Day 10: A Look At My Christmas Tree 2016

First off, I want to apologize for not posting a new blogmas post for 2 days! After I even stated in my blogmas day 4 post that I was really surprised to see me post 4 days straight without forgetting a day, I missed the falling days! I think that was me jinxing myself. But to make it up, I am either going tot post 2 extra blog posts at the end of the 24 days OR maybe do a CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY! What do you think? Anyways on with the post! This year I had the pleasure of decorating our new tree! Let's just say I now have a tiny fear of heights after trying to arrange ornaments at the top. I become super OCD when I was decorating the tree. I had to have each ornament fit the theme of the tree, which was red, white, silver, and gold, and if it didn't go I couldn't put it on! Also, when I was arranging them, I couldn't have a silver red striped ball-ball next to another silver ball-ball. It just can't be done! In the end I was really reluctant for help. While I was decorating my brother was preparing his train. Yes. My 18 year old brother was playing with his Christmas train. But to be far, he loves doing it every year so I could totally see it coming. Our Christmas train has our family name's on them. I just actually found out about it today while taking the photos. 

Our tree has assortments of ornaments from very special to just plain old funny! I took a picture of the ball-balls I love including a brand new one of my dog. No, he isn't my real dog but a close replica of him. Jack died this year in July and it has been super weird not having him around with us. This will be our first Christmas without him and I really wanted something to remind me of him. We found his ornament at Michaels a couple of days ago and I instantly know we needed to get him. Another special ornament is my hand paint ornament back in 2006. I think I was in kindergarten by then. When i found this I was super shocked. My hand actually grew in size! My family always jokes with me saying I haven't grown or whatever but this is a clear example of it. Haha! That was 10 years ago! Crazy thinking about it now. 

Well, I really hope you enjoyed a closer look at my Christmas tree. I was wondering if you do a theme or just put on whatever you have? Also, tweet or post a picture of your tree and tag me @itsliddy! I would love to see your tree this year. Love you!  

My Winter Night Routine

Day 8: Winter Night Routine

Today I will be sharing my night routine with you. I pretty much have the simplest routine out there so there really isn't much. Let's began!

My family and I usually eat around 6 or 7 every night. After that, I either finish my homework or clean my room. Then, I take my shower.

When I take my shower I use Suave Ocean Breeze shampoo and conditioner for my hair. I use the Clean and Clear essentials foaming facial cleanser for my face and apply it by using my hands. A cool trick I learned was before you get out of your shower run cool water for a few minutes over your face and hair. This is believed to close your pores and prevent/help stop new zits to form on your face. The cool water helps your hair by strengthening it and making it shiny! If you try it out, tell me in the comments if it worked for you!

After I get out of my shower, I immediately use my Lush melt. This is essentially a solid form of lotion that Lush made. The way you apply this is rubbing the lotion on your skin while it is still damp from your shower. The heat from your hand will help it melt all over your skin. This is a miracle in the winter because it leaves your body soft and moisturized the next day. The only downside is, it makes your body very sticky and your hair can stuck to your body whenever you use this. Personally, I hate the sticky feeling but it is totally worth it when you feel the softness of your skin the next morning. 

My next step is to put on my pajama and socks! Today I am wearing my onesie from Marshalls. This was only $24! It is so freaking soft that I could live in it. Most of the time I don't even need to pull my sheets on because this thing is warm enough! My socks I wore, I got last year when my friends and I  did secret Santa. They have little snowmen smiling in the snow. They too are super cozy and soft. Fun fact: I hate onesies with feet because I always hated the feeling of them on.

After getting my pajamas on I start on my bathroom routine. I first use my Up & Up benzoyl peroxide cream. This helps with zits and future zits. I mostly put this where my hairline is and around my nose to prevent any blemishes. Then I use my face goddess cream. I feel like I have blogged about it before but if not then what have I been doing with my life. This face cream is amazing! It moisturizes my face and is a lot less sticky when you use it. I instantly feel it sink into my skin. The next morning my face feels like it is brand new. Most of the time, after I have done my face, I dry my hair. I absolutely know I have blogged about my hair oil in my April Favorites blog post. (Click here to read it)! Sadly I am running out. I will need to pick some up when I am out. Lastly, I finish my routine off with my lips. I either use my EOS lip balm or my Softlips. Sometimes when I feel my lips are really chapped I use both. Chapstick is a ESSENTIAL to winter. You don't want your lips to be cracked during the holidays. Pretty much the only difference between my "normal" routine to this one is I just really focus on making sure my skin is healthy and soft! 

After that, I am pretty much done! I hop into bed and wait until my alarm wakes me up the next morning and the cycle begins again! Have a great night and love you all! 

St. Nicholas Came

 

Day 6: St. Nicholas Presents

Every year on December 6th, St Nicholas comes and drops off special presents to all the boys and girls around the world! He is like Santa's brother who comes early! This tradition started when Nicholas helped a poor family by throwing bags of gold in the window. December 6th is a day in which we celebrate St. Nicholas goodness and kind heart! If you want to learn more about this important figure, click on this link to go to a website. 

Here is what St. Nick brought me this year!

First up I have gloves and a heat bodysuit. I think St. Nick knew I was going to DC in a few weeks! I definitely don't want to freeze up there. He also put in a tub of creme de Pirouline. These are sticks made with pastry dough and a creme filling in the middle to give it a sweet taste. These have been one of my favorite Christmas treats. I remember eating them at my grandma's house while she wasn't looking. Sorry grands, at least now you know where they all went! Along with the sweets category, he added some Necco candy wafers. These small candies are decribed as simple, sweet, and worth savoring! This company has been in business for 169 years being able to share its great wafers with the world. Next up I have a King Leo Giant Peppermint Stick and a Harry London dark chocolate baton. Both I am super excited to try. Lastly, I have Ghitatdelli Chocolate Squares. These weren't pictured above because I forgot about them when I took this picture. But anyways, these squares are sea salt chocolate favored. I absolutely love these chocolates! In the end, I am so thankful for all of these gifts from St. Nick! 

Christmas Party Music

Day 5: Christmas Music Playlist

Music is great way to make an average party become a great one! I have pieced together my all time favorite Christmas songs on a Spotify playlist. On my playlist, I have artists like, Pentatonix, Micheal Buble, and Lady Antebellum. This is a great playlist to play at your holiday party!
If you listen to the playlist, tell me which song is your favorite and is there any songs you would add? I would obviously want to know! ;) Love you!

Click Here to go to the playlist!!

Teen Gift Guide

Hooray, I have posted 4 times without missing a day! Go Liddy *self-pat on the back* Hopefully, I am able to keep it up until the 24th! It's getting to the time in which friends and family start to look for things to buy for Christmas. I believe one of the hardest people to buy for are teen girls! We are always looking for something unique and special. I have put together 17 gifts to help you out. When I was looking through the stuff I wanted to make sure it was different and not an everyday type of gift. Personally, I would love any of these gifts this year and hopefully, they do too! 

Day 4: Teen Gift Guide

1. Advent Calendar- Anthropologie $18 

2.  Sunflower Dad Hat- In bloom $30 

3. Typewriter pin- Ann Shen shop $12

4. Rose gold earbuds- Happy Plugs $35

5. Live What You Love- Mantra Band $25

6. Owen' Pointy Toe Ghillie Flat- Nordstrom $54

7. Reversible Scarf- Nordstrom $26

8. Bath and Body Works Christmas- B&BW $15-40 

9. Caramello liquid lipstick- Stila $24 

10. I Am Very Busy Planner- ASOS $46

11. Pug Santa Socks- ASOS $9.50 

12. Grey Puffball Keychain- Nora Janine SOLD OUT

13. Cactus Jewelry Dish- Desert Domicile DIY  

14. Glass Terrarium- DIY or Buy it  

15. Mermaid Tail Blanket- OccasionGirl $39

16. Van Folk Art Mug- Natural Life $17 

17. Santa Fun- Lush $8 

Which gift is your favorite? If you guys have any other ideas add them to the comments! Love you! 

Favorite Childhood Christmas Books

Today we are throwing it back! I will be showing you my favorite holiday children books. Enjoy! 

Day 3: Childhood Christmas Books

1. Charles M. Schutz, "I want a Dog for Christmas,Charlie Brown!

Remember when I told you about how I love Charlie Brown, well this is just one example. This book always made me smile. I enjoyed when Snoopy dressed up as Santa. Silly dog! 

2. J. Otto Seibold, "Olive, the other Reindeer! 

This book was the reference I made in my first blogmas post! This is Oliver a regular dog who thinks that she hears her name on the radio. She takes an adventure to the North Pole and ends up being a reindeer for Santa! 

3. Chris Van Allsburg, "The Magic Journey"!

This book is just a childhood classic. If you haven't seen the movie or read the book you probably need to add it to your Christmas bucket list! I remember watching the movie and singing along to all the songs. What was your favorite scene? 

4. Charles M.Schutz, "A Charlie Brown Christmas"!

This is the second book to Charlie Schutz book series. This is the book based off of the classic movie. My friends like the characters, Peg Pen, Linus and Snoopy! 

I hope you are enjoying Blogmas! I will be posting a DIY ugly sweater very soon. But tomorrow is going to be a Teen Gift Guide. Love you! 

DIY Holiday Card and Envelope

Hey guys! Blogmas Day 2 is a DIY card and envelope. This was inspired by 2 Pinterest pins here and here!
Both of these are super easy and affordable. Most of the supplies you probably already own if you like to craft. The only thing people might have on hand is the washi tape. But if you go to your local craft store they most likely have them there. I get my tape from Michael's and they always have a coupon to use.

Day 2: DIY Christmas Card and Envelope 

Fingerprint Reindeer Card

Supplies Needed:

• Paper (Ex: Card stock, printer paper, scrapbook paper)
• Thin Sharpies in the colors Red, Black, and Green 
• Brown washable markers (You can also use a brown stamp pad but a marker can do the job) 
• A finger (Any finger will do) 
• Optional: Stickers, washi tape or any other craft item 

Note: make sure the marker or the ink pad is washable. You don't want the ink to stain your finger! 

Directions:

Step 1) Fold your paper of your choice into a card form (Hot dog style)

Step 2) Take your washable marker or washable stamp pad and add ink to your finger

Step 3) Apply the ink to the card by pressing your finger from one end and roll your finger to the other side

Step 4) Repeat this as many times as you want (These will be the heads of the reindeer) 

Step 5) Use your red sharpie and add noses to the reindeer 

Step 6) Use the black sharpie and add the eyes

Step 7) Decorate your reindeer as you please. I used the green sharpie and added hats, bows, and snow 

Step 8) Optional: if you choose to use extra craft supplies like washi tape, apply it where you like now

Step 9) Now your DONE

Washi Tape Tree Envelope

Supplies Needed: 

• Blank envelopes
• Different green colored washi tape 
• Sharpies in the color yellow or black 
• Brown marker or color pencil 
• Optional: Red Washi tape

Direction:

Step 1) Take 1 of your washi tapes and start at the top of the envelope. Rip off or cut off a strip that is about 1 inch and place it at the top.
I chose to rip the tape to make it look less neat
Step 2) Repeat step 1 as many times as you want. Each tape you will make a little bigger than the last to make it look like stairs. You can refer to the picture to see what I am saying.  You want to remember to save space at the bottom to draw your stump.
Step 3) Once your done with the tree leaves take a brown marker or color pencil and draw a stump. I went with a simple style one.
Step 4) Add any other items to your tree (Ex: lights, presents, a star) 
Step 5) Optional: using your red washi tape flip the envelope over and add a strip to the back. This will be a closer for the envelop.

Crafting tip: I would also seal the card normally too, so if the washi tape comes of in the mail you don't lose anything important! 

TA-DA! You have now completed your very own DIY card and envelope. Hopefully, if you create one you are able to send it to a person! Also, if you recreate one tag me on Instagram (@itsliddy) and on Twitter (@itsliddy)! I would love to see them. You can really get creative with these. Make sure to use Pinterest to get help with inspiration!

Make sure to come back for Blogmas Day 3! Love you! 

The Holly Jolly Christmas Tag

Day 1: The Holly Jolly Christmas Tag 

1. Favorite Christmas Movie?

My favorite Christmas movie is "How the Grinch Stole Christmas"! This movie is a classic to watch. Most likely planning on watching it again this Christmas. Another great Christmas movie classic is "A Charlie Brown Christmas"! Oh man, I like LOVE this movie! Anything Charlie Brown, in general, is just amazing. Books, shows, movies. Agh! I am so excited for Christmas this year. 

2. Are you on the Naughty list or the Nice list? Hehe! Well...now I feel like (and this is the full truth) I am on the Nice list. Now you are probably like, of course, she would write this. I mean you are not wrong but... ;)

3. Show us an embarrassing Christmas photo! Here. You. Go...

4. Have you ever had a White Christmas? Yes, I have apparently. I had to verify with my mom before posting this. Living in a warmer place now, it will 99.9% never happen again. So at least it happened once in my life!

5. Do you start your Christmas shopping on Black Friday or wait until the last minute? I don't shop on Black Friday (I have seen enough of what happens during this crazy event!) but I also don't wait last minute. I like having a plan. Also, I love creating my gifts. I am a very DIY type of person.

6. If you could be in any Christmas movie what would it be? If I could be in any movie I would be in Elf! Most likely I would be one of the elves or... the WHALE!! Ohhh! I love him so much. *Mentally thinks "Bye Buddie!"*

8. Name all of Santa’s reindeer.

Okay! Ready...Set...Go! Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Dasher, Blitzen, Donner, Rudolph and don't forget Olive! (If you know this reference then you are an amazing person!) Comment if you know what I am talking about!

9. When does your family put up your Christmas tree and who decorates it? Most of the time I am the one who decorates it. My brother is the one whole puts it up with the help of my dad. The amazing news is we just got a tree after 2 years without one. It's a 9 1/2 foot tree! 

10. Is your Christmas tree real or fake? Ours is fake. The reason for is my mom and brother are allergic to them. Personally, I am totally fine with it because I really don't want to have to pick up the mess after parts fall off. We did get these ornaments that are used to make your tree mess like a real one. 

12. Peeking at gifts or be surprised? Surprised. This is mostly because my mom can hide presents really well and when I feel curious and start to look I can never find anything. Thanks, mom! ;) 

13. Show us your ugly Christmas sweater if you have one. Sadly, I don't have one. My plan this year is to DIY one or buy one. Either way, I am going to be doing a blog post on how to style it. 

Update: Just got one. I will be doing a whole other blog post this month coming up! 

14. If you could be under the mistletoe with anyone who would it be? Can't answer that!! ;)

15. Does your family have a special holiday recipe you like to help make? Cheesecake! My dad makes the best cheesecake EVER! It's so good and fluffy. Yum! Every time I eat it, I am in heaven. 

16. Are you a pro-present wrapper, or do you fail miserably? I think I am in the middle. I can wrap some presents like it's no one's business but then other things I can't do. Maybe this year will be different! 

17. Have you ever gone Christmas caroling? No, but my friends and I were joking around and saying we should go out this year. We were also thinking about going Halloween caroling! But I think it's too late for that now!

18. What tops your tree?

It was an angle when we had our other tree, but I think now we use a metal star to top it off. 

19. Do you make New Years Resolutions? Do you stick to them?

Yes, I do make resolutions! Most of the time I try really hard to stick to then but most of the time it takes about 1 month to break every single one. Maybe next year will be different! 

20. You have been granted one Christmas wish…what will it be?

My one Christmas wish would be to be able to go and visit where I used to live and see all of my friends and family. Also, I would want to see snow again.

Thank you, Kat Bouska for supplying the questions I used! Click HERE to be sent to the original questions!

Love you all! Have a great holiday! Don't forget to come back for Blogmas Day 2!