Tag Archives: holiday haul

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

Holiday Haul: Surprise Gift Edition

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Holiday Haul: Surprise Gift Edition

Hello!! For those of you who don’t know, my “big girl” job is as an Independent Provider for people with special needs. I am proud to say that I have worked throughout the entirety of this pandemic and I am even prouder of my county’s board of Developmental Disabilities for taking such good care of all of their employees. From care packages filled with PPE as well as wonderful donations of games and crafting supplies to help keep our clients entertained, we have not been without during the pandemic and it is SO, so, so appreciated.

As if all of the supplies and encouraging emails weren’t enough, my county’s DD board provided us providers with a special gift for the holidays. I was so surprised by this generosity and I am in love with my prezzies picked out just for us. Check it out:

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For my surprise gift, I received a beautiful travel mug filled with caramel and chocolate covered popcorn. I also got the most comfortable pair of socks I have ever owned with “Making A Difference” on one foot and “It’s What I Do!” on the other. How awesome is that?! This gift absolutely touched me and not only did I feel appreciated for the work that I do but it put me in the best mood all day. I was so eager for Johnny to come home from work to show off my spoils and the discovery that my new socks are perfect for sliding around on our hard wood floors!

I love my job so much and would never expect anything in return and I think that’s why these presents mean so much to me. I can’t wait to fill up my travel mug with hot coffee in the morning because I already know it will put a smile on my face. How can the sweet messages printed on the front and back not?!

What makes you feel appreciated? How has your job changed throughout the pandemic? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Holiday Haul: My Friend Edition

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Holiday Haul: My Friend Edition

Hello! It is a very rare thing for me to take time off from work. Mainly because I love my job but also having no paid time off, lol. However, I have taken two weeks off so I can safely celebrate Christmas with my family. I have had such fun enjoying the holiday season with my clients. From online shopping for the perfect presents for each of them to decking out their homes with Christmas decor – it really doesn’t get much better than that!

On my last week of work before my holiday vacation, one of my dear friends who I have the joy of working with bestowed these beautiful gifts onto me. Check it out:

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My pal and I love to color together and I am tickled that he selected a coloring book and colored pencils just for me. I am so excited to bring the Buggie Buddies book with me the next time I watch my niece because she loves stickers and creating masterpieces with crayons. The Malley’s Chocolates are delicious and tastes like a fancy Heath Bar, which is perfect because that’s one of my favorite candies. I also love the Christmas card that came with my gifts – it is absolutely adorable!

Nothing is more special to me than the gifts that my sweet friends have chosen. Honestly, the selection above is already my favorite gift and it isn’t even Christmas yet. I know how much thought and care went into picking these gifts out – from the carefully wrapped package to the contents inside that are filled with such happy memories. I know my friend is going to love the present I got for him and I cannot wait to call him on Christmas day when he opens it! ❤

What is one of your favorite gifts that you have received? Is there a gift that you’re really excited about giving this year? 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

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

Holiday Haul: Last But Not Least Edition

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Holiday Haul: Last But Not Least Edition

Hellooo! The last gift from my Holiday Haul, but certainly not the least, that I would like to share with all of you is from my dear old dad. Last year, I was gifted with a true crime daily calendar from my dad that was an absolute hit. In fact, it was one of the first gifts that I think my dad actually picked out for me, instead of just having “from mom and dad” written on the label.

With the calendar being such a success last year, I was presented with the 2020 version from my dad and I am very happy with it! Check it out:

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A day to day calendar is truly the gift that keeps on giving, especially if you are interested in the subject. I, for one, am a huge lover of all things true crime and it makes changing the page every day exciting because I never know what I am going to learn about next! It will also be especially fun to tuck into this calendar with my boyfriend because he is a true crime aficionado, as well, and we love flipping through the pages together.

Although this gift may seem simple, so much thought went into it and I am thrilled to be welcoming 2020 with a present that was seemingly made for me!

What is the subject of your calendar? Where are my true crime fans at? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Accessory Story: Jessica McClintock Cape Edition

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Accessory Story: Jessica McClintock Cape Edition

Greetings everyone and welcome to the last of my Holiday Haul from my parents! One of Lil Red’s loves definitely has to be faux fur. From jackets and vests to cool collars, I just think that they add the perfect touch of edgy glam to any look. And the funny thing? I used to think that they made an outfit look cheap! It’s funny how your sense of style evolves over time and my mom definitely got the hint of my ever changing look by picking me out this beauty by Jessica McClintock:

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It was such a trip, because a week or so before Christmas, my mom asked me to get her her slippers from her closet AKA her present hiding spot. So, I went to grab her slippers and discovered this gorgeous cape hanging there. I came downstairs and immediately told her “I LOVE that cape, when did you get it?”. I really thought nothing of it, because my mom is quite the trendy lil lady herself and I figured she purchased it for her own use. So, imagine my surprise when it was waiting for me under the tree!

Aside from the faux fur, I just love the color of this little number. Forest green is a color that never ceases to look amazing me. I hate to toot my own horn, but TOOT, TOOT, TOOT. With my pasty pale skin and red hair, it just makes everything pop and I am all about it. I cannot wait to pair this over all of my sweaters for the rest of the winter. But, it will be so fabulous for a chilly summer night and I can already see myself snuggling up in it during late evening drinks on the patio.

What color looks the best on you? How do you feel about faux fur? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Accessory Story: Betsey Johnson Earrings Edition

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Accessory Story: Betsey Johnson Earrings Edition

Salutations and welcome to a new Accessory Story compliments of my Holiday Haul from my parents. Betsey Johnson has always been a designer who has spoke to me. From her crazy cartwheels on the runway to her bold, funky, and unique clothing and accessories, I was smitten at first sight. I never say no to Betsey Johnson jewelry and TJMaxx always has a surplus of the good stuff. My mom knows whatsup because we never fail to ogle at her flashy bling while we shop and she gifted me with these beauties for Christmas:

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These Betsey Johnson earrings literally hit every mark on my check list for things that I like. Black? Check. Skulls? Double check. A hint of sparkle? Check, please. I am simply enamored with the floral sugar skulls and their huge ruby eyes and I can’t get enough of the interesting shape that still provides length and an ability for them to dangle.

I have been a short hair girl for at least a decade now and I am all about playing that up with earrings. Of course, they are a fun accessory for my girls rocking the long locks but with my shorter than medium hair length, they just seem to pop. I live for my huge gold hoops but I also love my super long drop earrings, too! My new pair is the perfect addition to add to my ever growing collection and can we please talk about my red hair with the ruby eyes?! Ugh, forget about it!

What is your favorite kind of jewelry? Where do you shop for unique earrings? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

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

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