Naughty or Nice: Gift Giving Guide

It is finally Christmas break and exactly a week from Christmas and I am so excited! Christmas and Halloween are my favorite holidays and I can’t be more excited this year. I have rounded up some of my favorite things to gift people and also to share with y’all of some easy last minute gifts. I love that this is the season all about giving and I feel that everyone is always happier this time of year. I can easily plop myself in front of the tv and watch a Hallmark movie is this oh so comfy flannel I featured. I hope the people I gift enjoy it just as much as I do! Here are some of my top picks this season! Enjoy!

Love this pom key chain! I got mine at Lillian Grace Boutique in Mt. Pleasant. It goes with every purse I own and dresses up my purses with a classy touch.

I featured this mug in a previous post. It is so classy and cute. I use it all the time for hot chocolate or a cold glass of milk. This came from Anthropologie. 

Perfect gifts for a friend or a stocking stuffer. I got my polaroid last year and have use it so much for an artsy touch to my pictures. My mom bought this candle from Bath and Body earlier this season and it is one of my favorites now, it makes the house smell like Christmas.

The perfect hostess gift. I recently purchased this cute little wine bags on sale at Khols. They are the perfect hostess gift for any Christmas party, I plan to use mine all year as they are not just limited to Christmas. (Wine is always a good idea!)

I had featured these earrings in a post before, but I feel that they make the perfect little gift this holiday season. I got them at Target for a steal, when they are usually $45. I love this necklace that I got at Altered State in Jordan Creek. I love being from Iowa and this is a cute way to show it off.

This cute DIY decoration is the perfect touch to my room this holiday season. The gold and white pine cones are the perfect accent and smell amazing. This basket I found in my basement and repurposed it for a Christmas accent in my bedroom.

Hope you all have a safe and wonderful holiday! & MERRY CHRISTMAS!

xoxo ariel

Getting Cozy After Finals.

T-minus one paper left to write until I am officially done with this semester and I could not be more excited! Not because I haven’t absolutely loved this semester at Iowa, it could be one of the best in the books so far, but because with finals and papers all due at the end it can be one of the most stressful times of the year. Add on Christmas shopping and trying to figure out what I should get my dad… I still have NO idea so if anyone has any suggestions let me know, I am one tired girl. If I could focus long enough to get this paper written my life would be a lot easier, but that just hasn’t happened yet.

One of my favorite things about this time of the year is just simply curling up on the couch with a cup of hot cocoa and watching it snow. It’s actually been snowing a lot here, which is absolutely beautiful to watch as long as you don’t have to go anywhere. This is one of my favorite cozy glam looks and I hope you guys like it too! I’ve linked everything  below, but stay tuned for my gift guide coming this week! Enjoy!

One of the best purchases I have ever made, and that’s saying a lot. This sweater is the comfiest sweater I own and have literally worn it non stop since I got it. You can dress it up with a skirt or more casual with leggings. It is super cozy and warm for my cozy glam look. I got it on sale at Madewell during black Friday. Madewell is such a great store that has amazing quality.

American Eagle has really stepped up their game this year in the jogging department. I got these this fall. They are soooo comfy and soft, they feel like I am wearing leggings when I wear them. They are more of a green color than this picture shows, and add subtle color to any outfit.

I have wanted a pair of tassel earrings since my favorite blogger Courtney Shields debuted a pair recently. Hers come from Nordstrom and are approximately $45 and are super cute, begin the broke college girl that I am I got this pair at Target for only $8 and they are super similar. Love them with my hair up or down.

This marble case came from Amazon. I got a new one for my laptop this fall since my other one had it’s day. I always need to protect my baby!

This mug will be featured on my gift guide later in the week, so stay tuned! (How cute is this though!)

New lip color that I am obsessed with this holiday season. Adds just the holiday touch to any outfit. I really like this cause it is a two in one where you don’t need a lip liner, perfect for on the go holiday parties! This shade is Cassis.

Hope everyone has safe travels home for the holidays!

xoxo ariel

ps. you will survive finals!

Can’t Get Enough of Green.

Hey y’all, I know it’s been awhile, but with the semester wrapping up and the holidays around the corner it has been especially hectic. I have a post planned soon for some of my favorite ways to relax, unwind, and deal with all that stress, so stay tuned! As for today I am sharing with you one of my favorite casual outfits. This is perfect for a day of shopping or eating out. Denim jackets are one of my favorite necessities lately. I recently stole another from my dad (which I will be featuring in another post!) that I found in a closet, he must have had style back in the day! These jeggings are also one of my favorite purchases this fall and are super unique as they button up the front to add just a touch of edge to the outfit. With winter slowly approaching I would love to switch up this outfit with a pair or Sorel Boots and a cozy sweater and a pom hat. So excited to start dressing for winter! As I write this I am taking a study break by watching one of my favorite kid movies, Zootopia.. haha its a guilty pleasure. Let me know some of your favorite movies in the comments, I’m a big movie junkie!

One of my favorite denim jackets I bought at American Eagle a few years ago. I love pairing a denim jacket with a plaid shirt and a pom hat also for a fun winter look!

These are the adorable jeggings I was raving about earlier. I bought them at one of my favorite boutiques in Mt. Pleasant, Lillian Grace Boutique. Be sure to check them out for some cute and unique pieces for your winter wardrobe. (& sorry about the lighting but these are actually hunter green like in the first picture!)

This comfy tee was bought at American Eagle just a few years back. I highly recommend their tees as they are super comfy and last. So many tees I get just fall apart after a few washes, but I have been happy with this one for the last few years.

Here are some of my favorite acessories. I won’t say much cause I don’t want to spoil my next post of “cute gift ideas” but poms for purses are such a cute way to dress up a drab purse. Also, I got this Fossil watch as a gift from Santa last year & love it. I wear it all the time.

Enjoy & let me know what you think in the comments!

xoxo ariel