Stocking Stuffer Gift Guide | Blogger Version

I love finding little perfect things that are great for every one on my list (especially the ladies!). These are some products I highly recommend that I have been using for a while now, and am in LOVE with. I often get asked what I use on a daily basis, so here are some of my favorites, and some ideas for stocking stuffers for the upcoming holiday next week!

Got2B Smooth Operator- Perfect for those fly aways, and great as a shield before applying a curling iron/flat iron or blow drying. I have dry ends, so this really helps before I style my hair. 

Got2b kinkier gloss ‘n define curling mousse - When I decide to wear my hair curly, this is the stuff I love to use. It's not crunchy, and is made with nectar oil and mineral salt to help boost those curls! I also love the way this smells!

jimmyCASE *His&Hers*- These cases have been a HUGE lifesaver for Ryan and I. Ryan is always running around, and also hates carrying a bulky wallet, so this really comes in handy for him. We use them at the gym, at work, and even when we go out. For me personally, I love not needing a purse, and having exactly what I need all in one! I love my iPhone 6s wallet case, and Ryan(being more conservative) went with the custom iPhone 6s case. We haven't looked back since, they're so convenient, and perfect as a stocking stuffer or gift for your significant other! 

No Nonsense Opaque Tights-  I love tights, especially in the winter, and this is the perfect stocking stuffer! Any fashionable lady would love a pair of these, and they're opaque so the color is really  vibrant!

Carol's Daughter Black Vanilla Combing Creme and Monai Dry Shampoo - These products are also two of my favorites! I am in love with the scent of this black vanilla combing creme, and it's perfect when my hair is feeling dull, and needs a pick-me-up. The dry shampoo is made with conditioning Monoi, an ancient Tahitian beauty secret, which smells amazing, and lasts all day! 

Goldwell Dry Shampoo- I love the smell and feel of this dry shampoo. There are a lot of dry shampoos out there that will turn your hair white, or make it flaky, this doesn't do either of those. All it takes is a few sprays, and a brush through your hair, and it looks as good as new. This is great for in between washes, and it's perfect for those unplanned nights when you need to head out- but don't feel 100% ready.

Nars Brushes (Contour Brush, Kabuki Ita Brush , Botan Kabuki Brush)- I just picked up both of these beautiful brushes at a warehouse sale, and I am so happy I did. I love experimenting with makeup, and these two brushes are perfect for contouring, and applying blush. I love both brushes because they're made with quality bristles, and they last forever! Again, a perfect stocking stuffer for any lady who loves beauty!

Starbucks Ornament & Travel Mug-I love coffee, and so does most of the population. Getting someone something coffee related, is guaranteed to make them happy. I love this little ornament, and ceramic cup. I carry multiple travel cups a day, and this one is perfect for my morning tea or coffee when I am leaving for work.

Lulus Party Perfect For The New Year

When the New Year is upon us, I can't help but think of the perfect dress for the perfect occasion. I was never one to go out and go crazy, but the past few years I have had a blast going out dancing with my friends. I love the idea of a classy black bodycon dress, and lately I have been obsessed with back details in dresses. This dress is perfect for a night out on the town, and i love how it accentuates my waistline perfectly.

 Details: Be All Trend All Backless Midi // Elsie Black Single Strap Heels courtesy of Lulus

Update To My Workout Story & My Fitness Fanatic Gift Guide

This post is part gift guide part update on my workout story. I started fully working out 4-5 days a week approximately a year and a half ago. In my progress I lost 13 pounds, as well as gained a great deal of muscle in various parts of my body. Besides the obvious body changes, I feel so different. Mentally I am more at ease when I know I can make it to the gym. Physically I feel stronger and more motivated. As a whole I have found myself being extremely motivated to become stronger and work harder towards my goals.

Although I have had great progress so far, I have had my highs and lows. Some weeks I have no energy, and on the busier weeks sometimes I don't get into the gym as often as I would like. Throw in the holidays and I find myself smuggling cookies and sweets here and there. I am not sharing these stories for pity, but more to show that sometimes life happens. Sometimes you eat cheat meals more than twice a week, sometimes you want to eat a french fry, or a whole plate of them. And sometimes, your body needs a break. I gave myself a week break because I could tell my body needed it. I was feeling weak, and tired, and close to exhaustion. I was forcing myself to go, and then I realized maybe my body was trying to tell me something. The break I took, was exactly what I needed. I came back stronger and more motivated than before, and I am so happy I did. We all fall off kilter sometimes, but the important thing is to motivate yourself even when things seem hard or you're having a hard day.

Shop the perfect workout outfit!

Since this post is focusing on working out , I also wanted to incorporate a little gift guide for those who are looking for new workout clothes/accessories. Here are my PERSONAL choices. I have a full workout wardrobe since I spend a lot of time in the gym, and I picked my favorite pieces to share with you guys. I really love all of these brands & clothing options, and they make my gym experience a better one. Plus, the new year is on the way and we all need a pick me up, so what's better than working out with some new gear? The confidence and comfort will go hand in hand.

Some favorites!

Lulus Party Perfect For The Holidays

Getting ready for the perfect holiday party? Lulu*s has you all set this year. From my head to my toes, I feel more confident than ever rocking my little black dress. I usually don't like to get too dressed up on a regular basis, but the holidays call for celebrations, and that means finding the perfect dress, and the perfect pair of strappy shoes.

I love the idea of a simple black dress and I love the neckline on this cute black dress. It hugs in all the right places, and makes me feel confident and classy. The most important thing a woman needs during the holidays is a nice dress, and comfortable shoes, am I right? Lulus helped me find the perfect party dresses this season, and I can't wait to show you the other one I picked! I love simplicity, and the two black dresses I am wearing for Christmas and New Years take the cake.

 Wearing: Exclusive Double Dip Black Dress // Elsie Black Single Strap Heels

Headband (similar) , 3 Finger Ring , Coat (similar) // Urban Outfitters

Celebrating The Holidays With Marshalls

For years and years I have dreamed of decorating my own house for the holidays. I got to do it for the first time last year, but since I had just moved in, everything happened rather quickly and I didn't get to decorate fully. This year I went all out. Our tree looks bigger than last year, I have more ornaments adorning it as well as a new set of chotskies. I love shopping at Marshalls for all my decorating needs because I know they'll have everything for half the price of the department stores. Being a girl on a budget means spending sparingly, and Marshalls allows me to do that without sacrificing my vintage style.

Some friends of mine started telling us about a tradition they have every year, and it made me want to start our own. I found these two beautiful nutcrackers, and I thought to myself that maybe that would be a fun collection. I haven't made a full commitment to that yet, but we'll see what happens next year. This was also the first year I had lights outside, and we also got two light up dachshunds that are absolutely adorable! Ollie is represented to the fullest in this household, even more so during the holidays.

Some of my other favorite pieces are this antique inspired rocking horse & toy plane. I love this collection of home decor from Marshalls as it doubles as Christmas decor but also regular home decor. The colors and distress on them is perfect and reminds me of something straight out of an antique store. Of course our home wouldn't be complete without my favorite snow globe. 

After watching the movie "The Santa Claus" with Tim Allen, I have been obsessed with snow globes. This one is rather unique, and sits high on a black stand. Maybe I should start collecting snow globes instead? Something to think about.

As Christmas approaches I am happy, but also a little bit sad. These decorations fill the house with so much warmth and love, part of me is sad to see them go. This is after all, the most magical time of the year, and the decorations, wrapping paper and lights just add the perfect touch.

Have you decorated your home this year? If so, what's your favorite piece?

The Perfect Men's Gift Guide

Since I mainly focus on women's clothes, I wanted to give a little shout out to the guys this holiday season! Don't know what to get that special man in your life? Here's my small, but awesome gift guide. I feel like men are so much easier to shop for. I think because they require a lot less fluff, and a lot more things that are staples in their closet.

Have you shopped for that special someone in your life yet? 

1. Urbanears Headphones

2. Buckhorn Fair Isle Socks

3. Herschel Wallet

4. Cashmere Scarf

5. Nike Running Shoe

6. Flannel Brush Shirt 

7. Round Leather Burberry Watch

8. Silver Hook Bracelet

DIY Ugly Christmas Sweater!

Who doesn’t love a tacky ugly Christmas sweater? It’s so easy to put together at home , you’ll wonder why you never tried it before! I went to a craft store nearby and purchased some fun things from the Christmas aisle. I had such a fun time making this sweater and I can’t wait to wear it at one of my upcoming holiday parties. I originally wrote this post for Glam in their Season To Sparkle section. Check out this DIY and other awesome holiday inspired posts for the season.

Items needed: Red sweater (I purchased mine at the thrift store for $3), Snowflakes, Sparkles (different colors), Snowflake confetti, Pom-Poms, Fabric Glue, Christmas tree stencil (I used this one) Sharpie Marker, Scissors, Sequins, Jingle bells, Needle & Red Thread , Dark Green Felt, Random Christmas decor of your choice.

-First, use your stencil to create a drawing on your felt
-Use the sharpie marker to outline the tree,also using a ruler or measuring tape for straight lines
-Cut out the felt in the shape of the tree
-Put fabric glue on the back of the felt tree cutout and paste it on your sweater
-Start decorating your tree accordingly, I decorated the tree with pom-poms, snowflakes, sequins
-Once you let your items dry for a few hours, finish by sewing on your jingle bells. Since they’re a little heavier you’ll need to pass some thread through and make a simple loop to keep the bells in place.

Tips & Tricks:
-Pick up your sweater from a thrift store or second hand store. You’ll find a sweater that’s much more unique, possibly vintage, and best of all, it’ll be a lot cheaper than buying the sweater brand new!

-Buy a variety of crafts and decorations to add to your sweater. Sometimes the most random pieces end up looking awesome!

-Plan out your sweater prior to putting it together. This will help guide the sweater decorating process once you start. A plan is always a good idea so you have ideas in your head before diving in. This will save you time, and will also help from making mistakes. I googled DIY Christmas Sweaters prior to starting mine. I decided to go with a Christmas Tree themed sweater, but there are many other options and ideas out there. Be creative, and plan ahead! 

Christmas Tales

This past week is basically over, crazy right ? This year the holidays felt so rushed, I guess it feels the same way most years, but for some reason this year felt even more rushed than usual. With New Years also creeping up on us next week, I have ideas and inspiration floating in my head about my resolutions and where I want this blog to go from here. It's been such a stressful time in my life, for one reason or another I can't seem to feel like time is just flying by and I have no time to enjoy any of it.

It feels like my mind is non stop yet I can't seem to gather any coherent thoughts lately. I know that the downtime I do have is usually spent trying to pick up where I left off in a million different projects. I am hoping that the New Year brings a little more balance into my crazy life, but I also hope that it's the best year yet.

It's funny how some people say a new year is a fresh start, and a chance to start all over again. I truly feel like this is true. For once I feel like I need this year to change,  and I think a lot of things will start falling into place. I am excited for something new, and for a chance to start with this "clean slate." It's never too late to make changes, and it's definitely never too late to change your own life for the better. After all, that's what resolutions are for right? To better ourselves, and give ourselves a reason to accept change. 

I am looking forward to change, and I am looking forward to fresh....to new...to 2014, and everything it entails.

#TheGifter & A Peek Into My New Place!

As you guys know I have been trying to make my house a home for the past month or so now. It's been coming along great, and I am so happy to share some photos of little snapshots here and there. This month project fab got to do two awesome challenges, one being #TheGifter, and the other I will be posting about next week. (super excited about it too!). As you all know Marshalls is the best place to go for the holidays. If you have a lot of gift giving (who doesn't?) you will save tons of money by shopping at Marshalls.

Since I moved in around a month ago, I needed to really get my place looking cute for the holidays, and all on a budget of course. I went to Marshalls and got some awesome stuff to decorate with, but also things that I needed for the holidays. These awesome containers are perfect for my ingredients, and you can write what it is with chalk on the front. Everyone loves chalk right? I also got simple things like bowls & utensils to make my holiday cookies this year. 

The great thing is I got everything I needed, all in one place. This makes my holiday shopping a lot easier, and quicker! Even Ollie's sweater is from Marshalls, and he looks so handsome in it. I love being able to find pieces that resemble vintage/antique items too. I found this awesome globe, and the bicycle clock, all on sale! For those of you who didn't know, you can also view items online now...Check out the Marshalls site here.

 

I am happy to say most of my shopping is done, but of course there's always more to do. 

Disclosure: I have received free products or value from Marshalls or The TJX Companies, Inc. in connection with my affiliation with Marshalls Project FAB.