Ok, you knew it was coming...Brown paper packages, tied up with strings! These are the last few of our favorite things!! SO, we got carried away with our families celebrating and nursing illnesses and delayed getting this up here until after the actual DAY. But, we figured as you pack up your Christmas decor and wrappings and all of this year's goodies are on sale, we would highlight those that you should definitely grab and pack up for next year!
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Folks, these are a no-brainer for us here at Golden Hand. I mean, these are perfection for our whole theme and freaking adorable! Pricier than I'd prefer, but definitely meant to make a statement to your recipients. Besides, who doesn't love wine that's pretty and free?? No one, that's who. These are versatile year-round, so no after the holiday discount, but if they're in your budget, we totally recommend!
Gold Polka Dot Gift Wrap, Coordinating Gift Tags & Gift Box - FREE
Now, if your wallet looks more like mine, these great little tutorials will be more your speed. Equally adorable, but immensely easier on the budget. And, even if you aren't Martha Stewart when it comes to crafting, these are pretty basic. Stamp, print, cut and then store for use next year when you would rather spend your hard-earned money on great gifts than wrapping them!
I have a serious obsession with this company...I'm in love with everything Anna Rifle Bond makes. Her style is gorgeous and her stationery quite sought after. So, my gift wrap list would not be complete without something from her company. These coordinating sets come with 3 large sheets of wrap and ten tags, which may be a great start for Christmas wrap, but the colors in the collection coordinate, so the possibilities are endless! And, if you're over there perusing these wraps to stock up for next year, I highly recommend you check out the rest of her collections, you will not be sorry!
Sterilite Holiday Storage - $11-$18
These are the holiday storage boxes that I dream of. As I packed up my Christmas decor last week, I really found myself longing for better storage and, had I thought ahead, would have purchased these LONG since. Their durable plastic containers latch closed to keep out the creepies while they hibernate for next Christmas. They also keep the decor safe from being squished or breaking, which is essential if you're a sentimental type like I am. No more crushed ornaments that you hand-made in first grade, people! And no more excessive wreath fluffing with these sturdy boxes to store them in. Oh, how I love organization!
Thanks to my lovely parents' knowledge of my love of Christmas, I have acquired an enviable collection of holiday table ware. My dining room is stunning this time of year, but seriously lacking in good protection. Most of my goodies are carefully placed in a giant plastic bin together and wrapped, but when I saw this perfect collection, I knew they were next on my list for keeping my lovely dishes clean and safe. They have an assortment for glasses, dishes, linens, chargers, etc. What a great way to keep it all together safely!
Box Label Printables with Index & Ziploc Holiday Edition Storage Bags - $4
Guys, these are truly the key for a girl with OCD. And, as someone who just packed up 15 boxes of Christmas jazz, I needed to find a little order to get myself set for next year. So, as I was taking all of my decorations and ornaments down, I categorized them and started labelling my Ziplocs with my trusty Sharpie. Much better than the typical throwing them in the box method of previous years! I found these great labels on Pinterest (of course) and used GIMP to doctor them. Not because they needed it because clearly they are just lovely, but because I needed them to be recognizable for Christmas at a glance. (I did them in red, and while I was at it, printed some in orange for Fall and pink for Spring). With everything categorized, I was able to pack up my boxes and label them clearly so that next year putting them out will be a breeze! Now, if I could just keep this up in the rest of my house...Resolution, anyone? :)
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Pottery Barn Gilt Galvanized Advent Calendar -
As the countdown to Christmas begins, your family will delight in
reaching into each gilded cup of our contemporary Advent calendar to
discover a small treasure hidden inside.
I absolutely love advent calendars. The countdown to Christmas is exciting on it's own, but when the kids have a little surprise waiting for them open each day it's even more fun! This one is not only beautiful and practical, but it can be completely customized! Traditional sweets or toys would be darling but how special would it be to add something like bible verse cards from the true story of Christmas to help remind kids (and maybe ourselves) why we're looking forward to this day? Now that Christmas is over, you can pick up this little lovely on sale!
Vintage Bottle Brush Trees
So, if you know me at all you know I have a thing for antiques and all things vintage. Bottle brush trees of all sizes seem to be making a bit of a comeback recently. I personally love the look they add to my Christmas decor. They can be arranged in small groupings, alone, or even tucked into your Department 56 village! You can find real vintage bottle brush trees in antique shops or on auction websites. You can also purchase them new (Target was even selling them this year) or, if you're feeling crafty, make your own!
Shiny Brite Ornaments
"The Shiny Brite company produced the most popular Christmas Tree ornaments in the United States throughout the 1940s and '50s. The fact that Shiny Brite ornaments were an American-made product was stressed as a selling point during World War II." (source: Wikipedia)
Ohhh, Shiny Brite. I remember a few of these hanging from my Grandma's tree, alongside the red silk Poinsettia tree lights at her house on Long Island. But it was when we drove to the next town over to visit my Great Aunt Martha that I fell in love with them. She had hundreds of Shiny Brites in all shapes, sizes, colors and styles. My favorites, however, were the ones that had an indentation on one side with a tiny 3D set inside. I thought they looked so magical, sparkling in the lights on her tree. These days, I am obsessed with the nostalgic look of them and plan to start my collection asap. Eventually, when all of our kids have grown out of the age of taking ornaments off and tossing them everywhere, I will have my own aluminum tree overflowing with vintage Shiny Brite ornaments.Bath and Body Works 3-Wick Candle, Sweater Weather -
Cuddle up with an aromatic blend of eucalyptus, juniper berry and fresh sage that celebrates the arrival of sweater weather
You could say our family has a bit of a "thing" for candles, particularly the Bath and Body Works brand. And for good reason! During Christmas, they have dozens of amazing scents to get you in a festive mood. My favorites for the past few years have been their Winter scent, which they describe as "pine needles, icy mandarin & winter woods" followed closely by Fresh Balsam, a mix of "evergreen woods, eucalyptus & cedarwood." Both are incredible and invoke a feeling of walking through fresh snow to cut down the family Christmas tree. This year, my sweet sister Kate gave me Sweater Weather and, I have to say, this one trumps the other two. It is described as "an aromatic blend of eucalyptus, juniper berry and fresh sage" but neither the description or even a quick test smell of the lid at the store will do it justice. Once you burn this one, you will understand. The only way to describe it is cozy. It truly smells like being a kid again, cuddled near the fireplace with your family, listening to Bing and Frank while decorating the tree you cut down earlier that day. It just makes your heart happy. I highly recommend picking up a few of these,especially since we're past Christmas now and they're on sale!
That wraps up our "favorite things" series here at Golden Hand. Thanks for sticking with us! Hopefully you found something new, innovative, helpful, inspirational, beautiful or just fun! We hope you're enjoying the start to 2016. We're looking forward to sharing so much more with you in the coming year.
xoxo,
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