Fashion Favs, Money tree, and other last minute gift ideas!

{Adidas Flashback sneaker/Adidas Swift Run Sneaker}

Hello friends!  I hope you all had a nice weekend!  If you like random today’s post is right up your alley. :)  First on the agenda – a few recent fashion favs.  (Then we’ll be talking last minute gift ideas!)  My obsession with Adidas sneakers continues and with December busyness in full swing I find myself reaching for one of these two pairs of shoes most days.

Here’s what I wore last week..

{California Love Hoodie/similar Adidas Sweatshirt/Gray Zella High Waist Leggings/Adidas Swift Run Sneakers}

These high waist Zella leggings are marked down for such a great price and I love the strappy detail on the leg.  Zella high waist leggings in general are my go-to for exercise or for days I’m just running errands or cleaning and want to be comfortable.  Aside from being comfortable they are so slimming!  Good self-esteem pants.. who doesn’t need more of those in their life? ;)

{Camo Hoodie/Zella High Waist Black Leggings/Adidas Flashback Sneaker}

I shared this cute camo hoodie on sale in my last fashion post – so cute!  I especially love it with these Flashback sneakers.  These sneakers are SO comfy.  New favorites on repeat.

{Cowl Neck Tunic/Moto Leggings/Over the Knee Boots}

Apparently I like the black/green combo whether I’m dressing up or going casual. I know you all see it a lot around here!  At least I’m predictable. :)  I bought these cute moto leggings last year (they are on sale!) and love them with longer tops like this cowl neck tunic.  This tunic has great reviews – it’s so comfy and soft.  It runs big – I’m wearing my regular size and it’s a big baggy.  Perfect for days you need to look more put together but still want to be comfortable.  It’s hard to see in this pic but the cowl neck is so cute!  Comes in lots of colors.  I buy a lot of Caslon clothes because they are always a good mix of cute and comfortable.  They have other fun things on sale like this long sleeve side tie tee and this tie front sweatshirt tunic.  Love them both!

{Flare Cuff Sweater/Arrowstack Necklace (on sale!)/Side Ruffle Pencil Skirt/Similar Over the Knee Boots}

I shared this cute new sweater and skirt in my last fashion post (I shared the red skirt.. love it in black too!).  There are so many different ways to wear them both.  This was what I wore to church last week.  My Arrowstack necklace (on sale!) looks so cute with this sweater because of the gold sleeves.

{Madewell Buffalo Check Shirt/Favorite jeans (on sale!)/Over the Knee boots/Tanner necklace/Tory Burch Bracelet}

I keep forgetting to share this Madewell Buffalo Check shirt I’ve had for a few months.  I love it!  Every time I wear it I get compliments on it.  The best part is the back.. it buttons all the way down.  Really cute with my favorite AG jeans.  Btw.. so many of my cute friends ordered my favorite AG jeans when I shared they were on sale and are wearing and loving them!  Makes me so happy.  I hope if you tried them you love them too!

Ok.. I’ve been getting e-mails lately asking for a few more quick gift ideas.. especially for neighbors!  Here are  a few of my go to gifts!  Candles always make a quick and easy friend/neighbor/teacher gift.  If I’m doing a Christmas candle I usually give it out at Thanksgiving or early December so they can enjoy it thoughout the month, but if you’re giving it this week close to Christmas I’d buy something they will love year round like this pretty candle.  It smells good and doubles as pretty coffee table decor.  Another go to we give to friends/neighbors every year are our applesauce cookies.  You can find the recipe HERE.  They are SO good and will make your entire kitchen smell amazing.  Perfect quick treat to take to a neighbor or to eat Christmas morning with orange juice. :)

Of course we’ll make our annual Christmas Pretzel Hugs again this year.  We have friends who can’t wait for these every year – they make a great neighbor treat to deliver.  Last week El said one evening..

“mom.. remember last year when I made Pretzel Hugs for my French class?  Everyone loved them and wants me to bring them again for my class party.”

I said “oh fun.. ok.. when is the class party?”

“tomorrow.”

“Of course it is.”

KIDS!

I’ve mentioned it a time or 20 that throws are also a favorite friend/neighbor/teacher gift.  Everyone loves and can use a good throw to decorate with or curl up with on the couch!  The Bliss throws I’ve shared before that I’m giving as gifts this holiday season just went on sale again. :)

A cute planner always makes a fun gift!  I gave planners to all of my girlfriends one year and wrote a little note about scheduling more girlfriend get-togethers in the New Year.  I know there are still a lot of people who like to write out their schedule or to-do’s on paper in addition to digital calendars.. people like me. :)  There are some cute planner options here.. I especially love this Kate Spade 17 month planner!

Another fun gift for friends/neighbors is simply framing a picture you have of a time you were all together.  I added a chocolate bar to each of these framed pictures and gave them to friends one year.

And if you’re really in a bind and don’t want to give a gift card, Money Trees are a great solution!  I was struggling with what to get my sister and brother and their spouses one year for Christmas.  I knew they could all use money more than anything I could come up with, but I hated to not give a personalized gift.  Enter the Money Tree!  Makes the boring gift of cash a little less boring. :)

There are so many different ways to make these (pics are all over Pinterest if you need ideas!).  I just kind of made mine up.  I used sticks, green twine I had on hand and yellow paper for a star,

I broke one stick in half and doubled it up for the tree trunk and then wrapped two pieces of green twine at the top and then just criss crossed them the whole way down.  You can see how I folded the money smaller at the top so that it looks like a Christmas tree.  You can do this with any amount of money.  It’s also a cute idea to use one or five dollar bills to put in kids’ stockings. :)

I put each of the money trees in a cute red sack and my family loved them!

I hope that gave you a few ideas if you are still working on gifts this week!  I found a few more fun and unique  friend/neighbor gifts on-line at Nordstrom that I’ll link to below.  Isn’t it crazy how fast December flies by!?  I’m so sad Christmas is already only a week away!  I wish the holiday season lasted so much longer than it does.

Next year I might start decorating in September. ;)

*Thank you to Nordstrom for Sponsoring this post and for making my holiday shopping so easy this year!  (Affiliate links used)

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