holiday party looks

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'Tis the season for countless holiday parties and gatherings! I don't know about you, but when the end of November hits, the calendar just fills up every weekend with goings-on for the upcoming holiday season. It seems like there are always an abundance of people to see and events to attend, and one thing is always for certain, you need something festive to wear!

I know that every holiday, at least a couple things on the calendar involve getting dressed up - and I've always thought that the holidays are perfect for breaking out some bold and interesting pieces. Whether it be colorful velvet, statement jewelry, or taking a fashion risk...there's no better time of year to try things out!

christmas decor // 2016

Happy Holidays! 

Our house has been a bit "in shambles" recently due to a major kitchen renovation, but I was finally able to get some of our Christmas decorations up. Most of the items I purchased are from either Target or Hobby Lobby. Both are great places to get holiday decor, but I just have to sing Target's praises - in the past couple years they have been doing such a great job with home decor, especially seasonal items. If you haven't checked it out, be sure to take a look next time you are in!

The first things I always do is wrap our lovely banister in evergreen garland - and this year I decided to go with a classic red theme, so I added lots of red velvet bows.

Thankful

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There are so many things in my life that I am thankful for on a daily basis, but this is the time of year when we really start to give it some thought and reflect on all of our blessings. This past year has been such a wonderful one, it is hard to make a list of everything I am grateful for, but here is a stab at it. Some serious, some more light-hearted....

Christmas Wish List

It's that time of year! Christmas is my favorite - I just love the decorations, the music, and really just everything that goes along with the season. I love picking out and wrapping gifts for my friends and family - there is nothing better than the excitement of your loved one's faces when they open something you put a lot of time and thought into :)

The older I get, the harder it is to come up with things when my family asks what to get me - does that happen to any of you? ...In all honesty Mum, I could use a new dishwasher (lol!) 

Here is a quick run down of things that made it onto my Christmas wish list!

friday favorites - christmas vacation

Yesterday was my last final for the semester, and now I am officially on break from grad school! 24 glorious days off before Spring semester starts back up...and 11 of those days I am also taking vacation from work. I am so excited, I could cry. ;)

I definitely want time to veg out and relax since it's go-go-go all the time, but I also have a couple ideas of some fun things I'd like to do too!

// wildlights at the columbus zoo

The Columbus Zoo does an amazing display every year using over 3 million twinkle lights. We went once a couple of years ago, and it was amazing!

// ikea trip

We are long overdue for a trip down to the closest Ikea, near Cincinnati. I want to wander around getting decor inspiration and pick out a couple of items for the house.

// state auto's christmas corner

The State Auto building downtown puts us an amazing life-sized nativity scene every year (a tradition started by the company's founder in the 1930s!) and while I always drive by it on my way home from work and school, I would love to walk down there with Aaron and the dogs one night to check it out up close!

// holiday baking

This year, I really want to make some Christmas cookies and holiday wassail! I think I'm going to use my mum's gingersnap recipe and add a white chocolate drizzle to the outside - stay tuned for a post on that recipe! I also remember just loving wassail as a kid, and although I can't find our original recipe, I'm going to create one on my own - I'll share that with you too!

// outdoor ice skating

I love ice skating - as a kid, we always had my birthday parties at an ice rink since my birthday is in January. This year, I want to go to a festive outdoor ice rink, instead of the typical indoor ones. There is a cute one in Cuyahoga Falls (near Akron) right on the riverside and skating is only $3! 

What festive activites are you up to this holiday season??

Share your Friday favorites with all of us by linking up with these lovely ladies! 

 

12 days of Christmas

Follow me on Instagram at @emiliestorey

I finally finished all of our Christmas wrapping this weekend, and now that we are only about 10 days away from the big day, I thought I would do another Christmas-inspired post! I love this season so much, I can't help it. I saw the "12 Questions of Christmas" tag on Carly's blog and it looked so fun, I decided to answer the questions too! xx

1. What is your favorite Christmas tradition? 
I've always loved taking turns opening presents in our pajamas :) 
As a child though, it was writing our Christmas lists to Santa and then burning them in the fireplace so the ashes went to the North Pole. It's a British tradition courtesy of my Scottish mum ;)
 
2. Where do you spend Christmas? 
It varies every year...this year we will be in Akron, Ohio with Aaron's family this coming weekend, then home in Columbus (just the two of us) on actual Xmas...then my family are coming to Columbus around December 29th for a third celebration!

3. What is your favorite Christmas song? 
O Holy Night

4. Do you decorate before or after Thanksgiving? 
Absolutely before. I get bitten by the Christmas bug right after Halloween! lol
I see the months of November and December (including Thanksgiving) as part of the whole holiday season, so nothing wrong with getting festive in November! 

See my holiday home decor post HERE!  

5. Tinsel or garland? 
Garland, I love natural looking decorations - and while tinsel is pretty, it's a huge pain in the butt. 

6. Do you own an ugly Christmas sweater? 
Nope - I'd like to have a silly Christmas jumper though!

7. What is one Christmas food you cannot live without? 
Traditional peppermint candy canes - love them! Also, in our house we all love those silly slice and bake sugar cookies that Pillsbury has around the holiday time...you know the ones...

8. Peppermint or gingerbread? 
See previous question - peppermint ;)
 
9. Have you ever tried a fruit cake? 
Maybe when I was younger, but honestly can't remember...doesn't sound appetizing now though.

10. What is one thing you asked for this Christmas? 
A copy of the illustrated Harry Potter and the Socerer's Stone. See the rest of my Christmas list HERE! 

11. Who are you most excited to see this Christmas season? 
Probably my sister because I think I knocked it out of the park this year with her gift and I can't wait to see her face when she opens it! :) 

12. If you could be any Christmas movie character, who would you be? 
Either Amanda or Iris from The Holiday - love that little cottage in the English countryside! 

PSA: Target Holiday Decor

  I don't know if many of you have been to your local Target stores lately, but if you haven't...make it a priority! Their new holiday home decor line is out - and it is amazing. As if there wasn't enough to spend my money on in this store already, they went and stepped up their game AGAIN!

I went in the other night to scan the Christmas decor that is typically in the back corner of the store (you know, in the Seasonal area?). Well, there wasn't much there that I was interested in, and it bummed me out, so I made my way back to the front of the store to check out. 

Then BAM! As I walked through the home section... low and behold the most aesthetically pleasing display you ever did see...

I was overwhelmed, but I managed to compose myself and pick out a few items...and kept it to $100 even though I wanted to spend like a thousand ;)

I picked out the mirror tray and large basket.

{although the basket is too big and I'm going to have to return it for the smaller size}

 There were so many other items that caught my eye, and Target online is running a promotion right now...Buy 2 save 10%, Buy 3 save 15% on Holiday Items, and free shipping...so I'll be ordering a few more things today! 

Table Runner / Garland / Banner / Place Mats / Wreath 

4th of July Weekend

Hope you all had a great 4th of July weekend! It is always nice to get an extra day off work...and even better when there are lots of fun things planned with family and friends! 

We started off going to Red, White, and Boom in downtown Columbus on July 3rd. We walked down from our house since we live close to the city and didn't even want to attempt to deal with the parking situation.

There were an estimated half a million people that showed up for it! I know you probably can't tell...but that is a sea of people packed shoulder-to-shoulder all the way past the red traffic lights! And it was like that for blocks - crazy! I wanted a funnel cake but that dream was quickly squashed because there was no way I was going any further into the mass of people! 

 

My two buddies <3 
(and score! Aaron actually smiled nicely for a picture for once...but then Aub didn't haha)

Some shots of the fireworks - the finale was so crazy I couldn't get a good picture (you'll see at the end) it was way to bright!

On July 4th, we went into Dublin for their Independence Day parade since Aubrey was marching with her Irish Dance School. 
The weather was so nice! Warm and sunny, but had almost like a fall breeze - just perfect!

The next day (Saturday) we head up to Akron for our friend's surprise 40th birthday party.

Deeds was excited to be at Nana and Grandad's since their bay window is her all-time favorite lookout spot ;)

And I got to see my favorite little lady bug at the party! I can't believe she's already almost a month old! She was looking pretty fancy in her little sundress and flower headband (which had been long since knocked off at the time of this picture ;)

We drove home Sunday morning and spent the rest of the day relaxing and catching up on DVR'd eposides of Salem (does any one else watch? It's such a crazy show!)

It was a great weekend! I can't believe how summer is just flying by...must be because of all the fun things that are planned every weekend! We are heading back up to Akron again this coming Friday for more time with friends! xx 

Join the Weekending Link Up with Biana and Meghan and share your holiday weekend pictures! 

December Favorite Things: Christmas List Edition

Hey ladies!! Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving with your friends and families :) I'm sorry I don't have any pictures to share...my long weekend was mainly spent in the car - driving back and forth to various family occassions, so I really didn't get any pictures. I need to get better at that!

Since it is now December (crazy! Wasn't it just the beginning of fall like yesterday??) ...I am linking up with Emily and Kylie for "Favorite Things" and, in the holiday spirit, I decided to post about my Christmas Wish List.

Some of these things are items I have bought/ordered/purchased for myself recently, and a couple are things that I'm hoping Santa might leave under the tree ;)

VS Fireside Long Jane Jammies - I have already professed my love of thermal pjs, and this wintery print is just too cute!

Naked 2 Palette - whoa. I am wayy behind on this one (as the Naked 3 just came out)...but I love the Naked 1, and these shades look right up my alley!

Clarsonic Mia - not getting any younger, and this face needs some TLC after working/going to school 45+ hours a week.

Real Techniques brushes - scooped some of these up in Ulta's Cyber Monday sale! Super excited because they are a GREAT price and I have only heard wonderful things about them. I'll let you know what I think once I use them a bit!

DERNG bracelet - can't remember what blog I spotted this on...but it's sparkly, chunky, and I love it!

Bip&Bop Initials Necklace - saw this on the lovely Ashley's blog and instagram (Turqouise and Teale) and fell in love with it! Been dropping some major hints to Aaron about this one ;)

Thierry Mugler "Alien" - finally picked myself up a bottle of this, after wanting it for years now. Such a deep, interesting perfume!

Crystal Head Vodka - my drink of choice, but also, this bottle is just so awesome - I just need it.

Nepali Medicine Buddha - good energy and healing via home decor, I've always loved having these around my house.

New Bedding - isn't it funny how when you get older and buy a house, you end up asking for stuff you need that is kind-of boring? Example, last year, Aaron's parents got us a dishwasher. Such a generous and amazing gift... but you don't really understand getting excited about a dishwasher until your well into your "adult" years hahaha Anyways, this year's "home" related need is bedding for the master bedroom (all white - I have a vision) ;)


What's on your Christmas Wish List this year??

xx em

4th of july

I know this is a bit late...but here are some pictures from our 4th of July weekend ;)

On Thursday - we went to fireworks with some close friends.

On Saturday - we went to a cookout with some of our best friends from Akron, Abby and Zack. Their friends live out in the country with tons of rescue animals...include goats!

Aubrey petting the goats and on the rope swing

Aaron and Damian goofing around

Abby and Zack 

 Abby and I - one of my best friends for ten years now...love her so much! 

xx em