Christmas Wishlist 2017

Beginning somewhere around the beginning of November, I start to get the question "what do you want for Christmas?"

 If you're like me, and still have no idea what you want, fear not! I have you covered! I have suggestions that will satisfy the questions being asked by your mom, family, friends, husband/boyfriend etc.

Let's get started! (I apologize for the marathon post. I promise it's good stuff! I have provided links to websites that carry most of what I'm suggesting. You don't even have to leave the house. #winning)

1.) This candle!!! It's currently ON SALE! Bath & Body Works has this scent in hand soap, wallflowers, and lotions. It smells like the most wonderfully, relaxing spa!

I'm telling you...this is the best! 

2.) This blanket!!! My sister-in-law (Hey LJ!) introduced me to this blanket forever ago. My brother and sister-in-law each have their own, as do my niece and nephew. They make them in a child size, so it's perfect for all members of the family! I finally asked for one for Christmas last year, and quickly became obsessed. I even gifted one to my best friend this year. (Hey Courtney!) Don't worry...I'm not spoiling it for her. I gave her Christmas present to her before Thanksgiving, because I just couldn't help myself!

Courtney snuggled up with her blanket as soon as she opened it!

Nothing goes better with your morning cup of coffee than this blanket! It's just so cozy!

Cozy with my blanket, watching Christmas Vacation, wearing Christmas pjs, writing this blog!

3.) These Urban Decay products!!! I started with the setting spray (the black bottle), then added the priming spray (the green bottle), then followed a suggestion from Courtney and bought the eye shadow primer. The 6,000 near perfect reviewers on Sephora agree on how awesome these products are! My makeup stays on so well that every night I'm shocked by how much comes off on my makeup wipes! 

They really help your makeup last ALL day!

3.) This foundation!!! I received this in a sample size from Sephora, and immediately fell IN LOVE! Then found out Sephora didn't have it in the store...

The lady at Sephora actually told me to go to Ulta. Isn't that their competition?? I just don't understand. Why give out samples, and not have it in the store?? They do have it online, but I wanted it in my hands!

I digress...it evened out my skin tone perfectly, and didn't feel heavy and caked on! It doesn't take a lot to get great coverage, so one tube of it will last you at least a few months!

4.) Rodan and Fields!!! I would like to be very clear. I do not sell R&F, and receive no freebies by putting this on the list. I just really like the products! I have NEVER felt more confident in the way my skin looks. My R&F lady posted something one time that made so much sense to me. It was basically that the most expensive makeup in the world would look bad on bad skin. Good skin is the base of all good makeup looks. I tell you, it's true! I haven't tried anything I didn't love. I use the Unblemish Regimen that is for acne, but I also use the Reverse Lightening Regimen to even out skin tone. I also use the eye cream, and active hydration serum. I'm telling you...obsessed! If you have any questions about any of their products, contact my R&F lady: Cindy Aldrete (caldrete.myrandf.com).

In this picture I have on full makeup to desperately try to cover up all the acne I had on my face. It's almost embarrassing!

(Campbell could not be cuter though!)

My hair wasn't the only thing that changed between these pictures. I always use to analyze people's before and afters and say, "well the lighting is different" or "the camera is at a different angle." These are my results after just a couple of months (like four I think), without any makeup, in the same place of my car, with almost identical lighting. In the picture on the right, I was headed to church...without makeup!

5.) Lipsense!!! Again, I'd like to make it clear I do not sell lipsense, and do not get any freebies from suggesting this! Just like with Rodan and Fields, I just love the products! Lipsense is amazing! My friend Caty sells it, and in April of last year I asked her if I could just try it to see if I liked it. She gave me a color to use for an entire weekend, and I was hooked! She gave me Praline Rose, since it's a great neutral. 

Praline Rose started everything. It is just perfection! 

My love of Praline Rose caused me to slowly start to add to my collection. I now have quite a few, and love them all. I'm going to share some of my favorites!

Purple Reign gives you a perfect, bold, pop of color!

Goddess is perfect when you want a noticeable neutral...is that even a thing? It is now. 

Lexie Berry is the perfect bold, fall color! It is a dark wine color, but not TOO dark. It's just right!

 Because a PERFECT red is a requirement for every woman, Blu-Red is a necessity! It just gives any outfit just a little extra pizzazz! 

If you're wanting to start your own Lipsense collection, contact Caty! 

6.) Apple Watch! You can read all about my love for my Apple Watch and all the reasons you need one on my Apple Watch review! 

7.) This perfume!!! I smelled this for the first time last summer, and it was love at first sniff. I immediately purchased it, and haven't stopped wearing it! I wore it visiting a friend over the summer. When I gave her a hug, she caught a whiff of it, and said "what is that glorious scent you're wearing???" I'm telling you...it is the BEST perfume I have EVER smelled. It is definitely not the cheapest perfume, but it is the best!

8.) The BEST leggings in the world! Seriously, they are a must have! These leggings are thick enough that you don't have to worry about your backside being visible! We've all seen someone out in the world whose leggings were thin, and her entire butt was visible! (Does anyone else think "do I tell her everyone can see her butt?" But then don't because you also think, "perhaps she wants her butt visible to the entire world!" so you just say nothing??) Trust me, in these leggings, that will NOT be you! Besides ensuring your underwear aren't on display for the world, the thickness also gives you a little control and holds everything in. We all wish our stomachs were smaller, flatter, more toned, etc. These leggings will camouflage an area you may be self-conscious of. They are priced at $49.99, and they are worth EVERY penny. However I prefer not to spend $50 on leggings, so I watch them and wait until they are on sale. With it being close to the holidays you can get lucky and catch them on sale. Lou and Grey doesn't go on sale super often at Loft, so jump on it when it is!

The best leggings EVER!

When it's Friday, and this time next week we'll be on Christmas break! 😀😀😀

What do I suggest today??

1. I'd suggest number 1-8 on the list above! 😂😂😂

DFW Christmas 2017

When the calendar hits November 1st, this is how I feel on the inside...

(Confession: I saw Elf for the first time LAST year! Why did it take me so long??? It is now one of my favorites!)

I start watching Christmas movies, wearing Christmas pjs, decorating for Christmas, Christmas shopping, and generally allowing the Christmas spirit to set in! 

I love all the ways DFW has to really experience and celebrate the holidays, but there are a few that stand out to me! I have conveniently compiled a list of my top three! 

1.) ICE! at the Gaylord! 

Each year the Gaylord has a new theme. In years past it has been Frosty the Snowman, Christmas Around the World, Charlie Brown Christmas, Shrek the Halls, and more! This year it is Twas the Night Before Christmas! Basically everything in ICE! is exactly that...ice! The video you can watch before you go in is great, and you really get an appreciation for all the work that goes it to making it what it is. It is 9 degrees in ICE!, so you may want to wear thick socks, brings gloves, and maybe a beanie. The super cute coats (insert sarcasm) they give you, will keep you warm enough, but I'd still suggest wearing a little something under it. 

2. Enchant at Globe Life Park

The Christmas Light Maze was more like a scavenger hunt, and you try to find all of Santa's Reindeer.

We found Rudolph! 

Within the "maze" there are so many great places to snap pictures! If you're going with a group, take your selfie stick and thank me later! 

I don't even really know what all these stalagmite type things are supposed to be, so we referred to them as stalagmites!

We found all of Santa's reindeer! You'd think my card would be the bottom, since it's scratched out all nicely. Nope. 

There is also a Christmas market where you can buy all kinds of things. Everything from candied pecans, to authentic Russian toys. We grabbed a hot chocolate as we strolled through.

There is also a real ice skating rink, which for us Texans is a big deal. With the weather being SO warm this season, I'm not sure how they are managing to keep ice on the rink! There were TONS of people ice skating, so we chose to avoid the rink! We were really surprised at how much we enjoyed Enchant. I don't think we expected we'd love it as much as we did! 

3. Highland Park Village/Highland Park

The first time I drove in to Highland Park Village at Christmas, this was my reaction...

I was with several other people, so I kind of had to keep it together. All I really wanted to do was jump out of the car and stare. It was one of the most magical things I've ever seen! 

I was not able to enjoy the trees near as much as I wanted to on that particular evening, so Matthew made sure to take me out there a few weeks later. Now we go every single year. We show up after the shops close, and wonder around the village drinking coffee (there's a Starbucks right in Highland Park Village), window shopping, and enjoying the magical lights. 

This is a picture from the first time we roamed around, and it has become a tradition each year! 

I only have the one picture of the Highland Park, which works because I don't want to spoil the magic for you! I promise, it is something everyone needs to see. The trees are huge, and every one is completely wrapped in white Christmas lights!

What do I suggest today??? I think it's pretty obvious!

1. Check out ICE! at the Gaylord. It runs until January 1, 2018, and is great for a date, family outing, or for groups of friends. There are great dinner options at the Gaylord as well. They have everything from Mexican, to a sports bar type place, to a great steak house!

2. Go to Enchant! Seriously, it was even better than I thought it was going to be. It runs until December 31, 2017. There are great dinner options close by, but my go to would be Pappadeaux! It's basically impossible to resist the shrimp and crawfish fondeaux, or shrimp and grits!

3. Go to Highland Park Village and enjoy the magic! You can head to Mi Cocina for dinner, Starbucks for coffee, and window shop at all the fabulous stores. (This is how Matthew realized there was a difference between Louie Vuitton and Louboutin!) There are also carriage rides that take you around the neighborhoods. Carriage rides aren't my thing, hence why I haven't done it. Though with little kids, it would probably be great! 

Do I Need an Apple Watch for Christmas???

When Apple Watches first came out I was basically horrified at the thought of having your phone on your wrist. My how my thoughts have changed!

My friend (Hey Courtney!) loves her Fitbit. When she first got it she told me all about it! Everything she told me really made it sound appealing. When she got a new one, she let me take her old one to see if I liked it before I actually bought one. 

I did enjoy the Fitbit, but I kept wanting it to do things it just didn't do. I decided to look in to the Apple Watch to see what it could do. I looked up comparisons between the Fitbit and Apple Watch. As it turned out, the Apple Watch did everything I wanted the Fitbit to do...plus more!

I ended up deciding I needed an Apple Watch, and got one for Christmas last year. I got the Series 2 watch, and have never looked back! With Christmas coming up, I thought it would be the perfect time to share all my favorite features of my Apple Watch.......aside from just telling time!

This is my "go-to" watch face!

I use this most often at school, because I can access my timers right from the face!

You can also set a picture as a face background!

These are my favorite Apple Watch features!

• I can look at text messages without ever picking up my phone. I can see if it's something pressing, or if it can wait. I can easily respond right from the watch. I can use voice-to-text, or actually write with my finger!
• I can answer phone calls/make phone calls. I answer phone calls on my watch often while I am digging through my purse/looking for my phone. When I find my phone, I can switch over from the watch to my phone and continue the conversation on the phone. I can also go from the phone to the watch!
• I can check emails. I can easily see if it is an email from a parent, something that needs an urgent reply, or yet ANOTHER email reminding me to put in my attendance....teachers you know!
• I can check the weather. I can see the current temperature, but I can also easily see the forecast for the next 7 days. With one of my weather apps, I can even check the radar!
• I can set a timer. This is so useful at school! There are preset timers, but I can also set a custom timer. This is handy when I know one minute isn't enough, but two minutes is too much! 
• I can control music. My watch works with the Apple Music app, and I can switch songs, control volume, etc all without touching my phone. Pandora, and TuneIn Radio both have apps that I can control from my watch.
• I can keep track of my activity. It keeps track of my steps, and heart rate. I recently found out that if my heart rate jumps higher than 130, I get an alert! I get notified if I have been still too long, even if it's a little judgmental! :-)
• I can follow my GPS. I don't have to have my phone out, and can look at turn-by-turn directions right on my watch. It will ding, and vibrate when I need to turn. It is so nice! 
• I can use Apple Pay! I don't have to open my purse, and dig for my wallet to get my card. I just double click, set my wrist next to the scanner, and done! It's great!
• The Series 2 is also water resistant up to 50m! I can leave it on while I'm hanging at the pool in the summer and not have to worry!

Some features I've used, but don't use all the time:

• I can request an Uber, and check the location of the driver, all from the Uber watch app!
• I can look at gate information, baggage claim, and show my boarding pass on my American Airlines app!

What do I suggest today?

1. Put an Apple Watch on your Christmas wish list! You will not regret it. The Series 3 recently came out, and you can actually make/receive calls without your phone around! I'm sure it has other features, but that's the one I know about!

Fall Family Fun!

Nothing says fall like boots, scarves, and cool air! Unfortunately, fall around here hasn't included ANY of these things. Seriously, where is the crisp fall air? I've got cute boots and scarves that are needing to make their appearance!

Even though the weather has missed the memo, we can still pretend like it's Fall and partake in some great Fall activities! 

I joined my family on a visit to a pumpkin patch. My sister-in-law had mentioned a corn maze, and since I've always wanted to do one, I was in! I have to say, I was quite impressed with the place!

They had a huge selection of pumpkins and gourds! They had them in all sizes and colors. They opened at 10am, and I was there at approximately 10:02am. By about 10:15am, there were TONS of people.

We took pictures of the kids on top of some of the pumpkins...because Fall. Nothing says "Happy Fall, Y'all" like a picture of some cute kids on pumpkins. 

Apparently with two little kids, this is pretty much reality! They are still the cutest kids, even when you try desperately to get them to look at the camera! 

They had a super old truck over by the corn maze, and both Campbell and Elliot migrated over to it. Since my dad knows basically everything he told me exactly how old the truck was. He showed me the 3 speed on the column. He showed me the button on the floorboard that turned the lights to low. He showed me the other button you had to push to turn it on. I don't remember how old he said the truck was, but clearly it's old. 

We took off into the corn maze, and let me tell you...it wasn't easy! Seriously, every direction we went was wrong. Maybe it was the three year old leading the way, or the 90 degree heat, but we were in there for what felt like hours! 

Time for a "dirt break!"

Eventually we saw a couple of workers in the maze and asked, "how do we get out of here?" We finally (thanks to them) made it out!

Before we headed out the kids wanted to ride the little toy tractors!

I thought all the dads helping their kiddos steer the tractors around the little circle was the cutest thing! Campbell did it too, but I didn't get a picture. Elliott loved it so much that he cried a little when Joey took him off! 

They even have hay rides at this pumpkin patch. They were all booked for private parties, so we didn't get to do that.

This place was such a family friendly place!

What else says "Happy Fall?" 

"Howdy Folks!"

The State Fair or Texas is the first sign of Fall to me. I don't know if there's been a year I haven't gone to the fair. What is my favorite thing about the fair??? Food. But isn't that everyone's favorite thing? I have my go-to foods at the fair. I will only get them from very specific places. My route around the fair is basically built around these foods! 

Fletcher's Corn Dog from the Fletcher's stand by Big Tex. I feel like they taste the best there!

Twisted Taters from the stand right by the petting zoo (another must)

Funnel cake from a stand over by the midway! Extra powered sugar please!

As we were walking around I told Matthew I wanted to change it up and get a fried oreo. He was shocked, but down with the idea. In the end...the funnel cake won. Why mess up a good thing!?

You have to go see this pig! I saw it get up and walk for the first time ever!

Several months back Matthew and I had an argument about whether this was a pig or a cow. I was SURE that it has ALWAYS been a cow. He told me it's ALWAYS been a pig. I called my dad and asked him. I was wrong. Matthew was right. What else is new!? 

💜💜💜

What do I suggest today???

1. Go check out this awesome pumpkin patch! It's Hall's Pumpkin Farm and Corn Maze in Grapevine! They are open until 8pm during the week, and until 10pm on Friday and Saturday. 
2. If you haven't already, go visit the State Fair! There's no way to have a bad day at the fair! It closes on Sunday, so you better go soon!