this emerald party outfit, because it's a different take on the usual red attire.

this vintage ornament wreath, because I see these kinds of wreaths popping up everywhere and I am obsessed.

these eggnog cinnamon rolls, because I'll be making them on the morning of Christmas Eve.
this Christmas cake, because I love the natural decorations.
these sparkling holiday baubles.
these birch ornaments, because I love natural ornaments on real Christmas trees.
this nail polish, and any other red or gold sparkly nail polish this time of year.
this simple yet beautiful holiday greeting card.
this equally simple yet beautiful window decoration.

In a perfect world, I would've uploaded holiday inspiration throughout the month of December. I would've loved to post my ideas for a White Christmas, a Rustic Christmas, a Colorful and Modern Christmas, etc., however, not so unfortunately, I've been spending my Winter Break relaxing and spending time with family and friends instead.

I can't help but feel the stress of the holiday rush and all of the hustle and bustle that the season brings, even though I personally haven't had that much to stress about since exams have been over. I've enjoyed my blog feed which has, since before Thanksgiving, been absolutely overflowing with beautiful gift guides and holiday style guides and appetizing recipes and DIYs galore. Truly, I have. With that being said, I didn't feel the need to add more of those kinds of posts to the blogger-sphere. I wanted to allow this space to provide the kind of silence and calm which Christmas really should bring, as I try to cultivate those feelings for myself.

So here is my one teeny tiny post of holiday inspiration, a short summary of my favorite bits and pieces of inspiration I've seen on my feed and Pinterest this season.
I wish you all a holiday that is calm, peaceful, merry, and bright.

my Pinterest.

evergreen.

I'm not in love with these pictures by any means, but my family and I took a trip to the mountains to buy our Christmas tree like we do every year. The trip seems a little excessive just to get a tree, but I've grown to look forward to it and I can't imagine doing anything different with my own kids one day. I love going to an actual farm where the trees are guaranteed fresh, and I also love seeing the more rural parts of the mountains dotted with dairy cows and old general stores. We had to go a little later in the season than we had hoped because of my exam schedule, but I'm glad I was able to go with my family this year.

christmastime in the city.

I've been home for winter break for about a week. I have been spending a lot less time on the internet, answering texts, and checking email. It's been nice to be able to relax, spend time with family, and unplug.

I spent my 12/12/12 with my dad in Downtown Charlotte. We walked around downtown, got an Eggnog Latte, enjoyed the Christmas decorations, and went to the Mint Museum. It was great. I love going into art museums with my dad. We like to take our time browsing and reading the descriptions, and the same pieces tend to catch our eyes. I'm lucky to have so many interests to share with my dad.

paris of the south.

Walking downtown at night this time of year has made me realize why this city is nicknamed "Paris of the South."

Also, I am obsessed with the French Broad Chocolate Lounge (top photo) as well as Dobra Tea (bottom photo). 

Asheville, you're doing it right.