Happy Christmas!

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas with lots of laughter and love. 

And I hope santa was good to you all ; )

With love,

Steph

Love Lately: Holiday Edition

As we get just a few short days away from Christmas I wanted to share with you somethings that I'm loving lately - holiday edition!

1. Holiday parties. 'Tis the season for holiday parties galore! It seems like every weekend in the month of December we have different parties to attend and people to celebrate with. So much good food, cold drinks, gag gifts and silly festive wear!

 2. Festive drinks. Whether its a glass of wine or a mug of hot chocolate with extra marshmallows, enjoying festive beverages while sitting in front of a lit Christmas tree might just be one of my favorite things in the world to do. I seriously can't get enough of my Christmas tree! And this adorable hand painted santa wine glass : )

Can you guess who's mug is who's?

Hint: I may have went a little heavy on the marshmallows : )

 3. All things Christmas scented. I may have gone a little crazy at Bath and Body Works and snagged up these awesome 3-wick candles on sale (usually $20 a pop, but got them for 2 for $22). Because there is nothing better than a warmly scented house this time of year. My absolute favorite scents? Fresh Balsam hands down (it enhances the real tree scent we have) and also Cinnamon Frosting because it smells like I'm at a Cinnabon store haha.

4. Ugly sweater parties. They are always a good time to just be silly and tacky with your friends. And of course, my lack of planning and Target's lack of item I needed to create the ugly sweater "costume" I wanted left me and D high and dry without something to wear. With the party only hours away, I was desperate. So don;t have an ugly sweater for a party? Improvise and stick yourself in an XL gift bag. #ghettofab #lastminute yup, this was our outfit folks!

Well that's my holiday edition of my love lately list. Today is Christmas eve eve so the big day is quickly approaching! Hope everyone is enjoying the season and getting in all their last minute shopping!

xo Steph

A Day at the Christmas Tree Farm

Amidst the holiday hustle and bustle I realized I never shared my pictures from when I went to get my family's Christmas trees the day after Thanksgiving. We bundled up with hot beverages in tow and headed to this adorably charming tree farm to pick out a winner. It then dawned on me that I'd like to open my own Christmas tree farm. I'm seriously in the wrong business -- these people make a FORTUNE selling trees. Holy moly at $70 bucks a pop, these tree farms are probably set for the year based off of one seasons earnings! 

 The boys getting down and dirty to cut the tree while my mom and I take pictures and cheer them on!

 me and my twin : )

I also found Tiki's cousin -- this wire haired dachshund. I wish we brought her to the farm with us but I know she would have been misbehaving and barking at young children so we decided to keep her home, all snuggled up and burrowed in her blankets.

the family Christmas card? I love how D is holding the giant tree measuring stick as a festive prop.

the boys hauling our two tree back to the truck.

nothing like Christmas trees and kisses in the pick up truck.

probably one of my favorite pictures.

After getting our trees, we stopped at a bakery for well, baked goods and some hot chocolate. and this was no ordinary bakery, but the bakery where I worked my very first job at the tender age of 13. Of course the owners didn't recognize me at all (which was probably for the best - I was a rather immature 13!) but it was a fun stroll down memory lane nonetheless. 

 haha this bear. 

and on that note we headed up, put up BOTH trees (remember in this family we rock the Christmas mullet -- more on that here) and sat by the fire. I was in heaven!

xo Steph

'Tis the Season for Ugly Sweater Parties

For today's #tbt, I thought it would be fun to revisit the ugly sweater. This was a sweater I actually got last year from Target (on the clearance rack no less) for an ugly sweater party (pics of that party seen here) and in reality I got more compliments on it than I did laughs (which is the whole point of the ugly sweater party.) So that's when I realized this sweater wasn't really ugly at all, and if anything, it as totally on point with the aztec print trend. I have my annual ugly sweater party coming up in two weeks, so this year I need to make sure I bring my A game!

| Details |

Sweater: Target (clearance rack baby!) // Vest: Gap // Jeans: Target

Rain boots: Hunter // Gold Watch: Fossil // Spike bracelet: Asos

So what do you think -- ugly or not-so-ugly sweater?
Do any of you partake in ugly sweater parties?

 xo Steph

How City People Get Their Tree...

When you live in an urban area like me, going to that picturesque tree farm to get your tree looks a little different. Instead, we go to a tree lot with pre-cut trees. And us urban dwellers either drag our tree home on foot (which I've done before) or cram it in the back of your trunk! We did the latter this year since this tree was the biggest one we've had so far. About 5 feet tall when looking at it in comparison to me.

Our 2013 Xmas tree. 

The tree lot in Hoboken is actually at this really cool and really old church, which I'm pretty sure isn't even used as a church anymore. But its beautiful nonetheless. Inside we could pick out decorations, ornaments, tree stands, you get the gist. And of course it was those old stained glass windows that give the whole experience that vintage feel.

There she is.

"A little full, a lotta sap..."

look at D hard at work.

Homeword bound we go!

She's up and ready for the holiday season! And of course, you know from this post that I am so agreeable with D that we did not only the colored lights, but the small and large vintage bulbs. Even though I prefer white, this tree is nothing short of fun and festive.

There's nothing better than sitting back and admiring your tree, while drinking hot chocolate in your Snoopy Christmas mug. 'Tis the season!

xo Steph

The Great Debate: White or Colored Lights?

So this is the ultimate debate: Do you put white lights or rainbow lights on your Christmas tree? This article made me realize I was not alone. This particular debate has been going on in my family for YEARS! Its was always my mom and I who wanted the classic white lights, and my dad and brother who wanted the colored lights. I personally like the classic and put together looking tree, while others like a tacky more fun tree complete with homemade macaroni ornaments from kindergarten. Don't get me wrong, I love sentimental ornaments, but I always have to look at this tree all month so I prefer a more "put together look." As I was saying, this never ending debate has been going on for years with no avail, so as a result, my family started getting two trees. Yup, two. In the living room (aka the room that no one really uses and is in front of the big bay windows, my mom and I have our way with the white lights. This is the tree everyone sees from the street. In the family room with the fireplace, TV and the room we pretty much do everything in, we have the tree with the colored lights. We basically have a Christmas tree mullet situation going on here - business in the front and party in the back!!

As for the tree D and I have in our apartment, since we don't have a huge house and I am just so agreeable, we do the colored lights (and the large vintage bulbs) and are going with the whole "quirky and fun tree vibe." I mean heck, you might as well throw some tinsel on that thing and a few popcorn strings and call it a day. Because anything goes with that tree! Very no muss, no fuss. But I told D that once we have a house of our own with space, the two Christmas tree tradition will be implemented in full effect!! Christmas tree mullets will live on for our kids to enjoy, and to take sides in the ever long debate!

And I still haven't had a chance to post pics of our actual tree but I PROMISE they will be up tomorrow : )

So which side of the debate are you on? White lights or colored lights?

Or do you do something completely different? Blue lights? White Christmas tree? Neon pink everything?

Please share with me your traditions!!

xo Steph

also linking up with Still Being Molly

My Christmas Bucket List

If you've been reading my blog from the beginning you'll know that I love bucket lists. They are fun to put together and even more fun to start checking things off! With Christmas, there's just so much fun holiday stuff to do that gets crammed into the little month of December that it can be overwhelming to try and fit everything in. In an ideal world, I would have all 25 days leading up to Christmas to indulge in some kind of festive merriment but unfortunately I have a job that takes up a majority of my time. Boo. But creating a Christmas bucket list is the perfect way to keep you on track and serves as a reminder to try and accomplish all your holiday fun. Check out what's on my list below:

My Christmas Bucket List

*Kiss in front of the Rockefeller Christmas tree in NYC (it's a tradition)
*Go to D's Families White Elephant gift party and exchange gag gifts

*Get a tree and decorate it

*Sit on Santa's lap

*Decorate a gingerbread house
*Drink festive drinks (peppermint mocha anyone?)

*Bake Christmas cookies

*Roast chestnuts or s'mores

*Volunteer

*See the light show at Shady Brook Farms. (another tradition)

*Kiss under the mistletoe (one of my favorite traditions)

*Bundle up & take a walk to look at all the Christmas lights

(and bringing the camera of course!)

*Watch a Charlie Brown Christmas (among other holiday classics)

*Get cozy by the fireplace

* Ugly Sweater party

Stay tuned in as I post about the things I completed this holiday season -- are you ready for all the festivities and merriment to come?!

What's on your holiday bucket list?
Anything fun and festive that you do that I can add to my list?

 xo Steph

Getting Your Christmas Tree Outfit

Hope everyone had a restful and wonderful Thanksgiving break.  And now we can officially look forward to the Christmas season with full force and decorate your houses to the nines (you have my approval now that Thanksgiving is over!) so what better way to kick things off by going to get your tree. Whether you buy yours from a lot or brave the forrest to cut down your own just like the Griswold family, you need to look the part. Here I put together a classic "cutting down the Christmas Tree" look to get you in the holiday spirit. I went this weekend with my parents to get their trees (yes, trees. We get two every year) and I'll be sharing those pics on the blog later this week. And I'm hoping D and I can maybe get our tree today or at least later this week so I can start decorating full force and finally have a place to put all those wrapped presents : )

| Details |

Reindeer cotton shirt // Plaid button down // Camp socks // Sperry Top-Sider weather proof boots // Red infinity scarf // Slouchy hat

Hope you all have a Merry Monday and start getting into the holiday spirit like I have : )

xo Steph

Also linking up with Still Being Molly

{Merry Christmas}

Merry Christmas from my little blog to you and yours!

May your Christmas be merry and bright xo

-Steph

It's Christmas Eve EVE!

It doesn't get any more Christmassy than these goodies! Here's some fun gift ideas for any festive/Christmas loving person in your life! And seriously, how great do those slippers look?

 philosophy  Christmas shirt / Slip on shoes, $24 / Tech accessory / Lip gloss / philosophy / SteamCream beauty product

Hope you all have a lovely day!

-Steph

What I'd love in my stocking!

Whoever invented the idea of stockings and stocking stuffers is a genius. They are seriously one of my favorite things to open Christmas morning because they are full of small and unsuspecting little goodies. Stuff you would never think of asking for -- but when you get it as a gift it feels like a total score. So I thought I'd share with you some of my stocking stuffer choices.

GAP socks / Brown hat / J.Crew j crew / Fringe scarve / Black umbrella / Madewell / J.Crew buckle belt / Chanel

What do you want to see in your stocking this year?

-Steph

Holiday Details & Ugly Sweaters

As I mentioned before in a previous post here, D and I moved back to Hoboken into this awesome apartment that has so much space and character -- so I couldn't wait to decorate, especially for Christmas. I have to admit though, it has been a little hectic moving in only a few weeks ago, trying to get everything set up and put together -- AND trying to decorate for the holidays. But we made it work. I plan on giving you all an official apartment tour next month when things are less crazy and I can get more done (right now our "office" is more of a "I don't know what to do with this yet so I'll stick the box in here" room. So until that gets all straightened out, I'll just give you a sneak peek of some holiday details -- followed by some ugly sweater pics of a party I went to this weekend.

Enjoy : )

Mantle in the living room. I LOVE the exposed brick here {totally a selling point for me} and with the mantle, I wanted to go with earthy browns, natural pine cones, garland and knit stockings with our initials. We also had an "incident" with a Yankee candle and a certain someone's very expensive and beloved tv which we will not speak of -- which has resulted in battery powered fake candles --much safer let me tell you!!

Winter = furry soft pillows with deer on them. Obviously.

The tree.

Some of my favorite ornaments --NY Giants and a doxie ornament that looks like our little Tiki girl!

More holiday pillows -- which in my opinion could use all year round!

My Christmas chalkboard!

Some festive garland I made with scrapbook paper and baker's twine. easy peasy!

cute vintage salt and pepper shakers my mom gave me to add a little old school charm.

legit mistletoe. Although I do miss the wannabe mistletoe D and I made a few years ago seen here.

Small holiday details in the bathroom. More handmade banners and a jar full of rubber duckies. Side note about the ducks -- D and I have this weird game where we hide these little ducks around the apartment and we have to find them (sooo weird, I know) but it's become a tradition. Not sure how or why it started but it has. So over the years we've collected these little ducks and I thought it would be cute to store them in a little glass jar in the bathroom as decoration.

Even more fun - I found Christmas ducks at Target in those dollar bins so this was the perfect edition for a little holiday cheer in an unlikely spot!

My Christmas ducks representing!

This is the second fireplace/mantle in our bedroom. I added some of my handmade banners, and a collection of other Christmas goodies. Again, I would have liked to have more time and effort in putting together a more polished look -- but since we only moved in 3 weeks ago I'll give myself a break. It's amazing I even decorated for the holidays at all now that I think about it!

More flame-less candles. Best intention ever.

This past weekend D and I went to my friend's annual Ugly Sweater/regift party. Since I've been crazy busy this month, I kinda totally forgot to find or make an ugly sweater so we were scrambling at the last minute. My sweater I found on the clearance rack at Target and D's sweater is from Goodwill for a solid $2. (which by the way, is from Gap and appears to be brand new -- so score, because he likes the sweater on him, and I think I do too!)

Now this my friends, is an ugly sweater. Well actually she's wearing a sweatshirt...but you get the deal!

For the regift portion of the night, the deal is that you are supposed to bring a regift you've gotten over the years or give away something you don't want -- and in return you get someone else's regift. It's definitely really funny to see the crap people give/get and always great for a laugh. And who knows, you might get something you actually like. Like D for example, got this porcelain tree that lit up and he actually liked it. We'll let him put that in his man cave! ; )

Me? I'm keeping my gift a secret because someone in my family might be getting a re-re-re-gift and I don't want him or her to read my blog and find out.

No worries, it's cool -- this is how my family rolls. Re-gifts are a must for our family Christmases because we love to laugh.

Group picture of the whole party. And even though I might look tipsy, I swear I was just blinking! 

But apparently the "ugly Christmas sweater" is back in style -- so you can find really cute ones everywhere. Here are some of my favorites below.

Christmas sweater / Long sleeve shirt / Christmas sweater / Red snowflake sweater / ASOS christmas sweatshirt / Christmas hat

Hope you all have a lovely day : )

-Steph