DECEMBER FAVES

Never has a year flown by like 2015 has.  This year had its ups and downs, definitely, but it's a year I'll remember for a long time.  Without further ado--and since December 2015 is slowly ticking down--here are my monthly favorites from a not-so-white December.

1. Fair Isle Sweaters:  I was never a big sweater person until this year rolled around (ironically, this year has been too warm to wear them yet).  Before we went to Williamsburg, my mom surprised me with a lovely gray fair isle, and the rest is history. These iconic sweaters make me think of my favorite winter icons:  J Crew, nights by a fireplace, and reindeer.  What could be better?

2. Stationery:  2015 has become the year of the stationery to me.  I've always loved writing supplies, but I never dreamed that I'd be asking for writing supplies for Christmas!  Anthropologie has quickly become my go-to shop for the whimsical journals and calligraphy-covered stationery that we all know and love.

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS

The end of 2015 is looming, and we all know what that means:  time to start making resolutions.
Making a resolution is a great way to reflect on the past year and get ready for the new year, all at the same time.  However, it's not as rewarding if you can't think of a resolution to focus on (a situation that happens to yours truly frequently).

I've rounded up a list of some very commonplace resolutions that anyone could decide to choose and personalize to their own lifestyle, in the hopes of solving that problem.  And if this list makes you think of a very personal resolution to pursue, that's even better!

From basic lifestyle changes to travel to spiritual and family matters, there's a resolution out there for everyone.  Now comes the harder part:  keeping the resolution...

OUTSIDE LOOKING IN

Especially around the holidays, society seems more warmhearted and kind.  Suddenly people decide to walk down the street with smiles on their faces because it's December. They open doors, they become attached to the ideas of gratitude and good will. Wouldn't it be lovely if people acted like that year-round?

Every holiday has a common foundation:  community.  Togetherness.  That's why no one really enjoys spending Christmas by himself.  Everyone wants to be included, especially around the holidays.  That's why exclusion is such a terrible thing.

If you've ever experienced exclusion, you understand.  If you've ever felt like the odd man out, or if you've been ignored by people you know, you've been excluded.  The saddest fact of all is that you probably didn't do anything to deserve exclusion.  It just happened.  I don't elaborate on this to inspire dislike for the people you know;  I elaborate because I understand what it's like to be left out.

BEING A PREP FOR A WEEK: 12/20/15 -- 12/26/15

December 26 is always a little melancholy for me.  Christmas is my all-time favorite holiday, so acknowledging that I'll have to wait another year for it to roll around again is a little disheartening.   That being said, my Christmas was wonderful.  My mom loved the Laudree recipe book she received, and Dad can't wait to wear his new shirt.  As for me, I can't wait to hop over to Target, Old Navy, and Amazon to put a dent in some gift cards.

Now, on to some of my favorite links from the past week:
The book that I cannot wait to purchase...
Lovely December wedding inspiration.

SECRET SANTA

My favorite day of the year has arrived, and I couldn't be happier.  Sharing Christmas with my family members, four-legged siblings, and even some Internet friends has been a blessing in itself.

I was invited to participate in a bloggers' Secret Santa--an invitation I quickly accepted. Assuming the role of Secret Santa was a blast, and opening up my own gift on Christmas morning was lovely. My Secret Santa, Abigail, was an absolute angel, and she even picked up on my love of calligraphy.  I am so grateful to her for such thoughtful gifts.

HOLIDAY CHRISTMAS COOKIES

I don't know what your favorite part of the holiday season is, but one of mine is the baking.  In fact, I'm not sure whether I love the preparation or the actual eating more, as both are very relaxing activities that I look forward to every single year.

My mom and I have been making specialty Christmas cookies ever since I can remember, and these peppermint cookies are some of my absolute favorites.  Since they can be made from a store bought cookie dough mix, they're an extremely easy bake that yields delicious results.

BEING A PREP FOR A WEEK: 12/13/15 -- 12/19/15

And just like that, exam week was finally over!

The reason for my long absence is easily summed up:  school.  Exams, chapter tests, ACT practice tests (and even the real deal).  Thankfully winter break has arrived, which means that I am allowed to devote a huge portion of time to all things blog-related.  Look to see exciting changes around here...

Now, on to some of my favorite links from the past week:
An Instagram account sure to make calligraphy lovers giddy
Vogue's unofficial history of the ugly Christmas sweater (featuring lovely runway views)...

WEEKEND IN PIGEON FORGE

It's not often that I get to go on extended trips during the holidays, so a weekend in Tennessee was an exciting prospect.  My mom and I got the opportunity to spend a weekend in Pigeon Forge, and we had a lovely time all by ourselves.  It's a very tourist-y city, but it has such a cheerful and bustling atmosphere--even more so during the holidays.

While maneuvering along all of those windy mountain roads, it was hard not to notice the beautiful scenery everywhere.  If you love nature, I'd definitely suggest taking one of the scenic roads through the national park.  There are some gorgeous photo opportunities.

GIFT GUIDE: THE ANIMAL LOVER

Another week, another gift guide!  Before we dive into the world of animal gifts, I'd like to announce that I'll be embarking on a road trip of sorts this weekend (follow along on Instagram), amounting to the absence of an updates post for this week.

Updates aside, this gift guide is one of my absolute favorites.  I think there's a bit of an animal lover inside all of us--what girl doesn't at least love animal prints?  For the more passionate animal and pet lovers, it's easy to customize a gift with an animal of choice, or even with a photograph of a specific beloved animal.  It's something that they'll be bound to love almost as much as their own furry friends!

"My Dog is Cooler" Wood Block Art -- Kitty Stud Flats -- "Le Chat" Tee Shirt -- "Hibernating" Mask -- Giraffe Figurine -- Needlepoint Dog Fob

THE ETSY GIFT GUIDE

My favorite month of the year is here, which means that my favorite holiday is only a few short weeks away.  In other words, it's time to get shopping.

If you're looking for very personal and heartwarming gifts, Etsy is a lovely place to start looking. There's something for everyone on this database of online boutiques, and prices are always wonderful.  I've rounded up my favorite Etsy shops to showcase some of their best products--products that would be perfect gifts!

1. For the Writer


Via

The Miss Petunia Mary shop specializes in beautiful custom journals that any word lover would be proud to own.  From her custom map travel journals to her charming Lilly Pulitzer printed journals and ornaments, you'll be able to find a lovely gift for anyone this holiday season.