Wednesday Weekly Wish List #178

Your weekly dose of new ideas, helpful hints, favorite items, and tidbits of wisdom…from a trio of lifestyle bloggers who love to share! 

WELCOME TO THE WISH LIST!

Ann | On Sutton Place

1.) Not too long ago, and OSP reader wrote to me and asked for advice on downsizing her Christmas tree. I thought it was a great subject to address, because I had experience with trees of all sizes. If you are considering the purchase of a new or smaller tree, this is the post for you.

2.) If you haven’t visited The Christmas Market, it’s an easy way to shop for holiday decor. I divided it into easy sections, so finding what you need is a cinch.

3.) FAVORITE QUOTE: “Tip your server. Return your shopping cart. Pick up a piece of trash. Hold the door for the person behind you. Let someone in your lane. Small acts can have a ripple effect. That’s how we change the world.”
~Found HERE.

4.) STOCKING STUFFERS FOR THE COOK:

• these stunning oak wood kitchen utensils
• Acacia wood measuring spoons
• this brilliant rolling pin with measuring rings
• this cute conversion magnet set
• this handy flat whisk
• this Beechwood handle pastry brush

5.) You won’t believe the before and after pictures of this vintage inspired cottage kitchen renovation. My favorite updates are the open shelving and the stunning farmhouse sink. Then take a look at how this sad and neglected Victorian house was literally brought back to life.

6.) CASUAL HOLIDAY WARDROBE ADDITIONS:

• this fun and comfy plaid tee
• or this one with twinkling snowflakes
• this confidence-boosting red puffer vest
• these Let-It-Snow socks in three colors
• this cozy plaid blanket poncho
• this gorgeous plaid pullover sequin sweater
• this pocket sweater tunic in five colors

7.) This holiday house tour features a fun and colorful foyer, along with small touches that focus on family. And then see this homeowner’s holiday palette of red, gold and green; all the while adding old-fashioned ribbons, candles and mostly faux greenery, with some backyard trimming tucked in!

8.) This Christmas tour is brimming with classic charm, and from the minute you step in, you will feel at home.

9.) GET A HEAD START ON YOUR BAKING! If you love to bake cookies during the holidays, here are a few recipes that you can make now, and freeze for later:

• Traditional Pecan Tassies
• The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Peanut Butter Blossoms (semi-homemade + from scratch versions)

10.) That’s a wrap for this week…have a good one! XO

Yvonne | StoneGable

1. CHRISTMAS ON THE BLOG: This trio of blog posts will make decorating your Christmas home so much easier.

• When To Start, Where To Begin: Steps For A Beautifully Decorated Christmas Home
• How To Choose The Perfect Color Palette For Your Home
• 60+ Simple Ideas For Starting To Decorate For Christmas
• Heart Of Your Home: 8 Things To Make Your Kitchen Festive

2.  AMAZON FINDS: See all my favorite new picks in my Amazon Shop.

3. HANDMADE CHRISTMAS: Christmas is the time to make something for your home or give a handmade gift to someone special. See 5 Beautiful DIYs To Craft A Handmade Christmas Home.

4. FABULOUS FINDS: The Christmas Edition

• This duo of large musical angels is beautiful. Last week’s most purchased Christmas decor.
• These small Christmas sled pictures. Lovely hostess gifts.
• This holly berry embroidered pillow is stunning!
• This set of 4 Stewart plaid dessert plates.
• I love this holiday apron (hint, hint, Bobby) and this one. Free shipping!
• These amazing wreaths are for window shopping! Maybe I could look for vintage brooches and make one.
• This tabletop tree in a white fluted container.
• This set of holiday sheets.

5. BEAUTIFUL HOMES AND MORE: Visit designer Mike Sikes’s beautiful California home and this unique artist’s home in Charleston. I love this historic row home in Washington, DC.

6. THE CURATED CLOSET:

• This ivory faux fur jacket is perfect for Christmas
• LOVE this chic tweed topper!
• Fine gage cotton button-up sweater– in various colors. 40%off
• This pretty nightgown with these leggings.

7. FUN AND INTERESTING FACTS: How did the president’s tradition of pardoning a turkey on Thanksgiving Day come about. What famous parade happens on every Thanksgiving Day?

8. THIS AND THAT: I have made my Thanksgiving turkey THIS WAY for decades! It turns out absolutely succulent! One can never have enough turkey gravy on Thanksgiving. I make it ahead with a recipe very similar to THIS ONE. Add the dripping from the Thanksgiving turkey to the make-ahead gravy and serve. Now is the time to plant garlic. It’s so easy! HERE’S HOW.

9. GIFT WRAPPING STATION IDEAS: It’s gift wrapping time! Tailor a gift wrapping station that is perfect for you! This cart with a work surface, this converted shelf unit, and this converted closet with creative ideas and more ideas to customize a gift wrap station.

10. CULINARY CORNER: Dark Chocolate And Blueberry Trail Mix—Melt 4 oz. dark chocolate in a medium bowl in the microwave in 20-second increments, stirring until smooth. Stir in 1/3 cup hemp seeds, 2 TBS chia seeds, and 1 TBS ground flax seed. Spread the mixture in a thin layer over a silicone mat or on a butter-greased baking sheet. Chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour. Break apart in small chunks. Mix the chunks with 2 cups of shelled pistachios, 1 cup of roasted pepitas, 1 cup of cashews, and 1 1/2 cups of dried blueberries. Enjoy!

ANSWER TO #7: President Lincoln started the tradition of pardoning a turkey at the request of his son Tad. The Macy’s Day parade, which began in 1924, takes place every Thanksgiving Day.

Lory | Designthusiasm

1. TOP POST THIS WEEK: Given the size of my teeny tiny front porch, any post I do about decorating the little space is always a crowd pleaser, including this week’s Christmas decorating ideas for a tiny front porch.

2. ALSO POPULAR: This post about simple and pretty Christmas decorations for the bathroom addresses festive decor in a room you may not have thought of decorating.

3. AMAZON PICKS: here are this week’s favorites from Amazon.

4. THIS WEEK ON THE BLOG I shared:

• This romantic holiday living room decor with a white Christmas tree
• These French Country Christmas tree decorating ideas
• These elegant holiday decorating ideas for the dining room
• And this lovely pink and gold Christmas dinner table

5. CURRENT HOLIDAY DECOR CRUSHES: Mad for Plaid!

• This tartan plaid throw with twisted fringe (On sale!)
• This regal Royal Stewart tartan plaid ribbon
• These wonderful holiday plaid ornaments are selling fast!
• This classic plaid outdoor pillow will dress up your porch
• These pretty plaid holiday stockings

6. TOP FASHION PICKS:

• This rich and cozy fair isle crewneck sweater
• This plaid satin charmeuse skirt (perfect for holiday parties!)
• This of-the-moment chocolate brown waist-length cardigan
• This beautiful double breasted camel wool blazer (On sale!)
• This fabulous cable knit puffer jacket

7. CURRENT FURNITURE DEALS: Now is a great time to style a holiday vignette on a console table. If you’re looking for one for your entryway, or for one of the many spaces it can fill, consider these options:

• This shapely raw wood 2-drawer console table
• This lovely piece with 3 drawers, a shelf and clean lines
• This wonderfully rustic table is the picture of simple elegance
• This charming console features shelves and quatrefoil end pieces
• This charming option is a bit shorter and offers drawers, as well.

8. WHAT I’M READING: If you want to read something a little different, The Museum of Extraordinary Things by Alice Hoffman is a quirky but powerful novel about belonging, love and beauty in an offbeat setting which also happens to be historical fiction, as well.

9. WHAT’S INSPIRING ME AROUND THE WEB: This gorgeous Paris apartment, this fabulous collection of vintage mixed with modern rooms, and this stunning transformation of a builder grade home into one with tons of European character.

10. UP NEXT: The Holiday gift guide…