5 Sweet DIY Valentines Craft Ideas

Valentines Day is tomorrow and some of you may be looking for last minute ideas on ways to surprise your significant other with something special. Here are 5 simple DIY projects that are thoughtful and original. Feel free to share any other special DIY's you know of for this special day!

Button Burlap Heart Canvas 

 IMAGE CREDIT AND DIY INSTRUCTIONS VIA SOUTHERN LOVELY

 Romantic & Sweet Deck of Cards

VIA CRAFSTER

 Date Night Cards

VIA BROWZER

 Seasons of Love Cards 

VIA THE FINISHING TOUCH

 Key Homemade Valentine

VIA REAL SIMPLE

Hello 2014!

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I hope you all had a beautiful New Years Eve filled with fun, good company and lots of champagne! We had a great time ringing in the new year and look forward to a day of relaxation today. 2013 was a great year and I am truly grateful for all of the blessings God has given me - I give all the glory to Him! I'm looking forward to jumping into a brand new year and can't wait to see what exciting things are in store for me and my family over the next 12 months. What are you looking forward to most in 2014? Cheers to you and here's to wishing you a shiny new year filled with lots of love, happiness and good health. xoxo!

Christmas Decor :: Inspiration for Your Home

The Christmas season is in full swing and I can't wait to get our decorations and tree up! Although, with a 19-month old little boy, decorating in our apartment is going to have to be a little different this year. He's still puts everything in his mouth and wants to break and destroy anything within reach, so I'm looking for some fresh ideas on decorations that can be hung or placed high up! Here are some of my favorites - hopefully you'll find some inspiration for your home here too. Have you decorated for Christmas yet? What's your ideas are you looking forward to trying out?

 We have a fake white tree, very similar to this one and I actually really love it! It's a great backdrop for changing up your ornament color scheme every year. 

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 So simple yet so stunning! I'd love to try this. 

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 Love this stunning wreath made of ornaments. This could be a fun and easy DIY project. 

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 We live on the second floor and have a huge window in the living room that faces out onto the street. How lovely would this be for people to spot while walking or driving by?! 

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 The wreath and mantle garland are simple and so pretty. Love the all-white stockings.

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 A branch hung with ornaments - a great alternative to a tree if you're limited on space!

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 A branch hung in front of a window, draped with star ornaments and pine needles. Such a sweet idea!

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Belle Cuisine :: Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes

Thanksgiving is just a week away and I'm sure many of you are either preparing to host dinner or visit family for the big day. We're going to my in-laws this year and I've been asked to bring a side dish. I've been searching Pinterest (and have probably spent way too much time doing so) for an amazing recipe to "wow" everyone at dinner. I've pinned several recipes that all sound promising...now I just have to decide which one to try and hope it turns out amazing! If you're in need of some creative side dish recipes, hopefully you'll find one here (or check out my Pinterest board for more ideas). If you have a recipe you'd like to share, please leave a link in the comments section! What are your plans for Thanksgiving dinner this year?

[Roasted Acorn Squash and Beet Salad]

[Wild Rice with Mushrooms]

[Green Beans with Bacon]

[Roasted Cauliflower with Dates & Pine Nuts]

[Pan Seared Brussels Sprouts with Cranberries and Pecans]

[Pan Roasted Fingerling Potatoes with Pancetta]

[Roast Pumpkin with Feta & Honey]

[Rosemary & Sea Salt Rolls in a Jar - this one is super easy!]

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Christmas Cards from Minted + Fabulous GIVEAWAY!

Whether you're ready or not, the holidays are right around the corner! Thanksgiving is in just a few weeks and Christmas is just 48 days away. To help you prepare for the exciting holiday season ahead, I've teamed up with the fabulous company Minted for an exciting giveaway. If you're not familiar with Minted, here's a little lowdown of the company and their mission: Minted is the world's premier marketplace for independent design. Our mission is to find exceptional artists and designers all over the world and bring their work to consumers who appreciate great design. They currently have minted designers that represent 43 countries! I love that they support and promote the work of a diverse community of independent designers.

I really enjoyed browsing through their huge selection of unique Christmas photo cards and invitations, which can be semi-customized to give you exactly what you want. I'm definitely going to be ordering our family Christmas card from Minted this year and you have the opportunity to do the same! They also have an amazing selection of announcements, stationary, party decor, art prints and more.

Details and such for the Giveaway:

1. Visit Minted right away and check out their site. Come back to belle maison and leave a comment about one of your favorite items and how you'd spend you $50 credit!

2. Extra entry for those who mention the giveaway on Facebook (@minted), Twitter (handle:@minted) and/or Pinterest! (#minted).

3. One lucky winner will be announced on Thursday, November 14th and will receive a $50 credit toward any purchase on Minted.com.

4. Please make sure I have a way of contacting you if you're the winner! If necessary, include a valid email address in the comment space or via email. GOOD LUCK!

Now start designing your Christmas card or holiday party invitations here!

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[ALL IMAGES HAVE BEEN SOURCED FROM MINTED]

Get Crafty With Love: Fun DIY Valentine's Ideas

Valentine's Day is one week from today, so if you're thinking about making some Valentine crafts for family, friends or the love of your life, here are some fun and easy (well, for the most part) DIY projects to show your love in a creative way! This round-up includes some cute ideas for kids and grown-ups :) Which one do you love? I'm totally doing #5!

1. DIY Heart Mason Jar - This super easy DIY craft is such a great idea! Change things up and customize the design with pink or red paint and different sized hearts or letters.

2. Felt Candy Hearts - If you can sew, this is a simple and inexpensive little craft to share your love with co-workers, your kids, or your child's classmates instead of the traditional paper Valentines.

3. Chocolate Love Notes - Fill a hand-stitched muslin bag with chocolates and hand written notes on all of the little things you love about the person you're giving it to!

4. Tiny Valentine Matchboxes - I love this idea! Purchase a bunch of matchboxes, empty the matches and wrap with fun paper, string, stickers, etc., and fill with candy! A great Valentine idea for your child's classmates.

5. Thumbprint Heart Magnets - These make the perfect gift for grandparents! I'm totally doing this with Luke for my parents and in-laws. Tiny fingerprints to make the shape of a heart = priceless!

6. Tiny Felt Envelopes with Mini Valentines - This is a really sweet idea that would be fun to give your best girlfriends / mom / sister...it could also hold a gift card to Starbucks, which is a great gift idea for V-Day!

7. 100 Hearts Garland - The idea behind this heart garland, created by EJ from Toddler Approved, was to cut out 100 felt hearts and every night after dinner have each person in the family share what type or service or kindness they did that day, then add a heart to the string. Isn't that a fabulous idea?!

Quote of the Week

"One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas Day. Don't clean it up too quickly." 

- Andy Rooney

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Can you believe it's Christmas Eve?! We returned home on Saturday after 10 days in Maui and I'm trying to get back in the Christmas spirit! Although there were Christmas trees along the boardwalk and festive decorations at our hotel, it just wasn't quite the same as being home for the holidays. The weather was beautiful and I spent the entire time in a bikini or sundress. I finally have a nice tan but will probably lose it quickly :( Anyway, it was nice taking a break from blogging while away - something I've never really done in the 4 1/2 years since I stared belle maison. I usually schedule posts ahead of time but there just wasn't enough time to get it all done. Today I feel relaxed, refreshed and excited to spend time with family! It's Luke's first Christmas, which makes this year that much more special. What do you have planned in the next few days? Wishing you a wonderful, fabulous and blessed Christmas! Cheers - xoxo Julie

Holiday Gift Guide: {10} Fun & Unique Gift Ideas

By the time you read this, I'll be in Hawaii, hopefully lying on the beach sipping a Mai Tai! I'm writing this post just after midnight on Tuesday...with a flight to catch at 9am...and I still need to finish packing and getting my stuff together! I had so many ideas for gift guides and holiday posts to share with you while away, but have just been way too busy to sit down and actually create them. That being said, today's post is a blend of 10 fun items that caught my eye while scouring some of my favorite online shops. I'd love one of each! Enjoy and I'll be popping in over the next week to say "Aloha." I'm in desperate need of a BREAK from everything! :) xoxo - Julie

 {SHOP THESE ITEMS}
1. Roccoco Teapot

2. Ikat Throw - Pink 

3. Owl Salt & Pepper Shakers  

4. La Sardina Metal Edition Camera - Beluga 
5. Cobochon Eternity Band 
6. Feline Scarf
7. Palamino Necklace
8. Colored Pencils & Brass Holder Set 
9. Jamie Young Seaglass Small Hurricane Set
10. Rebecca Minkoff Sienna Tote

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Holiday Gift Guide: Giving to those in Need

To kick off this week's Christmas Gift Guides, I wanted to highlight some fantastic charities and organizations to give back to. Of course we all have family and friends to buy gifts for, but another really special way to give is by touching someone else's life, even if it's just in a small way. I'm constantly reminding myself of how I need to volunteer more of my time and just get involved in something - there are so many people and places that need help! Whether it's a small (or large) donation, a new doll for a little girl, your time in a soup kitchen or shelter...every little bit counts and helps make this world a little better. I heard this quote by Mother Teresa the other day and that really got me thinking about helping others, "If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other." It feels so good to give to others in need, doesn't it? Even if we ourselves don't have much, there's always something we can give. I've rounded up several great organizations for you check out; (and if you're ever curious about a certain organization, check with CharityNavigator.org to make sure they're legitimate). What ways do you enjoy giving back? And please feel free to share the name / info on any charity you enjoy working with :) xoxo

 

Angel Tree offers assistance to prison inmates and their children during Christmas. They give the children gifts on behalf of the parents along with a personal message.

Samaritan's Purse - There are numerous ways to get involved, including Blessing in a Box / Operation Christmas Child, Crisis and Disaster Response, Children's and Medical Ministries and more. Go here to view a list of all ways you can give.

Wounded Warrior Project - Their mission is to "Honor and Empower Wounded Warriors. An amazing organization that vows to take care of our injured soldiers and their families.

Salvation Army -  There are several ways to give through the Salvation Army, including giving online to your community, donating clothing, volunteering and more.

All Hands Volunteers - They are focused on being the most effective organization at providing committed volunteers the opportunity to give immediate and sustainable help to communities in need and to those suffering in the wake of natural disasters. Right now they are focusing heavily on the victims of Hurricane Sandy.

Best Friends Animal Society - Don't forget about our furry friends! I love animals so much (especially cats :) and enjoy donating to charities that take care of them. This organization has a "no kill" mission and is dedicated to placing abandoned and needy animals in good homes. One great way to help is by becoming a "Guardian Angel" - click here for more info.

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Stella & Dot Holiday Trunk Show + Giveaway!

Welcome to the Belle Maison and Stella & Dot Trunk Show! My client Clara is a Stella & Dot Stylist and we both thought it would be fun for me to host a "virtual" trunk show for my fabulous and stylish readers to shop amazing jewelry and gifts just in time for the holiday season.

If you're not familiar, Stella & Dot is an amazing jewelry company that's often spotted in major magazines like Lucky, Elle and Vogue, and is a favorite among celebrities. They have incredibly unique pieces that range from simple and elegant to bold and glamorous. And the best part is everything is affordable! In addition to jewelry, they now carry fun accessories such as scarves, iPhone cases and clutches. If you need to check some people off your Christmas shopping list, there are a ton of great items for moms, sisters, friends...and maybe something special for yourself :). The show will continue through December 29th!

These are just a few of my favorite things from Stella & Dot...I LOVE their stuff! Also, keep in mind that there's a brand new “Stella Dollars” loyalty program that you might want to take advantage of: for every $50 spent in December, you can earn a $25 certificate to use January 3-10. Pretty amazing, right? So grab a cup of coffee or glass of wine, get comfy and start shopping! 

Details on entering: Visit the trunk show by clicking here, and then come back and leave a comment on your favorite piece(s) from Stella & Dot! For a double entry, tweet about the trunk show and giveaway on Facebook or Twitter (or both), please include @ModernChicHome and @Stelladot in your tweet! Winner will be announced on Friday, December 14th. Good luck and have fun!

Happy Thanksgiving!

 "Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving." 

 - W. T. Purkiser

[IMAGE SOURCE: KARIN LIDBECK]

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Wishing you a very Happy Thanksgiving today! God has blessed me in so many ways and I am grateful for all that I have - an amazing husband, a beautiful son, an awesome family, great friends, a roof over my head, food to eat, fabulous Belle Maison readers ;) and SO much more. Even in times of struggle and hardship I am thankful, because it's during those times I'm reminded of what's truly important in this life. I'm looking forward to gathering with my family at my mom and dad's house for some fabulous food, wine and time with the people I love the most. It's also my 6 1/2 month old son Luke's first Thanksgiving, which makes the day that much sweeter! Enjoy your day and eat, drink and be THANKFUL :) xoxo - Julie

Stylish & Festive Entertaining Ideas for Fall

Fall is a great time to entertain family and friends! Whether it's a festive cocktail party or a sit-down dinner, the cooler weather prompts cozy get-togethers with savory comfort food and delicious drinks. If you're hosting a gathering in the next month (Thanksgiving anyone?), you may find some fun inspiration for your next party in today's post. If you do have a party planned, feel free to share the details on what you're doing!

 

[ALL IMAGE SOURCES CAN BE FOUND VIA MY PINTEREST BOARD: FALL ENTERTAINING]