Tis the Season

Lots of seasonal fun happening over here the last few weeks - boat rides, visits to see Santa, birthday celebrations, Sprinkles the Elf has returned, a visit to a fluid art studio, baking, and of course all things Christmas prep. This season goes by WAY too fast!

The day after Thanksgiving, we were treated to an afternoon aboard a dolphin catamaran sail with Cocoa Beach Catamaran. It was so relaxing, we saw tons of dolphins, and then we enjoyed lunch in the cruise port. (Full recap reel of our boat day found here)

We were excited to see the 2nd biggest cruise ship in the world docked and getting ready to disembark to the Bahamas for the weekend. Isn't she a beauty?

Lil' Miss and I also enjoyed a lovely afternoon at Hawaii Fluid Art making unique pieces. She chose a bear and a canvas, and I worked on a charcuterie board and also dipped wine glasses in the paint to match. So much fun! Lil' Miss can't wait to go back for a day camp while she's out of school. 

Full recap reel of our fun in the art studio found here.

Sprinkles the Elf returned at the beginning of the month with her annual North Pole Breakfast which brings on the sugar rush for the rest of the day - ha! 

And our annual trip to Wekiva Island to see Santa and Mrs. Claus at his workshop - seriously the cutest spot in Central Florida. So much detail! Plus they have "snow showers", a Christmas tree forest, a sleigh ride down the river, face painting, etc.. Always a fun and festive afternoon!

I've also been sleigh-ing the Christmas shopping game since it's officially boot weather in the sunshine state. From meeting Santa to cheers-ing the birthday girl at the local winery I've been loving my new boots from JustFab. You can get your first pair for $10 + 50% off additional styles when you become a JustFab VIP! 

And can we talk about the absolutely heavenly experience that is a Japanese Head Spa Treatment? I experienced full tranquility at TCG Salon in Orlando where it was luxury on another level from the moment I walked in. Treat yourself or put this on your list to Santa like right now!

Full recap reel of all the amazingness found here.

And more birthday parties for Lil' Miss where she showed off her gymnastics skills, and even did more moves unassisted than we've ever seen her do. Looking forward to seeing her demonstrate her skills to her coach at her next class!

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It's all in the stuffers

Am I the only one who gets super excited about Christmas stockings? I love the mini goodies, and of course am always happy for some hot cocoa bombs or a mini bottle of bubbles. 

Some of my favorite stuffers are every day things like a good hand cream in the dryness of winter, fun makeup palettes, nail polish, eye masks, a new toothbrush, and coffee mugs (can never have too many).

This year I'd love to see a waterproof pouch for my phone to take on water slides or fun excursions while traveling, and I highly recommend this concealer paw brush  which has been a gamechanger in my simple makeup routine. Oooh and these collagen gummies. 

What do you like to see from Santa in your stocking?

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Wishes Under the Christmas Tree

I am so behind! I had meant to begin posting some holiday gift ideas the week of Thanksgiving, and it just got away from me. I rounded up some of the items that I'm hoping are waiting for me under the Christmas tree in a few weeks, and think you'll enjoy a lot of them too either to treat yourself or to give to others. 

Side note - Lil' Miss and I baked our first batch of Christmas cookies this season over the weekend. Her favorites are the Creme de Menthe cookies that we used to use the Andes (green) baking chips for, and we can't seem to find them anywhere. Last year I could no longer find them at Target, Walmart of Publix so I ordered a bag from Amazon which of course was price gauged. That should have been the sign that they were discontinued. This year I couldn't even find them there, and ended up just getting a bag of the red baking chips in a recent Target Drive Up order which we'll use for cocoa peppermint cookies. Since Lil' Miss reallllly wanted to make these, I picked up Andes mints and chopped them up and voila - we have Creme de Menthe cookies. 

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I have loved my old Kate Spade Felicia sneakers (perhaps a little too much!) since 2019 when I went on my first world tour for work. They were perfect and oh so comfy for all the walking through airports, site seeing, and running around convention centers. I still love to pair them with shorts, skirts, athleisure looks etc... but they are tired ya'll. Enter this pair which are on sale! 

Speaking of travel we are hoping to either head to Iceland (hoping to squeeze Ireland or Scotland in there too!) or on an Alaska Cruise in the new year. After experiencing the incredible splendors of the Alaska Cruise I went on with work last year (my last hurrah before being laid off), I came back saying we all HAD to go experience it together. I'm pretty set with the colder weather gear, but this ribbed beanie was too cute to pass up. 

I still can't get enough Kenny Flowers pieces, and added their new long sleeve wrap dress and this resort dress in the most darlin Aperol Spritz print to my wish list. 

I'm also swooning over this showstopping skirt for all the holiday fun, and need this acrylic dry erase calendar for my home office. 

I used to ask for perfume every year, but it's been a while since I received a fresh new bottle. I still can't resist this scent that I've loved since college. Forever a classic. I also finally caved and want to try contouring to up my makeup look game. My makeup routine is pretty basic, and I'd love to glow a little more on date nights and girls night out. I keep seeing this stick on TikTok, and have officially been influenced. 

I'm currently storing my jewelry on a necklace tree and ring dishes, but think this jewelry organizer will fit seamlessly in my closet. Or on this table that I'd use as a vanity. 

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Simply Thankful

This year has had it's ups and downs, but there is still SO much that I'm thankful for going into this week of giving thanks.

I'm thankful for.... 

Even though Lil' Miss had a scary fall earlier this year and reconstructive surgery on her right ear in September - she was a super brave girl and is doing really well. She's even back in the pool after a few months off from swim team and back in the gymnastics gym.

After 2 major health scares when both of my parents were hospitalized with cardiac issues while I was traveling for work which led to my dad's open heart surgery - they are both doing well. My mom's heart no longer shows any signs that she had a heart attack, and my dad is recovering well from his major surgery. 

I was laid off from the job that I loved for 6 and 1/2 years, but am fortunate to still have some freelance work and am slowly building my client list. I would be devastated if I was left without any work for the past several months. Not just financially devastating, but it would be hard for my brain not to be challenged and for my sense of self worth too. Looking forward to more positive opportunities to end out this year and to welcome in 2025.

I'm thankful to live in the sunshine state and enjoy year round outdoor living. Growing up in Connecticut was rough this time of year with how bone chilling cold it would get and all the leaves fallen off the trees. I've lived in Florida for 14 years and it truly never gets old to see lush palm trees and spend the weekends outside in the middle of winter.

Tank in Tennis Green | Boyfriend Jeans | Necklace

I'm thankful for these amazing friendships. Moving to a new state as an adult was not for the faint of heart when it came to re-building a social life. We are incredibly fortunate to have fallen into this group of friends that we consider framily. There's never any fighting, gossip, etc... just lots of laughs and strong bonds of always being there for each other as we navigate life. 

Happy Birthday to one of our bestest!

I'm thankful for the opportunities this little blog has presented me with. Most recently, I was invited to attend the preview event for the new Ashley Snell Collection store in the Florida Mall. I sipped and shopped my way through the store, and was swooning over the color coded layout of the store. I was really drawn to the two-toned sets, and in the end chose the Barbie pink (of course).

Always always thankful for my little family, and little things like spending the day with my mini. She LOVES to go shopping (no surprise), and tagged along on a recent trip to Ulta where I got my out of control eyebrows cleaned up at the Benefit Brow Bar and picked up some items I was influenced to buy on TikTok. Has anyone else been wanting to try the Tarte Concealer Paw Brush and Colored Clay CC Undereye Corrector after all the amazing videos on TikTok? Just me? Well, I went in looking for those 2 items, and ended up walking out with the Paw Brush (which is AMAZING) and Benefit's Boi-ing Bright On Brightening Undereye Concealer. One of the associates steered me away from the Colored Clay CC Undereye Corrector and toward the Benefit Boi-ing since she said it provides better coverage with less caking. I am happy to report she was right!

Lil' Miss pointed out almost everything in the store to put on her list for Santa, and was one happy little girl. She was also proud to see her new Caboodle that she got for her birthday and has already filled up with all her hair accessories and chapsticks. 

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Hello November

We are almost halfway into November, and Thanksgiving will be here before we know it. I never came back for an update on how everything went with Hurricane Milton. Thankfully, we had minimal damage on our screen enclosure around the pool and lost power for 2 days. We were extremely lucky to say the least. 

Before the storm we finally indulged in the fall coffee flights at a local coffee shop, and checked out a new-to-us local brewery that has a DELISH food truck on-site. I don't typically order burgers, but when I do it needs to be worth every bite and the Irregular Smash Burgers totally hit the spot. YUM!

Tie-Front Top | Sunnies

After we weathered the storm, and got back into routine it was time to celebrate Lil' Miss' 8th birthday with tickets to see the Olympic gymnasts including the GOAT herself, Simone Biles at the Gold Over America Tour. 

We also celebrated the birthdays of our friends' twin daughters. Can't believe they are 7 and our sweet girl is now 8. Time needs to slooooooow down please and thank you.

Maxi Dress {30% off} | Sunnies

Lil' Miss chose tickets to the Gold Over America Tour this year instead of a party, so we celebrated at home with a made from scratch pumpkin spice cake, and she was VERY excited about her new Stanley cup to take to school. It was also flannel day on her birthday, so she didn't even have to wear her uniform.

That weekend we enjoyed some more local food trucks and a trunk-or-treat before the main event of trick-or-treating at her bestie's neighborhood. It was her first time trick-or-treating outside of our neighborhood and going with a friend. Precious!

We squeezed in a quick date night at a new-to-us Mexican restaurant to try their margaritas and I of course got a rice bowl which was of course delish.

I had an overdue hair appointment to clean up my ends and cover up the grays (that feeling when your stylist is painting the hair dye on over the grays is the BEST feeling!), and I arrived to her festive studio. The tree was up and she even had 'Tis the Season burning while I got a fresh do.

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