This is my very favorite time of year – festive lights and decorations everywhere, get togethers with family and friends, traditions old and new. Plus lots and lots of cookies! This weekend, Ryan and I are going to The Nutcracker ballet with a couple friends – perhaps it will be one of those new traditions. What are you up to this weekend? How have you been celebrating the holiday season?

The top of my tree!

Malted hot cocoa sounds even better than the original.

Give the gift of bacon jam.

Chelsea’s tips for how to survive winter.

How do you like to go up in a swing?

Eating in the tub paintings, via Bradford’s Pinterest.

Oh those curls!

I’d love one of these experience passports.

What happens when illiterate children in Ethiopia are given tablets and no instruction on how to use them…

Gorgeous gold wedding invitations.

Craft subscriptions for the little crafters in your life, via Design Mom.

Have a happy weekend, everyone!

I’m hosting a cookie exchange tomorrow, and I can’t wait to see what everyone brings (I’m making chocolate sablés and glazed lemon cookies). I also had a great time creating a Pinterest board to get in the cookie exchange spirit – and to save all the cookie recipes I won’t be able to make this time around. What about you – what are your favorite cookies to make for the holidays?

2-dimensional gingerbread houses.

For the cookie lovers in your life: make-your-own cookie cutter kit.

Love & Lemons’ recipe cards would be such sweet gifts or stocking stuffers.

Christmas ornament bouquet for winter brides.

Elegant holiday table runner from Farrow & Ball.

Every December issue gift guide ever (this made me laugh).

What a beautiful way to incorporate a wedding photo into your holiday cards.

A neighborly get will kit from Creature Comforts.

Have a yummy weekend everyone!

This weekend, Ryan and I are celebrating our second anniversary a few days early with dinner at Dixie. I love that our anniversary falls at the beginning of the holiday season – it’s such a nice, personal way to get into the celebratory spirit! And of course, a handful of these links are holiday-related, so that’s another way to get ready for the season…

Sugar plum, gingerbread…every flavor of candy cane imaginable!

What romantic head pieces.

Tabletop Christmas trees.

2 Advent calendars: one giant, one mini.

Lovely gold foil invites (and love the Florentine paper).

Wearing flowers.

Holiday finger-food combination generator.

Great gift-wrap round-up.

And finally, on a personal note… Last year, my nephew Bode was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. He handled treatment like an absolute rockstar, and I am so grateful that he is now a strong and healthy 5-year-old. This holiday season, Bode and his big brother, Kellen, are collecting Dear Santa letters to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation (who recently granted Bode his wish to see hot lava in Hawaii!). Bode and Kellen are asking everyone – kids and grown-ups alike – to send a letter before December 14th (email or postal mail). And of course if you’d like to share this video on Twitter or Facebook, I know the boys would appreciate it. Learn more in the video HERE. I love you Bode Bear!

Update! You can mail your Dear Santa letters:

email:
bodebelieves@gmail.com

postal mail:
Bode Believes
4203 Genesee Ave. Suite 103 Box 296
San Diego, CA 92117

Have a lovely weekend everyone!

Does anyone else think Thanksgiving just popped up out of nowhere this year? Does it make me sound old when I say things like that? Anyway, tomorrow we’re celebrating the holiday at my Aunt Dawnie’s house – she hosts the yummiest Thanksgiving dinner (even that one year when the entire table flipped over…), and it’s always so nice to see my extended family in one place. How are you spending the day tomorrow? Any fun traditions?

Cousin Reginald catches the Thanksgiving turkey.

The New York Times’ Thanksgiving-erator.

I love French everything, but this spoof is pretty funny.

Mindy Kaling on friendship.

Mmmm…. pie crust cookies.

What are you thankful for?

Have a Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! See you next week!

Somehow I managed to publish this post without writing anything on it! Losing my mind… this weekend we’re getting the rain we were supposed to get last weekend, which is fine with me since it finally feels a little like fall here. We’re celebrating a friend’s birthday tomorrow, then Sunday we’re doing absolutely nothing. What about you? What are you up to this weekend?

Pie crust parchment paper.

Handshake doorknob.

What a darling butterfly!

Gorgeous grecian accessories.

If you liked this week’s inspiration board, you’ll love this Thanksgiving table with persimmons.

The art of the bar cart.

Love the idea of this family tablecloth.

A lovely, understated Thanksgiving set-up.

I love getting a peek at Frances Palmer’s studio!

Beautiful new font for your wedding invitations.

How to get a North Pole postmark.

And this week on Snippet & Ink:

Gorgeous lace dress.
Sweet Florida wedding.
Minted giveaway.
Honey pecan wedding inspiration.
Apple-themed wedding.
Persimmon and gray autumn color palette.
Snapshot of a marriage.
A preppy southern wedding.

Have a happy weekend everyone!