Blog - The Lilypad Cottage

January 12, 2021 By Kelly 8 Comments

Pool House Paint Update

When we last left off, the pool house was zooming right along. I’m happy to report we are still making progress over there!

All of the trim and paneling is finished. The painter has been here the last few weeks filling approximately eleventy billion nail holes.

The Mr. and I originally had planned on spraying the walls ourselves. However, once we realized the amount of caulking and prep work involved we quickly decided to gift each other a painter for Christmas. Best. Decision. Ever.

I don’t think we could have done all the beautiful trim work justice with our amateur painting skills. Here are a few peeks of how the painting is coming along!

Ahh, it’s so nice and bright up here. It’s starting to look like the space I envisioned!

It’s hard to see the cabinets behind the plastic, but here is a little peek of the blue.

This space on the lower level is only just primed, but it’s still looking so good.

The painter is hoping to finish up by the end of the week, and the countertops should be installed by then too! Then the Mr. and I are going to dust off our DIY skills (and our power tools) and get started on the flooring. I’m crossing my fingers that tiling is like riding a bike! :)

OH and I changed my mind (yet again) on the furniture in the mudroom area. I ended up ordering this green piece from Target for that staircase wall. The blue one I was considering would have made it too tight to get into the bathroom door there. This one should be perfect. I think it will look so cute with navy towels inside and baskets with sunscreen.

It feels like we are finally entering the home stretch! You can check out more of this project below –

Bunk Room Mood Board

Pool House Bathroom Plans

SOURCES: Disclaimer – This post contains affiliate links. I may receive a small commission for purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you. Just click on the BOLD links.

Wall Color – Extra White by Sherwin Williams

Cabinet Colors – Blue Note by Benjamin Moore

Basket

Green Cabinet – out of stock in this color right now but it comes in 2 other colors

Mirror – Target but sold out

Prints

Flooring

January 5, 2021 By Kelly 22 Comments

My fave 10 projects of 2020

Hey friends, and Happy New Year! I hope you all enjoyed the holidays. It was great to take a little time off here to hang out with my kiddos and the Mr. I’m sloooowly trying to get back into the swing of things, and I thought it would be fun to look back at my fave 10 projects from 2020. The past year was kind of one big blur, to be honest. When I went back through my blog I realized I actually did accomplish more than just lounging around in my sweatpants and baking :) So in no particular order, here are my fave 10 projects of 2020!

You can click on the bold words to check out each post if you want more photos (including before and after pics) or source info.

My son’s bathroom has been on my to-do list since we moved in a few years ago and I finally tackled it in early 2020. I hadn’t flexed my DIY skills in a while at that point, so planking and painting the walls was a fun project.

2. Since I had already dusted off my painting skills, I decided to move over to the wet bar cabinets. The blue was never the right shade for this space, and I love the fresh feeling of these putty colored cabinets.

3. Now that the cabinets were looking fresh, I was able to finally pull the rest of the basement family room together with new throw pillows and pops of color.

4. This summer my daughter and I decided it was time to switch up her almost Teen Bedroom (again), and it feels perfect for my almost 13 year old now.

5. Ahh summer… I’m already ready for you again! We are a long way off in Michigan, so let’s look back on the little upgrade our bedroom deck received. We spend as much time as possible out here, and it was so nice to finish this space off.

6. The kitchen got a few upgrades this year too! The painting bug bit me again when everything was shut down. I still love the fresh pop of navy in here, and the lights too!

7. The kitchen makeover spilled over into the breakfast nook with a larger table perfect for our growing kids. The round table and 3 chairs set up works so much better than the oval table with 2 chairs.

8. I think my fall living room was one of my most popular posts of the year. Now that Christmas is over, it looks like this again minus the pretty water out the window. The lake is totally frozen over and it’s a winter wonderland out there today.

9. Refreshing my parent’s home was another fun project I helped plan. And yes, I still need to share it all styled up! I keep waiting for a nice sunny day that I have time to go shoot it and the stars just haven’t aligned yet…the next sunny day we get, I’m there though so stay tuned!

10. Last but not least, my biggest project of the year was/is the pool house! We finally started and things are looking up. The painter is here this week and I’ll have a big ole update for you all on the blog next week. Can’t wait to share!

December 17, 2020 By Kelly 47 Comments

Merry Christmas

Well, somehow we have just about reached the end of this crazy year. My kiddos are finishing up school this week, and I’m going to take a few weeks off to spend time hanging out with them, whether they want to hang with me or not… :) I want to say a big thank you for spending a few minutes of your day reading my blog or chatting with me on Instagram. I love to share my ideas, projects, and recipes with you all, and I’m so thankful for this little community here! I still can’t believe that my little hobby has turned into a full-time job. I’ve had so many fun opportunities thanks to all of you for stopping by here year after year! The real MVP – ~~The Mr.~~ Charlie would also like special recognition of his many great contributions here on the blog.

The blog would not be a success without his superior photo bombing skills and vital assistance during brainstorming sessions.

He comes up with his best ideas while napping…

I normally post a little nighttime Christmas tour this week to wrap up the season, but since I didn’t really go all out this year, I thought I would just share a little camera roll dump instead. I also typically share our family Christmas card… yeah, didn’t get to that this year either… It feels very 2020!

The Mr. and I have been walking at night, partly for exercise and partly just as an attempt to stay sane and leave our house once a day. I snapped this shot of our house afterward last night. The Mr. couldn’t believe our children had every light on in the whole house (has he met them? I’m not sure they even know light switches also go down!), but I thought our house looked all warm and cozy.

Maybe because it was so freezing outside! The Mr. has outfitted us in the warmest walking gear complete with matching headlamps. I have to say I have been nice and toasty on our walks and the fresh air feels good. If you follow me on Instagram, you may be jealous of my full cat burglar outfit – I’ll link it below along with Dan’s heated vest he is obsessed with. The lake is starting to freeze, so pretty soon we may be able to take those walks on the ice which is always fun.

I will miss the sun shining on the water in the afternoon, but my kids are so excited to ice skate when it gets thick enough!

My three favorite guys hiking this past weekend. We are ready for some snow around here as it’s skipped us so far this winter.

While we are on the subject of the Mr. – I want to give him proper credit for snapping the above photo which turned out to be my most liked photo on social media this year. Well done sir!

Normally I’m ready to take my tree down right away, but I have to say I think I’m going to miss those twinkly lights this year.

Couldn’t resist snapping this cozy shot. And Charlie couldn’t resist the chance to cozy up with his favorite girl by the fire!

I think that’s all I have for you this year. I do want to take the time to invite you to my Church virtually if you are looking for a place to watch Christmas services. We have been missing gathering with our Church family, but our church Ada Bible has done such a great job with their online services every week, and I know they will have a fantastic Christmas service as well. You can check it out here – Ada Bible Online.

Wishing you all an extra safe and healthy Christmas and New Year – blessings to you and yours!

P.S. Linking our cold-weather walking gear for you below in case you want to be a toasty ninja too ;)

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. I may receive a small commission for purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you. Just click on the BOLD links.

Fleece Lined Leggings

Balaclava Shirt

Fave walking shoes (we both have them)

Heated Vest

Head Lamps

December 14, 2020 By Kelly 8 Comments

Caramel Espresso Martini

If you hang around on Instagram with me (which I highly recommend because we have so much fun over there) you may have been enjoying the cocktails series the Mr. has hosting. He is my own cute personal bartender, but I like to share him with you all too! :) Basically, we are just trying to keep ourselves entertained over here in 2020 however we can. His latest concoction is this delicious Caramel Espresso Martini. It might just be my favorite cocktail to date!

It’s the perfect after-dinner cocktail to serve this holiday season. I highly recommend it as an accompaniment to any type of pie, or even on its own as a dessert.

The big key is to shake, shake, shake until you can’t feel your arm. You really want to get that yummy frothy bit going for the top like a latte or caramel macchiato.

If you aren’t a caramel fan you could swap the caramel for chocolate for a mocha vibe. Or stick with the classic vanilla vodka for just a hint of sweetness. We just use strong coffee since we don’t have a fancy espresso machine. If you have an espresso machine, one shot may be sufficient, depending on how strong you like your coffee. You can always add caramel directly to the cocktail shaker if you like your coffee sweeter. Think about how you take your coffee at home and adjust accordingly. The Mr. and I usually drink our coffee with just a splash of coconut milk, so we prefer a strong coffee flavor.

5.0 from 1 reviews

Save Print

Caramel Espresso Martini

Recipe type: Cocktail

Prep time: 5 mins

Total time: 5 mins

Serves: 1

Ingredients

2 shots of strong coffee cooled. If you use espresso 1 shot may be sufficient depending on how strong you like your coffee.
2 shots of salted caramel vodka (or vanilla vodka)
1 shot of Kahlua
caramel for drizzling (I use Ghirardelli caramel sauce you can find it by the hot fudge typically)
ice

Instructions

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
Add coffee, vodka, and Kahlua.
Shake vigorously until the mixture is frothy.
Drizzle caramel in a martini glass.
Pour martini into the glass.
Enjoy!

You can check out my other cocktail and recipe ideas on my recipe page. Cheers!

December 9, 2020 By Kelly 12 Comments

Pool House Paneled Walls

As promised I’m popping in with yet another pool house update! Things are getting EXCITING over there, finally! They have almost all of the paneling up on the ceilings and walls. I know it’s a little hard to imagine with all the tools and materials in here, but use your imagination!

Let’s back up to the paneling a minute. We couldn’t find quite the right look we were going for at the big box stores. I wanted more of a classic cottage style paneling, more tongue and groove, and less shiplap-py. My grandparent’s original cottage across the lake is completely paneled like this in pine, and I just love the charm of it.

My Uncle Rick is doing all the finishing and trim work – he built my parent’s home, and our sunroom at the last house too! He had a local company custom mill all of these panels for us. They are made out of MDF, and he put V grooves at 6-inch increments down each board. They are exactly what we wanted and I can’t wait to see them painted all white.

Major props to these guys, because this structure was built 70 years ago. You can imagine there aren’t a lot of actual straight lines in here. They have painstakingly adjusted everything to keep the lines running straight all the way down. They still need to trim out all the seams, but it’s looking great! You can see below he mocked up a few different trim ideas, we are going with the far right section.

You can also see they are making progress on the beds here too. Above is the headboard and the footboard cubby in one of the beds. They will add the trim details and the rest of the frame next.

Here’s a view from the entry into the mudroom and bathroom. I actually switched up my design plan a bit from when I shared it before. When you walk in the door of the mudroom area you will see a console table/storage unit, and a peek at the bathroom vanity. I decided I wanted the punch of color in the mudroom vs. the bathroom. I didn’t want the two pieces to compete if that makes sense?

I went with this wood vanity from Signature Hardware in the bathroom. I plan on adding color in there with some fun towels.

Here is what I’m thinking for the mudroom area. I’m on the hunt for a big storage piece that is still narrow. I want a place to store sunscreen, towels, and extra goggles, etc. This one is in the running but I’m still shopping around.

These cute vintage pool prints caught my eye as well. I’m looking for a few fun prints to cover up that electrical box. These are top contenders.

I also bought these sconces for the bathroom, I know I switched that up too! But I saw these and immediately fell in love.

I also picked out this quartz for the snack bar. It’s by Vicostone and the color is Olympus White. It has a really pretty gray tone that goes well with the gray backsplash tile we are using.

The rest of the lights arrived and they are so pretty in person. It feels like all the fun stuff is finally happening! Stay tuned!

If you missed my bunk room design plans you can check them out here.

SOURCES:

Blue Console Table

Bathroom Mirror

Bathroom Basket

Round Mirror – sold out McGee and Co from Target

December 8, 2020 By Kelly 9 Comments

Herbed Cheese and Roasted Pepper Crostini

It’s been a bit since I’ve posted a recipe, and I miss it! Normally I find a lot of recipe inspiration from traveling and dining out. Unfortunately, that hasn’t happened in a while. Sunday has become a big clean out the fridge day. We used to attend church and brunch, but now our tradition is online church, a big afternoon snack, followed by game night. This has quickly become my kid’s favorite meal of the week. I make a huge cheese plate, veggie and fruit platter, and then take every leftover in the fridge and throw it on a crostini. My kids normally avoid leftovers at all costs, but for some reason, if I put it on toasted bread it’s a whole new meal in their mind. This recipe was born from a few leftover peppers hiding in the veggie drawer, and half a container of herbed cheese spread. It’s now a new fave Sunday afternoon staple!

Herbed Cheese and Roasted Pepper Crostini

This recipe could not be easier. It’s also a great one to make ahead for entertaining. You can saute the peppers ahead of time, and assemble them whenever you are ready to eat.

Sauteed sweet peppers, garlic, fresh basil, and creamy herbed cheese are a delicious combo. Drizzle it with balsamic vinegar reduction and it really takes it over the top. You can absolutely make your own balsamic reduction by cooking it down until it reduces. Or you can make it super easy and buy a bottle of balsamic glaze which they carry in specialty shops, and even most grocery stores too.

A few other “leftover crostini” ideas I like to make are –

Leftover steak, sauteed onions, and horseradish mayo

Leftover chicken diced with bbq sauce and provolone

Fig jam, goat cheese, and almonds

Marinara and mozzarella

Hummus and tapenade

Almond butter, sliced strawberries, and honey (my son’s personal fave)

The options are endless!

5.0 from 3 reviews

Save Print

Herbed Cheese and Roasted Pepper Crostini

Recipe type: Appetizer

Prep time: 15 mins

Cook time: 10 mins

Total time: 25 mins

Serves: 12

Herbed Cheese Sauteed Peppers and Balsamic Reduction atop toasted Ciabatta

Ingredients

1 loaf Ciabatta or French baguette
2 tbsp olive oil
3 diced red or yellow sweet peppers
1 clove garlic minced
⅛ c of balsamic vinegar
3 ounces herbed cheese spread such as Boursin or goat cheese
Chopped Basil
3 tbsp Balsamic Glaze or reduced Balsamic Vinegar

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400.
Thinly slice ciabatta or baguette and place on a cookie sheet.
Toast for 5-10 minutes until desired crunchiness.
Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a saute pan on medium/high heat.
Saute peppers 5-10 minutes until soft and slightly caramelized.
Add minced garlic and balsamic vinegar. Cook 2-3 minutes more until vinegar cooks down.
Season with salt and pepper.
Remove from heat.
Remove the toasted bread from the oven and spread with Boursin or herbed goat cheese.
Top with sauteed peppers.
Top with chopped basil.
Drizzle balsamic glaze over top.
Enjoy!

This Herbed Cheese and Roasted Pepper Crostini is the perfect appetizer for the holidays or just a Sunday afternoon!

December 2, 2020 By Kelly 20 Comments

Red Berry and Cedar Garland Christmas Front Porch

It’s the one time of year I wish for a good snowstorm, and Michigan really let me down this week. I always love a nice sprinkling of snow for my Christmas front porch photos, but alas it wasn’t meant to be this year. I’m sure I’ve just jinxed myself, and the rest of West Michigan, sorry locals! A blizzard will probably be forthcoming now that I put it out there into the blogosphere.

So imagine a dusting of snow in all these photos. Also, imagine my red Merry Christmas welcome mat that I couldn’t locate anywhere. The Mr. is pleading his innocence, but I suspect it got tossed in the “great garage purge of 2020”. I ordered another one but it’s back-ordered.

Also, let’s applaud Charlie’s photobombing efforts as usual. ;)

I kept things pretty simple again this year. I start with a faux garland around our front door and add in cedar clippings from a local nursery. I attach the garland using 5 little white nails that I keep in the trim year-round. Then I use floral wire to attach the garland. I shared some video of this on my Instagram stories and saved it to my highlights if you are looking for tips.

My wreath is from Balsam Hill, and I added in the cedar clippings there too. I wired some faux red berries for a pop of red. These were from a local nursery (Flowerland for you locals) and it’s important to note that they are weatherproof faux berries. You don’t want to use regular ones as the color may run when wet.

My planters have the same little dwarf spruces, I bought 2 years ago now? I keep them watered until it freezes, and they have been doing great. The one on the right got a little dry this summer, but I’m hoping to nurse it back to health. It is perhaps strategically placed with its brown dead spot facing the door there…I always get questions about these planters. I found them in my parent’s barn and “borrowed” them a few years back, so I don’t have a link for you, but thanks, mom!

My window boxes are also feeling festive even though they are missing that magic dusting of snow. Again, I start with a faux garland in my boxes to give them extra fullness. Then I add in clippings and branches from my yard.

Why do I feel like someone is watching me??

I added a pop of red here too. Oh, and how could I forget my fun Christmas pillows? If you’ve been following a while, you will remember these are big body pillows I use as oversized lumbar pillows. I switch out the covers for the seasons. I decided to go with this fun classic red plaid I picked up at JoAnn Fabrics. Sewing is not my strong suit (if you follow me on Instagram you may recall my measuring mishap with this fabric). I cheated and used Stich Witchery this time. Which come to think of it, ironing is not amongst my top talents either but I made it work…just don’t look too close.

There you have it my Red Berry and Cedar Garland Christmas Front Porch – I’ll be sure to snap a photo if and when the snow arrives!

You can check out more of my Holiday decorating in these posts –

Fireplace Mantel Christmas Decor

Bronze and Neutral Metallic Christmas Tree

November 30, 2020 By Kelly 5 Comments

Serena & Lily Sale Faves

I hope you all had a great and relaxing weekend! We pretty much stuffed ourselves with leftovers, hiked the calories off, played board games, and then repeated the whole process over. My kids are back to school today and I’m busy dreaming up the rest of the pool house decor! Which, exciting news – construction is happening over there as I type! Hopefully, I will have progress to share in a blog post next week. In the meantime, I’m being productive by doing what I do best and shopping online today :) I’m picking up a few things at Serena & Lily for the pool house while they have their Cyber Monday Sale going. You can use code TOGETHER for 20% off almost everything in the store plus free shipping.

I LOVE their bedding, so I plan on buying quilts for the bunks over in the pool house. I have several sets of their bedding and I’m always impressed with the quality and how well it washes. If you remember my bunk room mood board, I’m leaning towards their Carlyle Coverlet for all the beds. It’s the perfect classic style that I know we will have forever.

While the sale is going, I thought I would round up a few fave items we have in our house in case you have had your eye on something.

Their Riviera Bar Stools have been a favorite for a few years in our kitchen. They wipe off SO easy making them totally kid-friendly. Their Seaview Rug has been great in here too. It’s indoor/outdoor so it cleans up really well. I actually dropped an entire carton of eggs on it and I was able to hose it off outside.

This cute Teak Step Stool is a kitchen favorite too.

And these Dip-Dyed stools I keep by my bathtub. I guess I really have a thing for their stools I’m realizing?

This Bedford Tray is hands down one of my favorites as well. The detail on it is so pretty, and it’s really well made.

This South Seas Bar Cart has a way of making the mail that gets dumped here even look pretty.

Oh and let’s not forget their wallpaper!! I have the Cayman Cork Wallpaper in our pantry.

And their Feather Wallpaper in our powder room.

As you can see I’m a huge fan of their brand. I’ll round up a few more faves below too! Stay tuned for my Christmas porch coming later this week!

November 26, 2020 By Kelly 7 Comments

Gift Guide for Her

I thought I was done with gift guides here on the blog, but several of you pointed out to me that you were anxiously awaiting my own personal list for Santa! Whoops forgot about that one. It took me a minute to figure out what I actually wanted this year. Bonus, my fabulous mom got in on the action. She gave me some great gift ideas if you are on the hunt for your mom too.

So here we go first up my gift guide for me. A few of these are definitely on my wish list, along with some favorite purchases of the year.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. I may receive a small commission for purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you. Just click on the BOLD links.

Rifle Paper Co. Canteen – My New Year’s resolution is always to drink more water. This adorable water bottle may make it an easier goal to reach.
Instant Vortex Air Fryer – We bought this on a whim last Super Bowl because we wanted to make wings. I don’t honestly know how we ever lived without it! I use it at least 3 times a week. Don’t let the word fryer fool you, I use this to quickly roast veggies, herbed potatoes, and all kinds of recipes. It’s especially great in the summer when you don’t want to turn the oven on.
Crepe Maker – My mother-in-law bought this for me a few years ago, and the whole family loves it. Making the perfect crepe is so easy. It’s a fun change from our usual Saturday morning pancakes.
Caraway Nonstick Cookware – These were the top of my list this year. All my wedding gift pots and pans are 17 years old now, so we are due for an upgrade. I’ll keep you posted once I receive mine, but these are non-stick, non-toxic, and I have a friend who swears by them! Added bonus – they come in such fun colors.
Remi Measuring Cups – These are the prettiest measuring cups for Christmas cookie baking with my kids.
Modern Comfort Food by Ina Garten – I have every single Barefoot Contessa cookbook because she is just my absolute fave. A little birdie told me this one will be in my stocking this year.
Avery Striped Mixing Bowls – I love a set of nesting bowls. I have a few from Crate & Barrel, and I think I need to add this striped set to my collection.
Half Baked Harvest Super Simple by Tieghan Gerard – I have both of Tieghan’s cookbooks and I use them weekly. She is one of my favorite food bloggers, and her flavor combos are always interesting and delicious.
USB Candle Lighter – Have you seen these USB lighters? They are SO cool and perfect for candle season.
Monogram Mug – A new monogram mug is sort of a Christmas stocking tradition around here, and I love the handmade vibe these have.

Oversized Chenille Sweater – Ok, this looks kind of blah on my style board here, but click over and check it out on the model. It’s oversized and cozy-looking and comes in a bunch of pretty colors. I love this blue one, perfect to wear with leggings all winter.
Single Pass T3 Curling Iron – I splurged on this curling iron this summer when my trusty old one broke down. I wanted to know if this T3 Iron is really worth the hype, and it is! I curl my hair on day 1 with this, and on day 2 I still have pretty waves. It’s on the pricey side, but it saves me so much time each week.
Derma Roller Microneedling Tool – I’ve had this trusty torture device for over a year now and I love it. I lovingly call it torture, but it’s only mildly uncomfortable. I use this a few times a week before I put my skincare products on at night. I can always tell a difference the next day in my skin.
Tarte Eyeshadow Palette – I talked about this a few weeks back when I ordered it, and I love it. I use the Bloom and the Toasted Eyeshadow every day. This is also a great gift to split up among your girlfriends or daughters for stocking stuffers.
McGee & Co Candle – I have this Forest and Fir Candle in my kitchen. It smells so fresh and Christmasy without being overpowering.
Majestic Gold Uncommon James Necklace – This is one of my fave jewelry brands. I have several of their pieces, this is the latest one I have my eye on.
Atocha Small Coin Necklace – This is from the same line. I have had it for two years now and it’s still a fave. It’s a nice dainty size that is perfect for everyday wear. I get compliments on it all the time.
Eloise Chain Bracelet – I like to mix and match a stack of gold bracelets. This one is so pretty at a great price point.
Fuzzy Slide Slippers – These are just pure fun. It’s 2020 and I’ll wear bright blue fuzzy slides if I want to!
Moccasin Slippers – If the blue fuzzy slippers are fun, these are my practical carpool run slippers. I buy a new pair of this style every year. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve looked down in the grocery store to find them on my feet. ;)
Drew Combat Boots – A TON of you ordered these boots when I shared them last and they are still my favorite. I wear them almost every day (when I remember to take my slippers off…). They are now restocked in every size and under $50!
ZipTop Crossbody Bag – Madewell bags are always top of my list. I love the two-tone look of this one, it will go with everything. They are having a great sale right now so it’s a great time to invest in one.
Striped V-neck Sweater – The texture on this sweater is so fun. I can tell it’s one of those easy to throw on pieces that still looks put together.
Pom Pom Blouse – I have this blouse and absolutely love it! You can wear it with jeans and boots for a casual look, or it’s great dressed up too.
Vuori Joggers – I raved about their men’s shorts in my gift guide for the Mr. but I also have a pair of Vuori leggings. They are the best. I’m hoping Santa brings me these joggers to add to my stay at home wardrobe.

Ok and now for some picks from my mom!

Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask – My mom swears by this stuff and it’s a must-have for her bedtime routine.
Deep Sleep Body Cocoon Lotion – My mom is super sensitive to scents and lotions, but this one passes the test. She puts it on before bed and it helps relax her to sleep. She actually talked my ear off about this one, because the scent is so amazing. She is stockpiling it!
Facebook Portal Smart Calling System – This one is a great idea especially for 2020. If your mom is missing her grandkids (like my mom) this is a fun way to keep in touch. It’s a photo display when not in use, and it’s also a fun FaceTime system. This especially great for my younger nieces and nephew. It allows them to read interactive books with her that allows them to be part of the story. It has all sorts of special effects and filters that keep them giggling. They absolutely love it! It keeps their attention versus the flyby face timing you normally get from a 3-year-old.
Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey – My mom is an avid reader and a book is always a good gift for her. This one was on her list this year (mine too, but I bought the audible version so I could hear Matthew read it to me. Alright, alright, alright!!)
Laura Geller Eyeshadow – This is a really beautiful neutral eyeshadow palette that my mom uses daily.
52 Lists for Happiness – My mom has been writing in this journal for a few months now and is really enjoying it. It’s great for focusing on the positive aspects of life.
A Time for Mercy by John Grisham – My mom just finished this one and really enjoyed it! It’s a classic Grisham, with compelling plotline and interesting characters.
Library Card Tote – My mom volunteers at a library 2 days a week (it is not open yet, but she can’t wait to go back) so this is the perfect bag for her!
Double Coin Layered Necklace – This delicate layered necklace is so pretty. It is a staple in my mom’s wardrobe, I’ve been tempted to borrow it!
Angela Readers – Anthropologie has SO many cute and fun readers. My mom has them stashed everywhere so a nice pair is always a good idea.
Farley Reading Glasses – The pop of color on this pair is so fun! Perfect for my mom down in Florida.

Happy Shopping! You can check out my other gift guides below –

Gift Guide for Men

Gift Guide for Tween Girls

Gift Guide for Boys 8-10

November 24, 2020 By Kelly 30 Comments

Bronze and Neutral Metallic Christmas Tree

Happy Thanksgiving week! I finished decorating my Bronze and Neutral Metallic Christmas tree just in time to spend a cozy slow week here with the kids. We have big plans to play board games, read books, and eat lots of pie. I’ve successfully paired down our Thanksgiving menu plan for the four of us with the exception of dessert. We all can’t seem to come to an agreement on what pie is the best (although clearly it’s pecan). So I guess I’m making apple, pumpkin, and pecan. We will just have to eat pie for breakfast, lunch and dinner the rest of the week. Not complaining – I happen to think pecan pie is the ultimate breakfast food!

I love changing my Christmas tree up every year. This time I went with bronze tones, metallics, natural wood, and wicker elements.

After almost 9 years of blogging, I have accumulated quite the Christmas ornament collection. So it’s really easy for me to switch up themes with what I already have, just by adding in a few new ornaments.

Mercury glass ornaments are always a mainstay on my tree. I also used some of the same gold tones from last year.

Of course, I used my cute candle lights…except I couldn’t find the remote that actually turns them on this year. My kids love changing them from color lights to white lights and back again, so I’m guessing one of them is hiding it somewhere!

The snowflakes are ornaments from a few years back as well.

The addition of the jute swags, wicker bells, and wood bead garland gave the whole theme a simple earthy vibe that I like.

My whole theme kicked off from these cozy fall pillows that I wasn’t ready to move on from yet this winter.

I’m also in love with the new tree basket I snagged on sale this year. It took a little finagling on the Mr.’s part to get it wedged down in there. My 9 ft tree has a wider base than most trees so it was a tight squeeze. We didn’t get it all the way down to the bottom, but we added weight to stabilize the whole thing.

I took these photos at a few different times of the day so you could see the tree all glowy in the evening. Below is with the lights off so you can see the ornaments better. Although I turn it right on every morning at 7 am because I’m a firm believer that no one can be crabby with Christmas lights on…my 12-year-old, non-morning person daughter may disagree ;)

Here is a close-up of the wrapping paper combo I went with this year. I was on the hunt for bronzey ribbon and this was the closest I found. It’s a little orangey, but still pretty.

Also, little-known fact – I’m horrible at wrapping gifts. You can see that one of my flaps came undone already on that gift haha oh well!

I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving week filled with blessings, however that looks for you this year…and pie. Lots of pie!

You can find more details on my Christmas mantel here.

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Snowflakes – Balsam Hill

Mercury Glass – Balsam Hill

Tree – 9 ft Sanibel Spruce Balsam Hill

Falala Wrapping Paper

Jute and Wood Beaded Swag

Carved Tree Topper

Faux Jasmine Garland

Whitewashed Beaded Garland

Rattan Basket Bowl Tree

Espresso Glass Ornaments

Antique Duotone Ornaments

Gold Stipple Ornaments