Lauren McBride Holiday Guide 2019

HOLIDAY 2019

WISHING YOU AND YOUR FAMILY THE HAPPIEST OF HOLIDAYS AND A WONDERFUL NEW YEAR!

EM MORF EVOL HTIW

The holidays are here....

Who else is excited that the holiday are OFFICIALLY here? The holidays have to be my favorite time of the year. I love breaking out our Christmas decorations and decorating our house, and of course the look of my kids faces when Santa Claus comes to town and they open their gifts under the tree. But most of all I love the spirit of Christmas and what the holidays bring: good will towards one another.

The holidays are a season of giving back, giving to others and most of all creating memories. This year has been full of so many amazing memories and milestones that wouldn't be possible without you guys. So this year I wanted to create a gift from me to you in the form of a one stop shop e-book. In this guide you will find holiday decorating tips, outfit inspiration and most of all gift ideas for everyone on your list.

So from our family to yours we hope you have the most wonderful holiday season, and an amazing New Year filled with joy and happiness! with love,

Lauren

how to use the guide...

To use the guide is SUPER EASY! This guide is fully interactive to help make for an easy user experience with a touch of a key. From highlighting shopping links with a shopping cart icon or highlighting specific text to take you to specific blog posts or printable.

You can also jump from section to section easily by using the table of contents located at the beginning of the guide. Click a section you are interested in and the guide will jump immediately to that page.

After you view the guide you can also download the guide to either you computer or cell phone. This allows the guide to be taken with you on the go as you decorate the perfect tablescape or check people off your list this holiday season.

Table of Contents

HOLIDAY DECOR

PAGE 6

- HOLIDAY TABLESCAPES

PAGE 7

- EASY TABLESCAPE TIPS

PAGE 11

HOLIDAY ENTERTAINING TIPS - CARAMEL APPLE CIDER SANGRIA RECIPE

PAGE 12 PAGE 13

- THE BEST SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE RECIPE

PAGE 15

- HOLIDAY ENTERTAINING TIPS

PAGE 17

HOLIDAY PHOTOS

PAGE 18

- EASY HOLIDAY PHOTO IDEAS

PAGE 19

- EASY TIPS FOR FAMILY PHOTOSHOOT

PAGE 21

- EASY WAYS TO DISPLAY HOLIDAY CARDS

PAGE 23

HOLIDAY STORAGE - EASY HOLIDAY STORAGE TIPS

HOLIDAY GIFT WRAPPING - HOW TO WRAP THE PERFECT GIFT

HOLIDAY TREE DECOR - HOW TO DECORATE A KID-FRIENDLY TREE

HOLIDAY BEAUTY HOLIDAY STYLE HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDES

PAGE 24 PAGE 25

PAGE 26 PAGE 27

PAGE 28 PAGE 29

PAGE 30

PAGE 34 PAGE 37

- FOR KIDS 0-2 YRS OLDS

PAGE 38

- FOR KIDS 3-5 YRS OLD

PAGE 41

- FOR KIDS 5-7 YRS OLD

PAGE 43

- FOR THE BEAUTY LOVER

PAGE 44

- FOR HIM

PAGE 47

- FOR HER

PAGE 49

- FOR THE HOME

PAGE 50

holiday

DECOR

Holiday tablescapes are one of my favorite parts of the decor. We host Christmas at our home every year, so I love having the table festive for the occasion.

This one has to be one of my favorites. The white and gold color scheme is simple, elegant and festive all in one with the votive brass antiqued candles to help give this table a romantic and dreamy feeling.

Topped with fresh greenery and flocked greenery this table is festive and fun!

This farmhouse Christmas Tablescape has to be one of my all time favorites. From the fresh greenery runner to using pieces of wood slices as the charger plate and burlap napkins almost as place setting runners- this table is perfect and cozy.

To accentuate the table, I added levels and layers with candlesticks and votives around the center of the table.

Each table setting was topped with a fresh spring of spruce and a cinnamon stick tied with a gift tag as our name cards.

Simple

TABLESCAPE TIPS

1.

AIM FOR LAYERS:

From adding a simple charger

underneath your plates to adding a napkin with a festive name card- layers help make any table elegant and put together.

2.

USE A FLORAL ARRANGEMENT OR FRESH GREENERY:

I

love using fresh greenery to any table. It gives the table a bit of a pop and you can decorate your table around the arrangement or greenery.

3.

ADD A TABLE RUNNER:

I have a bunch of neutral, textured

table linens that I’ve collected over the years, and I love that they go with EVERYTHING. You can also use fresh greenery as your table runner like I did in my white and gold holiday tablescape or even add a bit of burlap if you have it on hand. For a quick burlap table runner by cutting and fraying a strip of burlap.

4.

ADD CANDLES :

When in doubt add candles. Candles

always make the table more dreamy and romantic.

5.

USE WHAT YOU HAVE ON HAND: P l a c e

settings can be

super simple. I love to wrap napkins with a piece of twine and stick a Christmas tree clipping for some greenery on each one. You can also throw some cinnamon sticks in there if you have them for a little something extra.

holiday

ENTERTAINING TIPS

caramel apple CIDER

SANGRIA

RECIPE

INGREDIENTS NEEDED - 1 750ML BOTTLE OF MILD WHITE WINE - 1 CUP CARAMEL FLAVORED VODKA - 8 CUPS APPLE CIDER - 2 APPLES, CORED AND CHOPPED

1 STIR TOGETHER THE WINE, VODKA, AND APPLE CIDER IN A LARGE PITCHER.

2 ADD THE CHOPPED APPLES TO THE PITCHER.

3 SERVE COLD OR OVER ICE!

** FOR BEST RESULTS: LET SANGRIA SIT OVERNIGHT FOR OPTIMAL TASTE. **

the best damn SWEET

POTATO

CASSEROLE

I promise you this will hands down be the BEST DAMN sweet potato casserole you will ever make. Equal parts sweet and savory this recipe will be the hit of any dinner table this holiday season!

CASSEROLE INGREDIENTS - 1 1/2 CUP WHITE SUGAR (I BUY ORGANIC) - 1 TSP. VANILLA EXTRACT - 6 TBSP MELTED UNSALTED BUTTER - 1/3 CUP MILK (ANY MILK WILL DO, I'VE USED DAIRY-FREE) - 2 EGGS, BEATEN - 3-4 SWEET POTATOES (PEELED, THEN COOKED OR BAKED)

TOPPING INGREDIENTS - 1/3 CUP BROWN SUGAR - 1/3 CUP FLOUR - 1/2 CUP COCONUT SHAVINGS/FLAKES - 1 CUP CHOPPED PECANS (I CHOP THEM IN A FOOD PROCESSOR) - 7 TBSP MELTED BUTTER

INSTRUCTIONS BOIL (OR BAKE) SWEET POTATOES UNTIL THEY FEEL SOFT WHEN POKED WITH A FORK. MIX ALL CASSEROLE INGREDIENTS TOGETHER IN A BLENDER (OR FOOD PROCESSOR) AND POUR INTO A 9X13 CASSEROLE DISH. MIX TOPPING INGREDIENTS TOGETHER UNTIL MIXTURE BECOMES CRUMBLY, THEN SPREAD OVER SWEET POTATO MIXTURE. BAKE AT 350F FOR 35-45 MINUTES, UNCOVERED (UNTIL TOPPING IS GOLDEN BROWN. I START AT 35 AND GO UP FROM THERE).

holiday

ENTERTAINING TIPS

1.

BUY FOOD AHEAD OF TIME :

Trust me it is so much easier to be

prepared when you think of a menu in advance. It will also save you endless trips to the store and the LONG holiday lines.

2.

THROW TOGETHER A SIMPLE TABLESCAPE:Â Y o u

can make a

gorgeous tablescape with things you already have. For a quick runner grab some burlap and fray the ends. Don't have burlapyou can always grab candles, ball ornaments, pinecones and ribbon to make for a quick and simple tablscape.

3.

LIGHT CANDLES :

Candles always seem to help set the mood

and make a holiday dinner more special.

4.

PLAY MUSIC :

Christmas music just seems to help set the

ambience during the dinner. You can stream Spotify or Pandora to keep the music flowing all evening long.

5.

LIGHT A FIRE :

Give your home a cozy feeling especially if it is

cold outside, and light a fire at the fireplace. Not a fan of wood? You can always set candles up in your fireplace for a little bit of a cozy vibe.

6.

GRAB WINE OR A SIGNATURE COCKTAIL :

Nothing gets

conversation flowing like a great bottle of wine or a delicious signature cocktail.

7.

RELAX AND ENJOY:

The biggest tip is to enough yourself and

have fun. Holiday dinners are meant to be fun and full of memories with your friends and family.

holiday

P H O T O

I D E A S

THE FUNNY CARD:

This probably has been one of our

THE MEMORABLE MOMENT: This holiday card

favorite kids of cards to send and is always a HUGE

contains a special moment, like the birth of a baby, a

hit with our friends and family. Just be yourself and

wedding photo, or some other amazing life event or

goof around- I promise you'll get the best photo. * It's

memory that happened during the year that you want

also a great way to make a pregnancy announcement

to share with everyone.

too. **

A SWEET FAMILY PHOTO: This has been our go-to A SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: This kind of card is

holiday card idea over the last few years. We usually

great for announcing big news like engagement,

take a professional photo we had taken from a family

births, pregnancies, etc... The holidays make it a great

photo session sometime during the year and turn it

time to share some big and exciting news with

into our holiday card. Sweet and simple !

everyone.

holiday

PHOTOSHOOT

TIPS

EASY TIPS FOR FAMILY

holiday photos

Looking to take family photos this year? These 3 simple tips will help make planning the photo ffrom what to wear to how to pose much easier!

HIRE A PROFESSIONAL : Trust me when I say this- HIRE a professional or a ask a friend who is great with a camera. When you have small kiddos it can be really hard to get the shot. So try and hire out or ask a friend so you don't have to wrangle with the tripod and timer to get the right photo.

COORDINATE YOUR OUTFITS: This is SUPER IMPORTANT. While you don't need to be dressed up or fancy, you at least want to go with the same color scheme. It just makes everything look more put together in the photo. I try to find my outfit first and then dress everyone around my outfit accordingly.

HAVE LOW EXPECTATIONS: Never and I repeat NEVER have high expectations for a family photo shoot especially if youo have kids. Odds are you won't get everyone smiling and looking at the camera at the same time. So just be yourselves and everything just falls into place. Usually the best photos are the ones captured when everyone is just being themselves and shot in the moment.

E A S Y

W A Y S

T O

D I S P L A Y

holiday cards

EASY WAYS TO DISPLAY

holiday cards

Who else REALLY loves to receive holiday cards? For me there is something special about holiday cards, plus good old fashion snail mail is always a plus. In our house we LOVE to display the holiday cards we receive. Below are 3 EASY ways to display holiday card!

STRUNG ALONG THE MANTLE: You can grab your favorite glitter garland and attach your cards to a few clothespins to give it a easy holiday look.

ATTACHED TO RIBBON: Just grab a bit of burlap and hang it anywhere. Attach cards with clothespins as well. Love it along the door frame or stair railing.

ON A LITTLE TREE: We have a ton of little trees around our house that aren't decorated, holiday cards make the perfect accent to a little tree. Such a unique and fun way to display cards!

HOLIDAY STORAGE TIPS

holiday

STORAGE TIPS

Am I the only who wants to purge ASAP the minute the holidays are over? Below are some EASY holiday storage tips to help keep you organized for the next holiday season!

USE ORNAMENT BOXES: Storage boxes are a HUGE must especially if you have breakable ornaments. We use clear ones to help see what is inside easily.

USE CLEAR BINS: Trust me clear bins are the way to go. You can see inside to easily find the decor you are looking for.

STORE RIBBON AND GIFT WRAP IN APPROPRIATE SIZED BINS: We grabbed small bins to help us store ribbon and flat, long bins to help store rolls of wrapping paper.

ALWAYS STORE BINS IN A COOL, DRY PLACE: Storing your decor in a cool, dry place will help keep things in good condition and ready to be used for many years to come.

T H E

how to wrap

P E R F E C T

G I F T

holiday

GIFT WRAPPING TIPS

Who else loves to wrap gifts? I love to spend alot of time on wrapping gift so that I can get creative and make each gift unique to each person. Below are a few of my favorite gift wrapping tips!

MIX AND MATCH YOUR WRAPPING PAPER:

I personally love to have at least different styles of

wrapping paper that all compliment one another. You can pick a theme and wrap each person gift with different paper (perfect if you have kids and want to know who's gifts are who's immediately).

LAYER ON THE RIBBON: Get creative with ribbon. Layer on various ribbon styles for a unique look. Twine is also ALWAYS a great option- you can wrap a few times around for a pretty basic and simple look.

ADD ORNAMENTS: I love adding a sweet ornament for a special touch as a gift topper. It also doubles as a gift that the recipient can use for their tree next year.

GET CREATIVE WITH GIFT TAGS: Gift tags are the perfect way to get personalized. One great idea is a chalk tip marker to draw a fun gift tag.

ADD SOME SPARKLE OR GREENERY: This is a great add-on and so simple to do. Grab a bit of greenery from the craft story and add a bit of tree trimmings to any gift with a ribbon.

A

how to decorate

K I D

F R I E N D L Y

T R E E

Christmas

TREE DECOR TIPS

Have little ones but love a beautiful Christmas tree? Below are my top tips to help getting the best of both worlds a gorgeous Christmas tree that is also kid-friendly!

PICK YOUR TREE: We pick a fake tre since it is SO much easier to deal with and you dont have to worry about water or the needles. We love

THIS TREE a ton and have used it for years. Best part- it is pre-lit.

PICK YOUR BASE: I love a great base. We have been using this galvanized metal base to help hid the fake tree stand. Not only does it look cleaner it is also a bit more mangeable with the kids.

DON'T USE BREAKABLE ORNAMENTS:

This was the hardest thing for us since we love to collect

ornaments. So until the kids get older we are a non-breakable and shatterproof ornament family. We also love plush, soft balls that help add some texture to the tree without being breakable.

FINISH WITH A TREE TOPPER: Got to love a great tree topper. We are OBSESSED with THIS ONE as it just add a bit of sparkle to the tree.

OPTIONAL: ADD SOME RIBBON OR GARLAND: This is totally optional, but is a great way to add some personal style to the tree. Just grab a few rolls of ribbon and just fill in any open space with it.

holiday

B E A U T Y HOLIDAY STYLE GUIDE

A

FEW

OF

MY

FAVORITE

BEAUTY

PRODUCTS

holiday

BEAUTY TIPS

1.

AMP UP YOUR LIPSTICK: O n e

of the biggest ways to make

your holiday makeup look more put together is a little bit of a bolder lip.

2.

ENHANCE YOUR EYE MAKEUP:

You don't have to go full out

smokey eye but sometimes add a bit of depth to your crease can do wonders and give your makeup look a bit of oomph instantly.

3.

LINE YOUR EYES: A d d i n g

a bit of liner to your top and bottom

lashes can also help give your holiday look a bit of sass. **

-

TIP

If you aren't a huge eyeliner wearer you can always add a

little shadow to your lash line to help give the look of a subtle eyeliner.

4.

ADD A LITTLE HIGHLIGHTER: I

swear that sometimes adding a

bit of highlighter to the face can instantly brighten your face.

Just add a little pop of highlighter to the tops of the cheeks bones for a instant enhanced and brighter look.

5.

SMILE :

The key to any great makeup look isn't about makeup it

is about how it makes you feel. Nothing says confident and beauty more than a smile. So show those pearly whites this holiday season and always remember to

SMILE!

holiday

S T Y L E HOLIDAY STYLE GUIDE

EASY

holiday

STYLE

When it comes to holiday style- Are you festive? Or are you more casual? Depending on the event or mood, I tend to vary in my style for the holidays. Below I am sharing a few holiday looks thaty are perfect for every occasion.

CASUAL + COMFY

CASUAL + FESTIVE

I love a great casual look, this one is both comfy and

This look is one of my favorites, especially because it

casual and perfect for those SUPER cold holiday

is out of my comfort zone (I am not usually a red

outings. The

Spanx faux leather leggings are the

perfect way to add a bit more sass to the look,

great cozy sweater and topped with

paired with a

North Face Down Vest and Sherling

wearer). But it is equal parts dressy and casual as I

velevt pants with a fitted turtleneck and

paired

topped the look with this awesome

reversible

my favorite

poncho. You can add knee high boots or a pair of

Lace-Up Boots.

your favorite heels to dress it up a bit more all while staying comfortable.

EASY

holiday

DRESSY & COMFY You guys this

Midi Sweater Dress is absolutely

STYLE

DRESSY & FESTIVE I love this look and how it is festive and dressy

so gorgeous and incredibly comfortable (also a

all while staying comfortable (comfort is key,

great nursing option). Paired with a pair

right?) This look pairs

leopard booties and a few key

velvet pants with the

velvet strapped v-neck cami.

of

most gorgeous

accessories- this look is simple yet elegant for

Just add a pair of

any holiday gathering!

and your

comfortable block heels,

favorite accessories and you are

ready to be festive at any holiday gathering.

EASY MATERNITY HOLIDAY STYLE

When it comes to being pregnant around the holidays it can be a bit rough. However, it is the perfect time to be super comfortable, casual yet still minimal and dressy. Remember comfort is key- and if you are an expectant mother, postpartum mother, or have to chase around the little ones all day- this outfit for the holidays is perfect.

GRAB A PAIR OF FLATS: Trust me flats are the way to go, especially with little kids. These ones are super elegant and feminine as they have a ankle wrap and are a gorgeous blush velvet.

LONG AND FLOWY SHIRTS: I love sporting a long and flowy shirt that can be worn under a cardigan or even a pull over sweater. I usually grab a light color so that I can pair it with a darker pant (like these pants) and give the look a little contrast.

ADD ACCESSORIES: The easiest way to dress up any look is to pair your favorite necklaces and earrings to this look. I love a great tassel earring and this bead wrapped necklace to add a bit of festive sparkle.

holiday

G I F T

G U I D E S

FOR KIDS 0-2 YRS OLD

FOR KIDS AGES 3-5 YRS OLD

FOR KIDS 5-7 YRS OLD

FOR BEAUTY

FOR HIM

FOR HER

FOR THE HOME

happy holidays

HOLIDAY 2019