Favorite Things

Hint, hint honey... I wouldn't mind seeing one or two of these items on Christmas morning!

With the Holiday season upon us, I thought it might be nice to share some of the things I'm loving and/or longing for lately.   So, in no particular order, here are a few of my favorite things:

LUSH Rosy Christmas (shop here)

This little gift box comes with rose shower gel and rose-argan body conditioner.  It makes you smell AND feel heavenly.  I love all LUSH products because they contain no harmful chemicals, use organic ingredients, and are not tested on animals.

A nice piece of costume jewelry (shop here)

Did you know that naturally occurring emeralds are more expensive per carat than diamonds??? I didn't, until I started shopping for an emerald ring.  Sooo.... I decided to opt for a nicely made piece of costume jewelry.  This one from Zales has a lab-created emerald surrounded by white topaz, and is set in sterling silver.   Since I wanted a fun birthstone ring to wear occasionally, this one is perfect!

 

Some Cozy Slippers (shop here)

Ugg shoes are SO cozy.  And I get cold feet constantly in the winter time... even though I live in a very warm climate.  Oftentimes, I wear my UGG boots with my pajamas, and only take them off at the last minute before climbing in bed for the night.   I hate cold feet.   When I saw these slippers, I knew I had to have them... they are even pink with a bit of bling.  PLUS, a portion of the proceeds from these special edition slippers is donated to Susan G. Komen breast cancer research.  Win-Win!

 

I'm loving these nail foils (shop here)

I'm actually wearing some right now, that are sparkly leopard print.  They've been on for three weeks and still look great.  Out of all the brands I've tried, these stay looking nice the longest!   I really want to try this limited edition nude geometric print.

 

I need a plug-in for the guest bathroom (shop here)

I have a scentsy warmer in the main living area of our home.  BUT, I really would love a small plug-in warmer for the guest bathroom.  I like this one:

 

And I've been dying to try this scentsy scent (shop here)

I keep our large scentsy warmer filled with yummy fruity scents, like Blueberry Cheesecake.  BUT, someone described this scent as a spa-like smell.  I think the blend of eucalyptus, lemon, and mint would be perfect for the bathroom plug-in!

What happens when you combine crocs with a cute, girly ballet flat?  (shop here)

You get SWYT.  These are cute flats for toddlers, children, and adults.   They come in a rainbow of colors, textures, and patterns.  I MAJORLY regret not buying my first pair last time I saw them on Zulily.  So now, I have my account set to remind me next time there is a SWYT event.  These are the ones I love: crushed velvet with a big sparkly bow on top... perfect for all of the holiday parties I'm set to attend this December. 

 

PLUS, this is a company with a heart.  They have taken a stand against bullying, and are donating a percentage of fundraiser sales towards anti-bullying awareness programs such as Pacer.org and The Trevor Project.

And finally, you can never go wrong with a Stitch Fix gift card! (shop here)

My first FIX is scheduled for January 9, and I am so excited to see what my stylist sends me!  (If you don't know what stitch fix is, see my earlier post here explaining how it works!)

So... there you have it.  

Some of my favorite things, and some things I really want.  (And honey, if you're reading... these range in price from $5 to $120.  So there's plenty for you to choose from.)

Happy Holidays everyone!   What do you want Santa to leave under your tree?


Edited to add:  The companies mentioned in this post did not reimburse me for reviews, nor do they even know I love their products so much.  The Scentsy links are through my consultant, but you can use the search feature here to find a local consultant.  The Stitch Fix link is a referral link, and I will get a small credit if you use it to sign up (Which I would greatly appreciate!).

 

Kids Chunky Necklace DIY - Part Two

Today, we are going to talk about using 1/16" nylon ribbon knotted and heat sealed, to make those chunky bubblegum kids' necklaces.

Here's part two of a post that I started last week.  You can read the part one here.

Just like last time, let's pretend that you already have your necklace supplies ready.

• You have all your pretty beads laid out in order.  Always remember to add Color, Texture, Pattern, and Shine... it works for jewelry too, not just on What Not to Wear.
• Spacer beads. Note:  spacers aren't necessary.  I like the look of a necklace that doesn't have spacers.  BUT - spacer beads offer flexibility to a necklace.  Without spacers, there will be more stress at the connection points.  Meaning, there is a higher likelihood that the necklace will come apart at the clasp.
• 1/16" Nylon ribbon and a long sewing needle.
• A lighter... I used the one my husband lights the grill with.

The Process, using ribbon:

Thread your ribbon through a needle and put on all your beads.

At the end of the necklace, knot the ribbon tightly onto the clasp.

Trim the ribbon, leaving only a short little 'tail.' 

 Using a lighter, melt the little tail of remaining ribbon.  Don't let it catch on fire!

 Wait a couple of seconds after removing the ribbon from the flame.  Then, use your fingers to press the melted ribbon firmly onto the knot.

Repeat for the other end of the necklace.

This method makes it IMPOSSIBLE for the knot to come undone, since it's melted and heat sealed.

Do you make chunky bubblegum necklaces?  What's your favorite type of pendants?  I am loving converting small PVC toys into pendants!