Vintage Christmas

Vintage Christmas style has become popular worldwide. Of course, vintage items can be found in old boxes of family keepsakes, in antique shops, and on eBay. But if you don't have the money or access to these items, there are easy and inexpensive ways to bring the vintage holiday look into your home!

Vintage Christmas by lgb321 featuring christmas tree light
Handmade Wreath - tutorial

(Instructions at: A Retro Christmas)

Cracker sets - tutorial

(Instructions at: Jane's Journal)

Gift tags

(6 tags for $6.26 - Source: Occa Home)

Free! 
Vintage Clip Art and Cards

(Source: Vintage Holiday Crafts)

Christmas Ornaments - diy

(Instructions at: The Cottage Market)

What vintage treasure do you love? Glittery angel tree toppers, "Shiny Brite" ornaments, tiny bottlebrush trees? With a little creativity, it's easy to add vintage cheer to your home!

Super Stocking Stuffers for $10 and under

As a child, my stocking was typically filled with lots oranges and apples. My parents were "Children of the Great Depression," so they didn't spend more than a few pennies on anything in my stocking.
With my own family, I've always tried to save money, but I also want them to find special gifts in their stockings as well. Santa wouldn't have it any other way!!

Over the years, I've found several things at the Dollar Store: inexpensive chocolates, simple toiletries, etc. But there's always room to add at least one or two nicer gifts -- and still stick to your budget! And this can be a task when you have multiple stockings to fill like I do! Here are few suggestions, many found on Polyvore:

Williams-Sonoma Peppermint Creme Bites, $3.95, www.william-sonoma.com

Instant Snow, $4.95, www.zgallerie.com

Less Monday, More Coffee - mug, $10, http://www.chapters.indigo.ca

Bliss, Lemony Trinkets, $10 at www.sephora.com

White Tea & Mint Travel Candle, $6.25, www.blisshomeanddesign.com

Twizzerman, Pink Perfection Nail File, $5, www.sephora.com

Candy Tin "Lump O Coal" Gum, $2.85, www.amazon.com

Hello Kitty Foot File, $5.25 at www.Kohls.com

Strawberry Lipbalm, $7, at www.Sephora.com

Glam Lips Essentials Set. $6.90, www.forever21.com

Zebra Duct Tape, $1, www.amazon.com

Holiday Kiddie Cup, $10, chasing-fireflies.com

So shop early, grab the best items, 

and look forward to the happy faces on Christmas morning!!

And if you want to add the best gift of all, you can add religious bookmarks or Bible verses 

rolled up and tied with ribbon. Stuffing our stockings is fun, 

but we always need to remember that "Jesus is the reason for the season!"

Guest Room Essentials

Being a guest in someone else's home is always a treat. And as a homeowner, I want my guests to feel like they're in a comfortable bed & breakfast. (A four-star hotel would be nice too, but it's not in my budget!) Below are a few ideas to make a small bedroom feel warm and comfortable.

Guest Room Essentials by lgb321 featuring Diptyque

Hopefully the Polyvore set above will give you some stylish ideas. And while you'll need to remember practical items, such as crisp linens and comfortable pillows, there are several more ways to add to your guest's home-away-from-home experience. Special details can include:

A comfy reading nook

Interesting books and magazines

Scented candles or potpourri

A small vase of flowers

Great blankets, such as a faux fur throw

A bowl of mints 

And to make your guests feel less like intruders, add a few necessities that they might have forgotten. In plain sight on the bathroom counter keep a basket with a new toothbrush and paste, mouthwash, blowdryer, comb, cotton balls and Q-tips.

To picture how I want the rooms in my home to look, I love sketching them out. So one final suggestion would be to draw how you envision your guest room to look. You can draw on plain paper or go to a website such as Polyvore and use your imagination. A few great room designs can be found at Polyvore Top Home Sets - Nov. 29, 2014

So as the holidays begin, create a welcome retreat for family and friends with just a few special touches!

Aesthetically Pleasing, Tumblr

What Are You Thankful For?

We're all thankful for something. But if you had to pick one thing, what would it be? Think about it. Here's what a few creative people on Polvore picked...

So, what are you thankful for?

Creative Thanksgiving Tablescapes

A Thanksgiving tablescape can be as simple - or elaborate - as you want. You can keep it simple with flowers, or get a little more creative with special displays for family and friends.

Below are a few examples of interesting tablescapes that capture the beauty of the holiday.

(Source: Polyvore - Nautical Thanksgiving Tablescape ) - by Diane Mitchell

(Source: Polyvore - Rustic Thanksgiving Table) - by lgb321.polyvore.com)

(Source: Emmalee Design )

(Source: Martha Stewart )

(Source: Emmalee Design )

(Source: Trendy Thrifty Now )

(Source: Inspire Bohemia )

(Source: By Stephanie Lynn)

(Source: A Pumpkin and A Princess )

After one look at these tables, I thought, "a little glitter never hurts!" But truthfully, Thanksgiving is always a time to give thanks to God for our many blessings - with or without decorated tables!