Hi everyone! I hope you’re all adjusting nicely now that Christmas is over. That being said, New Years is right around the corner, so the festivities aren’t over yet! For my final article of blogmas, and my final article of 2019 at that, I’m going to be sharing with y’all what I got for Christmas. A majority of these things are from my mother, as I only live with her, but I also received a few things from friends and relatives. Let’s get into it!
As many of you know, Eli is my best pal in the whole world. We’ve been friends for about eight years, and one thing I know about Eli very well is that he’s not great at remembering to buy gifts. Not that I feel entitled or that I expect him to- it’s just something I’ve noticed that he tends to let birthdays and holidays slide (and that includes everyone, even his family). So, this was the long introductory way of saying I was totally shocked when Eli bought me this stuffed animal heating pad! Yes, it is soft and fluffy, and yes, I have been sleeping with it every night. I found it to be especially thoughtful because Eli lives thousands of miles away, and I don’t get to see him very often, so this lil guy is sort of like a reminder that Eli is always with me. You know, in a sappy way.
So recently, my mom bought a candle from TJ Maxx called “Alpine Frost.” Please believe me when I say this is one of the most splendid candles I have ever smelled, and I remind my mother how much I love it constantly. Here is my evidence:
So it came as no surprise when she gave me my own alpine frost candle for Christmas, and yes, I was very excited about it! I’m telling you, Alpine Frost is absolutely delightful. If you find one at TJ Maxx, I highly suggest buying it. She also bought me a candle called “Berry and Spruce,” which is equally lovely and delectable-smelling. I love having candles going while I chill around the house and get writing done, and I especially love winter scents!
This next gift was actually for my mother and I, gifted to us by our lovely neighbor, Rocky. These are Bond Touch bracelets, and basically, it means my mom and I can send each other little “buzzes” through the bracelet to remind the other person that we’re thinking of them! It’s so incredibly wholesome, and my mom and I have already gotten such a good use out of them. The bracelets literally vibrate when the other person sends you an alert, and also lights up in the color of your choosing. This was such a thoughtful and well thought-out gift, because my mom and I are incredibly close and I miss her when I go away to school. Now, we can stay BONDed for life! (Get it?)
This notebook was another thoughtful gift from a different neighbor, my lovely friend JoAnn. I love the vibrant pattern of the cover, and the lined pages are going to be perfect for planning out Analog content and meetings! As many of you know, I’m a huge fan of stationary and anything that has to do with writing, so I always love receiving a notebook or a journal. I’ve already started filling out the pages with notes and future content, and I’m looking forward to using to more in the future. Thank you, JoAnn!
Because JoAnn is apparently an absolute angel, she also bought me this cute ‘lil eyeshadow palette by Colourpop. I love warm-toned copper eye looks, as many of you can probably tell from my pictures, so this is a perfect palette for me. I’ve also never used Colourpop cosmetics before, and I have to say, the blendability and performance of these colors is amazing! Now that I’ve tried one of their palettes, I’m totally tempted to pick up some of their monochromatic additions. Eyeshadow palettes are definitely my favorite makeup item, so I’m always happy to receive one as a gift.
Aaand, here’s another one! I made a very short Christmas list this year, but this palette was one of the two items on there. I’m pretty sure it was NikkieTutorials who I saw using this, and that’s what inspired me to try it myself. I love that there’s a combination of practical and bright colors, and from what I’ve gathered from using the palette so far, the pigmentation is absolutely amazing. Mom, if you’re reading this, thank you for the palette! Apparently you can only get it from England, so I appreciate that she paid for that Royal Shipping. Mom, you the littest.
From here on out, the rest of the items are things that my mom got me. Apparently I was a good daughter this year, because she got me some really beautiful, thoughtful things that I’m very appreciative of. I genuinely love everything she picked out for me! This coat in particular is one of my favorite gifts from Christmas (it’s a close second behind the Alpine Frost candle). I love the warm inner lining of the coat, and of course, the fake fur is a stunning touch as well (yes, it’s fake, don’t worry!). I’ve already worn it out on a hike with Duke, and as you can see, he’s very excited about the coat as well.
Another lovely gift my mom purchased for me was this 25 Lb weighted blanket. As some of you who also struggle with mental health probably know, weighted blankets are amazing for helping with anxiety and insomnia. I’m not sure what the exact science is, but I know it’s very similar to the way deep pressure therapy works. Anyway, I really appreciated that my mom bought me this because it felt validating, in a way. I’ve been using it for the past few nights, and wow, I’m having a hard time getting out of bed! This thing is absolutely amazing. My sleep has already tremendously improved from where it used to be (y’all OGs will remember), but this blanket is helping me even more. I’m looking forward to bringing it back to school with me and *hopefully* continuing these healthy sleep patterns.
I love my makeup, as you know, so that also means I need a way to carry my makeup around. I’ve never really owned a nice makeup bag because I didn’t feel like investing in one, so for the past couple of years I’ve been carrying it around in a gallon Ziploc bag. So it comes as no surprise that my mom was gracious enough to give me this lovely makeup bag for Christmas. The material is super sturdy and soft, and I love that it’s big enough to hold even my giant eyeshadow palettes. It was a lovely Christmas addition, so thank you again, mom!
The last few things were essentials that I am always running out of- toothpaste, socks, and headphones. I always appreciate toiletries, because like I said, I’m always running out of things like toothpaste and face wash while I’m at school. I’m really appreciative of everything she bought me, from the blanket to the socks, and I know that she appreciated the things I bought for her as well. It was a really lovely Christmas, and I had such a warm, cozy time spending time with her and the rest of my family. And that, of course, is the best gift of all 🙂
That wraps up Blogmas and 2019! Thank you so much for a year of kind comments, memories, and love. I’ve already started my articles for 2020, and I’m hoping that you’ll love them as much as I do. Have a lovely day everyone!
