Friday's Simply Smitten - Blush & Blooms

This post may contain affiliated links, which means if you purchase an item I will earn commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you!

“The best thing we can do is let people know they are loved”

-Fred Rogers

Happy Friday and Merry Christmas! I am home in Columbus to celebrate the holiday with my family. I flew in this past Tuesday and am staying until mid next week. It’s been wonderful being home spending time with my family.When I arrived in Columbus, my parents picked me up and we went straight to Polaris Fashion Place to finish our Christmas shopping. We ended our shopping excursion with dinner at the best Mexican restaurant, El Vaquero. Wednesday we hung out around the house wrapping presents and watching Hallmark movies. In the evening we went to the Mountview Christian Church for their Christmas tree light display. It was a pretty display, filled with holiday cheer. They also had carolers there which was a nice touch to the evening. After the display we drove around Upper Arlington to see the winners of the Civic Association’s holiday light contest. Some of the winners decorated their house where the lights are synced to Christmas movies, others were more classic. My favorite was this white house with large pillars in the front wrapped up with garland and each window had a large wreath; beautiful and classic.

Yesterday morning we went to the Pancake House for brunch with my cousin, aunt, and uncle. It was so fun laughing and catching up. Later in the day my dad, sister, and I took my 4 year old niece to the Columbus Library to see the Huntington Holiday Train display. It was a stunningly beautiful display that they created. The display used to be in the Huntington building downtown, which is where my dad used to work until he recently retired. They moved it to the library 20 years ago. My niece really enjoyed watching the toy trains.

Today we are finishing wrapping presents and getting ready for Christmas Eve. We will be spending the evening at my sister’s house for dinner, then head over to church for Christmas Eve service. Traditionally after church we would head over to my parent’s neighbors house for their annual Christmas Eve party. Unfortunately they are not having it again this year because of covid.

Christmas day my parents and I will have a yummy pancake brunch. Then my sister, brother-in-law, and my nieces will come over to see what Santa left under the tree. I can not wait to watch them open up presents and see the joy on their faces! Later Christmas day the rest of my family will come over to my parents house for our annual wrapping contest. Instead of gifting everyone a present, years ago we decided to pick a name out of a hat. Whoever’s name you pick, you will only gift that person. This year I have my uncle and coincidentally he also has me. I got him a gift card to Golf Galaxy and he got me a gift card to Barnes & Noble (we both only asked for one thing ha)

To make the gift exchange a little more interesting, my aunts and my mom decided to turn it into a wrapping contest. Each Christmas the winner of the previous year will come up with a theme. Past themes include: Harry Potter, favorite Christmas movie, Ohio State Buckeye players, winter activities and more. Then we decorate the gift in the theme. We then present our gift to the family. Some have gone all out and wrote poems, songs, or played music to accompany their entry. Then we all vote for our top 3 favorites. Two years ago I won the theme contest by transforming the gift into a Nutcracker. I won a bag of chocolates and a year of bragging rights. Since covid ruined our Christmas plans last year, we decided to hold off on the contest until this year. Which makes me back to back gift wrapping champion; first in history, legendary.

The theme I created for this year is your favorite musician; past or present, singer or musician. So you can do anyone from Taylor Swift to Frank Sinatra to Beethoven. I am excited to have the family together again and for the contest to be back! It’s always so much fun! After the gift exchange we will have Christmas dinner followed by a game or two– usually timed quizzes of naming Christmas songs or movies. When everyone leaves, my parents and I will continue the tradition of watching White Christmas. Fun fact: Bing Crosby was my grandfather’s doppelgänger. When I was little I thought my grandfather was in White Christmas. He used to go around the house and pretend to sing like Bing. Every time I see or hear Bing Crosby it reminds me of my grandfather.

What I am watching: Last weekend I quarantined myself to make sure I was healthy and safe to go home for the holidays. I needed something to binge watch and decided to give the new Saved by the Bell a shot. To my surprised I really liked it! My sister and I grew up watching Saved by the Bell, starting with Good Morning Miss Bliss into the college years. I love all the throw back things that they do and I really enjoy the new cast. It’s funny, light hearted, and not as cheesy as I imagined.

What I bought: I ended up getting my niece this Disney tea set for Christmas. The other gifts I bought I will not disclose as the recipients will read this. Other than Christmas gifts I did not buy anything new, although I have my eye on this rattan picture frame. I accidentally broke the picture frame in my front hallway of my apartment. I’ve had it since college and have been wanting to replace it, so the universe took matters into its own hands by having me bump into the book shelf.

*if you are looking for a New Year’s Eve outfit, shop 25 sequined and metallic dresses here.

Sunday my dad, sister, and I are going to see the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. It should be a fun day and I am happy to spend quality time with my dad. He wanted to be with his girls. The rest of my time here in Columbus should be more relaxing. We will probably watch more Hallmark movies, perhaps go see a movie, etc. Whatever we end up doing, I am grateful to be with my family.

Have yourself a very Merry Christmas xo

1. Step inside Kathy Hilton’s glittering house of Christmas

2. The perfect sequined dress for NYE- on sale!

3. Want this ruffle sleeve top

4. Cute bow earrings

5. 90 years of legendary parties at the Waldorf-Astoria

6. Kate Middleton Christmas decorations at Westminster Abbey

7. Loved this interview with Julia Berolzheimer

8. Does London have NYC beat when it comes to Christmas

9. 15 DIY New Year’s Eve decorations

10. How Hallmark Christmas movies are made

Sales happening this weekend