Mitch and I threw an impromptu holiday-themed birthday party for the girls’ friend Emily last night, and can I tell you how happy I was that I’d serendipitously set all of this up?!
Really happy. 😆
My plan was to photograph it in the morning and then pack it up and put it out again while hosting this coming weekend, but last night’s events were obviously even more fitting, and it couldn’t have worked out better! I mean, four kids, a holiday candy bar, and a gingerbread house/sugar cookie-making station? They were all ecstatic! (And a little hyper. But it’s Christmas. It’s fine. 😉)
Even better, it really was ridiculously easy to put together. Walmart is our holiday sponsor this holiday season and I’ve been loving it. The retailer has clearly upped the ante in terms of inventory—I just discovered that they now carry Annie Selke wallpaper. How cool?!—and when shopping online, everything shows up on our doorstep between two and three days. But this time, I was actually at Walmart getting my booster, so I figured why not purchase in-store? It was absolutely lovely that all the holiday stuff was in one spot so I could quickly grab and go. And since Emma hasn’t been a ton of stores over the last couple of years, it was crazy fun for her!
While I did buy some holiday decor during my visit (links below), I mostly focused on food. I love that Walmart offers a ton of pre-made options, perfect for those of us who are short on time. (Which is nearly everyone during the holidays, no?!)
For example, Emma’s been asking to decorate cookies for a while now, but making the cookies is a process, and I’m really trying to get all loose ends tied up over here before we depart for New Orleans in less than two weeks. Solution? Walmart carries pre-made cookie decorating kits, and they come with literally everything you need. AMAZING. We picked up these Decorate-Your-Own Christmas Sweater Cookies and these Decorate-Your-Own Tree Cookies, and Emma was in heaven.
(Didn’t care one bit that the cookies weren’t homemade. I’ve started to realize that a ton of the holiday stress I experience is totally self-inflicted, haha. Wake up, Kelly! There are easier ways!)
Tip: Get treat boxes so you can deliver them to friends or so that guests can take treats home with them.
We also loved the gingerbread house decorating kits, namely the Bling House, Bling Cottage and Gingerbread Tree (Emma picked out all of ’em! Look at the lighthouse, too!) Tips: Put gingerbread houses on these cake boards, and use a hot glue gun if you don’t want crying children. No one gets a gold star for not doing so. ;)
Finally, the holiday candy selection was off the charts. Everything was so cute! Our personal favorites were the Santa Hat Hershey Kisses (adorable), Holiday M&Ms, Reese’s Nutcrackers, York Peppermint Snowflakes, and Russel Stover Santas. Again, these treat boxes are great for guests so they can take the sweetness home!
Anyway, all links below, as well as a few photos from our special night.
Happy birthday, Emily!
Food
Gingerbread Houses: Bling House, Bling Cottage and Gingerbread Tree (Emma picked out both. Look at the lighthouse! Tip: Put gingerbread houses on these cake boards.) / Decorate-Your-Own Christmas Sweater Cookies / Decorate-Your-Own Tree Cookies (Tip: Get treat boxes so guests can bring cookies + candy home with them!) / Candy: Santa Hat Hershey Kisses, Holiday M&Ms, Reese’s Nutcrackers, York Peppermint Snowflakes, and Russel Stover Santas / Elf on the Shelf Hot Cocoa Cakebites / Elf on the Shelf Christmas Cakebites
Decor
Round Rug / Fairy Lights / Chandelier Ribbon for Bows / Candles: Holiday Country Candle, Red Berry & Oak Candle and Evergreen Spruce Candle / Tartan Ribbon / Wooden Beads / Similar: Reindeer, Mirror, Garland, Dining Room Table, Annie Selke Wallpaper, Chandelier, Candle Holder
Shop the post:
Food
Gingerbread Houses: Bling House, Bling Cottage and Gingerbread Tree (Emma picked out both. Look at the lighthouse! Tip: Put gingerbread houses on these cake boards.) / Decorate-Your-Own Christmas Sweater Cookies / Decorate-Your-Own Tree Cookies (Tip: Get treat boxes so guests can bring cookies + candy home with them!) / Candy: Santa Hat Hershey Kisses, Holiday M&Ms, Reese’s Nutcrackers, York Peppermint Snowflakes, and Russel Stover Santas / Elf on the Shelf Hot Cocoa Cakebites / Elf on the Shelf Christmas Cakebites
Decor
Round Rug / Fairy Lights / Chandelier Ribbon for Bows / Candles: Holiday Country Candle, Red Berry & Oak Candle and Evergreen Spruce Candle / Tartan Ribbon / Wooden Beads / Similar: Reindeer, Mirror, Garland, Dining Room Table, Annie Selke Wallpaper, Chandelier, Candle Holder
This post is sponsored by Walmart; all opinions are my own. As always, thank you so, so much for supporting the partnerships that keep Kelly in the City up and running!
