The Holidays in Pictures

I really feel that a picture speaks a thousand words, especially when it comes to the holidays. There are so many things going on during the holidays and so many emotions happening at the same time that it can often be difficult to describe that time in words. For my family, the holidays are always a time full of chaos, laughter, bickering, and fun. We are a family of documenters - my brother is a filmmaker, my dad loves photography, and I'm over here blogging - so sometimes it can get chaotic when we're all trying to snap pictures/videos of the amazing food my mom makes. Through it all, however, we always find time to sit down and live in the moment - after we've taken the perfect food picture! Enjoy (: 

I hope your holidays with friends and family were just as wonderful. Cherish every moment you have because this life truly is spectacular ♥

Resolutions + Achievements

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Happy New Year everyone! I love getting the opportunity to have a fresh start with the new year so I thought I would share my new year's resolutions to help keep me on track! After getting started on this post, however, it really got me thinking - at the end of every year, why don't we also celebrate the achievements of the past year and focus on how far we've come as well? This year I've achieved so much and didn't even realize it until I stopped to think about the year that's gone by. I've shared some of my happiest and biggest achievements of the past year below and I hope that you will sit down, even just for a moment, to reflect on and appreciate what you've achieved this year, too. It's something we rarely take the time to do and it's one of the most important because what's the point of making new goals if you don't celebrate where you've been? 

• Graduated college and started a big girl job
• Adopted an animal & started volunteering at an animal shelter
• Moved to a new city (and made friends! - whew!)
• Started a blog (:

But ahhhh back to the new year's resolution. Every year I always make a huge list of things I want to accomplish and like 99% of people, my resolutions usually fall through the cracks. I struggle with new year's resolutions because I have too many things I want to accomplish and not enough time! There are so many languages I want to learn, so many things I want to write about, and so many places I want to go. I've already made a giant list of things I want to accomplish in my planner, but I know fully well that it's completely impossible to accomplish everything. I think half the time, I write things down just to remind myself of all the goals I have in life - even if it won't be accomplished in that year.

This year, I hope to actually keep my new year's resolution by making this year's focus on one thing only. As cheesy as it is, I think this is the year that I want to truly focus on my health. Not just the working out/sweating type of health but a more comprehensive type of health. I want to eat healthier. I want to focus on the health of not only problem spots like love handles, but body parts like my teeth and skin as well (This means moisturizing and flossing - things that lazy me hates to do!). I also want to practice more self-care and to remember to schedule time for myself to keep my emotions and mind just as healthy as my body.

On top of all of that, however, I also plan on looking at this resolution from a more bird's eye view perspective because I want be kind to myself throughout the process of becoming a healthier me. If that means a cookie here and a lazy morning there instead of cardio or a salad, then that's okay, too. So this year, I'm hoping to keep my resolution of being healthy - but with a little dose of realism and honesty (: 

What are your resolutions this year? This is a great time of year to re-vamp and get a fresh start on any new goals - but remember to be kind to yourself in the process! 

Last-Minute Holiday Gift Guide!

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I'm usually a huge planner making lists upon lists of Christmas gifts months before the holiday gifting season even starts, but there are always a few that somehow slip through the cracks and become a part of my last minute scramble to get every gift ready for the holidays. I thought I would share my last-minute holiday gift guide for every type of person on your gift list!

For the coffee addict:

Starbucks Mugs: $10-$30 (Their holiday styles are on sale now!) Any coffee addict knows that a big, cozy coffee mug makes a huge difference when it comes to rough mornings. Starbucks has a huge selection of mugs in all shapes and sizes with a huge variety of patterns as well. Their travel mugs and tumblers, too, are some of the sturdiest and most stylish ones out there. I've found that a lot of mytravel mugs end up leaking after use or start to deteriorate after a season, but my Starbucks mugs are always just as put together as the first day I bought them. 

For the mother-in-law:

Bath & Body Works Candles: $22.50 (currently $15 on sale!). Candles are one of the easiest gifts for anyone who owns a home or apartment and loves making it just a little bit homier! Bath & Body Works has an amazing line of three-wick candles that comes in all kinds of scents. Since the holiday season is prime time for candle buying - they're very easy to find and pick up - which makes them perfect for last-minute gifting! 

For the work-a-holic:

Day Designer: $50 + Shipping. I haven't even started using my 2016 Day Designer yet and I'm already suggesting it as a gift. Work-a-holics need an on point organization to get all of their work done and Day Designers offer a classy, beautifully styled planner that is set up to make organizing hectic lives easier. 

Desk Terrarium: $18-$50.  Work-a-holics are constantly stressed and staring at a boring desk all day can make for long days. A desk terrarium brings a little bit of green outdoorsiness into the office and can help brighten your work-a-holic's mood! 

For the hard-to-shop-for dad/brother:

Go Tech: cost varies. I've always found it incredibly difficult to shop for the men in my life (dad, brother, boyfriend - you name it) but one thing I've found that they generally all appreciate is tech gifts . While tech gifts tend to be a little on the pricier side, the sleeker and more high-tech a gift is, the more likely they are to appreciate the gift! Some examples of past gifts I've given include noise cancelling headphones like these and wireless chargers like this one.

Birchbox Man: $20/month (or less if you buy a 3 or 6 month deal). I know, I know - here she goes again with the subscription boxes - I can't help it! Subscription boxes have not only been fun for me, they've also been a life saver when it comes to gift ideas. There's a subscription box for nearly everything and when it's gifting season and I'm running out of ideas, they are perfect because all you have to do is select a box that caters to the interests of your giftee. Plus, it's a gift that keeps giving long after the holiday season has passed, which in my opinion, makes it more fun! Birchbox man is an awesome box if you have a hard-to-shop-for man in your life. It provides a monthly subscription of hygiene and lifestyle items that are picked and sent for you (less work for you!). 

For the couple-friends:

Groupons: cost varies. As I've gotten older, there are more and more cases where I feel like I need to get my couple friends a collective "couple gift" rather than individual gifts - especially since I usually know one of them better than the other but don’t want the other to feel left out! Usually when I'm in a pickle like this, Groupon becomes my number one source of "couple" gift ideas. There are tons of date night ideas to choose from - plus, you can instantly print the groupon out or send it via email which makes it a perfect last-minute gift. 

For the health-crazed:

Fitbit: varies. I can't say enough good things about my fitbit and would highly recommend it to anyone else who is looking to keep better tabs on their fitness goals this upcoming year. Tracking my eating habits and workouts has given me a realistic look at what I need to do to be healthier - plus it's fun to compete with friends who also have fitbits to see who can get the most steps (:

ClassPass: varies by city. If you're lucky enough to live in or close to a big city, ClassPass is a fantastic service that allows you to take classes at boutique yoga, pilates, cycling or other fitness studios with just one pass (instead of having to buy each membership individually!) While I currently do not have a class pass because I'm part of a gym that offers great classes, Classpass is something I've considered joining over and over again because it offers such an unbeatable deal. 

For the perpetually-cold:

Toast Hand Warmers: $46. Not only are these the cutest hand warmers to have ever graced the earth, they are also incredibly useful for the perpetually-cold! Just make sure to check on the dress code of your friend's office - while they're adorable, they may not be considered "professional"!

For the cat-lover:

Space Cat Leggings: $16.  Because….well, who doesn’t want leggings with cats in space on them. 

I hope that these last-minute holiday gift ideas can help round out your holiday shopping for the 2015 season! Happy Holidays everyone!