January felt extra long this year—and honestly, I think it’s because we came in hot with a packed calendar. But we did one very smart thing: we gave ourselves something to look forward to—a break… More
Our Christmas Cards 2025
Right now, everything is digital, and we send emails and texts back and forth constantly. So this time of year, I love to send paper Christmas cards. It brings me so much joy to receive Christmas cards, so I love sending them too. This year, we ordered our Christmas cards early in November, so the hardest part of the process was deciding what picture we wanted on the card. We went with Minted again and love how they turned out! After work it’s nice to sit on the couch with Jake and write Christmas cards out to our friends and family together. I started to frame a card from each Christmas to have on display, and I love looking back at our previous years. It’s one of my favorite holiday traditions that I make time for each year, and I love having these memories to look back on year after year!
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Christmas Cookies
A few years ago, I started baking large batches of cookies as a simple (and inexpensive) Christmas gift for my coworkers. What began as a gift for a few coworkers has now grown into a full 12-hour day dedicated to baking and packaging enough treats for everyone on my list. This year, I briefly considered skipping it because of how big the project has become—but cookie requests started rolling in as early as October!
On Sunday, I spent the entire day in the kitchen, putting my KitchenAid mixer to work and baking batch after batch of cookies. Every minute was worth it when I got to school and handed out the bags of homemade treats. It takes some preparation, but it’s such an easy and joyful way to spread holiday cheer. There is still time to do some baking for friends, coworkers, or family! Do a variety of cookies or keep it simple with the classic chocolate chip! No matter what you choose, it’s gonna be a hit!
happy baking!
Cookies and Sweets
- Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Peanut Butter Cookies with Hershey Kisses
- Sugar Cookies with sprinkles
- Snickerdoodle Cookies
- Pretzels dipped in chocolate with sprinkles
- Grinch themed Hershey Kisses
December Traditions
I love kicking off every December with a to-do list. It might seem like an odd way to welcome the holiday season, but with so much packed into one month, a little planning goes a long way. Organizing my schedule helps ensure there’s actually time to slow down—time to sit by the decorated tree and watch Christmas movies. A few years ago, I realized that when I’m intentional about how I spend my days, I can create all the Christmas magic and enjoy the season without feeling overwhelmed. Everyone’s December looks different, and that’s perfectly okay!
Decorate your home, one space at a time. Don’t put pressure on yourself to do the whole thing overnight! I like to pick a space to decorate after work and just do a little bit at a time.
Wear those Christmas pajamas. There is just something cozy about wearing my Christmas red and plaid in December.
Christmas movies. We try to watch one a night, even if it’s on the TV in the background.
Christmas cards. We order a batch from minted.com to send to our families, but I also hand out cute Christmas cards to coworkers and friends!
Christmas Village. Every year, Philly shows off during December with the Christmas Village and the tree in Rittenhouse Park. After work, we will walk around the city, and it feels like a Hallmark movie.
Bake cookies. Each year, I bake a ton of cookies and give them to coworkers. I start to get cookie requests in November, and it’s something we all look forward to!
Volunteer. This year, we donated food to a neighborhood food pantry, and it’s an easy way to give back. We volunteer at a toy drive every year, and it’s so rewarding.
Christmas sheets. It’s something new I have been doing lately, and it totally gets me into the Christmas mood!
Tree in the bedroom. Last year, I put a tree in our bedroom with just lights on and now I love crawling into bed with the tree on at night.
Holiday Gift Guides
It’s time!!!!!!!! Let’s get our gift shopping done early this year so we can enjoy the holiday season without the last minute running around. Here are some of my favorite gift ideas for everyone on your list. Be sure to come back, as I will be updating this post throughout the holidays with more gift ideas!
espresso martini candle // martini t-shirt // martini cardigan // martini sweatshirt // cocktail kit // martini candle // customized cocktail napkins // cocktail sweatshirt //
Perfect gift for the friends who join you for happy hours or that coworker who you have trauma bonded with all year. Have a holiday party to go to and need a hostess gift? The martini candles are perfect! Pair one of these with a good bottle and you’re good to go!
iced coffee maker // le creuset mugs // candle // popcorn bucket // knife set // towel warmer
As I get older, I love to receive gifts for our home that we can both enjoy. The iced coffee maker is a great, inexpensive gift that we use all the time. Everyone in my family gets a tree-scented candle for Christmas, and it’s always a big hit! Make a theme gift with a popcorn bucket, some popcorn, and candy to use all together. Being an adult means you get excited about a new knife set and this one works great and looks chic on our counter. The towel warmer was a wedding present, and now I don’t know how I went without one!
city mugs // ugg boots // perfume // candle // mascara // juice glass // ll bean tote bag
Finding the perfect gift for her is hard because I want one of everything too! Here are some of my go-to gifts that will be great for her and perfect for your wish list too!
slippers // light up football // theragun mini massage // solo stove fire pit // pizza oven // sports themed cup
Shopping for him means a mix of things he needs and things he wants. As soon as those temperatures hit below 60 degrees, my husband went digging in his closet to dig up the slippers I got him a few years ago and they are a hit every time I swap them out for a new pair. For the guy who loves to call himself an athlete, he will love this light-up football with his friends. I’m constantly stealing my husband’s Theragun massage gun because it is that good. If your guy spends a lot of time outside especially during the winter months, the solo stove fire pit is a must have! It’s easy to start and doesn’t take up that much room in the backyard. If your guy has a passion for cooking, treat him to a kitchen gadget like a pizza oven. The easy peasy gift for those sport fans is a sports team Yeti. Fill it up with a matching team t shirt or a pair of socks and it’s a guaranteed hit!
Sweater Weather Blues
There’s something so effortlessly calm about this time of year — when the air turns crisp, the leaves start falling, and your morning coffee suddenly has to be in a pumpkin theme mug. Today’s outfit is inspired by that perfect fall moment when you’re ready for cozy layers but still want a touch of softness and color in your wardrobe.
I’ve been absolutely loving this dreamy powder blue sweater lately — it’s such a refreshing twist on the typical fall palette. It seems weird to have color in your closet this far into fall, but I love to have a light blue sweater on those days I need a break from the dark clothes. Instead of the usual rusts and maroons, this soft hue feels like a breath of fresh air against all the autumnal tones around us. It pairs beautifully with this plaid mini skirt, which brings in subtle blues and browns for the coziest textural contrast.
Finally, every closet needs a good pair of knee-high leather boots! It’s an easy way to dress up an outfit and make any outfit look chic. I’d throw on some tights for extra warmth and maybe a long coat for those chillier mornings.
I’ve been wanting to buy a new bag, and this chocolate brown shoulder bag ties everything together — functional, chic, and perfect for grabbing coffee or at night. The chocolate brown color makes it different than the other go-to black bags I rotate through the fall and winter months, making it really stand out.
Whether you’re heading to brunch, strolling through a pumpkin patch, or just enjoying your daily latte run, this outfit is a sweet reminder that fall fashion doesn’t always have to mean dark colors. Sometimes, the softest hues make the biggest statement. I also love that I can take this outfit from the weekend and also wear it to work!
Let me know your thoughts, and if you also love to wear pops of color during the colder months!
Travel Series: Paros
We took the ferry from Naxos to Paros, and by now I was a professional ferry user! Since it was a long day, we decided to have dinner at the hotel and stay on the property. The next morning, we woke up early and had coffee on the balcony before heading down for breakfast. Our plan for this island was to relax! We were in walking distance of the beach so we headed that way after breakfast.
outfit details // striped shirt(madewell) // swim (victoria’s secret)
Last minute, I threw this orange striped tote bag into my suitcase before we left “just in case”. It was so convenient to have, especially on our beach days!
I was so happy to enjoy some drinks and snacks while laying on a beach lounger! Our trip had a lot of fun days with excursions but the days we just laid on a beach in the sun were some of my favorites.
After a few hours at the beach, we headed back to the hotel to enjoy the pool and another round of drinks. The goal for the day, and we definitely did!
Paros is a BIG island and to get around, you need a car or an ATV. The touristy area is not near the Port where we stayed and you need to get a car to get there. Since we were here for just one day, we decided to stay on our side of the island and not worth spending the $$$ to get to the other side. The Port side does have some cute shops and areas too but it’s a lot more lowkey. Be sure to plan ahead and rent a car or ATV if you want to see the whole island.
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