Let me start this post by telling you that this is going to be a bit different from the typical dbsobsessed post. Because Christmas decor is just about my favorite thing in the world (she typed while sitting by the fireplace, blasting Christmas music), there are many incredible artists and makers that I have been working with in order to provide you with a bit of an online 'holiday bazaar', complete with MAJOR DISCOUNTS! So, read on and find out all about the look I went for when decorating this year, as well as how to nab those deals!

I need to introduce you to these FAB finds ASAP, so more info will come over the next week in terms of details on how I love to use these pieces to make my space special, but for now... BUY!

This year I knew that I wanted to go with a new look for Christmas, given the new look I have gone with for my living room. I went from a warm and cozy space that began to feel cluttered instead of cozy, to my version of Scandinavian.
Let's call it 'Warm Scandinavian Chic', shall we?

The changes I made to the living room were to get rid of a large and leaning Crate and Barrel wall storage system and to paint from a beige color to a warm white (the famed Swiss Coffee). Additionally, I moved a large longhorn sculpture (from Restoration Hardware) onto the big living room wall from another room and eliminated most of the wall decor that was previously in the living room. The final big change was to put the TV above the fireplace and get a mantle (FINALLY --- more on that below)!

In putting together this look for the holidays I wanted to focus on unique pieces from different makers. I didn't want something that I would see in everyone else's house. Yes, I love a Target decoration every now and then, and you will find some here, but I didn't want everything to be so cookie-cutter.​

Hands down, the best thing I did for my apartment decor, holiday or otherwise, was add this floating shelf 'mantle' from Rollins Rustic Designs.  Having a fireplace is such a perk in an apartment, but not having a mantle REALLY takes away from the whole situation. This shelf was easy to install, available in a number of colors to make sure it was perfect for the look I was going for, and fully customizable in terms of size!

I will be able to easily take it down when I move and patch the holes, without screwing with my apartment deposit. After having hung the tv above my fireplace, the addition of this mantle really made all the difference!

For the holidays, I added this incredible sign (Merry Christmas... can you guess the language?), some real and fake candles, gorgeous greenery from Toby's Trees at Heather Farms in Walnut Creek, and ornaments and stockings hung from some simple hooks. I LOVE the end result and can't get enough of sitting in front of this space!

These signs have 100% MADE the look for my desired theme. Keena's designs, both custom and otherwise, are such a festive and gorgeous addition to any holiday setup that is not looking to be too over-the-top in terms of color. I can't get enough of the 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas' chalkboard look. It is great for hanging or placing on a dresser or bookcase, as I have here. It is so classically rustic and lends itself to being themed however you would like to have your holiday decor look. Another win for the apartment dweller! No matter what look I am going for in the coming years, this sign is going to work!

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How about this natural looking wood sign?! This is SUCH A BEAUTY! As I mentioned, I wanted to go for 'Warm Scandinavian Chic'. I guessed I better make sure to add something Scandinavian, beyond the sparse white walls! With this in mind, I asked Keena to create a sign for my mantle, with the words 'Gladelig Jul', Danish for Merry Christmas.
OH WAIT I DIDN'T DOUBLE CHECK AND SENT HER SOME WEIRD AMERICANIZED VERSION OF THE SPELLING.
​So, it should have been 'Glaedelig Jul', but I actually don't care at all and love it anyway! The writing is gorg, the size and color are perfect and lend themselves to the same diverse options for theme as does the other sign.

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Keena is a joy to work with and is VERY communicative and willing to work to collaborate with you on custom orders, to make sure she is doing just what you want, and that you love the finished product. Let me reiterate about the spelling mishap: this was ALL on me, and I confirmed and reconfirmed the spelling with her. #DERP

I currently have Keena working on a sign that will be used for ongoing blog photoshoots, branding the images in an organic way. Stay tuned for more on that front. I can't wait to see how it turns out and to share it with you!

Below you will find some of the other signs available in theKeenaAlyceDesigns shop!

When making purchases for decorating an apartment, whether for a holiday or any other time of year, there is one thing I always have to remind myself of: where the hell are you going to keep it when you don't have it out?!

I used to be a BIG fan of having different throw pillows for a variety of seasons, but I not only hated the actual pillow quality, I also had so many seasonal pillows stuffed into the tiny closet space I had in previous apartments! That was until I came acrossElemenOPillows on Etsy! I literally ONLY use these on my 24x24 throw pillows and change them out based on the season, or any other whim I may have. As you can see, I am currently mixing it up with red to go with the green sofa, for a perfect Christmas look!

And don't worry... Alfie FULLY approves.

Here are some other great holiday options from ElemenOPillows. Make sure to use code 'ElemenOPillows2016' for 10% off any order made in 2016!

Anytime someone uses the following to describe the work they do, I know I am dealing with a winner: "The common theme in many of my creations is the regal Dachshund. I’m owned by a Doxie and find their image brings a smile and laugh to almost everyone. They are ambassadors of absurd joy and that’s the essence of what I try to put out to the world in my creations."

So. Much. Yes.

It's no secret that I too am owned by a dachshund, so these cards and garland were a MUST have for my holiday season to be complete. If you know a doxie lover, or are one yourself, visit PeaceMealArt and take advantage of the great offer on some very special pieces.

Because Alfie and I are ready to get on the water! We have only tested it in the pool so far, but are hoping this Kyjen 2522 Dog Life Jacket Quick Release Easy-Fit Adjustable Dog Life Preserver will be just the thing we need for many mornings out on a kayak!

So easy to put on, and he does not mind it at all. For sure #dbsobsessed with this!

Well, yes. Some of them survive, but rarely the ones that Alfie wants anything to do with... here a little roundup on some of our testing:

My little friend Alfie (who I have had for one year as of yesterday), is a BIG fan of snuggling and burrowing. For that reason, I wanted to get him a burrow bed for some time, but was a bit overwhelmed by the fact that they were almost all over $50. Not knowing if he would even be interested, I held off.

Luckily, the amazing people at BarkShop (part of BarkBox)  introduced me to the Stuft Snuggle Sack. They range from $16-48, dependent upon the size you need. The small (pictured) is a bit too small for Alfie, as I kind of have to back him up into it-- but once he is in, he is in for the night and IN LOVE. I ordered him a medium, but I am sure we will continue to use both!

Is this real life? I look up from the TV, on my lazy Saturday afternoon, and this dog has put himself in a post I could only orchestrate in my most adorable dreams. Well done, Alfie. WELL. DONE.

For those of you with dogs that immediately destroy most toys, I have a new duo for you to check out! These Multipet toys (like the pig I wrote about before) are durable, highly squeaky, and most importantly, #AlfieApproved. 

Yep, I found the perfect Halloween costume for Alfie. Here it is.

You've seen me write about Full Moon Pet's line of human-grade dog treats before, and I am back to reiterate just how much I recommend these for all of my fellow pup owners.

As many of you have surely heard over the last year or so, there is a lot of talk about how many chicken jerky treats being sold in the US are made in China and have been proven to be unsafe, and sometimes even fatal, for dogs. As I have Alfie on a grain-free diet, these types of treats would be ideal in theory, so I was bummed to know that they were not to be trusted.

Luckily, Full Moon Pet has a large line of chicken treats, including some new offerings, that are incredibly safe, and adored by dogs. Alfie, along with his sisters, Waffles and Dandy (dog sitting for the parents), were lucky enough to get to try the full chicken lineup, so we could report to you on how they were received.

This all-natural, made in the USA brand of dog treats is about two years old, and available nationwide at Target stores as well as Walmart, Kroger, ShopRite and many many more. At Full Moon Pet, they believe that if it is not good enough for you, it is not good enough for your pets, which is something I love (as a crazy dog person, who does not have real kids yet, and still really cares about this kind of thing)! That is why they stick to simple, honest recipes using ingredients sourced right here in the United States.

* 100% made in the USA
* 100% human-grade ingredients
* Free of fillers like corn, wheat and soy
* No artificial preservatives, flavors or colors

Waffles was a huge fan, as you can see... But, so were all three of the dogs. I love this one because it is perfect for cutting up and putting inside of a treat like a Kong Genius, without it crumbling and falling apart, or being too easy to get out, as can be the case with smaller treats of uniform size.

I can't express how excited the dogs get for this, and the other treats. It was pure mayhem around here when I was attempting to take pictures.

Also available in Skin + Coat Health or Hip + Joint Health varieties, ALL of these Chicken Jerky treats are winners. Because they are tougher (you know, cuz they're jerky...) they last longer, and are a great treat to give Alfie to work on for at least a few minutes.

A smaller version of the filets (from what I can tell), these are great for small dogs when you want to just grab and give them something, without tearing it into smaller pieces. As you can see, Alfie and Waffles were not interested in much, besides eating these.

Also great for inside the Kong Genius (which Alfie is still legit obsessed with).

dLike the jerky, these are a bit tougher and take the dogs a few more moments to get through, which I love. They cannot get enough of these, and Alfie was ready to attack the 90+ lb Waffles over them, which is exactly what happened  after this epic stare down... Needless to say, I had to save him from himself on this losing battle. I respect his bad assness though...

Finally, the Chicken and Sweet Potato... this one was Alfie's least favorite, as he prefers to just eat the chicken and leave the sweet potato pieces around, leaving me to wonder if I should pick up what looks like it might be something other than a piece of sweet potato...

However, the other dogs are IN LOVE with these as well.

All in all, this has to be my favorite line of dog treats, by far. Totally #dbsobsessed and will be giving these to my little guy for quite some time.

Bringing Alfie into my life this year has been the best choice I could have made! What a sweet little creature to love and be loved by. Thrilled to be celebrating #NationalDogDay with my little nugget. Here are some of my favorite of his many glamour shots: