Resolutions...

hmmm New Year's resolutions....oh the pressure to keep them and frankly I don't feel like working out more or eating more vegetables or drinking less ;) . How about just doing my best to be more patient and thankful this year. Everything else is small potatoes in the grand scheme of things anyway, right?

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Display your holiday cheer

Show off all your friends and family this year by displaying your Christmas cards in a new way. This year I hung all my cards and photos that I have received in my kitchen over the wood blinds in the shape of a Christmas tree.

holy.cow.that's.good.

If you are looking for that last minute small gift for a neighbor, teacher, co-worker....yourself :) look no further.

TRADER JOE'S DARK CHOCOLATE SEA SALT CARAMELS ARE FANTASTIC!

They are $4.99 and like heaven in your mouth. I am not getting paided by TJ's to say this, however if they want to pay me in a lifetime supply of these treats....bring it on!

Salt + dark chocolate + caramel = happy girl

(husbands/boyfriends may want to stock up...just sayin')

p.s. thanks to my friend Dara for introducing me to these aaahhhhmaaaaaaazzzing morsels.

Man oh man(tle)

This year my downstairs got a woodsy Christmas make-over. Everything I did was in attempt to achieve that "au naturel" look....and I love it. Take a look at what me and my talented momma came up with on the fireplace. 

The garland is a mix of white pine (costco), dried hydrangeas (friend's yard), and jute bows (leftovers from the days of making "hemp" necklaces, I promise at least 10+ years old). The wreath in the middle came from Target and is made out of a thousand pieces of star anise (smells a bit like licorice) and was a steal at $8...originally $40!


Next year (and by next year I mean this year when xmas stuff is 80% off) I think I will get new stockings and holders that are bit more rustic and natural to add to this woodsy theme.

neat-o

I saw this on "Live with Kelly" this morning and thought this was such a genius idea. I would have loved it if our house had speakers installed throughout when it was built... unfortunately when it was built I was still attending frat parties and complaining about 10am classes.

These light bulb speakers are called , AudioBulbs, and can be installed into almost any light outlet. You could  put them in the ceiling or even a floor lamp. The bulbs supposedly last for 60 thousand hours! They are a bit pricey at $ 300 but good luck getting surround sound installed in your home for that price. I wish I knew someone that had them already. It would be great to hear if they are as cool as they sound :) (get it sound? nerdy? yes! oh well.. )

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Christmas cocktails

Bottoms up! Celebrate with friends and Santa this year with some of these holly jolly hot (or cold) toddies :)

Gingerbread Martini

Pecan "Milk" Punch

Orange-Cranberry Gin and Tonic

Apple-Ale Wassail

Hot Buttered Rye

this.is.so.cool.

Forget the charms...give your wine glasses a little dip in some chalkboard paint... that way you can personalize your glasses over and over again.

directions

These are a few of my favorite (drugstore beauty) things...

I would say that 60% of my beauty product collection consists of items that you can find down the street at CVS and Walgreens - and some of them I swear by. Don't get me wrong I love a splurge at the MAC store or Sephora...but it literally hurts my frugal heart to spend $14 on an eyeshadow the size of a nickle. If you are looking to try some new products, here are some that work for me (and my wallet).

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Foundation  - $11

I realize that I may not be the target audience for this makeup line by Maybelline, but it is the bomb. Not only does it look cool with its little poof applicator -  it goes on like silk. It stays on all day and definitely doesn't make me feel like I have foundation on... and hay if it keeps a wrinkle or two away...win win!

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Concealer - $10

Déjà vu??...No...its the coordinating concealer. This concealer works great for under your eyes and is very gentle...plus it will rewind your age... :)

L'Oreal Lineur Intense Felt Tip Liquid Eyeliner - $8

Some people may not be a fan (aka scared) of liquid liner...well I ain't one of those people. This liner by L'Oreal gives you that perfect crisp line. It's like using a marker, making it really easy to control and even makes adding a "wing" easy peasy.

Milani Minerals Blush Luminous $6

If you are a fan of high-end makeup, you may be familiar with a NARS blush called orgasm... It is one of the most popular products sold at Sephora... it also will run you about $27 bucks! This blush shown above is my favorite. I think you can only get it at CVS and online but it is a dead ringer for the luxury version and is $6.

Maybelline Volum' Express Falsies Very Black - $6

I love love love love this mascara. If you love long lashes that flip - Falsies by Maybelline does not disappoint!

Burt's Bees Honey & Shea Butter Body Butter - $13

Just in time for the dry winter months...Burt's Bees Honey and Shea Body Butter...this will keep away the itchy away skin all season!

VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: Almost every single one of these products goes on sale throughout the month...PLUS make-up companies are notorious for putting a ton of coupons in the Sunday paper...meaning these frugal drugstore finds ....can be come even sweeter cheap treats ! ;)

elfster = no brainer

Just like many of my friends, I have gotten to an age where through marriage and babies our extended families continue to get bigger and bigger every year. This makes Christmas shopping for everyone, quite the challenge.

So as a solution we do the ol' draw a name out of a hat and buy one gift for one person with a set price limit. It kinda takes the fun out of things, but definitely makes life a little bit easier. However, what usually ends up happening, is that I draw the name of someone that I am not that close to. How do I know what they would like or need? And even worse ( I know this is bad to even say)... someone who doesn't know me all that well ...then gifts me with something that I could do without (I know I am an ungrateful brat).

But no longer! There is a solution and his name is ELFSTER! I came across elfster.com one day, and as soon as I started to look into it I thought, why didn't I think of that?

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Elfster organizes and manages any "Secret Santa" circle you might have in your life. It will email those included and let them know who they are responsible to gift this year,  as well as allows you to create wish lists for yourself...so if someone gets your name they also get a list of things you would like this year.  Brilliant!

Check out this video for more details:

Wrap it up!

I think I will still be decorating for Christmas right on up to the 24th. This weekend I continued on my with my quest to make my home holiday ready. Check out this SUPER EASY project. Anyone can do this and make a big impact. I like it so much I am thinking of doing it all year long.

BEFORE: Regular old books from the shelf.

AFTER: Glorious Golden Holiday Hardbacks!

I used craft/wrapping paper. I had silver, gold, and a red/gold print.

I left some books as they were. Especially if they were gold or red.

A far cry from the days when I had to cover my algebra book in the 9th grade. And to think I thought I would never use any of that information in the real world...  :)

Copy Cat

Lately while on Pinterest I have found a ton of cute ideas for Christmas party invites and cards. I took a stab at trying to recreate some of them in Photoshop and here is what I came up with...

Yes, I know there is a common theme of drinking in the last two...but hay it's the holidays!

What a weird girl...

I will take a side of MAC eyeshadow with my saw horses please ;)

 

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It's my day

Today marks the 8th anniversary of my 21st birthday :) Usually I am not the biggest fan of my bday. I am not sure why - I think it has something to do with years of disappointment when I didn't get a pony or JTT didn't call me on my big day... ;)

But no more! Who needs a pony when you have this guy?

And Hello?!? I have something waaaay better than JTT...

So here is to making this the best year (aka last) of my twenties! Happy birthday to Me!

Good ol' Lucketts...

Have you ever been to The Old Lucketts Store? No? Go NOW! *

* Unless you are my hubs...in that case you aren't forced to go anymore. I know this just isn't your thing and you slow me down anyway :)

This place is so cool. Whether it's antique, vintage, trendy, new, homemade, or just plain old/left out in the rain/came from a barn/weathered....they have got it!

The Old Lucketts Store is appropriately located in Lucketts, VA. It's a small little town right outside of Leesburg and VERY close to multiple vineyards....just so you know ;)

I visited recently and here are some of the things I came across:

Welcome! C'mon in!

Let's take a look around outside first. Is that a bathtub?

All these tables looked like they came out of a school, maybe from a science class. I think they could make a cool bar.

Fun chandelier. Definitely needs one of those Edison bulbs.

Old gate I think. Would be cute as a headboard or just wall decor.

This blue color is great.

Old sleighs, perfect for holiday decorating.

I thought this square coffee table would be great in a family room.

Vintage mirror.

Fun holiday pillow... or for anytime of the year. Stop looking at me swan dear.

This dog reminded me of Buster, my dog. Plus I am pretty sure I had the same haircut as that girl when I was 4 :)

Awesome chair!

Lots of old chests. Great for coffee tables or to put at the end of a bed.

There were 2 of these leather contemporary chairs. I swear I saw them on "Guiliana & Bill"...yes, I watch that show :)

If you are looking for stained glass...they have tons!

How cool is that mirrored door in the corner?

Another fun chandelier.

I LOVE this table. I can just picture it in a old farmhouse style kitchen in place of an island.

Great idea for an old dresser redo...

HUGE wall clock.

ahhhhh....I am moving in here.

more pretty things

even more pretty things.

The end :)...