Random Wednesday

Have you been enjoying the holidays with family? I know I have! I've even let up on blogging because I've been enjoying time with loved ones! Here's a glimpse to SOME of our time:

I will definitely miss the surprise packages in the mail. Back to bills and junk mail!  But most importantly, I will miss spending time with family!

Linking up with:

Spreading Christmas Cheer Giveaway

That's right! As a thank you to our sponsors for increasing our readership, we got together and combined all of these wonderful prizes for ONE lucky person!
Will that lucky person be you?

So come on, be merry, help us spread the Christmas spirit...or else the Grinch becomes you!

  BLOG / TWITTER

  BLOG / TWITTER / FACEBOOK

  BLOG / TWITTER / FACEBOOK

  BLOG / TWITTER / FACEBOOK / PINTEREST

  BLOG / TWITTER / FACEBOOK
  STORE / FACEBOOK

  BLOG / TWITTER / FACEBOOK / PINTEREST

  BLOG / INSTAGRAM

Enter below the page break:

Weekend Update...

Hi loves!

Life is good right now! It's December so that means Christmas is around the corner! YAY! This weekend I decorated a little bit.

In my previous post I said I've never had a Christmas tree as a newlywed.  B and I were married almost 4 years ago and we've never bought a Christmas tree.  Well, I forgot I have this baby:

before lighting

after lighting

I got this baby tree at Michael's in their after-Christmas sales for about 70% off.  It's pre-lit and already decorated.  I also bought this wreath during the same sale:

I LOVE gold, cream and white Christmas decor.  It's so classy and timeless.  I decorated my family tree in gold, cream and pink (yes, pink).  There are too many beautiful pink ribbons and ballerina figurines to pass up. I'd love to have this beautiful gold and cream rhinestone one from Paper Princess Studios.

This will be the year when I buy a tree and trimmings after Christmas.  All the major department stores have beautiful ornaments, but don't forget you can get really nice ones at dollar stores and even Walmart.

Now you may be thinking, "She doesn't buy a REAL tree?!"  No, I do not.  I won't rule it out forever (maybe ONE year when we have children), but it would not be to my liking.  Sure, the smell is wonderful, but pine needles everywhere, tree sap, fire hazards, and the detriment to the environment really turn me off.  Instead of chopping down trees, why don't we plant them and help our environment?  It's one thing I don't have the heart to do.  Want evergreen smell in your house?  Buy a Yankee Candle.

Yankee Candle at Boscov's

Anyway, this will be a minimal Christmas decorating year as I don't know where my Christmas decorations are packed.

 Stayed tuned for a giveaway this Friday!

Linking up with: 

Northern Belle's Holiday / Birthday Gift Guide

It's no secret...I've been eyeing some things for Christmas. My birthday is in the first half of January, so let's kill two birds with one stone, right? I get asked every year what I want.  Honestly, I never know what I want.  What ends up happening is I feel guilty asking for anything but relatives want to buy presents, anyway. So let me make it easier on them by showing them what I want on here :)

1. Silver Nautical Monogram Bracelet ($68) with initials (LHA) and Rachael Cable Cuff ($30) from Swell Caroline (bottom two).  Who doesn't like stacked bracelets?

2. 1-inch Silver Monogram necklace ($59) from the Marinette Jewelry shop on Etsy with initials (LHA). As you can see, monograms are a huge thing for me this year!   It will be the first time I get to use my married name in a monogram!

3.  Monogram iPhone case ($16.99) from Simply Monogram on Etsy with initials (LHA).  My iPhone needs a makeover!

4. Double Wall Clear Acrylic Wine Tumblers ($24.99) from WineDummies.  If you know how much wine-o's we are (AND how clumsy we are!) you'd know these are the PERFECT gifts for us!

5.  Soma has awesome undergarments, robes and pajamas.  A gift card allows the gifter to not worry about what I'd like...and save some embarrassment to boot!

6.  I'm such a flip-flopper.  I couldn't decide between a white or black iPhone so I went with black.  A year after owning it, the white iPhone looks nicer and nicer.  A white skin for the front of my iPhone will do another tiny makeover! SkinIt ($14.99)

7.  I think I love coffee almost as much as I love wine (see #4).  This monogrammed coffee mug will make my life complete! Marley Lilly ($24.99).

Stay tuned for a gift guide for men!