The Night Before Christmas

Well, the week before.  But we'll blink, and it will be Christmas Eve.  Happy Wednesday and welcome to Holiday Style with The Blended Blog. Go there to link up with us, and then head to hostess Christy's blog to see what she's up to!

Today we're sharing our favorite pj's.  Full disclosure:  I don't own cute pajamas.  Most of the time you'll find me in mis-matched fleece type tops and bottoms, often with socks and another sweatshirt on top.  Because I'm always cold, even at night.

But I'm always up for a challenge, so I went in search of pj's that would keep me warm AND be kinda cute.  Success!  

I found these at Macy's, but can't seem to locate them online.  Bah humbug!  I threw on my favorite Blardigan from Nordstrom, because there's nothing cozier than that.  I'm excited to have matching pajama's for Christmas Day!

I'm taking a little blogging break until the first of the year.  Thank you so much for spending the past twelve months with me.  Wishing you and your families a very Merry Christmas!

Jingle All The Way: The Christmas Things

Happy Monday!  Hope it was a great weekend.  I had big plans to bake and wrap...but college boy came home, and Conner and his girlfriend were here, so I enjoyed their company instead.  The rest will get done eventually, right?

And yes, our poor tree has been tied up this year, because we've got a little Mt. Crumpet thing going on and I'm afraid it might tip over.  This one is almost 15 years old, and I think it's time for something new.  Best place to buy an artificial tree?

Today I'm linking up with The Blended Blog to share favorite Christmas movies, music, and decor.  Be sure to head over and link up your favorites too!

You've seen my Christmas decor many times on the blog, so I thought I'd highlight a few different pieces, starting with this cross-stitch Santa and Mrs. Claus that I made in high school.

My mom taught me to cross-stitch when I was 7 or 8, and I loved it.  Although it looks simple, this one took hours and hours to complete and I remember being so proud of myself when it was done.

I found this cute snowman at Big Lots after Thanksgiving, and he's the perfect centerpiece for our kitchen table.  I kind of want his whole outfit.

I shared this ornament on IG last week.  We bought it at the Louvre when we were in Paris, and it brings back great memories from our trip.  Do you buy ornaments when you travel?

I love all the Christmas music, and as soon as Thanksgiving is over, I tune every channel on my car radio to Christmas stations.  This year we discovered Gwen Stefani's album "You Make It Feel Like Christmas".  It's a good one!

There's only one Christmas movie that I watch every year, no matter what...Elf.  Other favorites are Serendipity (not exactly a Christmas movie, but a lot of it takes place during Christmas), and Miracle on 34th Street (which I saw for the first time last year.  Clearly I was deprived as a child).  Also A Christmas Story, Holiday Inn, and Meet Me In St. Louis (Judy Garland sings the original Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, and it makes me cry every time).

Have a wonderful week, and be sure to come back on Wednesday for some Christmas PJ's.   I'm off to wrap presents!

Merry and Bright and Mixing Patterns

Happy Wednesday and welcome to Holiday Style with The Blended Blog. Go there to link up with us, and then head to hostess Lisa's blog to see what she's up to!

Today we're sharing an outfit that makes us happy.  And I think we all know by now that what really makes me happy is a sweater.  Or two.   But I feel like I need to branch out, so today I'm sharing pattern mixing times three.

I started with the shirts, then decided to go crazy and add one more pattern via a scarf.  And the part that made me most happy?  With all those layers on, I was actually kind of warm.  Until the wind started blowing and the heavens opened up.

No problem - just add another layer, with a hood!  What kind of outfit makes you happy?

Be sure to hop around and visit my TBB Style Sisters to see what they're wearing this week.

Kellyann. Sarah. Andrea. Deena. Carrie

Lana. Vanessa. Whitney. Abbie. Shelly

What Brings Me Joy This Holiday

Happy Monday, blog world friends!  Hope you had a great weekend.  Today I'm linking up with The Blended Blog to share what brings me joy this holiday season.

I thought and thought about what I wanted to say.  I'm very blessed, and there are endless things that bring me joy.  But the one that kept coming around today was...time.

This will be my 51st Christmas.  51!!! That's a whole lot of trimming the tree, eating all the cookies, wrapping and unwrapping presents, waiting for Santa Claus, and love.  Mostly love.

I'm joyful when I think back on all the holiday memories.  I miss the ones I've lost, but feel joy for the time we got to share.  And joyful for a little more time with those that are still here.  I'm looking at you, Grandpa Ed.

Time with my boys makes me so joyful, although maybe there's a touch of sadness.  Conner spent Thanksgiving with his girlfriend in another state, and I realized that the time for our little family of four's Christmas chapter is coming to a close.  Before I know it there will be in laws and grandchildren, bringing more joy, and hopefully lots more time.

A whole different kind of time with my husband makes me especially joyful.  We're making new holiday traditions with just the two of us, and it's exciting to think about where time will take us now that there's more, well, time.

What brings you joy this holiday season?  Hope over to The Blended Blog and link up with us!

Happy Holiday Friday

Happy Friday!  It's been a busy week, but mom and I managed to squeeze in a visit with Santa himself.  Gotta get those requests in early!

I'm at The Blended Blog today, sharing our Friday Favorites.  Hop over and join us, and link up your favorite post from the week.

And be sure to come back on Monday for Merry and Bright - What Brings You Joy?

Happy weekend!

Everyday Sparkle

Happy Wednesday and welcome to Holiday Style with The Blended Blog. Go there to link up with us, and then head to hostess Whitney's blog to see how she sparkles and shines.

Today we're sharing sequins and sparkles and things that shine.  I bought this Zara top last year in Vegas to wear to the Britney show.  You can't hang with Britney without a little bling!

And...I haven't worn it since.  So I thought I'd try it with a more casual look for fun.  I added pearls and this Jacquard Bomber Jacket from Old Navy, and even my sneakers have a little silver thread in them.  I got a few funny looks while I was out running errands, but I've decided I don't care!  Everyone needs a little sparkle in their day, especially during the holidays.  

And I left plenty of "shine" everywhere I went, because this shirt sheds sequins like crazy!  How do you sparkle for the Holidays?

Be sure to hop around and visit my TBB Style Sisters to see what they're wearing this week.

Kellyann. Sarah. Andrea. Deena. Carrie

Lana. Vanessa. Whitney. Abbie. Shelly

TBB Asks - It's The Holidays

Happy Monday!  I can't believe it's the last TBB Asks of the year.  Are you ready for the holidays?  I did a little shopping over the weekend, but there's still so much left to do.  Every year I swear I'll be more prepared, but December always sneaks up on me!  Can't wait to read everyone answers...

1/ I guess?  I don't dislike them, but they're kind of boring.

2/ Early riser.  I loved getting up before the boys so I could see their reaction to Santa's gifts.  Now I can't seem to sleep in no matter what day it is.

3/ Nope.  My years in retail ruined Black Friday for me, and it's gotten even more out of control since then.  I feel so sorry for the employees, especially when "Black Friday" starts on Thanksgiving.  It's ridiculous.

4/ I feel strongly about giving Thanksgiving it's time in the Holiday rotation, so I wait until the weekend after.  Which is generally in November, so yes!

5/ I can't remember the last time I was on Pinterest.  Definitely on my to do list for 2019 - figure out Pinterest.

6/ I'm not much of a glam gal, and I love sweaters so...

7/ Unwrapped.  The less I have to wrap, the better.  Geez, I sound like the Grinch!

8/ ALL the Christmas songs are my favorite!

9/ No.  Yucch.  Ack.  Gross.

10/ Sadly, not even close.  But I do have a list, so that counts, right?

11/ Sometimes.  Snow is hard to come by in Seattle, because the close by ocean keeps things temperate.  Occasionally we get a white Christmas, although it's rare.  Last year was one of them!

12/ Hard to pick, but Charlie Brown is so special.  I tear up every time Linus explains the meaning of Christmas. 

Be sure to hop over to The Blended Blog to link up your posts, and come back on Wednesday for Holiday Style with The Blended Blog.

On Meditation And Mindfulness

I love the idea of meditation, and I've "tried" it several times in the past.  I say try, because I never put much effort into it, and the most I ever lasted was about a week.

Then I met davidji, and my entire perception changed.  He is a meditation master who apprenticed under Deepak Chopra, and was a lead educator and dean of the Chopra Center.  Last month I was fortunate enough to attend an hour long meditation with davidji at FierceCon 2018.  Afterwards, he spoke with us about the importance of meditation, and I decided to give it another try.  

davidji's mantra is RPM - Rise, Pee, Meditate.  He explained that starting the morning with quiet reflection creates a huge difference in how the rest of your day goes.  He threw out some numbers, that I've already forgotten - oops, about the positive impact of peaceful stillness rather than negativity and stress (hello, checking email and social media first thing).

"Starting our day in stillness and silence sets our course for every single moment that will unfold throughout the day.When silence is the seed that we plant to begin our morning, then we move through each interaction, each conversation, each scenario with a bit more patience, a bit more acceptance, a bit more tolerance, and a bit more peace of mind." 
- davidji

God knows I can use more patience and peace of mind.  So armed with this new knowledge, I decided to make a commitment to meditate every single morning for a month.  I signed up for the Headspace app because I knew I'd need help and guidance.  (Great news - you can sign up for a free 30 day trial to see if it's right for you).

The first week was hard.  I'm practicing breathing meditation, rather than mantra meditation, and most days I found myself drifting into thoughts during most of the practice.  But I'd promised myself to stick with it, so I pressed on, and each day got a little bit better.

I'm happy to report that just this morning, I finished day 30 of consistent, daily meditation.  And you know what?  It works.  It really, really works.

Generally, I'm a stress ball. "Hold on, I've got to overthink about it" pretty much sums me up.  And this last week was way up there on the stress scale.  But I was cool, calm and collected.  I stayed positive, I took cleansing breaths when things got too much, and not once did I dissolve into a puddle on the floor.

I've surprised myself with the difference meditation has made.  Even though I'm getting up a little earlier, I feel more energized and focused.  I'm coming at things from a positive place rather than the negative.  I'm mindful of my thoughts, emotions, and how I impact others.  And after only 30 days, I can't imagine stopping.  I'm excited to see what 60, 120, 365 days might bring.  Ha - you probably won't even recognize me anymore.

Do you meditate?  Any tips, tricks?  And if you don't, what's stopping you?

Be sure to join us on Monday for TBB Asks: Holiday Edition.

And the rest of the month for our Monday Linkups.

Holiday Dressing With Eva Trends

Disclosure:  The dress in this post was provided to me.  All thoughts about it are my own.

Happy Wednesday and welcome to Fall Fashion Frenzy with The Blended Blog. Go there to link up with us, and then head to hostess Vanessa's blog to see her Holiday Looks.

We very rarely go to holiday parties anymore, especially fancy ones.  I'm old and grumpy and like to be home in my pj's by 10pm.  But when I saw this lavender lace midi dress from Eva Trends, it made me want to get dressed up and go somewhere special.

The lavender is such a pretty alternative to a traditional LBD.  The lace is stretchy and comfortable, and the scalloped boat neckline is flattering.  Although most items at Eva Trends are one size, this dress comes in S-XL.  I would definitely get your regular size, as I went up one and it's a little big.  

If you haven't visited Eva Trends yet, go take a look.  They have a huge variety of unique styles and I'm really pleased with the quality.  Don't forget to use code LL10 to get 10% off your purchase.

And then come back and help me figure out where I can wear this dress...and be home by 10pm!

Be sure to hop around and visit my TBB Style Sisters to see what they're wearing this week.

Kellyann. Sarah. Andrea. Deena. Carrie

Lana. Vanessa. Whitney. Abbie. Shelly

TBB Gift Guide: Giving Tuesday

Happy Monday!  Today my friends at The Blended Blog are talking Gift Guides.  I've gotten many great ideas from gift guides over the years, so be sure to hop over and link up yours.

I wanted to share something a little different.  Tomorrow is Giving Tuesday, a global day of giving - of your time, a donation, or a gift to your local community.  Facebook is partnering with PayPal again this year to match donations made on Facebook to nonprofits, up to $7 million.

You can search for local nonprofits in your community through Facebook, or consider donating to one of these:

Ronald McDonald House Charities - allows families to access specialized medical treatment by providing a place to stay at little or no cost.

Born Just Right - focused on building creative solutions that help kids with differences live a more enjoyable life.

Military Mama Network - supporting troops, veterans, and their families.

Bernie's Book Bank - providing books to children in need.

And there are thousands more!  T'is the season for giving...what will you give?

Gone Cozy

Happy Wednesday and welcome to Fall Fashion Frenzy with The Blended Blog. Go there to link up with us, and then head to hostess Sarah's blog to see her Cozy Sweaters look.

Cozy sweaters are my very most favorite thing to wear.  I don't love winter, because I'm not a fan of being cold.  So give me all the thick, warm, fuzzy, cozy sweaters.

Actually, it's probably best not to give me any more.  I literally have no where to put even one more sweater.  That won't stop me though - surely there's space somewhere in this house!

I found this lambswool turtleneck at J Crew Factory, and my favorite part is all the colorful speckles throughout.  It's oversized and comfy, and goes perfectly with skinny jeans and boots.

To be honest, thick cozy sweaters aren't the best style for my body type.  I've already got enough going on up top, and the extra bulk adds extra...bulk.  But I don't care, because I love them and they make me happy.  That's all that matters, right?  If you didn't read my post yesterday, I wrote about believing in yourself.  And I believe I can wear this sweater!

Happy Thanksgiving to my American friends.  And to all my Canadian lovelies, this one's for you!

Be sure to hop around and see what my friends at TBB are wearing this week!

Kellyann. Sarah. Andrea. Deena. Carrie

Lana. Vanessa. Whitney. Abbie. Shelly

I Belong - A Tale Of Believing In Yourself

I don't belong.

Those were the words I told myself as I traveled to LA to attend FierceCon 2018 last month.  I repeated them as I arrived at the airport and called an Uber.  They flashed through my head when I pulled up to the hotel and stepped through the front doors.

After checking in, I met Catherine and the rest of the members of the admin team.  I still felt unsure.  Not because they weren't completely lovely and welcoming.  This is a group of beautiful, kind, successful, accomplished women.  And really, that was the problem.  They are all those things.  And I didn't belong.

I have struggled with low self-esteem for as long as I can remember.  Much of it stems from my childhood.  And while I thought it was dealt with and long resolved, many of my issues came roaring back with the death of my father and the reality of the empty nest.  However, I don't want those experiences to define me.  I know that I'm holding myself prisoner with my limiting beliefs. I truly feel the only person I can change is myself.  So I'd been working on things, with limited success...clearly, not enough.

Signing up to be on the "hugging committee" for the opening night gala seemed like the right thing to do.  I wanted each woman walking through the door to feel welcomed and special, and I knew it would ensure that I met everyone.  But once that job was over, I found myself standing back rather than mingling and having fun.  I felt at a loss, afraid to approach people and start a conversation.  Later that night, back in my room, I was so disappointed in myself.  I'd been looking forward to this weekend for months, but was falling back into old habits.  I didn't belong.

On Saturday morning, I headed downstairs, with all of my shields up, ready to "protect" myself.   From what, I don't know.  I had no idea how much would change by the end of the day.  We started with an hour of meditation led by a master, davidji.  Slowing down, breathing in and out, listening to davidji, I felt the slightest release of my armor. 

And then the magic happened.  Catherine had scheduled two "beachside chat" panels for the afternoon.   During each session, five women shared their stories with us.  Here were the beautiful, accomplished women who had seemed so intimidating to me the night before.  And every one of them had their own  story to share.  Tales of difficulty, loss, courage, strength, and reinvention.  Feelings of fear, insecurity, not being good enough, wondering where to go next in life.  I was captivated and inspired.  

As the stories continued, I felt my armor continue to slip.  At lunch I chatted with some new friends, and decided to share a bit of my own life story.  I was surprised and touched when they expressed how they saw me.  Why couldn't I see the same when I looked in the mirror? 

Slowly, I began to realize that the difference between myself and these incredible women is that they believe in themselves.  They know in their heart that they are beautiful, worthy, strong and capable.  They're not perfect, they stumble now and again, but they always come back to that belief.

I felt a little like the Grinch, because my heart grew a million sizes that day.  My mind opened up to these women and this experience.  Did I suddenly become the life of the party? No.  Was I still insecure and unsure of myself?  Absolutely.  But the work has really, truly, finally begun.

In the group picture at the very top of this post, you can see me, hiding in the back left corner, where I always put myself.  Next year, I promise to be in the front row.  And maybe I'll be part of a beachside chat, sharing the story of how far I've come and what I've accomplished, all because I put the shields down and finally believed in myself.

I belong.

For a fantastic recap of the weekend that was FierceCon2018, read Jodie's post here.  And to join the Forever Fierce Revolution, go here.

Stripes And Plaid And More Sweaters

Happy Wednesday and welcome to Fall Fashion Frenzy with The Blended Blog. Go there to link up with us, and then head to hostess Shelley's blog to see her Stripes and Plaid look.

Guys, I need help.  My long cardigan habit might possibly be out of control.  I don't need another one, and I swear I'm done buying them.  BUT...then I see one that's so perfect...and it looks super warm...and I talk myself into maybe just one more.

And bonus, this one is plaid.  Which just happened to be the theme for the week, so clearly I needed to add it to my closet.  It's really thick and honestly feels more like a sweater coat.  There's a red one too, but I finally showed some restraint and left that one in my cart.

I think by now we all know how to pattern mix, and stripes and plaid is one of my favorites.  I do wish I'd done a half tuck with the striped shirt for better proportions.  I found the bone colored booties at Marshall's, although this is probably the last time I'll wear them until spring.  Torrential downpours and light colored shoes don't go together so well.

If I'm being honest, I'm having a hard time with pictures lately.  I took these at my mom's, and when I got home and uploaded them, I picked them apart, at length.  Why are we so hard on ourselves?  Why can't I extend the same grace to myself that I do to everyone else?  And then I remembered a quote from Stacy London's book that I marked a few weeks ago:

One ingredient to feeling beautiful is to STEP AWAY from the mirror.  You need to see yourself reflected in other people's eyes - people who love you, are rooting for you, are proud of you.  Discover what it is you love again outside of style, having nothing to do with what you look like.  What are your goals?  What do you want to achieve?  Sometimes the best way to reconnect with an essential sense of self-esteem is to put down the lip gloss, step away from the jeans, and turn your back on the mirror.  Your self-esteem can't come from how you look alone.  Feel kind, successful, and accomplished.  The whole package IS beauty.

I love this, and it really resonates with me right now.  Definitely a lot to think about. Time to go back to gratitude and quit worrying about the mirror.

Be sure to hop around and see what my friends at TBB are wearing this week!

Kellyann. Sarah. Andrea. Deena. Carrie

Lana. Vanessa. Whitney. Abbie. Shelly

Gratitude In Pictures

Happy Monday, friends!  How was your weekend?  The sun was out, so I finally gave in and did some yard work.  Have I mentioned how much I hate weeding?  As soon as I'm rich and famous, I'm hiring a gardener.  Right after the personal chef.

Today I'm linking up with The Blended Blog to share some gratitude, in pictures.  Last year I wrote about being thankful for the "who's" in my life, and I still feel that way today.

This guy tells me I'm pretty every day, even after 36 years together.  He puts up with my crazy, and I put up with his.

I'm so thankful that I get to be mom to this kid.  He grew up way too fast, but it's amazing to watch him go out in the world and succeed.

Same goes for this goofball.  I haven't seen him in almost two months, but he'll be home on Friday for a whole week and I can't wait.

My family drives me nutso most days, but they're always around when I need them most.

And friends.  Ya gotta have friends, the kind that lift you up, see you, and love you anyway.

Head over to The Blended Blog to link up your gratitude posts, and see you back here on Wednesday for Fashion Frenzy - plaids and stripes!

Friday Follow Love

It's Friday, which means we're feeling the love and featuring some of our favorites over at The Blended Blog.  I thought I'd join in and share a few blogs you might not be following...but should be.  I've been fortunate enough to meet these ladies in real life, and they're amazing.  Introducing...

Amy from Your Favorite Chapter may truly be the kindest person on the planet.  She is uplifting and encouraging and always knows the right thing to say.  You are guaranteed to feel wonderful about yourself and the world around you after spending a little time with Amy.  She lives in Michigan, but I had the pleasure of meeting her at FierceCon.  Her blog is about food, fitness, fashion and inspiration, and I love that her son takes most of her outfit photos.

I was so excited to meet Bo from Bo's Bodacious Blog when I traveled to Deena's world in August.  Bo joined us for brunch and flower picking, and then met up with us again for farmer's marketing and a photo shoot.  She is interesting, smart, and so much fun.  I love her sense of style and dedication to running - even in freezing weather!

Lauren is a local Seattleite who blogs at Dit-Elle.  She's also a talented photographer, and I've had the pleasure of attending several local events with her.  Her blog features her casual, funky style, which I love, but could never pull off.  Lauren takes all her own pictures with a tripod and shutter release, and shares some of her secrets.  Her adorable daughter Maya makes lots of cameos, and she's a natural just like her mama.

Have a favorite blogger I should be following?  Leave me a comment!  Have a great weekend and be sure to come back and link up with us on Monday - it's all about the gratitude!