Category Archives: Holidays

Jan4

If The Shoe Fits: Unisa Ankle Booties Edition

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If The Shoe Fits: Unisa Ankle Booties Edition

Howdy! This brand spanking new edition of If The Shoe Fits is compliments of my holiday haul from my mom and dad. When the countdown to Christmas approaches, I always give my mom a friendly push in the right direction of what to buy me. AKA: Shoes, shoes, and more shoes. I will scour the TJMaxx website and send some links her way and then hope and pray for shoe box sized packages beneath the tree.

Thankfully, my mom got the message loud and clear and I ended up with these pretty new babies by Unisa:

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What drew me to these ankle booties was there texture. I absolutely love an animal print on shoes and am partial to (Faux!) snakeskin. I never really thought about a pseudo crocodile pattern because I’ve never seen anything like that before. When I saw my new Unisa boots, I knew that I had to have them because they are so different from the millions of other pairs that I own.

Of course, I am looking forward to sporting these booties for the rest of the winter season. But, this past summer I grew very fond of rocking a combination of short shorts with ankle or combat boots and frilly socks. Summer is probably my least favorite time of the year for styling because the option for jackets and layering goes out the window. So, a cool combination of girly sweet frills and rocker chic boots keeps me feeling edgy and confident with just shorts and a T-shirt on. My Christmas gift is just what the doctor ordered to continue on with this tradition come summertime!

What is your favorite season to style for? What fashion items do you like finding under your tree? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan3

Holiday Haul: Sister & Brother In Law Edition

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Holiday Haul: Sister & Brother In Law Edition

Hello everyone! No matter what winter holiday you celebrate, I trust that all of you had a wonderful time celebrating with friends and family. I know I did! Now, I hate to toot my own horn but I am usually the MVP of Christmas in my family. I live for holiday shopping and I love gifting those close to me with something special. Unsurprisingly, my title was bequeathed onto me again this year. However, my sister and brother in law, Kristen and Ramon, did a bang up job themselves! Check it out:

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Kristen and Ramon treated me to a lovely red flannel button down from Express, a handmade beanie from our friend’s Etsy shop, and some Better Than Sex mascara for my beauty hoard. I absolutely love my flannel and I feel so spoiled because I never shop at Express, as it is a bit out of my price range. I am really excited to pair it with my new knitted beanie for a look to keep me comfy and cozy all winter long. Pair with your favorite leggings, rinse, repeat.

And, of course, you can never go wrong with gifting me the Better Than Sex mascara by Too Faced. Granted, I have two back up tubes already but now I won’t have to buy any more for a good long while. I am so touched by the thought that went into these gifts by my sister and brother in law and I am looking forward to putting all of it to good use. ❤

Do you like to shop on Etsy? What is your favorite Etsy shop? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan2

Holiday Haul: Boyfriend’s Family Edition

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Holiday Haul: Boyfriend’s Family Edition

Hello everyone! I was so thankful this past year to spend another beautiful holiday with my boyfriend, Johnny’s, family on Christmas Eve. We spent the whole day together opening gifts, playing games, enjoying a delicious meal, and watching their yearly viewing of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. It was such a blast taking part in their family traditions and my time between their house on Christmas Eve and my family’s on Christmas day made it the best holiday yet.

I was just happy to be a part of the day with my boyfriend’s family but I was completely blown away by their generosity. Check it out:

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As you can see, Johnny’s family knows me pretty well already considering I was treated to gift cards to all of my favorite places: TJMaxx, Elysian Nails, Marshalls, and Dunkin’ Donuts. It was so sweet, because Johnny’s aunt gifted both myself and his mom to a gift card to Elysian so we could get mani pedis together. I’m really looking forward to making a date of it with lunch or coffee thrown into the mix for a perfect girls day.

And, of course, you can never go wrong with giving me chocolate and bath and body care as a present, because I can always put all of that to good use! I am also very excited to break out my adult coloring book set. I used to use those all of the time and just fell out of it so it will be nice to get back into it with such lovely pictures and supplies.

Honestly, my boyfriend’s family didn’t have to get me one damn thing but I am so grateful and touched that they did. I can’t wait for more holidays and hang outs with each of them and my life is so much better for having them in it! ❤

Where did you spend your holidays at? What is one of your favorite Christmas movies to watch? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan1

Holiday Haul: Sweet Friends Edition

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Holiday Haul: Sweet Friends Edition

Hello hello! This Christmas, I was so touched to receive some lovely gifts from two of my dear friends. One of which is my neighbor, Alice, at my family home who has been one of my besties for years now. What started out as me dog sitting her pups has turned into weekly coffee dates and hang outs and I treasure our time together so much.

Another was from my skating coach, Sarah, who I’ve known since I was at least eight years old. I love our weekly skating seshes and am so happy to have her in my life again since I rekindled my passion for figure skating. Check it out:

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Alice provided the prezzies on the left and she truly does know me so well because she got me all of my favorite things: Anything dog related, candles, and gift cards to Starbucks and TJMaxx! Alice and I always spoil each other during gift giving occasions and I definitely view her as a second mom while she sees me as the daughter she never had as a mom of three boys! We had such a lovely morning of coffee and chit chat during our gift exchange and I feel so incredibly lucky to have her as one of my best friends.

My skating coach, Sarah, gifted me with an adorable pencil pouch filled with goodies to utilize in my skating binder, which she writes notes in during our practices. It included chapstick and tons of great office supplies that will come in handy on and off the rink! I was so tickled by this thoughtful gift because it’s something that I will be putting to good use and I have already made quite a dent in the delicious sugar plum scented lip chap!

I am so thankful for having such sweet friends to share holiday cheer with and am blessed to have two wonderful women looking out for me. ❤

Do you have a second mom in your life? Have you rekindled an old passion recently? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec30

Holiday Haul: Light Of My Life Edition

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Holiday Haul: Light Of My Life Edition

Hi! One of my clients that I work with is an older man with Down Syndrome and I always call him the “light of my life” because it’s the honest to god truth. This fellow has me wrapped around his little finger and everyone knows it! We have so much fun together and it really is nothing short of a delight to be his provider.

My friend has been looking forward to Christmas for months and months now. In fact, I think he started looking forward to this year’s Christmas the day after last year’s Christmas. In preparation for the big day, we decorated the tree and have played nonstop Christmas movies and music. It absolutely tickles me to see his love for this time of the year and he is the epitome of what the holiday season is all about.

During my last day of work before a holiday break, we had our gift exchange and I was surprised with all of the following:

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^^^ Note that the bottle of wine was from his brother!

I had to have a silent laugh when I opened my presents because I’m pretty sure that my client just gives people stuff that’s in his room for Christmas. And, that’s what made it so unbelievably perfect. My friend knows that I have no holiday decorations at my home and I’m sure that’s why he gave me my little Precious Moments penguin that is seriously the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.

But, can we please talk about my caricature?! I am so excited to hang it up on my wall because I am all about having quirky things at chez moi and it just might be one of my favorite gifts that I’ve ever received. It was obvious how much thought he put into picking out his presents for me and they are going to be treasured for forever. ❤

What do you gift your work friends with? What was your favorite gift that you got this holiday season? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec25

Merry Christmas!!

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Merry Christmas!!

Hello everyone and a very Merry Christmas to all of you! No matter how you celebrate in the holiday season, I hope that it has been a happy time full of warmth, love, family, and friends. I have been looking forward to Christmas day for a long time now and I’m sure everyone else on my gift list has been too, so that I can quit badgering them to let me announce what I bought for them!! But, the time is finally here and I can’t wait to see everyone’s reactions to their presents.

Last Christmas, I was recovering from a horrible surgery gone wrong and couldn’t enjoy anything about the day. I was in an insane amount of pain and I may or may not have shit my pants while everyone was eating Christmas dinner… but that’s a story for another time. THE POINT IS, that this year I get to actually be mentally and physically present for one of my favorite days with my beautiful family and boyfriend and I am going to revel in every minute of it.

I am so thankful to be well enough to have a great day and my Christmas wish is that the same goes for all of you on your celebrated holidays or Christmas. As always, thank you for your continued love and support and happy holidays to all! Much love. -Sarah

Dec23

How To Make Your Home Feel Like Christmas

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How To Make Your Home Feel Like Christmas

It’s winter, the days are shorter, and the feeling of wanting to stay inside and watch movies is getting stronger by the minute. Not to worry, most of us have had the winter blues at some point. Christmas is an excellent opportunity to get into the festive spirit, decorate your home, and invite friends and family over to enjoy the holidays with you. Here’s how to make your home feel like Christmas for your celebrations:

Make it smell nice:

Having Kindred Fires scented candles around the house can do wonders for getting you into the festive spirit. Feel free to change candles throughout the week, and try pine-scented candles as well as clove and cinnamon. Along with candles, if you have a real Christmas tree, the natural smell of pine will go beautifully with other Christmasy scents. Feel free to make your own candles if you’re feeling particularly adventurous!

Make warming recipes:

A delicious way to dine this Christmas is to create wholesome dishes that will keep you warm this winter. While you may want to save yourself for the big day, the Christmas period is a time for indulging so don’t feel bad for having a few extra treats. Recipes that taste particularly good when it’s cold include soups, stews, and roasted vegetables. Traditional recipes and comfort food can be enjoyed in abundance during this time. Try to cook this recipe for homemade chicken and drop dumplings, a delicious recipe that is both seasonal and harks back to grandma’s cooking.

Light it up:

Placing lights around your house will automatically give it a Christmas feeling. Keep the lighting warm and low, with soft lamps and candles rather than overhead lighting. Outdoor lights will go wonderfully in your backyard, especially when the sun has set and you look outside your window in the evening. There are many kinds of lights that you can go for, but consider using energy-saving lights, as the cost of lighting decorations and electric lights over Christmas can be very expensive.

Set up treats around your home:

Setting up bowls or jars around the house filled with Christmas goodies is a nice way to enjoy some sweet treats while also functioning as decoration. Cute ideas include filling these bowls or jars with candy canes, chocolate coins, and marshmallows. Having these treats on hand is great when you’re making hot chocolate, as you can grab a couple of marshmallows or chocolate pieces to add on top.

Blankets, throws, and cushions:

Staying cozy at home with a blanket and a cup of hot chocolate or mulled cider automatically makes me feel Christmasy. Having blankets and throws on your couch adds a nice winter feel, especially if you are lucky enough to have a natural fire. Thick knit blankets and woolen cushion covers are both comfy and fashionable additions to your interior design.

Spending time with loved ones is the best way to enjoy Christmas. After all, that’s what the season is all about. How ever you choose to enjoy the winter period, keep it festive with the tips above!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Dec22

Happy Haulidays: Blogging BFF Edition

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Happy Haulidays: Blogging BFF Edition

Helloooo! Lil Red had a terrific day on Monday compliments of the United States Postal Service. I received the rest of my shoes from Dolls Kill AND a surprise Christmas present from the beautiful Kate of Live In The Nautical. I was so excited to see something from my Gemini twin and blogging soul sister, especially after a fantastic hour and a half FaceTime session the week before. :*)

Kate is an amazing gift giver and I was so blown away by the gorgeous bracelet by Emerson Victoria that it literally made me gasp when I saw it. And, a Golden Wonder bath bomb from Lush doesn’t hurt, either! Check it out:

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When it comes to gift giving, Kate always seems to know what you need before you do. I had no idea that a wrap around bracelet with silver skulls peppered in was my latest obsession until I’ve worn it every day since Monday! Whether it be a cute piece of home decor or a Harry Potter themed bracelet, Kate will manage to find something that is so personal to you because, like the wonderful friend that she is, she listens and pays attention to things like your favorite pattern or if you prefer gold or silver jewelry (Or black, in my case!).

I am incredibly thankful to have had Kate in my life for the past several years now and I’m so happy to have shared another holiday with her. Despite being in different states, we still can send each other holiday cheer and text nonstop, as per usual, and that is so special to me. I feel proud to have Kate as one of my dearest friends and am looking forward to another Blogger’s Conference hopefully in 2020! ❤

Who is your Blogging BFF? Have you ever met any of your blogging friends in real life? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec19

Gorgeous Gifts For The Girls In Your Life

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Gorgeous Gifts For The Girls In Your Life

Gift giving is an excellent way to show love and appreciation to those that are important in your life, especially at Christmas time. Of course, for the genuinely special loved ones such as the female friends in your life, pre-bought gift sets just aren’t going to cut it! Instead, you will want something more thoughtful and personal. Fortunately, we’ve given this matter some thought and came up with some suggestions. The best of which you can read below:

Flowers:

Flowers aren’t just for romantic couples. In fact, they have traditionally been given as a token of affection of friendship for hundreds of years. Something that makes them an excellent choice for a gift that shows the girls in your life how much you care. There are several options to consider when gifting flowers too, like having an elaborate display delivered to a friend’s work or bringing a single bloom when you visit their home.

You may even wish to get deeper into the language of flowers if you’d like to convey even more meaning. For example, as you can see from the post at thelanguageofflowers.com a bouquet of yellow roses is a way to express friendship, while sunflowers demonstrate loyalty and longevity.

Jewelry:

Another popular gift for the ladies is jewelry. Of course, you do not have to spend a fortune to find a piece that your friends will love. In fact, you will find that there are numerous sites online that provide personalized pieces of jewelry at a reasonable price. You can then use a guide like the one at rogersandhollands.com to select a birthstone or engraving that can be customized to your choice. Thus giving you the perfect opportunity not just to get something beautiful, but to get a gift that is meaningful and lasting, as well.

Something personalized to their interests:

One of the best ways you can show your friends how much you care for them is to choose them a gift that is based on their own interests and passions. The good news here, is that if you know what their hobbies or interests are, you can use the gift guides at sites like allthestuff.com to find a present that suits them down to a T.

Something customized:

Finally, if you are looking for a gift that is a lot more personal than something you can buy off the shelf, why not go for a custom item? There is a vast range of products to choose from that can be monogrammed or customized, including clothes, ornaments, purses, and even photo books and calendars.

That is not the only way to customize items, either. Actually, there are now some makers that specialize in creating art that includes images and words representing the recipient’s most favorite things. This being an option that means the person you gift it to will get a great decoration for their home. While at the same time will be shown how well you know them and how much their friendship means to you.

Show all of your favorite ladies how much you value their presence with the gifts above!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Dec19

BFF Holiday Haul

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BFF Holiday Haul

Hellooo! This past weekend, my best friend, Lea, came over for a holiday hang out. Gifts were exchanged, champagne was poured, and a fun time was had by all! I absolutely love gift giving occasions with Lea because we always seem to buy each other the same style of gifts. We both live for wine, candles, and bath and body care and that’s usually what makes up both of our holiday hauls. But we are definitely okay with that! Check out what my BFF gifted me with:

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Lea always picks me out the cutest little knick knacks that are awesome for my apartment. You can see a lot of the decor that I’ve received from her throughout the years scattered around my place and it never ceases to make me smile. I adore my new wine themed magnets that are already displayed on my fridge and the “classy bitch” glass is my new favorite!

I’m looking forward to having a pampering night complete with my new candle, a glass (or bottle) of the moscato, and the aromatherapy bubble bath to give me the perfect night’s sleep. Lea and I had the best time girl talking the night away, popping bubbly, and just enjoying each other’s company. I am so thankful to have her as my BFF and can’t wait to begin wedding festivities as one of her bridesmaids. :)))

What do you like to gift your best friends with? How do you have the ultimate girl’s night in? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah