Should I Santa Myself?

It’s not a secret that we live in a world of consumerism. ‘Tis the season! It’s also understood that bloggers, generally speaking, are clenched in retailers’ grasp. My husband always manages to get me really wonderful gifts that usually put me in tears, like the first Christmas we spent together when he paid my school bill so I could register for classes the next semester. Then the pink cruiser, a Coach handbag and really cute odds and ends like a handmade scarf from a crafter at the high school where he teaches. So with that said, I just realized something in the shower tonight. I went Christmas shopping today for four of my nieces and finally think I found something hubby will love, but has no clue it’s coming. Throughout the morning, I stumbled across things for myself and added them to the cart. Tonight I had to pick something up from Park Meadows and do some research, and as I wandered in and out of the shops, I stumbled on a great gift for my Daddy, (a Fender tee shirt in lime green from Aeropostale for $9!), and saw some things that would make great gifts for others, and I also picked up a couple things for myself- YET AGAIN! Is it the pregnancy making me all Christmas jolly this year? Are the sales just too good to pass?! What I wish was that my husband was secretly on my shoulder, like a spirit, out and about shopping with me so he could see what I pick up, what I need. Do you ever wish that about your significant other, your Santa?! Don’t get me wrong, as I said, he is an AMAZING Syrian Santa, as we call him, but there’s always those little things you see that you think, “That’d make a great stocking stuffer,” or “Gee, I could really use larger, cute and comfy panties because my ass is getting huge.”
So I am aware of the problem, Christmas self-shopper offender numero uno right here, and am going to try A) really hard NOT to buy MYSELF anything before Christmas, B) Not to buy this unborn baby anything for Christmas (Can we just enjoy this last one the two of us?!) C) That if I happen to slip up, I will wrap it and save it for Christmas morning.
So here’s a few things I picked up today and over the weekend while out and about:
We ran errands at Michael’s (one of my favorite places), because I needed some things for some projects I am working on. I found incredible deals on some greenery swag for the mantle, 50% off, found the ribbon I needed and these awesome markers you can use to write on windows! See…stocking stuffer! Then we headed to Walmart. Husband needed a shower caddy and we decided to do Christmas lights on the house! He did AWESOME for our first go at it! I also was really on the hunt for a Gingerbread man cookie cutter, score, and a rolling pin, score! I plan to get bakie with it after I graduate December 15th! So wouldn’t this little cookie cutter man look adorbs poking out of my stocking?! Today, I hit up K-Mart by my house, heard they were closing, super SAD, but I was on it! Needless to say, I found all the toys my four beautiful nieces had on their wishlists at 20% off, plus an additional 10% off my entire purchase! So with this store closing and all, of course I scoured every square foot. DVD bin for $5! I scored the classic, Miracle on 34th Street! Wohoo! I also spent some time in the baby aisles and found a few essentials. A stroller hook for all that shopping we’ll be doing together, and teensy weensy nail clippers and file. I also picked up a couple holiday items including this super cheesy but awesome plastic tablecloth I photographed on, gift wrap, bows, tags- all 20% off! Tonight I meandered through J.Crew, and stumbled upon a big sale in the back! Take an additional 30% off sale! How cute is that birdie iphone case?! $12! I popped into Aeropostale because hubby bought a puffer coat last week for like $20 and I saw the entire store is 60% off, seriously. I had wanted some comfy, sort of L.A. teeny bopper sweatpants for around the house- when I went in today, they were $12!
So essentially, this growing bump is also causing me to have to buy much more than usual too. New bras and panties and cute hospital jammies from Nordstrom Rack a few weeks ago, and then my first actual maternity purchases! I bought a Bellaband and an Ingrid and Isabel top from my prenatal yoga studio Belly Bliss, oh that too, pre-natal yoga classes! Full disclosure, my super thoughtful husband just bought me a 5 class package for their Black Friday special for $59, early Christmas prezzy for sure. That counts! I also found a pair of wild printed maternity skinny pants from H&M that I feel like I am in between sizes on (legs are tight and pouch for the not-quite-there-yet bump is too big.) I don’t know what it is, but everywhere I go I happen upon a little baby trinket. At TJ Maxx the other day I found this diaper changing pad cover by Summer for $6! So soft! I had the pad already and just needed a cute cover that fit and voila- one appears! I was out and about with a friend last week and ended up at a Burlington Coat Factory which I hadn’t been to since I was a little girl, and I picked up Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Lotion for momma and the cutest bathtub thermometer around- a rubber duckie by Munchkin, Underneath he says HOT if water is too toasty for baby. So, once again, I don;t want to ask Santa for Palmer’s stretch mark cream, but it’d fill a momma-to-be’s stocking out nicely! This little rubber duckie thermometer might be cute peering out of a stocking or on a gift.
So with all that over sharing, I just wanted to know if you all have encountered this Christmas shopping conundrum? Do you wrap your own gifts and “act surprised?” I’ve never been a fan of the fake unwrap…Hmmm…I guess I could snap pics and send the to husband via text?
I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I had a wonderful dinner at my momma’s. I made green bean casserole, a squash and two cheese casserole and brussel sprouts. For some reason I didn’t have much of an appetite though, what a bad day to not be hungry! WE are hosting Christmas dinner for my family at our house and I can’t wait! Decorating is already underway!
SO SO much to be thankful for this year, every year and every day. I am one blessed lady and I am very very happy.
Thank you to you all for tuning in! Tips for holiday shopping, just keep your lists on you at all times to refer to, coupons and catalogs in your handbag and your peppers peeled! You will find things when you aren’t looking for them! Hit up your local thrift stores for holiday decor items. I found these lovely pine cone bouquets, three of them, for $3 each at an ARC, and I found Christmas light strands still in the boxes, and working (always test in store first). Also, you know those $5 and $10 gift cards you get in the mail for Kohl’s? Well they are real! Use them! I used it on this cute Santa night light for the kitchen, and didn’t have to pay a single penny more. Also, subscribe to e-mail newsletters and lists. I personally glance at Mile High on the Cheap once a day, as they tell you about free days around town, free movie passes, and store closures. I unfortunately did not make it out Saturday to the boutiques or local shops for Small Business Saturday, but I don’t reserve that for one day a year, but rather try to do what I can when and where I can to support them. How about you? Did you make it out to Small Business Saturday? I would love to hear your thoughts on all this! Comment!

Back to School

I’ve missed you blog! I have been busy attending to…LIFE! After all, I am a married lady, and I do have three siblings, all in Colorado, and my hubby has three siblings, all in Colorado, and between us we have SEVEN nieces! So that means, dinners, holidays, birthdays and TIME. My husband reminded me that he would like a hot cooked meal- OOPS! So I got a swift kick in the cooking rear and have been hanging out in the kitchie a tad bit more. Our brother gave us a belated house warming gift, a grill!!!, which meant husband HAD to put it together immediately…urgh…which caused some scuffles. My plan, wait three days until I was mentally prepared to tackle Lego like construction with my husband, his plan, do it NOW are you crazy?! Let me tell you that for me, transition from single girl to wife is, well, a transition! Some do it faster than others, some “get” it, some are born with it, and others, like myself, have to learn what it means to be a wife. I am working on what that role means to me, to my husband and what he expects of me and what I am capable of doing and achieving, understanding how it works well for MY husband and in MY life and how I can still juggle my LAST semester of school, (yeah you heard me right,) blogging (hence the hiatus), starting a career (new source of income), reading, exercising, cleaning house, enjoying thrifting and window shopping, entertaining in our new home AND all the other STUFF! Time management, life balance, whether you have a baby or not, is tough! If I plan on having a baby some day, we better get this shit figured out now, I’d say!
So this Monday, I started back at CU Denver for my final semester! I am SOOOOOO ready to graduate and begin a new chapter. That doesn’t mean I haven’t already started flipping ahead to that chapter now… I began PR consulting and social media consultancy work last year and finally committed to printing a proper business card. So, I am for hire! (hint, hint, hint)

Husband and I rode our bikes to Menchie’s for froyo last week, and I put circus animal cookies on top which I’ve never done before, so I’m chalking that up as a testament to the mood it put me in to enjoy a summer night ride with my love! We took a trip to Wally World, (a.k.a., Walmart), to exchange our grill (first one had a dent in the lid and we noticed after a day of headaches partially putting it together. Can these manual writers learn “front” and “back” already?!?!? I mean, I took a technical writing course and had to write an entire instruction manual, a minimum of 24 steps, with graphics, on how to put something together, and I am pretty sure I could work in China with the thing I turned out.) I digress.

So this semester I am going in with a new attitude. Maybe it’s because I am almost done, but I am going in with the mentality of a professional, because I am one damn it! So, I am mirroring my wardrobe with my tude and kicking it up a notch. I always dressed nice for school, never one to wear sweats or Uggs, and rarely even jeans, but this time, I really want to maximize my networking on lunch breaks and after classes, so that means a little more polish and a flash of style with a hint of “I’m-a-young-publicist-please-hire-me” sprinkled on top.

I am very excited for fall, but very much enjoy the sound of crickets outside my open window right about now. Literally. They are chirping to my keys typing. I just wanted to drop a line and say I haven’t forgotten about you blog and just fill you all in so you know where I’ll be in any duration of absence- studying, spending time being a good wife, (NOT like that awful show with Juliana Marguiles) a better sister, daughter, friend and perhaps striving to be a healthier girl all around. I DO have some great posts coming down the pipe so look alive!

“Oh joy, Walmart!”



Peaches, Basil and Mozzarella summer app- YUM!

Hubby and I playing around with my new camera after school- this shot is creepy and WAY off but sorta cool



Outfit Deets for Above: Blouse from Marshalls/ Thrifted gold Spiegel skirt/ Franco Sarto Sandals from Ross in Florida/ Jeweled collar necklace from Macy’s
Oh yeah, and how do you like my painted gray wall there? That was a summer home project with the man of the house and super fun!

Today, I met up with colleagues from the telecommunications start up I worked at for three years. Sadly it comes to an end on August 31st as the office moved overseas, and I am not. So we are all moving or moving on. We met up downtown in Civi Center park for the food trucks they set up on Thursdays. I had amazing fruit stuff by Ba-nom-a-nom. I say fruit stuff because it’s not froyo, it’s not ice cream, it’s like Willy Wonka style fruit magic! Mmmm… but a bit pricey- $4.86 for a teeny dip.

Outfit Deets on Above: Thrifted pink silk blouse with shouldie pads/ Current/Elliott boyfriend jeans from the Dress for Success sale this year

And now for the Instagram pics I’ve been collecting…. I’m going to coin it as “Phogging” (iPhone Blogging)

Phogging

So enough about me. What have you all been up to?!