Happy Birthday Aggie!

You might have noticed its a little slow around here this week. It's been crazy in real life so I'm taking advantage of the slow holiday week to take a small blogging break. But I couldn't let today go by without mentioning that this little lady turns 3 today.


photo by the always amazing katie donnelly

And when I say lady, I mean it.  No more baby here.  She has opinions and lets us know about them in a clear and convincing voice.  She is always negotiating for a little treat, a little more tv time, a little more time in her princess dresses.  She looks at the world with wonder and joy that I hope never leaves her.

I was a reluctant mother for most of my childbearing years. In my 20s I wanted nothing to do with motherhood. Even when I changed my mind in my 30s, I was still terrified.  It all sounded kind of awful - sleepless nights, diapers, being responsible for a tiny tyrant. I was wrong. I don't throw around the term "blessed" very lightly but there is simply no other way to describe how I feel about my girl.  I hope she always feels the overwhelming love I feel for her.  Happy Birthday little girl.

Please excuse the emotional break in normal programming. I'll be back with best of the blog recaps, a Vienna trip and a Paris themed birthday party posts soon!

Merry + Bright Living Room

If you read a lot of blogs, I'm sure you are all sick of seeing Christmas decorations but I couldn't end the holiday season without showing you one last glimpse of our little corner of merriment.  I will be sad to take this all down in just one week's time but I'll soak up every minute while I can.

“Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.” - Calvin Coolidge

May all of you know peace and goodwill all year through but especially this week.  

Sources:

Champagne Berries Wreathes

Noel Box

H&M and Target Pillows

Balsam Hill Norway Spruce Tree

White Fur Throw Blanket

Reclaimed Wood Tree Star

Mini LED trees 

Christmas Mail 2015: Oh Deer!

This year's Christmas mail was simple and sweet.  A ceramic antler bottle opener with a tag wishing our friends and family a Merry Christmas. Getting a photo of all three of us looking into camera was harder than I expected but thank goodness for a selfie stick!

If you are new to Brooklyn Limestone you might be wondering what Im talking about it.  Each year we send out a little gift with our Christmas cards.  Prior years have included elfish socks, "reMARKable" (get it?) markers, seasonings greetings, merry mints, mistletoe prep, tea towels and lots more. It's our fun little tradition and I hope our christmas card list enjoy the little surprise every year.

Beary Christmas + A New Table!

It's one week until Christmas and the season is just flying by but I had to share a few little additions to our living room.  One of my favorite stores, World Market, had just opened a new store so I ran over to NJ to make a visit and do some Christmas shopping.  I got lots of great goodies to help me cross off my list but treated myself to a few presents too.

Knowing the succulents I had grown over the summer and fall needed to come inside, I found the perfect home for them with these fabulous concrete terrariums.  Using river rocks and adorable carved wooden bear ornaments completed the look with just the right amount of whimsy for me. Aggie enjoys visiting the bears in their "cages" everyday and they aren't so overtly holiday that they will need to be put away after the Christmas season is over.


The other item I just had to throw into my cart was this french bistro table that I had been eyeing for more than a year now.  Its the perfect petite size to use as a side table, small entry way table or dessert table (I plan on moving it around as needed).  It's base is just like the much more expensive variety I find over and over at flea markets and antique stores and the top is substantial slab of wood to soften the metal base a bit.  Love it!

Am I the only guilty party buying myself gifts when I really should be focusing on crossing off my list?

disclosure: this post was sponsored by World Market but all opinions expressed are my own.  

Halls are Decked | Dining Room

Hard to believe Christmas is less than 2 weeks away. It happens every year but it all suddenly sneaks up on me and it's a mad dash to the finish but that's okay.  If Christmas music is playing, anything is possible!


You've already seen my antler advent calendar and mountain lodge sign so I thought I'd finally share how it all came together in the dining room.  I went with a little more low key approach this year (I usually like the hang something from the ceiling to make it extra dangerous to install. You're welcome health insurance!)

We host Christmas dinner so I like to make it festive but leave plenty of room to move around.  We still have to add our table extensions and more place settings but I'm looking forward to spending the holiday with our family and friends. I hope they enjoy the slightly different decor elements each year (although come on, I know they are much more interested in what we serve on those plates!)




I hope you don't mind that I took these photos at night.  Daylight photos would probably be nicer but now that the sun sets so early, there never seem to be enough daylight hours left.

I've got more goodies to share this week including more christmas decor and our mailings for this year.  Can't wait?  Check out last year's merrymaking...

Go Elf Yourself Christmas Cards  | Kraft Paper Christmas Tree 
DIY Lighted Reindeer Silhouette | Christmas Stoop | Noel Box 

Christmas Stoop Decorated

It's that time of year again, time to decorate the front door and steps of our house.  (Also known as a stoop around here)  Of all the holiday decorating I do, this might be my favorite because it shines like a beacon as I'm making those last few minutes of my evening commute to my front door.

There are a couple of new additions this year. First these LED Birch trees from Balsam Hill.  These photos don't do them justice - they are super bright and beautiful.  Once they are lit, I almost didn't need anything else and it looked so festive.  The best part is that I will feel absolutely no shame leaving these up well past Christmas - they are the perfect foil to winter's early evening darkness.

The next much smaller but still exciting for me addition are the old ice skates I scored for $5 at a neighbor's junk sale earlier.  I'm still searching high and low for discarded red wagons and flexible flyer sleds without much much but at least I got this one little element scratched off the list.  They will be definitely be making a comeback.

And in case you thought I was the only one excited about the Christmas bling....

proof positive this is my kid!

Cost Plus World Market Grand Opening in NJ!

I vividly remember wandering through the aisles at my very first visit to Cost Plus World Market in San Francisco more than a decade ago.  I loved it and wished they would expand to the east coast so I could shop more often. A little bit of that wish came true earlier this year when they opened a beautiful but smaller outpost in NYC but now I'm super excited to find out that there is a full sized store opening not far from our place on the shore in Shrewsbury, NJ. WOO HOO!


stocking calendar | countdown nutcrackers | stockings 

For those who aren't familiar, Cost Plus World Market is a great one stop shop for furniture, decorative items and gifts that are on trend at affordable prices. (My dining room chairs and table settings are World Market)  They also happen to have great holiday decorating and stocking stuffers this time of year.


bar cart | tree | copper barware

Mark your calendars!

GRAND OPENING on December 10^th 

490 Broad Street | Shrewbury, NJ 07702

SAVE AN EXTRA 15% at the Shrewsbury store only until 12/13/15 with this coupon. 

Lots of special events planned for the opening weekend

·      Ribbon cutting on Dec 10th @ 9am - $10 gift card for the first 100 customers

·      Free tasting and live entertainment Dec 10th & 11th from 4 to 7pm

·      Free tasting and live entertainment Dec 12th & 13th from 1 to 4pm

·      Daily Raffle Drawings Prizes include two $250 World Market gift cards each day

·      Spend $40 and get 2 FREE Movie Admissions (Limited to the first 250 customers / day)

·      Free tote bags for the first 100 customers in the door each day.

·      Join the World Market Explorer Rewards Program and earn TRIPLE CREDITS opening weekend

hanging star | christmas pillows | daybed

Don't be surprised if you bump into me and my overstuffed cart on your next visit!

disclosure: This post was sponsored by World Market but all opinions express are my own.

DIY Mountain Lodge Sign

If you have been trolling around the various Christmas decor posts this year, you might have noticed there seems to be an abundance of miniature skis everywhere. That's because Target sold this adorable wooden decorative element for $3 bucks and everyone went nuts (me included!).  As soon as I saw them, I knew just what I wanted to do...



While I don't really do a specific "theme" at Christmas, I seem to be veering toward the cozy, rustic lodge feel this season.  This DIY sign totally embraced that concept and made the perfect accent for my dining room wall.  I was able to use materials I already had (except for the skis of course!) so I was able to complete it in an afternoon. I still have a bit more decorating to do before I can call it ready for the festivities but this sign might be my favorite project this year.



I started by cutting down a piece of picket fencing (the very same I used for my Charlottes Web Halloween decorations). Then, using a pencil I set up the layout, erasing as needed until I was happy with the design.  White and red paint was used to fill in the pencil marks along with a black sharpie for shadow lines.  Finally I erased the pencil lines and hung up the sign.  Voila!



I'll be sharing more of this years Christmas decor next week.  I hope you aren't already sick of holiday posts just yet.  Since I don't decorate until after Thanksgiving I always feel a little bit behind.

Pretty Package Party

December is here! Now that I've shopped my heart out, it's time to get wrapping. So I thought it would be the perfect time for a little gift wrap inspiration thanks to some of my favorite blogger friends. Let's get this party started! Want to join us? Simply post your gift wrap and tag it with #prettypackage.

I'll break the ice with pretty package -  one that involves zero christmas paper but still feels festive. I used simple black kraft paper (purchased cheaply in giant rolls bulk) and these Martha Stewart mini battery lights to add a little something unexpected to a special package.


Ready for lots more inspiration?  Click into any image for more details on each pretty package!

1. East Coast Creative won my home improvement loving heart by using pressed wallpaper in place of wrap. Yes!

2. Copy Cat Chic was channeling the antler obsession when she hand crafted these adorable taxidermy inspired embellishments.

3. That's My Letter created these amazing festive Christmas tree jars perfect for gift card giving.

4. Tatertots and Jello rocked the black and white with these perfectly mod black and white tags.

5. Life on Virginia street embraced rustic warm with kraft paper and pine accents.

6. Jen Woodhouse captures on trend and classic tartan plaid and DIY wood burned tags.
7. Pom poms snowballs are trending in these pretty packages by Electrically Vintage.



8. Old school embellishment is the star of these packages by Rambling Renovators.
9. Rick rack and felt ornaments grace these special treats from Hi Sugarplum.



10. Migonis Home lets her packages sparkle with some good old fashion glitter.
11. Thistlewood Farms uses mini poms and bright fluffy yarn to adore her boxes.
12. Did someone say power puff pom pom? Yes Honey We're Home did!

13. Making it Lovely brings one of my favorite color pairings - green, white and black - in her lovely gift set.

Phew!  That was a lot but I hope you're inspired to get your packages looking beautiful this year.  Thanks to Copy Cat Chic, East Coast Creative, Eclectically Vintage, Hi Sugarplum , Honey We’re Home, Life On Virginia Street, Making It Lovely, Migonis Home, Rambling Renovators, Tatertots and Jello, That’s My Letter, The House of Wood and Thistlewood Farms for sharing their ideas!
Have any of your own pretty packages to share?  Christmas is for sharing - don't keep it to yourself.