I wish I could buy every single friend I know a Christmas gift.

We have lived in four different states, and have dear friends far and wide… and since we can’t buy a present for each of them, the tradition of Christmas cards is important to us. Kind of like a mini-gift to each of our friends that lets them know we remember them, and that they are treasured and thought of.

We haven’t been able to do cards every year, but when we have, we always choose a photo card. They are my favorite to give and receive! We also save our picture cards from our friends each year, and let our kids play with them after Christmas so that the dear faces stay familiar to them as the years go by. It is such fun to watch our friends’ children growing up.

This year, we are on the ball, and have our cards done early… and I am going to send you one virtually today! What a good feeling to know that it is DONE, and it was relatively simple to cross off of the list. I got my cards at Minted, which is basically my go-to for gorgeous cards. In fact, this year, we also used Minted for our birth announcements and our baptismal invitations {I will give a sneak peek of those too!}. Minted has graciously given me these cards to review, and when you stop by their site, you will discover that they are supporters of creativity and beauty. Their cards support independent designers {LOVE that!} and so their designs are unique.

So, when I went to order my Christmas cards, I discovered that Minted now does this very cool thing that helps you order your cards: They plug YOUR picture into every one of their photo cards, so  you get a mini-preview of what every one of the cards would look like. It saved A LOT of time out of my selection process because I could immediately see if the card design would work well with our particular photo… or if the design chopped off half of our family’s heads.

Here is a screen shot of my shopping previews:

I loved that time-saving feature. It definitely helped me arrive at my decision in record time.

And while I was shopping… I came along this card. LOVE IT! So, I immediately plugged in a picture of my sister’s tiny babies… all of them!:

That is too much cuteness for one card.

Now, without further ado… our family is happy to send you this virtual mini-gift Christmas card. Although I DO wish you could hold it in your hands and hang it on your fridge.

FRONT:

BACK:

WITH ENVELOPE {we used the free pre-printing service Minted offers}:

 THICKNESS:

These cards are pure quality. I must say, I am fussy about my paper goods, and these cards are thick, rich and the finest in style. Minted  has awesome specials going for Christmas, including Black Friday specials. I, for one, am glad that I got my cards crossed off my list and I can send them off with joy and  just enjoy the cards from our friends without thinking, “Oh, no! I still need to send my cards!”

And, I am super excited to share that Minted is generously giving one of my readers a $200 gift card that can be used in conjunction with the fantastic holiday deals! Be sure to head over stat, because this is a flash-giveaway that ends this Thurs., the 28th at midnight PST – winner chosen at random from Minted.

To Enter, Click Here

The gift certificate would be wonderful to use for Holiday cards, but don’t forget about invitations, announcements, or any other gorgeous card needs.

Speaking of invites and announcements: Like I promised, here is a peek at our cards from Georgia’s announcements, and our Baptismal Invitations! You will die at their gorgeousness!!!!!!!!:

aren’t the eyelets in that announcement amazing? And perfect with Georgia Lu’s muslin swaddle blanket! Gosh, I love that baby!!!!!

I know you will love Minted‘s cards! I hope you win and can enjoy some of their awesomeness, but either way, you can take advantage of their great holiday specials and share some glorious cards this Christmas season!

Don’t forget to enter here!

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This post was generously sponsored by Minted. In exchange for some of the prettiest cards I have seen, I have agreed to share my honest opinion of their products via this post. I thank you for supporting businesses that support bloggers, and I thank you for using my links to Minted. You are the best!!

{all family photos were taken by the very talented Kayce Shoffner Photography}

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The Dreamy Conversation Corner

Today’s ditto  post features a stunner of a space by the undeniably talented Miles Redd. He always manages to whip up spaces that stun you with their glamour, but are also filled with comfort. Love that. This space is no different. We can learn a lot from checking out

{Ditto posts demonstrate a great exercise for you as you continue to develop your own personal style: using your own favorite pictures, and making a quick list of what you actually love about the space. If you study what you love about a space, it helps you to bring what you LOVE into your own home! }

{ design by Miles Redd, via Wall Street Journal and ditto worthy }

WHAT I LOVE {What I would ditto!}:

1. That corner banquette, built-in. Wow. Is that ever stunning! It is practical too, by making something out of nothing – life out of dead space! It reminds me of the practicality and beauty of this built-in.

2. This is an example of classy and lovely wood paneling. When paired with plenty of light, it does not have to make for a dark room… cozy instead.

3. Vibrant colors pair up against the browns. This keeps the cozy corner from getting too dark as well.

4. A colorful Persian rug gives this space an energetic feeling.

5. Plenty of books and good lighting {that swing arm sconce!} in this corner make this space inviting for a good read.

6. A mix of art, from modern to classic, unified by golden toned frames.

7. Pillows and a lovely throw in this conversation corner invite you to stay a while.

DO YOU LOVE IT?? WHAT DO YOU LOVE? WHAT DESIGN ELEMENTS WOULD YOU DITTO IN YOUR OWN HOME? DO TELL!!!!!!

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I am into natural choices for my family, and this is the main way I avoided toxins during pregnancy, and now that I am nursing.

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Built-in of the Week ::

Stunning Corner Bookshelf

I am a HUGE huge huge fan of Built-ins. Hence the newest series here at FHD: The Built-In of the Week.

For more on why I think built-ins are one of the most brilliant home solutions, whether your home is small or large, check out this list. And without further ado, this week’s Built-in:

The Corner Bookshelf that rocks my world:

{Design by Billy Roberts, via Inspiration Built-ins}

This Built-in is fabulous because:

1. It adds architectural interest and storage to a corner that may otherwise go unused
2. It is a perfect display/storage solution for small spaces because it barely infringes on the floor space.
3. With cabinet doors added at the bottom, this same built-in could offer great storage.
4. The detailed moulding and woodwork at the top, along with the contrast painting, is just everything with this piece. I love the combination of practical {the storage and good use of floor space} with the beautiful!
5. It adds layers to a room that might otherwise be uninteresting in structure.
6. More room for books! Or your gorgeous collection of coral.

Can you dream up a space in your current or future home where this built-in would be beautiful and practical? Do you have a corner that is crying for this beauty??

Where would you put this built-in? Would it work in your home? Do tell!!

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Shop new bedding, decor, and nursery favorites at serenaandlily.com

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I am into natural choices for my family, and this is the main way I avoided taking any medicines during pregnancy. It is also how we have gotten rid of a lot of meds in our medicine cabinet in favor of natural solutions!

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Habit First, Change Next

{This post is part of the Overcoming Decorating Paralysis series, which has helped many a Paralyzed decorator!}

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I wanted to take a moment to thank all of you for your incredibly kind and insightful comments yesterday. And for your supportive comments! Journeying on the side of heaven can be tough. But it is so much better when we share our travels with friends; when we speak the truth about this life, and allow God to redeem any pain we have ever had. I especially appreciate the comments that were questioning. It is so right to bring our questions before God. He calls us to knock, and the door will be opened. He is not afraid of our questions.

So, Habits…

I have been thinking about habits lately. Not by mistake… I have actually been pondering the notion of habits while I’ve been walking away on the treadmill. For the last five out of six days I have exercised after we put the bed kids down to bed at night.  And trust me: exercising has NOT been my habit as of late, as you can imagine. My new workouts have been a bit pitiful, a bit painful, terribly slow and quite short.

But I realize that what I have been doing the last six days has nothing to do with getting in shape with my body. At least not yet.

What I am working on first is habit.

Whether it is a habit of organization, a habit of choosing what we truly love for our homes, a habit of decorating to please others, or a habit of exercising, sometimes the hardest thing to change is our habits. Should we continue shopping like we used to, or do we need to change our habits of picking out the same old mistakes? Should we always put our dishes away in the same spot, or is it time to revisit that habit? Should we continue thinking about exercise like we used to? Should we sit on the couch and feel sorry for ourselves again tonight? Or is it time to change our habit?

Can you not afford your dream couch because you have a habit of buying a zillion knick-nacs at Target? Change that Habit. Is the last thing you ask yourself before you purchase something for your home, “What will my mother/sister/friend think?” Work on the Habit part!

What habits do you need to revisit?

Do you have any household habits or storage habits or decorating-purchase habits or mental-tape habits that could really use an overhaul? Do share!

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Take daily, bite-size steps toward living in a home you LOVE: Be sure to subscribe to FHD via email, bloglovin, your fave reader, and follow Fieldstone Hill on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook!

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I am into natural choices for my family, and this is the main way I avoided taking any medicines during pregnancy, and now, while I am nursing.