Month: December 2014

Is there anything better than listening to Christmas music? It always puts me in the most festive of moods! I love the old, classic holiday hits from Bing Crosby and Andy Williams. My grandfather is Bing Crosby’s doppelgänger, so I am a little bias when it comes to my man Bing and listening to his holiday songs. When I was little I honestly thought it was my grandfather in White Christmas. He would walk around the house singing and pretending he was Bing Crosby, and I was completely convinced!  
Although the classics are my go-to, I will BLARE “All I Want For Christmas” by Mariah Carey, I love love love that song!–what girl doesn’t! And “White Christmas” by The Drifters is always my holiday ringtone. 
Since we are in the mist of holiday parties, I thought a little holiday playlist was in need. Here are some of my favorite songs of the most wonderful time of the year! 

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For the interior designers, lovers of decorating, or newly home owners, here are 10 gift ideas! A coffee table book, I think, is always the best gift to receive. I personally own this one and it has become my bible. A new vase or bowl can be used for so many different decorating ideas–fresh flowers, fruit, center piece. I fell in love immediately when I stumbled upon this brass decorative accent. It would look lovely on a shelf right next to this print. And since it is the holidays, you can’t go wrong with this joyful scented candle.

Here are more Gift Ideas:

for the gentlemen

for the hostess

for the foodie

for your puppy

for the fitness freak

for your mom, sister or best friend

stocking stuffers

my christmas wish list


Originally I had no intention of blogging about the meal I made last night for dinner (hince only one picture), but it was way too good to not share!  Like really good, if someone was not with me, I would probably have eaten most of it myself. I got this recipe off of my favorite cookbook, Pinterest, but it was originally posted by Our Paleo Life. It is a great, healthy (Paleo) dish to eat, especially during the holidays when we tend to over-indulge in sweets.  In Our Paleo Life, they suggest you can switch out the broccoli for cauliflower or brussels sprouts. And you know I am all for the BS. 
What You Need:
*this recipe serves 4-6 people
  • 2 heads of broccoli–I just bought a bag of florets
  • 1 large sweet potato
  • 6 chicken thighs
  • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1-1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 oregano
  • Sea salt
  • Ground black pepper
How To Prepare:
10 min prep time / 45 cook time
  • Preheat over to 375 degrees
  • Peel and cut sweet potato into small cubes
  • In a 9x 13 baking dish, place the chicken, broccoli, and sweet potato cubes. 
  • Drizzle olive oil all over them and stir evenly. I suggest taking the chicken out, coat the broccoli and sweet potato first, then place the chicken in and drizzle some more.
  • Sprinkle  garlic powder, oregano, salt, and pepper on top.
  • Bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes, uncovered.
  • Remove from oven, let dish rest for a few minutes before serving.
 Although it serves 4-6 people, we refrigerated the left over chicken for leftovers. Next time I make this meal I would put more sweet potato and broccoli in, also put more seasoning on. Usually when making a new dish I go a little light on the seasoning, because I do not want to over do it.  It really is a simple and easy dish to make–and so yummy!

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Stocking stuffers are the first thing we open up Christmas morning! The stockings are in another room of where the tree is located, so it’s a great build up to what is to come—that would be eating pancakes and bacon. We always get one little gift, a candy-cane full of M&Ms, socks, a gift certificate somewhere, and gum–god I love gum. Anyway, stocking stuffer gifts can also be a great idea to give to a friend or to a Secret Santa at work.  Some lip stick and a compact mirror are a girls best friend. In fact I think compact mirrors could save lives, as well as this phone charger--god-send. I always love getting new lotion products and am a big fan of Fresh. No matter what scent, it always leaves my skin feeling moisturized and smells divine. To get the house smelling wonderfully fresh, I love to spray this or light this candle. Other house hold needs would be these mugs, they are so darling (and an Instagram favorite!).  I am a “dear diary” type of gal, always journaling and writing down ideas/thoughts, so a journal, I think, is a great gift to give someone. And who wouldn’t love a new pair of socks? It’s the gift of all gifts!

What are some of your stocking stuffer traditions? Do you too get excited for packs of gum?

P.S. I just noticed that there are 12 gift ideas, cue “On The 12th day of Christmas….”


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