There's nothing cozier during the holidays than a warm cup of homemade hot cocoa, and my mama's recipe makes it extra special.

There's nothing quite like the magic of a beautifully decorated Christmas tree to set the tone for the holiday season, and I'm so excited to finally reveal my 2024 Christmas tree.

I've rounded up a few of my favorite cozy Christmas home decor finds for you from Target & Walmart, friend.

One thing about me- I'm always going to find new cozy home decor to share with you. I have a love for collecting clocks & anything having to do with gardening- so these two new finds were perfect & I knew you would enjoy them too

I haven't sat down to write a new blog post in quite some time & I just want to start by saying... it feels so good to be writing again. If you follow me on Instagram, you may have heard in my stories that I'm writing a home decor book- YAY! Which is such a blessing. I don't have a release date yet but as soon as I do, you will be the first to know friend. 

I'm all about using elements from nature to decorate our home & with spring right around the corner & a few new finds... I decided it was the perfect time to add a few touches of spring.

The holiday season brings with it the enchanting aroma of fresh evergreen, and what better way to infuse your home with that festive spirit than by incorporating Christmas tree clippings into your decor? I'm sharing my favorite tips and tricks to make the most of these natural wonders, ensuring they stay vibrant and aromatic throughout the holiday season.

There's nothing I love more than supporting a small business- there is so much love that goes into crafting each piece. And I truly feel like you can feel that love when you use that piece to decorate your home- it adds a unique touch that something bought from the store just cannot compete with. I will always chose handmade over store bought, any day.

There's something so special about fall... the warmth & coziness after a busy summer are always so comforting.

I love neutrals but there's just something about the bold colors of fall that are just so cozy & such a necessity for me each season. While I keep the inside of our home based on warm tones of orange, cream, brown & greens... I like to keep our front porch a true welcoming focal point as you're walking into our home.

I've always wanted an island in our kitchen. I dream of a wooden antique island one day in our forever home- but I'm all about making your home cozy for the season you're in. It was tricky finding something narrow enough for this space to still be functional.

If you're looking for a simple way to add a touch of spooky to your mantel this Halloween- then, this blog post is just for you. I've always wanted a large piece of simple Halloween art that went with the country cottage vibe of our home

I love sharing simple ways that you can decorate your home for fall. Sometimes, the simple touches- added in with your everyday home décor makes for a beautifully cozy space in your home to enjoy throughout the falls season.

We have been working on this space for a year now & it's not quite done yet but it is getting there. Originally here where our veranda is- was just grass... we had the concrete poured & then Garrett & his friend, Dave, built it together. It was definitely a labor of love but is a space that we enjoy daily around here. 

It's no secret how much I love antiquing. I have my favorite local antique shops I frequent, when we are out of town/country on vacation- I HAVE to find at least one antique shop. I also love finding antiques on Facebook Marketplace- but recently, I have fell in love with antiquing on eBay.

I'm so excited to get a head start this year on sharing my favorite fall & Halloween home décor + DIYs with you. I'm love spooky season & I love decorating for it even more. A while back, Pottery Barn offered this idea of a, "ghost in a cloche" & I fell in LOVE with it & wanted to recreate something similar to share with you. Plus, who doesn't love a good spooky DIY?! I'll keep this blog post short & sweet so you can get to crafting, friend. 

I love finding a great dupe & these terracotta pumpkins are the perfect Pottery Barn dupe. At $14.99 each- it makes them a more affordable option when it comes to decorating.

A few months ago, I decided I wanted to paint our all white kitchen cabinets. While the all white is beautiful, I wanted a change that was a bit more moody & gave off more of a European cottage vibe. I decided to paint the top kitchen cabinets Bedford by Fusion Mineral. I absolutely loved it but I kept the bottom cabinets white & I was ready for something a bit more my style.

My blog posts are all about décor inspiration for you home & I hope this blog post brings some inspo to your hearts if you're looking for patriotic ways to decorate. But, instead of writing a long blog post... I'm going to use the rest of this blog post to share with you my favorite quotes to remember on Memorial Day.

I love me some moss + candles + terracotta but what I love EVEN more... is a 5 minute DIY. If you're looking to replace your standard taper candle holders, I've got you friend. These were so easy to make & literally took me 5 minutes for all 3. 

I've always been passionate about gardening- it has to come from my German heritage & background. I remember always being amazed at all the beautiful plants & flowers my Oma always had around her home. Anything she touched always grew beautifully, she had the magic touch- every single time.

I've been brainstorming & looking for a new chandelier for our dining room area for a few months. I absolutely love the look of French empire chandeliers. Empire chandeliers began in Medieval France- in the 17th century, they were transformed into lavish decorations for royals & kings. They have their roots in the ancient world & I think that's what makes them so cozy to me- is because of their history.

I absolutely love changing around furniture- not only is a cost friendly way to change up your space but switching things up always makes me feel better. It always is an instant mood booster & I love all things cozy- & switching things up every now & then is always cozy to me.

I absolutely love being outside- if the weather is nice, that's where you will be sure to find me. Either swimming in the pool, in the shade reading my favorite book or tending to my flowers & gardens. 

I've been wanting to write this blog post to answer a few questions I get about what presets I use to edit my photos. Believe it or not, I use my iPhone for 99% of the photos I share here & on my Instagram (@krystlemarienickels) - I also edit them on my phone as well using the free Lightroom app.

If you follow me on Instagram (@krystlemarienickels) then you were able to see my two day series on our Christmas tree & how to style your own vintage Christmas tree this holiday season. But, if you missed out... no worries! I decided to write this quick blog post to share with you all of my favorite ways to bring a little vintage style to your tree this Christmas. 

Since it is one of my most frequently asked questions this holiday season- I wanted to write a quick blog post this holiday season on my wreath I have above our mantel. I also have it in our dining room but that will be a blog post for next week.

Decorating the Christmas tree is always one of my favorite things to do during the holiday season- I usually spread it out over a few days so I can fully soak it all in & enjoy each ornament as I place it on the tree. I have a lot of vintage ornaments that I've collected over the years & each one holds a special place in my heart with lots of memories of how I found them & came across them. 

If you're looking for an inexpensive DIY project for this week or this weekend- I have the perfect crafting project for you... dried orange garland. It is super simple to make, using only a few things. It looks absolutely gorgeous when paired with greenery & it also looks great to accent table settings, centerpieces, wreaths & more. Not to mention, it makes your house smell amazing as you are drying them out in the oven too!

I'm all about quick & easy décor, especially centerpieces. Centerpieces are often the focal point of your dining table, coffee table, or any space it is placed in.

If you've been following my blog posts & Instagram so far this holiday decorating season- you know I'm doing a Scandinavian style Christmas throughout our home this year. In my last blog post, I talked about ways to bring the Scandinavian style to your home & what it's truly about... bringing the outdoors in.

This year I decided to go with a more Scandinavian feel for our Christmas décor. Scandinavian Christmas décor is best known for it's natural & neutral decorating features like: 

One of my favorite ways to bring character & contrast to our home is by mixing metals. Mixing metals is such a fun & easy way to bring a vintage look to your home- like you've been collecting things for years & years. And, you don't have to shy away from it. I love mixing dark brass with oiled brushed bronze & black. These colors all three together make a bold statement. Be sure to mix your metals evenly

For this super simple fall dining table centerpiece- all you need are some pumpkins, candles & your favorite fall florals. Of course, placemats accent the table wonderfully & tablecloths can bring an extra contrast of color & texture to your dining table.

A few months ago, I decided I wanted two-toned cabinets. I feel like they bring such a classic look to any space- in such an easy way. And the best part? It's easily changeable. The original color I wasn't 100% feeling but I lived with it for a few months to see if I may change my mind. Don't get me wrong, it's still a beautiful color just wasn't the exact color & vibe I was going for.

This was such a GREAT find on Amazon. I was super excited when it came & I'm impressed with the retro antique look & the beautiful cream color. It truly is a great Smeg dupe.