Hello! My name is Jen and I write the blog, Honey Kennedy. I hope you’re all having a wonderful week — I’m sure most of you are starting to get a little crazy with the holidays coming up. I thought I’d share some things that I think would be lovely for lounging around the house. They’d also probably make fantastic gifts for some of the more difficult people on your list. I know this because I am, admittedly, one those difficult people! Thanks for having me, Victoria. Happy Holidays, everyone!

1. Boiled Apple Cider Syrup: This syrup sounds amazing. There is also ginger one, but the apple cider syrup sounds lovely for putting in cocktails, mocktails, baked goods and desserts right now. The Fall Apple Crush cocktail sounds delicious and there is even a stuffing recipe. For the record, the only way I will eat stuffing is if it is homemade with big chunks of stale crusty bread, so it doesn’t get mushy. Also, bunches of thyme and shallots are a must in my book.

2. Stoneware Striped Teapot: I’ve been losing my mind over the amazing new furniture and housewares line from Portland company, Schoolhouse Electric. I’ve started collecting the Blackline Stoneware and this beauty is next on my list. I’ve already picked up some of the mugs and latte bowls and I’m over the moon about them. They’re so durable and classic.

3. Pendleton The Portland Collection Blanket: I’m crazy about this gorgeous wool blanket. It even comes with a handy leather harness strap to carry it around easier. I also love the other Portland Collection blanket from Pendleton with the mustard trim. They’re both perfect!

4. Portland’s 100 Best Places To Stuff Your Faces: What’s better than lounging around reading about places you can go eat once you leave the house? I’m excited to check this book out. I live in Portland and I have barely scratched the surface of all the yummy food we have in this town. (photo via Alder & Co. ♥)

5. The Adler Sofa: Like I said, I’ve been going cuckoo over the big new line from Schoolhouse Electric and this sofa is at the top of my want list. I admired it online and was then thrilled to be able to go sit on it at the beautiful new Schoolhouse Electric showroom. I didn’t want to get up! I just wanted to go home, get a book and a blanket and camp out on the deep, lovely velvet masterpiece. SO COMFY!

6. Trotski & Ash Recipe Calender: I love the recipes that the Australian ladies behind Trotski & Ash, Sarah Trotter and Romy Ash, come up with. This calender has beautiful photographs by Lauren Bamford and includes recipes that you can easily pull out and save. These will sell fast! Find HERE.

Lace and tulle patterns keep this ASOS dress ($86) sweet and lighthearted, but the intricate detailing is perfect for Ez’s eye for design. When paired with glamorous earrings ($30) and edgy booties ($25), she’ll be dressed to kill… softly, of course.

Throw in a metallic and black clutch ($63) for those snazzy business cards and a swipe of red lipstick? Gorgeous.

Happy conference-ing, Ez! See you there!

until next time, xo erin, design for mankind.

have y’all have heard the buzz around the design community this week?! ez at creature comforts has simply outdone herself. ez always creates beauty around her, with her blog and her down-loadable DIY crafts, and all those pretty photos! but now she’s bringing us her own magazine, gifted, and just in time for the gift-giving season! although her gifted ideas extend way beyond the holidays and make giving definitely better than receiving all year long.

gifted is fully and fantastically loaded with holiday decorating and gift giving ideas (including a blogger’s gift guide – thanks for including me, ez!), tons of diy gift projects and plenty of pretty and down-loadable (which means free!) wrapping ideas and gift tags to give your holiday gift-giving a personal and homemade touch. pop on over to creature comforts to visit the complete issue of gifted. it’s gorgeous!

Hello everyone, it’s ez again from creature comforts!  I’m excited to have the chance to share this fun little free printable/project with you today.  Thanks to Victoria for inviting me to be a part of her lovely blog again! I designed these with the holidays in mind, but you could use them any time.  They add such a festive feeling to your tabletop/home.  PLEASE NOTE: this project was created for use with battery operated “candles” only.  Please do not use actual candles.

[ Download the printable file here. ]

Supplies Needed:

• Color Printer (for printing the file…although these look great printed in black & white too)
• Standard Copy Paper
• Scissors
• Tape (double-sided will work best, but standard scotch tape is fine as well)
• Battery Operated Tea Light “Candles” (these can be found in home decor/craft stores or online).

Directions:

1. Print the free candle wraps out on standard copy paper and cut out along the faint dotted gray lines.  Gather your supplies.
2. With decorative side up, begin wrapping paper around your tea light.  A small bit of double-sided tape between your paper and the base of your candle may be useful to you.
3. Once your paper is wrapped snugly around the entire candle, carefully trim off excess paper.  Be sure to leave a 1/2 inch overlap for sealing.  Secure with tape (double-sided will probably look best, but I used regular in my tutorial image).
4. Repeat steps 1-3 with remaining candles/decorative paper.  You can use any leftover paper for place cards (read below for a few more ideas).
5. Turn your candles on and celebrate!

Bonus tip: Extra pieces of paper can be used for place-cards, or you can print your sheet onto cardstock and create invites, mini note flats and more. Have fun — xox Ez

[ thanks again to guest blogger Ez from Creature Comforts! ]

flickr links from top – left to right:

• Vintage Candy Bag – Fine Little Day
• Salt and Pepper Picnic Dress – ModCloth
• Dala Lip Balm – MOR Cosmetics
• Hello Letterpress Flat + Envelope in Strawberry – Paper Source
• Night Prism Necklace – Banana Republic
• Verbena Square Pillow – Pillows and Throws
• Yvette Cut Out Heels by Loeffler Randall – Refinery29
• Untitled Art – Anna Emilia

[ thanks again to guest blogger Ez from Creature Comforts! ]

Hello there everyone!  It’s Ez from Creature Comforts.  I’m so delighted to be here sharing a guest post with you all today.  A big thanks to Victoria for inviting me!  Since I spend a HUGE portion of my days browsing through etsy I thought it might be fun to show you some of the most recent treasure I’ve unearthed.  I love the bright pops of yellow mixed in with the warm neutrals.  Golden yellow feels like just the right thing to brighten up the graying days of Fall.  Don’t you think?!  I hope you have a gorgeous day.  xox Ez

Etsy links from top – left to right:

• Recycled Print Paper Garland – Linea
• Lola Don’t Lose it Cushion – Dottie Angel
• Nomad Cowl in Ash – Seed Knits
• White Birch Veneer Bow – Christine Buckton Tillman
• Mackenzie Gold Ring with Black Diamonds – Macha
• Zip Wavy Pleats in Golden – Yorktown Road
• Snowlight I – NaoChina
• Victoria Cigar Co. Art Print – Dolan Geiman

[ thanks again to guest blogger Ez from Creature Comforts! ]