4 Simple Ways To Be The Hostess With The Mostess

Thursday, December 13, 2018
This post is sponsored by Babbleboxx.com. All opinions shared are mine alone. #ad #EDCRepeatBboxx


This is my absolute favorite time of the year. I love sun kissed skin when summer rolls around, I love fresh blooms during spring, and of course I love pumpkin spice everything during the fall, but nothing quite beats the magic of Christmas. Even though it's not "technically" winter yet, I think of winter starting on December 1st. It just feels so exciting and magical with all things Christmas surrounding us everywhere we go. I love the gift exchanges, the festive clothes, the Christmas music playing in all the stores, the pretty wrapping paper, and of course all the parties and gatherings. Sometimes parties are well thought out and planned weeks in advance, and other times they are small get togethers that happen spur of the moment. No matter what type of party is happening in your home this year, make sure you're prepared with everything you need to eat, drink, celebrate, and repeat!


EAT:
Small bites, appetizers, and full blown dinners are delightful, but you have to make sure you have something sweet for your guests! I don't know about the rest of you, but I think dessert is a must! Everyone does the same old things, cookies, cakes, maybe some form of bar... but you would really stand out with something new and different! Everyone loves chocolates, and I can promise everyone will be OBSESSED with these Gray and Smoked Salt Caramels from Fran's Chocolate. They are literally mouthwatering good. They combine rich, smooth chocolate, soft buttery caramel, and the unexpected boldness of sea salt. The Gray Salt Caramels are dipped in 70% dark chocolate and finished with sea salt. The smoked salt caramels are dipped in 39% deep milk chocolate, and finished with Welsh smoked sea salt. This women owned business will not disappoint! 



Another fun, sweet treat is My/Mo Mochi Ice Cream! So maybe you're hesitant... I get it! I was at first too. But trust me, you have to try this stuff! I looovee it! My/Mo Mochi Ice Cream is Premium Ice Cream wrapped inside a sweet, chewy dough that melts in your mouth. They come in 8 delicious flavors, but I can promise you the strawberry is delicious! You can pick it up at a retailer near you, but I found mine at Target! Make sure to get your $1 off coupon by visiting: https://www.mymomochi.com/lifeissweet/ And, get $1.00 Cash Back by visiting: https://ibotta.com/rebates/204115/my-mo-mochi-ice-cream?q=my%2Fmo




DRINK:
When is comes to drinks, I like to lean towards ice cold water and maybe some hot chocolate... but not all of your guest will be like me, haha. For that reason, you can serve Cinzano Prosecco which is an aromatic, dry sparkling wine, that is fresh, fruity and crisp. Cinzano Prosecco has intense floral aromas and hints of apple and pear. Full disclosure, I don't drink... but if you do, I have heard from several sources that you can trust this brand! They recommend making a Prosecco Bellini which is -3 parts Cinzano Prosecco -1 part fresh peach purée -Pour all ingredients into a chilled flute glass. Stir gently. The taste of sweet peach is balanced by the dry, crisp acidity in the Cinzano Prosecco. Enjoy as an aperitif or with light appetizers!



Celebrate!
There are so many reasons to celebrate during the holiday season! One thing I've really learned to celebrate over time, is good friends. Good friends can really make a difference in your life and it's important to let them know they are appreciated. Inviting them over for a get together can really help your friends feel loved and making your home inviting helps them feel welcomed! One way to make it extra special during the holidays is using ScentSicles Scented Ornaments and table ornaments! I love walking into a home smelling like a Christmas tree lot. It makes it feel so special and festive! ScentSicles are designed to naturally blend in, simply hang or hide in trees, wreaths, garland and other holiday décor for the fresh scents of the season. ScentSicles deliver “Christmas in an Instant” with no-mess, no oil, and no-flame! Make sure to check out their special offer of $5 off a purchase of $30 or more with code BABBLEBOXX and $1 off 1 item with code BABBLEBOXX1 Valid now through 12/31/2018. Free shipping on all orders of $15 or more Coupon code not valid on bundles.



Well, that concludes my tips on what to have on hand for those last minute get togethers and perfectly planned holiday parties! All of these things would also be so fun to use for a date night in! I hope you found something you will love in this post!

All my love,
Aleigh Joy



0

Lace, Satin, and Bows, Oh My!

Tuesday, December 11, 2018

We've talked about matching Christmas jammies, and we've talked about Christmas cards, now it's time to talk about another favorite Christmas tradition of mine... Christmas dresses! Having two little girls, this is seriously so fun for me! I love choosing something festive and dressing the girls up so pretty. It's so fun to curl Oaklyn's hair and have Cambria wear a pretty, sparkly bow. The girls wear their dresses on Christmas Sunday to church and I try to coordinate mine and Hunter's outfits as well to get a festive family photo. This is a tradition I can't go without. Things like this just make the holidays so fun! Oaklyn is really into "spinny" dresses and looking "pretty" so I'm super excited for this year!




The girls got a little test run wearing their dresses for these photos because I just HAD to show you all the gorgeous dresses from Bonnie Jean. I mean seriously, these dresses are literally everything I wanted! They are tiered with the most beautiful lace and have gorgeous satin bonding. They also have a satin bow placed in both the front and the back making it stunning when looking at it from either view. I absolutely love the way these dresses fit on my girls and couldn't stop staring at them twirling and smiling as they had them on. There's just something about matching little girlies that is so so darling! I'm obsessed! 




There are soo many gorgeous options at Bonnie Jean, I'm sure you'll find the perfect holiday dresses for your own daughters! My girls are wearing the Ava dress, but a few of my other favorites were the Korah, The Westly, and the London! I absolutely think it is worth it to invest in holiday dresses because they can be worn and used throughout the year! These dresses are wonderful quality and will fit the girls for a little while. They will be perfect to wear during Valentine's day and would even be cute for the 4th of July! I also love dressing my girls in festive dresses the whole month of December so they can wear them next year before Christmas Sunday when they get their new ones!



If you're looking to start this tradition this year, or are simply looking for the perfect Christmas dress, look no further! Make sure to look at all the beautiful holiday dresses Bonnie Jean has to offer!

All my love,
Aleigh Joy
0

Three Ways To Fit a Workout In During the Holidays

Friday, November 30, 2018
This post is sponsored by Febreze. All opinions are mine alone.


Does anyone else seriously struggle trying to make time to workout during the holidays? It can't be just me... right?? From the constant sweet treat temptations, to the busy schedules, and of course the lack of motivation with family in town, working out always gets put on the back burner. Once Cambria started to really sleep through the night and I felt more well-rested, I made a goal to workout between 5-6 times a week. I noticed working out made me feel so much better about myself. It encouraged me to make healthier eating choices, it helped me feel confident in my own skin, and overall I just felt SO much better. I have been doing really well with sticking with it up until last week. Thanksgiving, a holiday where the biggest tradition is literally to eat, really threw me off. I didn't have a set plan on how I would fit my workouts in and I quickly fell out of my routine. It's now soo much harder to get back into a routine. So, I am determined to stick to a plan for Christmas to ensure I keep healthy habits. Here's the plan...


1) Wake up a little earlier than the girls to fit my workout in. Guys, this is legitimately going to be realllyy hard for me... but I honestly think it's the best way to go about making sure I stick with it. If you have little ones, you know that working out with them around is straight up comical. It's pretty much impossible. When the girls are around I'm either cutting a workout short or only doing it halfway because they need my help every 10 seconds. So, I'm giving myself an extra hour to wake up, eat a banana, work out, and take a quick shower. Maybe you work in the morning... I challenge you to wake up earlier than normal and get your workout in! That way when the Christmas parties and family comes, you can get your workout done first thing each day and still be able to visit with friends and family after work. 


2) Keep Febreze Fabric Refresher nearby. Just like me, more and more Americans are getting serious about upping their fitness. Since we are busier than ever, we have to get creative to cram our workout (along with everything else) into our day. That being said, it's no surprise that 84% of gym goers* admit to running errands within two hours of working out. I mean, kill two birds with one stone right? You're already out! However, we forget that the smells go where we go. And if you're anything like me after a workout... there are definitely smells! For the millions who don’t have time to immediately change and wash their gear after each workout, it’s time to #FebrezeYourGear. The #FebrezeYourGear program, shows us that if it's fabric, Febreze it! All you have to do is spray Febreze Fabric Refresher on anything you wore at the gym until it is completely damp to safely and effectively clean away workout odors. Febreze Fabric Refresher with OdorClearTM Technology cleans away odors in two simple ways: 1) seeks out tough odors and 2) cleans them away by deactivating and replacing them with a light, fresh scent. Make sure to keep Febreze in your gym bag, in your car, in your personal gym, or anywhere else nearby to keep the odors where they belong... at the gym!


3) Make yourself an upbeat playlist! I have found that music motivates me more than anything when it comes to exercising. I run a lot faster, lift a lot harder, squat a lot deeper, and work a lot more efficiently if the music I am listening to leaves me feeling inspired to keep pushing. No matter what genre you love, there are some awesome songs out there to get you up and moving. I actually look forward to listening to my "special"workout songs. If you make yourself an upbeat playlist where you get to listen and decompress from holiday stress, you'll be more determined to fit it in!


I'd love to hear any of your tips and trick for staying active during the holidays! And don't forget to try out Febreze Fabric Refresher on your gym clothes and gear!
All my love,
Aleigh Joy

*Source: The Nielsen Company Fall 2015 On-Location Study.
0

2018 Christmas Cards!

Saturday, November 24, 2018
This post is sponsored by Shutterfly. All opinions are mine alone. #partner 


If you've been around here long, you know that Christmas cards make me sooooo happy! Like giddy happy. There's just something so fun about getting tons of happy mail from friends and family during the holidays. It seriously brightens my day getting each card. I love seeing how kids have grown, reading about what everyone did that year, and seeing the different photos and designs everyone chose. We have sent a Christmas card every year we've been married and even though it is a hassle trying to make sure photos get done, I have never once regretted it. I love having updated photos of our family over the years, and I make sure to keep a Christmas card from each year so we can look back at those too. I love pulling the book out each year and remembering what each card looked like. I also think it'll be so fun to show the girls all the cards they were in over the years. 





For a while I chose to design my own card. It was fun to get creative and make it different. Over time though, I realized how much more convenient it is to order them from a company. There are a million companies to choose from, so how are you supposed to pick just one? Don't worry... I've done all the research to make it easy on you ;) After looking into several companies, I can hands down say that Shutterfly is the way to go! They have SO many designs to choose from that there is something for everybody's style. I promise! From gold foil to marble, and gate fold to glitter you are bound to find the perfect card. Once you've selected your card literally all you have to do is upload your photos and then drag them into the desired spot. You then have the option to use your address book and let Shutterfly address all your envelopes for you! They have cute designs and fonts and it makes it so quick and easy. Plus, your envelope will look SO cute! After that, you can order personalized stamps and have them delivered right to you. Then, you're done! I mean seriously, a few clicks and your cards are completely done! How cool is that??





Now I'm sure you're thinking it's too good to be true... but trust me it really isn't! The card quality is lovely and they arrive in a timely manner. You will definitely not regret choosing Shutterfly. This year I used a Tiny Prints design which is owned by Shutterfly and can be accessed through their site. I chose a tri-fold card and I seriously love it! Make sure to order your cards this weekend to get their Black Friday deal of 40% off everything! They will be having a Cyber Monday sale too! 

I hope you have fun sending and receiving cards this year!

All my love,
Aleigh Joy
14

2018 Matching Christmas Jammies!

Monday, November 19, 2018
This post is sponsored by City Girl Mercantile. All opinions are mine alone. 


If you've been following along for a while, you know by now that I'm obsessed with matching Christmas jammies for my family. Our first Christmas I had every intention of starting the tradition but I was pregnant and tired and really just wanted nothing to do with clothes... ha! The next year we had Oaklyn and had SO much fun matching! We put them on Christmas Eve and woke up in them so we could open presents in our festive jammies. That has been a tradition ever since. Oaklyn totally got my love of all things festive so she was beyond excited when I told her that our Christmas jammies came in the mail. I was planning on just taking pictures in them and then saving them for Christmas Eve, but she was so happy that I let her sleep in them just this once. Seeing how happy she was and how much she loved them, I may let her wear them a few more times, too. We wear our jammies year round because they're always so cozy and cute! I'm so in love with the style we got this year! This year's jammies are from City Girl Mercantile and may be some of my favorites yet! They are all just a little different but also match so cute! Oaks loves the little polar bear, I love how relatable the sayings are, and Cam looks stinking darling in her footies! I love that they make them just a little different for each size. City Girl Mercantile has a ton of other adorable options, so you're bound to find a style your family loves. I will warn you that even though we love these jammies SO much because they are cute and comfy, you will absolutely need to size up one or two sizes depending on what kind of fit you like. Oaks will be 4 in February and I got her a 5t. Cam is 15 months and I got her size 24 mos. I'm a true s/m and got a small but honestly wish I would've gotten a large. Hunter is a true mens large and wishes he would've gotten an XL. So they're adorable, super snuggly, and arrived in a timely manner... but they for sure run small. If you haven't started many traditions in your family, add this one to your list! It makes Christmas Eve and Christmas morning that much more magical and adorable! Open your jammies, read a festive book, set out cookies for Santa, head to bed, and wake up in the morning snuggly and full of Christmas magic! Make sure to check out City Girl Mercantile's selection!

All my love,
Aleigh Joy

















0