Wishlisted

I have never had so much trouble coming up with a Christmas list.  This year it has been such a struggle to create my list.  Usually, I'm able to write it within a half hour or so.  This year it has taken me several weeks to come up with just a small list. I'm not sure if it is because I am getting older, I'm working so I can purchase what I want, or if I'm just so content with life right now.  I'm thinking it is a combination of these three things. For probably the first time ever, my mom had to ask me for my wish list on multiple occasions.  I generally have it made and shared by mid November. 

Each year that I get older I find greater joy in giving gifts rather than receiving them. I take a decent amount of time to pick out thoughtful gifts rather than giving something meaningless out of obligation.  I enjoy watching the joy that is brought to my friends and family when they open something that was picked out special for them.  It makes me feel good when I can make others smile.  While this should be the reason that the holidays are considered the season of giving, I think the true meaning behind giving gets lost in the commercial shuffle. 

After lots of thinking I finally created my list. I consulted my Pinterest boards, some of my favorite online shopping sites, and thought about some practical items that I could use.  

BB Cream//Naked Palette // Laptop Shell// Tassel loafers // blanket scarf//
  Fitbit band //Armband // headphones 

Keep in mind that this is a true wish list. By no means do I expect to find all of these items wrapped under the tree Christmas day.  It is a true wish list- a list of things that I would like to have.  I do have to say I am a fan of the element of surprise, so I always enjoy a surprise gift or two! My mom is always the best at knowing what I want without me even realizing I wanted the item.

I'd love to hear what's on your wish list this holiday season.  Wishlist posts are one of my favorite to read! Feel free to comment with the item(s) your hoping to unwrap this year!

XOXO

Oh Christmas Tree

The holidays usually involve family traditions for most people.  Today I'm sharing one of my family's holiday season traditions.  Each year within a few days of Thanksgiving, we head over to our local Christmas tree farm.  This year we headed out for a day of family fun with hopes of leaving with a tree and the picture for the family Christmas card. It's always a big debate over who can find the perfect tree for our home.  We all have different tastes when it comes to trees (short and fat, tall and skinny, medium, skinny and fat).  This year we were able to agree on a tree pretty quickly in comparison to other years.  There was something so festive about being at the tree farm. It was filled with lots of happy families. We had fun taking a mini family photo shoot while we were there.  

Did you get a real tree or fake one this year?

XOXO

Spreading Christmas Cheer

Can you believe that Christmas is only four days away? I don't know about you, but it definitely doesn't feel like the holiday season to me.  The Fall semester just ended several days ago, which is why I think I might be struggling to find the holiday spirit this season.  It seems like lots of people agree with me, so I thought it would be fun to brainstorm some ways to spread some Christmas cheer. 

Wrap Presents

There is something festive about wrapping gifts.  Make a fire, sip some hot chocolate, put on your favorite Christmas playlist, and spend a few hours wrapping. This combination will definitely bring you some holiday cheer!

Look at Christmas Lights

 Pick up your favorite seasonal beverage from your local coffee shop, turn your radio on to the network that plays Christmas songs, and grab a friend to go look at everyone's holiday decorations. Take a drive through local neighborhoods and towns to see the various light displays.  If you live in Southeastern Pennsylvania, check out the Herr's lights display or take a walk through Longwood Gardens. 

Bake Cookies

Baking cookies is always a fun holiday pastime. Turn on some holiday tunes, pour yourself a glass of wine, and get out your favorite christmas cookie recipes. If you can't eat all of the cookies, then put them in decorative bags and deliver them to friends and family to enjoy. 

Holiday Movie Marathon

Put on your favorite pajamas, start a fire in the fireplace, and pick out your favorite holiday movies to watch.  Spend an evening cuddled up watching some of the best Christmas movies. 

Movie suggestions: Christmas with the Kranks, The Santa Clause, Elf, The Holiday, Four Christmases, The Polar Express, Miracle on 34th Street, Charlie Brown Christmas, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, A Christmas Story, It's a Wonderful Life, and Home Alone. 

Make a Gingerbread House

Get some friends together to have a competition to see what duo can make the best gingerbread house. Give everyone the same supplies and time limit.  The winners get a holiday themed prize.  We do this each year at my house.  My brother and his girlfriend versus Todd and I. 

How are you getting into the holiday spirit this year?

XOXO

Gingerbread House Winners

Last week I shared about my family's annual gingerbread house creating competition.  Well, I just realized I never shared with y'all who the winners were. On Wednesday, my mom thanked everyone for voting and shared that house number one would be crowned the winners for 2015.  In case you are curious, house number was the one that Todd and I made.  We won a gift certificate to a local restaurant and the members of the second place team each were given a pair of ugly socks. 

XOXO

Weekending: Christmas Edition

Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday weekend filled with family, friends, and lots of laughs.  The past few days were pretty busy for my family and I.  The holidays always seem to go so quickly as there are so many people that you have to squeeze in time with.  The past few days I've spent time with friends and family who live near (several miles away) and far (up and down the entire East Coast). There's been a lot of late nights, laughing, celebrating, game playing, drinks served, and memories made.  Today's post sums up Christmas day in my house. 

Since the youngest person in our house is eighteen, our Christmas morning didn't start until 10:45 this year.  It was nice to be able to sleep in.  My brother and I still had to wait at the top of the stairs until my parents were ready for us to come down. This year was the year of socks and vests.  Included in this year's gifts were five pairs of socks.  Shain and I also each got a vest. He received a fleece one from Vineyard Vines and mine was a fuzzy one from JCrew. 

After opening gifts we had our annual Christmas morning brunch complete with french toast casserole, sausage, bacon, egg and cheese casserole, and mimosas.  This is my absolutely my favorite part of Christmas day.  We usually sit at the dining room table and talk for awhile after we eat. Brunch starts with the four of us, but it always ends up with more people joining us at the table. 

As the day progressed we had friends and family coming and going.  Later in the night we had a bunch of friends over for drinks.  The other day I talked about how my mom and I like to have a signature drink each Christmas.  This year our drink included muddled cranberries, club soda, lime and vodka all served over ice.  The mixture was perfect for this year's warm Christmas.  

I hope you had a fabulous holiday weekend!

XOXO

Christmas

The holidays should be a time to enjoy family and friends who mean something to you, and that is exactly what my family does each year.  We always host Christmas, but the people who come tends to vary.  We usually hold an open house with food and drinks all day, so our friends and family are welcome to come and go as they please. 

Everybody has some sort of a Christmas tradition.  Ever since I can remember we have always had Christmas brunch.  It is my favorite tradition that my family has. After we open gifts, we indulge on egg & sausage casserole and french toast casserole.  Both of them are family recipes and are to die for.  This was the first year in quite some time that it was just my immediate family.  It was different but it was kind of nice just to spend some time as the four of us.  

This year was the latest we have ever opened gifts. I don't think we all got out of bed to come downstairs until close to ten.  I guess this is what happens when the youngest member of the house is a sixteen year old who loves his sleep.  No complaints from this girl, though.  I was able to wake up, get a quick workout in, shower, and get dressed for the day before anyone was ready to open presents.  Young or old, everyone enjoys opening gifts.  No, this is not what Christmas is all about but it is something that we all enjoy doing on Christmas.

These are a few of the gifts I received this year from Santa.

Alpha Delta Pi Vineyard Vines Hat

Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue perfume

Lilly Pulitzer ADPi frame

Eiffel Tower jewelry dish

Longchamp Le Pliage Large tote in gray

Black yoga pants

ADPi Pillowcase

Enzo Angiolini Ellerby Boots

tDn gave me this Anchor Alex & Ani bracelet. 

 It looks so cute next to my Alpha Delta Pi bracelet that my mom got me after bid day. 

 I ended my Christmas day cuddled up by the fire watching a movie with my best friend, brother, mom, dad, and my dog.  It was the perfect ending to a great day.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!

xoxo

-mQs-