Christmas – Page 5

Christmas Tree and 70 degrees: MIMM#49

December 14, 2015 by Alicia 2 Comments

Hello everyone and happy Monday! I am glad this is the last 5 day work week until 2 weeks of holidays and nice and short work weeks. This weekend was marvelous because it was nice and warm out and I made my apartment more Christmas feeling.

Friday evening, I got home from work and Brian and I headed out to get a tree. We found a perfect $20 little tree for our apartment.

We then stopped to get some Chick-Fil-A for dinner. The traffic was crazy Friday night and it felt like it took us forever to go the 4 miles to Chick-Fil-A.

We ate there and returned home to watch 30 Rock until we both fell asleep and finally moved to the bed.

Saturday morning we slept until just past 7. I made some pancakes and bacon for us and then we took our time getting moving and eventually headed to the post office around 9:30. I mailed some Christmas gifts and then we ran errands and stopped at the mall for lunch.

When we got home, I made some flourless blondies for my potluck. They turned out well, even though I used a blender. Then we made a quick trip to the grocery store.

I was so tired after all the running around that we took an hour nap, hung out and then drove to the city for my potluck with my fellow yogis. I finally had a reason to wear my new sweater dress except that it was 65 degrees out so I wore it and just didn’t need a jacket. We took a group photo but I don’t have a copy yet.

Sunday was laid back, though I headed to the gym in the morning. Then I made the dough for my gingerbread cookies, my annual tradition. It was nearly 70 degrees (well I heard we reached 72, breaking a record) and I put on my flip flops and tank top and got in some yoga outside. Is this really December?!?

We spent the afternoon in Peddler’s Village walking around the cute little shops. Of course we had to get cupcakes and they had a spice place were I picked out a chocolate sugar spice. YUM!

All the restaurants were packed and it was only 4pm. We ended up going a bit down the road for food, but were a bit unsatisfied. The prime rib was pretty dry that Brian got and my pizza was soggy.

I got home and baked my gingerbread cookies which didn’t turn out as planned…maybe I needed more flour and to make them a bit thinner…They were still tasty though.

Then it was time to pack a lunch and watch another Christmas movie on Lifetime and wind down the evening.

Do you have any Christmas traditions of baking cookies or anything?

Was the weather warm by you this weekend? I certainly enjoyed it.

When You Buy for Others and Yourself: Treat Yourself Tuesday #22

December 8, 2015 by Alicia Leave a Comment

I didn’t plan on buying anything during Black Friday, but then Black Friday was longer than a day (more like all weekend) and I ended up ordering some gifts on Saturday. Of course some emails got me and I ordered some things for myself. Some places, I needed to spend just a few more dollars to get free shipping so I stuck a few little things in for myself. I have been loving the package a day at my door and wondering what will come next. There are still a couple things I am waiting on, but I think I have received most of my packages for now, of that I remember. Today I’m linking up with Becky to share my treats from the last week that have arrived or been purchased.

A few treats from Ulta. I was sad that Philosophy didn’t make the Cherry Christmas shower gel this year that was my favorite, so I decided to try a new holiday one. My feet also get some treats, super fuzzy warm socks and foot balm to try for winter.

At Glow Retreat (see recaps part 1, 2, 3) we received some muscle soak bath salt that I LOVE! I got some of the detox one to try out.

Fabletics was also having a black friday sale. I have been skipping months basically all year but I was eyeing the Hudson Bralette II sports bra that was over 50% off, so had to get it. It’s actually so comfortable, I slept in it the first night I had it. I also decided to throw in a tank top there too because I had to make shipping worth it and it was on sale as well. Can never have enough tank tops for working out.

Over the weekend I received a 25% off coupon for Kohls and I remembered that they have Asics sneakers there. I was running errands in Cherry Hill for groceries and also decided to check out the Target there as I was near by it instead of going out of my way to Target once I got home. Target happened to be next to Kohls so that was perfect and I found a new pair of sneakers. 25% off $100 sneakers is an awesome deal that I couldn’t pass up since my current sneakers are really getting worn. One day maybe I will have more than 1 pair of sneakers to rotate between.

Then there were some tasty chocolate treats, because I was bored and wanted to try out making my own almond butter cups. It was definitely a success. 2 ingredients, a bar of dark chocolate to melt and some almond butter.

I also treated myself to some foam rolling and a hot bath Sunday night. I felt more relaxed on Monday and I attribute it to those 2 things. More foam rolling last night as I don’t want my legs to be as sore as they were after squats last week. Foam rolling really helps my muscles to recover more quickly.

Well that’s all for me today. Like I said I have a couple more packages I am expecting. I think a few new shirts. My wardrobe needs some serious updating, so slowly adding pieces.

Did you buy for yourself and others during Black Friday?

My Christmas Wish List 2015

December 1, 2015 by Alicia Leave a Comment

We are now in December…wow that came quickly. Before we know it, it will be the New Year. But first, Christmas. I am finding as I get older, Christmas lists are harder. I pretty much buy everything I need. Of course there are things I want throughout the year, but when Christmas rolls around, I kind of forget what those things were and then I realize well if I have lived without them, I probably don’t really need them.

Since moving last year to my own apartment and 800 miles from where I grew up, of course there were essentials I had to buy. For me, that meant things for the kitchen. I now have enough to get by, so to speak, but of course there are always more kitchen things I find cool and want. The top of my wish list this year would be a food processor, or it was until my phone broke and then I asked Brian for a new phone which I already got last week, but still need to activate. Really, I was happy with my early gifts from Brian.

2015-11-20 17.57.57 — yoga props and a new phone

But for the people that still want to give me something, I decided to make a short list. Honestly, I feel like my wish list these days probably looks more like a wedding registry, as I fill it with kitchen gadgets. I just love my own kitchen and cooking my own food so much! Brian and I were also thinking we could use a light comforter for the bed. Right now our bed consists of mismatched blankets of sorts and I always feel like it needs just one more layer or two. Again, I refer to basically a wedding registry. However, the gifts I think of now I think of in a practical way and how much they will be used, that is why kitchen items, bedding and fitness items top the list, knowing I will use them.

Kitchen Items

As you can see from my list above, I could use a food processor, a ladle – might make my pancake making on the weekends easier, a pot with a lid, as I only have one small one and would like a bigger size. I also want a 16oz little dish to make baked oatmeal or something. Other kitchen items, one day a waffle maker would be good. I also need a set of steak knives and I’m sure there is more I am not thinking of right now.

Fitness

I would love a giftcard for Lululemon as I have admired that Power Y tank for a few years but still haven’t bought one. I also am interested in a Flip Belt. Even though I am not a runner, over the summer I was working on running a bit more and only one of my capris has a nice little zipper pocket for keys so I would like something that holds my keys and possibly my phone when I am wearing my other pairs of leggings. I also don’t have a pair of earbuds. I know this is hard to imagine in this day and age, but I don’t like them in my ears and such, however I want to give these Yurbuds a try as it would be nice to listen to Periscope or something while at work at my desk or during my lunch break.

Bedding

Our bed is kind of a mash of all the blankets I was allowed to take with me when I moved. One day a bedding set would be nice. Our sheets are nice since we bought those after getting the mattress, but I feel the need for a comforter of some sort. I have never been big on them growing up but then again there was no room for one on my bed back when I slept with 50 stuffed animals on my feet (not kidding!)…now my feet feel like they need something and maybe a light comforter would help. Queen sized blankets would also be nice to fit the mattress better.

Other

There are a few books on my Amazon wish list. I still haven’t been to the library since my move earlier this year and I really like having books on my kindle because that is light and easy to carry around so I have been buying books lately. Last year for Christmas I received an essential oil diffuser and LOVE it but oils are pricey. I have already replenished my lavender oil, but would love to try new ones as well, Balance and Peppermint are on my list as top ones to try. Hard to pick when there are so many.

There you have a glimpse at my Christmas wish list. Maybe this will give you some gift ideas or items that you might not have considered for yourself.

What is on your Christmas List this year?

« Previous Page