The Foreman Five: Holiday Shopping

Showing posts with label Holiday Shopping. Show all posts

How to Style Affordable Easter Outfits for Your Family

I love holidays for a dozen reasons and one of them is getting to dress everyone up; I live for picking out coordinating outfits. When I'm styling our family I'm always looking to keep it affordable so my first stop are our closets for things we already own. Then I start hitting the stores based on what I find or don't find at home. I usually am looking for an inspiration piece and then I work from there.

For Easter we have two days of celebrations so I have to style two family outfits but you won't find me complaining at all! Day 1 is definitely more casual and this year I found the girls rompers early on and those were my starting point. I found Jack's button up onesie to coordinate because I didn't want him in all blush pink. His onesie was perfect because it was the piece to tie us all together. A piece or two that brings us together is usually my goal. I also don't love matchy-matchy but rather coordinating. Sometimes the girls will match but I don't want all of us to be too similar. Back to keeping things reasonable I accessorize with what we already own. I almost never buy new bows, shoes or jewelry/purses when styling the whole family for an event/holiday. This keeps the cost down and also the amount of time I'm looking for everything.

For Easter Sunday we get dressed up and I went with a color palette that isn't traditional for Easter but if you know me you know I'm still obsessed with check/gingham/buffalo plaid. Emily's two piece set was my inspiration and the rest came together easily. A rule of thumb for me when using neutral colors, like black and white is to throw in a pop of color to make a splash. I also like to mix patterns; like polka dots, stripes and gingham for Easter Sunday and stripes, solids and gingham for Saturday.

I think the Winter months can pose a little bit of difficulties in the style department. I love dressing up my little girls and it makes me giddy that they are little fashionistas as well. However, when the weather cools down it can be a little harder to find cute options. It's even harder when it starts raining. So finding London Littles rain boots made all three of us super happy. The girls love their boots and especially love wearing them with dresses and knee highs. London Little rain boots are super functional yet also adorable; they add such flair to any outfit. The girls are wearing the King's Cross Rain Boot which is a cranberry color with white plaid. These will be wonderful all year round but was especially perfect for the holidays.

This is a sponsored post. All opinions expressed are honest and my own. Thank you for supporting the brands and companies that have received my stamp of approval.

How to Create Beautiful Photo Christmas Cards with Postable

Now that I have three littles ones, one of which is an infant, I need ALL the help I can get. The holidays have been overwhelming for me this year and I'm way behind where I usually am. Luckily, I can honestly say that my Christmas cards were not part of my stress. I enlisted the help of Postable to make and send our cards and I couldn't be happier with the time and anxiety they saved me. I remember the days of stuffing the envelopes, making labels, sealing the envelopes and adhering all the labels and stamps and sending off hundreds of cards in the mailbox. Those days are OVER!!!

Can you imagine creating your card online and then doing nothing else?!?! Postable takes over for you and stuffs, seals, labels, addresses, stamps and sends your cards for you. It was such a breeze; very user friendly. I've also used Postable for creating Thank You cards and I'm over the moon about this feature. You can select a recipient from your Contacts and then type your message to that person. If you are writing several different cards you can customize each message. I have the worst hand writing so this is a game changer. Not only do I not have to hand write the message I don't have to do another step after ordering.

You can use code FRESNO for 20% off your order.

Only during December do I run to the mailbox to check the mail. 11 months out of the year the mail only consists of junk and bills but during December it contains cheer and love. Who knew dozens of small rectangles could bring such joy. Send your own bit of joy with Postable!

These are my updated tips from years past in preparing for the perfect Christmas Card:

I believe it all starts with a theme. Dive through Pinterest to get some great ideas or look through cards you've received in the past. I wanted our Christmas cards this year to double as a birth announcement. Once you have a theme you can start shopping in the stores or even your closets for your wardrobe. I always start with what we currently own so I don't spend too much money. If you don't have all the items try to work with a few items you have. For example, if you have girls don't buy all new accessories; use what you have like bows. I suggest using a variety of colors that coordinate. When you do your shopping buy options and bring them home and lay out the different options. I take a quick photo of all the options so that I can look at them on camera. Then decide what you want each family member to wear. You can find more of my styling tips HERE.

When selecting a photographer you want to look at the past body of work to see if they typically shoot a style that you like. Also have a conversation ahead of time discussing your theme and what you want to accomplish. Do you want everyone looking at the camera and smiling or do you want action shots? If you have young kids you should ask if the photographer has experience with children and getting them to engage.

The next decision is location; do you want a spot that coincides with your theme or just a backdrop that you love? Feel free to ask your photographer for a suggestion. After you've decided on theme, wardrobe, photographer, and location its time to take the photos and choose your favorite ones. The night before picture day lay everything out pressed and ready. Take a tide pen with you to the shoot and bring hairspray and a comb if you have little girls. I may or may not bring some bribing candy!

The suspense of waiting for the photos just about kills me. Once you receive them make your selections and decide which ones will make the cut for your Holiday Cards. Sometimes the hardest part is narrowing it down to just a few. After looking through the gallery of photos pick your favorites and then start looking for cards that carry out your vision.

This is a sponsored post. All opinions expressed are honest and my own. Thank you for supporting the brands and companies that have received my stamp of approval.

Mother's Day Gift Guide

Some of my best friends and I were discussing a girls trip and trying to find a date that could work for all of us. It was impossible to find an open weekend for all of us but for one weekend: Mother's Day weekend. We joked and said well actually a weekend away sounds like the best Mother's Day gift! Although no whining, begging or fighting sounds amazing in reality I couldn't imagine spending the holiday without my little family. So since a weekend alone isn't the perfect gift I've come up with some other ideas.

Personalized gifts have always been on the top of my list for gift giving and some of my favorite to receive. I believe it was my first Mother's Day that Kevin made me a garden stepping stone with Emily's foot prints and it was so very special. Don't get me wrong I'll never turn down a spa day but it's a personalized gift that I will remember for many years. With the digital age it's sadly rare that I actually print out our family photos. So a canvas print is personalized statement piece that is extra special and a great excuse to get the photos off the camera or your phone and onto your wall. I also love a canvas print because it captures your family in a moment and lasts a lifetime. I love looking at older canvas prints and seeing how much we have changed. I am planning a whole canvas wall in our hallway of all our family photos for this exact reason.

My favorite place to get a canvas printed is from CanvasPop. They have so many options including canvases but also framed prints, collages, pillows, magnets and more. The quality is fantastic which is matched by their customer service. Best news is that you can get 45% off your order with code 45FORMOM.

I just hung our latest family photo and I'm in love with it.

Here are a few other ideas for you. Basically every time I put together a gift guide I'm really just sharing my wish list:

Black Lace Dress

I wanted to share my new fave dress which is perfect for Valentine's Day celebrations. But let's be honest these days V-Day includes pizza and a family night. However, I have worn this dress to a a Galentine's party I hosted as well as a wedding. I think that it's the perfect combination of elegant and sexy. I paired it with bauble earrings, simple block strappy heels, and a pale pink clutch. To complete my look I added a bright pop of color on the lip.

Do you get dressed up and have a special night out for Valentine's Day or do you stay in and get comfy with your loved one/s? However, you spend the holiday sending love to all of you!

A Holiday Wish List to Improve Yourself

With gifts heaving on the brain I'm sharing a guest post today about gifts for self improvement from life coach Julie Morris. These are some great ideas that might be perfect for the hard to buy for person on your list.

Want to improve yourself in 2018? Here’s your holiday wish list

Photo by Pablo Heimplatz at Unsplash

Next year is going to be your year. 2018 will be the year you get your act together. You’re going to get in shape, manage your finances, get a better job, learn to meditate, take a yoga class, travel more and start keeping a journal.

We hope you do all those things. We believe in you, and you should believe in you, too! When you’re crafting your holiday wish list, here are some things to add so that you can make 2018 the year that all your dreams come true.

A journal -- Sure, it’s a little cliche, but journaling is a very good meditative practice. It can challenge your mind, help you achieve your goals, help you become more emotionally intelligent and helps keep the focus on you. If nothing else, it helps you document your life. There are now so many different types of journals, you should do some research into the type you’d like.

Gift card for a class -- Is there a class you’ve always wanted to take? Art, yoga, self-defense, photography, money management? Whatever you’re considering, there’s probably a class for it. Figure out what kind of class you’d like to take and ask for it as a gift. Maybe it can be the start of a new hobby. Remember, having a hobby is a great way to let go of the stresses of daily life. It gives you something to look forward to while you’re suffering at work.

Money management 101 -- If you’re the type who likes to read, look into books on money management -- there’s no shortage of them. There are also online and phone apps that can help you budget your money and start working toward your financial goals. Having financial peace of mind is the greatest gift.

Gym membership -- When you’re trying to better your health, a gym membership can make all the difference. Having somewhere to go to work out can help you commit to your goals. If you already go to a gym, consider asking for some personal training sessions. A personal trainer can help you reach your goals while ensuring you use proper form and technique so that you don’t get injured. Plus, a trainer will encourage you and challenge you to do things you never thought you could.

Meal delivery service -- Meal kits are a great way to save time and stress -- you get all the ingredients prepared for you and delivered to your doorstep so that all you have to do is follow the instructions to make a fresh, gourmet meal. You get to choose which kits you want, so there’s no chance of receiving something you don’t like.

Coloring books -- If stress or anxiety is an issue, consider asking for a coloring book and pencils. Adult coloring books allow you to focus on one thing for a while, which helps your mind meditate. Coloring books have been shown to reduce stress and anxiety, and you don’t have to worry about not being able to draw. The options for coloring books are practically limitless, so start shopping around for best one for you.

Calorie counter -- There are plenty of great calorie and nutrition counting apps on the market to help you meet your goals, whether it’s for weight loss, weight gain or just eating healthier. Most of them have a free version, but paying for the pro version of the app will help motivate you to stick with it.

The goal of self-improvement is one we all share. But we’re counting on you to show us how it’s done. Whatever your goals are, never stop reaching for them. Let 2018 be your best year yet.

Ms. Morris is a life and career coach who strives to help others live the best lives that they can. She believes she can relate to clients who feel run over by life because of her own experiences. She spent years in an unfulfilling career in finance before deciding to help people in other ways. You may check out her website: juliemorris.org.

Stocking Stuffers Under $30

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Stocking Stuffers are usually my favorite of all the Christmas gifts. I'm not sure why but there is just something so fun about digging through your stocking and seeing what surprises you will find. The first set of items are for the ladies and I have a thing for hand soap. I love new soaps and changing them for the seasons. I am completely OBSESSED with Jo Malone and have been for years. Their scents are to die for but my favorite thing about the line is how you can layer them. So you use one scent for bathing, another lotion and another perfume. Certain scents work well together; may I suggest Wood Sage & Sea Salt, Tuberose Angelica and Peony and Blush Suede. You can thank me later. For a stocking stuffer I recommend the bath oil which is just heavenly. For your makeup beauty I love this set from MAC of Prep, Prime + Fix, and Scents. These facial sprays feel fabulous and give your look an added glow. Lastly, for the ladies a pom pom beanie is sure to make anyone smile.

For your little ones Hatchimals and Fingerlings are huge this season and I'm recommending these smaller versions for stocking stuffers. We love Rudolph around here and his plush girlfriend Clarice is just going to be perfect for my little girls.

Is it just me or are men the hardest to buy for?!?! Here are some ideas that I hope will help you. A can cooler is the perfect stocking stuffer. These attachments keep your can cool because who likes a hot drink anyway?!?! My husband loves his card clip wallet because it's not as bulky as a wallet but a money clip just isn't enough for him. This is the best of both worlds holding cash and a few cards. As soon as my hubby gets home his boots come off and slippers go on; he lives in them at home. So a new pair each year is in order. These slippers make the perfect stocking stuffer for any man. The Google Home Mini would be great for anyone of your list because it's like having a hands free assistant. You can ask it questions, have it play music, set reminders, turn off lights and more.

You can see all my gift ideas under the Holiday Shopping tab up at the top of each page. If there are any categories you'd like to see send me a quick note. I hope to make your shopping easy, painless and stress free. The holidays should be about family, friends and fellowship not freaking out over a to-do list.

Beauty Holiday Gift Guide

I wanted to share my top beauty picks for the season with you any of which would make fabulous holiday gifts. I, like most girls love anything that makes me feel beautiful. As I'm getting older I'm also having to work harder on looking my best:( So several of these products counteract the aging process and help us ladies with the youthful look we want.

Do you want an eye-popping look this holiday season? Who doesn't?!?! You've got to try Rodan +Fields' Bright Eye Gift set to do just that. The first product, Lash Boost grants you lush, longer lashes in as little as four weeks. A nightly application of the serum is super easy just like applying eyeliner. The Bright Eye Complex is the second product which brightens and revitalizes your eyes. It reduces dark circles, puffiness and dullness. The last item is the studded eye lash curler that you're totally going to need once your lashes lengthen. You can get this amazing set HERE from the sweetest and most knowledgeable R+F consultant, Hannah Janz.

Anyone else terrified from the fine lines and wrinkles creeping up?!?! I am all about prevention and tackling the lines that are already there. The Obagi Professional C Serum 10% does just that with a concentrated formula with 10% L-absorbic acid (Vitamin C). It's a daily serum you apply after cleansing in the morning.

I feel like my look is only complete with lipstick but I was always to lazy to reapply throughout the day. LipSense was life changing for me in the makeup department. The colors are so vibrant and amazing and they actually do last ALL DAY! You apply 2-3 coats in the morning and top with a gloss. Usually I have to reapply the clear gloss a few times a day but the color lasts from morning to night. My favorite holiday color is Fly Girl!

What's the most important beauty tool? SLEEP! Beauty sleep is the best product you can get, am I right? I have the hardest time with sleep because I can never turn my brain off. However, I found an essential oil from Sis & Oil that I rub on my wrists and in very little time it relaxes me and soothes me to sleep. The aroma is heavenly as well.

LipSense opened the door for me to the parent company Senegence and I started trying some of their other products. There are two others that I'm obsessed with and wanted to include on my beauty guide. The ShadowSense is an eyeshadow that you apply with a wand (almost like LipSense) that stays in place all day long; no smudging or creasing. I love the colors and the way it wears. My absolute fave color is Mocha Java Shimmer! I also recommend the LashSense with UnderSense. The first step is applying UnderSense which is like a primer to coat and lengthen your lashes. You finish up with the mascara. Between this and the Lash Boost you will be using you will have the most gorgeous lashes!