Holiday Homebody: Gift Guide for the Homebody 

I am sitting here wondering where the time flew as it's seasonal gift guide time of year already. As I am getting ready to write this, Holiday Gift Guide: Gifts for the Homebody, I am pondering about popping a pumpkin {Pillbury Quick Bread} loaf into the oven & wondering when it's a sensible time to turn on my Holiday Jazz Pandora Station.

Regardless, it's that time of year once again & I have created Three Holiday Gift Guides this year. First up, Gifts for the Homebody. All of this year's gifts are either items I already own {& truly love} &/or items I am wanting {wishing for}. I'll tell you, my mom has the new Google Alarm Clock & loves it. I love hers so much, the Google Alarm Clock {Smart Clock with Google Assistant} is on my wishlist this year.

Santa, hint, hint.

1. Amazon | 2. Williams Sonoma | 3. Le Creuset | 4. Birthdate Candle | 5.Weezie Towels |

1. Lenovo Smart Clock with Google Assitant via {Amazon}

2.  Smeg Coffe Drip Maker in Pastel Green via {Williams Sonoma}

3. Oval Dutch Oven {Matte Sugar Pink} via {Le Creuset}

4. The May Fifteenth {Custom Birthdate Candles} via {Birthdate Candles}

5. Monogram Stitch Edge Towel Starter Set via {Weezie Towels}

Birthdate Candle

Also, I have been feeling a little more inspired to do craft projects & I just realized that the Cricut {Explore Air 2} can be used to make beautiful labels. I think the mint green is lovely & would make for a great way to pass the wintertime by!

Lastly, if you're looking for something chic yet warm, I have a #Walmartfind for you! For under $13, you can get someone on your list the coziest {sherpa-like} housecoat. I have one in the oatmeal hue, but the light pink is really cute too.

I'd like to end all of my gift guides this year saying, it isn't about how much you spend, but really it is the thought & effort that goes into gifting. As I get older, I am focusing less on the amount of money & more so on the emotional value. It is easy to get caught up in the materialistic side of this holiday, but stay humble when gifting this year, & gift something that reflects just how much you care about the person you're giving it too.


& Here is the link for the LC by Lauren Conrad holiday car with tree ornament 

Shop my Gifts for the Home Body Below

The Seasonal Traveling Cookie Plate Tradition with Cheryl's Cookies 

It's that time of year once again, the time where friends, families, neighbors, & the fare-few you only see around the holidays come together for a cup of cheer. Or you know, freshly baked cookies. 

With Thanksgiving quickly approaching, I have been intrigued by the idea of 'The Giving Plate' or as I am calling it, 'The Traveling Cookie Plate.'

Cheryls.com

I have seen plates for-sale that are dubbed The Giving Plate as well have seen various Giving Plates on Pinterest.

The concept of The Giving Plate {ahem, Travelling Cookie Plate} is simple. Simply put, it is a plate {usually with a little jingle/poem printed on it explaining its purpose} that has no owner per-se. However, the plate does travel from a new home to a new home frequently.

Upon arrival at the plate's temporary home, the new foster-plate caregiver replenishes the cookie plate with treats for the upcoming party. 

At the party's end, a new person takes home the plate, washes it, & bakes something new to fill it with for the next get-together.  As you can see, the giving/sharing cycle repeats itself on & on.

In this post, I am partnering with a fellow Ohio based company called Cheryl's Cookies. On Cheryl's website, her sweet mission is to, "To provide the finest freshly-baked gifts and desserts for all of life’s moments, delivered with warmth and backed by our guarantee of excellence."

This Thanksgiving, what better occasion to have a traveling cookie plate? 

Thanksgiving Dessert

The opportunity to taste {& style} Cheryl's Cookies presented itself with the idea of creating a Traveling Cookie Plate concept for all of my readers.  I even went ahead & wrote a little jingle to print & attach to your traveling cookie plate. For my traveling cookie plate, I  used a simple white plate. However, you can get as creative or as simple as you'd like. 

• Brown Sugar Shortbread Cookie {in a pumpkin shape}
• Marshmallow Frosted S'more Cookie 
• Chocolate Chip Cookie {Newly Launched}

Brown Sugar Shortbread Cook

Marshmallow Frosted S'more Cookie

Chocolate Chip Cookie

Miami on Film: Disposable Camera Challenge 

When traveling to South Beach Miami, I was inspired by the influencer, Maddy Corbin & her past summer's disposable film camera challenge.

This is where you get one of the old school point & shoot film cameras & hope for the best!

Gelato Go

Forte de Marmi right across the street from Stanton

Here are my thoughts & overall impression on the challenge. 

My favorite film photo--Nancy Meyers film inspired

First things first, I bought my camera at my Target around $14.00 & it was the Kodak brand. From following Maddy on Instagram, I learned a tip for shooting with a disposable film camera. That tip is, don't get too close to your targeted subject as it will come out blurry.  It's best to step back & shoot.

The second tip that I learned was shooting outdoors in well-lit places equal the best pictures. I mostly shot outdoors & all of those turned out pretty well!

The few photos I took with the Kodak disposable camera indoors came out way too dark.

At first, I was a little self-conscious whipping out a disposable camera, but after a while, I loved it. Photographing with a disposable camera really let me, the photographer, soak-up the moment. It also made me really think about the photo I wanted to take.  I had to see the picture in my mind before I snapped away.

As there is no preview or delete button on these cameras, it reminded me that not everything needs to be 'instant' or gratifying right away.

Since I couldn't work this camera with my tripod, I asked complete strangers to take photos of me in them. There's something about being on a trip & just making the most out of every moment.

Another fun element to photographing with a disposable camera is one you're back home, you get to re-live your trip all over when the negatives get developed.

A disposable camera capture favorite: Miami Beach

Where to get your disposable camera developed? 

I know most go to CVS or Walgreens & they can both print your film photos as well as add them to a CD or flash drive. However, I used The Dark Room & really loved that process.

I filled out a form & paid to have them mail me a pre-paid envelope to send my camera in. Mere days later, they had already uploaded my photos online where I then downloaded each photo.

I also had a set printed as a souvenir.

Restaurant on Ocean Drive

Can you edit disposable film photos? 

Pretending I am in a Nancy Meyers' film

The answer is yes. Yes, you can edit your disposable film photos. I edited all of mine in Lightroom & they still have that cool-throwback film quality.

The only question left is, will you take the disposable film challenge?

Life Guard Station

Sites on a late afternoon stroll

Blending In...

Snapped from a pontoon boat

On my way to dinner

Ocean Morning Wave

Casper the Friendly Cookie: DIY Halloween Ghost Sugar Cookie Cutouts 

"When black cats prowl & pumpkins gleam, may luck be yours on Halloween" ~ Unknown.

It's officially Halloween, witches & just in case you're itching for something other than fun-size candies & bubblegum that holds its flavor for precisely two minutes, I got just the thing--little Casper Cookie Cutouts.

Pre-Iced Ghost Sugar Cookies

These ghost sugar cookies were a real breeze to make & relly fun to ice & decorate. I used this plunger cookie cutout which was much easier than the traditional metal cookie cutout.

I used the Betty Crocker sugar cookie mix as well as Pillsbury icing in an icing bag.

For the eyes,  I got a little tube of black glitter gel to add the finishing details. The first day, I baked the cookies & stored them in a sealed container line with baking paper. The next day, I iced & decorated each cookie & re-stored them in my lined container. They stayed fresh for days--so it's safe to make a day out or two for any party you may be having.



In addition to the ghost sugar cutout cookies, I drew pumpkin faces on tangerines for something sweet, but healthy--plus, they just look really cute.

I recommend serving your ghost sugar cookies with some hot chocolate, marshmallows, and or maybe a rootbeer float type of beverage.

Boo!

I mean, it is Halloween after all!

Happy Halloween & don't forget to follow me on Instagram @ Katelynchef for more holiday ideas.


Basically, move over Martha 😜

Living in the North East, it's bound to happen eventually, no matter how long you wish to prolong summer, you'll fall down the fall rabbit hole...eventually.

After all, it has already happened to me, a die-hard summer lover who has officially succumbed to the next season--Autumn. Embracing a new season means to embrace a new decor aesthetic. Hit the home refresh button if you will.

Afloral: Artifical Fall Silk Flowers

If you've read this post, you know I went on a MAJOR decluttering & deep organizing spree this past August. No longer am I into a complete seasonal decor / total seasonal home-decorating method. For one, it doesn't make sense to store seasonal items all year round & two, I am not into over-crowed surfaces & so on. The key discipline I have been practicing {it's hard, at times} is editing.

This doesn't mean I don't decorate, I do! I have just edited what I decorate with. Also, instead of knick-knacks, I try to incorporate rugs, pillows, & bedding into my seasonal decor. This way, one quilt will carry me from now into spring when I go to hit the 'refresh' button once again.

I have to thank a few home decorating-design shows on Netflix & Hulu that really inspired my philosophy.



My TOP {top} pick is Netflix's Stay Here where they transformed everyday Air B & B's into these quaint & down-right beautiful places to stay. I highly recommend not only from a design perspective but from a business perspective too.

Gilmore Girls Coffee & More Coffee Tee

Five Home-Design Shows to Stream This Fall: 

• Stay Here {Netflix}
• Fixer Upper {HULU}
• Queer Eye {Netflix}
• Tiny House Nation {Netflix}
• Vogue's 73 Questions {Amazon Prime} This one deserves an explanation, not a 'home design' show in theory, but the peek into Hollywood's rich & famous spaces is inspiring--even if it is just a peek. 

Farmhouse Fall

These beautiful fall peonies & hydrangeas are from Afloral {c/o}

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