// On The Glitz: A Glittery Glam Christmas Tree

This is without a doubt my absolute favorite project to work on every year. This is my third (!!!) Dream Tree with Michaels and I swear it never gets old. (See previous years: 2014, 2015) This year's tree took a 180 degree turn on like, November 7th... Yeah, like, last week. I had decided on my theme back in October and I spent a solid day picking out ornaments and things to craft. The theme was neat (in my opinion), but it wasn't really ~me. I love the creative freedom we get in the Michaels Makers program, and I really wanted the tree to reflect our home a bit more than first theme did. I recently repainted the living room and bathroom in our house, totally on a whim. The bright white reflects so much light, it really makes the space feel bigger. There's a lot of gold and pink in the living room (but the boys dig it. Well, Toby does. L doesn't care) so one day when I was lurking the #MakeItWithMichaels hashtag on Instagram I saw the newest collection of ornaments that were hitting the shelves and OH MY WORD! If I were a Christmas ornament or decorative accent, I would totally be in this collection. It spoke to me on an almost spiritual level. I scooped up stuff off the shelves at the One Hundred Oaks Michaels as the associates were basically unboxing them. (I totally apologized profusely for being all up ~in their biz, and they were so sweet). Anywho, I wanted to decorate around the colors and textures of the new throw pillows and accents I recently picked up/upcycled, and this collection fit so perfectly! Here's my ~glitzy glam Christmas tree! 

Everything on the tree (including that fabulous tree skirt) is from Michaels. Most of the ornaments are ready made, but I did grab a box of gold and pink "decorative filler" styrofoam balls which I simply stuck a straightened out ornament hook into. Easy peasy! Didn't even need hot glue! The gold garland is one of my favorite things on the tree. I love the different sizes of all the balls and baubles. In this collection they also had those awesome glittery tinsel "trees" you see on my trunk next to the door. They're so pretty and they come in like three different colorways, but holy glitter. If you're at all anal about glitter, don't get them. But otherwise, they're so fantastic and worth the extra sweeping. 

Looking at these pictures makes me realize just how much of our decor is from Michaels or the product of a DIY for Michaels haha! I'll try to link as many relevant products as I can, but if it's not linked feel free to ask and I'll let you know where it's from. You must stop in at a local Michaels soon though because you gotta see this collection. There's a white version and a pink version basically, both with gold accents. There aren't really many pieces online.

I'm sure some of you are thinking "Those poor boys!" because it's so feminine, but I bought the boys their very own 4 foot tree - with multicolored lights, as requested by Toby - to keep in their room. (Yeah, their. Linden has been bunking with Tobes lately and boy it's nice to have my bed back! Tangent, sorry) Anyway, making and shopping for ornaments will be activities in their advent calendar come December, so I'm excited to decorate it with them. They are 110% in the driver's seat with theme and everything. We'll likely decorate this tree some more with our personal family ornaments, but I'm really excited to see how theirs ends up. They helped decorate this one and it was the most precious thing. I really really love this time of year. This year is extra special in so many ways. I want the boys to remember it forever. All the feels to be felt!

As for your holiday decorations go, Michaels has their largest tree assortment this year, including colored and flocked trees. Check out all of their trees, ornaments and coordinating holiday décor on Michaels.com. Are you feeling inspired to start decorating your own tree? Eh? Maybe? Make sure you visit Michaels’ blog, The Glue String, to see the rest of the Michaels Makers’ dream holiday trees that were created this year.

xo KB

PS; This tree is by far the prettiest artificial tree I've seen, no lie. I totes called it flocked on snap, but it's ~"cashmere" tips and they make a world of difference aesthetically. Seriously, love this tree!

sources: tree // assorted gold ornaments // sequin pillow // instax holders //

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// Creating A Home You Can Be Proud Of

 If you are trying to put your own stamp on your home then this can be tricky. If you have moved into a home where someone else lived previously then you may not know how to change this around to suit you. It may be dirty, smelly, and still have aspects of the previous owner. Don’t be disheartened, it will all fall into place eventually. If you make a list of what you want to change around then this gives you something to work towards. Take a look at the article below to find some inspiration. 

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Lighting 

If you don’t like your current lighting then this is one of the easier things to change in your home. New light fixtures aren’t too pricey and it is relatively simple to switch them over, as long as you use a trained electrician. You may have moved into a home with low light fittings and if you are tall then this won’t be very comfortable for you. Head to your local lighting showroom or take a look online to see if you can find anything you like the look of. 

Flooring 

Flooring in the home is a very personal choice and if you don’t like the current flooring then you can switch this. You might have hardwood flooring and want carpets or vice versa, there are pros and cons to both of these options. Carpet is naturally warmer in winter, however, it is much harder to keep clean than hardwood flooring. While hardwood flooring can be harsher and colder in winter, you might want to use rugs to keep the rooms warmer. If you have never laid flooring before then you might want to call in the pros to help you with this. They will ensure you have the best finish and have flooring that will last forever. 

Environment 

When it comes to your overall home you want to be proud of it and you want to look forward to coming home. This all comes down to how you create an environment and ambience that calms you down. If you are filling your spaces with excess furniture and not keeping your home clean then you won’t want to come home. Think about the type of furniture you need and keep it as minimalistic as possible. If you are looking for somewhere to eat your dinner then you may want something specific like a black dining table. 

Garden 

Lastly, head outside once you have sorted the interior, this is part of your home as well. If your garden isn’t quite how you want it then you have free reign. If you want to rip out the grass and put down astroturf then you can do this, alternatively if you like the natural look then you could add in some beautifully coloured plants around the border. Do you plan on entertaining in your garden? If so, then you might want to invest in some garden furniture to place on your patio or decking area.