BHG Christmas Ideas Magazine

I realize the end of October might seem early to start talking about Christmas, but I couldn’t resist popping in to share details about my little feature in the BHG Christmas Ideas Magazine 2019.

It always feels awkward writing a post such as this because I don’t want to come across in the wrong way. However, I’ve been getting questions about the BHG article, so I thought it might be best to have a place to answer those and also share a few links. Plus, having a 10-page spread in a magazine is a dream come true for me, so it’s hard to contain my excitement! The issue is out on newsstands now through Christmas if you’d like to pick up a copy.

BHG Christmas Ideas Magazine 2019:

Back in February of this year, the Better Homes & Gardens crew descended on my home to photograph it for their Christmas Ideas Magazine. If you experienced deja vu as you read that, there’s a reason. In 2017, the same crew came to photograph my St. Marys home for the 2017 Christmas Ideas Magazine. My Christmas tree made the cover of that issue. (You can read more about that here.)

Even though my decor didn’t make the cover this year (They did shoot a few cover test photos.), my home is featured in a beautiful 10-page spread that I couldn’t be more pleased with!

While the crew was here, I snapped a few photos to give you a behind-the-scenes look at the process. They were at my home for two full days. Their process is much more intense than my photoshoots. They bring lights, screens, filters, and so much more. During the two days, they only shot 20-25 photos. Some photos took up to an hour to shoot.

What I love about working with BHG on this type of shoot is that they barely touch or move anything. They will move and adjust things so they look more pleasing in the photo, but the design is 100% mine. I love that.

Looking at some of the behind-the-scenes photos, you might be able to tell that the photoshoot took place before my big kitchen remodel. It’s fun to see that and know I’ll have a new space to decorate this year.

It was also bittersweet for me to view these behind-the-scenes captures. Sebastian, my first-ever kitty, was sick around that time. He would slowly work his way through the photographers’ gear and find places to sleep. It was so sweet. He passed away a couple weeks later.

Unlike my previous Christmas photoshoot with BHG, the decorating for this issue stayed pretty much the same as it did when I shared my 2018 Christmas home tour. Typically, they like the decor to be new and fresh for the issue. However, I was notified a little too late in the season to completely redecorate. In one way, that was nice because decorating twice for Christmas is A LOT!

BHG Christmas Ideas Magazine Sources:

If you want a closer look at my decor or are looking for sourcing information for things you see in my home, I want to direct you to this post here. This is my full 2018 Christmas Home Tour. There are loads of photos and lots of details about items in the space, plus even more holiday decorating inspiration.

I also wrote two posts about my 2018 Christmas trees. You can find information about my green-themed tree here and my red-themed tree here.

And if all of that isn’t enough, I did a bonus photo tour of my home. Typically, I take photos of my home during the day, but for this special tour, I snapped photos of my home at night. If you want another look around during the evening hours, click here to see that post.

Printable Plaid Gift Tags:

Every year I like to pick a theme for my wrapping paper. (Yes, I know that may sound a bit extreme, but that’s me!) This past year it was plaid. Inspired by that, I shared plaid gift tags you could download and print.

Better Homes & Gardens was also kind enough to show my plaid-inspired Christmas gift tags. They are available as a free printable here on my blog. If you’re looking for those, you can find them here.

Recipes from the Issue:

The BHG team asked me to prepare a few recipes for the shoot. Since baking and cooking are two of my other passions, I happily obliged. If you’re looking for links to any of the recipes, just tap on the photo or recipe name below.

Christmas Tree Cheese Ball – I made this Christmas Tree Cheese Ball two years ago, and the recipe continues to be a holiday favorite. I’m one of those people who LOVES a cheese ball. I’ve compiled a post with cheese ball recipes for every season!

Very Merry Ornamentini – In addition to my three-ingredient Jingle Juice Holiday Punch, this Very Merry Ornamentini is one of the most popular IBC pins on Pinterest during the holiday season. It’s a delicious cocktail, and the presentation is wow-worthy. If you’re looking for more holiday cocktail recipes, I have plenty. Take a look at this post here.

Birch Yule Log – The BHG team loved the Pink Yule Log I made several years ago. However, they knew pink wouldn’t match my Christmas decor. I suggested doing a birch-inspired version of that recipe.

This was the result. You can find the recipe for my Pink Yule log here. I used the same recipe; I just didn’t add red/pink food coloring for the one I made for the BHG crew. I will be posting my Birch Yule Log version soon.

Olive and Rosemary Wreath – This Olive Wreath is a delicious and beautiful holiday appetizer idea. You can assemble it in minutes, and it adds a tasty and colorful touch to any party spread. Get the recipe here.

Christmas Ideas Magazine FAQ:

As I said, I’ve been getting emails and messages with questions about the article and where to find things. I’ve linked and sourced a few items above, so please read through this post first. I also wanted to create this Frequently Ask Questions section for other inquiries. Let’s get to it!

Q: Where can I find the large paint-by-number in your dining room?

A: It’s from the fabulous Lindsay Letters. You can get it here. The artwork in my living room,  is also from her site.

Q: Any tips for decorating Christmas trees?

A: My goal for 2019 is to write a post about my process from start to finish. Until that is ready, let me direct you to a few posts where I offer guidance on various aspects of trimming a tree:

• How to Put Ribbon On a Christmas Tree
• 20+ Christmas Tree Decor Ideas

Q: Where do you get your Christmas Tree ribbon.

A: Anywhere and everywhere. I spend a ridiculous amount of time sourcing and shopping for Christmas decor, but I love doing it. If you’re curious about my green and red tree from this issue, I found the green ribbon here. The plaid ribbon on my red tree came from TJ Maxx and HomeGoods.

Well, friends, I think that covers everything. If you’re looking for more Christmas and holiday inspiration, I’ve listed more posts below. They are packed with dozens of Christmas crafts, decorating ideas, and recipes, plus lots of holiday merriment!

More Christmas Ideas:

• 100+ Creative Christmas Ideas, Recipes, Crafts, Decor, and More!
• My Favorite Christmas Cookie Recipes
• Holiday Cocktail Recipe Ideas
• The Best Christmas Appetizer Recipes
• Christmas Tree Decorating Ideas
• Creative Gift Wrapping Ideas

If you have any questions about the 2019 BHG Christmas Ideas Magazine, please let me know in the comments below. I’ll do my best to answer your questions as quickly as possible.