December 2015 PopSugar Must Have Box

Today, I wanted to share my December PopSugar box. I had to skip sharing the November box because one of the items was missing, and by the time I received the item, it was Thanksgiving. The PopSugar December boxes are usually my favorite of the year (here is last year’s version), so I was looking forward to getting the box and sharing it with y’all.

Note: This post contains referral links. If you decide to purchase a PopSugar box, I would love it if you used my link.

LUV AJ The Rose Gold Ombre Bracelet ($65): I knew I would love this box as soon as I saw this bracelet. I usually prefer silver jewelry, but gold is fun to wear during the holiday season. This item was designed exclusively for PopSugar and has gold, rose gold, and silver plating. I am always nervous about receiving bracelets in the mail because my wrists are tiny, but this one had enough hooks to work for me.

Stowaway Crème Lipstick Trio ($30): I have never heard of the Stowaway brand, but these lipsticks are so cute! The colors in the trio are cranberry, muted plum, and raspberry. They are super pigmented and go on smoothly. The size is perfect for me to put in my purse.

Swing Design Nova Blue Mist Jewelry Box ($36): This item was also made exclusively for PopSugar. Honestly, I have way too many jewelry boxes and prefer them to have compartments, but I am so obsessed with that gorgeous blue color.

Nima Oberoi Lunares Geo Stopper ($24): This wine stopper is another item designed exclusively for PopSugar. I love the look of this wine stopper and was just recently thinking I needed more wine stoppers, so this was perfect for this box.

My Cup of Cake Classic Belgian Chocolate ($6): This mix makes a soufflé in under three minutes with just water and vegetable oil. Christopher was excited to see this in the box, and we will be trying it soon.

Meri Meri Silver Stars on White Glitter Tape ($4): I thought this was washi tape, but it’s not. It has a backing that you remove to reveal the sticky part. It’s super pretty, and I will get a lot of use out of it.

Special Extra: Tiny Prints Gift Tag Stickers: I love these stickers because they can be used throughout the year. They were designed by Lisa Sugar, PopSugar’s editor-in-chief. The package also includes a coupon foe $20 off an order at Tiny Prints.

This box is a great example of the reason I get PopSugar: lots of fun gifts that I will use and a high value of $165.

What do you think of the December 2015 PopSugar Must Have Box? What is your favorite item?

Five Favorite Travel Posts from 2015

Today I wanted to share some blog love and tell y’all some of the travel posts that have stuck out in my mind this year. Obviously, this is just a small sampler of all the posts I have loved.

The Ultimate Guide to Travel Resources by Shane at Sea Salt Secrets

I loved this huge guide packed with so many useful tools for traveling. I hadn’t heard of many of these and pinned this guide for future trips.

Paris Adventures | Eiffel Tower by Caitlin at Candyfloss & Persie 

With her amazing photography and storytelling, Caitlin made me nostalgic for the times I’ve been in Paris. I could read this blog post over and over.

The Magical Land of Gjáin, Iceland by Kaelene at Unlocking Kiki

Honestly, I could pick any of Kaelene’s posts because they are beautiful and make me want to hop on a plane to Iceland. I loved her post about Gjáin because it truly looks magical, and I am pretty much sold on anywhere that has gorgeous waterfalls.

Dublin-Our Trip Recap by Kristen at See You in the Porridge 

I really want to visit Dublin, and Kristen’s trip recap made me want to book a trip there ASAP. I love all of Kristen’s travel recaps, so y’all should check out her travel page.

Wanderlust Wednesday ~ Cruising by Kate at Green Fashionista 

I loved this recent post about cruising from Kate because I am also a huge fan of cruising! I think she makes great points as to why cruising is so fun.


What are some of your favorite travel posts from this year? Do you have a favorite travel post from my blog?

Friday Favorites: Five Subscription Boxes That Make Great Gifts

If you’ve been here for a while, you know how much I love subscription boxes. I think they make great Christmas gifts because they get surprises from you for several months. Here are some of the subscription boxes I love giving:

For the dog lover: 
I love gifting Barkbox to my dog lover friends. It’s full of fun toys and all-natural treats for their pups.
Cost: $39 for one month, $99 for three months, $189 for six months, and $319 for a year 
Click here to purchase a Barkbox gift subscription. 

For the makeup addict: 
Even though Birchbox and Ipsy are cheaper, I think Glossybox has better makeup. It offers more full-size products with lots of great brands.
Cost: $25 for one month, $150 for six months, and $250 for a year
Click here to purchase a Glossybox gift subscription.

For your favorite snacker: 
I loved when Chris and I used to get a MunchPak subscription. It features lots of interesting snacks from around the world, and the original size will send you at least 10 snacks each month.
Cost: $65.85 for three months, $125.70 for six months, and $239.40 for a year 
Click here to purchase a MunchPak gift subscription.

For the travel bug: 
Try the World is fun because they pick a country every two months and send you 7-8 delicacies.
Cost: $39 for one box, $105 for three boxes (over six months), and $198 for six boxes (over a year) 
Click here to purchase a Try the World gift subscription. 

For the person who loves a little bit of everything: 
*contains referral links 
PopSugar is my absolute favorite subscription service. I love getting a mixture of fun things in the mail every month that I normally wouldn’t purchase for myself. Christopher loves the box as much as I do and loves seeing what I get every month.
Cost: $39.95 for one month, $109.85 for three months, and $214.70 for six months
Click here to purchase a PopSugar gift subscription. 

Linking up with Amanda, Karli, and the High Five for Friday girls.

I hope y’all have a wonderful weekend!

Holiday Gift Guide: Ten Christmas Gifts Under $25

Tis the season for gift guides, so this year I thought I would do one of my own! I wanted to share some fun gifts under $25 that I know I would love to receive myself.

This post contains affiliate links. If you click on them, I get a teeny tiny commission. 

One. Blanket Scarf
I own this blanket scarf from Target, and it is so warm, soft, and cozy. I love the colors, and the price is great.

Two. Travel Desktop Calendar
I have mentioned how much I love this calendar in the past, and I think it would make a fun gift for those who love to travel.

Three. Wine Glass
I love wine glasses with cute sayings, and this stay fancy wine glass is one of my favorites.

Four. Chalkboard Ornament
I think ornaments make wonderful gifts, and this one is both cute and unique.

Five. Stemless Wine Set
I love this blue stemless wine set. The blue color is pretty, and the price is great.

Six. Bite Beauty Mix and Mingle
I love Bite products, and this Mix and Mingle lippie would make a nice stocking stuffer.

Seven. Coffee Mug
This Kate Spade coffee mug is perfect and a great reminder to live a little.

Eight. Ceramic Measuring Cups
It’s so fun to give Christmas-themed gifts, and I think these measuring cups from Crate and Barrel are both cute and practical.

Nine. Essie Holiday Nail Kit
Gift sets make nice gifts, especially when the gift set is nail polish. I think this Essie set has great colors.

Ten. Cozy Throw
I have about a million blankets at home, and I still love receiving them as gifts. This throw is perfect for the holiday season.

Life Update: Six Months in Chicago

Here we are, halfway through our year in Chicago. It’s hard to believe that six months from now we will be packing up and moving back to Texas. I have been really focusing on living in the moment and enjoying our short time here because I know I will miss this beautiful city when we move back.

November was one of the hardest months we’ve had here so far. Christopher had many long days and very few days off, but we made the most of the time we had together.

On Christopher’s first day off in November, we decided to spend it enjoying the city. We walked all the way to Northerly Island for some gorgeous views of the city. Then, we spent some time chatting and enjoying the fall colors at Millennium Park.

We had our first snowfall in November with almost a foot of snow by O’Hare airport. It was so beautiful, but sadly, it delayed my in-laws’ visit.

Once Christopher’s family got here, we had a great time visiting the Museum of Science and Industry, the Shedd Aquarium, and Chicago 360. We also visited the Christkindlmarket for some spiced wine and German treats. I love exploring new places in the city with family, and I can’t wait to share more about everything we did.

I have been looking forward to December in Chicago all year, and I can’t wait that it’s already here. Hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas season!