I’ve put together some fun items on my 2021 holiday gift guide to help you get a jump start on your holiday shopping! This year, more than ever, it’s so important to start our holiday shopping early. From supply chain shortages to shipping times, it’s better to start early and avoid the holiday headache. My favorite part about getting my gifting done early, is that I get to cut down on the stress that the holidays can bring. I get to actually sit back and enjoy them without any worrying about last minute store runs, infinitely long lines, & midnight wrapping. My gift guide I’m bringing you is all about tried & true items I actually love, have, & use, or things I will be gifting or have gifted to my very own family & friends. I had so much fun making this for you guys so enjoy & happy shopping!

For the Homebody

The literal definition of cozy & the perfect gift to spoil your loved one! I can’t wait to get back into my comfies at the end of the day and these are my absolute go to!

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For the Family

You had me at washable rug, but non-slip, spill, & stain resistant are pretty good reasons too. Do yourself a favor and treat yourself & the family to a Ruggable Rug. There are tons of styles to choose from & having a machine washable rug is an absolute game changer!

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For the Kids

My Godchildren are the biggest gift in my life & Slumberkins are one of my favorite ways to give back that gift they give me! Not only are absolutely Slumberkins adorable and super soft and snuggly, they are a leading educational brand on a mission to promote early emotional learning. These are hands down my favorite item to gift to children of all ages. Each creature comes with a meaning & a story with intention & educational values. It’s such a unique and thoughtful gift for children of all ages.

You can choose your own Slumberkins creature here & be sure to use code ASHLEY10 for a special gift when checking out.

Slumberkins Holiday 2021 The Gift is You

For the Dogs

Our pups show us unconditional love every day & it’s time for us to treat them to gift that keeps on giving! The advent calendar is so fun for the holidays & Bark Box is a year round gift! My pups look forward to it every month! We shout “It’s BarkBox day” and everyone comes running! Tap below to sign up with our code and we both get a free box!

BarkBox

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For The Chef

Let’s be honest, the way to everyone’s heart is through their stomach. I’ve compiled a list of cookbooks I’ve come to know and love filled with endless delicious meal ideas.

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For Her

Shoes are the one thing a girl can never have too many of, and I’ve put together some of my favorite boots from my very own closet that are perfect for any style!

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For Him

Confession, my hubby has all of these and they are tried and true! Bonus I even get to enjoy the benefits of the deep tissue massage gun I got for “him”. One of my other favorites on this list has to be the Cuisinart grilling and prep tray, I never knew how much we needed these until we got them!

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For the Grandparents

These are the gifts that keep on giving. Last year I got my grandmother the Skylight frame and she was delighted. The grandparents don’t need to be techy to enjoy this either, I did the set up and just gave the rest of the family the email to send photos to! Now she gets new pictures daily that bring her so much joy! A hardcopy photo album is also a great choice, they weren’t brought up in the generation of digital photos at your fingertips, so a homemade photo album is always a thoughtful gift.

The pick up sticks may seem like a random gift, but they are probably one of the most used items I’ve ever gotten my grandma! Whether its grabbing a dryer ball that rolled behind the washer, or just getting that extra reach after dropping something, they are always a handy thing to have on hand!

These memory books are such a gift for your loved one and your family. These area definitely the gift that keeps on giving. They have so many ideas to get those memories flowing so they can be written down and passed on for many generations to come.

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Happy Holiday Shopping!

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I just couldn’t wait to decorate my new faux mantel I installed over the summer for Christmas! Everything is linked here if you missed how I created my DIY Faux Fireplace. I wanted a cascading garland holiday mantel look this year, and I am in love with how it turned out! The cost of garland can quickly add up, but I’m going to show you how I created this full & beautiful cascading garland look using only 2 strands of garland and some beautiful Christmas sprays.

Where to Start

First determine how you want your garland to fall. Do you want it to fall to the left, to the right, or even from the middle out. I wanted a sweeping look that fell to the floor so I used my first piece to sweep across the top and start the cascading look on the left side of my mantel.

Secure this section with your command hooks, and I always use more than I think i need. The last thing you want is for this display to come down once you’ve finished decorating. I use 2 bigger hooks at each end & multiple smaller hooks where i can fit them in for extra support. Once that is nice & secure start on your second piece. Add it in a little above your first piece to give a fuller effect around the edge of your mantel.

Now that your two main garland strands are in place, just start fluffing it to your desired thickness. Now if needed, add in some sprays that resemble the type of garland you’re using & fill in any blank spots to give it an even more full look. Sprays are much cheaper than doubling up on garland & give more control on how you want your garland to lay. Next up, lights! I love this micro LED wire lights, they are beyond easy to use, come with a remote control, and have a beautiful fairy light glow.

Finally, add your decorative sprays to not only fill it in more, but give it that special Christmas touch. I added pinecone sprays & gold glitter sprays here by simply weaving them into the garland and wrapping a wire stem around the base to secure it.

Make It Your Own

Now is that you have your neutral base done & secure, you can simply leave it neutral or continue adding your own Christmas touches. I love to enjoy the neutrals for a while before I start embellishing, but I always need a pop of red at Christmas, so this year I’m keeping this room adorned in mixed metals with a pop of red. Ribbon bows are also one of my favorite, & cost effective, ways to add in a classic Christmas touch. I added berry sprays, ribbons, pinecones, poinsettias, & glitter ball ornaments to dress up the mantel this year!

Ways To Save

Garland

Pre-lit garlands are becoming more affordable, but did you know you can save even more by buying unlit garland & adding your own lights? I especially love how these wire micro LED’s look & they are so easy to use! I’ll link the exact ones I use & swear by! When looking for garland deals, Michaels, Joann’s, & Hobby Lobby regularly have 40% or more off of their holiday decor so be sure to buy it on sale or get a coupon online that you can use in the store. I’ll link some of my favorite affordable options, both pre-lit & unlit!

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Sprays

Fill in sparse areas with sprays to give your garland a fuller look. Not only are sprays super affordable, they also give you the freedom to use different colors every year! I use this neutral garland as my starting point and build out from there! This year its gold’s and browns, last year it was reds, and years prior I’ve done whites, rose golds, and greens! I love switching up little pieces like that to give my staple pieces new life each year! [show_shopthepost_widget id=”4620931″]

LED String Lights

Add your own lights! These wire LED string lights are so easy to work with! Just bend and weave them in and out of your garland tucking them in where needed! Not only do they cast the prettiest glow but they also come with a remote for different brightness levels! I use these in my Christmas trees too!

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Mantel Decor

I added in a mixture of taper & pillar candles for even more glow because you can never have too many twinkle lights! By adding a gorgeous gilded mirror behind it all, I can reflect that cozy glow even more! Happy decorating and have fun adding your own special Christmas touches! Be sure to tag me so I can see all of the Christmas gorgeousness you create!

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Sources

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Don’t Have a Fireplace?

See How I Created My DIY Faux Fireplace Here!

The post Cascading Garland Christmas Mantel appeared first on Dogs & Design.

Dress stewart tartan rug from ruggable

During the hustle & bustle of the holidays, having a washable rug is a gift in itself! Even (if not especially) if your only guests this year are 5 little puppers! I’ve been replacing all of my rugs with Ruggable rugs for a while now. They are a total game changer & a must have for pet parents in my opinion! The fact that they make holiday rugs is just an added bonus!! I have a little shih tzu “marker” who occasionally has to remind everyone who is in charge around here with a little lift of a leg (insert eye roll). Between dirty paws, accidental spills, and everyday messes, being able to toss this bad boy in the wash helps me sleep at night.

You can use my code: ASHLEYNICOLE10 to make your Ruggable holiday dreams come to life too!!

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definitely my new coffee spot

Dining Room sources

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You can Shop all of my home here!

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Holiday Mantel Sources

I’m having so much fun styling this year’s mantel! I’m probably going to add more to it (because christmas) but I wanted to share my garlands with you while they are on major sale!

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You Can shop more of my home here!

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