The Best Retailers for Christmas Decor Vibes

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[Michaels] [Target] [CB2] [West Elm][RossTJMaxxMarshallsHomegoods] [RossTJMaxxMarshallsHomegoods] [Thrifting][Nordstrom]

The holiday season is definitely upon us and at the midpoint of November, decorating is way too early for some and too late for others. The debate of does Christmas season begin as soon as Halloween ends continues.

I jumped into the holiday spirit a little early this year. It's not because I thought that decorating midway through November was wrong, I just can be a last-minute person (lol). A goal of mine this year is to be more intentional about curating happiness. But! Who knew that decorating session would spark this much joy.

Simultaneously as I am getting the holiday itch, like the marketing wizards they are, my favorite retailers filled my inbox with holiday reminders and more importantly coupons! Successful marketing yes, but I took it as a confirmation to grab decor immediately and throw it up.... and I did. I'm officially a Christmas tree up in November type of gal and I love it here!

No matter where you fall with Christmas shopping timing, having Holiday décor go tos is essential for setting your perfect vibe. Check out this list of stores and online retailers who are doing justice by the holiday season!

The Best Christmas Decor Shops for Vibes!

Michaels:

Lux Scale: $$

Michaels came out the gate strong with their Christmas tree sale where most of the trees and Christmas décor were 40 and 50% off! I paid $169 for a pre-lit flocked artificial tree that was originally $335 and it is beautiful. In addition to the tree steal, I grabbed some tree ribbon, festive candles, signage, a black Santa, and materials to DIY a wreath & centerpiece.

Target:

Lux Scale: $-$$$

Target simply gets it right every year and for every occasion. This Holiday shop giant has all of your celebration essentials from trees to dinner fixings. Target wows every time with their Christmas accessories that range in price from budget-friendly to soft lux. Look at how I mixed and matched their budget-friendly accessories and their soft lux pieces together! I also grabbed my bomb tree star and some ornaments from here!

CB2

Lux Scale $$-$$$$

CB2 is a modern glam treasure! The whole vibe is an experience and just makes you feel elevated shopping with them if that makes sense. Most designers (and designers at heart) are aware of the high-quality offerings CB2 carries and when it comes to holiday décor, they are top tier! I have a few things I’m about to push send on in my cart! Check them out below!

West Elm

Lux Scale $$-$$$$

If Target and West Elm were under the same company, they would be the Gap and the Banana Republic of the company. West Elm is definitely the elevated, more focused Target (lol). When I say I’m about to get some statement décor pieces I mean from here. The crisp, quality look is worth the money. See the pieces I ordered recently to make a statement in my space. I can’t wait until they get here!

Ross/TJ Maxx/Marshalls/Home Goods

Lux Scale:$-$$

I grouped these retailers together because… well yall know why right?! (IYKYK)

I enjoy shopping at Ross, TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and Homegoods because of the price of course (they are discount stores), but because I always leave with something unique feeling! These stores are perfect for someone like me who loves placing select pieces together to create eclectic Christmas scenes. I grabbed ornaments, a tree skirt, and a wood centerpiece elevator!

Thrifting

Lux Scale:$-$$

You will find some of the most unique pieces to complete your Christmas décor by thrifting. Grab a vintage teacup set to complete a Christmas brunch table or classic figurines to fill the gaps in a Christmas scene. You have to have patience and a little vision to navigate the thrift stores so prep yourself with an idea list f things you are looking for.

Nordstrom

Lux Scale:$$-$$$$

The best place to get Nordstroms mature but cute holiday décor selection is on their website. The selection is much better their! Their holiday hosting collection is a high-maintenance host dream! Its quality, its luxury, its aesthetics… it’s everything! And guess what?! They carry the black-owned Estelle Colored Glassware and you know I threw it in my online cart right?! Take a look at them!

What are your favorite Christmas Decor Shops? Tell me below in the comments!

Red Winerita

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[The Red Winerita] [Ingredients] [Process] [Tips] [With Vibes, Products]

Check out High Tea & Happy Hour's quick & easy go-to Red Wine Winerita recipe!

On one fine day, I was running behind while preparing to host and realized I had not thought out a cocktail for that evening’s shindig. This winerita recipe came down to me not being able to pick between wine and tequila (lol) AND me throwing the kitchen sink in a dispenser. Now I know that I did not create the concept of the winerita but I’m owning it with this one.

the Red Winerita…

about 20 servings | makes a 5.3 qt. dispenser

Ingredients

64 oz Apple Juice

32 oz Pomegranate Juice

750 ml Shiraz Wine (or your favorite red wine)

375 ml White Tequila (clear)(I used Espolon Blanco)

8 oz Triple Sec

4 oz Ginger Liqueur

2 Sliced Green Apples

1 Sliced Lime

4-6 Cinnamon Sticks

5.3 qt. Glass Dispenser

Process

• Place the glass dispenser in the freezer for 30 minutes…

• Add the fruit and cinnamon sticks to the dispenser…

• Add all the alcohols/liqueurs listed followed by the apple and pomegranate juices…

• Give the drink a good stir, add the lid to the dispenser, and then refrigerate for at least 2 hours to 24 hours to allow the Red Winerita’s flavors to be released…

• Enjoy chilled!

Tips

• The Red Winerita will last in the refrigerator for 5 days.

• If the red wine tastes delicious by itself, it will most likely be delicious in this drink too!

• To add a slightly different tart flavor, add cranberry juice instead of pomegranate juice.

• Play with the different types of flavors you add to your winerita! Try pomegranates, oranges, rosemary, strawberries, basil, etc.

With Vibes, Products Seen Here

Glass Bottle Reuse (Part 1): Food/Drink Table Signs (Easy)

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[Did you know?] [Overview] [Materials you will need] [Step 1] [Step 2] [Step 3] [Step 4] [Step 5] [Tips] [With Vibes Products]

Who wouldn’t love cute bottle signs that help you avoid the repetitive question of, “What is this dish/drink?” all night! As a host, setting your food & drink table vibe with elements that are aesthetically pleasing, functional, and fresh is essential and this DIY Glass Bottle Reuse handles all three!

With just a few materials, you can turn your old bundle of bottles into much-needed cuteness on your buffets and happy hour tables.

did you know…

According to the EPA, only 3.1 million tons of the 12.3 million tons of the glass produced in 2018 was recycled (That’s only 31.3%!). This leaves a remainder of 62% of the glass produced that year or about 28 billion glass bottles and jars to decompose over 4,000 to 1 million years.

Now, this is just a snippet of the facts, and it is very easy to fall down a rabbit hole about the recycling discrepancies in this country and even in your city. But if you are like me, you are looking for ways to help and these suggestions should make you feel better about where your glass bottles are going:

• Do the glass bottle DIY described in this post! Repurposing the bottle in your home will probably take fewer resources and energy than it would to drop it off at a facility.

• Look for a recycling program in your city! In 2020, Philadelphia almost doubled its fee to the taxpayer for Waste Management. With this increase, the city is implementing measures for fewer recyclables to go to the incubator.

• Look for local organizations that repurpose glass! I ran across Remark Glass in Philadelphia who is a zero-waste certified organization that accepts glass donations for their creations.

overview…

This Glass Bottle Food & Drink Table Signs DIY is so easy and takes so little materials that you will want to repurpose bottles often! Part 1 of this DIY series allows you to customize your bottles to fit your vibe and your table with little effort.

materials you will need…

• Reusable Chalkboard Labels: I used these! Feel free to grab the size you want!

• Chalkboard Pens: I grabbed these to have a variety in color.

• Decorative Stickers (optional): These are from Michaels!

• A bin large enough for your bottles: This one is from Target.

• Wool Pad: I used the wool side of this sponge.

• Baking Soda

• Boiling Water

• Butter Knife

• Cloth for drying

Bottle embellishments:

Candle Sticks

Fresh/Faux Flowers

Pampas grass

Long Matches/ Incense

Etc.

step 1…

Prep your materials! Boil enough water to submerge the label in the bin (don’t pour the water yet!). Place your bin in a sink or tub then sprinkle the baking soda in it. I used about a cup to a cup and a half of baking soda for 2 bottles. Carefully pour your hot water into the bin.

step 2…

Carefully place your glass bottles into the bin and let them soak for 10 minutes. If your bottles have labels on multiple sides, carefully turn the bottle to submerge the other label and let soak an additional 10 minutes.

step 3…

While your bottles are soaking, prepare your chalkboard labels by inking them with your chalkboard pens. This is your opportunity to let your vibe shine! Add cute and creative names of your dishes and drinks being careful not to smudge!

step 4 (for wine bottles)…

At this point, your bottle may have a chalky appearance and that’s fine! Start to peel back the label and it should come off fairly easy. For any remaining bits and pieces, use the wool pad in a circular motion to clean your bottles under warm water. Dry them with a clean cloth. Allow your bottles to cool before moving on to the next step!

step 4 (liquor bottles)…

Now you’ve pulled the label back on your liquor bottle but some (or all) of the glue from the label remains. Use the non-serrated side of a butter knife to remove the excess glue. Then follow up with the wool pad, scrubbing the bottle in a circular motion. Dry them with a clean cloth. Allow your bottles to cool before moving on to the next step!

step 5…

Apply your dried chalkboard labels and stickers! Then set them up with your embellishments and enjoy!

tips…

• Arranging your bottle selection could really set the style. For example, if I want a softer aesthetic, I may choose bottles that have a round profile. Another example is when I try to put less emphasis on the bottles in the set-up I go with clear bottles as opposed to green or amber. It’s all about the vibe you want to set.

• If you can plug your sink to hold the hot water instead of using a bin, go for it!

• Take your time when making your labels! If you are a perfectionist like me, this step may come with some frustration (lol), but thank goodness for reusable labels. You can wipe them clean with a clean damp cloth and start over if you need to. Also, watch your wrist for smudging!

• If your wine/liquor bottles are full and you would like to change the label, simply swap out the boiling hot water for room temperature water and soak the bottles for 30 minutes.

• These bottles do an amazing job of adding cuteness to food/drink tables, bookcases, kitchen islands, etc.!

With Vibes Products Seen Here...