Happy New Year Everyone! I can't believe it's already been a year. It's crazy to think about how time goes by so fast. But I'm looking forward to this year. I get to hang out with my friends more, I'll start my senior year, all of my favorite shows will be starting again and I'll turn 18. Yet I still want to make this year more special. So I have decided to create some New Year's Resolutions. I do this every year and every year I say I will stick to them. Of course we all know that never happens. But I'm committed this year. I am determined.
To start off my resolutions I would like to workout more, a typical resolution. I'm not trying to lose that much weight, maybe a pound or two, but I really want to get toned, build muscle and become more healthy. I have also started a workout journal to record my exercise everyday, as well as set goals for myself every month. I also would like to stretch everyday and hopefully by the end of the year I will be able to do the splits. I also want to eat healthier since my current diet consists of nothing but junk food.
Next I would like to be more organized. I want to keep my room completely clean, organize all my school supplies, and sort through my closet. I want to have a place for everything and keep everything in it's place. When I go to look for something, it should be in it's place. I also need to stop buying more clothes or my closet will explode.
For me, I would like to do more of the things I like to do. Every weekend I would like to watch at least one movie or a couple episodes of a series on Netflix. I would also like to paint my nails every week. I am going to dress better instead of wearing a t-shirt and jeans everyday. I would like to look better. I'm going to try to hang out with my friends more often, at least once a month. I am also going to say yes more. Instead of making up excuses, I'm just going to go with the flow. I'm going to have more fun and have a good time. I need to stop caring about what others think and just do whatever I want.
And my final resolution is to have a kick ass year.
A DIY Gift Guide For Friends and Family: Part 2
I get most of my gift ideas from Pinterest. I decided that instead of retelling all the ideas here, I would just lead you straight to the inspiration. This link will take you to my gift board on Pinterest. It has all of my gifting ideas ready for you to look at. I hope you enjoy!
- DIY Holiday Gift Roundup (brokegirlsgoout.wordpress.com)
- DIY Giftwrap and Tags (shoes-off-please.com)
- Gift Guides & DIY Inspiration! (poufpiece.com)
- A Gift Guide of Gift Guides (hipstercooker.wordpress.com)
- Gift guide to DIY christmas gifts (apieceofcait.wordpress.com)
- Pinterest Holidays For the Poor (tryingtobesocialgirl.wordpress.com)
- Holiday Gift Ideas 2013 (makesomethingmondays.wordpress.com)
I love Christmastime! (Who doesn't?) And I really want to start some new Christmas traditions. I don't really have any with my family right now, but I'm hoping once I move out I'll be able to make some new traditions. I've compiled a list of Christmas traditions that would be perfect for every family to do together.
DECORATING IDEAS
- Pick out a tree: Preferably a real tree. I've never had a real tree before but this seems like the perfect thing to do to get in the Christmas spirit.
- Decorate the house and tree: Even if you live in an apartment, you can still decorate. Sting some lights up and put a santa over there. Its not much, but work with what you have. (And if you want some decorating ideas see #4 under presents or #3 and #4 under decorating)
- String lights throughout the house: I keep my lights strung throughout my room up year round. But for Christmas, you could string them through the living room to make it cozy.
- Make DIY Decorations: Check out Pinterest for amazing ideas.
PRESENT IDEAS
- Wrap 24 books, CDs and DVDs: Put them under the tree and every night from December 1-24 unwrap one. Go to the thrift shop or dollar store and see if you can find some cheap picture books or maybe some Christmas DVDs. These don't have to be expensive, as there will probably be more gifts that you give each other.
- Make 1 DIY gift: DIY gifts are one way to show that you care and put some time into your gift. I've created a DIY gift guide if you would like some ideas.
- Open 1 present Christmas Eve: I think it would be cute to unwrap the DIY gift you make each one another, or if you are doing the book idea, you could give the book or CD or DVD that they have been dying to get.
- Buy each other ornaments: This one is really perfect for those couples spending their first Christmas together. Each year, buy each other one ornament to unwrap Christmas eve. Then put the ornaments on the tree together. Every year, you'll be able to look back and see all the ornaments you bought each other as you put them on the tree.
THINGS TO DO
- Make gingerbread cookies and sugar cookies: Or maybe a gingerbread house from scratch if you're feeling up to the challenge.
- Light Christmas candles: Check out the Bath and Body Works candles. They are AMAZING.
- Watch Christmas movies together: This would be especially cute on Christmas Eve with hot chocolate and cookies.
- Take a picture on Santa's lap: Once again this is perfect for new couples, or families with kids. You could use the picture as Christmas cards or make them into ornaments.
- Go iceskating: This is one of my favorite things to do.
- Have a snowball fight or build a snowman: (or BOTH!) You could only do these if you lived in snow, but I think it's perfect for winter and Christmas.
- Holiday Traditions (thepinterestedparent.wordpress.com)
- 30 Holiday Traditions to Start This Year (sexymoxiemama.wordpress.com)
- Holiday Memories (melissasosburn.wordpress.com)
- Christmas Tree Decorating Ideas (wayfair.com)
- Holiday Traditions: Part 2: Christmas (corinnepeabody.wordpress.com)
- Get Ready for the Holiday's (megishasbranch.wordpress.com)
Black Friday. The one day a year known for people waiting outside for hours, just to get a good deal. But it's so hard to find where those good deals are, and what you should buy. I've compiled a list of some of my black friday targets, and what I will be looking for once I get there.
Target: It is no secret that I love target, and the fact that they have amazing Black Friday deals makes me love them even more. They have $60 of iTunes Gift Cards for $50, iPad Mini for 16GB for $299 with a $75 Target Gift Card, and the thing at the top of my wishlist, The iPhone 5S for $179.99 with a $30 Target Gift Card. Another thing that I have my eye on are their CDs, DVDs, Blu-Rays, and books. They make amazing gifts for friends and family, as well as, myself. They have Movies from $1-$9, Tv Shows from $8-$10, CDs from $5-$7, Box Movie Sets for $13, and Books are $7 or 50% off. Of course, this isn't on all of them, but it's still a really good deal.
Ulta: For all of the makeup fanatics out there, Ulta has some great deals. There are 3 Piece Bare Minerals Gift Sets for $10 and 3 for $30 0n the ENTIRE The Body Shop Line. And that is only the beginning. I suggest if you plan on getting makeup as a gift for someone, you do it now.
PacSun: I am in LOVE with the PacSun jeans. They are pretty much the only ones I own. And I am so happy, that they are once again having Denim Buy One, Get One FREE. They are also doing Buy One, Get One 50% Sitewide. At least that's what the email, I got said, saying they are going to have early access to these black friday deals starting at midnight. I'm assuming they will also have the BOGO 50% in store too. I'm not sure if they will have anymore deals, but I'm pretty pleased with the current ones.
Forever 21: I haven't seen any Black Friday deals for Forever 21. I'm assuming they will have some, since they have been doing Pre Black Friday deals for the past week. I'm really looking forward to it since I have my eye one a few things over there.
Bath and Body Works: I will definitely be making my way here. Currently they have Buy Three, Get Three Free on their signature line, but I don't know if they will keep it around until black friday. I honestly hope so, because my friends love it when I give the Bath and Body Works. I also hope they put their candles back on sale because I am in love with them and I have a candle problem.
Aeropostale: Recently, I haven't found that much at Aeropostale, but I'm super excited because The ENTIRE Site and Store are 60% off. I'm kind of bummed that the Bethany Mota Collection won't be out for black friday because I will probably buy all of it. But I do think I'm going to find some pretty sweet deals.
These are only a few of the many places with black friday deals. Feel free to leave a comment below and share some of the deals you know about, or where you're going this black friday.
In the past, I have always felt the need to buy my friends gifts. Mostly, it's because it's so much easier than figuring out what to make them and it means a little more than a gift card. But this year, I'm going to try something new. I've composed a list of some of the perfect gifts for my friends and I thought I would share them with you. Most of these gifts I probably won't give out, just because I don't have that many friends. But I would probably pair some of these together because they're super easy to make and some of these would go great together.
Hand Painted Mug: This would be great for that coffee or tea fanatic in your life, or maybe someone who just likes hot chocolate. I would highly recommend giving this with maybe a few coffee or tea samples, or maybe a packet of hot chocolate mix. It's super easy to make this, and you can personalize it for the person your giving this to.
Decorated Picture Frame: This is perfect for family or friends that you have a lot of great memories with. It is also another great gift that is personalized and very easy to make. A twist on this would be getting a wooden box, like from Michaels, and glue the picture to the top. You can decorate the outside of the box however you want. On the inside, it gives the recipient a place to put whatever the want, maybe notes or other pictures.
Jar of Cookie or Brownie Mix: I say this is perfect for anyone who loves food or sweets. Basically all you do is find a recipe that your friend would like and put the dry ingredients into a mason jar. Then you attach a note of that other ingredients they need and how to bake it. Honestly it's not that hard and I would love to get.
Gift Baskets: Gift baskets have been around since the beginning of time and people make a ton of money selling them to people to lazy to put together their own. It actually very easy to do your own. All you need is either a gift bag, box, or basket, and the items to put in it. For girls, you could try organizing a makeup basket or possibly a basket full of items for a pamper day. For guys, (girls probably would like these too) you could try a basket full of their favorite foods, or maybe the items for a movie night. Or you could come up with your own idea, the possibilities are endless.
Stay tuned, I'll be doing more posts full of more great ideas!
This is how you can create a very simple mess-free Snow Globe, or "Snow Jar".
To start off you will need:
- Mason Jar
- Fake snow, it is also called Plastic Snow
- Hot Glue
- Ornaments that will fit inside the mason jar, like Tree Ornaments or Plastic Toys.
The first thing you need to do is make sure mason jar is clean, especially if you have previously used it for something else. Then, unscrew the lid and place it in front of you. Hot glue the bottom of the ornaments to the inside of the lid. When you screw the lid back on the ornaments should be hanging up side down, when the jar is upright. Next, open your bag of fake snow. Scoop about 1 tablespoon-2tablespoons into the mason jar. How much you put in your jar depends on how big it is and how much snow you want in there. Finally, screw the lid back on and shake up your "snow jar".
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