2014 Gift Guide

We all have those hard to shop for people, but I've compiled a list that hopefully will make your last minute shopping a breeze!

1. These boots from Bear Paw are on my wish list. Being from the Midwest, snow boots are a must and these are just too cute to pass up.

2. How ingenious is a microwave bowl mitt? TCKitchen nailed it with this product. Through a bowl full of food in this mitt, through it in the microwave, and don't burn your fingers on the bowl when it's time to take it out of the microwave!

3. For all of those coffee loves out there, get them a personalized coffee cozy! Their hands won't smell like the gross cardboard cozy that Starbucks gives you. And even better, it's reusable!

4. This facial mud mask is all natural. It detoxes your pores leaving your skin bright and glowing. Need I say more?

5. Beanies are huge right now. What better than a handmade beanie and supporting small businesses?! I can't get over how cute and cozy this hat is.

6. Northeast Nutmeg makes amazing smelling soy candles! Let's be honest, if I bought one for Christmas it would be under my tree for myself. Whether you're looking for a gift or want to pamper yourself, Northeast Nutmeg is definitely worth looking into!

Sweater Leggings and Sparkles

The worst part of Christmas is always trying to find places to put my new presents! My drawers are packed to the max with all of my new clothes including this new hunter green sweater from Old Navy (thanks mom!) With the weather warming up a tiny bit I thought I'd shed some layers today and stick to my new sweater and my new sweater leggings!

The "Twelve Days Of Christmas" sales that stores were sporting this year was kind to me! I scored these sweater leggings from BB Styled and only paid shipping. I'm always a little unsure on buying leggings online, you never know how they'll fit or if they'll be see-through or too short but so far I can't complain about these leggings! These are meant to be hand washed and I hate hand washing so I'll admit I threw these in the machine and they turned out fine!

 

 

Sweater // Old Navy

Leggings // BB Styled

Necklace // Cato

The Aroma of Christmas!

In my family, it is a big holiday tradition to bake a TON of cookies for Christmas. Sometimes we share them with others...sometimes we hoard them to ourselves. BUT either way it's always a day full of flying flour, timers beeping, and the sweeeet aroma of cookies!!

Before we talk cookies lets talk about the very exciting little package I received in the morning before we started our cookie fiasco! I've been stalking the Lily Asher earring collection debating on which pair I need to buy first when I came across an amazing flash deal! I scored three beautiful sets of earrings so naturally I had to wear them right away!

Now I'll admit, I wasn't sure if they would be heavy or anything due to their size but I was so wrong! I've never had a more comfortable pair of earrings! These are definitely a must have! Visit Lily Asher for TONS of gorgeous prints, colors, and sizes!

Our cookies vary year to year but the one we always have to make are the sugar kringles. Now I'd love the share the recipe with all of you so you can experience these magnificent cookies for yourself, but I've been sworn to secrecy regarding the recipe. In fact I haven't even been given the recipe, so I don't know it myself. It's a cookie that my grandma has been handed down
and is now the keeper of the recipe! I can tell you that it involves the dough being rolled out on the counter, cut into little strips, then coated in sugar and baked. These cookies are so light and airy they just melt in your mouth!

I stole a glimpse of the recipe!!

Since I can't give out the sugar kringle recipe I'll give you my other favorite! A shortbread cookies with dried cherries and white chocolate chips, a take on a raspberry shortbread cookie recipe.

We follow the cookie recipe and add half a bag of dried cherries (this year we did a fourth of a bag of cherries and a fourth of cranberries) and half a bag of white chocolate chips (just eyeball it!). The glaze is good on the cookies but we don't typically put it on the cookies, they're fine without it!

My little Christmas helper :)

 Merry Christmas everyone!! and that's a wrap on our baking cookies and Lily Asher earrings!

Christmas Wear

Holy cow, eight days until Christmas, can you believe it?? I know I sure can't. I began Christmas shopping in September and thought I was getting a sneaky jump start on my shopping this year, unfortunately I haven't finished yet! I better get on that today I suppose. 

 



While on a recent trip to visit a good friend in Chicago she began pointing out holiday outfits while shopping and I realized I don't have anything planned yet! Fortunately I was at Forever21 and discovered tons of adorable outfits perfect for those holly and tinsel filled days ahead. Here is one of my favorite outfits:

 

During Christmas there is always an air of tradition from classical songs to baking cookies and decorating the Christmas tree and I treasure the classy feeling that accompanies the holiday. The cut of the silver dress exhumes class in my opinion, and the floral print adds an awesome texture without being too loud. Tights are always my staple for winter, they provide a tiny bit of extra warmth for those snowy days. The geo bib really emphasizes and compliments with neckline of the dress and adds a little pop of color without being gaudy. Now I typically prefer peep toe shoes, but when I wear tights I typically lean more towards a closed toe just to hide that awkward toe seam on tights. 

jacket

dress

tights

necklace

pumps

 

 

What is your favorite part of Christmas?

Any exciting Christmas traditions?