I know I'm a little late to the holiday party, but I've been pretty busy snuggling a little newborn and we all know babies don't keep. Our home is far from finished (hence why I still haven't gotten around to sharing any real "before and after" room reveals here), but I hope you'll enjoy these small touches of festive decor as much as I do!
I love our giant tree in the living room! The fireplace mantle decor is all the same from last year, but I did switch things up a bit by going with the asymmetrical trend that's been going around. It actually works great by keeping my stockings out of the way of the heat from the electric fireplace. Eventually, we plan to cut into the chimney and create a "real" fireplace with a gas insert and nice mantle, but until then, this little electric one has served us well and makes me feel so cozy in here!
Our dining room won't be finished until we break into one of the walls and insert a staircase (!!), but for now I've decked it out with a few items I already had on hand: a table runner, an old lantern that used to live in my entry way, and a few battery operated candles that used to live on my mantle! I'm so glad I keep a tote full of decor items like this because it saves me a lot of money to decorate using what I have and forces me to be creative! All I added to this was a few decorative pinecones + some ribbon I tied into a bow! Total: under $10.
And finally, we have the kitchen! Possibly, my favorite room in the house (it's a hard tie between the kitchen and living room), and also the most finished! We still need to do a few small things like add crown molding to the cabinets and paint the window trim...but all in all, it's another cozy space I find joy spending time in and I love that I had a chance to decorate it for Christmas!
The wreath was just a cheap Hobby Lobby find, accompanied by the same ribbon you saw above (thankful for Walmart!). I found the nutcracker soap dispenser on post-Christmas clearance at Target last year and saved for the day when I'd finally have a finished kitchen to decorate!
I have so many memories of past holidays thinking things like, "one year, when I can do X" and we are slowly making most of those dreams a reality. I am so grateful for every space in our home and the ability to welcome others into it. I never want to take for granted these sweet blessings and can't wait to spend another Christmas with my little family here.
Honestly, if it was just me, I wouldn't buy our newborn a single Christmas gift. Well, maybe just one or two. But when you have a 4 and 5 year old who are in their Santa-believing prime, you kind of have to go through the whole wrapped presents and stocking thing even with the newborn. Santa wouldn't leave out the baby, would he?!
What Do You Get a Newborn for Christmas?
Newborns really only need like 3 things: milk, diapers, and naps. All the prep-work that comes with having a baby pretty much covers everything else. Our little guy will be about 1 month old at Christmas this year, so he's not going to have much of a wishlist. Since we're already fairly equipped to take care of his immediate needs, I'm using this opportunity to give him some items he'll be needing in the near future!
There's no point buying more of what you already have and there's still no need for larger items like tricycles or toddler beds, so don't worry if your baby isn't receiving any "big" gifts this year. Next year will be SO much more fun! Grabbing a few things you know you'll be purchasing within the next few months is a great way to kill two birds with one stone and not add unnecessary spending to your already stretched holiday budget.
More Gift Ideas for Older Babies
Honestly, even if your baby is past the newborn stage, they probably don't need much! Take advantage of the savings you have while they're too young to know the difference and get them some things they'll need later or just scale back on what you probably want to buy--I know I always go over my budget with my kids because I just want them to have everything! Use these early years as a chance to save up and invest in their future, whether that be saving for a bigger yard or just saving for the next size car seat. I promise it will pay off in the end!
Have you ever had a newborn over the holidays? How did you handle the gift-giving? Feel free to comment with any suggestions you have or items you loved!
*DISCLAIMER: I was gifted items from DaVinci in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own. This post may also contain affiliate links. I will earn a small commission, at no added cost to you, when you purchase through my links. Your support is what keeps Like Honey up and running and is SO appreciated!*
When we found out we were pregnant with baby number three while in the thick of a complete home restoration, we knew we didn't want to overhaul an entire room just for a nursery. We already have a girl and a boy, so whichever gender we ended up with would ultimately just share a room with a sibling.
Now we're just weeks away from welcoming our second little boy and while we have lots of fun plans for a shared boys' room in the works, our newest arrival won't be needing a whole lot of space just yet. I didn't want to convert a whole bedroom into a shared room/nursery only to have to convert it back into a big boy room for two in another year, so I decided to take advantage of the little dormer nook in our master bedroom and turn it into a perfectly sized mini-nursery! Not only will it be super convenient to have our little guy right in our room, but it also allows me to maintain an aspect of minimalism--even using some items I already had in my home--which lowers my budget, too!
The key to making a mini nursery or nursery nook happen is finding the perfect crib. I searched high and low for something that wouldn't stray too far from a traditional nursery feel but not take up the same space as a full-size room. We ultimately chose the Kalani 4-in-1 Convertible Mini Crib from DaVinci and are SO happy with it! It has the quality and construction of a standard crib but its smaller scale allows it to fit in almost any space!
If you're worried about leaving room to grow, the convertible 4-in-1 option is perfect for you! Literally 4 beds in 1, it switches from infant crib to toddler bed to daybed to twin bed (with a conversion kit)! The size is really about the same as a standard crib in width, so the only thing you're really sacrificing is a little length. I expect to use this as our only crib until our son is ready to transition to a regular twin size. If you're still uncertain about what size crib will work for you, DaVinci also has a handy Crib Buying Guide that breaks down everything so simply!
I also want to mention how easy this was to put together! My husband had it ready to go in less than an hour and it feels so sturdy and secure! I'm really impressed by the craftsmanship, especially for the price (the shipping time was fantastic, too)!
Obviously, every nursery needs a crib, but what else do you really need? I know a lot of people swear by a glider or rocking chair for those late night feedings. DaVinci has a ton of beautiful glider options, but as I mentioned before, I wanted to create this nursery on a minimalist budget using some items I already had around the house. I actually got the idea to move this wooden rocker from Parker's old room to our master and love how well it matches to wooden crib! The rocker belonged to my grandpa, who passed away in 2013. I love that I am able to have a little family heirloom that is also functional in this precious space.
The last thing I thought to add was a small side table. I found this one in a coordinating color on Amazon for under $40 and plan to repurpose it in another space when our nursery days are over. It's the perfect size for holding a few necessities, a tiny lamp, and a sweet little photo. I know it will be so handy to have those items nearby during exhausting, long nights!
So, What Exactly Do I Need?
Truth be told, a nursery of any size doesn't need all that much. When you're working with a small space or going for minimalism, you need even less! Here's a breakdown of everything I put in our little master bedroom nursery nook with links for you to shop if you're in the market:
Mini Crib: We went with the Kalani 4-in-1 Convertible Mini Crib by DaVinci. It comes in multiple finishes and is just the right size to grow with my baby but still fit in tight spaces like this attic dormer in our master bedroom. We chose the finish "espresso", which is a perfect warm, dark wood tone.
Crib Mattress: DaVinci also offers several mattress options for all of their crib sizes, but we ended up going with this one.
Crib Sheets: When shopping for crib sheets for a mini crib, make sure you're getting the right size! Standard crib sheets will be too large, but "portable crib sheets" or "playard sheets" are the perfect fit! I got this pack of two for less than $10 here--super soft and comes in tons of color combos!
Accent Rug: Totally optional, but a small accent rug might help make your space feel more "finished", especially if you're just using a small corner of your room. Budget Tip: I plan to repurpose this rug on my front porch when we outgrow this space, meaning I can get two uses out of one product! This one was only $25 at Target.
Rocking Chair: This belonged to my grandfather and was handed down to me when he passed. It usually lives in the boys' room, which is where it will likely end up when we outgrow this space. I saved money and made the space a little more special by opting to use a chair we already had, but DaVinci offers a lot of beautiful gliders in various price points and styles if you're looking for a cute addition to your nursery!
Throw Pillow: Another optional item for most, but for me, I needed a little cushion to go with this rocking chair if I was going to be spending late nights in it! I tried to choose a color that accented the nursery but could also be moved to another space in the house later. I will either leave it with this chair when it moves back to the boys' room or find a place to set it out seasonally (the soft green color is perfect for the holidays!). I found this one at Target for only $20. The tassels are so fun!
Side Table: Functional and cute, this little table actually has a removable tray top! It was less than $40 on Amazon and will serve me so well during late night feedings/diaper changes. I set it up with a tiny lamp I already had and spray painted to match (I've linked some similar options below all under $20), a little decorative basket to hold all my "stuff", and a cute frame (also already owned, but linked a few similar below).
SHOP MY ENTIRE MINI-NURSERY
So what's your take on the nursery nook idea? Would you rather convert a whole space or does the minimalism of a mini space appeal to you? I'm personally loving how efficient this space is and can't wait to see it put to use in a couple of weeks when we welcome our little fella!
*This post contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase through my link, I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. This is what helps keep Like Honey up and running and I so appreciate your support!*
Anyone else tend to forget all about Walmart when it comes to seasonal and home decor? I mean, I know that they have it, but I just forget to browse through it when I begin to shop for my holiday decor. This year, I made an effort to see just what they had to offer and boy was I impressed!
There were so many great pieces of home decor that work all winter long (or all year long, for some!) and most felt like pretty decent quality for the price range! I don't think I found a single piece above $35 (aside from trees)! I decided to make it easier to shop, I'd break my finds down into a few cohesive themes and create shoppable images for you to click and go! Happy holiday shopping!
This might be my favorite collection! I love the pops of seasonal color but how it's all still pretty neutral and timeless. I'm always a fan of vintage vibes and these pieces all inspire me with their semi-primitive style.
Of course, you can't go wrong with neutrals! These items look great all winter long, so if you're not a fan of tearing down all the decor on December 26th, you can definitely get away with these styles for a few weeks--or months--more.
When in doubt, a classic red & green combo works in every home! I love a traditional color palette, but these pieces lean a bit farmhouse which lends a bit of character to the decor. You could easily stick to strictly plaids and solids to keep the look as timeless as possible, but I find a few whimsical items add a lot more joy.
Lastly, this black & white collection is the perfect mix of modern and farmhouse alike! The gingham trend is still going strong as far as I'm concerned and works great if you have a man in your life that decries any kind of glitzy or "feminine" holiday decor. Some of these items could really hang around all year!
Can you believe that none of these items costs more than $40? Even the trees are less than $100 and great quality! I'm thinking I need a little flocked tree in my bedroom this year. Can't wait to deck ALL the halls! Which collection is your favorite?
We LOVE soup around here (okay, maybe just me and my Crockpot, do) and one of my favorite fall traditions I've carried over from my own childhood is a big, steamy bowl of chili and a gooey grilled cheese right after trick-or-treating on Halloween. Nothing beats coming out of the cold to a warm soup bowl and sitting down to a night of festive movies! It's so easy to have simmering all day long and ready to go when you get home with that heavy bag of treats--just slap a few grilled cheese sandwiches on the griddle while the kids sort through their goodies and you'll be digging into your new favorite cold weather dish in no time!
CLICK THE IMAGE BELOW TO DOWNLOAD THE FREE PRINTABLE RECIPE CARD
In the spirit of full disclosure, my husband and I disagree when it comes to this dish. Growing up, this is what we had as our "chili", so that is what I call it. He deems it unworthy of a true chili (something about it lacking enough meat/beans/etc.) and has dubbed it "spicy tomato soup". I mean, I do omit the beans in my version of this recipe, even though my mom never did, but I never liked a chunky chili--chili is a soup, not a casserole! I do like to add in a bit of cheese when I'm feeling indulgent. Do you think this recipe qualifies as a chili? I titled my recipe "chili soup" as a sort of compromise, but, whatever you call it, I promise you'll be adding it to your regular rotation because it's delicious!
Can You Freeze It?
Since we're only a few weeks out from having baby #3 over here, I decided to go ahead and whip up a batch for my freezer. I simply cooked and crumbled the ground beef and added it to a gallon freezer baggie along with the other ingredients listed, sealed and double bagged it, and tossed it in the freezer. In a month, I'll thaw it (just enough to get it to slide out of the bag) and dump it in my slow cooker for an easy dinner I don't have to think about while trying to juggle THREE KIDS. Still wrapping my head around that one.
Do you have any Halloween traditions? What about other holidays? What meals are a standard for you during the festivities? I would love to hear about them in the comments! And let me know if you think this recipe counts as "real chili" or not! I can't be totally alone!
