Festive Traditions Christmas Holiday Table and Fireplace Mantel

Hello my friends! Welcome to Holiday 2018 here at the cottage. This is my first Christmas project of the season and I’m sharing a simple, yet festive holiday table, and a rustic fireplace mantel with you! 

When the holidays are over, it always feels like it’ll be forever till’ they come back around, and then someone hits fast forward and… zip, here we are again. Are you ready? 

I am so pleased to let you know I’ll be partnering with Better Homes & Gardens at Walmart thru June 2019! Like the new blush chairs I added to The Little Cottage (our default guest house), I want to really stretch and shares some of the great range that they have to offer. I’ll be adding Christmas down there soon and I can’t wait to share it all sprinkled with holiday cheer! Our son Austin might prefer more of a lodge look when he comes home, like I did last year, but he is such a good sport. So pink it is! haha 

Today though, we are at the main house (I’m going to try to do better at making that clear, as some of you foxes have gotten a bit mixed up in the past) and I’m  showcasing some of the wonderful Better Homes & Gardens seasonal goodies in store for us at Walmart. 

You’ll be able to find these items I’m highlighting today both online & in-stores. I did both. I’ll make sure to link everything at the bottom of the post, as I always do.

Now let’s talk tradition!

We have several, but today I’m focusing on the holiday table. My mom did it for us, and I’ve kept it going for my little family.

Christmas Breakfast

It’s one of our biggest traditions, and no matter what we serve, it always starts with a festive holiday table and “the good dishes”.

I always set the table the night before Christmas so we are ready to make breakfast in the morning and we can relax, and enjoy the meal and each other. This tradition is even more important as Austin has gotten older, since some of the magic of the holiday fades a bit with no little ones in the house. I’m a bit early here so I can show you. 

Something I really love about the Better Homes & Gardens Heritage dinnerware collection is that you can add-on to is over time. I look forward to seeing the new tweaks each year. I noticed while shopping that the small plates were a Stag, a Car and a Wintery tree this go around. Last year I chose the Fawn and the Snowman.

Last year, I bought the bowls and the salad/bread plates (or more accurately at our house, the breakfast pastry plates!

This year, I bought the full sized coordinating dinner plates! They have serving pieces too, and I may get those as well, but for now, I’ve got a full service for four.

I purposefully didn’t use flowers in my centerpiece for a few reasons.

• Not everyone has disposable income and can buy something that doesn’t last.

• You may not have access to fresh flowers, especially during Winter. 

• I wanted to keep it simple enough that it’s something really easy to duplicate.

• Again and again if you love it! 

For the centerpiece you see on my table, I added a vintage grain sack remnant I bought when I visited Alabama. I knew it would be so versatile (and it fit in my carry-on).

Next, I used this generously sized new Better Homes & Gardens lantern I bought in-store! I love the washed wood tone, and the metal keeps it casual. Just right for my home. I stuffed it with a faux Christmas tree and added a little faux snow too. Next, I laid a jingle bell garland out, and tossed a few tiny vintage ornaments down. Very simple and un-fussy. 

Speaking of lanterns.

I kind of have a thing for them.

They just always seem to be that perfect little something! Like the galvanized ones I bought back in October that look like houses! 

Then, I found these great black lanterns, which funnily enough, I’d been searching and searching for a black set!

Which led to a stay of execution for the chalkboard wall over the fireplace. Again. This thing has all the lives I tell you! 

If you see the black metal lanterns in the stores, I switched out the bow for a black & white buffalo check on mine. Easy-peasy! 

I did start on a tiny farm table refresh, but the top was as far as I got when I got hit by a cold bug. If a holiday passed and I wasn’t sick I tell ya. But I have a home, and it’s hard to complain when we have so much to be thankful for! In fact… 

As the Christmas cheer overflowed into the living room.

By way of our bench that stays close for extra seating… 

You may spy the super cute and extra cozy black & white buffalo throw we all loved so much last year! 

It’s back in stock, and I picked one up to share with one of YOU*!

*Details to follow at the end of the post. 

Oh and did you notice the Deer pillow? I know. Had to have it. What’s that? You need one too? hehe. I ordered that online, you’ll find the link at the end of the post, as always. 

My tree isn’t up yet, but I’ve made room. You may have noticed things are shifted around. That’s the major hurdle so it should be up soon. 

I may have squealed a little when the metal stags were shared as making a re-apperance. Guys they are so cute! And the price it like a third of any I’ve ever seen! They come in silver & gold.

And the “cut crystal” look candles are super nice! They come in several gorgeous colors, but this deep green called to me. I want to do a very natural, casual, laid-back holiday look this year. And these are just the vibe I was thinking of. 

Did you spy my latest holiday tradition hanging around? 

Yep, I did it… 

We’ve got an Elf On The Shelf. When Austin comes home for Thanksgiving, we’re going to see how keen he is on having HER around. I bought a girl. I mean, I’m already outnumbered so… 

It’s funny, Austin was all grown up when these came out and I felt like I missed out on something so fun! And if he’s ‘meh‘ about it, I’ll just donate it to the family we recently passed on his queen sized bed to. He loves having the guest cottage all to himself, so gifting it to a family that really needed it made much more sense than having it sit unused. 

Whew! I had a lot to say. If you read all that, thank you!! Y’all know I get wordy. And I LOVE you for letting me be me. I’ve always been a talker and that is never going to change. 

So about that buffalo check blanket – Please make sure you are following me on my social channels. Especially Facebook [here] and Instagram [here]. It’s easy to do quick, casual giveaways there and I’m sure that is where I will host giving the blanket away. And I’ve got more little “thank-you’s” coming your all’s way! Between my blogging anniversary, the holidays, and my almost 50th birthday, I want to gift YOU and share with YOU! xoxo Shannon 

Better Homes & Gardens Shopping Links:

• Elf On The Shelf [here]

• Better Homes & Gardens Black Lantern With Holiday Sprig [here]

• Better Homes & Gardens Wood And Metal Lantern [here]

• Better Homes & Gardens Galvanized Metal House Lantern [here]

• Better Homes & Gardens Winter Deer Pillow [here]

• Better Homes & Gardens Seasons Greetings Pillow [here]

• Better Homes & Gardens Buffalo Check Throw [here]

• Better Homes & Gardens Cut Glass Look 2-Wick Candle (all colors) [here]

• Better Homes & Gardens Heritage Dishes [available in-store]

• Better Homes & Gardens Heritage Divided Dish [here] (it’s over 50% off!)

• Better Homes & Gardens Heritage Wax Warmer [here] (shown below)

• I’ll be using these later in the season 16 pc PINE CONE dishes are 50% off [here]

They will pop up as out of stock, buy aren’t – Let the page load, scroll down, and select the PINE CONE pattern. 

Looking for MORE holiday table decorating inspiration? 

Click on the images below to visit the posts!

You can see how I hung the Galvanized House Lanterns in this post. 

And these metal x-back farmhouse chairs are an amazing value, and surprisingly comfy!

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