Tag Archives: christmas gift

Christmas Present Pride

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Christmas Present Pride

Hello!!! This year sucked and I really wanted to spoil my Christmas giftees rotten because we have all diligently worked through these hardships together and I feel it was much deserved. I have so much fun picking out the perfect presents for the people on my list and was eager to get my Christmas shopping started all the way back in August! I love all of the gifts that I selected for everyone under the tree but I am particularly fond of a piece of decor I got for Johnny. I better be, because he hung it up as soon as he took it out of the box! Lol, check it out:

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My Johnny loves the Rolling Stones so much and we were actually going to see them this past June in Cleveland but the concert got cancelled due to COVID. I certainly hope that we can see the Rolling Stones in concert eventually, more for him than for me but it sure would be fun! For Christmas, I got Johnny a few shirts from his favorite online retailer, PHIX. But, when I saw this homemade neon sign on Amazon worthy of being in the coolest bar ever, I just couldn’t say no because I knew he would freaking love it.

I have been looking forward to giving Johnny his Christmas gifts since I purchased them and after we were done with our gift exchange, he could finally see why. I was so tickled that he wanted to find the perfect spot for his new decor immediately. We settled for in our living room but I can’t wait to get a bigger place soon so we can hang it up in a game room.

Hearing Johnny say how much he loved his gifts was a present in itself for me and I can’t look at the neon sign without smiling. The creator of the sign has a ton of really neat designs and I might just have to pick out a girly one for me too! 🙂

Do you have a favorite gift that you gave this year? Where do you find the most unique home decor? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Holiday Haul: BFF Edition

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Holiday Haul: BFF Edition

Hello! For as long as I can remember, my best friend of over twelve years, Lea, and I have had a Christmas gift exchange. Wine is poured, presents are unwrapped, and we spend the whole evening gabbing away about anything and everything. It is one of my favorite holiday traditions and I was so excited to see her during our hang out because, with the pandemic, we are lucky if we see each other once a month. Hanging out was a gift in itself but I am so in love with the thoughtful presents from my bestie. Check it out:

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For birthdays and Christmas, Lea and I always gift each other with a bottle of wine. We have a long standing joke of saying “I wonder what this could be” because there is no way to wrap up wine without it being totally obvious about what’s underneath the paper! Not only do I love a Pink Moscato but I absolutely adore the black and white striped safety seal on the bottle that Lea picked out. She told me right away that she knew that I would like that and, of course, she was right on the money!

Not only did I receive vino but I was also gifted with Bath & Body Works foaming hand soap – my favorite! Nothing beats the holiday scents from B&BW and presents from there are also a huge staple in mine and Lea’s gift giving arsenal because we both know that we will use their products happily. An adorable new glass to enjoy my wine with and some homemade hand soaps wrapped up my haul and I am so thankful for all of the sweet and incredibly useful gifts from my best friend.

Lea and I both revel in the gift giving process of the holidays and I love being able to share in the season with her. I felt so happy after seeing her because she is and always has been a breath of fresh air in my life. She brings me so much joy and I have absolutely NO idea what I would do without her. Here’s to a million more Christmas hang outs together! ❤

How do you and your BFF celebrate the holidays? Do you have any “staples” in your gift giving arsenal? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Ballin’ On A Budget Christmas Gifts

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Ballin’ On A Budget Christmas Gifts

Hi! Christmas is coming in hot and it is no secret that this year’s holiday celebrations will be much different than in 2019. COVID-19 has put a damper on literally everything and many are still out of work and struggling to make ends meet. It is understandable that the holiday season might be stressing out those in a pinch even more so I put together a list of totally sweet and cheap gift ideas that will make anyone’s day. It’s always, always the thought that counts and your giftees will love the following:

Picture this:

Do you have a ton of favorite selfies and pics with one of your giftees? Print a couple out and frame them or print out a bunch and tuck them away in a photo album. I love this gift idea and have used it often, myself. Photos bring you back to happier times like vacations, girls night out, and family get togethers. Everyone can certainly smile more during these times and a pic with you and your giftee will do the trick just fine.

DIY:

Another simple and fun gift idea is all things DIY. How about crafting some holiday ornaments for everyone on your list? Holiday themed decor always goes over well and your options are limitless. Perhaps painted winter scenes to hang up? Homemade bath and body care items or candles? Or you could assemble all of the ingredients to make holiday cookies into a cute Mason jar. DIY gifts are special because no one else in the world will have something like it!

Future fun:

Talk to your giftees about what they are most excited to do when it’s safe. Are they dying to see a movie in theaters? Browse the mall care free for the afternoon? What about dining at their favorite restaurant? Get the deets and present a plan for a day together with those on your list in 2021. This is insanely thoughtful and it shows that you’re listening when your loved ones talk to you. Also, who doesn’t like having something to look forward to?!

Family Day:

Instead of a gift, why not opt to plan a winter wonderland day for your family post or pre Christmas? Host a snowball fight or a trek through the woods. What about ice skating on a lake? Or driving around to look at Christmas lights? It will be such fun to have everyone all together again! Have hot chocolate ready for once you head inside and pop on a Christmas movie or comedy to keep the good vibes going. I would love to do this with my family. 🙂

Books & movies:

I don’t know anyone who isn’t constantly asking for recommendations of books or movies to help ease their pandemic boredom. Choose a new book or movie that you think your giftee would love. It could be one of your favorites, it could be something new from their fave author or actor – heck, it could be something totally random! Either way, you are providing some entertainment for everyone on your list and they will be most appreciative when they feel like there is “nothing” to do.

The holidays shouldn’t be a stressful time so try and enjoy yourself! Easier said than done, I know. But, as I said before, the thought you put into your gifts is the most important thing so use the ideas above to help get you started. ❤

How is your holiday shopping going? Do you have a gift you are really excited to give? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

The Ultimate Christmas Gift Guide For Her This Christmas

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December is nearly here, which means Christmas is nearly here! Have you got your tree up yet? I know a lot of people that get their decorations out right after Thanksgiving. It is such a fun time of year, full of good food, laughter, family, and gifts. The latter can be a little stressful, though. Buying gifts can be tricky when you’re not sure what on earth they would like. We all know that one person that seems to be impossible to shop for, right? But you don’t need to look any further; I have the ultimate Christmas gift guide for you right here. Whether it is your grandma, mom, sister, daughter, or a friend, I have plenty of ideas for you. So grab a coffee and have a read through these suggestions. I hope that this is really useful for you!

For the Home: There are lots of great gifts that you can get for people to have in their home. It helps if you have been in their home and seen their style, though. But some gifts that work well for everyone are things like scented candles. I don’t think I know of anyone what wouldn’t enjoy getting these as a gift. Choose some seasonal scents and they can fill their home with the lovely scent of cinnamon and clove, for example. If you know that they already have quite a lot of scented candles, you could choose to get them some candle accessories. Candle holders, votive holders, or trays are a great idea. For larger jar candles, you can even get little ‘lampshades’ to put on top of them. It makes them look really cute and cozy, so perfect for a gift at this time of year.

Other things for the home could be throws and pillows. I think little items like this add such a touch of luxury to the home. They are also things that people might not necessarily buy for themselves. Thick, chunky knit throws are stylish at the moment and perfect for winter. If you are on a tight budget, you could even knit one. There are a lot of tutorials online of how to make one. And because they are so chunky, you don’t even need to use knitting needles most of the time. It will be an extra nice gift to give when it is a homemade one!

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 Love!

Storage Accessories: One of my favorite gift giving methods is getting a cute basket and filling it with goodies. You can make it as big or as small as you’d like so it works really well for all budgets. Grab a storage accessory that can be used after the gifts are emptied and get creative. To keep it cheaper, you could make some treats for them. How about some homemade jam or jelly? You could make some cookies to put in there, as well as some truffles or even oil infusions. Just go with what the recipient loves and you can make it specific to them. Another thing that I love about giving a little goodie basket as a gift is that you can make it completely unique for the recipient. If you’re short on time or your budget is a little more elaborate, then you could add in some wine or a bottle of chocolate liquor. Hello, spiked holiday hot chocolate!

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I would love that gift set!

Clothing Accessories: Another gift idea that I utilize often are clothing accessories. They aren’t as full on as a piece of clothing so it is easier to get it right. As long as you know their general style, it can be easy to pick something out for them. It could be a scarf or pashmina, for example. You can buy them in all sorts of colors and patterns these days so you can find something to suit every taste. You could even think about getting them a hat and scarf combo, too. Bobble hats are on trend for this winter so that could be a cute idea. If you are buying a gift for someone that is going through chemotherapy or suffers from hair loss, then a hat could be perfect for them – especially with such frigid weather. You could even look somewhere like Hats with Heart for lots of different styles.

Other accessories that I think work well for gifts are pieces of jewelry like necklaces and bracelets. The reason I haven’t mentioned rings is that you need to know someone’s ring size for that. Necklaces, earrings, and bracelets are generally all a ‘one size fits all’ type of thing so you will never have a problem with them not fitting. You could choose some chunkier style costume jewelry if that is more their thing or go for a classic piece or silver or gold jewelry. Just check on their style and the color of jewelry that they already wear. If they have a lot of gold rings, then they’d most likely want a gold one to match, rather than silver.

Technology: As much as I’m sure a few of us would like to buy our sisters or moms a brand new Macbook, we can’t all afford to do so. There are some options for technology and gadgets, though, for all budgets. A tablet or e-reader will still be on the expensive side, but cheaper than a computer. If you know someone that already has something like a Kindle, then you could get them a gift card to be able to download and read some new books. My boyfriend gifted me with a Kindle for our anniversary and I LOVE it! It is great for playing games, watching Netflix, and browsing the web from the comfort of a plush arm chair.

Otherwise, I think getting some accessories for their existing tech is a fun idea. There are lots of phone covers, laptop skins, or tablet covers that you can buy. So have a look out for what you think might be their style. Your grandma or mom might like a custom cover, with photos of the kids or grandkids on it, for example, which makes that gift a little bit more special and thoughtful. Personalized gifts can take a little longer to make and have them delivered so it is worth looking into something like that now. We are so close to Christmas once December comes around.

Headphones are also always a good idea, especially if you have a family member or friend that commutes or goes to the gym regularly. You can get wireless headphones now too, so they are a funky and modern gift.

Homemade Coupons: This works well if you still live with the person you are giving the gift to so a sister, daughter or mom, for example. You could put together a coupon booklet, full of things specific to them. Then they can redeem them throughout the year. It could be full of things like ‘good for one trip to the mall with me’ or ‘good for one back massage,’ as examples. If it was for your mom or grandma, it could be for a trip out for afternoon tea, or a night off from the kids, for instance. It could even be some more fun things like having breakfast for dinner on their chosen day or having a ‘treat pass’ which they can cash in for something like Starbucks or their favorite candy. The great thing is that you can make it completely personal. It is also an awesome budget gift idea which is perfect for when things are a little bit tight. It is sweet and thoughtful too, so your recipient will love it as it will mean much more than a store-bought gift.

Kitchen Gadgets: We all know a foodie, right? So there are several options that you can get for them to make their life in the kitchen easier. It could be something like a spiralizer or a julienne peeler. Then they can make zoodles or courgetti to their heart’s content. A juicer is also a gift that will be super useful to a foodie friend. That, a blender, mini food processor, or stick blender are all good ideas, too. As a treat, something like a waffle iron or crepe pan would make an awesome gift (hopefully, one that you’d get to reap the rewards of)! Bakeware is also always a fabulous idea. How about some colorful silicone bakeware that is so on trend these days?

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Bathroom Treats: We all shower or take a bath (I hope!) so we would all make use of things like shower gel, shampoo, and bubble bath soap. You could get a little bathroom set for them, full of all things like lotion, perfume, bath bombs, or bath gel. It isn’t necessarily the most creative gift ever but it is a gift that will definitely be utilized and appreciated. You could choose more luxurious brands than they would choose for themselves, which then makes the gift a little fancier. Another gift idea could be something like an electric toothbrush. This would work well with a niece or daughter, especially if it was one of their favorite characters on the toothbrush.

Who has finished their holiday shopping already? Who is the most difficult person in your family or group of friends to shop for? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Early Christmas Shopping

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Early Christmas Shopping

Hello!! I know a ton of you are reading this title with a slight eye roll because Christmas is far away but yes… I did start shopping already. I promise it’s for good reason too because I have a ton of people to shop for. Not only do I have all of my family but I also have Johnny, his parents, my clients, and a new niece and nephew to share in the holiday spirit with.

I decided that I would like to knock out at least a couple of people on my list per month so that I am not stuck with a giant bill come December. I also feel a huge sense of relief when I am that much closer to purchasing all of the gifts I plan to put under the tree.

This past month, I decided to spoil my little niece rotten and I am so stoked about one of the items I ordered. Those with small children to shop for might be interested in this ultra fun and creative gift too:

Several months ago, I saw this inflatable, washable easel for finger painting advertised on Facebook and I thought it was such a fabulous idea. I could picture my sister and brother in law setting it up for my niece in their backyard on a nice summer day and having a ball with it. My niece will be older than two by the time it gets warm enough to use it and I can’t wait to see the masterpieces that she comes up with.

I figured that my niece is pretty well stocked for activities that she can use now – you should see her playroom! So, I wanted to purchase gifts that would be fun for her to use as she gets older. Her inflatable easel is what I am particularly excited for but I know Johnny is most looking forward to the tiny guitar he plans on getting her. It’s never too early to start lessons with her uncle! ❤

When do you normally start holiday shopping? Do you have a lot of people to shop for? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feeling Blue? Get In The Christmas Spirit Early!

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Feeling Blue? Get In The Christmas Spirit Early!

Christmas will be here before we know it. It’s scary how quick this whole year has gone and everything that has happened. But with recent events it is understandable that many of our minds just naturally wander to Christmas and some of the brighter times we have in the future. Chase the Christmas spirit by getting organized early. You won’t believe how less stressful Christmas time can be when you don’t leave things to the last minute. With that in mind, here are some top tips to get ready for the festive season ahead:

Create lists:

Writing up a list can save you a lot of hassle and time. It’s a way of downloading all those ideas you have in your mind and having them safe somewhere for you to refer back to. List what you need to do, who you need to buy for, gift ideas, and budgets. Check things off as you go along and you’ll be holiday season ready in no time.

What about the Christmas budget?

The sooner you start thinking about Christmas might be the moment you start to panic about the financial side of things. Many people save up throughout the year, but others may find that that they need some extra help around the holiday season. This is when looking at ways to finance the Christmas period could be useful. Many then use the following months to start planning and paying things back off.

Plan a party:

Planning a Christmas party filled with gifts, games, good food, and beautiful decor could be just what you need to give yourself something to look forward to and keep you busy. You will have a guest list to prep, a menu made according to food sensitivities of your guests, games and a playlist to perfect, and of course you will need a venue to host at. The venue is something you will want to book well ahead of time before it gets filled for the holiday season. To get started, simply enter a search for “Christmas party venues Brisbane” (or your local area) to find an amazing location in your budget. It will make the decor aspect of your party much easier to visualize when you have your venue already selected.

Get those holiday cards written:

With all of the writing and sending off of Christmas cards in time for the actual day, it might be best to get them out of the way now. The same can be said for if you decide to throw a Christmas party or gathering. One of the biggest jobs is getting those party invitations sent out to your guests. Again, give yourself plenty of time to do this and consider having them printed to save on time.

Start bulk buying the food:

We know that Christmas is a time of eating and drinking with friends and family. While you can’t stock up on the fresh stuff, you can begin to buy in the food and drink that will last. This helps spread the cost of Christmas over a few weeks instead of feeling the pinch in one big food bill.

Buy gifts when you see them:

If you are out shopping and you are suddenly inspired for a gift idea, get it there and then. You will either forget it or regret it if you don’t purchase it. Buying gifts early can not only help spread the cost but it also gets you super organized. You may want to look at the gifts for the day and also any stocking fillers, things such as Christmas sweaters and shirts could be a good option to buy now and websites like UglyChristmasSweater.com have a great selection.

Start wrapping early:

Finally, when you buy a gift wrap it up and put it away. The last thing you want is a huge pile of gifts to wrap all at once. You will feel so much better knowing this job is done and you are prepared for the big day ahead.

Let’s hope these top tips will assist in getting you organized for the Christmas season and help improve your current 2020 blahs!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

TJMaxx Skin Care Haul

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TJMaxx Skin Care Haul

Hi! Post Christmas, I had a huge skin care haul at TJMaxx, thanks to the numerous gift cards I received from my family and friends. I bought myself a three month supply of all of the skin care that I need in my daily routine and, now that March is officially upon us, my stock pile has run dry. So, I had to snag a few moisturizers and serums to maintain my regimen:

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The Haul:

  • 2 SkinLab Lift & Firm Moisturizers
  • Valjean Labs Revive Day Serum
  • Provence Beauty Ferulic Acid Day Serum

While shopping skin care this time around, I wasn’t so worried about finding moisturizers as I was with finding serums. I am obsessed with the SkinLab products and TJMaxx always has a healthy supply of their moisturizers, so I was able to grab two more of the Lift & Firm formula, which is what I have been hooked on.

Unfortunately, SkinLab’s Lift & Firm Serum was a bust because the one fluid ounce size had nowhere near the longevity that I look for in a product. I was using up one bottle in three weeks and, for seven dollars a pop, I am not okay with that. So, I went for a few new serums, instead.

Whenever I see a Vitamin C formula for a serum, I tend to gravitate towards it because radiant skin is important to me. I have used a different Provence Beauty serum before and was really pleased with it so I decided to give one of their other formulas a shot. Valjean Labs isn’t a brand I’m familiar with but, it reminded me of my niece’s name which is Valerie Jane so it can’t be all that bad, right?! 😉

Once again, TJMaxx answered all of my skin care needs and I can’t wait to work old and potentially new favorites into my routine!

What is your favorite skin care brand? What is important for you when it comes to skin care? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

New Champagne Pink & Deep Purple Glitter Nails

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New Champagne Pink & Deep Purple Glitter Nails

Hi! For Christmas, my boyfriend’s parents and aunt were all kind enough to give me gift cards to my stomping grounds of Elysian Nails. It was so sweet and not paying for my new set of nails was even sweeter! My old set was definitely ready to come off and I say good riddance, because these new acrylics have me feeling like a million bucks. Take a look at some pictures and let’s discuss. Although, you will surely be able to tell which pictures my boyfriend took and which were taken by me!

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Before anyone asks, yes, the palms of my hands are tattooed! I recently did a tap out tattoo session and got thirteen new ones in a matter of nine hours, my palms included. I am absolutely obsessed with them and needed some sassy new nails to go with my sky high “just inked” confidence. We all know by now that Lil Red is a lover of all things pretty and looking down at my palm tattoos and fresh new nails never ceases to put a smile on my face.

I was in the mood for some fun colors when I got my nails done and wasn’t quite sure what to pick. I examined hot pinks and pondered over an electric blue but wasn’t feeling any of them. Despite it being in mid January, we have had a very mild winter here in Akron, Ohio. But, it is winter none of the less, so I decided to go for something darker.

Deep berry shades are a popular choice during the winter months and I have never done a dark purple before so I thought I would give it a try. I love the inky midnight hue offset by the girly pop of metallic pink. Each of the colors I chose have glitter in them but just a slight dusting, which offers a little fairy magic every time they hit the light.

This isn’t a combination that I was too confident with but I am so happy with the end result. Although we have had temperatures of up to seventy degrees this winter (Crazy!), I am not quite ready to break out a bikini and tropical colored nails any time soon. But, the eye catching shimmer of my new nails will keep me in a sunny disposition until the warmer seasons officially hit!

What color of nail polish do you have on? Which colors do you prefer on your nails during the winter? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Accessory Story: Mia Fiore Necklace Edition

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Accessory Story: Mia Fiore Necklace Edition

Salutations everyone and welcome to the last post from my TJMaxx holiday gift card haul. Despite not having always been a jewelry girl, my penchant for the bling has grown as I’ve gotten older. I used to find simple jewelry as boring and bold jewelry as gaudy. But, now I know that the right accessory can enhance your look from an eight to a ten with the mere choice of a necklace or bracelet. And, yes, I do love the gaudy jewelry now! I am looking forward to spicing up my OOTDs with the unique necklace seen below by Mia Fiore:

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Although I used to turn my nose up at the flashy spectacle of bright yellow gold necklaces, they seem to be all I’ve been buying lately! I absolutely love them. I am a huge fan of a chunky gold chain with an interesting focal point and, when I saw this beauty hanging up (On sale, mind you!), I couldn’t pass it by. The grooved chain links? The over the top color? A historical coin?! Ugh, forget about it. Especially because I pictured it looking oh so cute with the polka dot button down you saw yesterday. 😀

As, yes, how sassy and chic this Mia Fiore piece will be with button downs. But, pair with a shorter length necklace for best results, as this chain has some length to it. Going from work to Happy Hour? Ditch your button down for a white V-neck undershirt, slip on your necklaces and some heels, rinse, repeat. And don’t forget a badass *faux* leather jacket!

How do you take a look from day to night? Do you prefer silver or gold jewelry? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

New Ralph Lauren Polka Dot Button Down

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New Ralph Lauren Polka Dot Button Down

Howdy! As I get older, I become less worried about buying trendy clothing as opposed to classic pieces that I will have for forever. While shopping, I look for quality as well as timeless shapes with a little bit of that Lil Rid pizazz to keep it interesting. I am a huge fan of button down tops for that reason, because you can dress them up or down, they fit well, and you can always find them in a fun pattern. Like this Ralph Lauren button down, for example:

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I absolutely love this top for a few reasons. The navy blue base with the bright green polka dots definitely makes a statement. And, the fit of it is form fitting without being too tight as to leave spaces in between the buttons. This is definitely a problem for me as a more busty girl and it’s hard to find a button down that I can buy in my actual size as opposed to one larger, making it loose and less flattering. I felt good and downright sexy in my button down because I didn’t have to worry about button bulges or it being too tight over my breasts.

I also am excited about all of the styling possibilities that come with this shirt. Obviously, it is super appropriate for business casual work meetings. But, the real fun will come in styling this top for play. I can see myself wearing this little RL number tucked into shorts during the summer time along with a fun pair of espadrilles and a floppy hat for an OOTD perfect for hitting the outdoor farmers markets with. Don’t forget the big sunglasses!

How do you dress a button down up or down? What are some timeless pieces that you have in your closet? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah