I always love it when the holidays are just around the corner! I think of all of the festive décor that pops up, sweater weather, and being warm and snuggly on the couch with a mug of hot chocolate. Of course, I always have trouble deciding what to gift loved ones during the holidays. This year, I’ve put together a list of items for the home for you to check out as you shop for family and friends this holiday season. There’s something for every budget here. Gifts Under $20 These items won’t break the bank and also work well for Secret Santa or White Elephant exchanges. Target Wondershop Christmas Stockings These holiday stockings from Target are the cutest! They come in a variety of colors so you can pick and choose any combination to your heart’s content. Personally, I love the red and patterned colors and think they really pop against our white fireplace. Hang these up in your own home or stuff these babies with all sorts of treats to gift loved ones! Target Threshold Glass Jar Candle in Spiced Gingerbread Cookie I love the Threshold brand at Target and their candles are no exception! There are so many scents to choose from; Spiced Gingerbread smells heavenly and is not too overwhelming but if that’s not your cup of tea, try Fresh Fraser, Christmas Velvet, or Apple Cinnamon Joy. Target Wooden Cheese Board Cheeseboards make great, inexpensive gifts for new homeowners. They always come in handy during the holidays when you want to lay out an array of fruit, cheese, or charcuterie for guests (or under the current climate maybe just for yourself and immediate family). This one from Target does the trick but if you’re looking to add a personal touch, there are many monogrammed options online. Gifts Between $25 to $50 When you want to spend a little more but still be within a decent budget. Target Chunky Knit Throw Blanket Chunky knit blankets are super popular right now and rightfully so! They’re perfect for when you want to snuggle next to the fireplace. These come in a variety of neutral colors that will work well with any living room décor. Target Faux Rabbit Fur Throw Pillow These faux fur throw pillows are so luxurious and soft. We like to mix and match ours, so we have a few laying on the couch and on our bed. Stack them against other pillows for added texture. There are different sizes to choose from as well. Cuisinart Cordless Wine Opener Make opening a bottle of wine a cinch with this easy to use tool! When you don’t want to deal with the hassle of using a traditional wine opener, this one makes popping bottles a breeze. Gifts $100 and over For when you want to splurge-YOLO! Le Creuset Round Wide Dutch Oven Dutch ovens are super versatile and a must have item for your kitchen. I love them for browning meats or simmering stews in cooler weather. These are on sale and hold about 6.75 quarts, ideal for everyday cooking. Choose from a variety of colors. Google Nest Learning Thermostat If you don’t already have this, you should get one! This device lets you program your temperature to different times of the day. It learns your habits and will adjust even if you forget; this is a great way to save on your heating bills during the cold winter months. We love the convenience and the fact that we can make adjustments anytime or anywhere with the app on our phones. Google Nest WiFi Routers (3-pack) Blanket your entire home in fast, reliable WiFi. These routers are fully integrated into the Google Home app within your home. The 3-pack has what’s called a “mesh network” that amplifies each of the points that are set up in the home for faster WiFi. We only wish we had discovered these sooner…they are definitely worth the money! As an added bonus, these look great and are not an eyesore like traditional routers. What are some of the holiday gifts on your list this year? Comment down below!
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Remodeling a kitchen can be overwhelming; there are so many decisions to make from choosing the cabinets, to lighting, appliances, and of course, kitchen countertops. With so many different types of countertops to choose from, how do you even decide? Below is a helpful guide with some pros and cons to help you start designing your dream kitchen! Laminate I feel like people think of ugly, brown countertops from the 50s when they hear laminate but actually nowadays, they can be made to replicate the look of more expensive materials. Laminate, also known as Formica, offers a ton of options as they can be made to look like anything and are super affordable if you’re on a tight budget. Average cost per square foot is about $30 and is much cheaper than natural stones like granite or materials like quartz, which are trendier. Laminate is pretty easy to clean and is stain resistant. Laminate countertops are made of plastic so they can be scratched easily. If water seeps through the seams, it can be subject to delamination over time and is difficult to repair. Despite the cons, since laminate is so cheap, it can be easily replaced without putting a huge dent in your budget. If cutting costs are a top priority for you, laminate is a great option and you’ll have a variety of design choices to choose from. Solid Surface Solid surface, also known as Corian, is constructed from man-made materials so they come in many various designs or patterns. They are very water resistant and super easy to clean. It’s more expensive than laminate but still cheaper than other higher end countertop surfaces; cost ranges from $40 to 70 per square foot. Be careful placing hot pots or pans on this surface as it not very heat resistant unfortunately. It can also be easily scratched. Solid surface can be a good choice if you want a beautiful surface but don’t want to spend a lot on more expensive materials like granite or quartz, etc. There are many options to choose from and depending on what you pick, it can make your kitchen look just as beautiful and classy. Wood Recently, wood countertops have made a comeback and give off a more “rustic” look. Some pros are that it’s cheaper compared to stone and will instantly add warmth to your kitchen. Average cost is about $60 to $100 per square foot. Wood countertops need to be properly sealed as its porous surface means water can seep in and bacteria can grow. Over time, it will show wear and tear so you will need to refinish the surface every 10 years or so. It’s also a softer material than stone and will be more susceptible to scratches, chips, and dents. Overall, wood can work for you if you’re willing to put in the careful maintenance. If you’re designing a kitchen with country, Mediterranean or rustic elements, this can easily fit into your design scheme. Some homeowners don’t put wood countertops throughout the entire kitchen but instead will have the island be a wood butcher block and using another surface for the rest. If you’re big into cooking but are dead set on having wood countertops, this may be a better option to minimize overall wear and tear on your surfaces. Granite There’s a reason why granite is one of the most popular types of kitchen countertops-they’re a beautiful natural stone! It’s a very hard surface so it is less susceptible to scratches and can withstand heat very well. This is great if you do a lot of cooking where you need to place a hot pot directly on the surface. Granite is porous so it’s important to properly seal it otherwise it will produce stains or absorb unwanted liquids. Overall, granite is a classic, popular choice for many homeowners, especially for those looking for durability and resale value. If you seal and care for it properly, it will last for years to come. It’s a step up from your basic, cheap countertops but will be easier on your budget than other more expensive materials such as quartz or marble. Average costs range from $45 to $100. Quartz Quartz countertops are all the rage currently-it seems like every designer kitchen has them! But I don’t think it’s a fleeting trend, there are a lot of great pros with quartz. Quartz is essentially man-made engineered stone so you can find a wider range of colors compared to natural stone. It’s also non-porous surface which means it won’t harbor any gross bacteria and will resist stains that can form from wine, juice, or coffee, etc. The biggest con of quartz is definitely money-they are expensive! Although you may be able to find cheaper quartz on sale the average price per square foot can run anywhere between $70-$150, with most running in the $100+ range. Quartz is also not as heat resistant as granite so be careful placing hot pans or pots on its surface. Despite its cons, quartz is a beautiful material for countertops and will instantly add a luxe feel to your home! Light colored quartz with grey veining is very popular at the moment and will instantly elevate the look of your kitchen or bathroom. Marble Marble countertops are simply stunning to be honest but very high maintenance. If you don’t mind putting in the work to meticulously care for it, they can be a gorgeous addition to your home. It’s pretty heat resistant but not impervious to it so it’s best to still use a potholder if you’re putting this in your kitchen. Marble’s main appeal though is that it will really elevate the look of your home. Marble is very porous and will stain easily so be prepared to seal about once every six months, especially if you love to cook. It’s also a much softer stone compared to others such as granite, so is more prone to scratches and chips. Marble is also expensive so be prepared to drop some serious money, costs can range from $75 to $250 per square foot. If you want a luxe look to your kitchen or bathroom, or don’t plan to use your kitchen all that much, marble would look beautiful! But for those of you with kids or who want a low maintenance surface, marble might not be the best fit. If you really love the look of marble but need something low maintenance, solid surface or quartz might be better alternatives as some can replicate that “marble look.” I’d love to hear what you did in your space! What type of countertop did you end up picking for your kitchen? What have you found that didn’t work for you or conversely, what have you absolutely ended up loving? Comment down below!
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