot someday.

When I was working on my Christmas book- I was looking everywhere and anywhere for inspiration for unique and beautiful ideas to share that were also my style. I saw that planter pot outdoors and decided why not try a tree inside and go with a blue and white theme.

Chinoiserie Love

Once I had the idea- I ran with it. I gathered up all my blue and white china and considered adding tea cups and saucers to the tree. I collected more from Marketplace and the thrift stores to fill the cupboard. Grabbed my vintage blue and navy velvet ribbons and ordered some dainty blue and white ornaments to go along with the others I had on hand. And bit by bit, ornament by ornament, branch by branch- this tree came together.

Blue & White

Of course, the pot aside, the other focus is the blue and white ornaments that are dotting the branches. I found several styles from porcelain to wood cutout -and they were all beautiful proving that you don’t have to spend a chunk for individual ornaments to get the look. I tucked dried eucalyptus in the branches for a more ‘leafy’ tree look.

And when all the baubles and bits were in place, I added velvet ribbons. I know, surprise surprise. I am a tad obsessed with ribbons on the tree- and it is one of my go to looks in every shape size and color. And then I filled the antique cabinet with blue and white dishes and called it good.

Layered Ribbons

For this, I layered a vintage blue with a rich navy blue ribbon to get a mix and mingle look. I tied the ribbon on the top of the tree and let the layers dangle down a bit and added smaller ribbons all over the tree.

European Fir

This tree is the Balsam Hill European Fir and is one of my favorites for a wonky natural look. It has a bit of a wild and wooly shape that is unique.

This beautiful blue and white tree is one of my favorites from my Christmas book- and mostly because of the story behind the planter pot and that it reminds me of my gramps every time I see it. What do you think of this chinoiserie tree?

Shop the Look

• Balsam Hill European Fir
• French Country Cottage Christmas Book
• Chinoiserie Nutcracker Ornaments
• Chinoiserie Wood nutcrackers
• Blue and White bird Ornaments
• Chinoiserie ornaments
• Mixed chinoiserie ornaments
• Blue and White Santa Ornaments
• Round ornaments
• Delft blue velvet ribbon
• Navy Blue Velvet Ribbon
• Blue and white fishbowl planter

You can see more Christmas tree inspiration HERE

*some affiliate links

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Small Christmas Trees

Today’s post is about those small Christmas trees and 7 ideas for unique stands and how to decorate with them to add little bits of Christmas cheer in the house.

In a bucket

A vintage bucket full of chippy charm is a perfect vessel for a small tree. This one in the attic is such a cute way to incorporate another layer of vintage charm when decorating a tree with vintage mercury glass baubles.

Tip: Layer vintage baubles on a wee spindly tree for an old fashioned charm.

In a wood bowl

This is a snap that didn’t make the cut in my book- it is from our photoshoot in Paris. I was looking for something unique to put a small tree in on the counter- and they had this lovely old wood bowl in the cupboard that was absolutely perfect.

Tip: Think outside the box when it comes to tree vessels-something unique adds another bit of of the story.

Garden Cart

A vintage garden cart that was at my friend Sandy’s antique shop- I fell in love with the color and decided it needed to come home with me and hold a Christmas tree. It was perfection.

Tip: A wheel barrow, garden cart or wagon is a perfect choice for adding a charming tree display outdoors.

Basket

I always seem to be bringing vintage baskets of different kinds home with me- not really knowing exactly where I will use them at the time. This picnic basket had a unique shape and I loved the little colorful details and wooden handles. I included several trees in vintage picnic baskets in the book but this was one of the favorites.

Tip: Baskets of all shapes and sizes are a lovely base for a tree. Add a couple trees with different baskets in groupings for a charming look.

Galvanized Pail

Always perfect for holding a tree- a chunky galvanized pail is country Christmas perfection. This belonged to my friend Michelle and was in her Tahoe cabin – when we were there shooting photos for the book, I decided to use the bucket to bring in a little more rustic charm.

Tip: Using buckets and bins and wood boxes you already have on hand is a perfect way to create a little tree display that is uniquely yours.

Wood Cheese Mold Bucket

You might remember this old wood bucket from a junking haul I shared years ago. Not only is it perfect for just being cute- it holds a small tree like it was made for it. I believe we decided it was a cheese mold but it is pretty perfect for Christmas trees too.

Antique Grape Harvest Hod

Another day, another vintage bucket for a twinkling tree. I guess you could safely say I am obsessed with buckets for trees- and this one is just so sweet. This is an antique grape hod that was used for harvesting grapes- it is like a backpack of sorts. While it is the same tree inside the hod as in some of the other buckets- this one is taller and creates a different kind of feeling.

Shop the Look

Small Trees are from Balsam Hill- currently up to 50% off with Free Shipping!

• Alpine Balsam Fir Wee Tree
• Baby Norman Tree

• Farm pail
• Blue Pail
• Galvanized Tub
• Wood Bowl
• Small wood bucket
• Tall Metal buckets
• French Country Cottage Christmas Book

You can see another small tree & stand idea HERE and stay tuned for a peek at the Attic tree this year.

Last Day to Shop the Market

And in Market News- The French Country Cottage Market is CLOSING for the rest of the year TOMORROW. All orders will be shipped on Friday. Everything is currently ON A 1 DAY FLASH SALE in the market. We have a very limited supplies left of linens and slipcovers, signed books, totes & Christmas stockings and skirts and won’t be restocking & opening sales again until next year.

SHOP THE MARKET

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Beautiful Gift Wrap Ideas

Vintage Newspaper

This is such a fun one. And it has an interesting story about how it came about. While I was working on my Christmas book, I was shopping marketplace for various things for tables and stylings and what not. I came across a listing for a set of vintage transfer ware and when I went to go see the transfer ware- she also showed me that she had a box of vintage stemware that she was interested in selling. We pulled out a couple of the glasses to take a peek- and each one was wrapped in old newspaper. We brought them home with us and as I unwrapped each one- I saved the ones that did not crumble or break and used them to wrap presents.

I love the simplicity of them and enjoyed seeing the stories and styles as I wrapped the packages. A simple velvet ribbon or satin ribbon bow and they were perfect. I will share a closer look at this tree soon.

Salt Dough Package Toppers

Another sweet way to dress up packages is to make salt dough ornaments & tie them to the package as an extra treat.

You can find the molds I used for these below- and the salt dough recipe and details are all in my Christmas book as well.

Tartan Plaid on repeat

Because, it is festive and fun and a colorful red & blue tartan plaid print tied with velvet ribbons simply says Christmas when tucked under the tree. Packages that coordinate with your tree design and color scheme is a wonderful way to give your tree a designer look.

Winter Santa Toile

Toile is always a beautiful pattern for decorating with and it is the same with decorating packages. I love this Santa Toile tied with double red velvet ribbons for a festive touch.

Vintage Millinery

Vintage millinery or fabric flowers are lovely as package toppers- especially for those who love vintage everything. I found a bag full of various vintage millinery elements at the thrift store and used them in table settings and package decor in my new book.

These are just a couple of ways to dress your packages as pretty as your Christmas tree and make your gifts unique and beautiful even before they are opened.

You can see more ideas here– Happy gift wrapping everyone!

Get the Look

• French Country Cottage Christmas Book
• Green Velvet Ribbon
• Red Velvet Ribbon
• Blue Velvet Ribbon
• Blush Satin Ribbon
• Deer mold for ornaments
• Pinecone Mold for ornaments
• Santa Toile paper
• Plaid Wrapping Paper
• Red butcher paper
• Pink butcher paper
• Fabric Flowers

*some affiliate links

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Natural Christmas

Fresh garlands in a doorway, pinecones and fresh fruit, branches or a mix and mingle of them all- I love adding fresh in holiday decor. Today I am sharing a closer look and some tips for using natural in outdoor decor and creating a festive window box. (and hint- it is okay to use faux and real together to create a beautiful look)

Natural Christmas Porch Decor

One of my favorite places to use fresh foliage is outdoors. It tends to keep the greens fresh longer than if it is in the house where it dries out quickly. When creating a festive welcome for friends and family – of course, you can’t go wrong with garlands and wreaths – and you can take a step further on your porch by creating pots full of foliage along with other festive displays.

Tip: Soak your garlands in a tub of water overnight before put them up -it well help them to stay fresh and last longer.

Garlands

Another tip when using fresh garland is to layer them and double them up for a full and lush look. Fresh garlands have that lovely drape and movement so often they can appear on the thin side. Just like layers of warmth when dressing- layers of garland are a good thing too. And don’t be afraid to add in your own personal favorites to customize them- like bunches of magnolia or eucalyptus, pinecones, fruits, ribbons, etc.

Another tip for mingling fresh and faux is to use a faux garland as your base and layer a fresh garland on top of it for a mix and mingle and instant oomph.

Pottery & Containers

Concrete pots, urns and other containers are lovely tucked by the door or anywhere as an accent. I love to use them on the porch and steps but also bring them indoors. Simply clip branches and tuck them into the pots and layer with pinecones to create a wild and wooly look.

Wreaths

Beautiful fresh wreaths are perfect on front doors of course, but you can also add them to windows and walls for a festive look. Simply add a bow and call it good or add your customizations like berries for a unique look.

Window Boxes

We have window boxes on almost every window on our house and while they are filled with blooming beauty during the spring and summer- in autumn and winter they are looking a little more festive with seasonal foliage and accents.

For this look, I added a garland to the top of the window box and folded it over so that it was doubled. This created a base for tucking in branches and fresh clippings and then we added pinecones, faux sugared fruit and berries and dried hydrangeas.

Get the Look- Natural Christmas Porch

Every year Balsam Hill has fresh garland and wreaths that are made to order and shipped right to you and they are part of the up to 50% Off Sale at Balsam Hill. Linking some of my favorites this year – but there are several different foliages and styles to choose from. And you can find more about some of these looks in my Christmas book- linked below.

• 10′ Noble Fir Woodland Garland & Foliage
• 10′ Evergreen and Juniper Garland & foliage
• Fresh Noble & Silver Dollar Eucalyptus Wreath
• French Country Cottage Christmas Book

Happy Monday everyone.

*some affiliate links

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This years look all started with this beautiful Aspen Estate tree. It is such a beauty- I am literally obsessed with the full, flowy shape it has and all.those.lights. It feels very old fashioned and storybook Christmas to me and I love how the branches drop all the way down to the floor. Dreamy! As you can see, I took these photos and didn’t even put a tree skirt under it yet- and it looks lovely just as it is.

You might remember this tree from a share earlier this season when it was decorated with fresh flowers. You can find that post HERE

Golden Glow Christmas Tree

I wasn’t sure just how I was going to decorate the living room tree this year. But I had already started adding vintage blue and olive green velvet ribbons to the bedroom tree- and decided to bring them out to the living room tree as well. And so, they were the starting point for his look. You might remember that I decorated this tree with fresh flowers after the wedding. I removed most of them -but did leave the statice and some of the eucalyptus and branches and simply added to the mercury glass baubles that were already in place.

Parisian Elegance

I added ornaments from a new collection at Balsam Hill this year- Parisian Palace. They are a lovely soft color palette with dainty glittery details. I chose the golds and creams from the collection and also added in some of their new beaded velvet ornaments from the Parisian collection and crystal snowflakes as well.

A chunky glittery ball garland draped on the branches adds a whimsical touch.

Layered Velvet Ribbons

The velvet ribbons are simple and sweet and I love them layered on the tree.

You can tied them in sweet bows or simply drape them on the branches. I also added them layered in a bow on the top for a topper and left them long to add a bit of drama.

Tip: These velvet ribbons are a rustic torn velvet and can be expensive when doing a whole tree. A tip for getting them to go further than just the 3′ long rolls they come in is to purchase the wider 3″ ribbon and cut it in half.

Get the Look

Shop Balsam Hill’s up to 50% off sale and get Free shipping right now.

• Aspen Estate Christmas Tree
• Parisian Palace Ornaments
• Velvet Beaded Ornaments
• Parisian Palace Jumbo Ornaments
• Crystal Snowflake Ornaments
• Crystal Ball Beaded Garland
• Wintry Woodlands Garland on mantel
• Olive Green Velvet Ribbon small
• 3″ Olive Green Velvet Ribbon
• Slate Blue Velvet Ribbon small
• Teal Blue Velvet Ribbon (other option)
• Dusty Blue Velvet Ribbon (other option)
• French Country Cottage Christmas Book
• I also have a limited supply of signed copies of my Christmas Book in my shop as well. Everything in the shop is included in the 15% OFF $100 sale right now- linens, Christmas linens, slipcovers, books, etc. and the Shop is closing sales next week for the rest of the year so go grab what you have your eye on!

What do you think of how this tree turned out? Stay tuned for the finished mantel and living room look and an evening tour coming your way soon.

Some Affiliate Links- I work with Balsam Hill but all opinions and love for them are my own.

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