Happy New Year's Eve!

 Hello Everyone!

Here we are the last day of the year. 2022 is almost a wrap. For me this year wasn't too bad except for the last four months life has been challenging. The last four months have tested my patience and my faith. Let me explain...

On my birthday/Christmas night I was talking to my mama and I was telling her in the New Year I want to learn to be more patient. I have patience, but as I mentioned the last few months have tested my patience. I have to remember that things happen in God's timing, not mine. 

Impatience just causes more frustration and discouragement, and anger... well at least for me it does. Over the years I'm learning to cope better with the things I can't change. It's a process, but I don't stress over things as much as I have in the past.

My hope for the holidays didn't go as expected, but at least I did have a peaceful happy birthday/Christmas and that I'm truly grateful. To see another year is a blessing. I notice a lot of people weren't in the holiday spirit this year. I'm thinking everything that's going on in the world with added personal issues, its been a lot to cope with. 

I know that people like to change things in the New Year and I think that great, but I do think there are a few exceptions. For example if something or someone isn't working for me. I'm not going to wait until January 1st to change it or cut someone out of my life. There is never really a wrong time to get a new start. You have to do what's best for you. 2022 wasn't all that bad, but as I mentioned this year had it's moments. A new year is just like a blank page. I plan to fill those pages with happiness, wisdom, and growth.

Wishing you all a wonderful Happy New Year! I also want to make note that I'll be taking time off  blogger during January. I originally planned for this break in November, so this break is long overdue. Talk with you in 2023! ❤

Happy Birthday/Merry Christmas to Me!

Hello Everyone!

Happy Birthday to Me! Is it me or today doesn't feel like Christmas lol? Well as you can see from my into picture I started with cake at midnight Christmas morning.

I took this picture on Christmas Eve. When I was growing up we typically didn't put presents under the tree until Christmas Eve evening

Birthday Card 

I love taking photos of the Christmas Tree during the evening on Christmas Eve. The coziness of lights gleaming on the tree sets such a peaceful environment. 

Christmas Morning

Birthday Bags

Christmas Goodies

A few new starbucks cups. One for my birthday and one for Christmas 

When I opened my eyes this morning, I was blessed to see another birthday. Here's to 37 years old. Another year to shine my light brightly.

Happy 37th Birthday/Merry Christmas to me! Wishing you all a Merry Christmas 🎅🏽❤🎄

The Day Before Christmas Eve

 Hello Everyone!

It's freezing here in South Carolina right now! Honestly I'm not used to this type of cold weather in December let alone for Christmas. What better way to warm up than a nice cup of hot chocolate? Over the years I've shared recipes for hot chocolate. Some of those recipes have been homemade and others have been instant. Drinking hot chocolate around Christmas is one my favorite things to do. You can have a cup on Christmas Eve or drink a cup on Christmas morning etc. The weather outside right now is freezing so it's the perfect time for this delicious drink.

I remember a few years ago many of you left so many kind comments on my gift wrapping skills. If I'm being honest I actually hate wrapping gifts lol. I'm a gift bag giver all day, but presents looks so pretty gift wrapped.

I mentioned that I'm not doing a lot for Christmas and I wasn't buying anymore gift wrap. Some of the gifts will be displayed openly around the tree on Christmas morning lol.

My hope is to get a few photos taken for my birthday so that means I have to do my hair and makeup. Let's see if this year I will take my birthday photos. December 23rd is always busy because I like to take it easy for Christmas Eve and My Birthday/Christmas Day. I still can't believe my birthday/Christmas is in 2 days!

Homemade Christmas Chocolate Peanut Clusters

 Hello Everyone!

Today I have a baking post featuring Homemade Christmas Chocolate Peanut Clusters. This was my first time making these clusters. These no bake clusters were super easy to make, and tasty!

Homemade Christmas Chocolate Peanut Clusters 

You'll Need the Following:

- Chocolate Bars/ Chocolate Chips 

- Peanuts 

- Optional: Sprinkles or White Chocolate if you drizzle white chocolate over the clusters, use a piping bag or ziploc bag with the corner cut

- Parchment Paper

- Cookie Sheet Pan

- Spoon or Ice Cream Scooper

- Air Tight Container for storage in refrigerator 

Instructions 

Step 1: Melt Chocolate in a microwaveable safe bowl (you can use the double boiler method, but I find the microwave quicker and easier)

Step 2: Mix chocolate until smooth and add peanuts 

Step 3: Mix peanuts into mixture until well coated with chocolate. 

Step 4: Take an ice cream scooper or spoon to make individual chocolate peanut clusters.

Step 5: Place your chocolate peanut clusters on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet pan Optional: You can add sprinkles, drizzle white chocolate using a piping bag or ziploc bag with the corner cut 

Step 6: After you placing chocolate peanut clusters on the baking sheet, put them in the fridge to cool.

Step 7: Remove and serve! I put mine in an glass air tight container and put the clusters back in the fridge. You can leave them out, but the clusters last longer in the fridge. These make great Christmas Gifts for those that have a sweet tooth or like chocolate!

Happy No Baking Treats!

China Glaze Drippin In Glitz Holiday 2022 Collection

 Hello Everyone!

* Disclaimer: This post contains PR Samples provided by China Glaze for review purposes. I would like to thank  China Glaze for sending these products. All opinions are 100% my own. Product information is courtesy of chinaglaze.com

Look what showed up at my front door a few days ago! China Glaze's Drippin in Glitz: Holiday 2022 Collection! How cute is this packaging?! What a beautiful collection to add sparkle to your nails and holiday season!

Picture courtesy of chinaglaze.com 

Description 

"Glitz up this holiday with new glittering nail lacquers from China Glaze's "Drippin in Glitz" collection.

Nothing like the sprinkle of glitter to get from clear-based toppers, to showstoppers loaded with multi-faceted textures and iridescent bits of glitz. Mesmerize from every angle with 3D light-scattering, glitter-drenched reflections of pink, gold, rose gold, silver, turquoise and black. Make it your moment to shine. It’s the glitz!"

If It Sparkles It's Mine

What is a rose by any other name? Glam-up your seasonal get-togethers with this resplendent, rose-gilded lacquer that's just as befitting on the red carpet as it is beneath the mistletoe.

Queen Of Bling

Gift yourself with the gold-standard of diamond-like, encrusted nail looks. Tips and toes will dazzle and delight in divine, gilded dust, casting an atmospheric, spellbinding glow wherever they go. 

She's Icy

Take a walk on the wild side of Winter Wonderland with every girl's BFF. Enchant, captivate, and shine like the star-studded, deific diva you are every day of the year and look like you dripped your tips in tubs of 20-carat diamonds

I Speak Glitter 

Yule be the envy of every exquisite extravaganza this holiday when you rock this twinkling, turquoise, party-ready polish. Ruby red slippers not included.

Get Your Glitter On

A party-perfect, hot pink pearlescent polish that has the unbridled power to melt even the most unflappable heart of an ice queen. Shake things up at your next soiree with a lot of shine and shimmer sprinkled with a little sassiness.

Glitter Is The New Black

Who needs a ravishing rock when you've got the ultimate LBD of naughty nail looks? Be blinded by the light. 

My Thoughts

The holidays season is the time of year that I love most things glitter. I think China Glaze did an extraordinary job with this all glitter collection. Most of you know that I love to mix and match my nails, and I like the idea of me doing that with these glitter nail polishes as well. The colors are gorgeous and go well with the typical colors for the holidays, but with glitter! The polishes I used were a little thick, but the outcome is gorgeous. It took about 2 to 3 coats to fully cover my nails, but if you're just wanting a little glitter, 1 coat will look gorgeous as well. Dripping in Glitz was a perfect name for this collection!

This collection was a PR Gift. Inside the open here tabs was a makeup bag and gold gems with adhesive. Ardell is one of my favorite eyelash brands so I can't wait to use the gems for a makeup look! How cute is the makeup bag?!

If you're still looking for a gift or want to gift yourself new nail polishes this is a great collection to put under your Christmas Tree or stocking!

Rockin Around the Christmas Tree

 Hello Everyone!

Happy December! (I know I'm over a week late!) It's officially my birthday month and Christmas is coming! If you follow me over the years, many of you know that Christmas Day is actually my birthday! 

I like to burn a candle while I'm decorating the Christmas tree, particularly Fresh Balsam.

I appropriately named this post after one of my favorite Christmas Songs, Rockin Around the Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee. Did you know that Brenda Lee was only 13 years old when she recorded this song during the Summer of 1958? She sounds amazing!

Decorating in progress...

I actually put my Christmas tree up the weekend before Thanksgiving and did a little decorating, but I just finished decorating last night. Between sinuses, emotional health, and overall busyness the tree decorating was delayed. 

I've had the same tree theme since 2020, Clear, Silver, and White. I just think those colors look so magical around this time of year. I'm not a person that changes my tree every year, maybe every few years.

These Russell Stover Truffles are so good!

This isn't the way I wanted to start off December's blog posts. I'm not sure if it's the cold dreary weather or if it's due to things not going right this week, but I have a case of Merry Moodiness. This has been one of those hectic weeks that I just want to take hot showers, drown myself in chocolate, and go to bed early. I mean really early, like 7pm early. I never go to bed this early unless I'm feeling sick, but as I mentioned it's been one of those weeks. Well this week is almost over, so I'm looking towards a better week next. 

Happy Holidays!