Holiday GIfts Archives - Jacaranda Living

7 Tips for a Warm and Cozy Christmas Morning

a woman wearing a white cotton nightgown and having a warm and cozy Christmas morning — cozy in the Cara nightgown

Whether you care about the religious side of the holidays or not, there’s something sacred about Christmas morning. We mean this in the sense that everyone deserves to be perfectly comfy while enjoying this one day a year, at least. So, here are the seven tips for a warm and cozy Christmas morning so you can organize the perfect day for yourself!

Make plans to stay nicely wrapped up

Of course, if you want a warm and cozy Christmas morning, then you need to make sure you have the right thing to wear! There’s nothing worse than getting up into a room that’s just a little too chilly to be comfortable. It immediately saps away your coziness and makes it impossible to enjoy yourself as much as you otherwise would. It jolts you to wakefulness and chases away those decadent last vestiges of sleep that can make a morning delightfully slow as they naturally fade. Having warm and cozy nightwear is a step in the right direction, but it’s not quite enough to keep the dreadful cold at bay. To complement it, you want to make an additional investment and get one of those blankets you can wear and complete the set! Slip them on while still in bed, and you can start off your day right.

girls wearing white cotton pajamas — cozy in white cotton pajamas on Christmas eve

Leave no work for Christmas morning itself

Of course, if you want to continue having a pleasant day, you must put in some work before Christmas morning. There are few things as horrible as the realization that you still have lingering obligations to worry about. Even little things, such as knowing that you’ll need to pop out later to make a shopping run, can kind of ruin the mood. Simply because it means stepping away from your warm and cozy Christmas morning to face the world. This is to say nothing of major obligations, such as when considering whether you should move before or after Christmas to figure out the right time and, for some reason, decide to move after. This is a horrible idea because it casts a pall of upcoming stress over everything you do during Christmas morning. It is much better to have nothing holding you back from enjoying yourself.

Draw yourself a luxurious bath

What’s more indulgent than taking the time to draw yourself a luxurious bath and enjoy it at your leisure? Very, very few things. However, with the knowledge that you have nothing to do the entire day and that you can dedicate the day to yourself, it is a real treat to do it. You can just kick back in the steamy water, maybe grab a glass of something to drink, and feel the stress and tension draining out of you. It will feel almost wrong to spend all that time just soaking, but it will be well worth it and help set the tone for the rest of your day and the rest of your free days—especially if you slip into a nice, luxurious bathrobe that simply envelops you in its warmth and coziness.

Distract your kiddos

If you have kids, things can get a bit more complicated when planning your ideal warm and cozy Christmas morning. Thankfully, it’s Christmas! This means you won’t have to put in too much effort to distract them and get them to play while you enjoy the rest of your day. You can simply direct their attention back to their gifts when it wavers and encourage them to enjoy themselves, too. You can afford to let them get away with some small mischief on Christmas if it means you, too, get to have the perfect morning. And, hopefully, you’ll have your own cozy gifts to enjoy and try out while lounging on a sofa with a warm cup of chocolate milk or coffee!

Kids on Christmas morning — it’s much easier than you think to distract your kids.

Lounge in bed a little longer

If some of the other options we laid out don’t really appeal to you that much, you can always choose to lounge in bed! The wonder of Christmas morning is that you don’t need to be active at all. For once, you can sleep in guilt-free. And even if you are awake, there’s no reason you can’t afford to fall to the temptation of your perfectly comfy bed sheets and just stay bundled up. However, we recommend that you prepare something to entertain yourself the day before. Leaving a book, your laptop, and maybe even a snack within easy reach of your bed will let you avoid getting up.

Sleeping in on a large bed wearing Candy Cane dresses from Jacaranda Living — Sleeping in is often one of the best feelings after a stressful period! Wearing Jacaranda Living’s cozy cotton Candy Cane dress in bed.

Spoil yourself a little

Christmas morning is the time to spoil yourself and do things you might not otherwise do. Even if you are a perfect health buff the rest of the year who insists on eating healthy, Christmas can be your cheat day. Buy a box of chocolates, get some greasy, unhealthy food that’s a guilty pleasure for a change, and skip your workout routine. It’s not going to wreak havoc on your discipline and physical condition, making the morning seem all the more like a real treat.

Order some food

Speaking of food, the last of our tips for a warm and cozy Christmas morning is to just order something. This goes double if you have kids. Having to worry about cooking, not to mention the health of the stove and the sweat you’d work up doing it, can be really off-putting. Sometimes, there’s nothing that grounds us and brings us back to our everyday grind, like having to cook. Besides, you’re not the only one who might appreciate the change. Getting to eat pizza or some other delicious ordered food for breakfast will be a novelty for your kids, too.

Final comment

Even with the seven tips for a warm and cozy Christmas morning we put together, there is one final thing that can make this time special: family. So, once your perfect morning is over, make sure to give your loved ones a call.

How to Make Your Guest Room Feel Like Home

When you have guests staying over, you always want to make them feel welcome in your home. You want to make sure they feel as relaxed as possible as they would be in their own home. But sometimes, that doesn’t go according to plan. Have you ever stayed in someone’s guest room and just didn’t feel comfortable at all? The bed was uncomfortable, and there were no things like towels and soft pillows. You probably have and know that it is a really unusual feeling staying in a guest room that people didn’t put much thought into when preparing it. So, if you don’t want your house guest to have that experience, you better take action and make your guest room feel like home. And we will help you in that quest. We will give you some tips on how to make your guest room feel warm and inviting so your guests have a great time when staying over.

Make your guest room feel like home with these helpful tips

If you keep in touch after a long distance relocation, it is natural to want to invite loved ones over. But before that, you need to prepare your guest room, so your guests have a good time. So we will share a list of some quick tips to help you:

Clean
Have a comfortable bed
Nice bedding
Prepare the bathroom
Organize the closet
Add a personal touch (a few pillows, books, and wall art)
Don’t forget the nightstands

Clean the guest bedroom

For a room to be comfortable and pleasant, it first needs to be clean. It wouldn’t leave a good first impression if your guests walked into a dirty, messy bedroom. So make sure the room is properly cleaned, dusted, and vacuumed. Also, throw out the trash and unnecessary items. You want to make the room feel and look more spacious, and it is hard to do that with unnecessary junk lying around. A room that’s clean and decluttered is much easier to be decorated and prepared for guests.

A good bed

a girl in a white cotton jacaranda living nightgown — Keep your bedroom clean so you can sit in it and feel relaxed. Our **April Nightgown** is a favorite with its butterfly sleeves and lace detail.

Your first investment should be a comfortable bed. Nothing will show your guest more that they are not in their own house, like having a really rough and uncomfortable bed in their bedroom. It’s natural to want to save up a little money when buying a bed for the guest room but think ahead. How important is it to you that your guests feel nice and welcome? If it’s important then you really should invest in a quality, comfortable bed so your guests can have a good night’s sleep. And if your budget is a little tight, you can still find a good second-hand bed that will do the job just fine.

Nice bedding

a girl in a white cotton nightgown on comfortable bedding — Wear a soft comfortable cotton nightgown to bed for added comfort.

After getting a good quality bed, the next step is buying comfortable soft bedding. Nothing says a warm welcome like a big comfortable bed with a lot of fluffy pillows. The best thing to do when buying bedding for your guest room is to do it the same way you would for your own bedroom. Put the same thought and care into it as if you are buying it for yourself. You want your guests to feel as comfortable as they would in their own beds. Your guests will immediately notice and feel your effort to make them feel good and relaxed. Put your focus on the texture of the bedding. Pick soft linens and big soft cushions. Also, put some thought into the aesthetic of the whole thing. It’s always better to pick brighter colors. It makes the room look more lively and inviting.

The bathroom is important as well

festive holiday bathroom for christmas — Spruce up your guest or master bath with beautiful Christmas linens.

If your guest room has its own bathroom, you will need to put some effort into making it look good as well. First, as with everything else, you must clean thoroughly. The bathroom is where your guest will take care of their personal hygiene, and a few things are as off-putting as a moldy, dirty bathroom. Make sure there are enough towels available for your house guests. Both big towels and hand towels. You also need to provide all the necessary toiletries. You never know what your guests will bring with them, so it’s best to always have the basics in your guest bathroom. Those include toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, shampoos, lotions, razors, etc. But it would be best if you didn’t stop there. To make it extra welcoming, add some more items. Things like makeup remover wipes, SPF, a hairbrush, and a blow dryer can make a guest feel really welcome and taken care of.

Organize the closet

If your guests are going to be staying a while, you will need to provide them with enough space for their belongings. If you have a closet in your guest room, make sure it is nicely organized and provides enough hangers. If, however, you don’t have a closet in your guest room, you will need to get a little creative. Thankfully you can get things like clothes racks at a very affordable price.

Add a personal touch

While a comfortable bed and nice bedding are essential, you need to add some personal touches to make your guest room more than a hotel room. Add some decorations to make the room feel warmer and more inviting. Put up some nice wall art and a few decorative pillows. A nice soft rug would also leave a nice impression. Having some books or magazines in the room is a nice personal touch. Also, you can always add different things depending on which guests will be visiting you. For example, if your guests have kids, why not add a nice baby door hanger? Small things like that really make your guest room feel like home.

Don’t skip the nightstand

a girl looking out the window in a jacaranda living nightgown — Add decorative tissue box covers in the room to keep your guests happy and the room pretty.

When preparing a guest room, you shouldn’t forget about nightstands. This is another great opportunity to show your guests you thought about their comfort. Nightstands shouldn’t just be aesthetically pleasing but also practical. Some nightstand essentials are:

A lamp (so you could comfortably read in bed)
A lovely candle
A phone charger (those are always necessary!)
A tissue box (you never know when you will get a runny nose)
An alarm clock ( even though you have an alarm on your phone, this is a nice touch)

In conclusion

These were just some tips on how to make your guest room feel like home. And as you can see, they are quite normal. Nothing too extravagant. You should always start by asking yourself, “What would I want to have in a guest room I am staying at?” and go from there. At the end of the day, the most important thing is for your guests to see that you put some time and effort into it.

The Benefits of Sleeping in Cotton

The benefits of sleeping in cotton are endless but one thing for sure is we pride ourselves of producing quality cotton gifts at Jacaranda Living.

The phrase “sleeping like a baby” exists for a reason. Dosing off and waking up after a good eight hours’ sleep is now considered a luxury, thanks to the busy lifestyle we all lead. A glass of warm milk, a boring movie, ambient music, the sounds of rain, or complete darkness is not always enough to have a good night’s rest. Even though people are always looking for crafty ways to get themselves to sleep, one thing often gets overlooked. The quality of your bed sheets plays a crucial role in the quality of your sleep. With that in mind, let’s see what the benefits of sleeping in cotton are and why you should choose it as the material for your bedding.

Cotton is a Breathable Fabric

The number one reason everyone likes to sleep in cotton bedding is that the fabric is light and breathable. It is pure, natural material. People often wake up at night covered in sweat, which happens if you are sleeping in the wrong type of material. Cotton solves this problem. Moreover, for the same reason, it’s a perfect choice for bedding during summer.

Cotton linen is the best choice for your family.

However, cotton should also be your choice during winter. Since people usually crank up the heating once the snow falls, the temperature in the apartment or a house goes up overnight.

Cotton is Easy to Clean and Maintain

I have a really cute tissue box cover made of white cotton. I have been using it for a long time now, and every time I get it out of the washing machine, it looks pure and white, just like the first day.

White cotton tissue box covers are easy to clean and maintain. Just stick them in the wash with other whites and they come out just as new!

This is an excellent example of how easy it is to clean cotton. We sleep in cotton sheets, but a tissue box often gets from one hand to another, and it is so easy to get it dirty. Knowing that I can throw it in a washing machine without worrying about anything makes me really happy about using cotton for bedsheets as well.

Despite Being Light, Cotton is Very Durable

You might think that cotton will easily rip since it is so light. However, that’s not the case, especially when you consider the price. Natural cotton linen usually costs more than any other material for bedsheets, but it’s a great investment in the long run. It can last twice as any other bedding, so it will actually save you a few bucks. Also, considering how versatile the fabric is, it is not strange that people often choose to buy 100% cotton products as gifts for their loved ones, even if it costs them a little more.

It’s Soft and Cuddly

Now that we have covered all the more “technical” benefits of sleeping in cotton, let’s focus on the most exciting advantage; cotton is soft and cuddly! If you are looking for something snuggly for your little ones, there is no better choice for bedsheets and pillows.

Furthermore, cotton is a fantastic material for decorative pillows. We all know how easy it is to fall asleep in front of the TV, especially if you have the inviting cotton pillows to lean on. And knowing that washing cotton pillowcases is a piece of cake, they can easily be both decorative and useful.

Cotton Fabric is a Solution for People with Allergies

Since it is naturally hypoallergenic, cotton linen is the go-to solution for people with allergies. If you have sensitive skin and you cannot sleep because you are itchy all over your body, buying cotton bedding will make your problems go away as if they never existed.

Since it’s a natural fabric, the use of cotton reduces the chances of skin irritation to minimum. And if you have allergies, our embroidered cotton tissue box covers are a pretty way to cover your tissues! 🙂

You Will Sleep Better

Considering all the benefits of cotton linen, you will sleep better. It keeps you warm during winter and cools your down in summer. It is light, durable, and soft, making it comfortable and, therefore, an ideal option for sleeping. This fabric is also a must for your sleeping garments – cotton pajamas, nightgowns, bathrobes, etc. And not just for sleeping, many people prefer clothes made of cotton because they are comfortable, pleasant to wear, and easy to maintain.

With cotton bedding and sleepwear, there is no need to worry whether you will have a good night’s rest or not.

Different Uses of Cotton Fabric

While we are on the subject of cotton’s usefulness, let’s talk about the different ways to use cotton and get the most out of it.

It can protect your belongings from dust and dirt

If you are placing some of your belongings in a self-storage unit, the number one issue is dust. The longer they stay inside, the more dust forms on the surface. Unless you plan to clean the storage every few days, getting cotton covers and placing them over your things is a smart idea. Simply speaking, you get all the benefits and avoid problems with self-storage units. Well, at least some of the problems you can easily solve with cotton covers.

Are you painting your house? No problem.

By following the same example as before, you can use cotton covers to protect beds and other furniture while painting the ceiling or walls in your home. Since they are so easy to clean, you don’t have to worry about paint spilling anywhere.

The Benefits of Sleeping in Cotton Explained!

You should try a lot of materials before you find the right choice for your bedding. However, consider the benefits of sleeping in cotton mentioned above before you purchase anything else. We have a lot of solutions for you at Jacaranda Living. We’re all about cotton! Have fun picking out gifts this year for your loved ones, and remember the benefits of sleeping in cotton. Once you go cotton, you never go back!

Our Holiday Shopping Gift Guide and 20% OFF for Black Friday

Our holiday shopping sale is coming up in a few days and we’re so excited to help deck your halls with some festive cheer. This Thanksgiving weekend enjoy 20% off everything on our site!

For the Holidays:

We created a special HOLIDAY page to help you fill your home with fun. Everyone needs to spruce up their home with a few seasonal touches every now and then, and starting this week, there’s no better time to do it. People are going to be buying their Christmas trees, singing Christmas carols, and baking holiday cookies. Everyone feels a hop in their step during the holidays. The streets are filled with beautiful holiday lights, so what’s not to love?!

holiday shopping from jacaranda living — Happy holiday shopping!

Start getting into that festive spirit. Browse our new holiday gift guide and enjoy picking festive gifts for yourself, your home and those you love most. We want to help you pick something out that will make you smile and that you will love most.

FOR MEN AND WOMEN:

We are known for our tissue box covers….

tissue box cover christmas wreath — Natural Linen TBC with Christmas Wreath

Christmas Wreath embroidery on White Linen Tissue Box Cover

You can never go wrong with gifting someone a tissue box cover with a unique embroidery design on it. It comes from the heart, the design reminds them of you, and it’s timeless so they can use it every year to add some personality and flair to their home.

Our embroidered towels are another way to cheer up a powder room and make a great gift.

You can pick your favorite embroidery design and place it on natural linen or white linen depending on your preferences. They’re both soft, easy to wash, and are an easy way to enhance a room. What’s your favorite? Natural linen or white linen tissue box covers? Do you love terry towels or waffle weave? Have fun, get festive with your designs!

FOR THE KIDS AND LITTLE ONES:

Embroidered designs on tissue box covers and towels aren’t the only thing that keeps our customers coming back to our site. We have tons of baby clothes! Ladies’ nightgowns! And adorable children’s outfits – both boy’s PJ sets and little girl dresses. Pick out something festive for your daughter or son to wear over the holidays… like our Candy Cane dress or boy’s embroidered Christmas Tree PJ set. Pics below.

FOR GIRLFRIENDS AND YOURSELF:

SLEEPWEAR GALORE! We live for nightgowns, we live for comfort. Don’t we ladies? Especially the *new moms* out there. That’s why we deliver 100% cotton, machine-washable, ultra soft, beautiful, Victorian nightgowns and cotton pajama sets. We love to be comfortable, and of course, just love looking cute while sleeping in ultimate luxury.

jacaranda living cotton nightgowns — Mandi cotton nightgown

jacaranda living pajama set — Caroline PJ set with Napoleon Bee embroidered trip

Browse all our nightgowns and cotton PJs and decide what you, your mom, your sister, or maid of honor needs next. There is something for everyone at Jacaranda Living so come visit, take it all in, mark your favorites, and come back from Black Friday to Cyber Monday where we will be having our big 20% off sale.

At checkout make sure to enter GIVETHANKS20 to get your special discount. Please reach out with any special requests, personal monogramming, or other questions you may have, we’re always more than happy to help! Shoot a note to info@jacarandaliving.com.

x,Jacaranda

Holiday Gift Ideas For Awesome Young Girls

girls white cotton dress
The holidays are here, and you might be looking for the perfect gifts for your daughter, granddaughter, or niece. Jacaranda Living has the perfect items to wrap up with a bow and place under the tree this year. Whether the recipient is just learning to walk or is running around the house, they will revel in the sweet details that our gifts provide. The following are some ideas to add to your list.
Cotton Dresses
Girls white cotton dresses are perfect for any occasion, and the child in your life will love the soft fabric and pretty, feminine details. To make the outfit complete, consider purchasing some shoes and jewelry to match. They might just want to put on their new cotton dress right away.
Tooth Fairy Pillow
There is nothing quite like losing a tooth and waking up to a surprise from the tooth fairy herself! Our tooth fairy pillows are embroidered with childlike designs, enticing the imagination. For older children, our boudoir pillow covers for kids might be a better option.
girls white cotton dress
Monogrammed Towel
Young kids love all things personalized, and your little loved one will certainly enjoy a bath towel with their own monogram. Stepping out of the bath at night will feel that much more cozy when they can wrap themselves in this fluffy towel. These gifts can be a great option for an entire family on your list as well.
Room Accessories
Our door hangers for kids and babies offer sweet messages to anyone passing by. And a linen tissue box cover can make a nightstand more cozy. You know your daughter, granddaughter, or niece’s personality, so select room accessories that match her just perfectly.
Matching Bed Set
Whether the little girl in your life is a newborn who sleeps 10.5 to 13 hours per day, or a child jumping on their bed, you can help make their bedroom feel magical. From our boudoir pillow cases to entire sheet sets, you can give this child a full bed set to tie their room’s decor together.
From girls white cotton dresses to bed sheets, there are plenty of gifts to make the child in your life happy this holiday. By gifting high quality items to your loved ones, you can support small businesses and give them a gift they will use. Happy gifting!

Bedtime Holiday Gifts For More Luxurious Sleep

victorian pajamas

The holidays are just around the corner, and you are likely searching for the perfect gift for everyone on your list. You know your loved ones better than anyone, so you want to find a present that they will use and enjoy.

What better gift than a luxurious night of sleep?

Sleep accessories are a thoughtful gift for anyone on your list. Whether you give these gifts individually or as a gift basket, the following are some ideas to impress everyone on your list.

- Boudoir Pillow Cases: A pretty pillow case makes the bedroom a more inviting place to be. Your loved one will look forward to crawling in bed every evening and resting their head on this soft cotton fabric. You might also consider adding a matching throw blanket.

- Essential Oils: An essential oil diffusor with relaxing oils will put the finishing touch on your loved one’s bedtime routine. This aromatherapy will help them wind down during the evening and get a full night of restful sleep. You can also add oils that will help them wake up in the morning as well.

- Victorian Pajamas: White cotton pajamas are some of the most luxurious pieces of clothing that your friend or family member will own. Victorian pajamas could be a white cotton nightgown or nightshirt.

- Nightstand Accessories: The physical space where you sleep can make or break your restfulness. A beautiful, calming nightstand can help your loved one unwind every night. A tissue box cover, plant, candle, and other small items can help them craft a welcoming space.

Books: Among comfy pajamas, a relaxing nightstand, and other bedtime accessories, books are the perfect addition. Consider giving your friend or family member several of your comforting favorites. This way, they can be lulled to sleep by quality literature.

By gifting the above gifts, you can help your loved one find more restorative sleep. We need seven to nine hours of sleep per day, and the right sleep accessories can encourage this rest. To make these gifts even better suited for your loved one, consider how you can personalize them with monograms and floral details. This will make the gifts that much more thoughtful.

Handmade vs. Custom Made – Gifts for the Holidays to Show You Care

Not everyone is a gifted crafter. Not everyone can bake, or has the time to make embroidered gifts. Sure, we love to receive homemade fudge, or a beautiful knitted sweater or afghan, but these days most people have a tough time finding the time to wrap gifts, let alone make unique items for family and friends.

But if you’re a crafter, and there are definitely a lot of you out there, Jacaranda Living has some great embroidered gift items or blank items to be embroidered that will fit right in with your desire to give something special to those you love. Think it’s too late? Not really.

Embroidered or hand painted items can be beautiful as gifts. Time may be running out to give a completed item by Christmas or Hannukah, but you can order the item and provide your recipient with a picture of the finished product. Then let them know you’ll be working hard during the winter to create their gift.

Embroidered Gifts are Unique and Beautiful

Whether you’re embroidering a cosmetic bag for a friend, or a tissue box for a co-worker, or a pair of slippers for a favorite aunt, Jacaranda Living has a variety of blank pieces ready to embroider that will work perfectly.

large cotton cosmetic bag — large cosmetic bag ready for your embroidery or painting

Not sure where to find the unique patterns that will make your gift the one they treasure? Consider Mary Corbet’s Needle ‘n Thread blog. She’s got great ideas for a variety of designs and even shows you how to use coloring books for inspiration. With so many coloring books out there for adults, you may even be able to ask the person you’re making something for to share their favorite design and you can turn it into an embroidered piece!

Fabric Painting Can Create a Custom Gift to Treasure

If you like painting, why not try fabric painting to create a one-of-a-kind gift for someone special? Look for videos on YouTube that show how to paint flowers, and other designs on bed sheets, scarves, and tablecloths. Jacaranda Living has quality cotton napkins, robes, and pillow cases that would work well for this type of project.

Cotton Dinner Napkins Ready for Embroidery — The Perfect Cotton Dinner Napkin

Just search for “one stroke painting” on YouTube to find a wide variety of projects from easy to complex.

Not All of Us are Artistic – Some Ideas for Embroidered Gifts

Not the type to sit and embroider or paint? Don’t worry, Jacaranda Living can still be your path to giving a unique, embroidered gift to treasure for years to come. From baby gifts to bed linens to ladies’ nightgowns and dresses for the little girls in your life, we’ve got a range of embroidered and monogrammed items made of high quality cotton

a full range of baby items — A beautiful set for baby with sweet embroidered details

and linen, enhanced with lace and fine details that show how much you care.

Consider a pretty set for the littlest member of your family, perhaps booties, a hat, a bib and a onesie all embroidered with little sheep.

Maybe a sweet cotton springtime dress for a young lady with a love of elephants.

little girls dress with pink elephants — Pretty white dress embroidered with pink elephants

Who doesn’t love a cool cotton boudoir pillow and you can have it embroidered with a wide selection of designs including this pretty Nantucket basket of flowers.

Embroidered pillows with multiple design options — Pretty Boudoir Pillow with flower-filled Nantucket Basket Embroidery

Or put together a picnic basket of goodies featuring these fun lobster embroidered cocktail napkins that would be a hit with anyone who likes to plan an outing with just a bit more flair than the usual.

embroidered cocktail napkins - lobster design — Lobster embroidered cocktail napkins, the perfect picnic accent

Embroidered linens and handmade gifts show you’ve thought about the person you’re giving to. Whether the gift is something you’ve created, or something you’ve had created just for them. If you’re shopping for gifts and want something personal, consider Jacaranda Living. We’ve got gifts that show people how much you care.

Sources

http://www.jacarandaliving.com/linen-for-monogrammers.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CpX9s-sRSI

http://www.needlenthread.com/

Great Holiday Gifts for Mom Start With Jacaranda Living

When it comes to holiday gifts for mom, let’s face it, she may be the most important person on your list. Mom, Ma, Mum, or Mommy, young, old, or just hitting her stride, moms are an important recipient and can also be one of the toughest people on your list to buy for. But fear not! There is hope!

Something Practical – Sleepwear from Jacaranda Living

Remember when you used to receive socks, or underwear for Christmas? Perhaps not your favorite gift. Maybe you also received gifts of simple toiletries, or clothes you needed anyway, and it didn’t seem much like a gift. But have you given thought to whether your Mom received those types of gifts?

In fact, many mothers forego their own needs to make certain their kids have more than enough. A “practical” gift can actually be quite luxurious when you give it some extra thought. So why not make the “practical” extra special this year? Some of the following items offered by Jacaranda Living make great gifts. You’ll be giving top quality items that can be customized for your Mom or any other special women in your life, and it’s probably something she’s hoping for but wouldn’t buy for herself. Why not show her how special she is with a special gift from Jacaranda Living?

Sleepwear – Who doesn’t love to snuggle down at the end of a long day in their favorite robe and slippers. Jacaranda Living offers a wide range of beautiful cotton nighties, pajamas, slippers and robes that would be a perfect choice. They can be embroidered with many beautiful designs to make them a gift she’ll treasure for many nights to come.

Create a Cuddle Up Sleepwear gift package especially for her by including a cocoa mug featuring pictures of you, grandchildren, special artwork, and it’ll make ending every day a celebration. Popsugar has a great article on how to make your own very special mug to go along with a cuddle up sleepwear gift package.

Lingerie Bags

Every woman can use our special lingerie bag to ensure that delicates, and hand-wash only items don’t get damaged in the wash. Moms are busy women so having a lingerie bag (especially a beautifully embroidered one from Jacaranda Living) is the perfect way for her to get all those much loved delicates cared for gently.

Our Every Day Life recommends pretreating any stains first, then using the lingerie bag to make sure your delicates stay that way. Your Mom may appreciate more than one lingerie bag, one for every day, and one for special delicates to keep them stored safe.

Something Fun – Botanical Patterns for Raingear and Luggage

Some Moms are outdoorsy, active types who would enjoy a gift that goes along with that lifestyle. Some do the 9 – 5 thing, and spend most of their day in an office wishing they could bring the outdoors in. We’ve got some cute items that might be perfect:

Umbrella and Raincoat

Some days heading out into a nasty morning filled with rain and fog can be downright dreary. But with a raincoat and umbrella from Jacaranda, Mom could take the sunshine with her. Our ensemble is sure to put a smile on her face and perhaps a few others as she commutes to the office.

Shoulder Bag

As with the raincoat and umbrella, carrying a hint of springtime can be a great way to keep your Mom feeling positive and upbeat. Our bags are made of cotton with beautiful botanical patterns.

Weekender Bag

If Mom travels for business, she may love a beautiful carryon bag that stands out from the pack, and has room for all her important items.

RH109-BOT Weekender Bag - Botanical

Gifts for the Hostess with the Mostest – Tablecloths and Napkins

If your Mom is the one in the family who hosts every holiday dinner and is at her happiest planning a party surrounded by family and friends? She may enjoy a gift that makes that kind of day extra special.

Beautiful cotton embroidered napkins

The table is usually the highlight of the event. These tips from Martha Stewart can help her create a table worth remembering. Elegant table linens can make a big difference in the overall look of a table. Jacaranda Living offers a variety of embroidered table linens. We also offer a variety of fabrics and embroidery patterns to match her personal style.

The most important thing when selecting a gift for Mom is putting thought into it. In fact, any gift should be something you think about. Who is the person you’re buying for? What do they like? When you care about the recipient, you should also put care into selecting a gift that shows it. Giving a gift from Jacaranda Living means you’re choosing a gift of quality and elegance. Our gifts can be personalized to tell your Mom, or the person who is like a mother to you, just how much you care. Visit our website to see more and consider a gift from Jacaranda Living this year.

Sources

http://www.popsugar.com/smart-living/Sharpie-Mug-DIY-Project-24955886

http://oureverydaylife.com/wash-bras-using-lingerie-bag-28781.html

http://www.marthastewart.com/274744/holiday-table-settings#225498

Christmas Traditions Begin with Jacaranda Living – Start Yours This Year!

Does your family have Christmas Traditions already in place? For many, the holidays are a time to start new Christmas traditions that will be enjoyed and treasured by your family as it grows! A few of our favorite traditions include:

Reindeer Gifts

If your family attends church on Christmas Eve, the reindeer can stop by the house to leave Christmas pajamas, slippers and robes for the whole family. Include a little note from the reindeer with a few tips

get to bed as soon as possible
leave Santa some cookies and maybe chocolate milk this year
thank them for taking care of their assigned elf (if your family enjoys the christmas traditions of Elf on a Shelf)

While superhero and princess inspired pjs are great for the little ones, consider our comfortable Kelsey Pajamas for the ladies of the household. Finish the outfit with our sweet scuffy slippers embroidered for the season with wreaths, snowflakes, and even a Christmas Tree! We’ve got 10 Holiday designs to give our slippers a true Christmas Eve touch.

Christmas Traditions include the Twelve Days of Christmas — sweet embroidery designs that feature favorite Christmas Carols, another of many Christmas Traditions

Sweet Twelve Days of Christmas embroidery options for slippers!

And don’t forget robes! Light cotton or cozy waffle or willow weave with satin trim. Robes from Jacaranda Living are the perfect Reindeer Gift and will be used all year long.

EL280 Bath Robe** - Cotton, Long Sleeve

Cookie Traditions – Making Holiday Cookies Can Be an Annual Event!

And speaking of cookies for Santa, why not make Christmas cookies a tradition? Whether yours are a family tradition, like Pizzelle, pfeffernusse, or pepperkakor, making the perfect Christmas cookie takes time and can become a fun competition each year with other family and friends. Who has the best cookie? Sites like allrecipe.com and bettycrocker.com have 100’s of recipes to choose from if your family doesn’t already have a favorite. Ours would be this recipe for Soetkoekies (sweet cookies) from South Africa which can be found on food.com.

South African Traditional Soetkoekies (Sweet Cookies)

Yield: 80-90 cookies. The dough should be rolled out really thinly — about 1/6th of an inch — to get a crispy cookie.

INGREDIENTS
- 5 cups cake flour
- 2 cups brown sugar or 2 cups yellow sugar, if available. (yellow sugar is very light brown sugar)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1tsp ground cloves
- 1TBS ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1/4 lb butter, soft
- 1/4 lb rendered pork fat (or Crisco)
- 1/2 cup sweet sherry or 1/2 cup muscatel or 1/2 cup madeira wine or 1/2 cup port wine, but you may need up to 3/4 cup of the sweet wine
- 2 large eggs, whisked well
  Fun aprons for adults and kids from Jacaranda Living

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 380 F
Grease cookie sheets.
In a large container mix first eight ingredients very well.
Cut in the butter and Crisco/fat with your hands until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.
Whisk the eggs, add just 1/2 cup sweet wine to the eggs, then stir into the dry mixture until well-blended. Add more wine sparingly if too dry. Mix until it forms a fairly stiff dough. The dough should be easy to handle.
Remove dough from bowl, kneading until smooth, then, on a floured surface, roll out to a thin sheet (1/6^th of an inch). This will need to be done in batches.
Using your favorite holiday cookie cutters, cut cookies and place carefully on the greased sheets. Bake in batches in the preheated oven.
Use the center rack in the oven, as cookies burn easily on the bottom, especially if you use dark sheets.
Check cookies after 5 minutes being careful not to let them burn. Cooking time can vary depending on oven and size of cookie but is usually about 7 minutes.
Remove with a spatula, and let cool on wire racks. Store in airtight containers.
Can be made and stored weeks in advance.

There are so many recipes for holiday cookies, and so many different ways to make them your own. Make the search for this year’s recipe part of your holiday fun! Have young chefs in the household? Consider Kiddie and Ladies Aprons from Jacaranda as a pre-holiday gift to help everyone get in the mood.

Take Out as Part of Christmas Traditions – Explore Take Out Options on Christmas Eve

Many households celebrate both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and it can get pretty hectic preparing two celebrations with food, dishes, planning, and cleaning up! Why not make Christmas Eve the time to get takeout. Whether you go Chinese, Mexican, hearty soups and fresh baked bread, or try something entirely new, researching menus, and deciding what you’ll share this year can become an annual ritual in the weeks leading up to the big day.

Whatever you do for the holidays, make sure to enjoy the time together with family and friends. Life is stressful and at busy times, when to-do lists seem endless, it can be easy to forget the reason for the holiday, and get overwhelmed with making certain everything is perfect. Give yourself a chance to sit, relax, and savor those you love. It’ll give you a chance to breathe, and to create memories that will sweeten over the years.

Get your orders in now for the holidays!

At Jacaranda Living we’d love to help create your Christmas Traditions and make your holidays a time to remember. Get your order in now while there is still plenty of time to embroider and ship your gifts wherever you’ll be celebrating this year!

Sources

http://www.parenting.com/gallery/christmas-eve-traditions

http://www.food.com/recipe/south-african-traditional-soetkoekies-sweet-cookies-187261

http://allrecipes.com/recipes/841/holidays-and-events/christmas/desserts/christmas-cookies/

http://www.theprairiehomestead.com/2013/01/the-mystery-of-the-missing-pig-fat-and-how-to-render-lard.html

Why you should consider Cotton for your Hypersensitive Child

Little Girls Candy Cane Christmas Dress

It is estimated that 25% of American children have sensory issues. Clothing made of Cotton rich fibers will offer hundreds of different sensory friendly options for a multitude of hypersensitive issues.

Cotton is a soft fiber that grows around the seeds of the cotton plant. Cotton fabrics have excellent absorbing capabilities, does not pill, is not itchy, keeps its shape, is never clingy or causes static electricity and does not irritate the skin, but most importantly it is cool, soft and comfortable for the hypersensitive kid in your life.

Jacaranda Living 100% Cotton Sheets for hypersensitivity

So not only does cotton look and feel great; it’s also a safe choice when choosing Christmas or birthday gifts. You may not know all the health and medical needs of a friend’s son or daughter when looking for a gift, so consider playing it safe and going with a fabric everyone can enjoy.

View a selection of our English Cotton Dresses for girls made from 100% cotton!