Last Minute Christmas Gifts

If you want to order gifts online and have them delivered before Christmas, it's time to get shopping! I've got ideas for her, him and the home. Here are some of my favorite items I've had my eye on for those last few people on your list.


For Her

I love to give luxury items for Christmas. These YSL lipsticks look as pretty in their packaging as they do on your lips! Gift sets are great because regardless of coloring there's at least one that will look perfect. The rest of them I use for mixing colors. The brown-toned lipstick is great for minimizing pink. I mix my lip colors almost every single day.

Black quilting is a classic! I love these Hunter rain boots, and this handbag is so similar to a certain Chanel one I've had my eye on forever. However, it's beautiful in it's own right. I tried nude one on in the store and was in love with the leather.

These YSL aviators are so hot right now! I love my Ray-Bans, but I really wish I had waited before I bought them since these came out. I can have two pair of aviators, right? Get these before they sell out!

I'm still the only person without one of these pop sockets. I've always wanted one, but just never got around to buying it. I love the pink and black color on this one. It would make a great stocking stuffer!

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For Him

I was on the hunt for cologne recently for my teen aged son. I fell in love with this Tom Ford Noir Extreme. The sales lady took me right over to it when I said I was looking for cologne. She knew what she was doing because out of everything I had smelled over the weekend it was by far my favorite. It was a little too old for my 15 year old, but it would be perfect for an older teen or adult.

Men just love Tumi. I don't get it, but they love it. Most of the luggage is very expensive, but this wallet is under $100.

All men need an electric razor. This Arc5 seems to be the hottest one right now.

The Amazon Echo! Get it for him, but also for you and everyone in the household. You can use it to ask the weather, turn on lights or music. The price point can't be beat either at around $30.

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For the Home

I've done my research on coffee makers recently. I've come up with a favorite. This Saeco is a super automatic (just push a button to grind and brew). What separates this one from other super automatics? It has an integrated milk frother. If you like lattes and cappuccinos, this one will add the perfect amount of milk for you. There's no wand to figure out. The best part is you can remove the milk container and save it in your fridge for the next day. It also makes regular coffee and espresso, which are my husband's favorites.

I am a sucker for anything monogrammed. I love these personalized cutting boards and coffee cups. This candle smells amazing and looks beautiful on any surface. My husband got a set of knives last year after complaining constantly that ours didn't cut well. I have to agree he was right now that I've experienced a really sharp knife.

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My Favorite Christmas Cocktail

Most of you know I'm an avid wine drinker, so much so that I list wine tasting on questionnaires that ask me about my hobbies. I have to admit that all of this holiday celebrating has me a little wine tired right now. I've always loved the look of a martini or pretty mixed drink, but not the taste. I found a few Christmas cocktail recipes online to try, but they were way too strong for me. I modified one a bit to come up with something that isn't overly sweet and has just a little kick of alcohol to it.

Christmas Cocktail Recipe

2 oz. Vodka

2 oz Cherry Brandy

4 oz Cranberry Juice

Half of a fresh squeezed lime

Mix ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice and strain into a martini glass. 

Optional-I garnished mine with red sugar and a lime since that's what I had on hand. Other options are sugared cranberries and/or a sprig of rosemary.

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Holiday Gift Guide: So Cozy

I love everything cozy, which is why I own almost all of the items in this gift guide. I've also gifted many of them last Christmas. There are a few new things I've eyed in stores and put on my wish list for this year. Everything is linked below the pictures. 

This white sweater is the softest one I've ever owned. It's from Express, which is my favorite store for sweaters lately. It's also where I bought the pom pom socks below. They have amazing sales all the time, too.

The Pottery Barn robe is as soft as it is gorgeous. The pom pom throw is also from PB and comes in other colors. 

The gray PJ set is my absolute favorite brand, Honeydew Intimates. They are so soft and surprisingly affordable. 

These Ugg slippers are on my wish list! 

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I have two items on here from last year, both by Barefoot Dreams. The robe now comes in a leopard print. I still wear the circle cardigan every single day so I had to add it. 

The short, white robe is on my wish list because I need something for warmer days and it's one of the prettiest I've seen. 

I also added something for the men. I'm in a house full of them and I noticed they aren't fond of anything that looks like pajamas. These gray lounge pants are comfy enough to sleep in, but can be worn outside as well. 

The black and white poncho is one I own. It's perfect for those cool nights outside, whether on the porch or at a football game. 

I have several pairs of Butter socks and wear them all the time. I love giving them as gifts. You can stick them in a cute Anthropologie coffee cup for a little something extra or as a stocking stuffer.

I love everything monogrammed! This throw is a bit more elegant and can go in any living room. 

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Holiday Outfits: Casual or Cocktail?

Many holiday parties and events range in dress code from formal to casual. There are also those events where you're not sure if you're supposed to be in a cocktail dress or jeans. Unfortunately, I feel like it's always the latter. Here are a few options for those occasions.

The picture does not do this white and black sequin jacket justice! It is absolutely beautiful in person. Pair it with black jeans for a more casual look. I've had the black skinny jeans from Banana Republic for over a year, and they've become a wardrobe staple. I love the bow detail on this sweater dress. Pair it with leather leggings or over-the-knee boots if it's cold.

I never thought I'd buy a jumpsuit. They looked terrifyingly long for my 5'4 frame. I tried one on and was immediately a jumpsuit convert. I bought the black one from Nordstrom and had it hemmed for free by the alterations department. It's a free service for any full-priced item. I wore it to a company Christmas party at a restaurant and also to a theatre production. Half of the people were wearing causal pants/jeans and the other half were wearing cocktail dresses at both events. It was nice to fit in somewhere in the middle. 

You can shop the items at the bottom of this post. I've also linked shoes and accessories, too. The over-the-knee boots are the most similar ones I've found to the pricier Stuart Weitzman boots. The black tassel earrings are the ones I'm wearing in this post. I've worn them at least twice a week since I've bought them.

Here is a closer view of the earrings from last week's Christmas Tour post.  I've linked the Target red top below, too. I like it because the bell sleeves aren't overwhelming for petite frames. I have it in black too since it's only $17.99. I've worn both so many times!

Have a great weekend!

Christmas Home Tour 2017

This is my third Christmas in this house, and as I look back at previous photos I just love how it feels more like home each year. It also looks a lot less bare, too! We moved from a small cottage-style home that I absolutely loved, but we outgrew it as a family of five. The last Christmas in that home felt so right because the house was finally completed, and the decorations just made it extra special. It was hard to start over in a new home and decorate from scratch because I knew it would take time to get things just how I wanted it. I'm still not completely satisfied, but the to-do list is getting shorter. There's something about seeing the progression almost exactly one year later that makes me realize how far our home has come. I've finally stopped calling it the new house, too. It's just home now, and it feels even more special as I decorate each room for the holidays. Come in and take a look!

I absolutely love my new front door wreaths! I bought them at Home Depot and they are so realistic. The best part is that they are battery operated and work on a timer. Everything is on a timer in my house, from the tree to the candlesticks on the fireplace. I can't imagine having to remember to turn everything on and off every night. 

The entry is similar to last year, but this year I used so many more ornaments. I kept the traditional red, but added gold instead of silver. The glitter bows are new as well. I always have poinsettias, but I used three potted per planter this year. They were only $4 each from Wal-Mart so it wasn't too expensive. 

It's the best all lit up at night.

There's just something about Christmas lights!

The view looking out to the street is just as special. My husband has wanted to use blue lights for years. He finally got them this Christmas!

The view from the front doors all the way to the backyard is one of my favorite features of my home, but especially during Christmas when you can spot the lights of the tree. I moved it to the center of the living room instead of the corner for that reason alone. 

My reindeer got a new poinsettia garland around his neck this year. He's probably my favorite Christmas decoration, and I change up his look every year.

You might notice this side of the foyer got a blue makeover with new art and a throw pillow. I'm loving everything blue lately!

I love these new white stars I bought at Hobby Lobby for the stairs. They were only $6 each, but make such an impact.

The view of the stairs from the dining room.

Stair ribbon detail

I absolutely love the way the dining room turned out this year! I wasn't too sure how I was going to like this much white, but the fresh greenery on the table and the mini wreaths really ground all the lightness.

 The star of the show is my new 12 foot tall Christmas tree! It was a beast to decorate, but so worth it.

My candles are on a timer and come on right after the tree does at 5:30. I just love the ambiance in the evening. I take back every mean thing I said about how terrible these candles looked when I first opened the box. They are definitely better from a distance than on my dining room table.

I might have gotten carried away with the pictures this year!

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