Gift Guide: For Him

Okay, ladies! Today's gift guide is for the guys. Whether you're shopping for your boyfriend, husband, dad, or brother, here are a bunch of things the men in our lives just might love! (And is it just me, or are they the HARDEST to shop for?! Hopefully this helps!)
wallet / apple airpodsset of 3 socks / tie / green sweater / blue sweater / cashmere gray sweater / gingham button up shirt / sneaker / jeans / Bose speaker / ugg slippers / Nest thermostat / fitbit watch / turn table / gray scarf / men's kit with cleanser, shaving cream, aftershave tonic, face lotion / boxers 


In my husband's stocking, I always stick in a pair of socks, boxers (got the ones above...how funny are the patterns?! Love it.) and a chocolate, beer or something else that's kind of small like gum, cool toothpicks, etc. I love filling his stocking! Usually I grab him something warm to wear for one of his wrapped gifts and then something fun I know he'll be excited about, like headphones (these are on his wishlist) or something tech or coffee inspired (he's a serious coffee snob!) I put the turn table in there because my hubby also loves record and we have quite a vinyl collection already. We have a turn table, but this one looks so cool and retro, yet modern.


More ideas:
Date Box was so fun for us a couple weeks ago, giving a subscription to your hunny might be fun! I hope my dad doesn't read this (but he probably will, considering he's my number 1 fan!) because we are thinking of getting him this for him and my mom to have a date-night-in :) You can use the code MICHAELA50 for 1/2 off your first box!
My husband loves his Yeti so much, so I think this is a great gift! My parent's got it for him last year and he uses it almost every day. I even loved it, so he got me one for my birthday :)
If you're buying a gift for a guy who likes to read, these are a few of my husband's favorite books that have all been really impactful in his faith: (one isn't showing up, but it's probably the best one-- The Holiness of God by RC Sproul.

My parent's love going to Hawaii for vacation, so often I'll get my dad something from Tommy Bahamas, one of his favorite stores!




Hope these help! And please, as always, share your gift ideas for the guys in the comments!

xoxo

PAST GIFT GUIDES:
For the Hostess
For Her
For the Beauty-lover



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November Thankful List 4

The last week of November is here and I'm saying farewell to it with my last thankful list. This has been so good for my soul to do each week! 



- even though I don't love winter, I'm thankful for how pretty the snow is from inside.
- lately I've been talking with my mom on the phone like once a day and I just love it. It makes me feel a little closer, though we're thousands of miles away.
- yesterday morning was a rough one for me...without going into many details, I was injured and I'm just thankful it wasn't worse. Also thankful for puppy snuggles after.
- a cozy afternoon reading the Magnolia Journal
- so many ladies have signed up for Bloom Bash Dallas next year. I'm beyond honored to get to encourage and equip them on their journey to creative business ownership!
- sweet (and very cheesy) Hallmark Christmas movies.
- this podcast convicted and blessed me! It's on gratitude and hospitality. 
- sunny winter days
- our Christmas tree
- twinkle lights, wreaths, greenery, the smell of Christmas
- the chance to host some of my girlfriends (actually, about 12!) next week for a My Favorite Things holiday party.
- brunch on Sundays
- even the thought of going home to visit family next week makes me smile. There's nothing like being with your fam and traditions!
- we watched this documentary last night and it was incredibly eye-opening to the gospel in America. It's on my thankful list because I'm grateful that people are speaking truth and I'm grateful for the Lord's kindness in reminding me that HE alone is the gift. 
- my husband's job. He switched companies early this year and we're both so grateful for the timing of this. He loves what he does and that makes me as his wife so happy!
- all of you! I've said it before, but I'm so grateful for you being here, following along and keeping up with my little corner of the internet. I wouldn't be able to continue doing what I love without you!

Happy Wednesday! What are you thankful for this week?
xoxo




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Best of Cyber Monday Sales

I hope you had a lovely, restful weekend. We spent it getting our tree and decorating it! We went to a real Christmas Tree Farm here in West Michigan owned by the sweetest family. We brought the dog and they loved meeting him (phew!). I can't wait to share the whole tree with you soon. In addition to the many, many things I'm thankful for, I am also very grateful for all of you. Thank you so much for following along with me here. I know so many of you have been around since I started the blog in college. It's so special that you've stuck around all these years! I'm so appreciative of you reading, commenting, emailing me to say hello, and yes, even purchasing things to help support the blog. It's a joy to show you some of my favorite things and hopefully help you find some great pieces for your wardrobe and your home! Thank you, thank you! 

Okay ladies, it's the biggest online shopping day of the year! I've done the work for you and rounded up all the best sales, their codes and my favorite pieces. This is the last hoorah on all these deals, so here we go!!

ALL MY FAVORITES, ALL IN ONE PLACE. 
I'll be updating this throughout the day as I find other great items!

THE SHORT LIST
* Pottery Barn: up to 25% off + free shipping with code CYBER
* West Elm: 30% off $3000+, 25% off $1000+, 20% off $500+, 15% off $100+
* Crate & Barrel: 20% off, prices as marked + free shipping over $50
* Lulu & Georgia: 
* McGee & Co.: 20% off with code THANKYOU
Caitlin Wilson Textiles: 15% off with code BF15
Anthropologie: 30% off EVERYTHING + FREE shipping over $100+
Mark & Graham: 20% off + FREE Shipping with code FRIENDS
FASHION:

Anthropologie: 30% off EVERYTHING + FREE shipping over $100+
LOFT: 50% off everything + FREE SHIPPING with code CYBER
Nordstrom: up to 60% off sale! No code needed.
J.Crew: 50% off with code TGIF
* J.Crew Factory: 40-50% off everything with code ADDTOCART
GAP: 50% off everything with code BLKFRIDAY
Banana Republic: 50% off everything + FREE SHIPPING, no code needed. Extra 10% off for card holders with code BRCARD
Macy's: 20% off purchase with code BLKFRI
* The Mason Jar Boutique: 25% off everything!
* August Cloth: Clearance sale!
BEAUTY / ACCESSORIES:

Beautycounter: 15% off + FREE shipping over $50
* BaubleBar: 35% off!
* Kendra Scott: 20% off everything, 25% off $100+, 30% off $200+
bar cart / pouf / marble coffee table / lamp / pillow / chemex / vintage coffee mug / T3 curling iron / earrings / slippers / stripe long sleeve / booties / luggage tag / beauty set: moisturizer, mask, oil, cleansing balm / plaid peplum top / necklace / socks / tech gloves / black winter jacket
Happy shopping, friends! Hope you find some things you love!

xoxo
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The Best Black Friday Sales

I hope you had a nice Thanksgiving everyone! Today is Black Friday, which means I'm here telling you all the best Black Friday sales and deals. It's a long post, but it's very thorough! So if you want to shop from the comfort of your home, get cozy. First up, I'm giving you all my favorite sales and their discount codes needed. I'll update as I find more. Second, I tried on some fun pieces last week in prep for the sales. I loved so many things! Third, I'm giving you my favorite sale picks for the ladies and gents then finishing with a couple more stand out pieces divided up by category. Phew! Here we go...

Outfit: poncho (30% off) / boots 

HOME:

* Serena & Lily: 20% off with code GATHER
* Pottery Barn: up to 30% off + free shipping
* West Elm: 30% off $3000+, 25% off $1000+, 20% off $500+, 15% off $100+
* Crate & Barrel: 20% off, prices as marked + free shipping over $50
* Lulu & Georgia: 25% off with code BESTEVER
* McGee & Co.: 20% off with code THANKYOU
Magnolia: Spend $75 get $15 off. Spend $150, get $50 off, Spend $300 get $100 off. Codes: THANKS15 / THANKS50 / THANKS100 at checkout for each offer.
Caitlin Wilson Textiles: 
Minted: 20% off art + holiday cards. Code BF2018
* Anthropologie: 30% off EVERYTHING! No code needed.
FASHION:

* Anthropologie: 30% off EVERYTHING! No code needed. (Discount even off sale!)
* LOFT: 50% off everything! Code THANKS
* Nordstrom: up to 60% off sale! No code needed.
* Nordstrom Rack: up to 30% extra off clearance. Tons of daily deals here including Hanky Panky (my favorite undies!) Dyson, and True Religion.
* Madewell: 25% off entire purchase. Code DEALWITHIT
* ASOS: 25% off everything
* J.Crew: 40% off with code TOGETHER
* J.Crew Factory: 40-50% off everything with code ADDTOCART
* GAP: 50% off everything with code BLKFRIDAY
Banana Republic: 50% off everything, no code needed. Extra 10% off for card holders with code BRCARD
Macy's: 20% off purchase with code BLKFRI
Urban Outfitters: BOGO the whole store, discount at checkout.
Tory Burch: up to 60% off

BEAUTY / ACCESSORIES:

Beautycounter: 15% off + FREE shipping over $50
* BaubleBar: 35% off!
* Kendra Scott: 20% off everything, 25% off $100+, 30% off $200+
* Sephora: 15% off, no code needed
I did some shopping last week to scout out for the upcoming sales and this is what I found! Everything below here is 30% OFF:
Plaid Gray Top- can't decide if I liked this gray color or the colorful one below better. But one thing is for sure, this is my favorite blouse I tried on! I love the neckline, ruffled details and soft flannel material.  // Originally $98, now $69.
Plaid Red Top- which color do you like best?!
Green Thermal top (4 colors) / Scarf- love me some simple layering shirts like this green one. Emerald is one of my favorite colors, especially since my eyes are blue/green. This scarf is SO fun, too! // Originally $69, now $48
Lavender Thermal Top (5 colors)- Love this basic layering top. It has a couple sweet details done in texture throughout the top!
Mint Cowl Neck Pullover - perfect for the cozy days at home or running to the store! The waffle material is so soft.
Gray Wrap Sweater (6 colors)- I am getting this one!! It was the coziest thing I tried on and living in Michigan, I think it'd become my new uniform. It covers your tush, too! Double win. // Originally $88, now $62.
Gold Jumpsuit - holiday parties here we come! So fun and festive.
Copper Blouse- this is such a fun holiday top! I think it'd be great with skinny leather leggings or black pants as well! Obviously I'd dress this up!
Pink Dress- super cozy knit dress that comes in at the waist. Perfect blush pink color and has long sleeves!
Moto Jacket- Only $67! It's such a soft material, looks like leather and would be a stylish layering piece over so many things.
White Sweater (3 colors)- this is in my cart! I love the billowy sleeves and I'm such a sucker for white sweaters. // Originally $98, now $69
Plaid Wrap Jacket- SUCH a cute cardigan wrap and it even has a hood! It's all wool, but it's actually pretty soft. I usually can't wear wool, but I think I might be able to do this one.

Everything below here is 50% off with code FRIYAY

Gray Sweater with flecks-- this one is coming home with me! It's SO incredibly soft and it covers your bottom so you can wear it with leggings. The little flecks are so cute.
Striped Sweater- adorable stripes in the perfect palette, but a tad itchy for me since it has some wool (I can't wear wool, but I wish I could for this sweater!)
Reversible Poncho- both the red and navy sides are so cute! Layer over a long sleeve!
A COUPLE STAND OUT PIECES FOR THE LADIES & GENTS:
Best of Women's Sales
fleece pullover (under $50) / spanx leather leggings (20% off) / luggage / purse / booties (under $100) / bracelet / turtleneck / white blanket (under $30 and my fave blanket) / tory burch sandals
Best of Men's Sales
cashmere sweater (40% off) / leather shoes (33% off) / coat (50% off) / slippers / jeans (my husband's favorite! 50% off)
SOME OTHER FAVORITE SALE FINDS:
Accessories, Shoes, Jewelry:

Clothes:

Pillows, Bedding, Bath:

All Home:

Anthropologie favorites (because 30% off!)

HAPPY SHOPPING!
xoxo
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Gift Guide: For the Beauty-Lover


Happy Tuesday, friends! I'm so excited to share this gift guide with you because it's full of amazing beauty finds-- everything from makeup to skin care, nail polish, makeup bags, brushes, and some great tools for your beauty arsenal. It's a long post, so stick with me! Oh and spoiler alert, everything at Beautycounter is 15% off + free shipping over $50 for the Black Friday sale now --> the 26th. Hooray!


DETAILSsunday studio berry color polish / W3ll People mascarapink bow makeup case / pink makeup bag (opened in pic) / Mac advanced makeup brushes / foundation angled brush / Dyson hair dryer / scrub, bath soak and body oil / clarisonic mia / cote light pink nail polish / cleansing balm / blush (melon) / lipstick (first date color) / resurfacing peel / charcoal mask & charcoal soap / eye rescue cream 

A couple stand out products above:

Clarisonic: if you don't already know, exfoliating your skin is really important to your skin's health! One of the ways you can do this is by using this Clarisonic (the Mia version). When you start using this, make sure you work up to it. I started by just using it once a week and now I can use it twice a week with no irritation. I've used this for YEARS (since college) and I love how clean it makes my skin feel. First I cleanse my skin of makeup, then I use the Clarisonic, which you'll move in circular motions across your face while it vibrates, with your cleanser on it for a nice double cleanse.

Dyson Hair Dryer: okay girls, this hair dryer is apparently life changing. It's expensive, I'm warning you now. But from all the reviews I've read, it's SO worth it! It makes your hair so smooth, shiny and dries hair in record time. 

Cleansing Balm: 15% off now-- this is the way I take off my makeup these days. I was using coconut oil but found it was drying out my skin around my eyes. This is a wonderful smelling balm that removes makeup, but it doesn't stop there. It also can be used as a mask and overnight moisturizer when dry skin hits (pretty much all of winter here!)

Foundation Brush: I got this makeup brush back in June and it totally changes how my foundation looks, because before I was applying with my fingertips (gasp, I know). I love how this one stipples on the product without sucking it up. It goes on so evenly now.

Nail Polish: I shared Sunday Studio polishes with you in this gift guide, but they're making the list again, along with Cote polish, because they're just that good. Both are non-toxic nail polish with tons of gorgeous colors to choose from! This is my collection so far:

It wasn't until about a year and half ago that I got really excited about beauty products. That's about when I started being concerned with what was actually IN my products! Thankfully I found Beautycounter, along with some other great brands, that value safety and clean beauty. 

Today I'm sharing some of my favorite holiday sets with you that are all 15% off + free shipping over $50 from now until the 26th! These are the sets that I think will set out first, so grab them while you can!


1. Set of 10 mini lip glosses and set of 8 mini lipsticks: this is such a fun gift set. They all have a lovely subtle peppermint flavor for the holidays and each set has some awesome colors! I am breaking these up and giving them as individual gifts. If my friends are reading, call your color ;) Each gloss and lipstick really does have a good amount of product in it to last you a while and for me, these products last a long time ON my lips, too. Usually about 2 hours if I'm not eating. But the best part, of course, is that they're safe for your body and lips! Cause let's be honest, we're probably going to swallow some gloss every now and again.




2. Mini oils: these are small sizes of our regular facial oils. This is such a great way to test out which oil you like best! For only $30, you get to try all three! My favorite is #1. You can either apply this oil directly to your face after washing OR drop some into your moisturizer...whatever works for you. I use this every other night and it's on my list of things I couldn't live without.


3. Set of 3 hand creams: this is a great gift idea for your girlfriends, mom, grandma's, mother in laws, etc. You can give the whole set (it comes in cute packaging!) or break them up and give each to someone different. That's what I'll be doing. I actually got two sets of these because they're so amazing. The scents are Lavender, Monoi, and Petal.  



4. Mask and charcoal soap set: these mini versions of the regular sized mask and face soap are also great gift ideas. Perfect for teens especially who struggle with acne because of charcoal's balancing properties, but also great for your girlfriends. Once you put it on, it will dry up on your skin, drawing out impurities while the luxurious peppermint scent will wakeup your skin instantly. It's great for unclogging pores, but doesn't leave your skin super dry like most charcoal masks do. As for the soap, I wash my face with this every other day and it's great for keeping oil at bay and evening out my skin tone.

5. Necessary neutrals eye shadow palette: I'm not much of an eye shadow gal to be honest, but when I wear eye shadow, this palette has literally every color I could ever need! It comes with a mirror that you can take in and out (so handy!) and a shadow brush, all in one palette.


I love this gray color for my crease

Clearly the haze color has gotten some use :)


6. Nude lip gloss trio: the only neutral colors you'll need, these 3 glosses are the large size, flavored with a hint of peppermint and give a gorgeous, non-sticky shine.

7. Instant awakening set: this set is so fun! It comes with 4 sets of eye cooling masks, a mini bottle of our Resurfacing Peel (one of the best things, another one I couldn't live without!) and a shimmer moisturizer to give you that subtle dewy look. 

To use the overnight resurfacing peel, wash your face and apply the serum. Wait 10 minutes, then apply your moisturizer over top. I do this every 3 nights or so and it's great for evening skin tone, brightening, slightly exfoliating, and smoothing.


The shimmer moisturizer goes on under your foundation to create the dewy look-- but don't worry, it's nothing glittery or too over-the-top ;)

These eye revive cooling masks are amazing. You apply them right under your eyes to let the moisture soak into the under eye area and nourish the most delicate spot on our faces.

This isn't a gift set, but I wanted to show you the mascara I use and really like. Turns out mascara is one of those things that's most important to switch over to something safe because conventional mascaras have carbon black in them! I've found that the W3ll People brand is my favorite. The wand is thin, but I've found it lasts for a long time and goes on super smooth. I do 2 coats of mascara every morning and this is working really well for my lashes!


I hope this list of my favorite beauty products helps you gift the beauty-lovers this year. Or maybe you just added a bunch of new things to your wish list :)

PAST GIFT GUIDES:
For the Hostess
For Her


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