Winter Candles

Candles are a must-have in my life. I have an awesome candle warmer that warms up any sized candle, so I am constantly finding new and wonderful scents. Recently, I have found two amazing candles that are perfect for winter! Of course like many of my recommended products, these two candles can be found at Bath & Body Works. Also, I decided to go for the mason jar candles. They're not too big, yet pack a punch with their scents!

Vanilla Bean Noel-

This popular scent from Bath & Body is definitely one of my favorites for the holidays. When I saw that it was available as a candle, I knew I had to get it. If you enjoy sweet vanilla, then you will love this candle. It is definitely super festive and perfect while preparing for Christmas. You will have visions of sugar cookies dancing in your head.

Notes used: Vanilla Bean, Rich Cocoa, Sweet Cream, and Caramel

Sparkling Icicles- 

I ordered these candles online, so when I picked out this one I was a bit hesitant. I knew what Vanilla Bean Noel smelled like, but I wasn't sure about this one. Needless to say, buying it was a great decision. It's not a fruity or cookie like scent, but it still smells great! I can describe it best as smelling crisp and clean. This candle is an amazing winter scent.

Notes used: Bergamot, Citrus Bouquet, and Holiday Moss

Do you have a favorite candle? If so, let me know!

Five Not-So-Famous Christmas Specials

We all know the famous Christmas Specials that come on each year. There's Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Santa Claus is Comin' to Town, A Charlie Brown Christmas, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, I could go on and on! All of these classics are wonderful, but there are some Christmas specials out there that are not as well-known. So I wanted to share five of my favorite, not-so-famous, Christmas Specials!

Oh I must add, these specials will bring the inner child out of you. All of them had been made before the year 2000. Yes, they're older specials yet they are still good!

A Garfield Christmas (1987)

Even if you're not a big fan of the Garfield comics, this is still an awesome special to wt. Garfield, Jon, and Odie go spend Christmas at the family farm. Of course, Garfield is not in the mood for all the hustle and bustle. Once the festivities get started, he slowly begins to see how memorable Christmas with the family can be.

A Wish For Wings That Work (1991)

Opus and Bill the Cat from the comic "Bloom County" star in this special. Opus, a flightless penguin, is determined to learn how to fly. After many attempts at flying, he decides to ask Santa Claus for wings he can fly with. When an accident happens though, Opus uses his penguin skills to save the day. Will he get wings that work? Watch and find out!

Annabelle's Wish (1997)

On Christmas Eve, a calf named Annabelle is born. When she meets Santa Claus' reindeer team, she wants to become a flying reindeer herself. She wants to ask Santa for her wish next Christmas. Before that time, she becomes best friends with a young boy on the farm, Billy, who cannot speak anymore. As the two bond, Annabelle learns that friendship is powerful when we give of ourselves. 

Olive, The Other Reindeer (1999)

Olive, a kind hearted dog, learns that Santa has to cancel his flight because one of his injured reindeer. When Olive hears her name being called on the radio, she knows that she must venture to the North Pole to save Christmas as a replacement reindeer. Will Olive be able to help? Or will the Christmas-hating postman foil her plans?

Mickey's Once Upon A Christmas (1999)

Three tales are told in this Christmas special. In Donald Duck: Stuck on Christmas, Huey, Dewey, and Louie never want Christmas to end. Once their wish comes true, they see that Christmas isn't a time for being selfish. The next tale is A Very Goofy Christmas, where young Max questions the existence of Santa Claus after Mr. Pete says he doesn't exist. Goofy wants to restore Max's faith in Santa, and goes all out to prove it! The final tale is Mickey and Minnie's Gift of the Magi, where Mickey and Minnie are both determined to get the perfect presents for each other. When financial troubles cause both to cut their budget, they find that their Christmas can still be perfect.

I would love to give better descriptions, but I don't want to give too many spoilers! Do you have any favorite Christmas specials that weren't on this list?

Day For Decorating!

Deck the Halls

Right after Thanksgiving is the perfect time to start decorating for Christmas! Over the years I have collected ornaments, country decor, and anything that has to do with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. It's such a fun time to bring out all the Christmas decorations that you've collected in the past years.

At the same time though, it's a bit exhausting. Unless if you're one of those people who keeps your  tree up all year long, you're most likely going to make a bunch of trips back and forth to the attic. There will be so many boxes that you won't know what to do with. Not to mention it's a smart idea to box up other room decor and clean the room.

Yet, decorating for Christmas is one of my favorite things about the holidays. So many memories are brought back to me while I'm hanging up my ornaments. I think, "Wow, I remember my sister bought this one for me years ago, and I still love it!"

I will admit that I find it one of the most relaxing parts about Christmas. No spending money, no guessing on what gifts to get, and no traveling for Christmas plans. Yes, decorating is definitely tiring, but when all it is done you can enjoy it. Whenever and if ever you decide to decorate your room/house, just remember to appreciate it while you can! Christmas will be here faster than you think!

How to Make Cranberry Jello Salad

For Thanksgiving, I was put in charge of making the cranberry sauce. It's really easy to buy a can of cranberry sauce and pour it into a bowl, especially when it still keeps the shape of the can. But why do that when you can make a delicious cranberry jello salad instead? The best part is that there is no cooking or baking required for this recipe! And it's easy to make!

Ingredients Needed:

1 Package of Cherry Jello

1/2 cup crushed pineapple

1/2 cup sugar

3/4 cup chopped walnuts

1/2 chopped apple

1 can of whole berry cranberry sauce

1/2 cup boiling water

A pinch of salt

Chopped up celery 1/2 cup (or less)

Step 1:

First you'll need to have a medium sized glass bowl. It should be a nice bowl that would look good for dinner (not a mixing bowl). Once you find your bowl, pour in the package of cherry jello and the sugar. Boil 1/2 cup of water. When the water has begun to boil, add it to the sugar and jello mix. Stir the mixture with a spoon until all of it is dissolved into the water.

Step 2:

Add a pinch of salt to the mixture. Chop the walnuts into small chunks. After measuring out 3/4 cup (or 1/2 cup for less) of the chopped walnuts, add them to the jello mixture. 

Step 3:

Drain the crushed pineapple of some of the juice in the can. Add 1/2 cup to the mixture and stir in. 

Step 4:

Take the can of whole berry cranberry sauce and add it to the jello mixture. Stir well to make sure all lumps are out of it. 

Step 5:

Chop up the celery into tiny chunks. Add no more to the mixture than 1/2 cup or less as your desired preference.

Step 6:

Take one half of an apple and chop it up into small chunks. Sprinkle it into the mixture, then mix the entire mixture.

When you feel like your cranberry jello salad is complete, refrigerate it for an hour and a half to two hours long, depending on your fridge. Once it's cooled down like jello, then feel free to dig in! 

Saving While Shopping!

Thanksgiving is less than a week away! I will be touching on Thanksgiving, but this week I want to discuss another day that follows it. Black Friday. Now some of you might be jumping for joy, while others might be dreading it. My main focus is not going to be on just Black Friday itself. Instead I want to talk about Christmas (and general) shopping and saving!

As a college student I am on a very tight budget. I'm sure that some of you feel the same struggle as I do. I have a few tips that can help make your shopping experience easier, and even save you more money.

Don't Let Black Friday Fool You
Since I was in 8th grade, Black Friday shopping became something that my mom and I participated in. The deals were pretty sweet! Then in the past couple of years we kinda fell out of it. Did we lose out on all the deals? No way! Yes, Black Friday shopping does have crazy deals that are hard to pass up, but there are definitely other (and sometimes better) deals that will either come before or after Black Friday. That goes to my next tip...

Check Out The Deals Before or After Black Friday
One year, when my mom and I didn't go shopping on Black Friday, we thought we would go Saturday instead. I was shocked at how many deals were still going on up until Monday! Many stores extend their deals for the entire weekend after Thanksgiving. Some even have them before! What made me extremely happy was that the shelves had been restocked too. The lines were shorter, and the crowd actually was not bad at all.

Gift Card Granny Is Worth Looking Into
I heard about giftcardgranny.com the other day and decided to see what it was all about. On this site you can buy discounted gift cards for a higher price than what you pay for. For example, I buy the gift card for $18 and get it for $25. Some of the cards don't have a big discount, but when you're on a tight budget every penny counts! I actually bought a gift card from there the other day and saved $5. It is legit, yet I will throw out a sign of caution for newbies. This site takes you to a different site (like Ebay) where you actually buy the card. Just make sure that the site you buy from is verified!

Do Some Online Shopping
Anymore I find it easier to do shopping online. There's no waiting in line, no crowds to fight, and no waste of gas money. It's much easier to find what you like that is available in your size, too. Your options become endless when you buy online. But what about shipping costs? Well you're in luck, because when it comes to the holidays many websites are going to be offering free shipping. Remember to keep your eyes peeled for it! Also, Cyber Monday is always nice when it comes to great sales online.

Don't Spend Just Because There's A Deal
I know that many of us are guilty of this. We see something that's a great deal, but we don't really need it (or even like it) at all. This isn't just for ourselves, but for the people we buy gifts for, too. If there's something that you see that's a big deal but you aren't really interested in or need it, then it's better to save that money in your pocket. You can spend it on something else you like better instead. Otherwise, you just blew $50 on that faux mink fur coat that was marked down, and you didn't even like it.

I hope some of these tips were helpful to you! No matter what you do, remember that shopping smart can save you a lot of money in the long run!

November Snow

-Snow provokes responses that reach right back to childhood-
Andy Goldsworthy

It's finally begun; the first November snow has appeared. This is ultimately a sign that our warm days are over. I guess November is excited to get winter going. Honestly, it's not abnormal for western Pennsylvania to have snow around this time of year. Usually every year we get a snow sometime in November.

Physically, we realize it's colder and dress warmer. This is often observed by every individual (unless if the cold really doesn't bother you at all). The more layers we have on the better. Snow brings chilly weather, therefore we know that we need to take care of our bodies from the cold.

Yet, this is entirely different from what we do mentally. When we first see snow, we tend to have nostalgic thoughts about our past winters. We also seem to do things that we associate with winter. It might be making hot chocolate or building a snowman. 

Some people become filled with joy while others might dread the season to come. Personally, whenever I see the first snow in November I feel a bit excited. The snow reminds me of some of the best memories I had as a child, most of them associating with Thanksgiving and Christmas time. With my grandparents though, they'd much rather be in Florida the whole season, (and by the end of January, I don't blame them). 

However you feel about the snow, just remember to appreciate all the seasons, the ones with snow included! 

Hold On To Your Hats!

This is the time of year where I like to break out my winter beanies. I never wore beanies in the past but when I finally bought one last year, I knew I would never go back to not wearing one in the cold weather. They help keep my ears warm and my hair down, which believe it or not makes a huge difference in how warm I am.

Just the other day, I was having dinner with my friends. When we were going to leave I put my hat back on my head. My one friend says to me, "See! She can wear that and she looks good in it."

I know that there are people out there who aren't hat people. Until I bought my first hat that actually fit my style, I didn't think I was one either. If you're thinking about buying a beanie or a hat, don't hesitate. I'll give you a couple tips to picking out and loving your hat!

When it comes to choosing your hat, remember that it's your style. You don't have to wear the same color or design that your friend is wearing. Whether it's loose fitting or snug, that's all up to you! Also, you will be amazed to find how many colors and designs there are to choose from. My only advice is to pick a color that goes with your fall or winter jacket. It doesn't have to match perfectly, but it should look spiffy with it.

Another thing is to remember that when picking out a hat for the cold months, it should be made out of appropriate material. A knit hat or beanie will be your best bet. Sometimes a nice baseball cap is a good choice, too. If cold ears bother you, maybe look into a hat with ear flaps. Do not wear a sombrero or something of easy-to-damage material.

Picking out the perfect hat for you is fun and can be a great addition to your wardrobe. You won't really know if you're a hat person until you try it out. Keep your head cozy and your thoughts warm!