Categories
Let's Look

Let’s Look: How We Prep for the Holidays

Hello all! Happy Wednesday! I hope you are having a great week as we made it to hump day! I don’t know about you, but it is full on fall here, we have had rainy days, leaves falling and some sunshine peaking through, but the changing weather is getting me excited for the next few months.

Cool crisp fall mornings

This year has been flying by, I can’t believe we are already at the second week of October. It’s time for another Let’s Look, where we share different parts of our lives. Each month, I link up with  Shay and Erika to share my thoughts on different topics. 

Here’s what we have covered so far this year:

In January, we talked about How We Clean Our Closets.

In February, the topic was Things We Do Every Day

In March, it was all about what’s in our Grocery Carts

In April, we chatted about our Quiet and Prayer Time.

In May, we talked about Summer Staples.

In June, we shared our Summer Schedules.

In July, we chatted about our favorite TV Shows and Podcasts.

In August, we learned about our Pantry Staples

In September, we shared Easy Weeknight Meals

This month, the topic is how we prep for the holidays. I love all the seasons, summer is by far my favorite, but I do enjoy the “Ber” months…September, October, November and December. There is so much to look forward to, from the holidays, traditions, extra family time, and festivities. 

Fall, one of my favorite times of the year

As we get closer to the holiday months, I’m sharing how I prep for all the fun and I hope you will share some of your holiday prep hacks too! I don’t have my own home or family yet, so how I prepare may look a little different.

I always like to prep for the holiday seasons, by creating bucket lists, by writing a bucket or goal list, this ensures that things that I want or hope to get done, get accomplished. Some are big activities and others are little outings or things I want to cook or bake. For example, my fall bucket list includes celebrating Halloween, Thanksgiving, watching festive movies, enjoying holiday treats and Halloween activities.

I don’t know how I will celebrate Halloween on the actual holiday, but I do plan on making some festive treats, decorating and enjoying some Halloween movies. 

Some fall treats from last year

As far as Thanksgiving goes, we typically enjoy the holiday with family and then we have our own Thanksgiving dinner the weekend after. Preparations for Thanksgiving looks like figuring out what traditional dishes will be made, baking pies, and doing some decorating around the house. These are subtle ways to celebrate the holiday. There’s so much cooking and baking that goes into Thanksgiving that it is nice to just enjoy the time with family. 

A delicious, Thanksgiving spread!

Christmas always comes with the most prep. Once again, I make a Christmas bucket list of things I want to do around the Christmas season, from ice skating, baking cookies, shopping, looking at lights, and decorating. I like to make the most out of the Christmas season.

Prep for Christmas starts with decorating the day after Thanksgiving, it’s a tradition we have been doing for years and it’s always one of my favorite things.

I will also make a master list of people I want to buy for and set a budget. I keep a running list in my phone of who I need to buy for, what the gift is, the status of it, and how much I spent. Once all the gifts have arrived, I take time to wrap them all and watch a holiday movie. This method always keeps me organized.

I love to bake cookies around the holidays and one of the ways that I prep is by making one or two types of cookies a week leading up to Christmas. I will share some with family after I bake them and then store the rest for the holidays. This method ensures that I get all my baking done, but I’m not stressed getting it done.

After all the prep is done, it’s time to enjoy the holidays and relax. There’s only so much prep you can do, what matters is the end result and spending time with family and loved one around the holidays. They will be here before we know it, so I want to know what hacks you have to make the holidays smoother? Let me know in the comments below! Happy Holiday Prepping!

Categories
Currently

Currently #48

Hello All! Happy Wednesday! I hope you are in full on Christmas mode as the countdown to the big day is on. I know I have been in the Christmas spirit since Black Friday, this is truly one of my favorite times of year and I have been enjoying it to the fullest.

Hot cocoa and a holiday movie!

I am switching things up this month but doing my Currently a week early, so I can save next week for my end of the year recap. My Year in Review posts are some of my favorite ones that I put together all year long, so I can’t wait to share it with you next week. 

But, we have so much to get to in today’s post, hint, be prepared for a lot of Christmas cheer. Let’s get to it!

What I’m Up To: This past month has been filled with all things Christmas cheer. I have been checking so many things off my Christmas Bucket List and have been trying to make the most out of every single day, whether it’s watching a Christmas movies, baking cookies, or doing my shopping and gift exchanges. I LOVE CHRISTMAS. The best news is that the Christmas season continues after December 25, so there’s still plenty of time to enjoy the holiday spirit. Here’s a look into some of the things I’ve done so far.

Enjoying holiday traditions.
Christmas wrapping and movies
Ready for the big day!

What I’m wearing: On days off, I have been doing my best to wear all my holiday graphic tee shirts. Most of them are from Old Navy. I love the texture, the durability and all the fun designs. You can dress them up with jeans and boots or dress them down with leggings if you are just lounging around the house.

I also have been getting a lot of use out of my festive flannel from Old Navy, I paired it with jeans and boots and a red coat.

For a more dressed up look, I wore this black and white polka dotted long sleeve blouse from Ann Taylor to work and it was a hit. I wore it with black dress pants, my pearl hoop earring and a red lipstick for a pop of color. 

All bundled up for outdoor fun!

What I’m Reading: I started off the month by reading A Likely Story by Leigh McMullan Abramson. It follows the story of a young woman who is aspiring to follow in her father’s footsteps and be a writer, however she has some challenges getting there. When her mother passes away, she finds an old manuscript, but who wrote it and what will our protagonist do with it? This story follows the family through the years and through a web of secrets that slowly unravels through the book.

A great book for the fall

Winter Stroll by Elin Hilderbrand. It’s the second book out of a five-book series. It follows the story of a large, interconnected family through Christmas year after year. When I picked up this book from the library, I didn’t realize it was the second book out of five, it took me a moment to get caught up with the characters, but once I did, I really enjoyed it and got immersed in it. It takes place over one weekend in Nantucket for the traditional island Stroll. There’s lots of Nantucket references and so much Christmas and holiday descriptions.

What I’m Watching: All the Christmas movies and programs! I don’t have a list of movies perse, but have I been trying to watch all of my favorite movies this Christmas season? You bet!

I’ve seen the classic cartoons like Rudolph, Frosty and the Grinch. I watched the childhood favorites like Home Alone and The Polar Express and I have enjoyed the adult movies like Christmas Vacation and Love Actually. 

Polar Express movie night

I also have been making my way through the final season of The Crown. I have been doing my best to savor the last six episodes and not rush the experience. If you have been watching, what are your thoughts so far?

What Inspires Me: I have been inspired by trying new recipes in the kitchen. I tried a few salads in addition to sweets.

Stir fry for the win!

I wanted to try my hand at some new recipes this season in addition to some classics. I have already made chocolate chip cookies and peanut butter cookies and I know I will be doing more baking in the coming days.

Fresh chocolate chip cookies

I also tried my first gingerbread recipe which was a success. I plan to make homemade fudge and red velvet cookies in addition to sugar cookies and some other Christmas treats.

My first gingerbread loaf
Red velvet, peanut butter and peppermint bark ready to go@

What I Accomplished: I have been very productive when it comes to my Christmas Bucket List. One night we had a Christmas movie night with the Polar Express and a popcorn and hot chocolate bar.

We made popcorn and had different seasonings for people to try, from chocolate sea salt to movie theater butter, kettle corn, and classic, everyone could try their favorite.

We also enjoyed hot cocoa with different marshmallows and toppings. This was a fun and affordable way to enjoy a movie night.

 I also enjoyed a Christmas concert to kick off the month of December, which was so fun for a night out

Christmas concert to kick off the season
Christmas in the city at night!

Plus, I’ve been enjoying holiday lights around our town, such a fun way to get in the Christmas spirit.

Christmas skating is a must!

Goals from Last Month: My goals from last month were to enjoy the Christmas season to the fullest and I know I have done that and there’s still more time to enjoy the fun. I’m looking forward to time at home with my family, especially since my siblings will be home from college. It will be great to enjoy the holiday traditions and just spend quality time together. 

Christmas movies and Christmas card stuffing

Goals for this Month: My goals for the upcoming month are to start my New Year’s Resolutions and get back into my routines and habits. This past month has been a flurry of fun and activities and while I’m not ready to say goodbye to the holidays yet, but I’m sure by January 2, I will be. 

That’s a look into life this past month. Lots of holiday cheer and fun and it only gets better from here. Wishing you a festive rest of your week

Categories
Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #72

Hello all!

Happy Friday! I can’t believe we are halfway through December, this month has been flying by and I am trying to soak up as much Christmas cheer as I can. I’ve been checking things off my Christmas bucket list slowly, but surely. I have been watching Christmas movies, enjoying hot cocoa, and I’ve gone skating a handful of times already this season. I am here for all things holiday cheer.

Hot cocoa and a holiday movie!

I’m sticking with the Christmas theme for this week’s Friday Favorites as I link up with Erika and Andrea or a fun roundup of Friday Favorites!

Giant Eagle Holiday Mix-I am a sucker for a festive holiday mix. I saw this holiday trail mix at the entrance of Giant Eagle when I was picking up some groceries and I had to try it. It’s the perfect mix of sweet and salty and it’s festive too. I’ve enjoyed it while wrapping gifts, watching Christmas movies and just relaxing. This would be a great addition to a charcuterie board or for a night of appetizers. Yum!

A new favorite snack

Christmas Movie Countdown– Speaking of Christmas cheer, I have been trying to watch a Christmas movie or program a night or when I can. I have been mixing in the classics with some new releases too. Shawn Johnson East and her husband, Andrew work with a company called “Family Made” and they put out a Christmas movie countdown to Christmas. They are all family movies, but I have been watching them too and crossing them off my list of holiday movies. It’s been so fun to tap into the nostalgia of childhood memories too.

Brownie Recipe– I’ve been slowly baking my Christmas cookies for the season and trying new recipes along the way. I baked my first batch of homemade brownies and although they were not as good as the Betty Crocker box recipe, they were still tasty. I got the recipe from Mix and Match Mama, and they were super easy to make. I may tweak the recipe a bit and may try some other flavors like peppermint, but I was proud of my first homemade batch! Stay tuned for more holiday recipes in the coming weeks.

A new recipe for me!

Crown Returns– The final six episodes of the Crown dropped yesterday. I have slowly started to make my way through them, but I am savoring each episode since I know the end is near. If you haven’t started watching yet, here’s the trailer and more information from TVLine. I really am looking forward to seeing how everything wraps up even though we know what happens in real life. I will also be following along with Elizabeth Holmes’ podcast as well to hear her insights on the final episodes.

A Likely Story– I am in Christmas book heaven right now with all the cheesy and warm Christmas novels, but before I began, I read A Likely Story by Leigh McMullan Abramson. It follows the story of a young woman who is aspiring to follow in her father’s footsteps and be a writer, however she has some challenges getting there. When her mother passes away, she finds an old manuscript, but who wrote it and what will our protagonist do with it? This story follows the family through the years and through a web of secrets that slowly unravels through the book. This book kept me hooked so much so, I woke up early to read the last 100 pages. Definitely a great read for a cozy day in the winter.

A great book for the fall

That’s a look into life lately and some of my favorite things, lots of yuletide cheer this holiday season. I hope you do something fun and festive this weekend as we countdown to Christmas. 

Have a holly, jolly weekend!

Categories
Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #70

Happy Friday and happy first week of December! The Christmas season is here and I am here for it. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this time of year! My holiday calendar is slowly filling up and it begins this weekend with a Christmas concert, I can’t wait!

All is calm, all is bright.

As we begin the weekend, here’s some things that I have been loving this week as I link up with Erika and Andrea or a fun roundup of Friday Favorites!

Credentialed Podcast– I am slowly jumping on the podcast bandwagon. Certain podcasts, I will listen to on the day they come out, while others, I will listen to when I have the time. I recently started listening to the Credentialed podcast by Justine Ward and Jillian Mele, they are two former reporters who decided to go back to school to get their MBA’s. There’s only a few episodes out and most of them have been about their background and decision to leave the news business. While I love my job, it’s been interesting to hear their stories and decisions to pursue other careers. Definitely worth the listen if you are interested in news, sports, or making a career change.

Fall/Winter Dress– I picked up this Calvin Klein dress from Marshall’s and it’s the perfect dress for fall and winter. I love the color (it’s a mix between a dark orange and light red), the style could work in the fall and winter with or without a blazer depending on the weather and it fits true to size. You can easily wear this to a cocktail party, to church or even dress it up with pumps and some bold jewelry for a holiday party.

Plus, it pairs great with a bright red jacket.

You can’t go wrong with red jacket!

Virgin River Returns– After the fall premiere, Virgin River released some holiday episodes/ specials. I haven’t had a chance to watch the episodes yet, but I plan on starting them this weekend. I like how they planned for some episodes mid hiatus. Not only does the series continue with some updates but I can’t resist a good holiday themed episode. I’m looking forward to cozying up by the fire and catching up. If you have watched or are planning to watch, what are your thoughts so far?

Pinterest Christmas Ideas– Pinterest has been one of my favorite apps lately for all things holiday fun. I have been scouring it for Christmas recipes, holiday decoration ideas and just holiday scenes. I have found recipes to bake, meals to try, and hot cocoa drinks to taste. I always find such creative ideas on Pinterest for the holidays and it really gets my creative juices flowing when it comes to trying new things. You can follow my board here.

Tell me: what’s something fun you have tried from Pinterest?

Side Dish Meme– Ending Friday Favorites with this meme I saw on Facebook. If you have lots of holiday parties or get-togethers coming up, this is your reminder to give yourself some grace.  I love to spend time in the kitchen cooking and baking, but it’s not for everyone. If cooking and baking causes you stress, alleviate some of that by heading to the store and picking up something pre-made to bring to your holiday part. The holidays are meant to be a time to spend time with family and friends and soak up traditions, try not to stress about the little things. December can be hectic and busy, give yourself permission for grace this holiday season.

That’s a look into life lately, lots of fun and festive things, plus a laugh or too! I hope you have a wonderful and festive first weekend of December!

Categories
Currently

Currently #36

Hi everyone! I can’t believe we are nearing the end of December. I decided to move up Currently a week earlier and do my end of the year recap next week. I am in full holiday spirit over here. From baking, to Christmas music and movies and starting gift exchanges. It has been a festive time. Here’s a look into life the past month.

What I’ve Been Up To: I’ve been doing all things Christmas the past few weeks. from watching Christmas movies, like the classics (White Christmas, It’s a Wonderful Life, Home Alone), to new movies and shows, like The Santa Clause Series on Disney Plus and Spirited. I’ve also been doing lots of Christmas activities, like decorating a gingerbread house, ice skating, and Christmas activities like seeing holiday lights.

Scrooged-a classic Christmas movie.
Spirited- such a cute new movie, great for families.
A new holiday favorite series.

What I’m Wearing: Since the holiday season only lasts so long, I try to wear my Christmas gear as much as I can, from graphic t-shirts to pajamas, and socks, the choices are endless. I also have been wearing lots of layers to bundle up for the colder weather. This time of year, I always believe warmth is more important than style. 

All the layers for Christmas shopping.
I’ve also been layering up for winter walks.
The best coat for the Christmas season.

What I’m Reading: I’ve been reading lots of books over the past few weeks. I’ve been reading lots of Christmas books. Here’s a few books I’ve been loving and maybe you will to:

Some of my Christmas reads so far!

Christmas Shopaholic– This story follows a young mother in England who is charge of organizing Christmas for her family. It’s very relatable to anyone who has had to host a holiday. There’s friendship, love, family drama, lots of shopping and Christmas cheer.

A Nantucket Christmas and An Island Christmas. Both stories take place in Nantucket over Christmas time and have themes of family drama, cozy Christmas vibes and happy endings. I really appreciated the attention to detail about the island of Nantucket.

What I’m Watching: Besides lots of Christmas movies and shows. I watched the new season of Firefly Lane which I really enjoyed. I can’t wait to watch the new season of Emily in Paris. Lastly, like many others, I watched the Harry and Megahn documentary-series. I have been sharing my thoughts on it on my past few Friday Favorite posts. I was really pleased with, learned a lot and enjoyed seeing another side of Harry and Meghan!

It was so good to get caught up on this series.
Such a good documentary series.

What I’m Loving: I may sound like a broken record, but I have been enjoying all things festive for the holidays. This time of year brings me so much joy. From shopping, to present wrapping, exchanging gifts, baking, and seeing family and friends. I LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR. 

Trees all dressed up for the season.
Tis the season for holiday fun!

What Inspires Me: I’ve been inspired by all the acts of kindness this time of year in addition to all the Christmas tradition. It’s been so wonderful to see so much generosity for others in need. I’ve also been inspired by unique gift ideas too. It’s always wonderful to see how creative people get with their gifts this time of year. 

Presents all wrapped and ready to be given out.

What I Accomplished: I’ve been really enjoying crossing things off my Christmas bucket list. From solo activities to things with loved ones, family and friends.

Skating has been a favorite of mine this past month.
A trip to the city to enjoy the Christmas season.

Goals from Last Month: I got all of my shopping done fairly early this month which made life a lot calmer towards the end of the month. It also helped with various gift exchanges happening throughout the month. All the prep work certainly paid off. 

Some of my gifts under the tree for others.
Enjoying hot cocoa leading up to Christmas.

Goals for this Month: I’m looking forward to coming up with my New Year’s Resolutions. I have a few ideas so far, but I’m looking forward to firming them up and working towards them in 2023.

That’s a look into life recently. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I’ll be back next week for my 2022 Recap! See you then!

Categories
Fabulous living

Making Your Space Cozy

Hello all! 

As we make our way through November, December will slowly creep up on us and the cold will be here to stay. I don’t know about you, but I’m not a fan of the cold, which is why I try hard to make my space extra COZY! This past week we have seen temperatures in the 40’s…brrrr.

In honor of the chilly weather, I’m sharing five ways to make your space cozy and comfortable.

  • Candles– Lighting candles can really change a space, based on previous posts, you know I am a fan of candles. In the cold months, there’s nothing better than lighting a candle. In the winter months, I love changing my scents like pine or spearmint or frasier fur, those warm and rich scents can easily elevate a space no matter how big or small.
This is one we have going in our family room. I love lighting at night and having it burn while we watch tv or visit. 
  • Throw Blankets– I LOVE THROW BLANKETS. I have gotten them as gifts and I have gifted them to friends. A blanket, a coffee mug and some chocolate are a perfect gift for someone if you aren’t sure what to get especially as the holidays get closer. I like blankets for different seasons and I love having different patterns and textures of blankets. I drape thinner ones over the chairs in the summer for cooler nights and have warm fleece ones in the winter, I even have ones for the holidays. Bringing out warmer blankets and having them over a couch or in a basket makes the space more inviting and cozy and it allows family members or friends to take a throw if they get cold and need some extra warmth.
  • Mood Lighting– In the spring and summer I spend a lot of time outdoors with all the natural light. In the fall and winter when it gets dark so early, instead of turning on bright overhead lights, consider turning on lamps instead. It makes the room more inviting and softer. 
Putting a fire place on adds warmth to a room too.
  • Flannel Sheets-Adding flannel sheets to your bed is just another small way to make your bedroom warm especially on cold nights. I typically put my winter flannel sheets right around Thanksgiving and I leave them on until after the new year. Adding warm sheets is just another small way to feel extra cozy all hours of the day.
  • Warm drinks– Nothing completes a space than a warm drink, whether it’s a hot cup of coffee, a warm tea or some hot coco or cider. Fill your favorite mug and enjoy your warm and cozy space. 

Those are just a few ways to make your space no matter how big or small more cozy and warm for winter. 

Now, turn on the lamps, light the candle and maybe even the fireplace too, pull a throw blanket out and pour a warm drink and cozy up.

Categories
Fabulous living

December To Do’s

Hi All!

I hope you all had enjoyable Thanksgiving’s at home with your families. I know for me it was so nice to be home for a few days, relax, see family and enjoy the holidays. I always love Thanksgiving, from the food, to the family, and the relaxing day.

I also had some fun getting a start on the holiday baking. I had a few events that I had to bake for at school for Christmas and I was happy to make some for family too. I made some double chocolate chip cookies and peanut butter kiss cookies.

My favorite recipe for everyone’s favorite cookies

Peanut butter kiss cookies

The finished product

Now, that Thanksgiving is over, I can finally get into the Christmas season. I know December is going to fly by, so today I’m sharing the things I hope to accomplish this month.

  • Finals 

All college students can agree that once we make it through finals, we can truly enjoy the holidays. My finals week doesn’t look too bad, it will mostly be papers, portfolios and a test thrown in the mix. Hopefully it shouldn’t be too painful. Thanksgiving break definitely gave me the rest I needed to get through the next few weeks.

It may look empty now, but this finals week will fill up fast

  • Christmas Shopping

I have to give myself a pat on the back. I have been killing it at the Christmas gift game this year. I have done a lot of shopping online with the help of Amazon. It has been so easy to browse when I am free and add things to my shopping list (for others) or wish list (for myself) when I see something that interests me. Next week I’ll be doing a more extensive post all about Christmas gift system, but for now I hope to get all my shopping and wrapping done early on, so I can enjoy the Christmas season.

A look into my Amazon wish list, you know you are an adult when your list consists mostly of books…no shame!

  • Enjoy the Christmas Season

This is something I want to work on both at home and at school. I really want to enjoy the Christmas season and not rush it, I’m hoping to get in some gift giving nights with my friends at school, I have gifts for all my friends, and I am involved in some gift exchanges too. I want to also take it slow after the semester is over, that means watching Christmas movies (the classic and the Hallmark ones), making Christmas cookies (YUM), and listening to Christmas music (not going to lie, I have already started to listen to Christmas music. Haha)!

I already got some Christmas spirit in with Light Up Night a few weeks ago

My Go-To Christmas Playlist

I really want to be more present this Christmas season, that means trying to take it slower, be more intentional and fit as much Christmas stuff in as possible. What are some of your Christmas or December goals? Enjoy the last few days of November and bring on the Christmas jolly and joy!