Fashion and Happy Things! » Christmas

Christmas Gift Guide For Her 2013

mana — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 09:00:27 +0000

I mentioned in my Stylish Sunday’s Post that I would be doing my Christmas Gift Guides early this year. With Black Friday fast approaching I decided that it would be more convenient for my readers if I put them up now. So the next 4 posts will be the Gift Guides.

I’m kicking off with my Gift Guide for Her:

♥ This Gift set from Kiehls is perfect. It’s their Greatest Hits set, but if you don’t think this one will work, the I recommend checking out their Gifts for Her section.

♥ I personally have this Lorac Pro Palette on my Christmas Wishlist this year. All the colors are beautiful and this palette has been getting rave reviews.

♥ Fresh’s Sugar Stars gift set is a great collection gift, but if she’s not a lip product junkie, Sephora has some other amazing options for you to check out. I’ll probably do a post closer to Christmas on some of their Gift Sets.

♥ If your at a complete loss, a candle is a good way to go. I adore the way Yankee Candle’s Celebrate Christmas Candle smells.

♥ Glitter, Kate Spade, Shoes. What more could a girl ask for? Personally I am dying to own these Keds x Kate Spade collab shoes and they are at the top of my wishlist. They’re so fun and glitzy and practical at the same time.

♥ Pajamas are always a great gift. I’m certain you’re all well aware of my love for Victoria’s Secret Pajama’s by now. They’re so cozy and they wash really well.

♥ Jewelry is a classic gift that’s pretty hard to go wrong with. Since Rose Gold is still a really hot trend, I thought this Make Me Blush Pave Idiom Pendant from Kate Spade was perfect.

♥ This Cozy Plaid Scarf from Gap would make a lovely gift, especially if you live in a cold snowy area. Bonus it feels way more luxe than it costs.

♥ Perfume, another timeless gift. But give it an update by picking somethink modern like Viktor and Rolf’s Flowerbomb rather than the much purchased Chanel N° 5. If you want to be extra fancy this Limited Edition version of the bottle, pictured above is just stunning.

♥ For the Bibliophiles like myself, books are always the perfect gift. I recommend Someday, Someday Maybe by Lauren Graham.

Anyone of these gifts would be perfect all on their own, but you can also combine them in numerous ways. For the girl that adores Kate Spade pick up the necklace and the shoes. The Pajama’s, Candle and Book are certain to make for a lovely night in. And the Scarf, Kiehls Gift Set, and Lip Balms are perfect for the girl that loves to be out in the snow. Or you can pick up the Eye Palette and Perfume for the Princessy woman in your life. The combinations are endless, and combining things to give your gifts a theme says you put in so much effort, but really it takes only a little fore thought before you head out shopping.

I’ll be back tomorrow with my Gift Guide for Him. Leave in the comments below what you want for Christmas ladies.

Gift Guide for Her by fashionandhappythings featuring christmas home decor

Gilly Hicks Wishlist

mana — Fri, 19 Jul 2013 17:58:46 +0000

Or I Just Want To Be Cozy

It’s been absolutely forever since I’ve done one of these posts. And even longer since I’ve visited the Gilly Hicks Website. Until recently I’ve just been doing all my shopping at H&M or Sephora. Since my I fell into the GAP recently, I’ve been snapped out of that behavior. I was looking at all my favorite sites and I didn’t find much, except at Gilly Hicks.

I fell in absolute love with some cozy things and decided that I just had to tell you guys about them. I’m being super careful with my money right now so hopefully they’ll have a promo code very soon.

First the Daytime Cozy Things

The first thing I’m lusting after is the GH Sport Full-Zip Jacket. I know that most people want the LuLu Lemon one, but I what I love about this one is it has a hood. My ears get cold and I don’t want to wear earmuffs to walk the dog. And while I adore my Superdry beanie, it doesn’t stay on my head that well. I also really like the Navy and Pink combo this has going on. Hot pink is my favorite color and so dark it’s almost black Navy is another color I’m in love with.

Then of course I want these Banded Boyfriend Sweatpants. I love the Boyfriend Sweatpants from V.S. Pink and I adore the GH Sweatpants I bought last year, so I know these will be amazing. Once again, I adore that Dark Navy. I see many Fall afternoons being spent curled up on the couch wearing these, reading on my Nook, or iPad.

I had to add in a Tee to go with the Sweatpants, because sometimes my brain is completely numb and all I can think is “Be Cozy.” I picked Grey for this post, but I also really like it in the Pink, Navy and Green colors.

Moving away from Daytime Cozy we have Nighttime Cozy.

I love stripes, I love button downs, I love pajama’s as previously evidenced by my Chirstmas Eve Blogmas post and pretty much all the Pajama’s my husband has ever given me. So of course I am completely in love with these Menswear Pajama Top and Bottoms. I really want these, and if I don’t manage to buy them myself before, then they will pop up on my Birthday Wishlist (It’s 2 and a half months away). These just look perfect, I want to wear them all fall long. I want them in all the colors, but mostly this stripey pattern.

Then finally we have this phone case which doesn’t fall into Day or Night Cozy, but it would be a cozy for my phone, so it fits. The phone case I have now is one from Sephora and I really don’t love it. It’s functional and says Sephora on it, that’s about it. But this one is bright green with a Koala wearing glasses and if you don’t think that’s completely adorable, well then I’m sorry, but I’m obsessed.

Yes, I know, I know, I shop at Sephora WAY to much if I have a Sephora phone case. I can’t help it.

Gilly Hicks Wish List by fashionandhappythings featuring a vneck tee

Bonus blogmas: Christmas Day

mana — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 00:52:00 +0000

I know Blogmas was meant to end on Christmas Eve, but since the posts for the past 2 days have been so short, I decided to throw in a bonus post.

I’m typing this out from my new iPad, which I’m super excited about. My husband got it for me so I could FaceTime with a close friend who unfortunately lives super far away (T and I miss you too much O!). Which I did as soon as she alerted me that she was up and about this morning. It was so good to see her, I can’t even tell you how much. Seriously this is the best Christmas present ever. Followed closely with the gift I got from O which is the complete years 1-7 Harry Potter DVDs, and my parents got me a Harry Potter tee shirt which I totally plan to wear with leggings while watching the movies. Lame I know but I adore the movies, the books, and the merchandise.

I’ll probably do a what I got for Christmas post soon, but I won’t promise it before the new year. I’m definitely going to be taking a few days off, and just hang out playing games and watching movies. Of course now that I said that, I’ll probably be back with a lengthy post soon.

Today was pretty perfect. since we did both family parties yesterday, we stayed in our christmas pjs all day (mine are of course Victoria’s Secret), had chili for dinner, and now were going to watch some Christmas specials. I hope you are all having a happy Christmas and that you spent these past few days with the people you love.

Blogmas Day 24: Happy Christmas

mana — Tue, 25 Dec 2012 05:01:00 +0000

This post is just barely making it up but it counts because it’s still christmas eve for 3 more hours in California.

I’m wearing my Christmas Eve PJ’s. and am heading off to bed! Goodnight, I hope Santa brings you wonderful things

Blogmas Day 23: It’s Christmas Eve Eve

mana — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 18:38:00 +0000

You know you’ve reached Christmas overload when you’re family is fine with you blaring Call Me Maybe just because it’s not Christmas Music.

Personally I’m very excited for Christmas. We have 2 parties to go to, with a wardrobe change in between and then a relaxed Christmas Day at home. I’m not sure when tomorrow’s post will go up, but there will be one.

I finished my wrapping last night, and I only have a couple pies to make, so I’m going to spend the day being lazy and watching Christmas movies with my family.

Blogmas Day 21: Favorite Christmas Songs

mana — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 20:53:00 +0000

For Blogmas Day 21 I’m going to post my favorite songs for Christmas Time. Not only do I have favorites but since the songs tend to get redone I have favorite versions. These aren’t in any particular order, just as I thought of them

1) I’m getting nothin’ for Christmas – Stan Freberg
2) Christmas Don’t Be Late – The Chipmunks
3) All I want for Christmas is you – Mariah Carey
4) My Only Wish This Year – Britney Spears
5) Christmas Means To Me – Hanson
6) The 12 Pains of Christmas – Bob Rivers
7) Rockin Around The Christmas Tree – Miley Cyrus
8) Santa Baby – Madonna
9) You’re a Mean One Mr. Grinch
10) Sleigh Ride – Hilary Duff

It’s 3 days til Christmas Eve and I’m all ready, all my gifts are bought, and I’m wrapping up in chunks each night, and I’m super excited! These songs definitely have me in the Holiday Spirit and I’m going to be so sad when New Years Eve Passes and the Holiday Season is officially over.

We finally got some snow last night but while we were promised snow all night, it only ended up being less than an inch which I don’t think will stick around long enough for Christmas. The last white Christmas I can remember having was 4 years ago when my son was 2.

Either way I’m super excited for Christmas and Family and Present exchanges. I think tomorrow’s post might be about wrapping

Blogmas Day 19: Hot Cocoa and Nail Polish

mana — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 20:29:00 +0000

It’s Blogmas Day 19 and I’m still sick! Which is terrible because according to Norad, Santa leaves the North Pole in 4 Days. For those of you doing the math on that one if you’ll remember the international date line and that China is a full day ahead of us then the math is correct. Anyways I’ve been spending a lot of time curled up with Cocoa, watching Christmas movies, and whining about how awful I feel.

Isn’t my cocoa so pretty? I topped it with Cool Whip and a ton of mini marshmellows. I thought it was so pretty sitting there that I had to take a picture.

I also took a picture of what I had on my nails the other day when I did my lip swatches for day 17

Normally I’m not a big fan of pastel’s for winter, but I’ve had some variation of Red and glitter or dark grey on my nails since Thanksgiving. Since I wanted to shake things up a bit I went for Mint and Glitter, and as you can see there is Red Glitter in that bottle. I know I was trying to branch out, but it is the Christmas Season. I used 2 coats of Essie’s Mint Candy Apple and then I did a crescent moon of the glitter and then used what was left on the brush to dot glitter all over the nail. I plan to do my nails this way for my family’s Christmas Party but most likely with An Affair in Red Square by OPI instead of mint.

I had hoped to get Lancome’s Flirty Red to wear for Christmas, but when I went to get it they were sold out or something because I didn’t get it. I do love an Affair in Red Square though and I bought it last year with Sephora by OPI’s Only Gold For Me when Red nails with Gold Glitter tips was the thing that everyone loved.

I haven’t done that combo yet this year and I might but I quite like doing the crescent of glitter instead of the tips. I’ll paint my nails that tonight and if I can get a good picture I’ll add into tomorrow’s post.

Tomorrow’s post may actually be on all my favorite winter polish’s since I haven’t done one yet, and I do have a lot of polishes.

Blogmas Day 13: Soup and a Ramble

mana — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 19:18:00 +0000

I’ve been really sick for the past few days with various symptoms that have made me feel generally yucky, but today it’s culminated into a full on cold. So I’ve mostly spent the day drifting in and out of sleep on my couch and reading Aunt Dimity books on my nook. Now I’m curled up in my favorite pink blanket, and about to have my favorite soup.

That soup is Campbell’s 100% Natural New England Style Beef Pot Roast. That’s an exceptionally long name for soup, but it’s my absolute favorite. Whenever it’s in stock I buy as many cans of it as I can to keep stocked up on it. I’m also pretty found of that bowl, it sort of makes me exceptionally happy. A bit silly yes, but when you’re sick it’s the little things. And yes that is sitting on a Glossybox box, I’ve had the glossybox I won for a while and haven’t gotten around to taking pictures and doing a review on it yet. I will soon, hopefully.

I promised I’d show you my tea pot and tea cups, I was going to wait until I had more tea cups, but due to Christmas I’m on a bit of a spending ban and it’ll be a while before I buy another. I really do love my little blue tea pot, it makes me super happy and I feel cozy whenever I have a pot of tea brewed.

As I mentioned before the cups are from Anthropologie and the Tea Pot is made by a company called For Life. I usually drink some mixture of Early Grey Creme, Scarlett Cloud or Citrus Lavender Sage from Teavana. The book is also from Anthropologie, I bought it around Valentines Day last year. I thought it looked really cute and it matches the theme of that shelf.

There were flurries the other night, but none of it stuck so we still don’t have any actual snow. Since it was errands night, I did get to see the “hyper drive” snow. I didn’t have any gloves with me and it was really cold so I bought these.

I was a bit inspired by Zoella’s panda mittens when I purchased these, but mostly because my nickname is ManaBear. I’m kinda in love with them because they’re super snuggly and match everything. The tip of the thumb flips back so I can still use my phone. Also I’ve been running around all day with them on making horrible “with my bear hands” jokes. My nails are not black by the way, I have on one coat of Essie’s Midnight Cami and a coat of Deborah Lippmann’s Across The Universe. Fun Fact: when I showed Across The Universe to my Husband he said I had to buy it because it had Universe in the title and it looked like space. He’s a big fan of space and universe-y things.

It’s Taylor Swift’s birthday today and they’re releasing the video for I knew you were trouble on MTV this afternoon so I’m sorta really excited about that. I hop I’m awake for it.

Well that’s about it for today, my soup should be cool enough to eat now, so I’m going to eat that and maybe have another nap.

Blogmas Day 12: Holly Jolly Holiday Tag: Mom and Dad’s answers

mana — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 14:13:00 +0000

Today’s post is the same tag I did yesterday, but it’s my parents answers. My mom was flipping through my blog book at lunch the other day and answered a few of the questions out loud, so I decided to ask them both all the questions and then post them after I did my answers. They also answered version 2 of this tag, and that will probably be posted in a few days.

I also plan on doing the sibling tag later in the month and if I can get them to answer the questions the best friend tag. Fun fact I actually filmed the best friend tag last year but it accidentally got deleted before I could upload it.

1. Favorite Christmas Movie
Mom: Scrooge the Musical
Dad: All

2. Naughty Or Nice List?
Mom: Nicely Naughty
Dad: The same

3. Show an Embarrassing Christmas Photo.
(Sorry no photo of my parents)

4.Ever had a White Christmas?
Mom:Yes
Dad: Yes

5. Where do you usually spend your holiday?
Mom: At Home
Dad: where ever my family is

6. Play or sing your favorite Christmas Song
Mom: Ballad of the Harp Weaver
Dad: Most of them

7. Do you open presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas Morning?
Mom: Some of them
Dad: Same

8. Name all of Santa’s Reindeer.
Mom & Dad: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, Rudolph

9. What Holiday Traditions are you most looking forward too?
Mom: Putting up the Tree
Dad: All of them

10. Is your tree Real or Fake?
Mom: Fake
Dad: we’re not tree killers

11. Hands Down Favorite Holiday Food or Treat?
Mom: Pumpkin pie without the crust
Dad: Most of them

12. Be honest do you prefer giving or getting
Mom: Giving
Dad: Both

13. What is your Tackiest Christmas Attire?
Mom: a Santa sweater that says “Ho Ho Ho”
Dad: None

14. Dream Place for the Holidays?
Mom: Christmas at home in the completely eco friendly house that we’ve built
Dad: Just with my family, I’ve been to Ireland and it was no different the only thing missing was my family

15. Special Holiday Recipe?
Mom: Date Nut Muffins
Dad: Lasagna

16. Are you a pro present wrapper?
Mom: As long as they’re boxed
Dad: Yes

17. Memorable Holiday Moment?
Mom & Dad: Our Daughter Falling in the Tree (See I told you is was a tradition)

18. Truth about Santa?
Mom: He’s Awesome
Dad: Ditto

19. Any New Years Eve Traditions?
Mom: Not to make any, seriously that’s it
Dad: Same

20. What makes the Holiday Special?
Mom: Family, duh!
Dad: Family

My note on this: After 26 years of marriage they’re the same damn person! Okay not really, I do know that my Dad is big on family, for years his background on his cell was a picture of us kids with the phrase “I love my family” at the top of it. Also he doesn’t like to choose favorites of anything. My parents are huge on the Eco trend and sometimes I wonder how my parents ended up with such a consumerist for their oldest daughter?

Blogmas Day 11: Holly Jolly Holiday Tag

mana — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 19:31:00 +0000

Blogmas Day 11 is going to be another Tag. My computer is still broken and I’m sick, but I did promise a post every day this week. I also had my parents answer this tag, so I’m going to put up my answers today and their answers tomorrow. Then I’ll do the same with version 2.

If everything works out I’m going to have a super cool post next week.

1. Favorite Christmas Movie
A. The original animate Grinch. Bonus favorite part is when they dance with Jing Tinglers tied to their heels

2. Naughty Or Nice List?
A. Nice, or at least I tried

3. Show an Embarrassing Christmas Photo.
A. I don’t have one. My family doesn’t really take photos like that, though there are lots of our feet.

4.Ever had a White Christmas?
A. Yes, almost all of my Christmases have been white

5. Where do you usually spend your holiday?
A. My family on Christmas Eve, my Husband’s Family on Christmas Day and home on early Christmas Morning

6. Play or sing your favorite Christmas Song
A. Sleigh Ride, preferably Hillary Duff’s version

7. Do you open presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas Morning?
A. Both

8. Name all of Santa’s Reindeer.
A. Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, Rudolph

9. What Holiday Traditions are you most looking forward too?
A. Wrapping presents because it means Christmas is soon and that I’m done shopping

10. Is your tree Real or Fake?
A. Fake, they’re less likely to burn down

11. Hands Down Favorite Holiday Food or Treat?
A. Eggnog for Treat, Chili or Lasagna for Food

12. Be honest do you prefer giving or getting
A. Both, I love getting presents but considering how much I usually buy I love to give too

13. What is your Tackiest Christmas Attire?
A. Do Christmas Socks count? I have a ton of those.

14. Dream Place for the Holidays?
A. England, a very snowy place in England

15. Special Holiday Recipe?
A. Nope, sorry I don’t have one

16. Are you a pro present wrapper?
A. Yes, I love wrapping presents

17. Memorable Holiday Moment?
A. The first Christmas my son was old enough to be excited about presents

18. Truth about Santa?
A. He gives you presents, what more truth is there?

19. Any New Years Eve Traditions?
A. No, I never keep them so I stopped doing them

20. What makes the Holiday Special?
A. The way it feels, the cold and the snow and the lights and decorations and presents and being cozy with your family