Untraditional

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Though our car is packed with gifts, food and warm clothes for a holiday trip as in any other year, this year we head north instead of south. For the first time in my entire life, I won’t be in Cincinnati for Christmas. Instead, we’ll be visiting my sister in Lake Country before moving on to the cabin in the Northwoods for a few days to ring in the New Year.

Though I’m sad that some traditions will have to be put on hold this year, I am happy that I’ll still be spending the holidays with family, and I wish the same for you as we say goodbye to 2013.

Thanks for following this year's adventures, I'll look forward to seeing you here next year!

Holiday Home

A vintage blackboard scored at the Randolph St. Market & the sweetest little pink bottlebrush trees

We spent the last few days wrapping things up before we leave town to celebrate Christmas. Though I still have a few days of work before the holiday break can officially begin, it’s sure feeling a lot like Christmas around the condo. 

Seriously addicting peppermint truffles from Trader Joe's

This year's holiday card, featuring a picture that Mike took during last year's winter visit to Lake Superior

Fresh evergreen boughs strung up on the mirror

Homemade cherry granola packaged in gingham jars and tied with raffia bows for gifting

Mini bows in this year's bold gift wrap color scheme

Extra chocolatey cookies waiting to be tucked into tins

Home for the Holidays

My sister and I are packing up the presents and holiday attire and heading down to Cincinnati to spend Christmas with family. May your weekend also be merry and bright.

Happy Holidays from Sandcastle!

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It's Continuing...

to look a lot like Christmas. A few other festive scenes captured around our place lately...

Handmade felt mistletoe draped over a reading lamp

Satsumas, the perfect light snack after a day of eating cookies

Seasonal adornments

Glittery pinecones nestled among my book collections

It's Beginning

Tucking my new Confetti System ornaments in among my vintage glass ones

Though I’ve been away from home more often than not lately, I found the time to enjoy some of my favorite holiday pastimes this weekend. I’m incredibly happy to report that it is finally beginning to look a lot like Christmas around the condo. 

Unpacking my snowmen mugs and promptly filling them with peppermint hot chocolate and mini marshmallows

Creating a centerpiece tray using domed bottlebrush trees and fresh holly and evergreen boughs

Cards intended to send holiday wishes from the Windy City

Winter Wonders

My boyfriend and I usually carpool to and from work, and although our commute is long, the drive is on a leisurely stretch of road that winds through the picturesque North Shore communities lining Lake Michigan.  This time of year, when the sun has set long before we’ve even left our offices, we can admire the holiday decorations adorning the beautiful mansions along the way.

Invariably, we begin debating the merits of white vs. colored lights, and I usually change my preference depending on the day. Every so often though, we’ll stumble upon an untraditional and highly impactful display that happily reminds me that there can be much more to holiday decorating than a single string of lights.

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Confetti Christmas

I confess. I recently received an email from West Elm announcing that their Confetti System ornaments were "going, going, nearly gone...." and I (irrationally?) took the first opportunity possible to head down to the city store to stock up. I timed the trip to arrive right as the store was opening, and I pulled up to see a line of people winding around the storefront. 

I may or may not have had a mini internal panic attack at the idea of missing out on this exciting collaboration, only to find out that the line was for a Young House Love book signing and not for my beloved holiday decorations. Needless to say, there were baskets, tables and trees full of stock to pick from--and that's when I remembered that it's only mid-November. 

Not that I let that stop me.