Christmas by Chellie
Halloween, check. Thanksgiving, check. Suddenly we’re hours away from December and I’m wondering where this year has gone. I think I’ve done the most growing this year even though it wouldn’t be my favorite by a long shot. I’m getting my health in order. I found out who my real friends are. I discovered an incredible community of women that holds me up, supports me + keeps me in check. No I’m not becoming a nun. I’m just surrounding myself with people who put in as much effort as I do and who fuel my soul. I have no ill wishes for anyone no longer in my life. Our season of friendship is simply over and I wish them well. So the last few months have been purely focused on me, then I look up + WHAM! It’s Christmas EVERYWHERE.
As anyone who’s close to me knows, I’m not the biggest fan of Christmas anymore. No it’s not because I get less presents. I’ll tell you why but then we’re moving on. Three years ago, my Grammie, one of my favorite people in the world even though she sometimes got on my nerves, passed away unexpectedly on Christmas Eve. Since then, the holiday has held no magic, no wonder, no sparkle for me. I swear it’s just my mom + I who are like this because my sister Colleen is even more Christmas nuts than before. It’s fine whatever makes you happy, girlfriend! That said, this time of year is so hard for me. I didn’t know if I was going to even address Christmas but figured I should. I’m not going to put together a full-blown gift guide like some of my blogger friends have. But I will share some gift tips, some places I’m getting gifts from + what I’ll be wearing this holiday season so buckle up. I’m giving you all I’ve got.
PRESENTS
So my go to gift when I don’t know someone very well has always been a candle. That’s not to say that if you’ve ever received a candle from me, that doesn’t necessarily mean I didn’t know what to get you or I half-assed your gift. I once gave my best friend Gab a candle I found at Target called Cozy Nights among her many gifts. I was so obsessed with that candle I bought three for myself. Three years later, Target still sells it so if you’re looking for something new, I’d give that a whiff. But once I gave a boss a plain, innocuous red candle for Christmas + came to find she’d given me the exact same thing. Truth is I didn’t know her well at all + I hated that job but unfortunately I needed said job so she got a present.
Another gift I’ve been known to give is “Snowman Soup.” If you’re reading this + you taught me in high school, you know EXACTLY what I’m talking about. My aunt gave it to us for the first time when I was in grade school + it’s perfect because there’s thought + effort put into it without requiring one to spend a ton of money. You start with a new mug. This is the most fun part. But I’m also finding on a quick Pinterest search that you don’t necessarily have to include a mug but I do because that’s the gift! I digress… You pick the perfect mug + you add:
- One packet of hot chocolate
- Six mini marshmallows
- Three Hershey’s Kisses
- Cinnamon stick (my special addition)
- Candy cane
Wrap it all up in cellophane or a clear gift bag + attach the poem! You can print this one, find one on Pinterest or create your own. For some inspiration here’s a search for Snowman Soup on Pinterest.
This year I’m bringing back Snowman Soup as part of a “Cozy Christmas Basket” idea I came up with. Friends, you are about to find out what your gift is so act surprised. Along with Snowman Soup, I got some fleece throws on a great Black Friday sale at Carson’s. This coupled with some real popcorn + a movie makes for a great date night, girls’ night or, my personal favorite, a “leave me alone with my snacks” night. Think how fun the song “Let It Snow” should be except we’re all grownups who have to shovel snow when it snows…
With most of my gifts purchased or at least planned, I want to share some of the great places I’ve found gifts!
The first is my new favorite Etsy shop, BumbleandBustle. She’s local (for me) + has fantastic products. I connected with the shop owner on Instagram via a Chicago blogging + social networking group. A few days after following she posted a picture of what is now one of my favorite mugs on my desk. She also did a custom piece for Gab’s Christmas care package on it’s way to the other side of the world. Several people on my list are getting a specific mug from her shop as part of their gift but I’m going to leave which one up to your imagination as many of them follow me + I don’t want them figuring out all of their presents too soon. Actually one of them might know because I had to confirm something about her husband first but I know the’ll love it just the same.
Another shop I’m frequenting for my gifts this year is Jac Vanek. You may have seen her snarky wine glasses + zip pouches on Instagram or you may have heard me gush about her as one of the hosts of my favorite podcast, The LadyGang. I just got this zip pouch for myself, as if I need any more makeup bags… but really I do. Packing up all my important products to travel is a nightmare + I’m not about to put that ish in a ziploc bag. I’ve snagged a couple of her zip pouches for a few friends + a few of her snarky-labled wine bottles to take TO Christmas but I’m not sure I’ll share. I highly recommend ordering some for yourself for your own holiday festivities but I also highly recommend ordering by the 15th like the website says so you’ll have it for when your family asks when you’re going to get a significant other or you + your significant other are going to get married or when you + your spouse are going to have a kid or the million other nosy questions loving family members ask with no regard for our feelings on the subject. Like, “No, Aunt Carol. I’m not dating anyone. Do you know why? Because every person I date always ends up being a major disappointment so for now I’m dating my damn self because I’m not going to let myself down.” Okay, Chell… Calm down!
For the men in my life, and by men I mean my dad, my uncle + my guy bff, I have everything planned + one thing purchased so far. My men’s gifts are coming from BumbleandBustle, Generous Coffee, Omaha Steaks + Amazon. I love Generous Coffee. One of the guys who started the company is our dear friend and one of our favorite Bachelors, Ben Higgins. I am a fan of products that give back + that’s what they do. The proceeds from the Honduras blend help provide jobs for women in the small village of La Cuchilla, Honduras. The proceeds from the Guatemalan coffee go towards sending the farmers’ children to school. The proceeds from the Rwandan blend help women reliably provide from their families. (Source: Generous Coffee). So my gifts will be giving back. One of the other men in my life is getting a gift box from Omaha Steaks because he’s the best darn grill master I know + he’s also my favorite guy in the world (not just because he’s gotten me out of every speeding ticket). Want a gift box from Omaha Steaks for you or someone in your life? Type “GETIT” in the search bar get this fantastic deal! And someone is getting probably the most perfect for them desk calendar which I know sounds like an odd or half-assed gift, but I swear it’s not. Plus this friend + I have never exchanged gifts before so I’m not trying to be too obnoxious. If I had a significant other to shop for, which I don’t despite what everyone + their mother seems to think (literally), I’m very intrigued by shave sets, especially ones from Harry’s. So if there’s a man in your life that you need a gift for + it wouldn’t be weird to buy him a shave set, check these out!
HOLIDAY STYLE
How many Christmas parties are in your planner this year? I have at least five holiday gatherings this season with at least two other friend groups still left to plan. But before I get to the most exciting outfits, dresses + ugly sweaters, I want to tell you about my favorite fall/winter transition piece! You may have already read about it in my Last Minute Costume Idea post back in October. But if not, you have to know how obsessed I am with this skirt. I’ve already worn it to three events this year but as my best friend + fitness blogger Tory says, “If it works, work it!” As you can tell from my costume post, I paired it with brown riding boots + a blue + red flannel. My favorite part about this skirt is you can pair it with brown or black. I don’t mix my blacks with browns darker than camel. To me they clash far too much. The other two times I’ve worn this skirt I’ve paired with all black: sweater, tights, boots. when I was younger, you never would have caught me with a lighter color on the bottom than I was wearing on top. Now, if I have a bottom statement piece, it’s my favorite kind of outfit. This outfit made it’s initial debut at a Bulls game last month + worked overtime yesterday at work + at a launch party for BeBudhaJewelry. This is not the only red skirt you’ll see me in. I’ve got this shiny little number from Forever 21 for the Jingle Bash next week when I get my Taylor Swift on for the first of two times in six months. I’d love to link it for you you but in true Forever 21 fashion, I can’t find it on their website. I promise to show you next week!
Now let’s talk ugly sweaters. A few years ago I made an ugly sweater for a party at Howl at the Moon using this kit from Macy’s. Macy’s no longer carries it, but should you find yourself in the mood to get wearably creative, you can get the same kit on Amazon. Unfortunately the sweater I made was the birth, life + death of my sewing career. I found that not everything in the kit could be glued + I wanted more stuff on mine. A former friend told me when I posted this photo on Facebook that this sweater was too cute to be ugly but it did win third place in Howl’s ugly sweater contest sooooo…
Another ugly sweater of note that I might potentially be donning this year is vintage. And by vintage I mean I stole it out of my mother’s closet. She always used to wear this bad boy on thanksgiving although we’re both very adamant about Christmas not starting before our Thanksgiving turkey comas have commenced. I borrowed it for a party in college that my friends + I ended up dressing up for so I wore it to class + work the next day + got a high five for my sweater choice from this guy I was briefly into. To this day I consider that a win.
Since it’s hard for me to find Christmas spirit, I’ve been searching for Christmas sweaters that reflect that. As my sister likes to remind me, “Life goes on.” Yes, yes it does. But I’m going on with a piece of me missing. It is what it is. That said, here are some of my favorite holiday sweaters, sweatshirts + tees this season.
I’ll let you guess which one I bought for Christmas Day + which one I’ll be wearing to my best friend’s annual Festivus party.
And now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for: Christmas Dresses! Here are a few I’ve bought + a few I’m lusting over waiting for my shopping for others to be done so I can treat myself.
So let’s talk about these dresses. I currently only own the first two dresses while the third is currently hanging out in my cart as I decide whether or not I’m going to buy it but francesca’s is currently running a sale where all dresses are $30. So I’m very conflicted.
The first dress I have hanging in my closet waiting for my work holiday party in two weeks. I imagine I’ll style with pearls a la our model friend, my black chunky heels from Target, tights + my gold Rebecca Minkoff Leo clutch. I will then be getting on a plane + heading to New Orleans so I’m going to look incredibly extra but I think it’ll be worth it. Dress two I will be pairing with tights, red shoes + a small black clutch. For what event? I’m not sure yet! Goodness knows I can find events for all of these dresses but for now I should be shopping for others.
I hope your season is merry + bright. I hope you may have gotten some ideas for people on your list + what you might be wearing for your upcoming parties! Merry Christmas. Happy Hanukkah. Happy Kwanza. Happy Winter Solstice. Happy whatever you celebrate.
xo.
