I am always drawn to things that are European, specifically if they are German or Scandinavian.  I am sure that is heavily influenced by my childhood years spent in Germany.  I still remember the wonder I felt when we took field trips to the Christkindlmarkt and that has always stuck with me. So, over the years, I have found my Christmas decor going more in that direction.  Fresh greenery, handmade gingerbread decorations, white candles clipped to the tree, advent wreaths, etc.  I know those aren’t specific to Germany or Europe, but that’s where I first experienced them. When I first saw the back staircase in our new house, I immediately pictured a small Christmas tree in front of it.  I was planning on selecting a small live table-top tree, but I came across an artificial one at Target that had just the look I wanted… is the 35″ tree I

In recent years, I have enjoyed making most of my Christmas decorations from natural elements.  This year, I was inspired to make orange pomanders by Mrs. Meyer’s Orange & Clove holiday scent. I’ve been wanting to make them for a while, but this promotion gave me a good excuse. That’s right…  It’s that time, again!  If you’ve been thinking about joining Grove Collaborative and taking advantage of their FREE Mrs. Meyer’s promotion, here is another chance to do just that! If you haven’t heard of Grove Collaborative, let me share.  They are a company committed to carrying products that are uncompromisingly healthy, beautifully effective, sustainably minded, and amazingly affordable.  I started working with Grove as a blog sponsor, but I have since become a regular customer.  They carry products I use and love (like Tom’s toothpaste and Mrs. Meyer’s laundry detergent) and I can have them delivered to my door for

Soooo…in blog land, it’s time to decorate for Christmas and, I must admit, I’m just not there, yet. I am usually anxiously awaiting the time when I can turn on the Christmas music, bring out the bins of decor, and start baking gingerbread. But, we just moved here late this summer and haven’t hit our rhythm and I honestly don’t feel ready for Christmas!  Decorating for Christmas feels like a finishing touch on a readied foundation and, while we’ve gotten a lot done, it’s not where I want it to be. On top of that, I shared on my Instagram Stories that I injured my shoulder last week.  It has been improving, but I learned that I have a partial labral tear, calcific tendonitis, an inflamed bursa, and advanced arthritis! I don’t have to have surgery, thankfully, but I do have to take it easy, which I’m not good at