A Few of My Favorite {Holiday} Things

Among many other things, this time of year is the season of lists – to do lists, gift lists, decorating lists, holiday party lists, resolution lists. So, if you are a list person like me, you are probably running around with a pad of paper, Pinterest Boards or Apple Notes filled with lists for the holidays. In the hopes of making things a little easier for gift giving or entertaining or holiday decorating or for yourself, I am sharing a list of a Few of My Favorite {Holiday} Things.

Setting the Mood

The first things on the list are those that help get me in the holiday spirit. Put 2000 Miles by the Pretenders on your Holiday playlist to listen to while you cook, wrap gifts, decorate or drive to your holiday parties. Choose a night for some family time, make some popcorn (you can use the leftovers – if you ever have any – for the tree) and watch The Snowman, it’s a sweet classic story that is timeless. 

Holiday Song – 2000 Miles by the Pretenders

 

Holiday Movie – The Snowman

 

Gifts for Kids

Now that you are in the holiday mood 🙂 – it’s time to shop. There is still time to put in your online orders for delivery before Christmas. For kids, I love gifts that get their creativity flowing. The Museum of Modern Art’s “Art Making with MoMA” is a great way to inspire your kids as well as acquaint them with artists at an early age. And for older kids (and kids at heart), the Brooklyn Art Library’s The Sketchbook Project is a collaborative community where each participant is sent a sketchbook to fill with their own creations and then the books are sent back to the Library to be catalogued. You can follow when and who views your work. Plus the funds collected from sketchbook sales fund this global art project and the Brooklyn Art Library – truly a gift that keeps on giving.

Young Kid Gifts – Art Making with MoMA

 

Tween/Teen Gifts – The Sketchbook Project, Brooklyn Art Library

Gifts for the Rest of Us

And for the rest of us – I am a lover of gifts for the home (no surprise there). Mark a day on your calendar to indulge yourself at Roman & Williams’ The Guild. It’s a wonderland of well curated home goods, where you will find something for everyone on your list and every room in their/your house. Make a reservation for lunch at La Mercerie, the perfectly appointed and delicious in-store cafe. After lunch, take a 3 minute walk to Flair New York for more unique holiday gift ideas. You will find European and American vintage furnishings and accessories as well as Flair’s exclusive designs. If you still have energy to spare, grab a cab/Uber to Chelsea Market where you can re-charge with coffee and snacks then shop their pop up: “Meet the artisans and makers of apparel, accessories, jewelry, gift items, home decor, t-shirts, handbags, and more! Over two-dozen of New York City’s most talented and inspiring independent designers”. If you are crunched for time, great news – you can shop all of these places online from the comfort of your home or office.

Gifts for Everyone and Every Room – The Guild

 

Unique Home Decor – Flair NY

 

Stocking Stuffers & More – Chelsea Market

 

A Little Something for Yourself

Now for a little me time. My go to holiday sweet indulgence is a little box of stylishly packaged chocolate tiles from Sweet Nothings in Summit, NJ. Fortified with a little antioxidant energy :), I spoil myself with a holiday manicure. RMS Beauty has the perfect holiday colors in their Vixen (it’s one of Santa’s reindeers after all) color set. And while we are at it, let’s put something from Marla Aaron’s amazing jewelry collection on our list. A great way to drop the hint is to send the link to your hubby, BF, BFF, or whoever’s list you are on.

Sweet Indulgence – Sweet Nothings

 

Holiday Polish – RMS Beauty

 

Bling for You – Marla Aaron Jewelry

 

Setting up for the Holidays

Take a deep breath, we need to make the final lap in this holiday marathon and decorate our homes for the holiday. Fragrances have become a BIG thing. Not sure if you have noticed, but every place I go seems to have a signature fragrance. Something that adds one more sense to an experience. That’s how I feel about Nest’s Hearth Collection, it adds another element of a festive feeling to the home. But nothing makes me happier than when the holiday decorations go up. I love using ornaments in unique ways. I hang blown glass ornaments from a mirror in my entrance foyer and add a holiday ornament to my table settings placed on top of each napkin to give the table a festive touch. I especially love anything silver or gold. Here are a couple ornament selections to consider – one of silver (Crate & Barrel) and the other gold (Anthropologie). And, very last but certainly not least, a much deserved holiday cocktail. The Pine Barrens cocktail from Town & Country is simple to make (key when entertaining) and perfectly seasonal.

Festive Fragrance – Nest Hearth Collection

 

Unique Ways to Use Holiday Ornaments – Valerie Grant Interiors

 

Ornaments Ideas – Crate & Barrel Silver Snowflake, Anthropologie Gold Flower

 

Holiday Cocktail – Pine Barrens

 

WOW! Once it’s all done, my favorite “thing” about the holidays is having the kids off from school, taking a break from work and settling into our living room for the best time of the year to enjoy with my family.

I truly love the hectic holiday pace but rejoice in the indulgence of having all the prep behind me.

Enjoy your favorite holiday things!