THE CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR! ❄❄❄

Merry Christmas everyone! Oh my goodness I can't believe it's finally here. It is my most favorite day of the year and nothing can put a damper on my spirit. I am so excited to share a very special video with you all today -- THE CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR! A few of my best friends from school agreed to participate & it was so much fun. Bloopers will be going up tomorrow, and let me tell you, you won't want to miss it. I hope you all have an absolutely wonderful Christmas. Eat up, spread cheer, and love on your families!

P.S. I'm a little sad to say that the 25 Days of Blogging are over, but I'll be back soon with another post! Don't you worry. Aaaand the blog will be getting another little makeover!

P.P.S. Click here for bloopers!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Photo Friday ❄

Happy happy happy Friday! These past couple weeks have been awesome. I survived finals week, Amanda turned 20, I went camping with friends, and there's just a couple things to finish up before Christmas! I can't believe it's just a few days away. I still have a ton of shopping and crafting and baking left to do, but I can't wait! Here are a couple photos to sum up the last week or two. Be sure to let me know some of your festive plans for the weekend! And don't forget to come back tomorrow for another post from the 25 Days of Blogging!

COUNTDOWN: 6 DAYS of BLOGGING!

Gift Guide for Anyone (Under $20!)

Today marks the final installment of my Gift Guide series. [Don't forget to check out my Women's Gift Guide & Men's Gift Guide for gift ideas under $100!] Money can be tight around Christmas though, so it's nice to have a few more budget friendly options to give. I think these would make great gifts on their own, but if you really want to spruce it up, add some pretty wrapping and maybe some homemade goodies! Because when it comes to gift giving, it's the thought that counts.

1. Christmas Throw - Walmart $4.96 - I bought this for a Secret Santa gift and paired it with a mug & a candle. It was a nice little gift, and those blankets are lovely! I got one as a gift a couple years back, and it is the softest, most festive blanket I own.

2. Christmas Movie - Best Buy $9.99 - Really any movie serves as a great gift, but a Christmas movie is even better! Also, they are usually on sale this time of year, so you can get a great price for them. Just make sure it's one they don't already have!

3. Mason Jar Mugs - Kmart $9.99 - I still think mugs are one of those gifts you can't go wrong with. Fill them up with some candy, and you're good to go! I love these mason jar mugs, and this comes in a set of 4! You can't beat that price.

4. SNOW! - Amazon $11.66 - If you live somewhere where it doesn't really snow, like me, this is a fun gift to give. You may make a mess, but it'll be a ton of fun to play with! Insta-snow... no shoveling required.

5. Phone Case - Urban Outfitters $16 - You can never really have too many phone cases. The good thing about these is that there's one for everyone out there. A funny one, a pretty one, a festive one - the options are endless.

6. Board Game - Toys R Us $16.09 - Board games are always a good gift. Whether it's Apples to Apples, Cranium, Cards Against Humanity, etc., it's always a nice gift to receive. Plus, once you're all done opening presents, you can pop in a movie and get to playing!

7. Calendars - Barnes & Noble $17.99 - Christmastime is the perfect time to give a calendar as a gift. And again, there's one for everyone! So, you can certainly find the perfect calendar for someone.

8. Onesies - Target $20 - Everyone loves a good onesie. I think this is one of my favorite gifts out of all 3 of the gift guides. It's a Santa suit that you can wear to bed! How awesome is that?!

9. Scratch Map - Uncommon Goods $20 - This is a great gift for someone who loves to travel. It's a fun way to record where you've been, and it's also quite satisfying to mark off another place. My best friend has one of these & it looks so cool hung up on her wall.

Well that wraps up these Christmas Gift Guides (teehee, wraps)! I hope these have been somewhat helpful. I'm a bit sad that they're over with, but now I have to go out shopping myself! Have a wonderful day!

CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN: 9 DAYS of BLOGGING!

Favorite Winter Products

More than any other time of the year, the winter/Christmas season is when I start to reach for specific products. Red lips, golden eyes, and wintery scents take over my routine. Most of these products are tried and true favorites, with a few new ones thrown into the mix. I featured most of these products in my "Get Ready With Me" video, so click here if you'd like to check that out!

This is one of those new favorites. I love sweet scents, but I usually stay away from the cupcake, overly sugary fragrances. Vanilla Bean Noel from Bath & Body Works is sweet, without being over the top.

I love Half Baked from Urban Decay pretty much year round, but it's perfect for Christmastime. It is just the perfect amount of shimmer. No disco ball eyes here.

This is one of my favorite products ever. I put this Rose Salve on every night before bed, and it really helps to sooth & hydrate dry lips that come with the cold weather. It's also great to put on any dry patches. Can't take any chances with the cold!

This is the perfect nail duo for Christmas. O.P.I.'s I Love You Cherry much is great if you want a brighter, bolder look & Nailtini's Champagne is a bit more subtle, but still very festive. I have complete reviews of both polishes here & here (Champagne coming on Friday, sorry!).

Taylor Swift's Wonderstruck Enchanted is one of those perfectly balanced scents. It's sweet & sugary with a nice warmth to it. I got this last year for Christmas, and though I wear it all through the year, it's the perfect Christmas scent.

I've had this color for years, and it has become my favorite, bright red lip color. It's Love That Red from Revlon, and it is the perfect Christmas color.

I hardly ever wear eyeliner, but it's nice to pull it out during Christmastime. I usually just blend it in to my upper lash line. It's a nice deep blue, so it isn't as harsh as a black liner. Plus, it compliments Half Baked perfectly!

There has been so much talk about this product, but it's well deserved. Maybelline's Color Tatoo in Bad to the Bronze a beautiful color worn on it's own, or under some fun shimmery colors for Christmas.

Last, but not least, is Revlon's Romantic Balm Stain. You can wear this sheer, or layer it on-- either way it is lovely. It also stays on forever, so it would be great for any holiday party.

Thanks for checking out my favorites! Let me know any products you think I should try out!

COUNTDOWN: 14 DAYS of BLOGGING!

DIY Light-Up Christmas Sweater

Happy Saturday to you! It is a bit odd posting on a Saturday, but in the spirit of Christmas I am committed to these 25 Days of Blogging. Today's post is an homage to what has become one of my most prized possessions... my Christmas sweater. I assembled this together about a month ago now for a tacky Christmas occasion, and I have quite a few other times I can wear it in the upcoming weeks.

I've actually found it quite difficult to find really classic, tacky Christmas sweaters. I got this one at Walmart, where you can always find something terribly tacky. By the way, my hat and my shoes in the picture above are both from Target!

The sweater did take a while to put together, but I'm so happy I did. I had 3 strings of battery powered lights from posters I made for a Taylor Swift concert, so I used 1 string of white lights on the front, and 2 red on the back. I just poked the lights through the sweater and used a lot of duct tape to keep them on there. The lights do weigh down the sweater, especially in the back, but I really don't mind. I couldn't be happier with how the sweater turned out!

Enjoy your Saturday! Come back for another post tomorrow!

COUNTDOWN: 19 DAYS of BLOGGING!

Dorm Room Decor | Christmas Edition!

I may or may not have put these up prior to Thanksgiving... but hey, Christmas season flies by so fast I have to make the most of it! Pretty much everything you see is from Target or Walmart or was a gift to me, but if you have questions about anything specific, just leave a comment below. Here are a few ways I've decorated my dorm room for Christmas-- a tiny tree, a Christmas throw, and of course some twinkly lights (which actually stay up year round)!

COUNTDOWN: 21 DAYS of BLOGGING!

Christmas Vlog!

Today I have another video to share! I was home over the weekend for Thanksgiving Break, and I had quite the festive Saturday. It was full of crafts, a light parade, fireworks, and my favorite Christmas movie. I'll be making several other videos for my 25 Days of Blogging, so make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel here!

COUNTDOWN: 24 DAYS of BLOGGING!