I almost always click over to “favorites” blog posts when I run across them because I love hearing about the stuff that real people love.
I’ve gotten more than a few great ideas from these kind of posts, so I try to keep track of things I’m loving in order to share them with you :)
Right now I’m sitting in front of one of my favorites…
As cheesy as it probably is to watch a crackling fireplace on TV, I have to admit that I love it! We have an almost obscenely large television in our very small living room, so transforming it into a cozy feature instead of a hideous black rectangle is a good thing in my book.
This “show” is available on Netflix and there are 3 1-hour episodes: crackling with christmas music, crackling only and crackling with elevator type mood music.
I’m watching the 3rd episode right now, and the elevator music is oddly calming, so don’t knock it till you try it.
Yes they are UGLY.
Yes they are overpriced.
Yes there is some kind of video circulating about Uggs and animal cruelty or something (I haven’t watched it, but I’ve seen the link posted on Facebook along with all of the other critical, alarmist, let’s-all-get-worked-up-over-something videos).
But MAN ARE THEY WARM!
I’m a bare feet and flats kind of gal for the majority of the year. I have flats in just about every color and they are my go-to shoes.
But in this winter wonderland, flats simply are not practical.
Uggs, however, are.
I can’t seem to figure out how to make them as cute as everyone else I see wearing them. Mine always look big and Yeti-like but they are so warm I don’t care.
You don’t even have to wear socks with them because the amazing wooly interior will keep your toes toasty!
So, say what you will, but these are currently in heavy rotation over here.
Shoulder Length Hair
By early fall this year my long locks were starting to drag me down. It was fun and convenient to have super long hair this summer, but when the dry weather started setting in, I knew I had to do something before I got really fed up and pulled a Britney.
I found this image on Pinterest and was inspired. My hair stylist (Esther at Lamia & Lamia) is wonderful and gave me exactly what I wanted.
Having the extra length gone has helped me style my hair faster and combat the crazy static that accompanies winters in Michigan.
Bottom line? If you have long hair and want a fun change, chop some off :)
John Frieda Tight Curls 1″ Curling Iron
A couple years ago my sister and I were browsing around Target and decided to each buy a new curling iron. Back in the 90’s when I had very poofy blond bangs, I used a large barrel curling iron almost every day, but somewhere along the way it died and I never replaced it.
Blow-drying with a round brush was my go-to method of styling and I didn’t give curling irons much thought. UNTIL hair tutorials started sweeping the internet and I saw girls with gorgeous wavy hair and I wanted in on the action.
The curling iron I bought that night with my sister was a basic Revlon 1 1/2″ iron and it has served me well, but the longer I started keeping my layers, the harder it was to get a good wave that wouldn’t just fall out within a couple of hours.
Enter the 1″ curling iron.
After my last haircut when my stylist used a 1″ iron to style my hair, I was sold. In a few short minutes she got the results I’d been trying to get for ages with my large barrel iron.
I’ve been very happy with this particular brand so far, so I linked to the exact iron I purchased.
It’s driving me crazy that I can’t link to this exact candle, but because it’s seasonal, I think they don’t have it available online. The one I’m currently burning was 50% off after Christmas ($5 instead of $10).
In any case, I’ve been so in love with burning this pine candle this year. I’m normally a straight cinnamon gal over the holidays, but last Christmas this nordic pine candle won me over.
This brand (which I cannot seem to find the name of) is available at Target on the end cap near the candle aisle and it’s really great. These candles burn well and give off great scent. I first discovered them when I happened to take my chances on the Heritage Pumpkin scent last fall. That one is awesome too :)
I literally stumbled upon this magazine when it was rolled up in my mailbox not long after I registered my KitchenAid mixer. The registration card offered me a free subscription to either Food & Wine or Travel magazine and I didn’t really want either one, mostly because of the hassle I’d surely face when the free trial was over.
You know, countless “Urgent” letters asking me to renew right away! Post cards prompting me to check a box for another year of their esteemed publication.
I just didn’t want to deal with it, so I didn’t check either box.
Rebel, I know :)
But sure enough, they disregarded my lack of a response and started sending me this magazine.
I’m so glad they did.
It’s a beautiful treat each month. A feast for the eyes and the imagination.
I never knew I cared so much about wine (obviously I have a thing for food :) but reading the stories of different grapes, wineries and flavors has a way of transporting me around the globe all as I sit in front of my fake fireplace in my little living room in Michigan.
The recipes are divine and will probably start showing up here on the blog as I try them!
It turned out to be a really happy accident :)
and last, but certainly not least!
A Million Little Ways by Emily Freeman
Inspiring. Encouraging. Thrilling. Motivating.
I just finished reading this book and I cannot say enough about how wonderful it was. God has been stirring things up in my heart and I feel like Emily knew exactly what God has been saying to me and she wrote a book to help me work through it.
Chock full of scripture and truth, this book doesn’t give answers or formulas, but gently leads you by the hand to discovering what God has already said about who we are and what we each have to uniquely offer the world.
I want every single woman I know to read it and start releasing their art to the world.
This little video trailer gives a sneak peak into what I’m talking about…
Run, don’t walk, to Amazon.com or your local bookstore and snatch this book up! You’ll be so glad you did :)
That’s it for now! What are some of your favorites? Leave them in the comments so I can hear what you’re loving lately!
*You can check out my other Things I’m Loving posts here, here, here and here.
I think that Ugg boots are perfectly acceptable for a gal living in Michigan. When I was in college in Texas, girls would wear them when the temperature dropped below 50 degrees. Overreaction much!
Also, Food & Wine seems like a good food/cooking magazine alternative to Food Network’s magazine. FN’s magazine, pretty unsurprisingly, had lot of recipes that most of us just aren’t down to tackle on a Tuesday after work.
HAHAHA! Too funny about Uggs in Texas in general! You should check out food and wine…it’s really great. The recipes are kind of sophisticated, but a bunch of them are surprisingly realistic too.
I have to tell my sister about the fireplace on Netflix. She is obsessive about yule log on Christmas day. :)
I love you hair! I always want soft waves but I don’t know how to get the result without it looking a hot mess or *way* over done. What’s your process? Do you just blow dry and then curl the frame pieces? Any product? How long does it take you from start to finish?
She will love the Netflix fireplace!
Thanks so much about the hair :)
I use Aquage uplifting foam (made famous by Kate of The Small Things Blog – but I was already using it!) and then blow-dry upside down, not doing much to style at that point, just getting it dry. Then I use the 1″ curling iron in sections all over, making sure to hold it vertically and roll the hair away from my face (hope that makes sense!). I let all the curls cool before I mess with them, then I just run my fingers through it and finish with some medium hold aerosol hairspray. The hairspray is essential for it to hold. The hair alone can usually be done in about 20-25 minutes.
That does make sense. I may have to give it a trial run one night after the kids go to bed. Thanks!
Ok, LOVING your hair and I think that I’m going to be playing that fireplace thing with my other fireplace going. We’ll just have an inferno in our home.