Christmas Recap

Hoping everyone had a blessed Christmas! It's always so difficult getting back in the swing of things after some time off from work and celebrating the Holidays.

 I ended up taking the Friday before Christmas off work to catch up on some last minute orders that were placed. I worked for about 4 hours completing all that needed to be done, and wrapping some Christmas presents too! Then of course my hubby wanted to do some last minute shopping. I thought he was crazy for wanting to go to the mall a few days before Christmas. But sure enough he surprised me with a new Iphone 7Plus which I have been needing to upgrade my phone since I use it a ton for my business. So if anyone is needing an inexpensive Iphone 5C, I have one for sale now :) - In great condition. 
So once we braved the mall (Which surprisingly wasn't all that busy- we headed home to clean up and my hubby had to go into work).

The next morning we went over to my parents so I could help my mom prepare the appetizers and get a head start on prepping food. Once we finished that, we decided to brave the mall yet again, because we had some last minute gifts we forgot we needed! (We certainly were not prepared this year!) Luckily it wasn't too bad at the mall and we weren't there for very long. We came back home to freshen up and went to dinner at my favorite Japanese Steakhouse - Bari Bari. We had too much fun and my mom ended up taking home the leftover Saki we ordered. 

After dinner we took a family walk (including the pups!) around the lake to look at lights. Once we got back, we of course had to take a few photos by the tree. We got silly and did a "prom pose" haha. (They got a little blurry towards the end of the night). We watched a few Christmas movies and fell asleep to them shortly after.

On Christmas morning we woke up early to begin opening presents. We always gift some cute new toys for the pups and I always put the bows from the presents on them. They don't seem to mind, but it makes for a great photo!

I also love my new lipsense from Dressing Dallas- Loving my new colors! You can shop for yours here. I can honestly say I am hooked! It doesn't come off when you drink your favorite beverages so you won't leave any marks on your cups! I love that! It's my new favorite obsession and I need to get more colors!

My hubby ran out to the grocery store and brought me back some Starbucks. That was such a lovely surprise as I'm sure it was super busy on Christmas.

My aunt and cousins came over mid afternoon and we played some board games (Yahtzee) and attempted to put a 1000 piece puzzle together. We didn't get close to finishing but we did get the border completed thank goodness! I used my "There's a chance this is Wine" cup throughout the day and received many compliments on it. 

How was your Christmas? What are some Christmas traditions you do with your loved ones?

 

Wine Exchange 2016

 

 

I participated in a wine exchange on facebook.. I figured why not? I didn't have anything to lose, and heck... tis the season. You send one bottle of wine and can get anywhere between 6-36+ in return. How can you not love that? I only sent one bottle (through Amazon), it's been two weeks and I've already received 7, and I received a few e-mails stating more are on the way! I probably won't get 36, that's a long shot, but I am happy with what I received so far :)

If you are interested in participating and have a facebook, comment below with your e-mail so I can send you the details! It's really simple and fun! 

Friendsmas!

 I started the weekend off attending the boat parade by my parents house. It was so fun to walk around and see all the boats lit up and listen to Holiday music.  I purchased these LED light collars from Paw Prime for my dogs so it's easier to see them in the dark when I take them for walks.  They got some extra attention for wearing them, so they are definitely dog approved! They took some time to ship to me, but I am really happy with the purchase and secretly get excited to use them! You can get a FREE collar, just pay shipping! And you can choose your color! I chose red for both my dogs.

On Saturday, my friends and I got together and planned a Friendsmas party. My girlfriend hosted at her house and cooked turkey and stuffing, I brought my famous green chili corn dip that everyone requests, green beans, and the other ladies brought over salad, mashed potatoes, scalloped potatoes, rolls and desserts! There were too many hilarious moments such as: massaging the turkey, shoving butter up it's hoo-ha, spilling one batch of stuffing on the floor, and laughing so hard we almost peed. We also had a white elephant exchange and I ended up with a mermaid tail blanket which I have been wanting forever! Photos to come! 

One of my friends started up her own etsy shop, and she makes adorable wine decor! (Like the Santa one pictured above) She still needs to update and add more items to her shop, but you should totally go give her shop some love and "like"/favorite some items! (She got her first 40 listings FREE using my special code, HERE.


I am SO behind in my Christmas shopping, however I did order a few things from different etsy shops to #supportsmallshops this Holiday, so I will share those in the upcoming weeks :). How are you doing on your shopping?

P.S. Don't forget to enter the amazing giveaway posted last week! You can win a Gold Macbook Air --You don't want to miss out on this beauty!


 

Amazing Giveaway

I've teamed up with some AMAZING bloggers to bring you a fantastic giveaway just in time for the Holidays! What better way to celebrate, right? If these were on your Christmas list, you won't be disappointed! Perfect for every blogger. What do you have to lose?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Unique Gift Ideas : Shop Small

I used to be that person that would have my Christmas shopping done before November hit. It was a huge stress relief to not have to worry about shopping. This year is a little different as November is almost over and I have not bought one gift yet! I'm kind of freaking out a little inside. 

Luckily, this year I have chosen to shop small.  By small, I don't mean just buying a few things, I'm talking supporting small businesses. As a small business owner myself, I know how important it is to shop small and support small business owners. I also am a huge sucker for personalized and unique gifts so I wanted to share some unique shops who take pride in their work and really love what they do!

Shevelkin Designs | If you are a coffee lover like myself, you will absolutely LOVE this shop. The owner, Stephanie, is the sweetest and SO creative. She makes everything in her shop by hand. Her designs are so fun! My favorite right now are her coasters and brew mat. The colors and detail is stunning!  Get 10% off using SWDBLOG 11/28-12/4

Check her out on instagram @shevelkindesigns

Burlap Lace Cozy | Coaster & Mat Set | To-Go Cup Cozy

Karried Astray | Who doesn't love a cute handbag? I mean, you carry them with you everyday anyways right? Might as well have a few cute patterns to add to your collection! She custom makes every handbag with love so you can choose your own style! I love the colorful prints she uses! Each one is unique and sure to please! Use code Jingle to receive 10% off your purchase. Valid 11/28 to 12/13.

Check her out on instagram: @karriedastray

Flower Clutch | Cat Clutch | Squirrel Clutch

Mini be Couture | She makes the cutest handmade crochet items! From unicorn dolls, beanies and gloves, to cute cozy's! Her crochet work is spectacular and I love everything she has in her shop. Everything just looks so cozy! Also she is offering a discount to my readers, use code BOSSLADY20.

Check her out on instagram @minibecouture



Mesmerics | If you love monogramming as much as I do, then you will love these monogrammed cozies! I love the different colors she has to offer. She carries cozies, dice bags, stockings, wallets, pillows, baby burp cloths and more! I love her patterns, they are truly one of a kind. Use code SHOWERED20 for 20% off your purchase. 


Follow her on instagram @mesmerics.on.etsy

Elephant Burp Cloth $4 | Floral Cosmetic Bag | Plaid Cozy

Geek Fashion Source | This shop has the cutest "geek" fashion wear. I personally love the fun prints on the suspenders. But she also has bow-ties, fun glasses, custom designed shoes and more! Love game-day wear? She has the perfect unique selection for sports fans! She is also offering a special discount code to my followers, use code  HOLIDAYSEASON20 at checkout to enjoy 20% off your purchase.

Follow her on instagram @sweetlookscollection

Dallas Cowboy Suspenders |  Broncos Nerd Glasses | Hello Kitty Sleep Mask

 

Rustic Valley Kids | This shop has beautiful scarves and bows. If you are on the search for a beautiful patterned bow or scarf, this is your place! She has a wonderful collection to choose from. I love the colors she has available!

Follow her on instagram @rusticvalleykids

Scarf & Bow Set |  Multicolored Bow | Floral Scarf & Bow

 

And of course I can't leave out my own shop. I will be making some gifts for friends, co-workers and family this Holiday. {Shop: Showered With Design}.

Also search hashtag #SEIZED to see all the shops participating in "SEIZE THE DEAL."(Ends tonight) All shops are using the coupon code SEIZED so you can enjoy a discount from over 180+ shops!

 

Housewarming Gift Ideas

I recently came across Jenny's post on housewarming gift ideas and decided to put my own ideas in the mix! The holiday season is just around the corner. Now is the perfect time to get some Holiday Shopping done before the mad rush of crowds fills the malls (and the streets). Black Friday is only weeks away which means the holiday shopping is about to begin! I have always been a huge fan of bringing housewarming gifts to friends and family to add a little touch of love to their new homes! 

Personalized Coasters | Wine Sign $14.99 | Personalized Wine Opener Set |  Cutting Board $11 | Personalized Decanter

My favorite gift ideas always start in the kitchen. The kitchen is the heart of the home. That's where friends and family gather and spend the most time in. The kitchen just brings people together. Whether it be over drinks or a warm cooked meal, it's one of my favorite spaces in my home. Here are a few of my top favorite gift ideas that they are sure to love:


Personalized Wine Opener Set |  Wine opener sets are usually not items you think to buy for yourself. Sure you have some plain old wine openers lying around in your junk drawer, but do you have a personalized set with all the cool gadgets? These are great to keep around when you are entertaining.

Coasters |  Always a staple in the dining room, kitchen, and living room. Where friends gather, grab a drink and relax.  Personalized coasters are a must in my home. They add that little extra touch and makes you feel somewhat professional in your own home. Everyone needs coasters, and these are the perfect gift.

Decorative Cutting Board |  I love kitchen decor, and what better way to give your friends/family  cute decoration that can also be used daily! Display them on a cute stand near your favorite cook book and be reminded of the cute and thoughtful gift every time they are in the kitchen.

Kitchen Wine Sign | Spruce up the kitchen with this cute wine sign. I love little art blocks in kitchens and how it adds that little extra touch. It brings all the little details together.

Personalized Decanter | Because who doesn't love the look of one of these? They look so fancy! I always sport mine at little get togethers that we have when we entertain. We get so many compliments on them!

I love ALL of these ideas and I know your giftees will too! I am also hosting an online auction for my shop on my facebook page. If you are wanting to find a great gift for less, head on over as I will be posting from 11/10-12/22! Perfect for your Holiday Shopping!

 

Peachy Keen And Some New Items

Wow it's November, it's Election Day, and it's also time to start thinking about Christmas shopping if you haven't already. Leslie at Peachy Keen has started sharing her Small Business Christmas Shopping list. She will be posting a new shop every day so make sure to keep checking back to learn all about the shop, the shop owner and a little behind the scenes details. It's so fun to learn about the shop owners and how they got started on Etsy!

You can read all about how I got started {And also grab your special discount code for my shop} at Peachy Keen.

I know I've mentioned before, but if you haven't already joined ,my facebook group now's the perfect time to! Just in time for the Holidays: Showered With Design Boutique
I have some MAJOR VIP savings in that group so you won't want to miss out!

What You Might Not Know About Me

I thought it would be fun to jump back into the blog with some things you probably don't know about me.

You Can Find Me Doing the Following On Any Random Day

• Talking about my dogs, food, or random ramblings.

• Working on my "crafts" for my shop. People think I'm weird when I say I'd rather be in my PJ's crafting, but I've turned down a few weekend nights out because I really just enjoy being home and crafting binging on too much Freeform TV.
  
  
• Watching the Disney Channel.. any day of the week. I am not ashamed!
    
•  Listening to Disney Music... at work... in my car.. any time.
   
• Random spontaneous weekend traveling with my husband.
   
• Talking to my dogs like they are real people... aren't they?
   
• Singing and making up my own songs on the daily. (Like when I am driving, and people cut me off, I will be the one to make an entire song about it the rest of the drive)

Embrace the weird, ya'll!

What's something you do, that's out of the ordinary?
 

Just updated some new items in the shop! Especially for you Pumpkin Spice Lovers! (I know it's my personal favorite ;)
All fellow bloggers can enjoy 25% off using code: 25THANKS 

& if you haven't already joined my exclusive VIP group for giveaways, coupons and more, then you can do so here.

 

My Favorite Little Things About Fall

I know, I know. I haven't been around much around in the blogger world and my posts seem to keep starting off with things like Sorry, haven't been around in a while, and I promise I will catch up soon. Who knew owning your own online business would take up so much of my time. *Insert sarcasm here* I couldn't be more thankful and grateful for all the love and support for my business and that's really the reason I am not blogging as much as usual. Between my full time job, and wanting to have somewhat of a social life, there's not much room for it. I try to keep up with my blogging friends as much as possible though! You guys are the reason I even wanted to blog in the first place! So now on to the fun stuff!

Fall weather changes are a favorite for me. Even though I live in Southern California and we don't really get the real "FALL weather," it is still my favorite time of year because of the events that follow:



1. September Football
Although I am not huge into football. Something about having your friends come over to watch the games and setting out fun snacks just warms my heart.

2. Fall Decor 
The colors of Fall are my favorite! They are so welcoming and warming. It's also fun to come up with new Fall decor that you can make yourself. I know this is taking it back to the start of my blog, but projects like this DIY Skull and pumpkin topiaries are fun to do!

3. Halloween
 The candy, the costumes, the fun! Whether you choose your own costume or you make your own, something about dressing up is so fun. Last year I shared how to make your own Pumpkin decor.

4. Pumpkin everything
I get excited every year when the PSL comes out! Because that means fall is here! I also love finding all the best pumpkin recipes like Pumpkin muffins and pumpkin roll ups!

5. Thanksgiving
The food and hanging out with family are my two favorites about Thanksgiving. Being in a food coma for a few days is so worth it when you are hanging out with loved ones.

6. Black Friday
It's been tradition now to go shopping with my in-laws on Black Friday. It's actually pretty fun, browsing around the mall, finding some great deals, and going to lunch with them. It's something I look forward to every year.

7. Christmas
Who doesn't love Christmas. I love the decor, the baking, the gathering of friends and family and of course the gift giving. I shared some unique Christmas decor and I shared one of my favorite recipes that my mom and I bake together every year and is a fan favorite. SWD has some great gifts in our shop! And we can customize ANYTHING for you at no additional cost! SWD also has baby items! So head on over to check out our products!
 
8. New Years
The celebration and start of the New Year! Plus, many get engaged on New Years! (Plus I have an engagement box for those who get engaged and it would make a great gift!)

 

Weekend Shenanigans

I never thought I would be so excited for the weekend to get shit done. This past weekend I literally ADULTED so hard. Because we are leaving for two weeks to Alaska, I wanted to start packing, laundry, clean the house (I love coming home to a clean house), and spend some time working on new designs for my business. I spent some major time buying new props to take photos of my products with. I am so excited for my new flat lays! (I guess this is what adulting is like? Getting excited over a flat lay.)

I spent some time with instagram stories over the weekend. So you can see behind the scenes, what goes into an instagram post, and special coupon codes will be featured there! I've been majorly working on photography for my business, and it's both fun and frustrating at the same time. What do you think?

You can get your very own BOSS BABE travel mug here. (& Yes, it's BPA free!) 
Use code BLOGBABE for 15% off. (Plus FREE shipping)

My girlfriend got engaged to her Englishman over the weekend and I of course had to make her a goody basket perfect for your newly engaged friends or family! (Who doesn't want to show off that new bling with these goodies?)

Purchase your very own Engagement Gift box with 5 items here.

Which one is your favorite? Sound off in the comments.

In the meantime, I will be out of town until September 2nd! I cannot wait for our travel adventures! I'll be posting as much as possible on Instagram, so make sure to check me out!