A Few of My Favorite Christmas Things- Plus a Workout!

Merry Christmas Eve! And for some, merry it's so close to Christmas you can almost feel it!! So sorry for a lack of post yesterday, this was meant to be for the day before Christmas, but all well. Christmas day there will not be a post, but we will start back up on Friday! And next week, there will be lots of life hacks to make the New Year happier, healthier, more organized, and an all around kickin year. Of course, there will be plenty of pics on Instagram in the next day or two as well!

For now though, let's savor this Christmas goodness and talk about a few of our favorite things over the holidays. Lately, I have been overcome with feelings about how blessed we are. I can truly say that life is incredible right now, and that is something to be oh-so thankful for! My favorite thing over the holidays is spending time with friends and family and all the kindness we get to spread around. This year, it feels like everyone has gotten nicer for Christmas instead of more rushed, stressed, and just plain mean. The general goodwill towards our fellow inhabitants of this earth is definitely my favorite this time of year.

Of course, kindness is a bit trickier to take pictures of, so let's look at some favorite things around our place instead, shall we! Also, sorry for the lack of super wonderful make you cry at the beauty pictures, these were taken by me with my iPhone. I am not the photographer in the family.

1. Brown Paper Packages Tied up with String

Yes, this is the reason for the post's title. The hubs had a great idea to go super traditional with our wrapping this year and I am OBSESSED. When you put all the packages together it looks like Pottery Barn and Crate and Barrel did all our wrapping for us. This paper is also the least I have ever spent on wrapping and the bows are hands down the easiest as well. No wonder Pottery Barn and the like use this as the wrapping of choice, it is wonderful!

We have also added white paper to the mix (swoon), but those will be in pictures later.

2. Cats That Love Trees

Our cats love to sleep under the tree, play around it, smell it (side note: Chuu smelt like a Christmas tree the other day, it may have been the happiest day of my life), and just look at it. The do not, however, enjoy climbing it. That is something I will never stop being happy about.

3. Christmas orchids

These orchids bloom every Christmas and every Christmas it makes my heart happy. This year, we have seven whole buds on the orchid and six of them have bloomed! Chances are pretty high that it will stay like this until my birthday. Just another one of my favorite bits, orchids that seem to have found the fountain of youth!

4. This Funny Stick Village

My Grandma got the whole village thing for us from Crate and Barrel and I am loving them. The fox is especially cute and greets everyone who comes into our house. Too bad I did not get a pic of him. Next time.

5. Live Sprigs

So, this is not the greatest picture ever, but the candle holder is brass, the ornaments are white and silver, and the tree sprigs are green. We also have automatic tea lights mixed in that give the prettiest glow ever to the centerpiece! The color combo, spell of fresh evergreen, the chic but natural look make this a favorite for me. Tree sprigs are also free and can be picked up at any Christmas tree lot. When you cut the stems, it smells like Christmas, winter, and everything happy in the world. Then, put them around your home and spin around in joy just like Maria does on that hill.

6. This Workout

This barre workout has to be on the list because it is just great over Christmas. We are busy and workouts can fall on the back burner list, but this workout can be done anywhere at anytime! It is wonderful and I am loving it this season.

Merry Christmas and I hope your days are sunny and bright and your Christmas is just splendid!

Love,

Jenni

Blog Love!

{via}

Sometimes, you have blogs that are simply your favorites, and sometimes, you find new blogs that you absolutely love. My absolute favorite blog for life is Emily Henderson's style blog, my favorite blog for health is According to Elle, and my favorite for inspirations is Dale Partridge's. But, when it comes to recipes and great cooking/meal planning ideas, there is a new favorite in town. One of my good friends has [finally] started a blog talking about good, clean eats. 

Her blog, Good Choice Eats, is brand new like a teeny baby and I love it. The first recipe has hit is out of the park with complete nutritional analysis of food along with a pricing breakdown. Brittany's health theory is simple, inexpensive eats that are completed with planning ahead and organization. Something this one seriously needs when it comes to the kitchen- especially around the holidays.  

I would totally recommend checking out her page and some of her recipes. They are seriously great! Also, here are a few other blogs I love :)

The Fitnessista

Pumps and Iron

Peanut Butter Fingers

Lazy Girl Running

Teatime Thoughts. Here is Candice's guest post.

Cup of Jo

Hommemaker

Yoga by Candace

What are some of your favorites? 

Things I am Loving

We all have things that suddenly and unexpectedly make us look like this. There have been a few items, blog posts, and the like over the past couple of weeks that I have simply fallen in love with. Get ready, because there are a lot of things that I have become completely addicted to. One of them being this completely unproductive yet engrossing name website. For instance, I now know that my great-grandmother's name, Alma, was quite popular at the turn of the century. Well, it may not be the cure to world hunger, but I found it super interesting!

There is one thing, however that has lost me. Sadly, as of two weeks ago, I fell out of love with Pretty Little Liars. I mean really, if there was a town that crazy ANYWHERE the entire world would come together in the sole purpose of destroying it. Getting rid of the craziness that is Rosewood could literally bring world peace. That is how crazy PLL has become. Rant complete.

These Jeans

I am LOVING all of her super handy and simple make-up tutorials. She, like me, is a bottle red-head and does make-up to suit those color tones. This has made is super easy for me to do what she does and, bam! have amazing looking make-up. So far, my absolute favorite has been this one on using oranges. It revolutionized my summer make-up regimen.

I am not usually a Hollister kind of gal, but I was in the market for jeans at a time they were having a sale no one could refuse. I purchased these and my love has grown everyday that I wear them. Granted, it has only been a week and I have not washed them yet, but they are incredible. Simply the most comfy, least awkward-when-worn-too-much jeans I have ever purchased, and for under $30!

Braided Buns

These are so easy to do and look so refined. Definitely not like something you just did because your hair has decided to go in every direction but flat. And let's face it, that is one of the best reasons anyone has for putting their hair in a bun.

Deodorant for Clothes

Because we are camping. And because sometimes you just don't have time to dry clean that one needed article of clothing.

These Shoes

I got them on a sale and have also fallen in love with them. If they are still available, man are they a good buy! The only downside is that the buckle hits right on my ankle bone. This has made a comfort issue when I try to wear them too tight. Just as long as the buckle stays loose though, they are super comfy.

Sales

My wallet is telling me no but my mind is telling me yes! There have been so many incredible sales this past month on Etsy, J. Crew, The Gap, Hollister, and about 50 other places that I cannot currently think of. It has made purchasing all those needed clothes for summer and fall soooo easy!

Photo Beautifiers

Apps like Afterlight and Over have made my new Instagram goals soo much easier! Not only am I able to get pictures out more regularly, but they do no look like my usual sad, gray photos of nothingness. Yay for apps that make us look much more proficient with cameras than we may actually be!

Michigan Weather

We are heading down to Florida this week and I have an odd feeling there will be some weather shock in my future. The summer in Michigan has been wonderful with very few days reaching above 85 degrees. This Michigan summer has definitely been on the top of my "Things I am Loving"  list.

This Bracelet

I ordered it. Received it 4-days later. And fell for it on the spot. It is simple, light, and comes in some pretty nice packaging to boot!

Fishtail Braids

They are easy when you get the hang of it and look so wonderful. I also absolutely love them with a pretty hair band or some big earrings. Swoon.

This is a great tutorial as well!

Jaclyn Hill

I am LOVING all of her super handy and simple make-up tutorials. She, like me, is a bottle red-head and does make-up to suit those color tones. This has made is super easy for me to do what she does and, bam! have amazing looking make-up. So far, my absolute favorite has been this one on using oranges. It revolutionized my summer make-up regimen.