Hi, friends here are a few minimal Christmas and winter decorating ideas for you to use in your home. This year I've gone for a minimalist Christmas decor style using greenery, pine cones, baskets, and handmade treasures. We have a traditional Christmas tree but I kept everything else pared-back and fuss-free.




This year I wrapped presents in the simplest way by using white boxes, craft paper, and greenery.  I started by wrapping white cotton twine in a zig-zag pattern around the box, then I tucked a clipping of greenery between the twine.  Simple and pretty.






I went with a limited color scheme of green, black, and white and styled the console table in the entryway two different ways. In this picture, a metal tray filled with pine cones sits in the middle of the table, and a vintage Christmas tree and a black vase filled with greenery flank the ends.


In this photograph, I replaced the Christmas tree and vase with two mini faux spruce trees that I can leave up after Christmas and throughout the winter.


I filled a large basket with greenery and placed it on the floor next to the entry bench. This is an incredibly easy way to decorate for Christmas and winter.  I can replace any leaves that shrivel up as they dry out.  In keeping with the understated aesthetic, I used one fluffy white pillow on the bench.






If you haven't finished wrapping presents and decorating your home I hope you use some of my simple decorating ideas.

Hi friends!  We are less than a week away from Christmas day and I am in baking mode!  One of my favorite Christmas traditions is baking cookies!  The scent of cookies baking in the oven always makes it feel like Christmas in our home.  One of the first cookies on my list to bake are these easy jam-filled sugar cookies.  This recipe includes ingredients that most of us already have on hand and is quick and easy to make.


Ingredients:

• One log of store-bought sugar cookie dough
• 1/2 - 1 cup walnuts or pecans
• Blueberry or raspberry jam

Then roll the balls into finely chopped walnuts or pecans and place them on a large cookie sheet, two inches apart.  With the end of a wooden spoon handle, make a deep indentation in each ball.  You can also use a clean wine cork or your thumb.