Tag: Blogmas

Things I hate about Winter

Published on by Alicia7 Comments

Since yesterday I did a ‘Things I love about Winter’ post I figured I would also do some things I can’t stand about winter as well. Let’s get to it.

  1. Snow: When it starts sticking to the road, or there’s two feet of it, snow is cute in theory but when shoveling or driving… it sucks. 6358850260363475541669827596_snow-lol
  2. Middle aged mothers Christmas Shopping: I was walking past a Walmart the other day and an ambulance carted away a middle-aged mother who WE ALL KNOW was fighting with another mother over a Tickle Me Elmo
  3. People who forget how to drive: when it snows people seem to forget that we have to be careful on the roads and can’t drive recklessly. I have driven by so many accidents and technically winter hasn’t even started.635885028134763668-1390405487_ice
  4. People who get offended when you say “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas”: Basically I hate white people.
  5. Dry skin: I have dry skin as it is, but with winter and the lack of moisture in the ar, my skin becomes drier than ever.
  6. Getting sick: I am literally sick all winter. Even when I’m not sick… I am.635885034725424394210259464_sick
  7. Cold… cold… cold: Brrr
  8. Wet hair freezes: I can’t leave the house with wet hair or my hair might break.
  9. Football: I love football but every year as we near playoffs and the Super Bowl it reminds me just how terrible the Bears are.
  10. It starts getting dark ridiculously early:6358850389277538012035426193_early

Until tomorrow

Alicia

Things I love about Winter

Published on by Alicia5 Comments

Winter hasn’t officially begun, but with the cold temperatures and snow we have already had, I’d say it’s winter enough. Despite always being sick and having to shovel snow, winter is a pretty cool season, and I thought I’d give you some reasons why (I started out optimistic with 100 reasons but if there aren’t 100 reasons why I love my dog (there sure as hell aren’t 100 reasons for loving winter).

  1. Snow: when it coats the trees and bushes, and the large flakes land softly on your hair, it’s so beautifultumblr_mea4mvcfh91rdyi7so1_500
  2. Christmas: Being able to get together with family, friends and being able to catch up on anything and everything is such a good thing to do.
  3. The clothes: I love boots and sweaters and scarves… basically any item worn when it’s cold out.
  4. Peppermint: Candy canes and peppermint coffee, peppermint hot chocolate… I love my peppermint
  5. Lights: houses all over are covered in white lights, colored lights, twinkling lights, and everything in between. Driving down streets with snow covered lights is like driving in a winter wonderlandtumblr_nf6zrn2shz1tjfv6go1_500
  6. Christmas music: Any Christmas is a jam and I will listen to all of them long after Christmas is over
  7. Cozy pajamas: Cute and warm pajamas with penguins, snowmen, etc on them… What could be better?giphy
  8. The New Year: A fresh start, new goals, etc, is always nice.
  9. Holiday scents: Vanilla, Peppermint, Cinnamon, and Gingerbread are some of my favorite scents year round but it’s only acceptable to have them around during winter
  10. Baking: Spending the day surrounded by mixing bowls, spilled flour, and sprinkles is the perfect way to spend any winter afternoon.

Those are a few of my favorite things

Alicia

Ultimate Christmas Party Playlist

Published on by Alicia2 Comments

Hi everyone. For those of you who don’t know this about me, I am a huge music fan. All types of music you can catch me listening to, and Christmas music is so exception. I figured I would put together my ultimate Christmas playlist for you and see if some of my favorites make your playlists too

 

That’s my playlist, what’s yours?

Alicia

3 Day Quote Christmas Challenge Day 3

Published on by Alicia5 Comments

Day 3/3 for the Christmas quote challenge. I hope you all enjoyed these quotes and even if I don’t tag you/ you don’t decide to do this challenge at all, I would love if you left one (or more) of your favorite Christmas quotes in the comments as I am curious as to what everyone’s are. Onto the third and final quote

“My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that?”—  Bob Hope

We all need to take a look at this quote. The world is filled with so much hatred, 2016 has been especially hate-filled. When the holiday season rolls around, we seem to forget this hatred, for just a month, and we begin to love everyone.

We then make New Year’s Resolutions about being better people and within the month we are back to our hateful ways.

This quote makes me want the world to be filled with love year round. We don’t just have to love one another during the month of December, we have to love each other always.

That’s it for the three day quote challenge.

I tag…

Allie       Bella         Renxkyoko        Jess        Alana        AnInspiredTeen      Sarah       Tabi

Until tomorrow

Alicia

3 Day Quote Christmas Challenge Day 2

Published on by Alicia5 Comments

Hi everyone. I’m back for the Christmas Quote Challenge Day 2. I realized that with this challenge you usually tag people to do this as well, but since I didn’t tag anyone yesterday, I’ll tag a few people to do it tomorrow. Obviously you don’t have to be tagged to do it (I wasn’t) but just to spread the challenge around is why people are tagged. Onto the 2nd quote:

“Christmas is a tonic for our souls. It moves us to think of others rather than of ourselves. It directs our thoughts to giving”- B C Forbes

Something I feel everyone (myself included) does is spend their days thinking of themselves. While it is necessary to put yourself first, you need to stop and think about others. The holiday season is the perfect time to do so.

During the holiday season, people try to give back as much as possible because we see how much we have and how little those around us have as well. It is a time when we see how privileged we are to have a roof over our heads, food on our tables, and clothes on our backs. People near and far volunteer at soup kitchens, donate winter clothes, and donate any money they can.

I love this quote because it reminds me that not only I see the many ways people give back during the holidays, and if that doesn’t make you happy I don’t know what will.

Until tomorrow

Alicia

3 day Christmas Quote challenge Day 1

Published on by Alicia8 Comments

Hi everyone, I have decided to do this 3 day Quote Challenge but with some of my favorite Christmas Quotes. I have always been a big quote fan, so why not share my favorites here on this blog? Let’s get started with day one.

“One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas Day” – Andy Rooney

Since discovering this quote a couple weeks ago, I have been in love with it. It takes me back to when I was younger, waking up bright and early on Christmas morning. Since it was only about 5 o’clock and I wasn’t allowed to wake anyone else up until 9, I would peek into my stocking and eye up my gifts under the tree hoping to make out what a few of them were.

I would turn on the TV to watch Disney, Nickelodeon, or a Christmas movie until 9am came and I was able to wake up my family.

After jumping on my parents bed, awakening them from their slumber, and sprinting down the stairs, I soon was surrounded by wrapping paper, empty boxes, and of course, my presents.

As my sister and I opened gift after gift, my dad stopped trying to keep up with the wrapping paper being thrown his way and let the festively colored paper litter the floor around us.

The wrapping paper not only held gifts, but it held the happiness and thanks of my sister and I for receiving these amazing presents and it also held love and caring from Santa (my parents) for taking the time to buy  us these amazing gifts.

Never forget, the mess of wrapping paper among the floor every Christmas is so much more than a mess.

Until tomorrow’s quote

Alicia

The Best Christmas present I’ve ever Received

Published on by Alicia14 Comments

Since yesterday I posted about the worst Christmas gift I received, I figured I would counter back with the best Christmas gift I ever received. I have received so many amazing presents throughout the years so it was hard to pinpoint only one, but this gift was amazing and hilarious so let’s get started

Every year my aunt would tell me I was going to get an ugly Christmas sweater. I would sort of get excited because… let’s be honest, they’re pretty hilarious. Anyway, every year I would open presents and there would never be an ugly Christmas sweater in any box from her I had opened.

2 years ago, my aunt went around with the same ‘You’re getting an ugly Christmas sweater” and told me it was really bad; really, really bad. Naturally, since she had told me this for the past 6 or so years, I didn’t believe her and moved on.

Christmas Eve came and we were opening some presents after dinner, after passing out all of the presents, I took a seat in front of my gifts and began to open them. As I reached the red wrapped rectangle box from my aunt, I tore open the wrapping paper, opened the box and lo and behold was an ugly Christmas sweater, handmade by my aunt and uncle.

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shocked doesn’t begin to describe it

They spent like 4 hours making this ugly sweater adorned with bells, reindeer, googly eyes (conveniently placed on my boobs) and so much more for me to wear the next day. My aunt was so pleased with herself for finally getting me a sweater and it was super cool to finally have one and a handmade sweater at that.

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had to take some photos for my mom’s acebook of course

What was your favorite Christmas gift?

Alicia

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The Worst Christmas Present I’ve ever Received

Published on by Alicia5 Comments

Hi everyone, still going strong with Blogmas. Now, I don’t like to be rude and I accept all of my presents with the utmost appreciation and thanks. Anyone who spends the time to go out of their way and buy/make me a present is so amazing and I am truly thankful. However, there have been some gifts I have received where I was like ‘What in the world is this/ why am I receiving it?’

The most memorable example of this was last Christmas. Every year we go to my grandpa’s house the weekend before or after Christmas to exchange gifts with that side of the family but my dad’s borther and family are never in attendance, but their gifts are.

Typically we get a Target gift card and some candy and call it a day. Last year, however, instead of a neatly wrapped bag of candy with a giftcard attached to the ribbon, there was an abnormally heavy gift bag. I was so weirded out because it was so out of the ordinary.

I opened the bag, and there was a heaping bag of bird seed (it ended up being granola but it looked like a bag that I have purchased for my bird before) wrapped up in white tissue paper. My sister and I both got this bird seed granola mix thing and we were both confused as to why we got it and it tasted terrible and stale. Needless to say, that went straight to the garbage once we got home.

It wasn’t the worst thing we could’ve received but it did taste like garbage and who gifts granola?

Until tomorrow

Alicia

Christmas Favorites

Published on by Alicia6 Comments

Hello again, I’m going to be making a Christmas Favorites filled with my all-time favorite Christmas movies, songs, and food and why they are my personal faves. Let’s Get started.

Movies:

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1.How the Grinch Stole Christmas: By far my all-time favorite Christmas movie. Either version is phenomenal, but the more recent, un-animated version comes out on top. It is hilarious and I relate to the Grinch so much. Also, it is almost never on, so when it is, it is definitely a treat.

2. Home Alone: This movie is the sole thing that taught me that it’s okay to laugh at other people’s pain.

3. The Polar Express: Such a classic. My favorite part was when the conductor cut out words into each of the children’s tickets and I remember I bought a hole punch to recreate those ticket… without success I might add.

4.Fred Claus:This was one of the worst movies ever, it was good. I haven’t seen it in ages but Vince Vaughn and a British actress whose name I can’t remember did too. The only thing I really remember is that at the end of the movie Vince Vaughn is in that woman’s bedroom and she says ‘Wh-Why are you in my bedroom?” and the way she said bedroom my sister and I still laugh at it and I have absolutely no idea why.

'Elf' Film - 2003

5. Elf: Everyone knows this is one of the best Christmas movies and there really is no arguing.

Songs:

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1.Mariah Carey’s All I want for Christmas is You: I can (and will) go hard to this song at any given point of the year. Watch me.

2. I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas: This is such a cute song and I loved it when I was little and still do.

3. Santa Claus is coming to town: I remember singing this song to myself when I was a youngster on Christmas Eve to try to get me to go to sleep. I was always afraid that if I didn’t fall asleep Santa wouldn’t come.

4. Last Christmas- I would always belt this song.. But I never gave anyone my heart so…

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5. The 12 Days of Christmas: I can still recite this entire song word for word and I only have public schools to blame for that.

Food:

1.Turkey. HAHAHAHAHAA JUST KIDDING. Eat mashed potatoes not animals :’) But with all seriousness mashed potatoes (any potatoes) make any occasion a holiday.

Candy cane

2. Candy Canes: They scream Christmas

3. Hot chocolate: Not really food but nothing is better than making some hot chocolate and curling up in front of the TV to a night long movie marathon.

4. Chocolate Peanut Butter balls: My aunt makes these amazing chocolate covered peanut butter balls

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6. Sugar cookies: Christmas would not be complete without decorating sugar cookies and getting more sprinkles on the ground than on the cookies

 

Those are some of my Christmas favorites, what are yours?

Alicia

Christmas Wish List

Published on by Alicia4 Comments

“What do you want for Christmas?” Is by far the worst question to be asked. I spend 11 months of my life circling clothes, makeup, books. Etc. in catalogs and when December 1st comes and I can’t think of a single thing I want. This year, my mom sent me an email (just text me mom) at the beginning of November telling my sister and I to get a move on with our Christmas Lists. Here are a few that made my list this year.

shopping

1.A GoPro- Something I have always really wanted to do is travel and as much as I hate to say it… I would be one of those girls who films everything. Yes I like to live in the moment but I would love to showcase my experiences with my friends and family and myself to relive the adventures that I had.

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2. Eat, Pray, Love- Speaking of traveling, everyone has recommended this book to me and I have never read it. I really want to and have just never thought about buying it at Barnes and Noble, so hopefully someone can fulfill my longing for this book this Christmas

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3. Feminist t-shirts- Ever since the election, I have decided to never stop fighting and to never stop showing my support for every single minority living in this country. Feminist Apparel links take up so much of my list because their shirts have very powerful messages on them but are still super cute and you can wear them whenever… even to your family in the south’s house…

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4. Lush Products- Being the vegan gal I am, while also having dry and sensitive skin, Lush is like my heaven. I love their face masks, body scrubs, massage bars, bath bombs, bath bars…hell if I had the money, I’d buy the entire store.

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  1. Lippies- if you’ve followed my blog for awhile or even read my about page, you know your girl has a lipstick addiction. I have an entire shoebox of lipsticks and after some family spilling the beans about my presents, I might need another shoebox. My top three I really want for Christmas are LimeCrime’s Blondie, Jeffree Star’s Gemini, and Coloured Raine’s Sorbet.

That’s my list… What’s yours?

Holiday Bucket List

Published on by Alicia9 Comments

Hi everyone! Every year, there are certain things I feel the need to do to make the most out of my Holiday season. Some things I do no matter what ie. finish Christmas shopping and others ie. Build a snowman can be thrown under the rug with the hustle and bustle of the Holiday season. I figured I would make a list of Holiday things to do in the hopes I get all of them done, let’s see.

  1. Finish Christmas Shopping (I have two more gifts to buy.. One for the hardest person to shop for ever and the other for my dog)
  2. See the Christmas trees at the Museum of Science and Industry: We used to do this almost every year but haven’t in a while and it is such a cool thing. You get to experience Christmases from all over the world
  3. Visit the Christkindlmarket: Like the Christmas market in Germany… but in the United States and not nearly as big… just as cool and still with the gross hot wine
  4. Drive around and look at Christmas decorations: There is one road I drive on a lot that millionaires (owner of Portillos) live on and they have the most extravagant Christmas displays. Such a beautiful thing to marvel at.
  5. See the Macy’s tree and windows: I know so many people go to Macy’s in the winter to admire the Christmas windows and the Christmas tree in the nutcracker room but I have never done this and have always wanted to.
  6. Go to Wisconsin for the weekend
  7. Put up the Christmas tree
  8. Have a Christmas movie night: Including but not limited to: Fred Claus, Elf, Home Alone, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Santa Claus is Coming to Town
  9. Go sledding
  10. Read some good books with some wintery drinks: I have been slacking with reading and just need a cozy environment and some hot chocolate to get back into the groove of things
  11. See all of my friends while they are home on break
  12. Dress up on Christmas: You’re typically lucky to get me in jeans on any given holiday
  13. Do a winter photo shoot: Going to city with super cute clothes, snow, and holiday lights… what else should I be doing?
  14. Try to take a family photo… key word is try: My sister hates smiling, my mom can’t open her eyes and I give my dad the side-eye every time he tries to be funny… 100 attempts and still nothing worthy of sending to our 100 closest friends.
  15. Shovel some now: It’s good exercise and it’ll be nice if I do it so my dad doesn’t have to wake up early to shovel every morning
  16. Build a snowman
  17. Eat a candy cane: I used to eat them all the time but I haven’t had one in a while and I feel like the holidays can’t start until I have sharpened my candy cane to a weapon a mouth destruction
  18. Make Christmas cookies: Vegan ones of course 😉
  19. Build a gingerbread house: They are super fun to make but I always ended throwing mine away because… I hate ginger.
  20. Remember the reason for the season

That’s my quick Christmas Bucket List, what’s yours?

Alicia

The Christmas Tag!

Published on by Alicia21 Comments

Hi everyone, I figured I would start Blogmas off pretty simple and do a tag! I have seen a bunch of Christmas tags with some of the same questions and some of them switched out so I have decided to attempt this tag with some of the questions I found. Let’s begin.

  1. When do you put your Christmas tree up? Take it down? We try to get it up the weekend after Thanksgiving… but we still haven’t put it up yet. We take it down New Year’s Day or the weekend following.
  2. What is your tree topper? I think this is really funny and ironic. We have an angel on top of our tree but none of us are religious. I always suggested a star but my mom thinks the angel is pretty.
  3. Is your tree real or synthetic? Ours is synthetic. When I was younger I always wanted that Christmas tree buying experience but as I’ve gotten older I realize how much of a hassle a real tree is: expensive, messy, etc.
  4. Favorite Christmas Scent? Peppermint all the way
  5. Can you name all of Santa’s Reindeer? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen and do you recall the most famous reindeer of all Rudolph
  6. When did you stop believing in Christmas? My neighbor ruined it for me in 5th grade but I hung on to the belief for another year.
  7. White lights or colored lights? I think white lights are really classy but I love colored lights and my house is always littered in colored lights!
  8. Do you open presents on Christmas Eve or Morning? Both. I go to 5 Christmas parties over the span of 3 days so we open presents all the time.
  9. Have you ever had a white Christmas? Typically we do, but sometimes Mother Nature is rude and it snows like the day after Christmas
  10. Are your wrapping skills pinterest worthy or “Let’s use a giftbag” worthy?” Okie dokie folks. When it comes to like clothes boxes or normally shaped presents I can wrap like no other… but when it comes to like kids toys that are neither rectangular or fit into rectangular spaces.. Put it in a giftbag.
  11. All time favorite Christmas Song? Mariah Carey’s “All I want for Christmas is You.” It is such a jam and you can find me singing it at any point of the entire year.
  12. Have you ever made a snowman? Of course I have. They are so annoyingly hard though. Like you make the bottom and you’re like “Ok.. I’m done.. Oh wait, I have to make two more of those things.” Plus I could never find accessories for him/her despite knowing we have like 30 pairs of gloves hidden in my house that we never use.

I’m going to tag…

Jenny           Allie            Alana            Jess            Lu            Jamie           Sarah LifeofanInspiredTeen             Blanca             Lia

Also… If you don’t celebrate Christmas.. feel free to ignore me Sorry

Here are the questions and I can’t wait to see what you all have to say!

  1. When do you put your Christmas tree up? Take it down?
  2. What is your tree topper?
  3. Is your tree real or synthetic?
  4. Favorite Christmas Scent?
  5. Can you name all of Santa’s Reindeer?
  6. When did you stop believing in Christmas?
  7. White lights or colored lights?
  8. Do you open presents on Christmas Eve or Morning?
  9. Have you ever had a white Christmas?
  10. Are your wrapping skills pinterest worthy or “Let’s use a giftbag” worthy”
  11. All time favorite Christmas Song?
  12. Have you ever made a snowman?

Until tomorrow

Alicia

Blogmas Day 1: I’m Doing Blogmas!

Published on by Alicia10 Comments

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Happy December 1st!

So, since I am doing this really cool thing called ‘consistent blogging’ and since I blogged daily last month for #NaBloPoMo, I have decided to take a whack at doing Blogmas. I love Christmas time and the holidays in general (also I find the term Blogmas to be straight up adorable) so why not give it a go?

For those of you who don’t know what Blogmas is, you post daily from December 1st thru December 24th (sort of like an advent calendar but without the chocolate :/). You can also write a post every day for the entire month which is what I am planning on doing, however,  I’m not guaranteeing a post on the 24th or 25th because the 23rd-26th are extremely booked with parties and baking and trying to get some sleep but I will try.

I have made a list of some post ideas for myself (and for all of you too if you would like to join in on the Blogmas fun) so I may take ideas just from here but I may also just cover some other topics as I see fit. Feel free to steal any of these ideas (tag me in them if you do because I would love to read them) or give me some ideas of your own. Happy Blogmas!

  1. Christmas Wish List
  2. Christmas Favorites- Movies, Books, Songs, etc.
  3. Holiday Bucket List
  4. A Christmas cookbook
  5. Do a Christmas Tag
  6. Go on a Winter Walk… Take loads of photos
  7. Favourite Winter drink
  8. Christmas night in essentials
  9. Things I love about Christmas
  10. Christmas gift ideas
  11. Write a letter to Santa!
  12. Secret Santa gift ideas
  13. Healthy Christmas food or snacks
  14. The best Christmas present you ever received
  15. The worst Christmas present you ever received
  16. Ultimate Christmas party playlist
  17. Favorite childhood Christmas memory
  18. Go to your local Christmas Market!
  19. Christmas through the years (ghost pictures of Christmas past)
  20. Your Christmas traditions
  21. Naughty or Nice list?
  22. 3 Day Quote Challenge:
  23. A Festive post, things that you love to do at Christmas!
  24. Winter skincare must have’s
  25. Waking up on Christmas
  26. A look at your Christmas Day
  27. What you got for Christmas
  28. Do a Blogmas photo diary
  29. 100 Things you love about Winter Season
  30. December Favorites
  31. 17 in 2017
  32. Year in Review
  33. Make a list of goals you want to achieve both for you and your blog by 2017!
  34. A reflection on the year
  35. Things I loved this year

Like I said, I may do all of them, or some of them, whatever I feel like. Please join me on this fun Blogmas and leave me ideas for other Blogmas posts. Happy Blogging

Alicia