Life: Friday Ramblings

This baby girl was all smiles when...

...she met Santa Claus and his wife at a very special brunch!

She was excited to get some one on one time with the big guy himself.

She sat on his lap and glowed when he gave her a little candy cane to eat.

While she loved that, her favorite part was singing Christmas carols with Mrs. Claus.

The baby boy was also all smiles when...

...he met Santa Claus at brunch and got to yank on his beard for a solid 3 minutes.

If you're wondering, his beard is 100% real!  No fake beard would survive my little beast.

I'm beaming with pride because...

...my little Mushy Face is blossoming academically and socially.

Her parent teacher conference was more pleasant thanks to her want to succeed.

She struggled in Kindergarten on a social level and with following directions.

I'm proud to say that this is a new year and she's killing it!!

Can I brag that she's a year ahead of herself with reading & writing?  I'll resist.

I'm still giggling because...

...I attended my first ugly sweater party and it was lots of laughs!

While I didn't wear an ugly sweater, I invested in one for my hubby that had me rolling.

It was the typical ugly sweater pattern with a giant Grinch head in the center.

The wording was super appropriate for him saying "Resting Grinch Face"!

I'm struggling with...

...being financially responsible and sticking to my budget.

I find myself withdrawing from savings because I have had zero self control with spending.

Here's to getting back on track financially, including adding to our savings account!

This may be why my hubby got annoyed when I complained about his $2 coffee purchase..maybe..

I'm really annoyed at...

...my job.  They have officially crossed the line with my work life balance.

I was irked when I had to work during my pre-approved vacation day two weeks ago.

I was really annoyed when I got asked to join a last minute call 11 AM Thanksgiving morning.

Now I'm just pissed that they it's officially mandatory to work NYE until 10PM to close out the month.

When you work someone to death, they die.  Enough with the monthly panic because I'm done.

We're looking forward to...

...the gingerbread house party at my daughter's school this upcoming week!

She's been tasked to bring Sourpatch Kids and white icing.

Mommy has been tasked with chaperoning and eating all the candy.

What are your Friday Ramblings?

Ideas: Holiday gift ideas for a fabulous lady!

With Christmas around the corner, I'm feeling extra festive!

Playing Santa Claus is one of my favorite things to do so I'm totally glowing.

I love it so much that Santa starts in June!  I kid, I start early to ease the financial burden.

My husband appreciates my love for the holidays because it means that he's off the hook.

His only complaint is that he never knows what to get me for Christmas.

...and buying my own Christmas gift is where I draw the line...

In the past he would venture to R&W for some inspiration.

Every December throughout the past (3) years, my hubby would complain that I quit R&W.

He had to inspire himself and he wasn't very good at it.

In honor of my handsome husband...

Holiday Gift Ideas for a Fabulous Lady

1.  All Occasion Greeting Card Assortment

I love to send cards in the mail or leave a personalized note with a gift.

To ensure that this can happen, I have a card shaped box filled with cards for different occasions.

These cards are fabulous and my card shaped box is nearly empty!

2.  Ulta Automatic Lip Liner in Flesh

I love a natural look when it comes to make up.

My daily, five minute make up routine involves mascara, lip liner, and chap stick.

This lovely surprise would be a third of my beauty routine every single day!

3.  C9 Champion Spacedye Seamless Sports Bra

Ladies, I'm all about a sports bra when I can get away with it!

...and I know that you can totally relate...

4.  Avellini Mid Shaft Leather Boots

There's nothing better than boots in the Autumn and Winter months.

These boots would be perfect for me since they seem to be made for women around 5' tall.

5.  Christmas Train Pillow

One of my favorite spots in the house, is a bench under a four pane window the length of the wall.

I like to switch out the lumbar pillow on the bench as the seasons or holidays change.

...and this pillow would look lovely on the bench.  Just saying...

6.  Terra Cotta Snowflake Coasters

These would do a great job protecting my dark wood furniture.

They would also do a great job making me smile being on display throughout the Winter.

It's also worth noting that they are just one piece of an entire Threshold collection!  Wink, wink

7.  E.L.F. Brow Comb & Brush

Every lady knows the importance of a fully function eye brow brush!

It's needed to brush our lashes, unclump mascara, and groom our brows.

8.  Mother Daughter Apron Set

I've felt a certain way about aprons for the absolute longest time.

It's silly to stay away from a very functional item just because of a false representation.

I'm sick and tired of ruining clothes while cooking.  But, I'm not an old lady, I'm not an old lady...

9.  OPI Nail Polish in Worth a Pretty Penne

I love the sparkle, color, and versatility of this nail polish.

I'm also a fan of the OPI brand.  I find it to be a strong polish with vibrant colors.

10.  OtterBox Bouquet Symmetry Phone Case

Earlier this year my job upgraded my phone to an iphone 8.

Unfortunately, they didn't upgrade my case so I'm still using the case from my old phone.

It's been doing the job, but it covers the camera in the back which isn't exactly convenient.

Not to mention, this one is pretty and very feminine.  Love!!

11.  Christmas Graphic Thermal Knit Tee

This shirt is festive, comfortable, and the saying is totally true!

I'm always looking for comfortable clothes to do chores around the house.

12.  Sunnydaze Decor Bluebird Mosaic Glass Bird Feeder

This past Summer I saw my first ever humming bird and I got really excited.

I told everyone about it and they all recommended that I get a hummingbird feeder.

Even if this one doesn't attract another hummingbird, it's pretty enough to look at!

Besides, I do love me some mosaic!  My house is filled with so much mosaic, that it glistens.

What is on your holiday wish list this year?

List: Ten rules to remember when purchasing a gift.

With the holidays in view, it's time to to talk about the inevitable exchanging of gifts.

They are meant to be lighthearted and fun.  It's not a competition for the best or most expensive gift.

Let's all repeat that together.  Gift exchanges are not a competition.  Good!  Let's say it one more time..

To help keep it lighthearted and fun, I developed a set of rules that I try to follow when shopping for others.

Ten rules to remember when buying a gift.

1.  Keep the value of the gift to a reasonable amount.

There have been so many times that I suffered gift guilt when receiving an extravagant present.

Chances are the person exchanging gifts with you is going to keep the value reasonable.

Don't embarrass them by going overboard, even if the purchase price was a great deal.

2.  Check with parents before a questionable purchase.

Not all parents are OK with their kids getting an electronic or something with internet.

I'm on team #imagination.  Flash back to the time grandma had to return that ipad gift...

Parents may not want a giant jungle gym to take over their entire living room either.

Others may not be OK with a game that revolves around dog poop, literally.

If you remember one rule, make it this one.  Ask before you give because kids will want it.

3.  Remember that this gift isn't for you.

Growing up, it wasn't uncommon for my mom to buy my father something that she wanted.

One Christmas he was gifted the weather vane she wanted and a new set of silverwear.

He finally told her that going forward he was going to buy himself gifts to give to her.

The bottom line is, don't make the gift about you.  It's about the receiver.

4.  Keep the gift age appropriate.

This is a great tip when purchasing for children.  Always mind the ages listed on the box.

While that's true, it also applies to adults.  Keep in mind the age of the person you're buying for.

Don't go buying granny booty shorts or your teenage niece wrinkle cream.

5.  Research a gift before you purchase it.

Sometimes we buy things because they're popular without really knowing what it is.

You should become informed before investing into any type of purchase, including a gift.

Flash back to the year someone accidentally bought their very young cousin Fifty Shades of Grey...

Remember that electronics should be compatible, some things are inappropriate, and others are of poor taste. 

6.  Always have a spare gift on hand.

Every year I make sure that I buy one or two small gifts and keep them on the side.

I try to make them timeless and appropriate for anyone, such as a candle or hot sauce sampler.

You never know when someone will surprise you with a gift, so remember to always be prepared!

7.  Don't buy something that can be insulting.

You'll want to avoid super personal items like soap, deodorant, breath fresheners, or weight loss items.

Never, ever buy self-help books or anything motivational to change someone into your ideal person.

The last thing you want to do is make someone feel bad about themselves with a passive aggressive act.

If you care enough about them to exchange gifts, speak to them directly about the potential issue.

8.  Do opt for something sentimental.

While we appreciate the scarf, a sentimental gift is usually a guaranteed win.

A gift that is specially designed for them is definitely going to make them smile.

It could be a favorite sports team, gear from their favorite show, or a nudge to an inside joke.

9.  Don't buy someone life long investments.

Unless the person you're buying for handpicked out the item, don't purchase "lifers" for them.

This includes furniture, appliances, or anything that you wouldn't want someone else to pick for you.

I remember when my in laws bought a dining room table.  We appreciated the thought, but it was horrid.

10.  When all else fails, get a good bottle of wine.

Sometimes you just have no idea what to get that coworker, distant family member, or friend.

That's when you should visit your local liquor store and ask for a good bottle under $25.

If the person doesn't drink, then may I suggest a box of the gooiest brownies one can find!

What rules do you follow when buying a gift?

Life: Friday Ramblings

I'm laughing pretty hard at...

...my daughter's Thanksgiving day collage she made for school.

She did a great job of capturing the highlights, especially her father throwing out the wishbone!

Note- Daddy did this project with her.  I take no ownership of the typos.

I'm totally blushing because...

...my daughter embarrassed the hell out of me in the church parking lot!

In our SUV, Mushy can't buckle herself in because the car seat blocks the buckle.

When I help her, I have to full on dive into the car with my legs swinging up into the air because I'm short.

My daughter chose this moment to yell out "Everyone, look at my mommy's butt!" at least three times.

I'm smiling ear to ear at...

...how pretty the house looks filled with Christmas decor!

The Christmas tree is up and decorated with our favorite Disney ornaments.

Our Disney stockings are hung along the mantle of our fake fire place.

Mickey and Minnie are all dressed up in holiday gear, lit up, and waving to cars passing by.

I grew up with a Disney themed Christmas tree and absolutely love that we carried on the tradition.

I'm really dreading another...

...business trip this week.  It's an overnight stay in the Philadelphia office.

While I really dislike leaving my babies, I have family that lives in the area.

I'll try to make the best of it by having a girl's night with my aunt and cousins.

I'm feeling some sort of way at...

...the snow I'm watching fall down from the sky and sticking to the lawn.

It's way too early for that to start already, let alone stick!

I'm left scratching my head thinking about...

...what to name my newest plant family member!

We had friends over for dinner and they brought us a beautiful new plant.

He's gorgeous with his colorful leaves that make me think of something tropical!

I'm taking suggestions in the comments.  I'm thinking Dean since I already got a Sam.. too predictable?

What are your Friday Ramblings?

Review: Neutrogena Ageless Intensives

At the ripe age of 31, I've developed some two very fine lines on my forehead.

Damn you, tanning salons, jet black hair, and orange skin for being "in" when I was in HS.

To help battle these fine lines and any future wrinkles, I've been using anti-aging cream as part of my daily beauty routine since my early twenties.  I've tried all sorts of products.  Most gave me an allergic reaction.  Some dried out my skin and caused flakiness.  Others did absolutely squat, like literally nothing.  After several flops, I finally stumbled across a serum that I really  l o v e.  

It's called Neutrogena Ageless Intensives.

Review:  Neutrogena Ageless Intensives

Neutrogena Ageless Intensives is a skincare line to help erase the signs of aging and deep wrinkles.

What prompted you to purchase this line of products?

To be honest, it was a complete and absolute fluke.

No joke!  I accidentally purchased the wrong product.  The universe brought us together.

Accident aside, I've always been a huge fan of Neutrogena.  They are the only brand of make up and moisturizers that I will use on my face.  My sensitive skin requires hypoallergenic, oil free, and non-comedogenic products.  My reaction to different products range from acne breakouts to severe rashes that require medical attention.  These reactions result in brand loyalty from me.

The short answer to this question is, it was a beautiful accident with a brand I trust.

What did you like about the product?

The first thing that I fell in love with was the reasonable price and the second was that it worked!

I used Neutrogena Ageless Intensives daily for a week when I saw results.  My two fine lines became near invisible and my skin in general improved.  It felt tighter and was more vibrant.  Having two young children, including a one year old, I'm always sleep deprived.  This line of products has me looking like I am getting a full nights sleep every night.

How long have you been using it for?

I've been using it for a little over 6 months.

The dramatic improvement was initially seen within the first few weeks, but the continuous use of it has kept the results consistent.  The fine lines are still near invisible and my face is still vibrant.

Hopefully it's keeping any new signs of aging at bay!

I would recommend Neutrogena Ageless Intensives skincare products.

Please note that this review was done completely on my own without any incentive or communication with Neutrogena and/or its affiliates.

Have you or will you try Neutrogena Ageless Intensives?

List: Holiday season activities to do this year.

While the first day of Winter isn't until December 21st, it's officially the start of the holiday season.

Where I'm from, the holidays are the unofficial fifth season of the year.

There's something magical about this brief, unofficial season.

...and because I love being extra, I have to celebrate every moment of it...

I'm looking forward to a festive month ahead and hope that you are too!

Twelve holiday season activities to do this year.

1.  Go for a real life Polar Express adventure.

I haven't done this with the kiddies yet, but I hope to once they get a little older.

First hand accounts tell me that it's a fabulous experience.

You hop on the train in your pajamas and get a golden ticket for the ride.

Actors reenact different scenes from the childhood classic while you sip on hot chocolate.

The highlight of the trip is going to the North Pole to meet Santa Claus himself.

I know my babies are too young for this, but I'd totally go with adults now!  I mean, it sounds amazing.

2.  Visit your local holiday light show.

We have quite a few near me, but my favorite is the Jones Beach light show.

The display is absolutely beautiful and takes a solid 45 minutes to drive through.

It's a fun, easy way to get into the holiday spirit.

Tip- Take a drive through your neighborhood for a free and personalized light show!

3.  Venture out to a local craft fair.

This is a great way to get out of the house and support your local community.

Many vendors are your neighbors and will appreciate the support.

You may score a great find for your yourself or someone on your gift list!

4.  Attend a local tree lighting ceremony.

The tree lighting ceremonies around here are usually loads of fun!

The ceremony starts with a parade, hot chocolate vendors, and a local artist's performance.

The grand finale is the lighting of the Christmas tree as the community cheers.

Who needs Rockefeller Center when the local event has accessible bathrooms and parking!

5.  Host or attend a gingerbread house party.

My babies and their friends love to have their annual gingerbread house extravaganza!

It's a great way to be creative, reconnect with friends, and come home with an edible holiday decor.

...it's also an excuse for the mommys and daddies to indulge in a nice bottle of moscato...

6.  Volunteer to make someone else's holiday enjoyable.

You can go caroling at a church, nursing home, or hospital to put a smile on someone's face.

You can adopt a family and prepare appropriate presents for each member.

You can make homemade Christmas cards for your local charity.

You can start or participate in a mitten tree to ensure that all local families are warm this Winter.

You can volunteer to read a holiday story to children that can't read themselves.

You can volunteer at a local charity to prepare a holiday celebration for those in need.

There are many ways to get involved for holiday memories that feel good.

7.  Designate a day to devote to Christmas baking.

Every year we pick a day to dedicate to Christmas baking as a family.

We have lots of fun making homemade ricotta cookies and red velvet cheesecake brownies.

Tip- Make extra goodies and  purchase inexpensive holiday tins to give away to some special people!

8.  Have an ugly sweater, Hallmark movie marathon, egg nog, holiday party.

Combine all of your favorite holiday things for one inexpensive and fabulous party!

Except I'll swap the egg nog for a hot mint chocolate beverage, please.

9.  Have breakfast with Santa Claus.

Every year we go to church for breakfast with Santa Claus.

We get to eat a yummy breakfast, meet Santa, take a picture, and sing along with Mrs. Claus.

The best part is that the proceeds of all this fun is to benefit a really good cause.

10.  Go window shopping to see the beautiful displays.

While I prefer the suburbs of Long Island to the city, the holidays in the city is a sight to see.

It's worth the trip just to see window displays and light shows on the buildings.

The Macy's on 34th street is famous for a reason and deserves all the credit it gets!

11.  Attend a holiday show.

Whether it's a local school performing The Nutcracker or Radio City to see the Rockettes, just go!

Many libraries, churches, and community buildings have some sort of show to go see for free.

They are fun to watch and the performers will appreciate the support.

12.  Have lots of fun with The Elf on the Shelf!

My daughter talks about Elfie all year long and really looks forward to his return!

I wonder how many are named Elfie by unoriginal parents everywhere...

She still remembers the year that Elfie fell causing a pile of pots to crash on the tile floor.

It was the morning after Thanksgiving so that pot avalanche was definitely an unforgettable return!

What are your favorite holiday season activities?

Life: Friday Ramblings

I had a blast at...

...my daughter's Thanksgiving party at school.

I opted for Thanksgiving themed BINGO and was shocked at how much the kiddies loved it.

Several children screamed out that this was their favorite game ever.

Brownie points for this mama for getting  s o m e t h i n g  finally right!

I printed out BINGO boards and calling cards from the computer.

Next I covered them in page protectors and used crazy glue to secure them in place.

The page protectors worked out great for the kiddies to use dry erase markers to mark and erase their boards.

If you're looking for a fun class party idea with first graders, this was a definite win!

I'm really, REALLY proud of...

...my baby girl, Mushy Face for winning the Manner's Matter award for the first grade.

In a world full of bullies and negativity, my daughter's a shining star for remaining polite!

...and, yes, she absolutely does take after me...

We are completely loving...

...our Disney+ subscription!  The kids haven't turned it off yet.

We're loving the classics, movies we didn't know were Disney, Marvel flicks, and much more.

While I don't plan on watching The Mandalorian, I'm pumped for other shows that are in the works.

This subscription has led to many family movie nights, which is one of our favorite activities!

I'm super annoyed with...

...my dishwasher for breaking and causing a flood in my kitchen.

Good thing that my husband is not only handsome, but really handy.

After troubleshooting for about an hour, he determined the problem was with the appliance.

He ran out, bought an inexpensive replacement, and installed it himself.

I was grateful for his quick fix because Thanksgiving is not the time to start hand washing dishes.

My heart is full because...

...I helped my cousin set up a surprise visit from NC to spend the holiday with us.

I'm really excited to spend the week with them and have some one on one girl talk!!

You know, the talk with large glasses of wine and lots of laughs while making zero sense..

I'm giggling as I type because...

...I'm listening to Winnie the Pooh in the background.

Christopher Robin left a note ending in "I'll be back soon."

Owl then concocts a story that an evil creature called Backson captured their friend.

What's a Backson known for?  Ripping all of the pages out of library books!

My heart smiles everytime...

...my son calls me "mommy" in his squeaky, baby voice.

His vocabulary has grown greatly, but his first word was still Mama, just saying!

...then Thor.  See, the boy's already got his priorities straight...

What are your Friday Ramblings?

Life: Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving Eve to all of you!

In honor of the holiday, here's my little Mushy Face reciting her favorite Thanksgiving poem.

May your day be filled with family, celebration, love, fun, and lots of delicious foods.

...and if you're a turkey, I hope you run as fast as you can, before you're roasted in a pan...

How will you be celebrating Thanksgiving?

List: Ten things I'm thankful for.

This upcoming Thursday is my favorite holiday of the year.

It's also my holiday to host which makes it something I look forward to even more!

I love that this holiday is filled with family, traditions, and delicious f o o d.

I love that the pressure of presents and expensive gifts aren't associated with the holiday.

I love the smell of the turkey baking in the oven and the look of my fine china on the table.

I love watching the parade and seeing the smile on my babies' faces when Santa ends it.

I love the prep work and spending time with my family in the kitchen getting each dish prepared.

I also love that it's the precursor to the holiday season.

Alright, so I love everything about it.  Whatever.

I know it's a bit early, but I'm feeling festive.

In honor of the season of thanks, here are ten things that I'm most thankful for.

Ten things that I'm most thankful for.

1.  I'm thankful for my family.

This includes my handsome hubby, sassy little girl, and chubby baby boy.

This also includes my extended family, in laws, and best friends.

It may be cliche, but it's oh so true - You all fulfill me and give my life real meaning!

2.  I'm thankful for Thor.

While our little chiweenie likes to eat Mushy's panties and sometimes tinkle on the floor, he's a good dog.

I trust him fully, even with my son when he was the tiniest of a newborn.

Thank you for being the kindest, most mild mannered puppy in our family!

Did you all think that I was referring to the superhero?  It is who he's named for.  Just sayin...

3.  I'm thankful for moving into this home and neighborhood.

When we sold our home and moved to a new neighborhood, we were hesitant.

We couldn't have gotten any luckier with our fabulous house in a just as fabulous area!

I'm thankful for the good schools, friendly neighbors, safe streets, and small town feel of our neighborhood.

4.  I'm thankful for our health.

We are beyond fortunate to say that we are all healthy and thriving.

I pray for my family's health and safety every night and am most thankful for this blessing.

5.  I'm thankful for my talented doctor.

This time last year I was in a very depressed state despite all of my blessings.

A mix of postpartum, the stress of selling my house, and a severe case of diastis recti had me real low.

I'm thankful to my highly referred doctor for fixing the diastis recti and a successful recovery.

I'm also thankful to my husband that made little complaint about the money spent on the procedure.

6.  I'm thankful for coffee.

I'm thankful for my coffee pot, coffee cups, coffee scoop, and Folgers.

Without all of these things, every day would become groggy, nonproductive, and gloomy.

7.  I'm thankful for our steady income.

There are days that I dislike my job and days that I completely despise my husband's.

His new job has me waking up at 4 am everyday to drop off both kids.  I loathe entirely!

Even with all this, I'm thankful for our income that allows us to live a comfortable life.

Without the freedom of my job, I wouldn't be able to be so active in my children's lives.

Without the increase in pay with my hubby's new job, we'd be struggling month to month.

8.  I'm thankful for being born in the US.

After meeting my mother in law and learning of life in communism, I appreciate the US even more.

I'm thankful for the freedoms and opportunities we are given in the United States.

The saddest part was learning how they are brainwashed to believe complete falsities!

9.  I'm thankful for my nail salon.

My nails are thin, weak, and resemble a sheet of paper.

I'm thankful for my nail salon and Bella, my go to person, for helping me look fabulous!

I not only walk out looking great, but they magically make it last for weeks and weeks.

10.  I'm thankful for getting back to R&W.

Without R&W, my life was missing a creative outlet.  I enjoy writing, sharing, and interacting with all of you.

Every comment puts a smile on my face and every post has me feeling accomplished.

There are even a few of you that I'm fortunate enough to consider friends.

Thank you to R&W for allowing my creative juices to flow and thank you to all of you for the friendship!

Just a FYI - I talk about all of you to family and friends like I know you IRL.  It's not creepy...

What are you thankful for this year?

Life: Friday Ramblings

via

I've been left drained and exhausted from...

...the amount of travel that I've been required to do this month at work.

I've spent several nights away from home in far away hotels and hated every single one.

When I'm not away for the night, I wake up at 3AM for the day trip in and out of state.

Either way, I'm left exhausted.  I'll take the one that let's me snuggle with my babies at night.

I'm weighing the pros and cons for...

...a new job opportunity.  My old manager has offered me a position under him.

I absolutely loved working for him, but this job would be a big demotion in title and freedom.

While I'm OK with demoting myself in title, I'm not sure if I could ever go back to an 8 to 5.

My schedule requires lots of travel, but I make my schedule mostly which allows me to be present for my kids.

I find myself nostalgic and little anxious thinking about...

...how quick everything in our life is passing us by!

My babies are growing up, my grandparents are aging, and the holidays are here.

I want to be excited for the holidays, not have them come and go.  Father Time, slow down!

I'm slightly humored yet annoyed at...

...Madre's comment to me the other day regarding Jared Padalecki's arrest.

She called to tell me of the arrest and that she realized I'm attracted to psychopaths.

My first love was Aaron Carter, an apparent psychopath.

Then I was crushing on Aaron Hernandez, a convicted psychopath.

Next up was my longtime boyfriend that got me blogging, LLS, a self proclaimed psychopath.

Lastly is Jared Padalecki, who my mother has now claimed a psychopath.

I'm still laughing at...

...an exchange amongst my coworkers and I the other day.

"Jax, there are butt warmers on the back seat if you want to put them on."

A few minutes past after I turned the butt warmer on, and I felt the need to make a comment.

"Wow, it's really hot in here!"

"Then turn off the butt warmers..."

"I want my butt to be hot, but the rest of my body to be cold."

"Jax, you just summed up the life of every married man in one sentence."

...I still think I had a reasonable request...

I'm really excited to...

...start the true Thanksgiving prep this weekend!

It's time to start the shopping, cooking, cleaning, baking, and prepping.

Here's to a holiday filled with family, love, and the time to slow down and enjoy it.

What are your Friday Ramblings?