*affiliate links used

What a jam packed week! December is officially here and I’m feeling it. You!? I always wish December lasted a few months and we could just sort of spread things out. I love all of the parties and activities! But it’s a lot to fit in and well.. it’s only Dec. 3rd and I’m tired. Ha. ;)

The good news is that I have a fun place to retreat this month when I can find a minute to rest! My master bedroom is decked for Christmas and I can’t wait to be lounging on this bed with my girls watching Christmas movies. This is always our spot this time of year when the boys are watching football and I love making it extra cozy for us. :)

You might remember that last year I decked our master bedroom in pink!

After going with a mostly green theme for my Fall porch and then my Christmas porch this year I decided I’d keep that train rolling and use darker tones and more greens in this space too. Green is my all time favorite color and I have to say that this room makes me smile every time I walk in.

Mission accomplished. :)

Let’s talk details! You know I love white comforters! They work beautifully in every season and you can have a whole new look by just switching out pillows and throws. I bought this beautiful white comforter/sham set last summer and we have loved it. It’s not too light or too heavy. Perfect for us in the winter.

I bought this olive green quilt set a couple of months ago and love the addition of the green shams and folded quilt at the bottom. I was thinking I would just use it for the holidays but I love it so much I’ll probably keep it on through winter and maybe spring too. The green is so cozy! I layered this natural chunky knit blanket on top of the green quilt and it added so much texture. It’s also soft to wrap up in for movies! Perfect blanket for the foot of a bed. Two velvet forest green pillows and a favorite neutral Christmas tree pillow complete the look!

This Christmas Lane winter print is the same art I used above my bed last year. It surprised me how it took on a whole new look with this new bedding and new lamps! You can’t tell as much in pictures but last year the pink really pulled out the light/white colors and this year the greens pull out the greens/blacks in the photo making it appear a lot more moody. Kind of cool. :)

I added this cute tree throw for my bench at the food of the bed. This throw comes in 4 colors and I have 3 of them! Ha. I’m using the red (more of a maroon) in my family room, the green in my living room and this cream in the bedroom. I love that it’s a solid color but has the tree prints and tassels to add some texture and fun for the holidays. (I often get asked about this bench and it was a custom item I had made, but I linked some fun similar options at the end of my post!)

The decor that made the biggest change in this bedroom is the new mirrors and lamps!

Ahhhh! Could NOT be more excited about these simple new additions! I found them both on Amazon and am in love! These black terracotta lamps aren’t in stock anymore but I’m crossing my fingers they come back. I would actually love a set for my upstairs console table too. They are really large and just beautiful. (I’ll share the news here and on IG if I see them back in stock for anyone interested!) These brushed metal wall mirrors were out of stock for a while and just came back! I bought the bronze color – they look 100% black and are a smooth finish. I added two of my small pine trees to our nightstands (my obsession with these trees runs deep!) and this large black zinc reindeer since this is Kenny’s side of the bed. A little more masculine for him than last year. Ha. ;)

*Funny side story. Last year Kenny was in a client meeting for work and his client said “How’s the pink Christmas bedroom? My wife follows your wife on Instagram and loves it!” Kenny’s response.. “is our bedroom pink right now?”

Ha ha.. I laughed for 20 minutes when he told me that! It was towards the end of December and our room had been pink for months! Seriously my husband. I guess we’re a good pair since I notice every detail in a room and he notices NOTHING. It’s probably my fault. I switch things up so much around here he just stopped paying attention and trying to figure out what things look like long ago. ;)

My previous mirrors and lamps. Nothing was wrong with them but I’ve had them for years and these mirrors always felt a little too tall for me. I didn’t like how they towered above my headboard. Also because of the style of them I couldn’t pair them with more modern lamps I’ve been loving.

It was time for a change!

I kept my blanket ladder in this corner and add this cozy green cable knit throw (beautiful in person!) and some cream stockings (similar here) and bells. (Similar blanket ladder here & lots of options here.)

This is the same green pine flocked Christmas tree I had in this space last year and I can’t imagine ever getting tired of it. It’s so beautiful on its own that it really doesn’t need much! I kept it simple with just some ball ornaments – textured rizzo ornaments that sold out and these ball ornaments in moss green. I have these same ball ornaments in different colors in other rooms throughout my home and love them!  They are really nice, large, good quality ornaments and I love the green twine on them to hang the ornaments on the tree! I would definitely recommend them in any color.

{bedroom rug/similar spindle leg chairs – here/here/here/here/here/similar pom pom throw}

This year..

and last year. Which is your favorite? :)

I didn’t do much on my mantel. I put up my garland and added these favorite twinkle lights and just loved the simplicity of it! (My faux cedar garland sold out around Halloween! It always goes fast. I linked a few similar options you could use at the end of this post.)

My pre-lit faux snowy pine trees were perfect for the hearth and make this room magical at night.

I love having cozy pillows on the built-in benches next to our fireplace.  I put three pillows on each bench.. these cute green plaid windowpane pillows, my cable knit fur pillows..

and these cream cable knit pillows. (They come in lots of fun colors and are a great neutral in the winter months!)

I have this mirrored console table to the left of our bed (used to be in my front entry!). This spot in my room needs some attention. I have a few ideas but never really prioritize knocking them out. 2022? Maybe. :)

For now I just kept it simple with greenery, some trees and a bowl full of these same ball ornaments I used on my tree.

That wraps up the tour of my cozy Christmas master bedroom! Bring on the Hallmark movies!

We are more than ready. :)

{POST SOURCES & similar options}

Happy Monday! I’m kicking the week off with my Cyber Monday picks and lots of fun gift ideas for everyone on your list! How is your holiday shopping going? I’m about half way done and hoping to make a little more progress today. I had big plans of finishing my on-line shopping over Thanksgiving weekend but I ended up spending time with family and wasn’t on my computer much. I don’t regret that decision at all :) but I’m happy the sales are still going strong today!

If you follow me on IG stories at all you’ve probably heard me rave about certain Vanity Planet products. Items like this face steamer are staples at our home! Addison and I both use it every week. We steam in front of the TV on our “spa nights.” Kenny is always laughing and rolling his eyes at us. Ha. We are firm believers in self care. ;) I reached out to VP to see if I could get some discounts for you all on my favorite items because they all make great gifts!

Head here to get a discount on all of my Vanity Planet favorites! They have bundle options available too that are perfect if you want to get a few different items or a few of the same item for gifts.  Perfect for girls/women of all ages!

These Kove speakers are also included in my VP round up and are my latest obsession! They connect to your phone/computer via bluetooth and have great sound quality.

You can keep them connected or separate them for full surround sound. I’ve been surprised how much I’ve used these in the past month! I turn them on when I clean, exercise, when we’re spending time outside. They are also perfect for teens in their bedroom, entertaining, lounging by the pool in the summer. Such a fun gift for anyone on your list!

{speaker & other VP favorites}

I took them to Utah and we loved having them on when everyone was playing basketball and hanging outside. My parents put this fun new sports court in their backyard for the kids/grandkids. So much fun!

Kenny and Shawn crack me up in this pic. None of us are basketball players but we like to pretend. Ha. :)

Colleen Rothschild products are all 30% off! I shared favorites in this post. You can also check out their best seller page. Great skin care products that would also be fun for gifts. I’ll be stocking up on the Extreme Recovery Cream! Love that stuff.

Last Spring I shared my favorites for travel and I thought I would share them again because they also make fun gifts.  This double layer make-up travel bag is my favorite!   It holds EVERYTHING.  I love that I can lay larger products in the middle and keep smaller bottles upright on the side.

There is also another zipper compartment on top for make-up brushes and other items. I love the transparent cover to keep make-up brushes clean too. Plus it has a strap and is easy to carry. WINNER!  This bag is still sitting in my bathroom with everything in it because I haven’t unpacked from our Utah trip yet. Which isn’t good because I’ve found that if I don’t unpack from a trip immediately after we get home I’m living out of my suitcase for at least another week. Ha. Anyone else!?

This electronic organizer is another favorite!  Perfect to hold all of your charging cords, camera items, pens, a mouse, your phone.. whatever you need. Would make a great gift!

If you prefer a good hanging bag this toiletry bag on the left is a great option.  It also holds a lot and has elastics that help keep products upright.  I also really like this travel make-up organizer.  Similar to my favorite bag with a separate spot for brushes on top.  It also has dividers that you can move and customize.

Everything open..

And closed.

These favorite travel bags are all linked below along with this jewelry organizer I also have and love.

1- travel bag with hanging hook    2- jewelry organizer travel case 

3- travel makeup organizer 

4- large cosmetic case   5- electronic organizer travel case 

{carry-on luggage/straw circle tote/travel make-up bag/duffel bag}

A few other favorite bags I always use when I travel. Calpak has great items for traveling and I love checking their site for fun gifts every year. They have a lot of fun items on sale too! Organized travel makes me happy.  :)

Ok.. on to my Cyber Monday picks! So many fun things on sale! I rounded up favorites from Nordstrom and Amazon for women, men and kids below! A lot of my teen girl gifts are on sale too!

1- olaplex  2- pajamas  3- throw blanket  4- initial necklace

5- mascara primer    6- nonstick fry pan set   7- eyeshadow palette

Love every item here! Major score on the barefoot dreams blankets. I gave one to Kenny for his birthday in August and he doesn’t let it out of his sight!

1- lip gloss set   2- large leather tote   3- bliss throw   4- backpack

5- kiehl’s set   6- hiker boot   7- pillow talk lip & eye set

I gave these BB lip gloss sets for gifts last year and they were a hit! Bliss throws on sale are always a good thing and I love the black bags!

1- vest   2- reserve body & hair cleanser   3- deluxe backpack

4- facial cleansing tool   5- old skool sneaker   6- slipper

All items my husband would love! Debating the Foreo for him. I know he would love it if he used it.. but could I make him remember to use it? Hmm. Doubtful. It would take great effort on my part.. ;)

1- long sleeve t-shirt   2- performance  t-shirt

3-  deodorant   4- wool chute   5- boxer briefs   6- sneaker

1- race tracks   2- fire tablet

3- travel activity kit   4- play kitchen   5- RC monster car

I so miss buying toys like these! My girls would have been in heaven with this pink play kitchen. Kole loved the race tracks when he was younger and the travel activity kit is genius for long car rides!

1- zingo bingo game   2- magnetic tiles kit

3- fire pro tablet   4- world map puzzle   5- barbie dreamhouse

Zingo, these magnetic tiles and the Barbie Dreamhouse were 3 of my kids’ favorites.  I bought Kole the world map this year. :)

1- hooded jacket   2- leaf blower   3- ice maker

 4- coasters   5- instant pot   6- bose earbuds   7- fire 10 tablet

I ordered this black coat! So cute right!? I’m going to try it and the J Crew black coat I ordered. Thinking I’ll keep one for me and give one to Ellie this year because she needs a new coat too. We have and love the ice maker – a Chirsmtas gift from my parents! It’s on sale for such a good price right now. The other items would all make great gifts too.

My favorite sheets are on sale! I gave these to so many people for Christmas last year and they were such a hit! The BEST sheets. I still have them on all of our beds and love them.

1- string lights   2- sheet set   3- handheld steamer   4- mixing bowls

5- handheld vacuum   6-serving bowls   7- luggage

My sheets are linked here with other long time favorites like my handheld vacuum and steamer. The string lights are my favorites for holiday decorating!

I shared the collage below on Prime Day but thought I’d post it again because they are all fun gift ideas and some of them are on sale. (I bought the vanity mirror for Ellie last year for Christmas and she uses it everyday for her make-up and loves it!)  Maybe ignore the swimsuit.. ha. But I’ll take one of everything else right now! ;)

1- jade roller. 2- crest whitestrips   3- curling iron

4- beauty sponge set  5- backpack. 6- elta sunscreen 

7- straw hat   8- crossover swimsuit   9- mario badescu glow facial spray 

10- adidas sneakers  11- short sleeve romper   12- vanity mirror

I hope this post gave you more fun gift ideas! It’s always such a nice feeling to find that perfect gift for someone you love. It’s also such a nice feeling to have holiday shopping DONE! To those of you who achieve that before December even hits.. you are my heroes! I’ll be happy if I’m done by Dec. 20th.

I like to set expectations low.. makes it easier to feel proud of myself.

#sunnysideuplifelesson#6,472

;)

*This post is sponsored by Walmart. All product selections and opinions are my own!

Happy almost December! I hope you had a nice Thanksgiving! We spent a few days in Utah with family and it was exactly what we all needed. (My dad snapped this pic right before we ate). :)

I wish we could have stayed another week! So much fun. We are always a little sad to say good-bye to grandparents and cousins after time spent in Utah so I cheered my crew up with a happy reminder that we were heading home to our house in San Diego decked for the holidays with a fun month ahead!

First up on the agenda? A Christmas movie party of course! I’ve never in my life waited until after Thanksgiving to decorate for Christmas.. or to start listening to Christmas music (I’m ready in early October!) but I DO hold off on the Christmas movies. We have so many favorites and love spending the month of December watching as many as we possibly can. December is a busy month and with kids in high school schedules get tricky so we try to schedule set family movie nights ahead of time to prioritize some time together.

Christmas movies are best with pjs and fuzzy Christmas socks by the way. In case you didn’t know. :)

(*more fun sock options here)

Oh.. and with food. LOTS of food! One of my favorite ways to make December feel special is by making fun treats for our Christmas movie nights!

I get a lot of our groceries from Walmart and order ahead to pick up or have them shipped to our home. They make it so easy and when it comes to groceries/food they have everything you need for the holidays! When I ordered some groceries for our movie party I couldn’t resist getting this fun new 4 piece serving set. It’s perfect to hold a few different types of candy/treats!

I bought this cute red dinnerware set in the summer for 4th of July get togethers and it works great for Christmas parties too! The mugs will be perfect for hot chocolate. :)  (Speaking of hot chocolate, that 4 piece serving set above will also be ideal for holding hot chocolate toppings!)

I got everything ready in the kitchen and then moved it to our family room for the movie. We love to snack in this room when we’re watching movies. That’s why a rug that hides everything and a couch with slipcovers I can wash is crucial. :)

I’ve always found that the snacks themselves don’t have to be fancy with my crew. When I display snacks with fun dishes and have at least one thing that everyone loves it’s a hit and feels extra special. (The popcorn is my must have. In case you didn’t know.) :)

This 3-tier serving tray set is another favorite for movie night or hosting parties with family/friends. You can easily separate a few things you are serving and it always looks beautiful! I tossed  a few fruits/veggies in there to keep us healthy. ;)

These white porcelain serving platters are also ideal for entertaining and I reach for them all the time for our every day dinners too. The treats in the first platter are called Oatmeal Carmelitas and you guys.. they are to die for! SO delicious! My friend’s daughter made them for a party and as soon as I ate one I knew I had to have her make some for me and send the recipe! I added it at the bottom of this post for anyone interested. Seriously.. they are so good! If you make them and love them too let me know! I didn’t add calories because that would spoil the fun pretty quick so just serve some carrots next to your Oatmeal Carmelitas and all will be well. ;)

Ad and Kole couldn’t wait to get this party started. :)

I couldn’t wait to join them! They were so good to hold off and not eat anything until Kenny snapped a few pictures for me. My sweet family.. blogging is a family effort a lot of the time! Ha. They didn’t seem to mind one bit once I put the camera away and said “enjoy!” I see LOTS of family movie parties in our future. And LOTS of oatmeal carmelitas.

I love this time of year.

In case you didn’t know. :)

{POST SOURCES}

Oatmeal Carmelitas

{Ingredients}

Crust:

• 2 cups All Purpose or Unbleached Flour 
• 2 cups quick-cooking rolled oats 
• 1 ½ cups firmly packed brown sugar 
• 1 teaspoon baking soda 
• ½ teaspoon salt 
• 1 ¼ cups margarine or butter, softened 

Filling:

• 1 (12.5-oz.) jar (1 cup) caramel ice cream topping 
• 3 tablespoons All Purpose or Unbleached Flour 
• 1 (6-oz.) pkg. (1 cup) semisweet chocolate chips 
• 1/2 cup chopped nuts

Steps:

•  Heat oven to 350°F. Grease 13×9-inch pan. Lightly spoon flour into a measuring cup; level off. In a large bowl, combine all crust ingredients; mix at low speed until crumbly. Reserve half of the crumb mixture (about 3 cups) for topping. Press remaining crumb mixture in bottom of greased pan. Bake at 350°F. for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine caramel topping and 3 tablespoons flour; blend well.
• Remove partially baked crust from the oven; sprinkle with chocolate chips and nuts. Drizzle evenly with caramel mixture; sprinkle with reserved crumb mixture.
• Return to the oven; bake an additional 18 to 22 minutes or until golden brown. Cool for 1 hour or until completely cooled. Refrigerate 1 to 2 hours or until filling is set. Cut into bars.

Notes: 

*For the caramel topping I used one package of Kraft caramel bits and melted them over the stove then added the flour 

*I also used both milk chocolate chips and semi-sweet chocolate chips (about half a 6oz package of each to have an even balance for taste)

*Feel free to throw in nuts too. I didn’t because Ad is allergic. :) 

{tree sources}

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you’re all surrounded by family and good food and enjoying the day! I’ve rounded up some of my favorite items from favorite stores that are on major sale this weekend. I LOVE that I can happily shop Black Friday sales from my couch in my stretchy pants while munching on pie! The best. :) I hope my top picks help make your holiday shopping a little easier!

*affiliate links used

1- stella  jewelry box   2- plaid picture frame   3- plaid sham

4- flameless pillar candles   5- throws   6- plaid duvet cover

PB candles can’t be beat! The frames, throw and jewelry box would make a great gift and I have the fun plaid bedding. The shams are on my guest bed (I’ll share pics at some point!) and look so festive for the holidays! All of PB’s holiday bedding is marked down and there are so many fun options! I really love these sheets.  And these!

My barstools are 20% off! I love them so much I bought the exact same set for my office. :)

{chunky wool jute rug/all family room sources}

My coffee table is also on sale!

1- cutting boards   2- charcoal link   3- guthrie cabinet   4- floor mirror

5- gray tapered jar   6- coffee table   7- seagrass basket  8- woven counter stool

Other McGee favorites on sale. LOVE everything pictured above! 20% off sitewide right now!

Serena & Lily has 25% off everything right now! I love their pillows. Especially in the summer.

These towels are also favorites!

1- poetto vase   2- stripe tassel pillow cover   3- healdsburg bath collection

4- stool   5- malibu chandelier   6- beachside bowls

I have and love most of these items. The vases have been on my wishlist forever. (Hint Kenny if you’re reading this. El.. Ad.. tell him!) ;)

This long time favorite sweater is back in stock and on sale! I love it so much I have it in two colors. Comes in so many color options!  (This is my Christmas porch a few years ago.. head here to see what it looks like today.) :)

1- puff sleeve sweater   2- bobble ribbed sweater   3– lounge pants 

4- fur slipper   5- styling iron   6- leather tote

A few other Nordstrom favorites. They are dropping new items on sale daily!

These beloved joggers and sneakers (in pink!) are also marked down!

1- pocket joggers   2- necklace   3-   slipper   4- swift run sneaker

5- oversized quilted jacket    6- convertible shoulder bag

Linked here with other Nordstrom top picks. I have these Uggs (#3) and they are the coziest!

1- flannel pajama set   2- pullover sweater   3- necklace set

4- medium transport tote   5-  boots   6- turtleneck sweater

You can never go wrong with Madewell.  30% off of everything right now! If you’re looking for a nice gift the transport tote (#4) is one of my favorite bags and I’ve had it for YEARS. It never goes out of style.. holds a lot and always looks so classy. I also have and love the necklace set and wear it often.

I bought this beautiful top during the last J Crew sale and have loved it! I snapped this pic after church one day (just paired it with a skirt and boots) but it also looks so cute with jeans for a night out. On sale again and it comes in 5 different colors!

1- pajama set   2- puff sleeve top   3- pom-pom beanie

4- chateau parka   5- ruffle top   6- sweater 

A few other J Crew favorites. 40% off of everything right now! I ordered the black coat (#4) and have been patiently waiting for it to arrive! I also just ordered that cute puff sleeve top (#2). Isn’t it so cute for the holidays!?

1- ruffled midi dress    2- pine cone wreath   3- capri blue candle   4- spiral planner

5- pine cone garland   6- capri blue hand soap & lotion   7- wooden tree candle   8- mirror

Last but certainly not least.. Anthro! 30% off at Anthropologie. Oh happy day. :) If you haven’t tried my favorite Christmas candle (#3) you need to! I always stock up and give some as gifts. Aren’t the wooden tree candles fun too!? I’ve been waiting for them to go on sale and just ordered them! I have the blue hand soap/lotion in my downstairs laundry room and in my girls bathroom. The navy and gold really adds so much charm to any bathroom, laundry or kitchen (aside from smelling amazing!). The pine wreath and garland is beautiful and still in stock if you are looking for something to dress your house up for the holidays!

That’s it for now! I’m off to do a little on-line shopping of my own. Bring on the pie! I’ve been training for this weekend (the on-line sale shopping and the eating) all year long.

;)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING from our family to yours!

*affiliate links used

My kitchen window is decked and now it officially feels like the holidays! Last November I decided that since we had no snow in sight (and never will!) that I would create my own snowy magic. A few village houses, my favorite birch trees (on sale right now!) and some realistic faux snow did the trick! I loved it so much that I decided to do the same this year and just added a few wool trees. (Similar wool trees in blush are still in stock!)

I also switched out my snowflakes and hung gold star drop ornaments instead. They are the same stars I hung on my family room Christmas tree this year. Kind of obsessed with them but can you blame me!? So beautiful. I used clear fishing wire to hang them.

{large gold tree/medium gold tree/round gold vase/decorative gold vase/antiqued metal tray (large)/faux snow/string lights}

I also added these beautiful gold trees and vases on my gold tray and then used faux snow and my favorite string lights to add to my cozy night lights. (Going to add some greenery in my small round vase!)

I placed white ceramic houses in my cabinet although I’m still debating whether or not I should keep it like this! I kind of want the large houses in my entry so we’ll see. Plus sometimes this looks a little busy for me. I love it! But it’s a lot going on. For now I’m keeping it and enjoying the cozy glow from the cabinet. (I linked the white ceramic houses at the end of this post!)

It makes me so happy to walk into this scene when it gets dark each night!

A few more angles because I took too many pictures. But you already knew that. :)

Love this time of year! If you are traveling this week be safe! I’ll be back very soon with some fun Black Friday deals. If you are celebrating Thanksgiving I want to wish you a wonderful holiday! I’m so grateful for you all (your support means so much to me!) and I hope you are able to relax and enjoy your family. Along with ALL the good food. Bring on the stretchy pants!

Lucky for me I own lots of them. ;)

{POST SOURCES}

*affiliate links used

Teen girls! Pretty much sums up my life right now. This pic was from last year around this time. We need Ellie to snap a new selfie of the 3 of us with the bread. :) It’s always an adventure with these two. Love them both so much and overall I’ve loved this stage. It’s like having two mini besties running around with me all day.

I’ve rounded up LOTS of gift ideas if you have teen girls in your life too! These are all items my girls either already have and love or things would be excited about (and might be getting!) for Christmas this year. I shared ideas in this post from Urban, Nordstrom, Amazon and Sephora (some of the main places I shop for my girls.) Sephora gift sets were a huge hit with my girls last year! They always love trying new skin and make-up products and the gift sets are perfect for that. If you aren’t buying for teen girls this year still take a look at the items I’ve rounded up because quite a few are good gifts for women of all ages. Another fun thing about this stage with my girls is that we can share! So many things they love I love too. :)

I’ll have teen boy gift ideas coming soon!  Teen girl gift ideas are easy, but I had to recruit a few friends to check out my ideas for teen boys and make sure they were legit. I passed.. phew. Ha. ;)

Thanksgiving week! Let’s do this! It’s a busy one for sure. Good luck kicking off the week, happy shopping and I’ll be back soon. :)

1- adidas waist pack  2- tote bag   3- gel under eye pads  4- claw clip

5- fujifilm instant camera  6- fujifilm film   7- ugg sandal    8- roller skates

9- hydro flask water bottle   10- dr. martens jadon platform  11- disposable camera

12- shag throw pillow   13- mini instax film   14- smartphone printer

1- ribbed sweater   2- sparkle bobby pins   3- lemon drop detangler   4- flash patch eye gels  

5- long shirt jacket   6- 4-pack liner socks  7- jaw clip  8- airpods pro case 

9- no. 7 bonding oil    no.5 bond maintenance conditioner    no.4 bond maintenance shampoo 

 no.6 bond smoother   10- slingback sandal

1- sportswear sweatshirt   2- chuck taylor high top sneaker    3- eyeshadow palette  

4- ponytail holder   5- detangling primer   6- jadon boot   7- curling iron

8- oversized sweatshirt   9- plumping lip gloss set   10- flannel pajama pants

1- leather backpack  2- tie-dye party   3- 10pk natural lip balm

4- sherpa wearable blanket  5- fuzzy socks   6- night light bluetooth speaker

1- photo string lights   2- travel size brush set   3- crossbody bag

4- tripod stand   5- vanity mirror   6- mud mask

1-EMU Australia    2- supergoop glow sunscreen   3- rainbow puzzle

4- felt letter board   5-  hair towel wrap   6- echo dot

1 – the baking cookbook for teens  2 – how to cookbook for teens

3 – 7 habits of highly effective teens   4- mindfulness for teens

1- galaxy gorgeous set   2- holy sheet

3- hydration starter kit   4- rose deep hydration skincare

1- shine lip gloss & plumper set   2- pillow talk lip set

3- plumping lip set   4- lip color lipstick & lip balm set

1- makeup brush set   2- clean makeup set

3- beauty must have set   4- lash kit

*affiliate links used

Last night I kicked off the holiday season with a group of friends at a favorite things party. Favorite things parties are always so much fun this time of year! I’m pretty pumped because I am going to 3 of them this holiday season. The best because I get to spend time with 3 different groups of amazing friends and also the best because WOW.. so many fun gift ideas! You can be pumped right along with me because of course I’m going to share these fun gift ideas with all of you! Virtual favorite things after in person favorite things! Everyone is invited! Everyone gets a car!

Sorry.. flashback to Oprah. No cars. I got a little excited there. :)

A friend snapped this picture right after a few of us walked in the door and I’m bummed because I really didn’t take many pictures after that and I wish I would have! I didn’t even get a picture with my friend Megan – the beautiful party host who owns this house. You can tell by her stunning tree that she has an eye for design. Her home is gorgeous!

Her cute 8 year old daughter snapped this one quick before we walked into the party and I wanted to share it to show off that wall.. amazing right!? I love the way she layered black, white and gold frames that hold sentimental pictures on shelves. Such a stunning statement right when you walk into her home.

Bouquets of red, pink, gold and black balloons were going down her stairs and placed in other fun spots throughout her house.

Pink is always such a fun, unexpected color for holiday decor. Her kitchen looked beautiful and the food was amazing!

Snapped this of the balloons while everyone was in the living room and realized after that I was in the mirror.. Diet Coke in hand of course. Ha.

Most of you know the drill with Favorite Things parties – I’ve been sharing them on my blog for longer than I want to remember! ;) – but if you are new here and haven’t been to a favorite things party this is how it goes down. The host tells everyone how many gifts to bring and what amount. For this party we each brought 3 of one of our favorite things that cost between $15-$20. 3 of the same thing! (For the party I’m going to in a couple of weeks people are bringing 2 of the same favorite thing that costs between $25-$30). Either works! Then at the party each person gets up and tells about their item and why they love it so much. How the gifts are distributed can be done in lots of ways. At this party we all signed our names on 3 separate pieces of paper when we arrived and names were drawn after each person shared their favorite thing to see which 3 people got to take it home. Another way to do it is to all share favorites first and then start at one end of the room and go in order letting each person choose a gift. Then back again starting where you left off so the order reverses. Am I making sense? Anyway.. so many creative ways to do this! At the end of the day it’s just so fun seeing what your friends love. Usually if it’s a friend’s favorite thing it’s something you would love too! Each person goes home with 2 or 3 new gifts and even more gift ideas!

After a few hours of chatting, gift sharing and laughing these were the favorites shared last night. Perfect gifts for family, teachers, neighbors and friends!

1 – capri blue volcano candle  2 – madewell blanket scarf   3 – winter white holiday candle

4 – snowflake ornament  5 – olaplex blonde enhancing toning shampoo

6 – olaplex bond maintenance conditioner   7 – mini maker electric griddle

8 – hair finishing stick   9 – fullstar 4 in 1 vegetable chopper plus  10 – large makeup bag organizer 

 11 – true lime (with gift card for Diet Coke)  12 – self tanning facial  drops  13 – tarte mascara

All so good! As you know Anthro candles are long time favorites of mine and you can’t go wrong with anything Madewell! I brought Olaplex (LOVE all of their products) and so did a couple of others (the purple shampoo is great for blondes!). I actually wanted to bring my battery organizer full of batteries. I ordered it and shipping was delayed! It didn’t come in time for the party. Maybe only a nerd like me loves things like that anyway so all good. ;) They actually drew my name for the vegetable chopper and we all had a good laugh! Then my friend put my name right back in the jar and gave it to someone else. My friends know me well enough to know that a vegetable chopper wouldn’t get used much at my house.. ha. :) My friend Katy who loves to cook brought that and raved about it so it’s a great gift for anyone who does love to cook! We were laughing at my friend Darci who loves to put true lime in everything she eats and drinks. Perfect especially for water and Diet Coke! I’m dying to try the hair finishing stick and the tanning facial drops! The make up bag was a hit too! All such fun items.

1 – adubor silk pillowcase  2 – fir and firewood candle  3 – magnetic measuring spoons set

4 – it’s a 10 miracle leave-in product  5 – pumi bar    6 – japanese salut towel

7 – danish dough whisk  8 – tinkle hair trimmer  9 – rose quartz roller (use with Aloe Vera)

10 – battery organizer   11 – supergoop sunscreen  12 – epicurean lip balm

Silk pillowcases are so good for your skin and hair! My friend swears by this one. Firewood and fir is hands down the best scent for the holiday season (I have that candle going in my house right now as I type this!). The measuring spoons are genius.. never lose one again! I can vouch for It’s a 10! I started using that as a de-tangler after a favorite things party a few years back and love it too. Same with the tinkle facial razors. I want to try Supergoop.. people rave about that sunscreen! The dough whisk was another popular items for cookers and I linked my battery organizer in this collage because you know.. there might be another nerd out there like me who would prefer that over a vegetable chopper. Stranger things have happened! ;) One item that accidentally didn’t make it into either collage was this microfiber hair towel wrap.  Another fun item!

I hope this post gave you a few fun gift ideas! I’ll share more from other parties and also my own favorite things round-up at some point too!

If you’re feeling at all stressed about gift giving or any other planning that needs to happen this holiday season it’s not too late to download my free holiday planner! I don’t know what I would be doing without my never ending brain dumps inside of mine. I love having a place to keep all of my Christmas lists/planning organized!

You might even call it one of my favorite things.

Second only to my battery organizer.

;)

*affiliate links used

{cable knit faux fur pillow/knitted tree Christmas throw}

I’m sharing two of my Christmas trees today! Complete rooms aren’t well.. complete yet. But progress has been made so I’m sharing progress. :)

First up.. my family room tree! This Norway 9′ Faux Spruce Tree might be my favorite tree ever. In this world. Which is saying a lot. The shape and lights.. it’s just beautiful and was so much fun to decorate!

I kept it really simple and just used this burgundy wood bead garland layered with this gold bead garland (similar here) for a base. Then I added the glitter star ornaments I love from my tree last year, these long time favorite gold ball ornaments and a few of these beautiful star drop ornaments. I was so excited when I found the star drop ornaments on-line because they go so well with the stars I already had! This glitter gold star was perfect to top things off and then I picked up this fun woven tree skirt to complete the look.

Really such an easy tree! The only thing that was a little tricky was getting the two garlands to look right. I had to space them far enough in-between one another and then I had to space the two individual garlands apart so they weren’t clumped together. That took a little effort! This is the tree I always decorate with my kids so I put the garland on and arranged it first and then they helped me with the ornaments. Always the best solution if part of the tree is going to take some planning. ;)

{woven tree skirt/wool jute rug}

Mad game of Sorry was going on this weekend. Hands down my kids’ favorite board game! These two play Sorry and Chess weekly and things get pretty heated.. ha.

I was worried the tree skirt would blend in too much with my family room rug but it works great! Really loving how well they compliment each other. I just need to finish a few things on my mantel and style my coffee table and then this room will be holiday ready!

To be continued.. :)

{windowpane plaid/red & green plaid/oversized burgundy/boucle with zipper/Christmas tree loops}

On a side note this is the one room I’m doing with more of a burgundy look vs. red. These pillows are a few favorites from Target I’m using this year. All going in different rooms but the two burgundy options (that got cut off on the far right!) will be in this space. Sorry for the bad lighting here.. cell phone on a cloudy day!

Ok.. next up is my living room tree! Here is a pic with the tree lights off.

And with lights on! While my family room tree is more elegant this tree is playful and just FUN. I love both looks so much! Which is why I end up with multiple trees throughout my house every year. It’s too hard to be limited to just one style! I know you all feel me on this one.

That’s why we hang out together here and all get along so well. :)

This is my fa-la-la tree in what I’m calling my fa-la-la room. You all know how deep my love is for this glitter garland! It will always have a place in my home during the holidays. :) Aside from that I layered in a bright red bead garland (similar here) with my favorite wood bead garland. I placed them a little less loopy than the bead garlands on my family room tree so they were a lot easier to work with!  Then I layered in white snowflakes (similar here and I’ll share more options linked below), and my cute little sherpa reindeer. :)

The only item I bought new this year for my living room tree are these beautiful fa-la-la white ball ornaments! Of course.. they were speaking to me. They are so large and stunning in person!

{red & green plaid/similar velvet green/fa-la-la pillow}

But if you get the ornaments you have to get this fa-la-la pillow too. I mean can you really have one without the other!? I think not and I would appreciate it if one of you could explain this to my husband. He needs to understand that all things fa-la-la are a package deal. He also needs to understand that these items definitely fall in the need category.. not a want. A need.

I’m so happy you’re with me on this one. ;)

*Sidenote.. did anyone notice the picture in the corner of baby Kole by the swimming pool? Summer pics are still in these frames! Switching them to Christmas pics is on this week’s to-do list.

This room is off to a great start with the tree and couch pillows done! I need to finish my mantel, style the shelves and coffee table and switch out the pictures. Then this room will be holiday ready too.

One step at a time. :)

{similar velvet green/Christmas tree loops}

I’m still playing around with pillow combos on my chairs and will probably move this tree pillow to another spot but isn’t it adorable!? The loops bring in so much texture! A perfect little accent pillow. Comes in red and gray too and in a lumbar size.

Well.. that wraps up my tale of two trees! Like I said.. complete rooms aren’t 100% complete yet, but we are definitely celebrating progress around here!

{plaid flannel joggers/ugg slippers}

In other fun news, these cute pj bottoms Ad and I bought last December are back in stock and on sale this weekend! Love them! (I’m linking them below.) They also come in shorts and I just ordered a pair of the shorts for each of my girls because they like to sleep in them. Cooler at night! Abercrombie is also having a huge sale on all of their coats this weekend so I linked favorites of those below too. Pjs or a new coat would make a great Christmas gift! (Mens coats are marked down too!)

Enjoy the rest of the weekend! I’ll keep decking the halls over here and report back with more soon.

;)

{POST SOURCES & FUN SALES}

85 degrees today on the coast! Time to head to the beach? Or decorate our porch for the holidays?

I say both! But porch first.

Always. ;)

We are feeling all sorts of festive around here now that I’ve turned our porch into a mini forest! I have to get my winter fix one way or another. :)

This really was the easiest Christmas porch and didn’t take long at all to set up. I put a few command hooks on the ledge above the door and then layered garland across the top. (Tip: Wait 30-60 min to add the garland after you place the command hooks. I’ve learned the hard way NOT to attach items right after you put the hooks on! The command hooks need some time to really stick and secure where you’ve placed them.) 

{cypress tree/basket}

I pulled out my long time favorite faux Cypress trees, placed them in baskets to add some texture and then added smaller trees around them.

{large pine tree/medium pine tree/small pine tree}

{red plaid rug here & here/fa la la door mat}

You might remember this fun plaid red rug that I’ve had in my dining room during previous holiday months. I bought a smaller size for the porch and love it! What better to layer with the crown jewel.. my fa la la mat. ;)

{similar garland (more options linked below)/wreath hook/hanging bells}

I hung bells from the door with a wreath hook and called it done! Come on over! We are ready to welcome friends and family for the holiday.

And then all head to the beach.

:)

*I shared a quick video here of me styling this porch if it’s helpful! 

{POST SOURCES}