Life Among The Blooms: Holiday Decorating & Shopping
Grab your favorite cozy mug—whether it’s filled with a steaming cup of coffee or a comforting cup of tea—and let’s talk about all things holiday! I’m feeling completely energized and inspired by all the beautiful decor this past week. The recap of last week’s holiday home tours featuring my talented blogging friends was nothing short of magical, filling me with so many great ideas for bringing festive cheer into every room. It was such a treat to peek into their stunning, unique homes and see how they brought their individual holiday visions to life. Can you believe 35 bloggers were opening their homes and sharing ideas for holiday decorating?
You can see the Holiday Home Tours 2025 here.
Family, Fun, and Festive Wrapping
But the holiday fun didn’t stop there! This past Saturday was spent with my parents, which was truly the best kind of quality time. We spent the day together tackling two crucial holiday tasks: decorating their beautiful Christmas tree with the ornaments they’d collected over the years and wrapping a towering stack of gifts. There is just something so special about the tradition of decking the halls with family, and watching their home transform with the twinkling lights and ornaments truly kicked off the season for me. It was a wonderful, happy weekend.
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What’s New At White Lilac Farmhouse
With the festive decorations beautifully set up, my home is now officially ready for the holidays, and I’ve fully immersed myself in the cheerful chaos of Christmas shopping for my family! This year, I’m dedicated to being a savvy shopper, hunting for the best bargains and eagerly taking advantage of current pre-Black Friday deals to cross items off my lists early. Speaking of holiday sales, I’d love to know: do you enjoy the excitement of diving into the crowded Black Friday madness, or are you a dedicated Cyber Monday shopper? Unfortunately, I won’t be able to take advantage of the online deals this year, as I’ll be traveling for some much-needed R&R. Still, I’m certainly not complaining about a restful getaway!
Now, I need to get busy wrapping many gifts and putting them under the tree. I have a great post on gift-wrapping ideas you may want to read.
My Favorite Finds This Week
This mock turtle-neck shirt is comfortable, affordable, and available in an array of colors. I have it in burgundy and navy. After wearing them, I like them so much that I ordered them in two more colors. A great layering piece, and the neck with the slight ruffle is lovely.
With the shorter days, many of us may not get the healthy light we need. I ordered this Light Therapy Desk Lamp as a gift and one for myself. It helps to increase energy, improve sleep, and boost mood. Currently, there is a $10 off coupon.
How about holiday pajamas for the whole family? I found these pajamas at a reasonable price point.
If you are like me, you need to have readers all over the house. These fashionable readers are pretty and come in a pack of 5! I absolutely love the colors and a couple of sets at this fantastic price.
Another great gift idea is this Philips SmartSleep Wake-up Light. It has a colored sunrise and sunset simulation, 5 Natural Sounds, FM Radio, and a Reading Lamp.
On The Blog
Evergreen & Cozy: A Home Tour of Natural Christmas Decor
Elevate Your Cocoa: The Ultimate Hot Chocolate Bar Experience
Holiday Inspirations From Others
I have been busy scrolling through some of my favorite blogs and websites, and I found a treasure trove of festive ideas. Whether you’re looking for simple centerpiece updates, creative gift wrapping hacks, or last-minute cookie recipes, these talented creators have you covered. Here are some brilliant holiday ideas inspired by the best of the web to add that extra dash of magic to your season!
How spectacular is this homemade Christmas Truffle Tree from Missy at Sonata Home Designs? She has a step-by-step tutorial along with her candy truffle recipe.
Are these Christmas cookies not stunning? Leslie, My 100 Year Old Home is sharing the best classic Christmas Cookie recipe. She has a fantastic tutorial on how to make these beautiful cookies that your guests will love.
This Gingerbread House of Jennifer, Cottage on Bunker Hill, would make a fun family craft project over the Thanksgiving holiday. You can find the tutorial and other great projects on her blog.
A must-see is Ann’s garden at Old Castle Cottage, which she has dressed for the holiday. It is stunning!
I love this gift idea from Stephanie, Returning Grace for Homemade Vanilla Extract! She has free printable labels for these fantastic, budget-friendly handmade gifts.
I hope this peek into my holiday preparations—from the joy of decorating to the thrill of tracking down the best sales—leaves you feeling ready for the festive season! Be sure to take a look at the incredible holiday ideas my blogging friends have shared; their creativity is truly inspiring. And remember, it is the season for gratitude, and make space for joy this week. The most important thing is to be kind to yourself and enjoy the present moment.
As we head into this exciting week of deals and family gatherings, I want to wish you all the very best. For those of you heading out, I wish you happy and safe Black Friday shopping! And to everyone, I sincerely hope you have a truly blessed and memorable Happy Thanksgiving, filled with good company, delicious food (in moderation, of course!), and gratitude. I’ll be back next week to share more from my own restful getaway!
Happy Thanksgiving,
