We all have a handful of people who are hard to buy for. It’s often because they already have everything and we love them dearly, so we want to give them something they will really love!
Below are some of my top picks for the person who has everything. To shop, click directly on the item or find its associated number below the collage.
I think this Echo Show Smart Display is such a great gift idea for parents or grandparents. You can make video calls, watch shows, use it to control smart-home devices, etc. This sterilizer is great for phones, keys, credit/debit cards, you name it. I also have and love this back and shoulder massager. Amazing to go along with a little TV-watching!
I LOVE games and recently bought these Mexican Train Dominoes to learn how to play. I think a beautiful game like this one would be such a great gift.
For the candle-lover, a glass dome that amplifies the ambiance is a great gift. I have this one and love it too.
If I had space for it, I would buy this towel warmer. How amazing to have a warm towel after every shower. That is LIVING.
You can see all gift guides from this year and years past at the top of this site under “gift guides,” as well as holiday-related content under “gift guides –> holiday-related.” Thanks so much for reading – XO –
I recently snapped these photos quite quickly (it was super windy and cold!) for this Instagram post, but I loved the look and photos so much I wanted to share them here in a mini post.
When in doubt of an outfit, especially if you’re looking in your closet for something that will fit, a trench coat can be easily transformed into a dress. You can layer a turtleneck or bodysuit underneath, a skirt or slip dress you don’t necessarily want to be seen, and just keep it buttoned or wrapped the entire time.
When I saw how this look turned out I just thought, “why am I not doing this more!?” I added a neckerchief, suede pumps and some dangly earrings to complete the outfit. And I think I’ll be whipping this ensemble out again.
A gift guide with suggestions for those stocking stuffers that if you’re like me, you forget about until the week of Christmas. Oops (it literally happens every single year)!
To shop, click directly on the item or find its associated number below the collage –
I have this moisturizer and have really enjoyed it (the eye cream is great too), and I know I would be very happy to see it in my stocking. Along with a great lip balm like this one or this one.
Everyone should have a face roller in their bathroom drawer, I have needed this on many mornings – do what you gotta do! I’ve also shared many-a-times how in love with this deoderant I am. I am addicted. It does have aluminum in it, so I try to use this natural deoderant in winter months, but in spring/summer, I need the strength!
I have and love these $14 sunglasses. Sometimes you can’t beat a big, glam sunglasses moment! I also have and love these clips and these pearl clips – both are such a great deal for the price.
If you had something you extra loved in your stocking last year – I would love to hear about it! You can see all gift guides from this year and years past at the top of this site under “gift guides,” as well as holiday-related content under “gift guides –> holiday-related.” Thanks so much for reading and sharing – XO –
This week I’m sharing some holiday gifts for those who love seasonal decor. They might make better gifts for those hosting Thanksgiving, white elephant parties or office coworkers and those you would gift before the holidays!
To shop, simply click directly on the item or find its associated number below the collage.
It’s not Christmas without a little mistletoe hidden somewhere. Even better if you can reuse it each year. I also got 8 of these gorgeous wreath chargers this year that are faux. They look so pretty under a salad or dinner plate.
I also spent a lot more on this star tree topper last year and now see this one for under $30. Gorgeous!
We don’t have a cookie plate for Santa
To shop all of this year’s gift guides as well as get inspiration from those in years past, click “gift guides” at the top of this site. From there you can also see all holiday-related content as well!
When I shared we were expecting, I asked if you guys would be interested in hearing some of the things I tried to do why trying to get pregnant to help me stay in a positive headspace.
It took us twice as long to get pregnant this time as it did with Hudson, and I wasn’t expecting that. I know that everyone’s journey to becoming (or choosing not to become) a parent is unique, and this is only my experience. I know someone always has it harder, and that quite frankly… stinks. I hate that. But whatever you’re going through feels hard to you, and that is worth acknowledging.
While I chose to keep our second journey to expanding our family private until I was 18 weeks pregnant, I was secretly keeping notes of the things I did that helped me, in hopes to eventually share it with other girls who may need that same spirit boost that I certainly needed during those months.
Let’s dive into the 10 things that helped me stay patient and positive while trying to get pregnant –
Music. I had days when listening to this song while driving with tears running down my cheeks was like a quick therapy session. Find the tunes that motivate you, bring you peace. And when your cycle starts… blast that song. I also loved Father Stretch.
A sweet reader struggling to conceive emailed me that she listens to Million Little Miracles. Whew! I had grateful tears running down my cheeks with this one.
Sitting with quotes and motivational words. I’m going to share some here, including a collage that I used as the background of my phone (and it’s still there!). And do yourself a favor and follow Morgan Harper Nichols.
Devotionals, time with scripture and kneeling at the bench in our bedroom daily to pray out loud. I don’t think I ever did this without needing a tissue, but boy did it bring me peace.
Find a few friends you can be honest with. And it will likely be other women in your life who also weren’t able to get pregnant in a snap. They get it, they’ve been there, and they’ll know how to support you in the ways you need to be supported.
Be truthful with your MD. After a period of time of trying on our own, I made an appointment with my OBGYN to request some bloodwork. Thankfully everything looked normal, but she knew my concerns and desired family plan and we were able to work together on that shared goal. Shortly thereafter I did become pregnant and I think being open and honest with your doctor is incredibly important. If you don’t feel like they’re hearing you, it might be time to research another doctor who will really listen and connect with you.
Give yourself 1-2 days to be sad and then carry on and come up with your next plan. One thing I’ve learned through my time in therapy (more about that here) is that is healthy and good for you to feel your feelings. To feel the sadness, the disappointment, the grief. Allowing yourself to sit in those feelings is not shameful and you should not feel guilty for being a human being with emotions and dreams. Feel it. Cry, feel sad for yourself, take a nap, sleep in if you can, do what you need to do.
And then, put your chin up and look forward to trying again. You have a few weeks until you get to try again and focus on staying healthy, positive and hopeful to a new cycle and opportunity.
Focus on the benefits of NOT being pregnant! Because girl… they are there. You have energy, you can fit into all of your clothes (and bras!), cocktails, wine, sushi, an Italian sub sandwich, using any skincare or retinol you want, getting Botox, being able to button your jeans. Trust, these are all things pregnant women are envious of.
Limit social media. If it wasn’t my job, I would have temporarily stayed off of social media. That part really, really sucked. I am on my phone a lot because of the nature of my career, so I had to utilize the mute feature to hide content of other pregnant gals or those with newborns just to protect my own mental space.
Don’t be afraid to delete the apps or mute people that stir up hard feelings (even if it’s me – I understand!). It’s important to recognize what helps you be your best self, and sometimes these boundaries are truly necessary for our hearts and heads.
Each month I realized it was a no go, I would just tell myself that wasn’t my baby. This is a little easier to do if you already have a child, but Hudson is so… uniquely himself and meant to be in our family. When I look at him, I have no doubts that it had to be him. And because of that, I told myself it was worth it to wait for our baby. There’s one sperm meeting one egg to create your baby. And trust me, that little person is worth the wait.
Humor and comedy. When I was down, I would get on Tik Tok for an hour. I would get in stitches laughing so hard, often to tears. For you, this may mean a stand up show, comedy movie, watching people fall at ice skate rinks (or is that just me?), whatever makes you laugh. But there’s a reason people say “laughter is the best medicine.” Because it does have some power to heal sadness, however small… it still helps!
And lastly, for those of you this resonates with, try to remember that there are so many women who are walking in your shoes right now. And many with healthy, happy children who went through the same struggles and feelings to get to them.
You are not alone.
Someone out there has felt the exact same feelings, shed the same tears, seen the same negative tests, had the same conversations with their partner and doctor. They got through it and you will too, and you will be stronger, more sensitive to others and ultimately more grateful for your baby because of it.
Sending love and the biggest hugs. For more family-related content, you can find it filed under “lifestyle –> marriage & family” at the top of this site. Thank you so much for reading – XO –
A few products I can vouch for – I have this mug in white and use it multiple times a week. I LOVE IT. It’s better for an office than car as it’s not going to fit in a cup holder – something to note! And while we’re talking about coffee, some people really love these ember mugs. I think one of these nice mugs with a fancy bag of coffee or a subscription to Trade Coffee would be a great gift.
I included a lot of shoes because I know Christian doesn’t buy new pairs as often as he probably should. I love these classic Chelsea boots and this welly version is pretty great too. These Veja sneakers are also classic and go with everything.
These low ball glasses are very cool and I keep telling myself I need to buy one of these. I just bought this set of Mexican Train Dominoes and plan to play by the fireplace very soon!
This foot massager is a splurge but for someone like Christian who is on his feet on day… seems pretty amazing. Kiehl’s is the only “fancy” face products I can force him to use that he genuinely likes and he lives in these joggers. I have the female version and they are that good.
Thank you so much for reading, I hope you guys have a beautiful weekend and more gift guides coming next week! You can find all of the gift guides and holiday-related content at the top of this site under “gift guides” and “holiday-related.” XO –
This week’s first gift guide is all about gifts under $50 and some of my favorite picks for the ladies. Things for the guys is coming Friday, I promise!
To shop, click directly on the item or find its associated number below the collage.
You guys know how much I love Necessaire, and this little introductory set would be great for someone who likes clean skincare and essential oils.
I have this big tumbler and love it so much, along with this tissue box cover. I use them regularly and I think they would be such great, practical gifts!
A cool candle or candle accessories, while a little generic, is usually a crowd pleaser. And I know it’s a gift I’m always happy to receive.
I have and love these fuzzy house shoes that can also be worn outside the house. I’ve heard from friends that this pajama set is where it’s at (they say to size up a size!) and this is my all-time favorite bra. I have multiple.
For more gift guides, check out the “gift guides” tab at the top of this site, including last week’s gift guide under $100. And more to come… as early as Friday. Thank you so much for reading and if you have a particular gift guide you’d like to see, please let me know in the comments! XO –
When we first moved into this house, I was super lucky to receive certain pieces and home accents that put me in a fast turnaround to share content. I am so grateful for the generosity of many brands and designers, so I happily obliged, but it means that I rushed into a few pieces that I hadn’t quite sorted through yet.
Like the original desk (seen here). I couldn’t find a desk I loved, so I bought an inexpensive one a a placeholder so I could at least get my office functional. And I don’t regret it because I used it for well over a year, and I was thankful to be able to be able to feel comfortable and focused in this space!
BUT, I kept rearranging things and trying new layouts and finally was like… this is still off. So I moved my black boomerang chairs downstairs, brought these safari chairs upstairs and sold the pink desk chair and placeholder desk. I splurged on a fancy lamp when I saw one randomly on sale, I invested in a huge, dreamy desk and added these delicious cashmere throw pillows. I also found this super cool African stool at a furniture market, and it fit right in.
I also sold the Ikea Vittsjo shelving unit that I’ve been able to use for so many years (the best $80 spent ever!) and replaced it with a heavier duty iron shelving piece from my childhood bedroom. And I love that it reminds me of the home I grew up in.
You can see all of the room reveals shared thus far under “home –> house tour” at the top of this site. Linkable items are at the bottom of this post!
This setup feels much more like “me,” and I really love how much of a difference these subtle changes made, while still keeping the contrast and neutral energy I find calming and not distracting.
Thanks so much for reading! And more of our space under “home –> house tour” at the top of this site. XO –
When it come to sparkle, bring on this $40 dress, these booties and these earrings really grab my attention. I love some sequins at the right moment… love, love, love.
I have these shoes in leopard (styled here and here), and I’ve almost bought the goldsoooo many times. They make any simple outfit more fun and are actually really comfortable thanks to the fit and block heel.
I think this top and this top are so pretty and year-round pieces. The tie shoulder is so pretty and you could dress them up or down really easily. And of course… this top under $60 looks super fun in a Rinna-party kind of way.
Who has a holiday party on the calendar? I can’t wait! Thanks so much for reading and you can find all gift guides at the top of this site under “gift guides.” XO –
I love denim so much, I mean – who doesn’t? And Levi’s have been a go-to favorite brand of mine for many years because they’re classic, timeless, reasonable priced and hold up incredibly well.
So I thought I would dive into some archives and share 5 of my favorite Levi’s and why. Mama loves an ultra high waist so prepare yourself for several pairs from the Ribcage Collection. They’re pretty much the best.
When it comes to sizing, if a pair of Levi’s has any stretch in the blend, I order my usual size. If the denim is 100% cotton, I will size up one size.
Some of these jeans I’ve had for many years, so the washes may not be exact to the ones linked, but the silhouette and product name is the same. Just to be transparent!
This is my most recent addition of Levi’s, the Ribcage in a classic wash with no distressing. They are mega high waist, have some stretch and also look mature and chic. A++, would buy again in a heartbeat. They also look really cute with the hem cut off!
I ordered my usual size in these but some of the reviews do say they felt they run small – so heads up on that. Clearly… I can’t get enough of this style. Also seen here with a raw cut hem.
I told you guys there were a lot of ribcage and… I have multiple washes. So facts are facts, my friends.
Classic 501’s– I ordered my usual size but could have sized up for a more comfortable fit
One of the first pairs I bought. They aren’t super high waisted but high enough, cropped, easy to wear with a bodysuit or chunky knit… they just always work. They also look incredibly cute with booties in the fall (seen here – scroll a smidge). A win and come in multiple washes!
These are a truly classic pair of Levi’s that will be around for decades to come. A great “intro” to the mom jean, clean lines, high waist, slim leg.
Are you a Levi’s lover also? I’d love to hear your thoughts on the classic denim. I know it’s not for everyone, but you gotta admit they’ve been a staple for a reason. Iconic brand! Thanks so much for reading and sharing – XO –
It may not even be Halloween quite yet but here we are with our first gift guide of the season! I think people are starting to shop earlier and earlier, and honestly I get it. I have already made a big dent in Hudson’s gifts… mostly for selfish reasons. Christian and I both get pretty busy with work in November and December and it also happens to be both Hudson’s birthday and Christmas. The more I can get done and off the list, the more I can enjoy my time with him!
BUT I still have many others to shop for. So I’ll be sharing themed gift guides every week from now until the holidays, and you’ll be able to find all of them (including inspiration from years past) at the top of this site under “gift guides.”
Starting with… gifts under $100! To shop, simply click directly on the item or find its associated number below the collage.
I shared this easy recipe on Instagram last week, but I wanted to share it here also so it was easier to find! My friend Nicole told me about these easy Trader Joe’s gyros, and I have to say I was impressed and shocked. They are really good and taste restaurant-level to me.
INGREDIENTS:
gyro meat – I use two slices for one gyro but you can use less or more
tzatziki sauce – you can make your own if you’re ambitious
pita bread – or garlic naan or Middle Eastern flatbread
optional:
chopped red or green onion
cucumber
tomatoes
fresh parsley
Greek seasoning
DIRECTIONS:
Warm gyro meat slices for 30 seconds (as instructed on box). Warm your pita or bread and layer up your gyro.
ENJOY. That’s it. Seriously easy, wildly delicious and I feel confident it will surprise you. It really surprised me!
If you make it, please let me know what you think! You can find other similar recipes here and here. Thanks so much for reading and find more recipes and cocktails under “home –> food & drink” at the top of this site. XO –
