You know the term ‘Christmas in July’?   That was my reality this Summer when I got the amazing opportunity to style MacKenzie-Child’s holiday collection.  For those of you who think decorating for Christmas in November is early, you should have seen the looks on my neighbor’s faces when they saw the bright Christmas tree lights shining through the windows.

Christmas is my favorite and the opportunity to not only style MacKenzie-Child’s beautiful collection but also get the opportunity to be published in the Fall/Christmas catalog was such and honor and a dream come true.  The thing I love most about the collection is the fact that, aside from the gorgeous craftsmanship and history behind each piece, it also challenges me to decorate outside of my usual approach by incorporating such bold, eclectic styles and mixing them in with my usual light-colored approach.  And I love how it’s turned out.  Here are some sneak peaks for you from our photo shoot.

We hope you’ll join us next week for a blog hop with several other amazing bloggers who will be showcasing their favorite MacKenzie-Childs pieces.  Also, I’ll provide details on every precious item. 🙂

Good Morning Everyone!

I’m so excited to share our first Christmas post for the second half of our Seasons of Home Holiday Series.  A huge thank you to the creator and organizer of this group, Kristen from Ella Claire Blog, who is also one of the most talented women I know!  Make sure to check her out as well as the other wonderful and creative women in this blog hop!  You will find a peak at their gorgeous inspirations below.

For today’s post I chose to share a corner of our kitchen that is one of my favorite nooks in our house.  I love focusing on this area because it’s quaint but jam packed with a bunch of character.  As some of you may know this used to be the spot in our kitchen that used to house our fridge, but once we moved in this was one of the first things to change.  It just so happened by luck that I had this old vintage file cabinet that I had previously bought out of an old barn, without any actual plan for what we’d end up using it for!  I’m glad I trusted my gut because it happened to fit into this turned out better than I could have imagined.  This is not also one of my favorite spots, it’s the girls’ too because it holds all of their snacks 😉

Back to how Kristen is so amazing.  This gorgeous slay rides art is made by her!  Isn’t it incredible?  I love how it adds a sense of Christmas to our kitchen!  I’m so honored to have it in our home.

These awesome shelves are from Rustic Shelves Inc.  They super well made and they’re also pretty cool because you can choose to have the open face to have either a rough edge or they can be flipped around to have a smoother, flat edge.  We are currently opting for the rustic look. 🙂  Also, my husband said that they were easy to install and he appreciates having a little “manliness” in our white and dainty home.

These flocked tiny trees are a purchase from Grandin Road that we got last year.  They fit perfectly in this space and come in a set of three.  Also, if you check out their site I just have to write that their tree promotion video is probably one of the coolest marketing I have ever seen.

And I’m sure you’ve already spotted that signature Courtly Check from one of my favorites MacKenzie-Childs.  More on this coming soon… 🙂  And those amazing Pendants can be found in our curated collection at Painted Fox.  They give off the softest, warmest glow that really makes the kitchen cozy.

Another reason why this nook is my favorite is I get to capture moments like these (trying to sneak snacks before dinner) while cooking.  There is something about the twinkling lights as the sun goes down that give off that Christmas warmth.  But there are our first two trees up… Let the Christmas shenanigans begin.  Hope you have a wonderful day.  Thank you for stopping by and don’t forget to check out the other talented women in this tour.  I’ve linked them below!

Susan

Ella Claire | French Country Cottage | Miss Mustard Seed | Shades of Blue Interiors

Craftberry Bush | Rooms for Rent | Dear Lillie | Julie Blanner

Jennifer Rizzo | Kindred Vintage | Love Grows Wild | Jeanne Oliver

Nesting with Grace | and our featured guest, A Burst of Beautiful

I am so thankful for the opportunity that came my way almost seeming out of the blue. Thankful for the chance I took to get to know this passion brand,  MacKenzie-Childs, and travel without any prior knowledge of it. Thankful to really dive into the world of MacKenzie-Childs for a few days and I am thankful for the chance to learn the magic that goes into each and every piece. In turn, I’ve become one of their greatest fans. I am just so thankful. 

When I set out to decorate our Autumn porch this year I knew I wanted to add in some of those magical MacKenzie-Childs items. I wasn’t sure what the final result would be, but let me tell you this, it turned out better than I could have imagined!!

One of my favorite items I used are these seasonal stacking pumpkins that really set the tone for the entire entryway. I just adore them! And the best part is they are so transitional and work for the entire Autumn season. I plan to leave them up until December 1st! This decorating staple makes my life so much simpler and as a blogging mama, that’s a rare treat!

We also used this amazing, heavy duty, large awning stripe double door welcome mat and it is by far the best doormat I’ve ever owned. I love the way it wears, as it get faded and stepped on I think it almost becomes more charming! To me, it’s a small documentation of a house well visited and loved.

Some other items that we added to the front porch were these cute pumpkins, in signature MacKenzie-Childs color tones. The Courtly Stripe Pumpkin, the Courtly Check Pumpkin, and the Dotty Pumpkin – Ivory are darling! I love how they carried the bold look up the stairs to our homes entry. I seriously cannot get enough of them and all their stylish patterns!

Lastly this Houndstooth Throw – Black and Ivory, and decorative BOO! Pillow added warm to our space. I will be taking advantage of this cozy spot tonight as the trick or treaters stop on by!

The Stacking Pumpkins Black and White, Stacking Pumpkins Canape Knives, Courtly Check Button Pillow, Golden Frost Pumpkin, and the Courtly Stripe Squashed Pumpkin are some of my favorite items that I own and plan to use throughout November! I can’t wait to decorate our fall tablescape using some of these gorgeous gems! 

And lastly, I want to say I am so thankful for the two texts from two women I admire more than anything, my two mamas. (My mom and my mother in law).

I didn’t set out to make the best picture ever but you could’ve sworn I did! I got two sweet messages showing how much they adored the porch pic and the way one of their granddaughters owned it! Ha! The way she walked out, baby model worthy in a costume just to be silly and the way it glistened with the MacKenzie-Child’s black and white accents. I’m with them, this has to be one of my favorite seasonal pictures of our home to date!

Lastly, check out this illustration.  I’m blown away by this.  Thank you Mack + Ro Illustrations for loving our porch as much as we do!

I hope you have a hot cup of coffee, tea or apple cider, a pen and some paper handy so that you are nice and comfy and stay a while! The pen and paper, well I suggest having those around because trust me, once you begin reading you are going to want to take notes on this yummy treat!  This coconut pudding is one of my favorite things to make, especially once the cooler weather starts rolling in. I can barely wait to share more but first, I would like to thank sweet Kristin over at Ella Claire Inspired for inviting me to be a part of this special holiday tour.  A tour that is different than most, since it is one that shares small smidgets of the season, the ones we share with our loved ones during this cozy time. Our hope is that you feel as though you are here with us as we share these intimate moments with you, because after all, if we could have you over for a treat we most definitely would. xx

Creating a space that is both warm and inviting is a goal I try to achieve throughout our entire home. In order to achieve this warm feeling of coziness it is important to pay special attention to those areas where people tend to gather most, you know, those spaces where many laughs and plenty of good conversation take place? Well, in our home, one of those gathering places is most definitely kitchen, especially around the holidays!

This nook in our Kitchen is one of my very favorite features. It has history to it, (seeing as though the chest of drawers was actually a barn-sale find!) and it displays some of my favorite things, which is a conversation piece in itself!

Once I decided to make this old file cabinet a built in, all the rest just fell into place. We added in these great shelves by Rustic Shelving Inc. and the space immediately started to take shape. The shelves are not only beautiful, they are also multifunctional. If I choose one day to not want to “love, textured edge” I simply just flip the shelving over for a smooth, crisp finish! So cool right?

Adding items to this space is not as random as it may seem. I carefully picked out a few statement pieces for our nook that I knew would bring both beauty and functionality. I wanted certain items that would radiate the feeling of old world charm to match the feeling of the rest of the space and I loved being able to find those statement prices at etúHOME. The dipped mason jar vase, copper trimmed bowl, and these fabulous recycled glass pendants tied the entire look together. I couldn’t love them more!

Gathering, cooking, baking and creating in this space are some of our favorite things to do. This coconut pound cake is one of our favorite recipes! We hope you enjoy it too!! 

Here’s what you’ll need:

INGREDIENTS:

FOR THE CAKE:

• 1 & 1/2 cups sweetened shredded coconut
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup buttermilk

FOR THE GLAZE:

• 1 cup confectioners’ sugar, sifted
• 2 tablespoons buttermilk

DIRECTIONS:

TO MAKE THE CAKE:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9″x 5″ loaf pan.*
• Line a small baking pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper. Spread the coconut in an even layer on the lining. Bake for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring every couple of minutes to prevent burning. Remove from the oven when the coconut is lightly toasted.
• Set aside 1/4 cup of the coconut to use for the topping.
• Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
• Using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time mixing well after each addition. Mix in the vanilla.
• Reduce mixer speed to low. Add the flour in three portions, alternating with two portions of buttermilk. Mix just until combined.
• Stir in the toasted coconut not reserved for the topping.
• Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and spread evenly. Bake 1 hour, or until a pick inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs.
• Cool the cake in the pan on a wire rack for 1 hour. Then, remove the cake from the pan and allow to cool completely on a wire rack.

TO MAKE THE GLAZE:

• Whisk together the confectioners’ sugar and buttermilk until smooth. Drizzle over the cooled cake.
• Sprinkle the cake with coconut and berries.
• Serve with a side of vanilla pudding.

(Recipe adapted from BakeorBreak.com)

That friends is a wrap! I hope you enjoyed day one of our Seasons of Home Holiday Tour!  If I can leave you with a piece of advice this season, one that I live by in my own home, I would say to choose pieces from your dining table all the way down to the treats you prepare, that truly represent you and your family. Whether you are decorating your entire home or baking a warm treat for the ones you love, my motto is as long as you love what you are creating, the environment will truly represent you! And what better way to greet the guests you love into your home than with the things you love? Can I get an Amen?! 

Happy decorating and happy Holidays, friends!

Ella Claire | Shades of Blue Interiors | Dear Lillie | Love Grows Wild

Craftberry Bush | Nesting with Grace | Rooms for Rent | Julie Blanner

Jeanne Oliver | Kindred Vintage | French Country Cottage | My Sweet Savannah

Jennifer Rizzo

and our featured guest this week, Michael from Inspired by Charm

Courtly checked enamel everything bowel found at MacKenzie-Childs

Pink and marble cheese board by PCB Home

Java Me, Galloway Girl, Let Them Eat Cake are from the awesome and super cool ladies at Painted Fox

Huckleberry and Demi from etúHOME

Erva Rug by Jord Home