Stocking Stuffers for Her

The stocking is one of my favorite parts of the whole Christmas gift process! I LOVE picking out items to stuff the stockings and to be honest, I really love opening my own. :) I mean who doesn't love presents right lol?? It's fun to see what kind of amazing things you can stuff into the little stocking and it was always the first thing we would open as a family.  My sister and I would even sneak down in the middle of the night and look at our stockings since everything else was wrapped. Whoops lol! They can contain anything from jewelry, books, movies, and of course candy.  I didn't put candy on this list because I figured that picking out your loved ones fave candy is a personal choice. I really love the Christmas tree Reese's and York Peppermint patties :) Hope this helps you get some ideas or you can always send the link to your man too!

Kyoko Town- My cousin has an Etsy shop with the best jewelry. I own a bunch and she even made my wedding jewelry, including my headpiece. Everything she makes is high quality and perfect! These name charm necklaces are the cutest!

Lancome Grandiose Mascara: This is my favorite mascara of all time. It makes my lashes look even longer and fuller and stays all day long.

Argan Hand Mask: I love these for the winter time when my hands are dry and cracked. These masks work wonders and smell amazing!

The Simplified Life: Emily Ley is one of my favorite people to follow on Instagram. Her posts are so calming and helpful. I was just talking about her with a friend the other night and realized that this would be a great gift for anyone! Thanks for the idea Colleen!

Deborah Lippmann nail polish: I LOVE the Deborah Lippmann nail polishes and these colors are perfect for the holidays.

Reindeer Gloves: I think these gloves are so stinking adorable! Plus they are subtle enough to wear all winter long.

Birchwood Pine Candle: I include this in every gift guide but there's good reason... it's the best candle ever!!! I have been saving mine from last year and can't wait to start burning it. I need to buy the bigger version asap though.

Lululemon headbands: These are my favorite workout headbands!

Mug: Elf is one of my favorite Christmas movies and this mug cracked me up as soon as I saw it. Perfect!

Pom Beanie: I love a good pom beanie and this BP one is perfect!

Sloth jewelry holder: I have a love affair with sloths. I think they are adorable and this little jewelry holder is just so fun. How cute is that little guy??

Cozy Slipper Socks: Slipper socks are a great stocking stuffer and these polar bears are so cute!

Thanksgiving Week Recap

Can you believe that Thanksgiving is over already?? I was looking forward to this week for months now and I'm so sad that it flew by. We had a blast having family in town but sadly my dad was sick with the flu all week. Hopefully he will be feeling better soon. Now that the holiday season is here I am soooo excited for all the festivities. I am a little bit of a Christmas freak so bring all the holiday magic!

Our week was jam-packed with activities especially since I was still working until Wednesday. Here are some of my fave pictures from the week!

From our walk along the oceanfront

We stopped and had drinks at Catch 33. So pretty!

My parents in front of the tree outside our house. Gorgeous leaves right now!

I made the Pioneer Woman's Chipotle Chicken Chili on their 2nd night in town. YUM!

We also ventured out to Green Flash for some beers and to play corn hole 

On Wednesday night, we went to see the Deloreans play at Chichos and oh my goodness, it was a blast! I LOVE some good 80s cover songs!

Breakfast on Thanksgiving... ignore my crazy beehive hair and the lovely faces Mark and Chase are making lol

After Thanksgiving dinner, we walked around the neighborhood to check out the lights. Walks are my fave so this was the PERFECT way to end the evening.

Everyone headed up early Saturday morning and I wish they could have stayed longer. I love hosting people at the house and it was a blast to be together for Thanksgiving. Come back soon!!

The rest of the weekend was spent cleaning, doing laundry, and decorating the house for Christmas. Mark and I did venture out to get breakfast at the Bee and the Biscuit on Saturday morning. I LOVE going there! Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving!!

Gift Guide for Him

I'm back today with another gift guide but this time it's for the men in your life. Thankfully I had Mark to help me with this because shopping for guys is hard work. Most of these items are going to be based around an outdoorsy guy but some will work for any man in your life.

ONE   TWO  THREE
FOUR   FIVE   SIX
SEVEN   EIGHT   NINE

One- This Garmin heart rate watch is awesome for any athletic guy.  Mark uses it for tracking his workouts by connecting it to the Garmin app. You can also download maps for hikes or even golf courses on to the watch. "It's the ultimate watch for the man on the go" says Mark.

Two- Who doesn't love a GoPro?? This latest edition has all the bells and whistles such as voice controls, a 2-inch touch screen display, and is waterproof up to 33 ft without a housing. The best thing about though it is the single touch go feature.

Three- Patagonia jackets are long lasting and will always be in style. This plaid one is perfectly casual but is a little different than a standard nano puff.

Four- This Leatherman multitool is a must-have for any guy in your life. This would also make a great stocking stuffer!

Five- My brother in law had these Nikes with him this past week during his visit and we all loved them. They look really nice but are still comfortable enough to wear everyday. This gray and white combo is my favorite but they have other options too.

Six- The Amazon Echo will work for almost anyone on your list. It's super versatile and can do almost anything from change a song to requesting an uber. This is on my list this year too! Bonus is that it's on sale on Amazon right now.

Seven- These are another recommendation from my brother in law. He loves Lululemon pants and always raves about how comfortable they are. They are on the pricey side but I'm sure you have someone on your list who would really appreciate a pair.

Eight- These Norman Copenhagen whiskey glasses are super nice and would be a great addition to any bar. I know Mark would love these!

Nine- Golf balls are always a safe option (well if your guy golfs lol) and I always end up buying Mark at least one box. The Pro V1s are a fan fave in my family! Plus right now you can get them personalized for free which is a really nice touch.

**Bonus item: This didn't make the collage above but I recently saw this and thought it would be a great gift idea. The Classic Nintendo is back and what a fun gift for a girl, guy, or even the whole family. I wish we still had our Nintendo from growing up! Duck hunt was my jam!

Hope this helps you get some inspiration and of course if you have any ideas, comment them below! I'll be back with more gift ideas this week!

Gift Guide for the Girly Girl

Hey everyone! The holidays are upon us and I really need to get my butt in gear when it comes to gift buying. I've always had a pretty good grasp on my list by now but honestly I'm scrambling. Thankfully the blog world gives me TONS of ideas and I hope to pass on some of my ideas to you too. Making these lists always helps me to streamline my buying :)

Lash Boost Bundle: I can't get enough of Lash Boost and with the addition of the Bright Eye Complex, I'm even more in love. This is the gift that keeps on gifting :) Plus it comes with a free eyelash curler that is seriously the cutest. If you want details on this bundle, let me know and I'll give you all the info.

Nest Candle: I have been in love with the Birchwood Pine candle for a few years and I feel like you just can't go wrong with this as a gift. The candle is light enough to not be overpowering but so fresh and perfect for the holidays.

Blush Pink Sleepshirt: This sleep shirt is sooo soft and comfortable. I hate sleeping in pants... sorry if that's TMI lol so a sleep shirt is perfect. Plus the blush pink is a good transition color into the January and February too.

Pom pom earrings: How perfect are these earrings for a night out, especially New Years?? They are so fun and will dress up any outfit. Any girly girl would love these!

MAC brush set: I have used MAC brushes for years and love them. This set is a great little travel kit for any woman in your life. Plus the little travel pouch serves as a great holiday bag as well.

UGG Fleece-lined socks: I'm always down for a good slipper sock and these are so comfy. They are a little pricey but I think they are worth every penny because they last a long time. Plus I can't resist a good pom pom!

Tassel Earrings: These are soooo dang cute! I seriously love tassels and these are the perfect neutral for any outfit. These are on my list for sure!

Passport holder: I've been on the hunt for a passport holder and I found one that I love! How cute is this fringe? This is a great gift for any lady on your list, plus it's something unique that they most likely won't have.

I will be back this week with more gift guides but I wanted to get this one out since it's ready to go. I hope I helped spark some inspiration for someone on your list. :)

ORC: Master Bedroom Final Reveal

Reveal week of the One Room Challenge is here! The whole thing flew by so quickly and what a crazy whirlwind. I still can't believe it's over. As the weeks came rushing by, I prayed for time to slow down so I could get everything done that was on my list. That didn't happen! Well let's recap why this was such a crazy time...  I was out of town a few weekends and that put a big damper on room renovations. Then it was near impossible to work on the room during the week because of school kicking my butt and other commitments. Add in trying to take pictures of the room with this time change and you've got yourself a disaster. Excuse my melodramatic self but we only get natural light in the room in the morning or early afternoon, so by the time I get home from work the room is pitch black. That's why you'll notice different coloring in some of the pictures. I still wanted to capture parts of the room but couldn't get the lighting I wanted. Oh well, it happens! That's why I'm not a pro at this! :)

Here are the previous ORC posts:
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 5
Week 6

Overall, linking up with Calling It Home for the One Room Challenge was such a great experience. It got my creative juices flowing and it was so fun to see Mark get so into it. He was a HUGE help on the room and would even help me clean so we could pictures each week. The painting and the shiplap wall could not have been done without him either. No one wants to see me with a nail gun. THANK YOU Mark!

Now, what you've all been waiting for... the room reveal! I don't blame ya if you skipped all this jibber jabber above because the pictures are what you really want to see.

Oh hello Oli!

What do you think?? I am in LOVE with how it turned out!  The room looks so much more cohesive and just serene. I actually like spending time in here now :)

Finally adding a bed really helped to make the room feel more put together. Who would have thought lol??? Also, the headboard is perfect for this space and super comfy too. Even changing the placement of the throw pillows makes it look so much better haha! We are still trying to figure out what to put above the bed though. Originally I wanted this Be Still sign but then wanted to make a sign myself. Then I changed my mind again when I thought of putting a distressed white ship's wheel above the bed. Mark thinks he can make one so that's next on the list of things to do. That's if I can finally make a decision!

salt cellar

The wall color is perfect and I am so glad that we didn't go darker. The lighter sea foam color really brightens the dark room and the white trim looks perfect. It's so hard to get an accurate picture of it though but it pulls a greenish-blue color that is super pretty. When you see it against the white shiplap wall it pops more.

Before

After

lamp

lamp

I always use books I'm actually reading on the nightstand. I can't style things that aren't functional to me because it just doesn't end up staying there for long. The paintings above the nightstands are from HomeGoods and I bought them on a whim a few months back. I really love how they turned out. They are beachy but not seashell beachy, ya know? Also, ignore the coaster... I know it isn't cute but it's functional lol.

Before

After

lantern   |   similar plaque

cotton stems

I LOVE this jug from Kirkland's but I can't find the same one online. It was under $20 and looks great!

lantern

I moved a couple items around on the larger dresser (as you can see above). I need to add some flowers to the jar, that was originally by the lantern, so I took it out for now. Styling a room is always a work in progress. I have always like decorating with personal items instead of just picking out a bunch of stuff that goes together. Sometimes that strategy goes really well and other times it's hodge-podged. I feel like it looks more cohesive than it did before but like I said, a work in progress. 

similar plaque 

I have an S-shaped hook all ready to go to add a Christmas wreath to the metal and wood plaque. Can't wait! 

Before

After

I'm not in love with the frame around this picture so hopefully we can change it out. The painting is just an odd size and we will have to get a custom frame. I really like the painting though and want to keep it because it reminds me of living in San Diego. 

Before

After

the anchor was a gift from my mother in law a couple years back

we changed out all the light fixtures except for that one lol

This is right by our closet- one of my favorite songs :)

We still haven't found a bench so I just moved our original bench near the doorway and I love how it there. I added a couple lanterns and some throw pillows to give a cozy look. Hopefully we can still find another bench to put at the end of our bed. Also, I can't find the metal tin shown above on Kirkland's website and the lanterns are from our wedding. I love repurposing items!

Head on over to see the other guest participants :)

Planner Favorites

I am a self-proclaimed planner lover.  It's something that brings me joy and yes, I know that makes me a total nerd and I totally own that lol.  There's just something about starting out my week knowing exactly what I have going on that just helps me to feel calm and collected. And then add in some cute stickers and fun pens and I'm officially in my happy place!

Some of you have reached out and asked about my favorite planner goodies so I thought I would share them on here. If you aren't a paper-planner person, then this post probably isn't for you but you should stay around because something might catch your eye. :) Maybe I'll convert you to love my paper-planning ways!

cover

A question I get asked a lot is what kind of planner I use. I am an Erin Condren planner girl and have used them for several years.  Yes, there are cheaper options out there but I really like the layout of Erin Condren, the size of the Life planner, the thickness of the paper, and the overall quality of the book. I've had three and each one has made it through the entire year. I am close to ordering another one for next year but I am waiting for Black Friday/ Cyber Monday because I am hoping they have a deal.

planner

I use the horizontal layout because it's easier to write everything in and just works better for me. The vertical version is very popular in the planner world but it just wasn't my fave. There's also an hourly version, a teacher plan book, a hardbound planner, a deluxe monthly planner, and more.

If you are interested in buying one click here for my referral link. You will receive a $10 gift certificate after your first purchase. Pretty awesome deal!

Covers & Accessories 

buy it here

Another fun perk of the Erin Condren planners are the customizable and interchangeable covers. Sometimes you just want to change it up and to be honest, after 6-8 months, my cover is in need of a facelift. The Erin Condren covers are only $8, so not bad at all. Recently I found a new website for planner accessories that I really like called Stylish Planner Accessories. The covers are all hand drawn and are so unique and beautiful. They are a little more expensive than the Erin Condren covers but worth the splurge. Also, she always has a free wallpaper for each season and they are so cute! Go check out the November version!

I just recently got this cute planner clip and I'm in love. So adorable for Christmas!

clip

Stickers

Like I said before, I like the whole plethora of planner accessories, stickers being one of them.  I don't go totally nuts and do the whole "no white space" planning because it's a little too intense for me. However, I like to use accent stickers for events and important info throughout the week and then of course a cute checklist as well.

Some of my favorite sticker shops on Etsy:

Cricket Paper Co. 

FireFly Paper
Little Paper Prints
Virgo & Paper
It's Planning Time
Planning Roses

Pens

Since you will most likely be writing on stickers in your journals, it's important to have pens that don't smear or bleed through. My favorites are the Ultra Fine Tip Sharpie Permanent Markers for vinyl stickers and the Papermate Inkjoy Gel Pens for writing on paper. I've tried a ton of pens and these are the best!

Weekend Recap {Wooster/ Quinn visit}

Hey everyone! Happy Monday! We had a fun-packed weekend with family visiting. Thankfully Aunt Kathy is amazing with capturing everything in pictures so prepare yourself for a great weekend recap. Thanks Kathy!

On Thursday, the Woosters and Tracy got to the house after work and we headed to Rockafellers on recommendation from Becky. Thank you! The food was delicious and the view was beautiful. Afterwards we got some ice cream and headed home. It was pretty dang cold out but when you're craving ice cream, you're craving ice cream!

On Friday, we ventured out to Norfolk to see the USS Wisconsin. The museum was super interesting and it was neat to see what it would be like to live on a ship. Afterwards, we went over to the Waterside District for lunch. We ended up eating at the Smokehouse and had the most delicious nachos. Fun fact about me: nachos are one of my favorite things to eat. SO good! We had some time to kill so we went to my favorite store, Kirkland's, to check out their Veteran's day sales. We got a couple of Christmas goodies but for the most part I was able to refrain from going nuts.  :)

Our last stop for the night was the Million Bulb Walk at the Norfolk Botanical Gardens. It was so beautiful and definitely got me in the holiday spirit. It was soooo cold out though. I was not prepared for it to be this chilly outside already. Thankfully Mark packed extra layers for me so we had plenty to go around. Plus the peppermint mocha from Starbucks helped too!

freezing people!

On Saturday, I wasn't feeling very well so I stayed home while Kathy, Mark, and Tracy went to Colonial Williamsburg. Their pictures looked like so much fun though. I made black bean flautas for dinner and we had a cozy night in by the fire.

Sunday, was spent at the Cape Henry Lighthouse and then at the Bodacious Bazarre in Hampton Roads. I was so disappointed by the Bazarre because I was expecting more cute crafty things. They just didn't have much that I liked but I did get a couple of Christmas items. Oh well, still fun to experience something new!

We had such a fun visit with Kathy, Mark, and Tracy! Thanks for coming to visit us in our new home :)