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I hope you had a great week!

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Random Things Happening Behind the Scenes at Bricks ‘n Blooms

What a week it was!

All of my kids are home for the holidays so it’s awesome having everyone under one roof.

It’s been a busy weekend here! I was at Christmas Con yesterday in Edison, New Jersey, and got to meet up with my friends over at Christmas Is Not Cancelled. There were lots of Hollywood heavy hitters there like Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo and some Hallmark and soap opera stars like Danica McKellar, Lacey Chabert, Melissa Joan Hart, and so many others you probably watch over and over again.

I got to meet Jen Lilly who is one of the creators of Christmas is Not Cancelled and let me tell you, she’s even more lovely in person!

My good friend Karen and I had the best time kicking around and soaking all things Christmas in. I’m definately going again next year!

stacy ling and Jen lilley at Christmas con
Stacy Ling with Jen Lilley at Christmas Con

Today, Chris and I are heading into to New York City to see a show on Broadway and meet up with my incredible tech support, Mike Zielonka, who I’ve been working with for quite some time now but have yet to meet in real life. We are having dinner with him and his wife after the show, so I’ll tell you more about it next week!

This week, we’ve been having Mackenzie’s room painted and it was a JOB. There was a striped faux finish on the wall that for the longest time, we thought was wallpaper. It was really that good. But wow is it hard to get off the wall.

I wanted to just paint over it, but there was a sticker and foil with lots of glue removing the sticker and just painting over it was not an option. We actually had to sand the walls down because the glue was so bad. Luckily, I called in the big guns for this one, so I haven’t been the one actually working on it. But let me tell you, this one is a job!

stacy ling at the garden nursery

It was a warm week here, so I was outside working on my porches for the holidays. I designed a few Christmas pots for the porch and finished decorating.

Next up, I want to add some Christmas lights and garland around the potager garden. It feels like Christmas decorating is never done! This is why I have to start so early each year.

Oh! And I received a beautiful poinsettia this week that is beyond gorgeous! While it’s in the foil in this photo, I did unwrap after taking this photo it so it’s sitting on a terra cotta saucer now. It adds a pretty pop of color to the sunroom, don’t you think?

red poinsettias in the sunroom that is decorated for christmas with houseplants

What I’m Shopping For This Week

Since my Christmas shopping is done, I ordered a ton of stuff for myself. So Merry Christmas to me!

Here’s what I shopped for this week!

  • It’s almost seed starting season!!!! Woohoo! So I am stocking up on seed-starting soil. I need to get several bags so before I forget, I’m ordering them now. (I’m going to share a list at the end of what I bought here so in case you want to prepare for your seed starting too, you can shop for what you need!)
  • These flameless candles for the piano in my front entry hall.
  • These coasters are for the family room table. I need them and love how organic they are!
  • I ran out of my favorite daily eye cream – this stuff is the best and a must-have in your beauty arsenalt.
  • I also ran out of my favorite facial wash. Let me tell you, I don’t normally spend this much on a wash, but I received this as a gift last year and it’s so mild and became part of my beauty regimen. I needed to get more.
  • And I wanted to try a few of these blush/highlighter colors to see which one I’d gravitate to. I’m so glad you can get it in a gift set!
front porch Christmas Decor with red roses

Must-Have Seed Starting Supplies I Use

What’s Happening at Bricks ‘n Blooms

It was a fun week on the blog!

We’ve been busy here all week long doing all things Christmas! So here’s a quick rundown on what we’ve been up to on the blog.

I shared my go-to soup recipe that is really festive for the holidays too! In fact, I just made this tortellini soup the other night when Shana arrived home from college. Get the recipe here.

I also shared how to make those pretty DIY paper bag snowflakes. This is a great Christmas craft to make with the kids or grandkids for the holidays and beyond. Just don’t make the same mistakes that I did!

Since I was making my outdoor planters for winter this week, I shared three of my designs from years past to give you a few different ideas on how to make them. You can check each one of them out here:

Christmas pots for 2023 farmhouse porch decor

Have you ever wanted to get the designer look for less in your home? I shared some decorating tips to get a Pottery Barn dupe look for Christmas for a fraction of the price. And the savings are big!

I also shared different ways to decorate with Christmas wreaths in your home for the holidays. They can go on more than just your front door. Wait until you see how creative you can be with them.

And finally, I shared my signature Christmas cocktail: the poinsettia drink. Have you ever had one before? They are so easy to make, super festive, and perfect for your holiday bash this year. I made them last year for Christmas Eve and it was so fun to hand them off to guests as they arrive.

poinsettia drink at christmas - an easy christmas cocktail

Amazing Inspiration from Around the Web

I love finding cool inspiration from around the web and wanted to share some of what I’m loving right now.

sunset in the cottage garden in December 2023

If you enjoy these posts, you can find past Bricks ‘n Blooms Weekly posts here.

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Stacy Ling with her book the bricks n blooms guide to a beauitful and easy care flower garden

If you’ve always dreamed of bringing country charm to your home while creating a beautiful, relaxing space, I got you! Learn how to grow flowers in even the smallest of spaces with my easy-care, low-maintenance approach.

A close-up of a vibrant pink and white amaryllis flower in full bloom, with multiple petals and long green leaves. The plant is situated in a cozy indoor setting, with blurred background elements like a lamp and furniture.

Bricks ‘n Blooms Weekly 216

Hi there! I hope you had an amazing week! Random Things Happening Behind the Scenes at Bricks ‘n Blooms Cut Flower Gardening Seed Starting: Phase 2 With winter sowing well underway, now it’s time to get my indoor seeds started! I could have started foxgloves outdoors but they seem to do better for me under…
Read More Bricks ‘n Blooms Weekly 216
A lush flower garden layout with vibrant green foliage features tall sunflowers, white hydrangeas, and pink flowers in bloom. The background is filled with dense, green trees, creating a serene and colorful outdoor setting.

The Essential Flower Garden Planner: Track, Learn, and Grow Your Best Garden Yet

Plan your dream garden! This essential flower garden planner and journal helps you track, learn, and grow your best blooms yet. The thrill of spring planting, the vibrant colors of summer blooms, the satisfying harvest of fall – gardening is a journey of joy, learning, and connection with nature. But amidst the excitement, it’s easy…
Read More The Essential Flower Garden Planner: Track, Learn, and Grow Your Best Garden Yet

Thank you so much for following along.

Enjoy a beautiful day! xo

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The bricks \'n Blooms guide to a beautiful and easy-care flower garden book by stacy ling
The Bricks ‘n Blooms Guide to a Beautiful and Easy Care Flower Garden
  • Have you never met a plant you couldn’t kill?
  • Have you dug around in the dirt with nothing to show for it except a sunburn and a sore back?
  • Do you currently enjoy growing flowers, but are looking for more tips and ideas to level up your gardening game?

Then the Bricks ‘n Blooms Guide is for YOU

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6 Comments

    1. Oh I can’t wait for you ty try it Susan! This is my go-to on nights I don’t know what to make and want something easy, hearty and nutritious.