We covered tying bows last week, now let’s talk about wrapping the presents themselves. I get a little giddy thinking about all of the combinations of paper and ribbon bows. So much prettiness this time of year! It’s an assumption that every person in the world knows how to wrap and present and crease the wrapping paper just so, but I’ve been surprised on several occasions to hear friends confess they never actually learned, and that they buy gifts based on shop gift wrapping services or accessibility to gift bags. : )

HOW TO WRAP A PRESENT: 4 SECRETS

In case you are in the same boat, or in need of a little refresher, I’m here to help. And I have a few secrets to make wrapping more enjoyable. …

Living Well: How to Wrap a Present – 4 SecretsRead More »

By Gabrielle. As I mentioned, I’ve had two grandmothers pass away in the last few months. And my aunts and uncles have bravely taken on the always challenging task of sorting through cupboards and boxes and deciding what should be kept and what should be donated (or just plain tossed). When going through my Grandma Lucille’s things, my aunts and uncles realized that she’d planned for this task. In each carefully packed box, she left a little something to entertain them! A little figurine or random Christmas ornament. Anything she thought might make them laugh. Isn’t that fantastic? I can picture her giggling as she packed things up. It makes me hope for two things: One, that I have a long life with enough winding-down years that I can prep my belongings for my kids. And two, that I’ll remember to leave happy surprises any time I have an opportunity. What’s your take — does the story make you smile, or is the idea of thinking about one’s own mortality too morbid? P.S. — It didn’t occur to me until I saw this photo, but I bet I got my curls from Grandma Lucille.

By Gabrielle. Jane Rhodes is the best kind of blogger; she knows how to transform blah into brilliant, turn an average ho-hum day into an event to be remembered, and lots of other lovely-life-making tricks that cause you to slap your forehead and say “Of course!” Even better? She shares everything she knows with the rest of us. Happily and whole-heartedly. I wasn’t surprised at all to learn that she loves entertaining: the old-school dinner party, specifically. I imagine it’s like everything else in her life: a gift she can give to others. Friends, please meet Jane and her sweet family. Q: Tell us about the family who lives here. A: I’m sometimes Jane, sometimes Franny. Confused? You should be. A friendly battle of wits about what I was to be named left me unsure of my real name. But, despite any uncertainties, I am sure of this: I love art and design in all forms. I’m a wife, mother, blogger, stylist, graphic and interior designer. Anything that begs for beauty. And I love yoga and good food…and those may or may not be in order of preference. The kids. There are four kids. Kiana, our 14-year-old fashionista, is about to launch her own style blog. So exciting! Like most modern teens, she surrounds herself with friends and fun, and we swear that tearing her iPhone from her would be like tearing off an arm. But luckily she’s wildly creative, intelligent, and happily busy, so we overlook her hours spent texting and watching The Kardashians. It’s all about balance, right? Right? …

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By Marisa of Omiyage. Photos by Alexis Edghill. Edited by Amy Christie.  I love making things all year round, but there’s something extra-special about crafting for the holidays, don’t you think? Last year, we made these felt monogram ornaments and they were definitely a hit! We sent them out instead of Christmas cards, tied them onto gifts and placed them on our own tree. Everyone, young and old, loves receiving personalized items. But the best part of these ornaments (besides the fact they’re simple to make) is that you can customize them with any colour combination or font style you please! You can even choose to sew them by hand or by machine — whichever you’re more comfortable with. It’s like a choose-your-own-adventure in one little ornament! So, let’s get started! …

The Perfect Gift: Felt Monogram OrnamentsRead More »

Created by Jane from See Jane Blog. Edited by Amy Christie. The holiday madness is upon us. Are you ready? This year I decorated the house with a mix of textures: sparkle and shine along with cozy and natural. For the cozy and natural, I whipped up a pom pom garland using the same pom poms in these adorable bookmarks. While browsing the yarn section at the craft store I fell in love with this tan/grey/earthy mix. It just screamed ‘use me!’ and I couldn’t resist. This has been the perfect compliment to the other items I’m using to decorate. So, if you have a fireplace (or wish you did!), choose some yarn, get cozy by the fire, and enjoy this simple craft. Let’s begin. …

DIY: Pom Pom GarlandRead More »

By Amy Christie. Advent calendars are such excitement builders and I’m a big fan. It’s that little something extra to look forward to on each day of this festive season. Now that I have little ones, I like seeing the twinkle in their eyes as they open the day’s tiny package, and it’s wonderful to take an advent-time-out together. They enjoy the treats and small gifts while I read from an advent book. I’m planning to add in Christmas verses this year as well. December doesn’t begin for another two days, so don’t fret. You still have time! And with this very simple no-sew-yet-reuseable advent calendar, you’ll put yours together in a snap. …

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By Gabrielle. Come make hand cookies! No cookie cutter required. I loved working on this episode. Making hand cookies was a family tradition when I grew up and I remember it fondly. I loved the feel of the butter knife moving around my fingers, and I loved seeing my very own cookie — that was just my size (with my initials carved in!) —emerging from the oven. And most of all I loved decorating the hand with rings and bracelets made of sprinkles and candy pearls. If you have a favorite cut-out cookie recipe, it will probably work just fine for these cookies. Or you can find my mother’s recipe here. Some fun facts about this episode: The Grandma is my mother, Donna. She no longer owns the home I grew up in, but that recipe box? metal rolling pin? Those are the very same I grew up with. Seeing them makes me so nostalgic! And seeing the actual recipe card we used, in my mother’s fantastic hand-writing, is my favorite part. Enjoy the video. Three cheers for baking with Grandma! P.S. — For aprons in a pinch, we grabbed dish towels and tied them on with ribbon and twill tape. Easy (and cute!).

By Lindsey Johnson. I confess I hoard ribbon. I have a big basket chock full of all kinds of pretty ribbon I’ve been collecting over the years. To me, a pretty bow on the top of a gift is almost as important as what’s inside! But a bow is a bow is a bow, right? And it’s no different than tying a shoe, yes? Well. Yes and no.

HOW TO TIE A BOW:

I’m going to show you three bow-tying techniques — each one achieving a slightly different look for different purposes. I’m also going to show you the trick to getting your ribbon to lay flat on the bottom of your gift box. Professional gift wrappers use this very same method. (Fancy!) …

Living Well: 4 Secrets on How to Tie a BowRead More »

By Gabrielle. This one’s different. Completely. It’s a little less of what you’ve come to expect from a Living With Kids home tour and a lot more of what you’d expect from a love story about two friends. Because, to me, this is exactly how Cary Vaughan and Jenna Wilson’s life reads. They’re the gorgeous designers behind ace&jig — Cary is the brunette, and Jenna is the blonde — which is a cool enough story on its own. (Have you seen their clothes? I think this skirt should be traipsing through the gardens of La Cressonnière!) But then there’s their personal relationship. They met as interns over ten years ago, became roommates and bridesmaids in each other’s weddings, and now live and work together in the same neighborhood where they’re also raising their babies. See? A television series in the making! Friends, meet Cary and Jenna. This is how they live and work with kids in two separate houses and one studio. Enjoy! Q: Where do you live? A: We both are lucky enough to live in a not only picturesque (think Cosby show brownstones!) but very supportive community of Park Slope Brooklyn. We live very close to Prospect Park, which was designed by the same designer as Central Park, and we spend many weekends there. It’s wonderful to have a respite right in the middle of our city. There are a plethora of children that live here, playgrounds to romp around in, and many cool and creative activities abound. Needless to say, our children are never bored. In fact, they’re probably overstimulated! …

Living With Kids: ace&jigRead More »

By Gabrielle. I’ve been working my way through the French Pharmacy list that Gwyneth Paltrow made. You can find report #1 here and report #2 here. I’ve got four more products to tell you about today. Three are from the Goop list, and one is a recommendation from my friend, Caroline (it’s my favorite!). First up, Caudalie Premières Vendages. Gwyneth describes this as an excellent basic daily moisturizer and I fully agree. Though I actually don’t use it daily, because I like to use a moisturizer with spf. But I’ve found this little tube perfect for travel! It’s just the right size and comes in flexible packaging that won’t shatter. I love applying a layer as a flight lands. It has a fresh, clean scent and leaves my skin with a not-too-shiny glow. …

French Pharmacy Picks — Part 3Read More »

By Lindsey Johnson. Friends, we’ve covered a few basics like ironing dress shirts and polishing shoes, and now that the Holidays are upon us, I’d love to show you — with some help from my expert husband — the proper way to tie a necktie. The two basic knots everyone should know how to tie are the Four-in-Hand knot and the Full Windsor knot. If this sounds a little intimidating, don’t worry a bit! I’ve got lots of pictures demonstrating each step. You’ll be an expert yourself in no time at all. …

Living Well: 4 Secrets To Tying a NecktieRead More »

By Gabrielle. When you were growing up — whether in the city or the country, apartment or house — you probably wished for something different someday, didn’t you? Brenda Skeel can relate. After spending her childhood in newer, single-story homes, the style she dreamed of and finally scored as an adult for her own family was the complete opposite: a quirky, sometimes drafty, always happy home built sometime in the early 1900s. Of course, she sometimes still craves modern. But the challenges and resultant gifts from her charming old home are abundant enough to remind her that home is where her heart is. And it lives here. Friends, welcome to Brenda’s home tour. Please enjoy it! Q: Please tell us all about the family who makes this house a home! A: Our house is shared by me and my husband Reid, our children Max (age 11) and Madde (nine in 14 days as of this writing — not that we’re counting!), and our two dogs: a St. Bernard named Rocket, and our rescue project/terrier mix Mrs. G. My husband and I met walking our dogs in college, so pets play a big part in our family life and also add to the joy and chaos in the house. Our lives seem to revolve around play. Max loves sports and will play anything where he can hit something with a stick and watch it fly, and Madde plays the piano and drums. We also keep board games and cards in the dining room for easy access. Needless to say, the house is rarely quiet when we are all home! Q: Where does your home live, and how did it come to be yours? A: Our home was built in the 1920s or 30s, and is right in the middle of downtown urban Shepherd, Michigan, population 1500. My husband and I appreciate the character of old houses, and this is the only house we have ever owned. Honestly, growing up my family lived in single-story newer houses and I always wanted a quirky old house with stairs! The house just feels good; it has big drafty windows and big rooms, but is somehow still cozy. I also think old houses take color well, and I love color! The house is on the same block as all of the public schools so there is a flurry of activity each day, and a small town is a great place to raise a family! …

Living With Kids: Brenda SkeelRead More »

By Gabrielle. The latest Olive Us episode features a pottery lesson from Master Potter, Joe Bennion in his studio at Horseshoe Mountain Pottery. Friends, I have to tell you what a treat it was to make this episode. Joe is simply a delight and we couldn’t believe how lucky we were to get to spend an afternoon with him. I didn’t have my big camera with me that day, but I took about a million photos with my phone. The pottery is so beautiful! While we were in his shop, we picked out a pie plate to take home as a souvenir. I wish I could get to his shop right now! His pottery would be wonderful as holiday gifts. If you’d like to see the kids’ finished pottery, Joe posted a photo of the fired pieces on his blog. We can’t wait to visit again next summer to pick up our pottery and spend more time in Joe’s shop. P.S. — Joe’s wife makes the salve I’m so crazy about. Also, be sure to subscribe to the Olive Us Newsletter so you don’t miss out on any of the Olive Us fun!

By Gabrielle. Images by Blue Lily Photography for Design Mom. In March, I put together a list of 5 tips to help you with Family Photos. Thanksgiving week is the most popular week for family photos, so I thought I’d repost the tips to get you psyched up for your upcoming family gatherings. Happy Snapping! Tip #1: You don’t HAVE to do an elaborate photo shoot. It definitely takes time and effort. If it’s not your thing, don’t worry about it! (One of my favorite photos in the world is this one, and it was taken with no planning whatsoever.) At our house, a big photo shoot is the sort of event everyone gets into. We work together to figure out wardrobe options, make lists of items we’d like to shop for (like a red bowtie!), and scout out locations. …

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By Gabrielle. Nadya Sagner has a very cool job. One of those jobs, in fact, that sound fascinating at dinner parties and school events. “Hi, I’m Nadya. I’m an art consultant.” See what I mean? Yet I imagine her career has its share of issues. Like, how does she not buy up every piece of artwork with which she falls in love? And how does she create an inspiring but not overwhelming, peaceful yet invigorating, decorated blank slate in the space where she works and plays with her family? Those of you who work from home understand; in order to work happily, you’ve got to be living happily! Friends, here’s Nadya’s story. Please enjoy it! Q: Tell us all about the family who lives here! A: I live with my husband, RP, a lawyer who likes to paint and take photographs in his spare time; our son, Charlie, who’s almost ten; our daughter, Tessa, who just turned six; and our Boston terrier, Flora, who is still fun-loving at 13. Oh, and a blue Beta named Fishy, who’s at least two. We’re not exactly sure. Q: How did this home become yours? A: We bought our house from a family who got divorced halfway through adding on and renovating. We hadn’t really been looking for a new house, but I happened to see the listing and went to an open house, since it was right in our neighborhood. We were surprised when they accepted our offer! It was over a New Year’s weekend, and I remember saying to RP, “Uh oh, now we actually have to move!” The sellers had done the major construction, but left us with a horribly dated kitchen, unappealing wall colors — think drab brown and toothpaste green — and some awful carpet in a few of the bedrooms. We ripped up the carpet on the day we moved in, and we quickly painted most of the walls. The kitchen waited a year for an update. We still haven’t really decorated our bedroom, but it’s spacious and bright and I’m happy to wake up there, so it’s no rush. …

Living With Kids: Nadya SagnerRead More »

By Gabrielle. The Abbey Restaurant (or Bistrot de l’Abbaye) is a place that’s been on our need-to-try-list since we moved here almost 2 years ago. I’m so glad we finally went. And I’m trying not to kick myself for not going sooner. I practically licked my plate clean! We were told this restaurant was known for its good food and bad service. (There are expats who will say the same thing about the entire country of France. : ) But we found both the service and food to be wonderful. This was a date, so it was Ben Blair and me sans kids. And we met 4 other friends at the restaurant. One of them, Mark, is the only other American we’ve met in town. He loves learning about the history of the area and told us the restaurant building was indeed a former abbey, and that the building dated to medieval times — approx 1100 a.d. (Wow!). He mentioned you could tell by the particular type of stone faces on the building. He said that at the time, the little town would have been walled, and that the abbey would have been right outside the walls — with a moat between the two — so that travelers would have a place to eat and sleep if they approached when the wall was closed. Above the restaurant, you can now find apartments. Can you imagine living in an apartment that’s almost a 1000 years old? …

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By Amy Christie. Sparkly, shiny baubles have a way of brightening my mood. I’ve been known to wear my best items to do housework occasionally, just because it feels good! With the holidays and surrounding festivities coming up quickly, I am eager for new pieces to wear. So I decided to make some! For these pendants, I shied away from the understated and discreet and decide to make something bold and lustrous. Gold is making a comeback and it is definitely shiny. Think these look too hard to make? They are totally doable. I mean it. …

The Perfect Gift: Gold Leaf PendantsRead More »

By Gabrielle. A new Olive Us episode is ready to share! Have you ever rock-climbed? Our kids love to. (Especially Maude — she scrambles up the mountain like she was born doing it.) As parents, it’s really satisfying to watch our kids challenge themselves, work hard, take risks, and encourage each other to reach the top. I hope you enjoy the episode! Fun fact: We were scheduled to film this episode in the red rocks of Southern Utah with rock-climbing guidance from my brother. But we were rained out! So we rescheduled and filmed in Provo’s famous Rock Canyon instead. Special thanks goes to Audrey Moore for assisting on this episode, and to Rich Barrett for being the climbing teacher/guide. P.S. — Video won’t show up for you? Try viewing it on Vimeo.

By Gabrielle. Kirsten Grove is one of those friends and fellow bloggers who never fails to amaze me a little, all of the time! Whether she’s speaking in front of a packed room, sharing her brightest “I never thought of that!” ideas on Simply Grove, or talking about how she turned a tragedy into a fairy tale in her own life, she’s a natural. At complete and utter ease, ready to make you feel the same way. It’s no surprise to me that her home exudes the same level of comfort. Enjoy this one, Friends! Q: Tell us about the stylin’ family who lives here! A: My husband of 12 years, myself, Ethan who is seven, Eden who is six, and our dog Bear make up our household. My husband has been a minister for ten years, working with young people mostly. He is also an amazing artist, graphic designer, carpenter, musician…the list goes on! He doesn’t admit to any of it. I married a humble gentleman. All four of us love design, music, the arts, shopping, and eating great food. We were all made for each other! Eden and I missed out on the athleticism gene, but the boys more than make up for it. We also all have a deep appreciation for popcorn with cheese and M&M’s! Q: How did this home come to be yours? A: We were living in a small town 20 miles outside of Boise. It was a bit too far so we decided to sell and move closer to Shane’s work and family. I found this house we are currently in on Craigslist. It’s located in a small golfing community, which is perfect for us because my son has decided to become a little golf prodigy. The house itself is open, neutral, and easy to work with, which was important to me since I am constantly changing things around. It’s also only a few minutes from the kids’ school and has the biggest, most beautiful trees ever. It’s a win-win for us! …

Living With Kids: Kirsten GroveRead More »

By Amy Christie. Candlelight is so inviting and comforting, especially on the chilly dark days of fall. What if you could include a little message with the candlelight? This is such a fun project! Using basic plaster and simple materials, you can create the perfect gift for a someone you love. Give a romantic message to your sweetheart, or a collection of supportive notes for your best friend. …

The Perfect Gift: Plaster VotivesRead More »