9 QUICK & EASY WAYS TO GET ALL THE FESTIVE FEELS AT HOME
[Shoutout to my dad, ‘Bobo’, for these photos!! John was at the hospital so my dad offered to help me and he didn’t do so bad– we got 6 good photos out of 3o0?]
#1. COZY BLANKETS/THROWS || I am all about blankets – we use them like crazy in this house and I also have blankets I store away in certain seasons and bring back out in other seasons. During the holidays & winter, I like to bring out the fuzzy, soft, warm, & knitted blankets! The cream one with poms you’ve seen in my photos the last few years was a gift but I’ve gone on a made hunt to find similar! I will link all of the best, coziest, and most festive blankets/throws in the widget below so you can use the arrows. BUT, I do have to give a special shoutout to THIS blanket – I use it EVERY.SINGLE.NIGHT. I literally wrap it around my shoulders and neck – it’s like a I’m a kid again. I wash it often in THIS detergent so it stays smelling SUPER good! [You can see Amazon faves HERE.]
Also, blankets and throws make amazing gifts. If you have a friend or family member ‘who has everything’ and you are in a sticky spot with gifting them – try a blanket. The one I mentioned is definitely a splurge but if I were to gift it, I know someone would use it like crazy. John, Luke, AND Fitzy all use it, too. ?
PS. If you want a cable knit throw similar to mine THIS ONE and THIS ONE are closest!
#2. CUTE COFFE MUGS || This is becoming a problem for me because I adore fun coffee mugs. I go through 2-3 mugs a day [not just for coffee] but so do my parents – and BIL/SIL – so when my family is here for the holidays we go through TONS of coffee mugs. All of my nieces and nephews are obsessed with hot chocolate, too. SO, my problem of having too many mugs is not – too – bad! We have plenty but I love having fun festive ones. I ordered THIS one back in the fall and LOVE it but I also love THESE plaid alphabet ones [on sale for $5.50 today!]
#3. WRAPPING PAPER || I have been asked this over on my Instagram [@emilyanngemma] so many times so I thought I would update here. I think it is hard to find really cute, but really good quality paper. Having an 18mo old around the house means the better quality paper is preferred.. .? He has already tried to open one package! Anyway, my tip for coordinating your tree and your wrapping is to find wrapping paper that coordinates with your tree ribbon. All of my tree ribbon is from HERE and I couldn’t find a lot of matching paper… SO – I used Kraft paper from Hobby Lobby and wrapped many gifts with that – and then used leftover ribbon to tie around it! I just started working on this yesterday and hope to finish in the next few days so I will update with a photo!
#4. SOCKS / HOUSE SLIPPERS || I always write about these – every year because I get questions about these every single season! I am obsessed with festive, fun socks and house slippers. John and my dad both wear THESE around the house – and I have a pair similar but I like bringing out the fun, festive colored ones for the holiday season. [PS. These also make amazing gifts!] I have THIS pair of indoor socks in two colors and wear them a ton – they are on major sale right now- buy one pair and get the second pair 50% off! And also, I wear these DAILY – even to run an errand, oops! They also make great gifts. If you don’t like for your socks to come up too high – THESE are a great option and are crazy soft. A few years ago I was wearing this brand of slipper socks around Christmas on my Snapchat and when I linked them they sold out so quickly and people were e-mailing me like crazy because they wanted to get more. They are SO good. PS. If you want to splurge, THESE are amazing, too. One more – THESE are on sale for $17 and have a really fun cable knit look! [Okay- last thing – THESE leopard print slide / slippers are SO cute!!]
#5. COZY / COMFY AT-HOME WEAR || Okay, this is going to be hard to narrow down because I am ALL about the casual, comfy outfits lately. I could go on forever about the pieces I’ve found that I am living in lately. It’s so cold here and I am home with Luke playing indoors and working so I live for good quality comfy pieces. First of all, THIS post has a round up a few of my STAPLE, holy-grail pieces – and many of those are still on sale! So first of all, anytime I wear THIS robe I get TONS of DMs about it – it is huge but super soft and so warm. It’s great for after shower/bath and while you get ready! Also great for the new mamas – I lived in this when Luke was first born and I was trying to master nursing/pumping/not sleeping, lol! Additionally, this cardigan is SO good and on sale right now! OH! And THIS ROBE is shorter and also that same super soft, warm material but not as big/long – which I like for days when I am wearing self tanner and am letting it set. And lastly… if I were gonna splurge, I’d get THIS ROBE – it is so dang cute and feels so good – just a little pricy!
#7. CHRISTMAS SMELL || Last Christmas, I did THIS POST all about making your own Christmas scented potpourri! Its an easy, fun and festive way to really making your entire home smell of the holidays! Other than that I burn Bath & Body Works candles regularly – my favorite are [in order!] are Fresh Balsam, Evergreen, & Winter. I purchase multiples of those because they are the scents I burn daily. I also use THIS diffuser [looks like marble but it isn’t!] and diffuse oils! Lastly, a friend sent me THESE and a warmer and I use it ALL day every day that we are home. It is SOOOO good! And totally safe – they don’t have any bad chemicals in them.
#8. CHRISTMAS PAJAMAS || I love love love Christmas PJS – for the entire family! I’ll link mine and a few others in the widget below!
#9. SOUNDS || We’ve covered a lot of the senses but one I’ve missed is hearing – and honestly the sound of Christmas is my favorite! We use Spotify and Apple Music and create playlists. And I also record Hallmark movies – but I don’t match much TV so I haven’t had time to watch all of the ones I’ve recordered – but I do hope to soon. Spotify is my favorite way to find a variety of already made playlists and I just choose a Christmas one based on if I want slow music of fun, hip hop Christmas music. Let me know if you have a playlist recommendation or a good Hallmark movie recommendation.
Thank you for stopping by.. and just a reminder that there is now a HOLIDAY tab on my Menu here on The Sweetest Thing where I file away all Holiday related posts like outfits, gift guides, home decor, and more!❤️
OMG I need that coffee mug! I’m seriously obsessed with watching Hallmark’s christmas movies haha! Oo yes to cozy blankets and christmas mugs!
http://www.rdsobsessions.com
Love all of the little Touches! I agree with the throws (and pillows). If our furnace ever goes out we will be fine with all of the throws I have! Yikes! I may NEEd an intervention ?!
Hey emily! Do you mind sharing the company who made your black and white stripe elf stockings?
Hey emily! I was wondering if you could share the company that custom made your black & white stripe “elf toe” stockings?
I adore knitted blankets! Your looks amazing, it is too cozy and warm. I love it. Your decoration is gorgeous. I love the combination of white and red colors.
EmIly, I know you mentioned diffussers, just please be careful with using that around Fitzy, a lot of dogs have passed away With certain oils. Like you my dOgs are my baBies, so I would just reseaRCh which oIls are safe to use around your pets. Merry ChrisTmas. ????
Great tips, I love hallmark’s movies at this time – so cosy to watch!
Anika | anikamay.co.uk
Just made myself a chai eggnog to drink while reading this cozy post 🙂 love it all!!!
Love these posts! ❤️
I’m obsessed with your Christmas decor! I swear I try to decorate and nothing ever turns out how I imagined ???? my life story. lol. you should give scentsy a try if you haven’t already! I’m in LOooove with all things smell GOOD and recently became a consultant.
Wish it was christmas all year round! Thanks for the holiday decor tips 🙂
I don’t really like the Winter bath and body works candle, but since it’s your favorite, i’m gonna buy one ?
Hi Emily!
It was such a pleasure to Finally meet you friday evening at sephora. I’m pretty sure you made my night when you complimented me on my skin! I turned 40 this year and try to take great care of my skin. So coming from you that was the greatest compliment i have ever been gIven. #nightmade!!! Even though i See you out and about regularly when i’m shopping i never wanted to bother you to say hello. But I was so glad i took the chance and said hi and introduce myself. I really enjoy following you on social media and reading your blogs. Thank you so much for all the work that you do for us followers. I APPRECIATE how real you are and that you sharE so much of your lives with us. Again thank you! You are my favorite. In fact i have been following you for several years now. I want to say i started following you back when you all lived near swan lake and john was in medical school. I Have worked in surgery for 16 years So i can relate to john’s sometimes crazy schedule. I hope you and your sweet family have a very merry christmas and a great new year. Maybe i will get the chance to bump into you again this holiday season.
Im all about wArmth and comfort thIs time of yeAr as well! The coziest blankets come iut, the comfy clothes and swesters st the reAdt, cozy socks and slippers for Guests and i also have wayyyy too many muGs (my whole family has a mUg love going on!). But i lovr picking the right one for What im having. All the best of the seAson to you! ???