My Christmas

MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE!!!!! I hope it wasn't anything short of AMAZING! I know Christmas is a time for Santa, snow (except this year it was 70 degrees..... wow), family, food, and presents... I pray you all didn't look over the real reason of Christmas, which is about our Lord.

Though the days leading up to today have been overwhelming and stressful due to working two jobs every day while still trying to get everyone's gifts prepared and have time to actually sleep still getting over this illness, I genuinely enjoyed my holiday! I was able to spend time with my mom's side of the family on Wednesday night after work: the traditional dinner we have, games, and presents. Christmas Eve was a hot mess: work job #1, straight to job #2, straight to Christmas Eve Candle Light service at church (my absolute favorite), then my two grandmothers came to my house along with my sister and her husband to have finger foods. Once my grandmothers left, my immediate family exchanged parts of our gifts then watched The Santa Clause, of course, it's tradition! That leads us today, Christmas Day! My sister and her husband came back over because....... Santa came!! Yay!! We then all got ready and went up to my dad's side of the family for our traditional celebration there. It was so nice seeing both sides of the family, we all live such busy lives and live in different places, but I love being able to see them and enjoy the holidays with them! I hope you were able to do the same, family is such a blessing in disguise.

Now to the presents!! I was extremely blessed, as always, with the gifts I received. I take so much for granted and do not deserve any of the things I have, but I am so so thankful. My family knows me like a book, and of course spoiled me with things that fit me perfectly.

Photo #1: My sister got me the Simple Southern 1/3 zip navy, green, and pink pullover with elbow patches. I've never had anything with elbow patches before, too adorable. My mother then got me the Simply Southern navy, green, and pink long sleeved t-shirt to match, along with a SS air freshener for my car. I am absolutely obsessed with the jeep on the back of the t-shirt, maybe one day it will be mine... wishful thinking. Gotta love my southern stuff!

Photo #2: "In Case Of Emergency, Save The Shoes!" .... if this isn't me, I don't know what is. My sassy mother was spot on when she gave this to me. That's all I have to say about that one.

Photo #3: *had to hang it up to show the full effect* Black plush Adam Levine high-low cardigan. It's like putting on a cloud, so comfortable! This could easily be dressed up or down.

Photo #4: Though I couldn't get the full effect in the photo laying down or hanging up, this is a black and white tribal designed high-low tank. I usually am not a tank top type of person, I have to wear a jacket with it no matter what, but this one I can make an exception. It fits so perfectly and is such a soft material.

Photo #5: A casual white blouse with two pockets on each side of the chest, three-quarter length roll up sleeve, with a black and white simple infinity scarf! Perfect for one of my jobs. 

Photo #6: Okay, if you haven't seen Hayden Panettiere's Fabric Of Our Lives commercial where she is dancing around on the back of a truck bed at a bonfire in the crazy cute cardigan, you need to. I have been dying over a cardigan like that since the commercial aired, but never could find one. Opening this was the closest thing I have found to match it! Though she didn't have one with the fur, mine now tops hers. Funny thing is, Mama said on her shopping list for me, she wrote: "HP cardigan".... twins.

Photo #7: You may or may not know this yet about me, but the Hamsa is a big part of who I am... if you do not know what a Hamsa is, it symbolizes the hand of God protecting you from the evil eye. I have so many Hamsa things such as earrings, necklace, phone case, and now something to put on my desk. My sister bought this for me, which made is that much more special. I cannot wait to have my own desk at my future career and have this on there to remind me how blessed I am.

Photo #8: Mmmm, my favorite. Yankee Candle neutralizing beads in Midsummer's Night. I love candles, but these beads give off such a stronger scent that you don't have to remember to light or blow out. Midsummer's Night reminds me of Black Ice car fresheners (that I usually stock up on until I just got my SS one!). If you don't know what either smell like, my family says it smells like men's deodorant or cologne... oh well.

Photo #9: Again, shoes. Nothing can go wrong when dealing with shoes. This is a mini calendar full of fierce shoes and quotes from different designers. I actually picked this out myself just seeing the front of it, but once I looked at each month's photo, I didn't realize the quotes would be included. Cannot wait to start 2016 off right with this inspiration!

Photo #10: Yay, undies! I am usually a 7 for $27 gal, but Mommy got me these seamless Jessica Simpson undies that feel the exact same as VS. Don't worry, PINK, I'll be there next month, but a girl can never have enough cute undies. I also got these precious leg warmers, a soft grey with a beige frill on top that can be worn either side up.

Photo #11: Talk about a diva! These black and jaguar gloves are to die for. As we all know, the right type of glove is hard to find, but these lovelies fit just right and have just enough sass for the winter. Jaguar is also a way of life...

Photo #12: The one thing I actually asked for: a new flat iron straightener. Just like the rest of us, I somehow got roped into sitting in the kiosk chair at the mall while having someone play with my hair and the straightener... I actually fell in love with that straightener but couldn't bring myself to buy it. This is the same brand, but a step up from the one they used on my hair. HerStyler: Super Styler. Used it this morning, works like a charm.

Photo #13: Now this is a story... I almost always buy my purses at Charming Charlie's, they are great quality for no more than $35 each. One day while shopping there with my sister and mother, I fell in love with this bag... and when I say fell in love, I FELL IN LOVE. While everyone else bought things for themselves, I never bought the bag. When we went to the next shop, I decided I had to go back and buy this daggon purse, if not I would regret it, I would never be able to find one similar to it. Mama talked me out of it, but I still never got that bag out of my mind....... but what did I open on Christmas morning.... THE CHARMING CHARLIE'S LOVE OF MY LIFE. A pewter color base with creamy tan handles, along with an adorable lock accent. The long handle with the silver chain can be taken on or off, I decided to keep it on even if I never use it that way just because it makes the purse that much more classy.

Photo #14: Heels are a dream come true no matter what form. These are flawless black and white designed Christian Siriano's with a wooden heel, from Project Runway. I can't handle the design.

Photo #15: Again, you can never have enough heels. These are American Eagle brand, light brown, with an average sized heel/wedge with an open back. I have never had open backed heels before, so I am super excited to try these out. They will be perfect for next fall!

Photo #16: With the money I got from my Nannie for Christmas, I finallllllllly got my hands on Becca & Jaclyn Hill's Champagne Pop highlight... it is everything I imagined it would be and more! I knew it was going to be life changing, but now my dream has became reality by wearing it. I also got the Sephora perfect liquid foundation in the shade light/neutral 22... I kept going back and forth between this and Too Faced's Born This Way foundation, but a good friend of mine works at Sephora and recommended this foundation. I didn't even look at Born This Way. I am actually really pleased with the coverage and the texture of it. I would also recommend this to someone who wants a medium to full coverage but doesn't want to spend a whole whole lot, this was only $20! Sephora's personal brand gets looked over so much, yet their products are easily some of my favorites. When I went to check this out, on the counter were several different face masks, so of course I was eager to get one. The one I chose was the toning mask. Cannot wait to have a day off, stay in my PJs all day, watching a movie marathon with some coffee and cake, while soaking in this mask!

I also got 2 Starbucks gift cards from my boss and my aunt! Yummmm.

Photo #17: Last, but definitely not least, and probably the best: my amazingly crafted mother made me a mermaid fin snuggie blanket. How she did this, I will never understand, but in all honesty, I cried my eyes out when I opened it, don't ask me why... She did such a wonderful job making this and the fact that she did make it is so incredibly special to me. She took so much time to work on this for me and that she actually thought of me to being creating it in the first place is such an honor. Homemade gifts are taken for granted, but to me, homemade gifts are so much more valuable than anything else in the world. This was my favorite gift of the season. It is official, I am now an actual mermaid!!

*things not in photos: money, Justin Bieber's Purpose CD, L.A. Colors red gel polish, a journal with a Ghandi quote on the cover (love him), socks, and candy. My mom also ordered a mermaid necklace with a pearl that hasn't come in yet, cannot wait to wear it!!

Again, I hope each and every one of you had a great holiday with family no matter what you celebrate. If I don't talk to you before then, have a great and safe New Years! 2016 is just a week away!!!

Xoxo.