Lifestyle: Holiday Decor and Favorites

Home for the Holidays

If you ask me, there's no place like home for the holidays!

I love being surrounded by all the warm and fuzzy feelings that come this time of year. Family gatherings, special meals and lots of quality time. 

Everyone has some time off and is generally a little bit happier - which is a welcome feeling especially during the freezing Canadian winter. 

I really look forward to this time of year and enjoy decorating my home with wintery and Christmasy touches. There's lots of red in my closet and there are some special foods which make appearances on our dining table as well. 

Today, I thought I'd share some of my absolute favorite things to have around during holiday time. 

There's things that keep you cozy, winter comfort foods, special decor and even a few items that make the holidays a little easier.

Enjoy and don't forget to subscribe to my channel for more home, travel, style and food content!

Lifestyle: A Fresh Cut Tree

Christmas Tree Tradition

Growing up, my family purchased a fresh cut Christmas tree for about 10 years in a row. My dad loved the scent and the look of a fresh pine and I was definitely with him on that one! When I got married, my hubby and I decided to bring that tradition back and purchase a fresh cut tree of our own.

Living in a condo, it also made a lot of sense since we didn't need to store a bulky tree in our tiny locker.

It's our fifth year getting a fresh Christmas tree and I have to say I still love this tradition. We make an outing of it and enjoy selecting the perfect tree to bring into our home.

We look for:

• fullness (it should look good from all sides)
• the shape (we like a slender cone) 
• freshness (it should be nice and green)
• trunk (you want enough space at the bottom to put some presents)

We always get a Fraser Fir and have found that they have a great scent and retain most of the needles until after New Year's.

Here, I'm sharing my other tips when it comes to bringing home a fresh cut tree. If this is a tradition you may want to try in your own family, you'll find all the information you need in this video.

Enjoy and Happy Holidays!

Lifestyle: Autumn Finds and Faves

Autumn Favorites

Autumn is such a great time of year. I love the colours, the fashion, the style, the chill in the air and the sunshine too.

Sometimes I just feel so lucky to live in a place where I can experience all four seasons! (Other times, I'm just way too cold - ha ha)

Today, I'm sharing my favorite things to use and have around during the fall.

Hope these finds help you create some warm, cozy vibes in your home too!

If you like the things I share, please subscribe to my Youtube channel for more video content in the coming months.

Lifestyle: Autumnal Decor at Home

Decor Update for the Fall

Autumn is one of my favourite seasons.

Actually, scratch that- I love all the seasons! 

Well really, what I like the most is the change of seasons.

It's an instant refresh and the perfect time to reset. I love reorganizing and changing a few things around my home as the seasons change.

Even the smallest tweaks and special touches add a fresh energy and vibe to your space.

I thought before I refresh for the winter months, I should share some of my special touches for Autumn. 

Metallics

This fall, I've really been into metallics. I've been warming up my space with rose gold and copper tones.

I've also been loving playing with different textures. This candle that I got as a gift really adds an element of interest to my otherwise neutral display.

Scents    

When I buy my own fall scents, I look for something with a hint of warmth and spice to celebrate the season. This year I went with a cinnamon scent which will last me well into holiday time. (It looks so new and pretty I haven't even burnt it yet! I need to get on that.)

Natural Elements

Over the years, I've noticed that I'm all about adding natural elements to my home. I do this year round, but in the fall I'm all about the tiny pumpkins. I bought these little white ones at the beginning of the season and they've literally lasted me until now! 

Another element I added this season was some natural greens. A few branches of something in a vase really adds a bit of interest and colour to your space. This time, I experimented with some dried botanicals instead of fresh ones and I really liked the muted tones for fall.

On my dining table, I stayed within my natural toned palette and went with some seasonal squash. 

The good thing is, these veggies keep well at room temperature, so you can always cook your display when you're done using it as a centrepiece. Here, I used a mix of acorn squash, pumpkins and butternut squash.

Porch Decor

I carried the Autumnal theme out on to my porch with these rustic wooden elements and some heirloom pumpkins. I just love the look of these perfectly imperfect little guys, and had fun experimenting with the muted orange and green tones. 

Chrysanthemums are a great outdoor flower for the fall and these ones really livened up my porch during October and most of November. You can have lots of fun with the different varieties and they come in so many pretty colours!

Right now as we head towards the end of November, I'm fighting the urge to buy all the holiday decor! 

The displays are all so lovely but I'm looking at things through a more minimalist lens these days and it's important to me that I truly love each and every thing that comes into my home. If we don't love it - it just doesn't belong. (You can read more about how I've adapted minimalism in my home here)

So that being said, I'm starting my seasonal decorating by removing all my Autumn touches and de-cluttering the space. Removing some extra elements like photos and table decor will really help give me a clean canvas to enjoy my little holiday touches in December and January without feeling overwhelmed by "stuff".

How do you get ready for the change of seasons in your home? I'd love to hear about it in the comments below. 

Lifestyle: Flower Arranging Tips

What to do with "day-after" flowers

Last month, I was lucky enough to watch my friend's little sister tie the knot in a beautiful ceremony and romance was definitely in the air. The bride and groom were so in love and you could tell the entire room was just so happy for them.

I love when you can actually feel the positive vibes at a wedding or event!

It was a beautiful night and I was just happy to attend and be a part of it all! Before the night ended though, my friend insisted I leave with one of the stunning centrepieces, saying she knew I'd put the flowers to good use.

The gorgeous florals were by Sarah at Precious Flowers in my favourite colour palette so I couldn't really say no (Sarah also designed my own wedding centrepieces and bouquets so it was also kind of nostalgic).

I was so excited to take the flowers home and was already thinking about what I would do with them the next day.

Have you ever left a special event with a beautiful centrepiece to take home or had a friend bring you flowers as a hostess gift? You can either leave the arrangement as is and enjoy it on your dining table, or you can rearrange it and spread it all around your home.

I usually opt to rearrange bouquets for a couple of reasons:

1) I'm a crafty person and flower arranging is a relaxing hobby for me.

2) Taking flowers out of the floral sponge they are arranged in and putting them in water will extend their life.

3) Splitting an arrangement means you can enjoy them more and in different rooms.

4) You can arrange the flowers according to different colour palettes which may suit your home's aesthetic more.

In short, for me- all signs point to rearranging.

Flower arranging tips

Thought I'd share some tips on how to rearrange your own flowers into little bunches of prettiness to place around your home.

• gather a few different sized vases and think outside the box- glassware, jars, mugs, teapots and watering cans all make great flower vases

• carefully take apart your existing centrepiece and organize your flowers according to colour and type

• fill the various containers with warm water and some flower food or a teaspoon of sugar (acts as plant food)

• trim the stems and add them to your various jars and containers, designing as you go along (you can arrange by flower type/colour for a monochromatic vibe or mix and match according to what you think looks good)

• Don't forget to use the greens! They add a nice visual break to florals

• Once you are satisfied, have fun placing them stylistically all over your home. You will be surprised how many small arrangements can come out of one large one!

Hope you enjoy these tips and it helps you make the most of your day-after centre pieces and bouquets.

A special thanks to my friends Sheekha and Sheveta for sending me home with these beauties!

Home Decor: a budget-friendly facelift for your home office

Spruce up your work space

When you work from home, you have to do different things to keep yourself motivated. To be honest, I've never been one to use a "home office." Growing up, I did my homework in the kitchen or dining room and I often left the table to see (ahem, taste) what my mom was simmering on the stove.

When I put a desk in my bedroom, it was really used to store random things and as a place to leave my clothes when I didn't feel like putting them away. Is anyone else guilty of that?

When I moved into a condo, there was a den but with no windows in there, it quickly became a place to store our books and paperwork. Over the three years I lived there, I really only used it as a work space once. 

Now that I've moved into a new home, there's an extra bedroom to play around with. For now, it's serving as a place to work out and get some work done too. The table that served as a condo sized dining table has now become my desk and I figure, before I start using it as an extension to my closet, I better get it all set up!

A Home Office

If you ask me,  a home office is less about the furniture and more about functionality. How does the space make you feel and can you get work done there?

Before you decide which space to use, you may want to consider a few things:

• lighting
• temperature
• distractions

I know for instance, that the basement wouldn't work for me as the temperature and lighting would not entice me to spend time there. Earlier, I had been working in my family room but I find sitting at a desk to be much more effective. Also, it can't hurt to distance yourself from the television, fridge and other distractions!

Find a place that works for you and that makes you want to buckle down and get to work.

Set up

As a content creator, it's so important to have a work space that inspires you so you can make the magic happen. 

I placed my desk near a window so I'd get lots of natural light and a little bit of greenery in my space from the trees outside. 

If you don't have a window, make sure the light in the room is nice and bright. Add plants or some fresh flowers to bring nature in to the space.

I added a small decorative bulletin board where I can pin inspiring images or post-its and reminders. 

It was also important to me to have something on my desk that inspired me to stay focused. I decided a piece of artwork with a meaningful quote would be perfect. I plan to switch the art out when I feel my office needs a little refreshing.

I also added a candle that I can light when I need a little mood booster and a pretty mug from my kitchen is serving as a container for supplies. You can also use a glass jar for a little more character.

Stay on Budget

For this project, I reworked a few things I had around the house and gave them new purpose in my office. The only purchase I made was a desk calendar, as I felt this was important to help me plan my content and also to ensure I stay on top of any deadlines. 

I decided on a calendar with a natural and gold theme so that it will match with whatever pop of colour I decide to add to my space the next time I want to shake things up. 

With a little creativity, you can easily freshen up your space without having to spend much at all. The total cost of refreshing my office space was $30 for the calendar and artwork. 

You definitely don't have to go out and buy a fancy new desk to create a work space. Use a table you already have and set it up for success. Instead of art, use a framed photo of your family to bring some warmth to your desk, or even play around with a pretty notebook, journal or inspiring book cover. 

Really, your imagination is your only limit. 

Bonus - I find that my laptop has also found a home here and is no longer hanging out in my family room. 

There's nothing like a little de-cluttering, organizing and rearranging to make your home feel refreshed. 

I hope this post inspires you to find a quiet, cozy corner of your home in which to create a space you can escape to when you need to read or get some work done. There's really nothing like having a little space to call your own.

Happy decorating!

Lifestyle: January Favorites

These are a few of my favorite things

Today I'm sharing my favorite/favourite (I'm Canadian!) things to make the winter months a little warmer and cozier! I'm also sharing some natural products as well as some ways to keep yourself feeling calm and zen.

If you ask me, all of these favourites are mood enhancers too - but I think its because I love being cozy and try to bring the calm vibes in my home.

Check out my recommendations in this video.

Some of my favourites include:

Clear Glass Cups from Ikea http://bit.ly/2fDwpta

Eucalyptus leaves, your local florist 

Saje Diffuser/Nebulizer http://bit.ly/2k67bXg

Persimmons http://bit.ly/2kgJw8Z

Organic Tazo Chai teabags http://bit.ly/2k63AIo

Crabtree & Evelyn Rosewater Soap http://bit.ly/1rcTEP6

Organic Virgin Coconut Oil - any grocery store

Ginger Kombucha Tea- Whole Foods, Fortinos, Loblaws (Health Food section)

Let's Connect

What are your current favorite things? Would love to hear about it in the comments below! Or you can find me on Instagram @angeliesood and share with me there. Would love to hear what your go-to products are right now. 

Get in the Spirit with Holiday Scents

One of the things I love about the holidays is all the delicious smells: pine trees, baked apples, cinnamon, oranges and clementines....ahh smells like Christmas!

I absolutely love this time of year and love celebrating all month long. If you are like me and don't have the time to make fresh gingerbread cookies daily to make your house smell all cinnamon and gingery...this is the perfect trick for you!

Your friends and family will walk in to a home full of warmth that smells like the holidays and there is absolutely nothing to it!

Here's what you need to make your home smell perfectly like this magical time of year:

1 orange, sliced

1/2 a lemon, sliced

a handful of fresh cranberries

2-3 sticks of cinnamon

4 bay leaves

Place all the ingredients in a pot and fill it two thirds of the way with water. Simply leave the pot on the stove on medium heat and wait for the aroma to do it's thing. Add more water as it evaporates and enjoy the nostalgia as Christmas smells fill your home!

Happy Holidays :)