Pumpkin Spice Candle Season!

As a Monday morning pick me up, I thought I’d start you off with something we all look forward to every year- fall candles! Seriously, I get so excited over these delicious smelling things. Marketing emails I get have been featuring more and more fall-themed items lately. I’ve been trying to ignore them because my summer is not yet over but it’s a little hard to when everyone else is getting excited too! The other day, Bath & Body Works sent me an email featuring their fall candles and fragrances. I tried to “keep calm and carry on” but I couldn’t. Later that day, I found myself wandering into one of their stores sniffing every candle I could get my hands on.

The candles are the same fragrances as last year but the packaging has been upgraded I think. I remember a few people commenting on their Facebook page saying that the candles looked like something that would be sold in Walmart as opposed to B&B Works. Yikes! Not what the marketers were going for I’m sure. I did a post (link here) last year on the candles so you can see which is better!

I love the sugary, pumpkin scents because they remind me of home. My mom always decorates for Autumn with pumpkins and chrysanthemums on the front steps and a cinnamon candle burning on the kitchen counter. It’s easily one of my favorite memories from growing up! Some of the newer fall-ish scents have sparked my interest though, like the “Crisp Morning Air” and “Sweater Weather” scents. They are a little more masculine and much less sugary!

I love the aesthetic appeal of all the candles together. It really sells me on the product. As we all know, packaging and presentation are everything in the world of marketing! Let me know what your favorite candle is in the comments below!

–Liz

Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Her

It’s Christmas Eve Eve and I’m going to be out running errands shortly with my mom getting a few last minute things done! We need to get the turkey for Christmas dinner (my mom is wonderful in the kitchen) and a cake from the bakery for dessert. I’ve always enjoyed these last few days before Christmas. All the hustle and bustle of the stores is kind of fun.

Speaking of stores, one of the last things people remember to shop for is stocking stuffers! Ever since I was little, my mom has always filled ours with fun little goodies and a new toothbrush. The toothbrush is a tradition I intend to do with my own kids some day. As an adult though, there’s a few things I love to find in my stocking or put in someone else’s!

• Nail polish – Find deals on Essie at Marshall’s
• Pens or pencils – Favorites are from the Target dollar section
• Socks – Target has a variety of fun ones for $1.50
• Fragrance refills – Bath & Body Works sometimes has their Wallflowers on sale this time of year
• Loofa – Walmart always has a bin full of them for cheap
• Cookie cutters – Cute, festive, and inexpensive at most stores

Other cute ideas are a pocket-sized manicure set, hand sanitizer, hair ties, lip balm, travel size shower gel, knit gloves, peppermint bark, bubble gum, or makeup. I like to browse the dollar section in Target and the line that leads to the registers at TJ Maxx or Marshall’s for fun little stocking stuffers that won’t cost a fortune. If you can’t find something there, you probably won’t be able to find it at all!

Leave me a comment with your favorite stocking stuffer ideas!

Relaxation on a Monday Morning

Good morning! The last week has been a roller coaster of emotions and crazy schedules to balance. I apologize that I haven’t been posting nearly as much as I normally do. Life just gets in the way of life sometimes. It demands so much of our attention! Sometimes you need to just sit back and learn to take it as it comes. Expect nothing and prepare for everything.

Part of my Monday morning routine is to do a little pampering. I get up earlier than usual and just enjoy my morning coffee and a nice, long shower. Here’s what’s in my bath right now:

 

I’m loving exfoliating loofahs and gloves. They work wonders on my skin. It feels so much cleaner after I scrub my skin with it. I use the Bath and Body Works Eucalyptus ‘Stress Relief’ shower gel and I feel so relaxed after smelling it for awhile. It’s very therapeutic! I also love Pecksniff’s England shower gel for when the Eucalyptus is a little too strong for me.

It may sound silly, but I love to light a candle while I’m in the shower or tub for added ambiance and relaxation. Am I a stereotypical girl or what?

For my face, I use Botanics facial cleansing cream. I found it at Target on sale and I love it! I can barely put anything on my face because I break out. This is an organic cleanser, so everything is natural and you won’t be putting chemicals all over your beautiful skin!

My last two loves for the shower are from Lush. The bath bomb is their “Avo-Bomb” and it’s all natural ingredients! I also like their soap “Miranda” for it’s citrus smell. Lush can be pricey, but their products are really great!

What are your favorite bath products? Let me know in a comment below!

Cozy Winter Style

Tuesday snuck up on me and so did Monday. My weekends are going so fast for some reason. I woke up yesterday and was shocked that it was over. I went out to run some errands and get my coffee when I was greeted with another surprise: white flurries falling from the sky. The weatherman had called for snow but they always make a big deal out of nothing. Driving home was all sorts of interesting as Marylanders creeped along on the highways so they wouldn’t skid. We aren’t used to this white stuff.

When I got home, I camped out in front of the fire and cuddled the kitty. In weather like this, having the proper warm, cozy equipment is crucial! I’ve rounded up a few of my favorite winter weather things for making this snow storm that much lovelier!

• Cape from Etsy
• Hair band from Nordstrom
• Gloves from Zumiez
• Cable knit throw from Houzz
• Boot socks from Old Navy
• Travel mug from Kate Spade
• Boots from LL Bean
• Candle from Bath and Body Works

Warm & Cozy Weekend

Saturdays are made for relaxing and recovering from a stressful week. Unfortunately, my Saturdays usually have me working. With Christmas coming, I know my boss is going to be scheduling my weekends packed with work. Now that the temperature is dropping into the 30s, I hate leaving my house period for any occasion much less work. Anyway, for those of you who do have today to yourself, here’s 8 things that make my chilly days-in worth waiting a whole week for.

1. A Starbuck’s Gingerbread Latte

2. Fuzzy Ugg Mocassins

3. A plate of warm cookies

4. A flannel shirt (if I could find one that would look cute on me)

5. Christmas with the Kranks (fave Christmas movie!)

6. Cutting out paper snowflakes

7. Warm, cable knit blanket (this one is from Ikea)

8. Bath & Body Works candles

What does your perfect Saturday include?