Gift Guide 2022: For The Gents

Golf Shirt// Crew Socks// 40 oz Tumbler// Ooni Pizza Oven

Fleece Vest// Garment Bag// Custom Pet Cufflinks// Watch// Golf Shoe Bag

The Rich Cream// Dopp Kit //Yeti Tumbler// Travel Watch Box

Loafers//Needlepoint Belt// Solo Stove

Shop The Items:

Happy Monday and Happy Halloween! I hope you all have something fun and festive planned for today! I am making creamy chicken chili in the crockpot and we are going to have a glass of wine while handing out candy! 

Moving on to our gift guides today! There are two guides so scroll down further to see the second one! These are all things that the guys in my life love or want- mostly influenced by my dad and husband here! 

Golf Shirt// Peter Millar has been my husband's favorite golf shirt brand as of late. He also loves RhoBack. He basically only wears golf shirts in the summer months as his weekend/evening casual outfits. 

Crew Socks// These are my husband's go to socks, I also love this brand so much and basically are the only socks I buy! 

40 oz Tumbler// I got my husband this tumbler last year for Christmas and he loves it! He uses it every single day. He's a Yeti guy and he still says he would choose this over a Yeti for water!

Ooni Pizza Oven// This is my husband's pride and joy and if you like pizza, this is also a gift that you will certainly benefit from. It's a pizza oven that is portable. We have the propane version but you can also get a wood chip version. My husband has watched SO many YouTube videos and read so many blogs about making the best neopolitan style pizzas and he has officially nailed it with the pizzas. He has started on trying different styles of pizza now that he has perfected the neopolitan. I think they are better than any pizza we ate in Italy- and those were incredible. I will say, it took him a lot of trial and error and a lot of research to get to this point, so keep that in mind! I keep telling him I need him to do a guest post sharing all of his tips and tricks and all of the accessories and ingredients he has purchased to make sure he can make the best pizza. He makes every part of the pizza from scratch and only buys the highest quality ingredients. 

Fleece Vest// These are my husband's favorite fleece vests. He has a few brands, all very similar in style to this one but he loves the LL Bean brand ones the best. They are a staple in his winter wardrobe. I know my dad loves these vests, too!

Garment Bag// This was on my husband's wish list last year and again this year. It's one of those things you just don't really think about until you need one. He usually borrow's mine (which is Barrington) and so I need to keep this in mind when I need a good gift idea for him in the future! 

Custom Pet Cufflinks// I got these for my husband for Christmas this year and OH MY GOSH. They are so good. You can see them in action, here. They are handmade. It's unbelievable how much they look like Henry. I don't know how I am going to be able to keep these from him until Christmas, ha!! He loves anything to do with Henry so I am sure he will absolutely love these! My husband doesn't wear french cuff shirts much but I think a quirky tux item is the BEST thing to have and this is so it. I purchased them on October 10th and received them on October 27th so if you are planning on ordering these, give yourself about a 3 week buffer period. Meaning, to receive by Christmas, I would not order these any later than the week of November 29th. You ca see at the top of the Etsy shop they update the shipping/processing time so keep an eye on that. 

Watch// I got my husband this watch for our first anniversary. It's relatively inexpensive in the watch world- nowhere near the cost of something like a Rolex. It's a really good looking watch and great quality for the price. It has a sporty look to it- not super dressy. It's more of any everyday watch than a dress watch. He wears it all the time! My husband isn't a big watch guy, but my dad loves them. My mom bought him a Tag as a wedding gift back when they got married so that is kind of how I made my decision on brand!

Golf Shoe Bag// I love the look of this golf shoe bag- so simple and sleek. A necessity if you have a golfer in your life! 

The Rich Cream// I bought my mom this face cream for her birthday after she used mine when we were on a trip. She said she noticed an overnight difference in the tightness and overall her skin just looked better. It has a cult following but is very expensive. I was gifted my bottle from CosBar so I did not purchase it. When I tried it, I so badly wanted to hate it because of the price tag. But I loved it. It moisturizes my skin in a way I've never seen a moisturizer work. I have started using this morning and night- it makes my makeup look so glowy and dewy looking. Anyway, we were driving in the car a few weeks ago and I complimented my husband on his skin. It looked plump and moisturized and his pores looked smaller. I thought he was just doing a good job keeping up with his regular routine as he sometimes slacks off! Well, he smirks and says 'I ran out of my moisturizer so I have been using yours'. He had NO idea about the cream or the price or anything. I started to crack up but I also asked 'wait how much are you using each time?!!!!' This is a fun gift to give- the small size is under $100 so it's good for someone who wants to try it without committing any further financial-wise or a good gift when your budget is under $100. When I run out of my bottle, I'll be purchasing a full-size bottle, for, I guess my husband and I to share (HA!), and while I will cringe as I spend a ridiculous amount of money for cream, it's really that good. 

Dopp Kit // My grammie got my husband this dopp kti one year for Christmas and whenever I ask him what I should put on my men's gift guide, he tells me this because he loves it so much! My grammie also got my brother-in-law one and he loves it, too. It hangs so you don't need to use counter space when traveling! 

Yeti Tumbler// I've been converted to Yeti tumblers by my entire family. My mom, dad, husband, etc. all love Yeti and my husband got me a monogrammed tumbler for my birthday and I love it so much! You can personalize the tumbler on the Yeti website but I notice there are more color options on other websites.  

Travel Watch Box// I think this is so handsome. A lot of our weekend travels are wedding-focused so this is a great little travel box to hold things like cufflinks, buttons, etc. for a tux or a watch. 

Loafers// My brother-in-law and husband both have these. They are a splurge but SO handsome. I have the mules but I want a pair of the loafers for myself! Such a classic and a pair of shoes you will have for a lifetime if you take good care of them. 

Needlepoint Belt// My dad has so many of these belts. They are so nice! I wish I needlepointed, if I did, I would try and make one on my own! They run true to size- a rule for men's belts is that you usually get his belt size in 2-3 sizes up from their waist pants size. For example, if the guy wears a 34 in pants, you would get a 36 in a belt. 

Solo Stove// This is currently on my dad's wish list. It's a fire stove where you don't need a pit or anything around it, you just put firewood in the center and light it and there you go, you immediately have a campfire. It's also low on smoke and firewood scent which is nice!

Hat// Travel Manicure Set// Custom Dog Rocks Glass

Quilted Pullover// Retro Uno// Golf Scorecard Holder//Infared Thermometer

Espresso Machine// Hand Cream// Chippo Game 

Slippers// Boots

Shop the Items:

Hat// My husband says this is the best hat. He has SO many baseball hats so I am thinking that's a really big deal that he is saying this is the best hat ever. 

Travel Manicure Set// This is a cute little set for on-the-go/travel because men like to have nicely manicured nails, too! 

Custom Dog Rocks Glass// I got my husband this a while ago and it's amazing. They custom etch your dog (or child or really could be anyone or anything) into a rocks glass! 

Quilted Pullover// My husband and dad's favorite pullover! It's a soft jersey/cotton type of fabric but the quilting gives it a little bit of weight without being too heavy. 

Retro Uno// There are a bunch of retro style games out there. My husband loves Uno so that's why I pulled this one but I think it could be a cool gift for a parent or grandparent- nostalgic! 

Golf Scorecard Holder// I think this is a cute little extra that a guy might not buy for himself! 

Infared Thermometer// My husband uses this for the Ooni but you can use for cooking in any situation- grill, oven, etc. 

Espresso Machine// I love our Nespresso machine but this is on my husband's 'buy' list. It's a little pricey but under $1000 and gets good reviews. Plus, I think it's attractive! 

Hand Cream// This is so inexpensive and makes for a good stocking stuffer. It's no-frills but does the job. 

Chippo Game// This is a fun backyard game whether your hosting a BBQ or just want to work on your chipping. 

Slippers// My dad wants new slippers for Chrsitmas and both my dad and husband always wear LLBean's wicked good slippers. They are so well-made and hold up for many years before you need to replace them. 

Boots// Everye single person in my family has these boots. They are a Pittsburgh necessity- a perfect thing for anyone that lives in a snowy climate! 

2022 Gift Guides:

- My Wish List

- Hosts and Hostesses

Saturday Shopping

Thanksgiving Outfit Idea

Dress// Bag// Boots// Earrings

Shop the Outfit:

I'm posting an entertaining reel in partnership with Tuckernuck on Instagram today and doing a try-on of this dress and some of their other pieces (4 other dresses, so 5 total!!) from their Party Shop that they just launched. The shop is a beautifully curated selection of things from clothes to shoes to bags and more that will carry you through this fun party-filled season! 

I would love for you to go check that out; they are one of my all-time favorite brands and I am SO excited to work with them... a dream come true! Any support that you could offer by liking or commenting or just watching the reel and my stories would be so amazing! Thank you all SO much!!!! 

So I shot a ton of content for that reel and I never let content go to waste, so I'm bringing it here to the blog! This post is not sponsored but this Dress was a part of the project that I worked on and I love it so much! From the floral print to the flowy nature of the fabric and you all know I love a longer dress. As soon as I saw it I knew the brown background and the green leaves of the flowers just felt like Thanksgiving to me. Paired with brown suede boots it is literally the perfect thing. We don't dress up fancy for Thanksgiving, but depending on the weather, I like to wear a dress! 

The Dress runs true to size. I am wearing a size small. It has a detachable sash for the waist. I tied mine in a bow but it also looks great without the sash and gives the dress a bit of a more casual vibe. The fabric is lightweight so it might be the perfect thing for those of you in the south if it is still warm there! For me, as it gets even colder, I think it'll look cute with a brown or green cardigan or even a cute faux fur vest overtop! 

Shop More Festive Faves:

Lately

Sunglasses// Cardigan/ /White Tee

Vest// Jeans// Tennis Shoes// my favorite No-Show Socks

No filter on this photo. The sky was SO blue and the tree was just so vibrant!! 

Are you all having a good week? This has been a busy one for me work-wise and so I've just been behind my computer a ton and plugging away! I've felt a little behind on a lot of things this week so I'm trying to get lots done to make myself not feel so behind. 

This past weekend we went to Niagara-On-The-Lake in Ontario for my mom's birthday! It was such a fun weekend and we couldn't ask for better weather. It's only a 4-hour drive from Pittsburgh and has tons of wineries and the cutest town. It's all so quaint and charming and exactly what you think of when you think of a 'fall getaway'. 

Henry did well for his first time being boarded at a facility and I was so relieved. I was a bit nervous all weekend about him being there but after knowing it went well, we will definitely have him return there when necessary! 

We are watching my parent's dog, Buddy for the next week. I love him so much! With two dogs,  I literally vacuum daily. It's wild how much the two of them shed!!! 

Update on my foot (I burned it about 3 weeks ago). I've been really missing Orange Theory. I don't talk about anxiety much, but Orange Theory is the cure to my anxiety. The reason I have been able to stick with such an intense workout is because it truly clears my mind and makes me feel SO much better. I can workout at home all I want but I will never push myself as hard as I do at Orange Theory. I've been feeling anxious since I haven't gone in over 3 weeks now (because of my foot) and it has just truly reminded me to never take the workout for granted. BUT I really feel that the light at the end of the tunnel is approaching. It is healing well- Neosporin for the win!! I think I am going to try and go to a class next week or maybe the following week to test out how my foot feels in sneaker (only if the wound has healed entirely by then)! 

We don't have any big plans this weekend, I actually plan on working quite a bit. We actually don't have a ton of big things going on in November- just some get togethers with friends, dinner reservations, etc. and then family time around Thanksgiving, but no travel or weddings or big events which I'm quite happy about because we have a very full December. I'm ready to be a homebody this coming month! I mean can you all believe next week is November?! I truly cannot believe it!!!!

Tweed Jacket// White Tee// Sunglasses// Shoes// Similar Pants// Bag

Wearing: I just got this Tweed Jacket and I think it is absolutely fabulous! I am wearing a small and it runs true to size! I am in love with these Sunglasses. They seem a bit 'trendy' but oddly classic at the same time. I can't put my finger on why I love them so much- it gives me 1960's vibes without feeling too 'costumey'. The best part is that they are less than $15. I would not spend much on this style because I don't think that they're like an everyday pair of sunglasses, they are too stylish for that and have to be worn with the right outfit. 

Eating I: We picked up this pumpkin tarte this week from La Gourmandine. If you aren't familiar, it's a wonderful little French Bakery here in Pittsburgh! 

Eating II: We made homemade meatballs for the first time ever this week and they turned out pretty decently. We need to perfect it all a little but it was a good start! 

Reading: My friend Francene sent me this wonderful book by Joy Callaway called Grand Design. It's about Dorothy Draper and her life and how she ended up restoring The Greenbrier! I'm almost done with it and it is such a wonderful read, especially because I love the Greenbrier so much! 

Watching: Did you guys see that they are bringing Laguna Beach to Netflix on November 11th?! I cannot wait. I thought it was the best show back in the day. I had just started 9th grade when it came out and I thought they were so cool and so much older! I can't wait to watch just for the sheer nostalgia of that time period!

Listening: So I'm not a huge podcast listener but after I shared the Laguna beach info on my Instagram stories, so many of you told me to listen to the 'Back to the Beach' podcast. It's Stephen and Kristin from Laguna Beach and it's present day them recapping what went on during the filming of this show! I started listening to just a few minutes of it yesterday and I am excited to listen to more. 

Wanting: I love the look of these 'faux berry' trees for holiday decor. They seem a bit $$$ to me for what they are but I feel like they are unique and I always love pops of red in holiday decor. For something much more affordable, I think this doormat is so adorable!

Amazon Rec: You can find more of my Amazon favorites, here!

Quoting: 'It is little by little that we find the courage for it all.' - JH Hard // See more of my favorites, here.

Getting Ready for Halloween

Full-Size KitKat/Reeses/Hersheys

Full-Size Milky Way/3 Musketeers/ Snickers/Twix

Fun-size Kitkats

Fun-size Mix 

Fun-size Haribo Bears

Iridescent Skeleton Bucket

Halloween is just days away! Can you believe it? I'm excited this year because I love hanging out in our neighborhood during the holiday. We have so many children in this neighborhood that it is so fun to see everyone all abuzz and out and about. One of my best friends from high school and her husband also just moved into the neighborhood with their son and so it will be so fun to see them out trick-or-treating with their adorable son! There was trick-or-treating in 2020 but no one came out of their houses really and then last year, we were out of town, so I'm extra excited for this year. 

I like to set up a little table with candy and make it festive for the trick-or-treaters. I usually pour myself a glass of wine and then sit outside with my husband as we greet our neighbors. 

I was able to find all I needed for Halloween from Walmart and was able to have it all delivered right to my door! I can always count on their everyday low prices while also saving time with delivery or pickup! It's a one stop shop when it comes to groceries and household items and so much more. Walmart had such a great selection of candy to choose from, it was hard to decide. I am partial for Kitkats!! I ordered a few boxes of full-size candy bars and then some bags of fun-size candy in case we run out. I never know how many to prepare for! I just hope I don't eat it all before the 31st, ha!! And how fun is this Iridescent Skeleton Bucket that I got to put all of the candy in?

New Walmart customers can use promo code TRIPLE10 to save $10 off their first three pickup or delivery orders. $50 min. Restrictions & fees apply. 

Devil Costume// Greenies// Cotton Candy Dog Toy

I also snagged this cute little Costume for Henry and I couldn't forget some special things for him for Halloween- some treats and a new toy! As you can see my model could hardly pose because he was so excited about his new toy! From candy to dog costumes, Walmart has everything you could need! 

This Costume is great for squirmy pups because you can just attach the wings onto your dog's collar and then put the collar back on your pup. SO easy! 

Thank you to Walmart for sponsoring this post. All opinions are my own! 

September Favorites

Poppi Strawberry Lemon// Suede Boots// Bronze Balm// Turtleneck

Scalloped Bath Towels// Nude Slip// Cardigan

Tennis Shoes// Silver Polish// Dress (use code SYDNEY15 for 15% off)// Striped Nightgown

Well, we are halfway through October and I'm just now getting my September favorites list up... it's honestly an illustration of my life right now, ha!! As a reminder, I share my favorites from each month, and then at the end of the year, I narrow it down further to a 'best of 2022' list! I'll link to past months in 2022 at the bottom of this post! If an item is included on a monthly list, it means I am *passionate* about these items.

I have a question for you all regarding my end-of-year list. Do you want to see things from past year's lists if I still think they are the best ever or do you want this list to be ONLY things from 2022 (so no repeats)? I usually just do my lists from the current year but wanted to get your feedback on this! Let me know!

Poppi Strawberry Lemon// This has become one of my favorite drinks. Each can is a little pricey, in my opinion ($2.50ish) so I consider it a 'treat' when I drink it but it's so delicious. I have tried all of the flavors now and the strawberry lemon is my favorite. They're sweet, in my opinion, they could be a little less sweet, but I still truly love this strawberry lemon favorite. I didn't love any of the other flavors- I thought the orange was OK and it was the only other flavor I'd drink again besides strawberry lemon. Anyway, they have a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in it and so the marketing for it is all about 'gut health'. I'm not drinking it hoping for any health benefits, though. I think water is probably the only drink that's truly 'good' for you but this is a low-calorie, low-sugar treat that I just love! 

Suede Boots// I got these boots last year and they are just the best! Mine are brown but it looks like they are selling a black pair and this taupe-y grey shade this year. They are SO comfortable and so simple. They are a classic and something I will be wearing for many years to come. 

Bronze Balm// Merit is a new-to-me brand even though it's been around for a while. I got sent a PR package of this bronze balm and I love it so much. Someone asked me how it compares to the Westman Atelier contour stick that I have and the only way I can describe it is that the Westman Atelier is colder in color so it's more of a true contour stick than it is a bronzer. For warmth, I like Westman Atelier's illuminating highlight in peau du soleil but that's also different in that it has quite a bit of shimmer/highlight to it. Anyway,  if I'm comparing it to the WA contour stick, the Merit Bronze balm glides on my skin and blends in like soft butter. The WA contour stick is just a little less 'buttery' in terms of application and blending! Both are great products but I'm finding myself preferring the bronze balm. I think it gives a more natural and less contoured look. 

Turtleneck// I wrote an entire blog post about this turtleneck that you can find, here. It's under $20 and soft pima cotton. A basic I reach for all of the time in the fall/winter! 

Scalloped Bath Towels// We had Weezie bath towels as our main towels and they had been showing some wear after using them exclusively for the past 4 ish years! So, I replaced them with these scalloped bath towels and just love them. They are so high quality and have a nice loftiness to them without being overly bulky to wash. I got them monogrammed locally and they are so pretty! 

Nude Slip// I randomly picked up this slip when I was in Target back in August. It is under $20 and a simple basic that you don't know you need until you need it! Some of the slips I was looking at online were upwards of $100 and I just could not bring myself to spend so much on an undergarment like that! So Target for the win! This is nice enough and it does its job! 

Cardigan// I waffled back and forth on whether or not I should include this cardigan in the list because it has been sold out for the last few weeks!!! It's crazy because it's a J.Crew new arrival and it came in 4 colors. I could not believe how quickly it sold out but I do think it's because it is THAT good. I love it. It runs big. I got a size small ad would have exchanged it but when I went back to check sizes, they were all sold out! So, if given the chance to snag another one in the future, I would size down to xs! The quality is top-notch and feels like wearing a sweatshirt but looks so polished. You could easily wear it if you work in a business casual environment! I keep an eye out on it to see if it ever comes back in stock so I will share if it does! 

Tennis Shoes// I just replaced my old Pegasus sneakers with a new pair. Ironically I burned my foot and now can't work out until the burn wound heals. BUT, these are my go-to workout sneakers. I wear them to row, to go to Orange Theory, on long walks, etc. They're sturdy enough for plyometric movements and cushioned enough for running. Can't wait until I can wear them again!!!! 

Silver Polish// This is my go-to silver polish and I'm amazed it has never made a 'best of' list!!! I've been using it for years and know about it because my mom had been using it forever before that! It's a cream that you apply with a little foam sponge and it shines my silver like no other. Plus, it doesn't have an awful smell like some silver polishes tend to have! 

Dress// I was just introduced to the Oliphant brand this year and I love their pieces. They are high quality, unique, and colorful. I have worn the dress above in the collage so many times after only having it for a little over a month. Every single time I have worn it, I have received compliments on it. It's just one of those brands that really stand out that you don't see a ton of people at a singular event wearing! My parents are headed to Bermuda soon and my mom has already claimed the dress to take to Bermuda with her!! You can use code SYDNEY15 for 15% off. The code expires 10/22!

Striped Nightgown//

Past Monthly Favorites:

- January

- February

- March

- April 

- May 

- June 

- July

- August

Gift Guide 2022: Hosts and Hostesses

Tea Towels// Large Tervis Ginger Jar// Cherries// Down Throw

 Dish Soap// Marble Wine Coaster// Cocktail Napkins// Italian Olive Oil

Scrubdaddy Sponge// Tea Kettle// Small Planter

Menu Book//  Bitters Bottle// Balsamic Vinegar

Shop the Items:

Today's gift guide is focusing on gifts for the host/hostess. Whether you are headed to someone's home for a holiday party, or dinner get-together, or are staying the weekend, I've come up with some cute ideas to show your thankfulness for their hospitality! I'm very much in the camp of never showing up empty-handed! I have a 'gift box' which is basically a big plastic storage container filled to the brim with giftable items. Sometimes I buy things throughout the year with a certain person in mind and other times I see something go on sale that I know anyone would love and buy several of them. That way, if invited to something on short notice, I have something nice to bring along with me. 

I tried to include things in all different price ranges. For a dinner party, I usually don't spend more than $50, but for a housewarming gift or say, a weekend stay, I like to do a little more. These are also good options for people that you want to thank in some way. For example, I like to give my parents something whenever they watch Henry. It's usually a souvenir of sorts from whatever trip we are on- they always tell me not to get them anything but I LOVE to give people things. 

You're going to want to read below to read about my ideas on how to package these items or little add-ons depending on how much you are looking to spend! 

Tea Towels// These come in a set of 3. I think they are so beautiful given as a set but you could also break them up to give to 3 different recipients. I will often wrap a bottle of wine in a tea towel and tie with a bow! 

Large Tervis Ginger Jar// I think this large Tervis is too cute- maybe best for someone with a home by the water since this isn't glass and keeps drinks cold! I love Tervis, I have one that has held up for the past 10 years! I think a cute add-on would be to put a Starbucks card inside or maybe some hot cocoa ingredients! 

Cherries// I don't really drink cocktails with these cherries but my husband and dad do. They are expensive for one jar of cherries!! Anyway, these are Italian and delicious and the jar is gorgeous. You could pair this with a bottle of bourbon. 

Down Throw// This is the 'green blanket'. I have so much love for this blanket and I think, in general, a throw blanket makes a great gift because you can never have too many! 

Dish Soap// I think it is fun to give an everyday item that has been 'upgraded'. For example, this is dish soap and do I think it's a little overpriced? Yes, but I do like to give these 'little' items like this to friends and family because it is not necessarily something you'd buy yourself all of the time. I'd personaly probably not buy this for myself, but if I got it as a hostess gift, I would think that's neat! tie on a sponge with some ribbon and you have yourself a cute little gift! 

Marble Wine Coaster// You can find wine coasters at all different price points. I think the presentation is done best when you sit a bottle of wine in the coaster, wrap with cellophane and tie a wine stopper on with the bow. Otherwise, you can give the wine coaster with some individually wrapped chocolates and wrap with cellophane and a bow. I use wine coasters all over my home as little bows, trinket trays, etc. 

Cocktail Napkins// I am a cocktail napkin hoarder. It's true. I have SO many. I love to collect them. I think these make such a nice gift. I always appreciate something personalized- hard to do last minute but if you know with enough time, this is a great option! 

Italian Olive Oil// I'm big on Italian olive oil and balsamic now. Nice olive oil makes a world of a difference in your salads. We even just dip a nice loaf of bread in oil and vinegar and it is incredible. 

Scrubdaddy Sponge// These are pretty much the only sponges we use. They are the best. I thought it was interesting that they make a gray sponge for those who are concerned with aesthetics. Honestly, I'm thinking about it and I'd rather have a gray sponge that blends in with my stainless steel sink than the orange one I currently have in the sink!! 

Tea Kettle// We have this tea kettle and I love it. It is not huge- it makes a few cups at a time and because it is not huge, it's easy to store away. It's also just beautiful! I think this is a great gift on its own but you could add in a duo of mugs and a tin of tea! 

Small Planter// I have these planters in the larger size and they sit on my windowsill. They are so cute and simple. I think the smallest one would be adorable to plant an herb in. You can find herbs at places like Trader Joe's and Whole Foods and they are inexpensive! 

Menu Book//  I love this book. It's part book and part scrapbook to keep record of the dinner parties you host! 

Bitters Bottle// This could be so cute paired with the cherries above or a bottle of bitters. I think this is too cute and bitters and this bottle would be around $20! 

Balsamic Vinegar// I love love love the balsamic. It's expensive as far as balsamic goes but this is the very best! 

Quick Ideas In A Pinch:

- Grocery store bouquet (Whole Foods and Trader Joe's have my favorite flowers) and run over to TJ Maxx/Homegoods for a vase. I don't like to bring a floral bouquet because then the host has to make sure they get water and that just adds something to the to-do list! 

- If you want to do flowers, sending them ahead of time is always so nice so the host/hostess can set them out during the event. You can also send them afterward, I don't think it makes a huge difference either way! 

- I think a bottle of wine is always perfect for dinner at someone's home. But there are those who do not drink or those who do not like wine. My grammie, for instance, would be gracious about receiving a bottle of wine, but I know that she does not really drink much wine and so I'd think of something different for her. She loves chocolate so a box of chocolates or a plate of cookies would be perfect for her! Simple is always great but just be sure you are keeping the person's preferences in mind! 

- If they are hosting you for an extended period of time, a gift card to a cleaning service would be generous. This takes a little leg work on your part to figure out who they already use or a service that would do a one-time cleaning in that area. 

-As some of my friends have started to have children and I've started to get to know families in our neighborhood with children, I've started to compile things for children, too, because I always like to bring a toy/something little for the child! I try to do this with my niece and nephew, each time I see them, I try to remember to bring something little for them. I know my aunts and uncles always did this for me and it was always so magical!

- I know everyone is bored of candles as a host/hostess gift but I personally love receiving a nice candle. I do think scent is personal and so it can be hard to find something that really pleases everyone, but I think if you wrap it in cellophane with a matchbook and a bow, it makes for an adorable little gift. 

2022 Gift Guides:

- My Wish List

Lately

Whipped out my Nespresso machine this weekend and made a cappuccino better than Starbucks! 

Henry has been a pumpkin for the past few years so I think we are going to switch things up this year!

I've been getting holiday catalogs in the mail and have been winding down in the evenings with some tea and perusing through some of them! 

At the end of last week, we took Henry to doggy daycare for the first time ever to do a temperament test because we are going to board him there. I was truly so nervous as to how he would do. I had no idea how he would behave! Luckily, the staff said he was great and he is welcome back, ha! I don't think he hated it so that was relieving. So anyway, I will be a nervous wreck for the few nights he stays there, but Buddy will be there, too, so they can hang out together! 

Also, we took him to a new vet. A lot of new things for Henry in one week! Our vet retired last year and a new vet opened in our area so we figured we would try that out. I loved the new vet office and the new vet. The entire experience was great. Earlier this month, Henry had gotten sick a few times and had been licking his paws a ton, from what we assumed were allergies. So I was beyond relieved when the vet told us Henry was in perfect condition. They did a full blood panel and everything and it just made me feel so much more relaxed now knowing he is in great health. He's going on 7 and I just worry as he ages! Dogs have way too short of lives and I don't take a single second for granted that I get with Henry! 

We are celebrating my mom this weekend as it is her birthday tomorrow!!!! It will be so much fun and I am so excited to spend the weekend with my husband and parents. I'm bummed my sister and brother-in-law won't be able to be with us because they'll be in California! 

I've had a lot on my plate work-wise. Sometimes I get stressed about it but I really do think I work best when I have a lot on my plate. Plus, I am thankful to have lots of work and I am so excited to share things I have been working on in the coming weeks and months! 

Oh and I told you all how I burned my foot with a curling iron a few weeks ago in a previous 'lately' post. The burn was pretty bad. It's really opened my eyes to wound care and how much time and effort taking care of a wound takes. I've been taking good care of it first and foremost so it doesn't get infected but also because I want it to heal as fast as possible and scar as minimally as possible. I can tell it is healing slowly but surely! I think the biggest annoyance is that I can't wear shoes that cover the top of my foot because it agitates the burn and also just hurts a bit. The ironic thing is that it's really just a small foot wound and it's not as bad medically speaking, but it's just so inconveniently placed on my foot!!! So until the wound part heals, I'm in ballet flats or pumps! I'm honestly glad it's not the dead of winter when I would need my feet to be covered haha! But I miss working out and wearing sneakers so much so that I ended up ordering sneaker ballet flats. Who even knew they made such a thing but they do and I am so glad!

lipstick in sandwash pink

Wearing: This sandwash pink lipstick is supposedly the lipstick that Kate Middleton wore on her wedding day. I bought it and I really like it as an everyday color. It's back in stock now! 

Sale: The Company Store, the brand that makes my favorite throw blanket ever (ahem, the green blaket) is having their friends and family sale through 10/23. You can get up to 30% off with code FRIENDS22. The blanket is included in the sale! 

Toiletry Bag// Tote// Garment Bag// Clear Pouch

Sale II: Barrington is having a sale through tomorrow (Friday). You get 15% off using code PUMPKINPIE. I'm passionate about this tote. I take it everywhere with me. This Toiletry Bag is on my Chrsitmas wish list this year. I also love the Garment Bag and my husband wants one of his own because he loves mine so much. I also carry this Clear Pouch with me everywhere. 

Watching: We started watching The Watcher. We are only one episode in. It's good so far- I have no idea what it is about or what to expect but it gives me slight creepy vibes, that is for sure. It's on Netflix an apparently based on a true story. We have no had time for TV lately so I'm surprised we even made it through an entire episode of something, ha! 

Listening: It has been so cold for the past 2 or 3 days, I am embarrassed to admit this but I turned on Christmas jazz music. I really did!!!! 

Loving: The holiday wrapping at Target is just DARLING! I absolutely love wrapping things! These glitter initials are adorable! 

Wanting: Such fabulous red party shoes! 

Amazon Rec: This pullover (under $40) is giving me Varley vibes for less. You can find more of my Amazon favorites, here!

Quoting: 'You have no responsibility to live up to what other people think you ought to accomplish. I have no responsibility to be like they expect me to be. It's their mistake, not my failing.' - Richard Feynman // See more of my favorites, here.