Christmas Advent Calendars

All of these calendars are below:

This is it, it’s finally here! We can officially countdown to Christmas, Freeform begins their holiday movies, the Hallmark channel will no longer leave my TV (no matter how hard Kyle tries to get me to change the channel) and we can pull out the advent calendars. When I was little we had the cutest wooden calendar with doors that you opened to 25 tiny drawers and “Santa” would fill each drawer with a candy. Now there are so many different advent calendars that you can buy, we actually just bought my dad an advent calendar for his birthday that is filled with fishing lures. I also love the advent calendars that are filled with makeup, but nothing can beat a good old fashioned chocolate advent calendar like this Godiva one. 

Gift Guide For Him

All of these items are below:

Each year I have the hardest time trying to figure out what to get for my dad and brother because for one if they didn't have it they probably bought it and two there is only so much Yankee stuff the men can have. I set this gift guide up like women's gift guide with a few different options in each category if you missed the gifts for her guide can see it here. 

Slippers: Kyle has the L.L. bean slippers and he loves them, they have the hard bottom so he wears them to class and when he has to run errands but also just around the house. My dad actually asked for slippers this year too and he was very specific that they had to have a hard bottom on them.

Speaker: a speaker is something that I have in every men gift guide that I do but I feel like they easily break or can get ruined so it's always a good idea. We take ours to the beach so sometimes water and sand gets inside them. But investing in a good speaker can be a great gift especially if the guy is into music. Another good idea is a waterproof speaker for the shower or summer time so it doesn't get ruined by the water.     

Watch: there are so many different smartwatches out there these days which are all awesome like this Fitbit one. But nothing also beats a good old watch, I love fossil watches because they are so professional looking. If you have a man who needs a durable one a classic g shock is always a great idea. 

Shaving kits: I love the old-fashioned brushes that come with the shaving kits and I've heard from the guys that these creams that come in the kits are pretty good quality. The Harry's that's sold right at target and is more of an everyday product. 

Duffle bags: I am obsessed with this plaid duffle bag which is the perfect overnight bag. Right now Kyle is super in the gym and the Adidas bag could be perfect to pack before work and head to the gym right after. 

Headphones: I got Kyle the air pods for his birthday which he is now obsessed with. There are so many different kinds now, I personally think that the ones that are connected are a better idea because they seem less easy to lose but that's just me. 

I hope this gift guide helps you find gifts for the men who have everything.

Gift Guide For Her

All of these items are below:

It's that time of year again when the gift guides start to flood your time lines although I'm not complaining I do love a good gift guide. This year I did it a little different and grouped similar gift items together like all of the curling irons are gifted together as well as the blankets. I read something on Facebook and it was like “I don’t care how many blankets I have I will always love another blanket as a gift” and it is so true, you can never have enough blankets. 

Curling Irons 1/2/3: I love getting curling irons as a gift because it's something that I hate to buy for myself. My sister has the beach waver and I always end up having it in my bathroom because it is so good and can be used in so many different ways. I love the (name of the three-piece curling set) because it comes with different options so it's like buying three curlers in one.

Perfume: I love giving perfume or cologne for Christmas because this time of year they usually come with a free gift and you always have two options, you can either give to the person with the fragrance or keep it for yourself.

Blankets: like I said before a blanket as a gift is always a good idea especially if you pair it with these slippers or this eye mask or this one. I love gifts that have a theme and any of these items would make the most perfect cozy gift. 

Earrings: earrings and jewelry, in general, is always a good idea for a Christmas present. I love these tassel earrings which will go with anything. But I also love these studs because they are the perfect everyday earring. 

Satchels: I just bought this cross-body which you can see in this blog post here. Anyone of these cross-body bags would make a great gift. I've heard of people giving a bag and then filling it with goodies which is a great idea, one year my dad bought my mom a purse and inside were tickets to a show. She still talks about it saying it was her favorite present he's ever given her. 

Diffusers: How cute is this pineapple diffuser and it's from Walmart for only (add in price)! Diffusers have so many great health benefits to them. I found a few that were all different prices but they really are everywhere these days but a great gift. 

I hope this gift guide helps a little if you're stuck on what to get someone!

My Morning Routine with Probiotics

Thanks to Brandbacker and Daily Body Restore Probiotics for sponsoring today's post

Today I am sharing how I start each morning especially now that it is freezing outside and the illnesses are looming in the air. It is so important to take extra precautions to stay healthy during the winter months thats why I use probiotics which have so many heath benefits. Probiotics can help to fight against the flu and also seasonal depression which is such a common thing for people to have during the cold and dark winter months.  Daily Body Restore Probiotics help to absorb the nutrients into the body and has long-term nourishment benefits! Other benefits of Daily Body Restore probiotics include an increase in mental clarity and energy which is something that I need lately. I take my probiotics in the morning while completing my morning routine. 

First thing in the morning that I do unfortunately is look at my phone, this is really a habit I am trying to break but I do usually check my email for school (usually to see if a class is canceled that day). Then I typically get out of bed and eat breakfast, which usually in something quick like a yogurt or a quick egg. I usually take my probiotic with my breakfast with a glass of water and then continue to do my makeup. 

The second thing I do in the morning is my makeup and hair which is honestly the biggest part of my morning. I usually put on a YouTube video and spend the next 15-20 minutes. Since this is the biggest part of my morning I sometimes skip breakfast but I never skip my probiotics so I take them during my makeup (I actually keep a pack in my bathroom). 

After my makeup and hair, I go back to my room and pick out my clothes. My everyday outfit usually looks something like this but since it is freezing outside lately a coat, scarf, gloves, and hat are usually included. Before running out the door I usually make sure to throw a couple probiotics in my purse for lunchtime because it is recommended that you take 2 or 3 each day!

It is important to remember that these statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. #ad #sponsored #TakeYourProbitoics #DailyBodyRestore

Black Friday Deals

I love going black Friday shopping, every year I go after Thanksgiving dinner with my aunt and we love to just watch the people go crazy about getting an item. One year there was a gigantic pile of Tupperware containers and one guy ran right over to the pile and screamed "I GOT ONE THANK GOD I GOT ONE" it was hysterical. I love the experience of going shopping and getting some good deals.

A lot of stores are doing early Black Friday deals which I think puts people in a predicament. You can either buy the item with a Black Friday deal and hope there won't be a better one on Black Friday, or you can wait and hope it doesn't sell out. Either way, I think it depends on the item you are buying.

So the deals:

Walmart has a ton of electronics that are going to be on sale this year, there is a good deal through straight talk on iPhone 6's for $99 along with numerous deals on TV's.

Best Buy has a great deal on a kitchen aide for only $219 and the ring security system for only 139$. Along with a ton of other great deals.

Target has a ton of televisions on sale this year along with a bunch of other things but their flyers are filled with the TVs on sale.

Tips for black Friday shopping:

• Wear comfortable clothes
• Drink coffee
• be polite to others 
• HAVE FUN and be entertained by the crazy people

Casual Thanksgiving

FLANNEL TOP: J.Crew | JEANS: old (a similar pair here) | SLIP-ON SNEAKERS: Old Navy | TOTE: Vince Camuto tote 

I can not believe that Thanksgiving is this week! This is going to be a pretty easy week for me since I don't have class this week due to the Thanksgiving daybreak. I love Thanksgiving and all of our traditions, my family has two thanksgivings one with each side of the family so one is on Thursday of Thanksgiving and the other is the Friday after Thanksgiving. This year our plans almost had to be changed due to my little sisters cheerleading. Our hometown high school team made it to the sectionals game, this weekend they played a close game but unfortunately, they didn't win. If they had won the game it would have been the day after Thanksgiving making our holiday plans a little more hectic. 

So now about this outfit, I bought this flannel bell-sleeve top on my trip to Vermont. I love the different patterns between the sleeves making the bell of the sleeves really stand out. The blue in this shirt is really standing out in these pictures but it is not that bright in person, it's a perfect dark blue color. I am also lovinggg these slip-on sneakers from Old Navy they are so comfortable, they are a fabric on top so you have to be careful not to get them wet. 

Manchester Vermont Recap!

This past weekend was our annual girls trip to Manchester Vermont, I think this was our third or fourth' year going in November. Each year we go on a shopping spree and eat way too much food. This time we tried a few new places to eat and they were amazing! If you have never been to the small town of Manchester I highly recommend it.

Where we stayed:

We stayed at the Hampton Inn at Manchester which is fairly new and so clean. We stayed two nights this time which was new this year because we usually only stay one night. But even the Hampton Inn is beautiful. 

- We have also stayed at the Taconic hotel which is gorgeous, you can read about our first experience in Manchester here. 

Where we ate:

season Restuarant: The first day we were there we ate lunch at the season's restaurant which has the most delicious sandwiches and a great gluten-free bread for mom. I had the Vermonter which was ham, sharp cheddar cheese, apple and fig jam, on a raisin bread with a side of potato salad and my mouth is watering looking at the picture.

The Falcon Bar: On the first night we went to the Equinox hotel and had a cheese platter and a chocolate tasting for dinner. The cheese plate was delicious but if I am going, to be honest, the chocolate was not worth the price and they all tasted about the same.

Union Underground: This is a brand new restaurant in Manchester that we tried for the first time for lunch on the second day. Luckily we went on the first Sunday they were open because they were trying it out for the first time that weekend. This restaurant is literally underground, you walk down a bunch of stairs and there is a low ceiling and pool tables which sets such a cool vibe. I had the Chicken Dance which was like gyro style and delicious. They also have a sangria which was amazing.

The Ravens Den: The second night we ate at the Ravens Den which is just a little bit out of town but worth it! I had a delicious chicken piccata with the delicious rice and veggies on the side. The Ravens Den also has a dessert that is a warm glazed doughnut from a local bakery with a caramel ice cream which may be the best dessert I've ever had. 

What we did:

On Sunday we spent the entire day shopping, as you can see I did especially well in J.Crew factory. I also got a start on my Christmas shopping and got a couple of gifts for myself! Confession: we went to J.Crew three times in the three days we were in Vermont (we all have a problem).

This year was another amazing trip, we tried two new restaurants and had an endless amount of laughs. I'm already excited to go back next year.

The Donegal Turtleneck Sweater

JCrew: Donegal Turtleneck sweater | Gap: Jeans | Booties: Similar | Michael Kors: Crossbody

This outfit is from this past weekend which was my trip to Manchester Vermont. The recap filled with all of the new restaurants we tried is coming on Friday! While I was in Vermont I did some serious shopping and one of the items I picked up was this Donegal turtleneck sweater from J.Crew Mercantile. Before I went I knew I would be in search for some big comfy sweaters for the cold winter days and that is exactly what I found. 

Another item I knew I would be searching for while shopping was a crossbody bag that could be used as an everyday bag. I found this Cindy Large Saffiano Leather Crossbody Bag in the Micheal Korrs store. I have an obsession with this acorn color but it goes with so many different color combinations and I wanted something that would go with everything! 

I documented most of our trip on Instagram (mostly the food) and I combined it all into a highlight so if you missed it in real time it is saved on to my Instagram page!

Thanksgiving Home Decor

It is almost Turkey Day! So I feel like the world is super torn right now in two groups. One that is for starting the Christmas season now and one that wants to keep Christmas in December. I saw a post on Facebook and it said "No one is skipping Thanksgiving, it goes like this: October 1st - October 31st- HALLOWEEN, November 1st - November 21st- Christmas, November 22nd - THANKSGIVING, November 23rd - December 23rd- CHRISTMAS. And that is exactly how I feel. Although I don't have my tree up or any other decorations I have been making my lists for what to get everyone and started a little shopping.

There are actually so many Thanksgiving decorations out there so if you are one to decorate for every holiday separately then this is for you. I am loving all of the Thanksgiving-themed pillows which will give any home a cozy feel.

Weekly Review | Weekend Happenings

Weekly Review: This past week felt like the longest week ever but thankfully today is Friday and my trip starts tomorrow! This week was a lot of preparing for getting ready for this weekend and packing (check out Wednesdays post for what I'm packing). Tuesday was election day (I hope you all voted!!) I went out to lunch at my favorite lunch spot and ran some errands on a rainy day. Other than that I caught up on some homework and blog work.

Weekend Happenings: MANCHESTER! In case you haven't noticed I am super excited for my trip starting tomorrow!

Favorite Things On the Internet:

• Fleece Vest - This fleece vest is high on my wishlist for this weekends shopping trip! I love the color and it looks so cozy!!

What I'm Packing For My Upcoming Trip

This weekend is my annual girls trip with my mom, my sister Kara, and Kaitlin! Every year we go to Manchester Vermont and spend the weekend shopping at the outlets and eating delicious food. This time we are spending an extra night so packing was a little more extensive this time so I thought I would share a little of what I am bringing!

I am planning to wear this outfit on the way to Manchester, it's not a long drive but this will be comfortable to sit in the car in. In the post I did on this plaid ruffle shirt I talked about how soft it is and I am not exaggerating when I say it may be the softest shirt I own. Highly recommend it.

For this outfit, I plan to wear it on the second day for our day of shopping! When I spend the day shopping I like to layer and wear things that are easy to take on and off when trying outfits on. The shirt under the cardigan is a tank top from Jcrew which is lightweight.  

Other things I am bringing include (but not limited too):

• Black t-shirt dress
• Off the shoulder bow top
• Bell sleeve sweater

What usually ends up happening on these trips is I pack a ton of different outfits to bring with me and end up wearing none of them because I just wear what I bought while shopping there. I am so looking forward to getting away and make sure to look out for the upcoming posts on our trip and follow along on Instagram to see more of our trip --> @petiteinherheels

Blue Gingham Vest 2 Ways

I always buy certain pieces and never know how to style them in ways more than one so I thought I would challenge myself with a new series on the blog where I take one clothing piece and show it a couple different ways. This time I am showing this gingham vest with outfits that I have already shown on the blog. I kept the outfits super casual so you can see how easy it is to pair with things you probably already have in your closet.

I have fallen in love with this dress so much that I am literally trying to find a million different ways to wear it. I added this vest to the dress and fell in love with the look all over again. Adding a vest also adds warmth and a little something extra to the outfit! 

This second outfit is pretty much my fall uniform, you can usually find me in a sweater and a vest at least once a week. The Teddie sweater from J.Crew Mercantile is perfect under any coat or vest because they keep you warm but thin enough to comfortably fit under any outerwear. 

This past week I posted on my Instagram stories (@petiteinherheels) and did a poll asking: Do you wear your vest under your coat or do you take it off when you put your coat on? I wasn't surprised to see the results showed most people to keep the vest on when they wore a coat. But this is always something that sort of deters me from wearing a vest because it drives me nuts to be shoved into my jacket with a vest on underneath. Only a couple people said they take it off when they wear a jacket and I think I'm on their team! 

October Recap

October is the busiest month of the year for me, there are so many birthdays to celebrate and cakes to be made. I always love October because it really starts to feel like the holiday's to me because I literally celebrate with friends and family all month. Plus I had some outfits on the blog this month that I really loved so I figured I would do one big round-up of it all. 

The first outfit post of this month was this floral J.Crew vest that I have been loving. You can see this post here with all the outfit details. 

The first weekend of this month we celebrated my mom's birthday at the oldest winery in America at the Brotherhood Winery. I also have a whole post of our tour and wine tasting which you can see here. 

We then celebrated my mom's birthday and Kyles birthday at our favorite Italian restaurant. 

I always try to challenge myself for a new cake recipe for my mom's birthday. So this year I found this recipe on Pinterest which is a chocolate raspberry cake with a raspberry filling. So delicious and everyone loved it. 

We then celebrated my best friends birthday with frozen strawberry daiquiri's, pizza, and cake. This cake was a red velvet with cream cheese frosting and the middle cut out filled with m&m's. Another delicious cake. 

This month I posted about this J.Crew flannel top which may be the softest top that I own. This is one of those shirts that you can throw on and look put together. It also comes in a red which may have to show up in my closet soon, you can see the details of this outfit here.

We celebrated another birthday of another best friend with a 90's bar crawl which was so much fun. Kyle and I both wore flannels and 90's inspired graphic tees, Kyles was dragon ball z and mine was NSYNC. 

I have been loving this Amazon t-shirt dress that has pockets all over my blog and Instagram. I just think it's the best idea and I think every dress should have pockets. All of the outfit details are in this post here!

This month I also posted about this J.Crew Rainjacket, I just wish it was a little warmer so I could wear it longer as the months get colder. Check out the post here and where to get all the outfit details. 

This month was also my little brother Kristians 21st birthday so I made him a confetti cake (his favorite) which was also beer pong themed which was very appropriate for his 21st birthday! 

October is my favorite month because it is the start of fall and really the start of the holidays because of Halloween. But most importantly because I get to celebrate some of the most important people in my life!