Author: blonde rosie

Blonde Rosie Holiday Gift Guide 2020

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Turn on the Christmas movies , we will be going back and forth with the Hallmark Christmas movies and Freeform, and put some cookies in the oven because it’s time to enjoy the most wonderful time of the year! I wanted to put together a gift guide that is a little more realistic with what this year looks like. Jake and I have already decided to keep it small this year and just buy things for each other that we know will bring each other joy. 2020 has taught me a lot and shifted my focus on what I really need. Turns out I have used that throw blanket from Target way more than that expensive handbag. I want my gift giving to reflect that and give presents that will bring joy and people can use right away. Also these gifts are easy to add to cart and ship directly to your friends and family.

FOR HER
Gifts for a friend, coworker, significant other or yourself.

Cute Office Supplies // For the friend who is working from home and needs some fun supplies!

Wireless Phone Charger // I’m constantly stealing Jake’s, It’s a game changer and guaranteed gift favorite.

Ornament // If you can’t be there in person, send them an ornament to put on their tree. I still have all of mine from college that friends and roommates gave me.

Candle // Anything that smells like a Christmas candle will be a perfect gift!

Slippers // It’s the only footwear we’ve been wearing these days.

Mug // Find something that matches their personality or a cute holiday mug would be cute!

A Little Bit of Sparkle // For that someone special! This piece is on my wish list 😉

Starbucks Tumbler with Gift Card // It’s rare we buy coffee these days so this would be a cute gift for a friend or coworker.

Happy Hand Lettering // Perfect gift for anyone who was into crafts in the early days of quarantine. I got this book a few months ago and had so much fun learning how to make pretty calligraphy.

Pop Culture Book // I’ve been binge watching a lot of reality tv shows and it’s allowed me to connect with friends on social media.

Disney Themed Bag // For the Disney fan in your life! I have a few of these and I can’t wait to go back to Disney!

Make It Minnie // I stumbled upon this company on Instagram and love their Disney inspired pieces!

Throw Blanket // You can never have too many! I found this brand at Homegoods and it is the softest blanket I have!

Scunci Set // Umm yes please!

Beekman 1802 x Rose Apothecary Collaboration // I am so excited about this Schitt’s Creek collaboration with an amazing skincare company. If you ever wanted those famous products from Rose Apothecary, now it’s possible with Beekman 1802!

Friends Calendar // Great for the friend that loves Friends!

Friends Peephole Frame // Every Friends fan needs this for their door!

NYX Butter Gloss Kit // Would be a great to gift as a set or to break it up and give these amazing glosses to a few friends.

FOR HIM
Significant other, brother or friend.

Wireless Charger // Did you know that these come in cool themes!?

Fitbit Versa // Got this for Jake last Christmas and he loves it! Very similar to the Apple Watch with a much lower price.

Dopp Kit // For the guy that still uses a ziplock bag when he travels. They are usually on sale for the holidays making them a great time to buy.

Slippers // I remember when Jake said he didn’t need new slippers and now he lives in the J Crew ones I bought him two years ago.

Swell Water Bottle // When we were driving back from North Carolina in September I filled up my Swell in the morning and it was still ice cold hours later! Jake was in shock and immediately asked for one for Christmas.

Tumbler // We are committed to drink more water during the day in this house so I want to get Jake a Yeti or a good dupe. Will also be great when we start going into an office again!

Gingerbread Man Mug // I want to get him a cute holiday mug for hot chocolate. My plan is to pair the mug with marshmallows and hot chocolate mixes.

Record Player // Perfect gift while we staying at home to have music playing in the background.

Alexa // We love ours so much we have one in every room!

Cozy Throw Blanket // Because someone keeps stealing mine! I bought one from this brand this summer and it’s amazing!

FOR US
Some items you can both enjoy!

Crockpot // It’s the gift that keeps on giving.

Uber Eats Gift Card // We like to order in once a week and it would be nice gift to pay for an order (or more) in advance.

Dyson Cordless Vacuum // Jake doesn’t believe in gifting home appliances but honestly its all I want! It would be a great gift to split for the home while taking advantage of holiday sales.

New Bedding // We already decided that Jake will buy us new bedding for our bedroom since we are still using a duvet cover from my old bed that doesn’t fit our bed. I ordered us some Christmas bedding because once again, my old Christmas bedding is too small for our new bed.

Mr. Coffee Iced Coffee Maker // It’s a gift for him but honestly a gift for me ha!

Ring Doorbell // This may be on its way to our home already 😉

FOR MOM

Face Roller // I plan on giving my mom a few self care items that are easy to ship and she will love to use!

Something Sparkly // Our moms do so much and deserve to be spoiled!

Soma Pajamas // They are so comfortable and come in great patterns! These have my moms favorite and I love to send her a cute set on holidays.

Cozy Blanket // Can’t go wrong with a soft and cozy blanket!

Anthropologie Board Game Set // A practical gift that can be used while we stay home safe and looks really pretty too!

Conair Dr. Knot // I don’t do my hair often but when I do, this is the only hair tool I have used in months!

Billie Gift Set // How cool is this? A one time shipment of a Billie razor and other great products.

FOR DAD

Keurig // After living with my parents for the summer, I could tell that it was time for their Keurig to be replaced! It’s something they will never do for themselves so I plan on sending them a new one.

Air Fryer // It’s the one gadget they probably don’t have! My mom asked me not to get it for my dad because they have no room so maybe next year 😉

Lounge Pants // All my dad asked for this year was comfortable lounge pants because no one wants to wear jeans these days.

Trader Joe’s Spices // During the holidays Trader Joe’s comes out with new spices and I buy one of everything to give to my dad. He’s still talking about a spice I gave him last Christmas that he ran out of.

FOR FAMILY
Parents, Jake’s Family, Cousins, etc.

Personalized Yankee Candle // Perfect gift to send family if you are not able to see them this year.

Trader Joe’s Favorites // This was a hit when we both gave our parents a reusable Trader Joe’s bag full of our families favorite Trader Joe’s finds. Since our families don’t live near one, we were able to spoil them with a whole bag of goodies.

Tile // Not naming names, but great gift for the family member who misplaces things…

Matching Pajamas // A great way for the whole family to feel connected no matter if you spend the holidays together or not.

Slippers // Easy gift that will be a hit during the holidays and for months after.

Bar Cart Set // Get a few pieces to create the perfect bar cart and a nice bottle of wine.

Easy Thanksgiving Outfit for 2020

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OUTFIT DETAILS
Dress // Doormat

How are we so close to Thanksgiving? I feel like this holiday season is going to just fly by! This year Jake and I will be celebrating the holiday at home with just the two of us… and Ed begging for pieces of turkey. It’s definitely going to be a different holiday this year but that doesn’t mean we can’t make it special just the 2 (3) of us! I recently did a Target online order for some essentials and somehow this really cute dress ended up in my cart 😉 We can’t control a lot in 2020 but I am going to look cute in a new dress!

The greatest part of this dress is how loose fitting it is so I can eat lots of stuffing and no waistband to stop me! Oh, and did I mention, it has pockets! The sleeves are so fun and helps dress it up a bit. This dress is a great way to be casual and cute for Thanksgiving no matter what your plans are this year!

Hopefully this look gives you some inspiration for your Thanksgiving day outfit. This year is different for everyone and I hope you are able to make it special in your own way. ♥

New Bedding for the Holidays

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BEDROOM DETAILS
comforter set // wreath // mini trees // pajama set

I’ve been wanting to get new holiday bedding for a while now. I have a few sets of holiday themed sheets and duvet covers but they fit my old bed which is in our guest room and our master bedroom has a bigger bed. It’s been on my to do list since last Christmas when I tried to get my old sheets onto our new bed with no luck. I wanted something nice and neutral that we could use for many years so I waited until I found a set that I loved and was budget friendly.

I blame the section of the page when you are online shopping that says “Items You May Also Be Interested In” because that’s where I found this amazing comforter set. I was planning to only get garland and had to add the comforter in too because the price was so good. I loved the traditional Christmas pattern on one side and the super soft sherpa on the other. We have been using it for a week now and we are loving it! It’s light enough so it’s not too hot with the sherpa but still warm. I think Ed the cat is the only one who loves it more than me, because he has been laying in bed all day and we can’t pull him away from it!

Even though we will only use this bedding for a few months out of the year, I wanted to get something that was nice and we could really enjoy during the winter months. Not only is it really cute but it is so soft and cozy! I highly suggest you get this comforter to add some Christmas cheer to your bedroom!

Everyday Habits

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OUTFIT DETAILS
sweater // my everyday leggings

I’ve never been much of a Monday person but lately I have found myself really motivated to get stuff done on Mondays. Maybe it’s the relaxing weekends or knowing we are going into another lock down, whatever the reason is I like to be productive during the week. As someone who craves structure and doesn’t have much of that these days, I created a schedule that I like to stick to as much as I can. Over time my body has adjusted to these routines and I’m getting some of that structure back. In case you are interested, here are my everyday habits…

Wake up with alarm

Throw on bathrobe and head downstairs to make coffee and breakfast

Fill up giant water bottle which I refill all day

Take my vitamins

Head to my office where I’ll check emails and make my to do list for the day

Listen to podcasts like The New York Times The Daily while I get work done

Update my Google Calendar with reminders and tasks

Break for lunch and get dressed for the day before heading back to my desk

Daily walk at 3PM (most days) and I’ll listen to a fun news podcast like Pod Save America

Run errands in the afternoon

After my walk, I’ll catch up on tv or finish up some work

We usually make a dinner plan in the morning and take turns cooking at night

I’ll spend 20 minutes at night tidying up before I head upstairs for the night

On Sundays, I’ll talk a long bath and during the week, a long shower at night

I like to blow dry my hair, apply lotion or do a manicure if needed after my shower

When I get into bed at night, my body knows it’s time to unwind

My night time skincare products are on my nightstand so I remember to apply them

The goal is to read a chapter a night so I keep my book on my nightstand

The Calm App has changed my life and now I can’t sleep without it

Seems silly when it’s broken down but I love having this outline for my day. I have purpose in the morning and motivation to finish up my work so I can go on my walk. My daily to do list can be very long with urgent tasks and tasks to do eventually. I’ve been writing my to do list and then adding tasks and reminders so I can get alerts on my phone. It’s also an easy way to add to my grocery list or move things around. Creating a routine does not need to be precise, I prefer mine to guide me with goals and times allotted when I can get work done, get in some fitness, and when to take care of myself.

Dermalogica Hydro Masque Exfoliant Review

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I’m sitting in bed wearing comfy pajamas watching Downton Abbey while I try out a new face mask. Sundays are turning into my favorite day because I take time for myself and do some self care. I’ll light a candle, take a bath and do a face mask before going to bed early. I usually just stick to my drugstore masks, however thanks to Dermalogica who sent me over a new one to try, I’ve been trying the hydro masque exfoliant.

Right away I fell in love with the mask because someone finally created a tube that gets more product on your skin than your hands. The button on top also deposits the right amount of product you need so there is no waste. It is something I appreciated because skincare products can be a bit pricey and I hate to waste product. The hydrating and exfoliating mask smooths and renews for luminous, healthy-looking skin. The mask has bamboo and lactic acid to gently exfoliate. Snow mushroom and hyaluronic acid to help keep your skin hydrated and prevent aging. Finally, the Jojoba Seed, Sunflower and Safflower are powerful antioxidants that help the skins moisture barrier to give you hydrated, youthful skin for days.

After a while, I forgot that I was wearing a mask because I had full movement in my face unlike other masks when my face is stiff. The texture of the mask was a lightweight cream which made it easy to apply and take off with warm water. After removing the mask and for days after, my face feels smooth and hydrated.

Friday Favorites 11.12

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I hope you all had a great and productive week! After being glued to the tv for a week, I was happy to put the remote down! I’ve been going on a long walk every day to enjoy the last few days of this gorgeous weather. As I say this it is pouring outside but honestly my legs are grateful for this break! A few months ago I thuught it would be great to start working out with all of this extra time that I had. I was committed to an ab workout every day and noticed zero changes with my body. Now that I have been moving and walking, I’ve been noticing my body getting stronger and my body slimming down. These long walks have also been great for my mental health. I’ve been noticing some people decorate for Christmas which I love! In our house, we are keeping the Christmas decorations in the basement for now since we willbe celebrating Thanksgiving just the two of us at home so I want the fall decor up. Dooesn’t stop me from ordering a few things here and there though!

This weekend we plan on going to Target to pick up some Christmas items from the dollar bin. I went last week and bought a ton of large items forgetting that I had to walk a mile home! It was a necessary purchase but comical as I struggled to walk home. Speaking of long walks, we also plan on doing a Trader Joe’s run this weekend to stock up on the Christmas themed snacks. I was joking the other day that I fall for cute marketing all the time and have no self control. Jake had to remind me that it wasn’t a good thing! Since this year is very different, I want to over decorate and really enjoy this holiday season. Jake and I are excited to work from home on the couch while watching Christmas movies on Freeform and bake cookies.

Watched the new movie, Rebecca, on Netflix the other night thinking I could have it on in the background while i cleaned my bedroom but was so captivated by the story. I had no clue what it was about before I pressed play and loved everything about it – the costumes, location and story line. The movie is based on a 1938 novel so I’ve added the book to my want to read list on Goodreads.

Speaking of Netflix, I also started to watch The Queen’s Gambit and once again, I had to stop what I was doing and watch this show. I know nothing about chess and I’m able to understand the plot. Also love a strong female lead in a male dominated game. Fun fact, in middle school I signed up for the chess club because I had a crush on a boy who was in it and I got kicked out…. because I didn’t know how to play! I wonder now what would have happened if someone taught me instead of just saying I couldn’t join because I was a girl.

Last week, we watched a lot of Steve Kornacki’s coverage of the board when the election numbers were coming in. Rumor has it that there is a petition to get his tie that he wore all week into a Smithsonian!

First, we need to talk about the breaking news this week that Ulta stores will be making their way into Targets. From a business decision it’s a great idea for Target and for the consumer, this allows us to be able to shop so many more products. In the last year, I’ve been working with new brands that are affordable and are in Ulta stores. These brands are clean and vegan with a commitment to good skincare and ingredients. If it weren’t through these collaborations, I may have never heard of some brands so I’m excited that with Ulta being in Targets, these amazing products will be more accessible.

One of these brands is Botanics and I’ve been loving the Simply Calm Overnight Mask. I’ll use it a few times a week and I swear my face feels so soft when I wake up in the morning.

I also shared recently on the blog my review of Covergirl’s Clean Fresh line. I’ve been using the mascara a lot since doing my makeup these days since my eyes are all you can see!

For anyone dealing with mascne (raises hand) I suggest using this quick drying foam to prevent breakouts from Dermalogica. It was great in the summer to prevent breakouts from sweat and now I’ve been using this foam in the morning if I have errands to run in the afternoon.

Just ordered a few items by the Sassy by Savannah collection so I will share photos and a review once I get them in!

Currently, I have a few things in transit on their way to my house and I am so excited. For now, I’ll just share the items that I have picked up recently like really affordable masks from Target that are really comfortable for wearing all day.

Last week I went into Nordstrom Rack to find a present for my moms birthday and ended up buying a few things for myself instead. I’ve loved the Rachel Parcell line even before it went to Nordstrom but it was never in my budget. I was excited to see a few pieces from the line at my local Nordstrom Rack that were heavily discounted. For the first time I got to see how well the pieces were made and the quality really does make it worth every penny full price. I picked up a few dresses and a top from the Rachel Parcell line, a Free People scarf that I fell in love last year and a super soft long sleeve top for lounging that was very discounted. I did notice that the prices in store were a bit lower than the online prices but I think that is because there has been less foot traffic in the stores. Also want to mention that the Madewell cardigan I shared earlier this week on the blog was also an incredible Nordstrom rack find!

Added new candlesticks to my fireplace mantle and I love the way they look! Very affordable and look very expensive with the antique gold finish. They are so good that I sent them to my mom for her birthday. I featured them on the blog this week here.

Currently reading The American Heiress and it’s going to take me a while to read but it’s such a beautiful bok to get lost in.

  • I (we) made cinnamon rolls from scratch on Sunday and it was definitely a learning experience but worth all of the work because they were delicious! I found the recipe here.
  • After being lazy for a while when it came to making dinner, we are back in the kitchen and I’m happy to be using fresh ingredients again. This week, Jake made a lasagna and I made breaded chicken strips with roasted carrots and broccoli with rice as well as our usual go-tos. Making a list of dinners for the week has helped us eat healthier and
  • A recent Sunday ritual is an hour long bath with bath salts and bubbles. I’ll prop my laptop so I can watch an episode or movie while in the bath and it’s a great way to make myself to slow down. My skin has also never been softer!
  • The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City premiered this week and Jake’s first thought was “There’s another one?!” while I’m blasting the AC and wearing winter pajamas to get ready for another franchise.
  • We have a big tree in front of our house that from the second floor bedroom windows all you could see for weeks was the leaves changing to a gorgeous maroon color. With the wind and rain this week, most of the leaves have fallen making our front sidewalk look like a sea of leaves. It was sad to see them go but three giant trash bags later we got the sidewalk swept up. I love keeping the front of our house neat and clean which is a challenge in the city, but very rewarding.