Happy Monday friends!  It’s the start of a new week which you know I get excited for because it’s a fresh start to finish anything I didn’t get to last week, and hit on some new goals for this week.  We have our Christmas with Eric’s family this weekend so I’ll be spending this week getting prepped for that, among other things on my to-do list.

Lately, as I’ve been Christmas shopping for everyone I have come across some great finds and “must haves” that I couldn’t wait to share in this Monday Must Haves post.  So I’m making today’s must haves, a “must have Christmas items” post.  Also, if you are still looking for gifts for her, him, kids, hostess, teacher, side gifts, stocking stuffers, etc.  be sure to check out the gift guides tab at the top of the page, for some ideas.

Okay, so let’s get to the Monday Must Haves shall we?  First up….

I’m in love with this advent calendar from Prairie Canary Ranch on Etsy.  The rustic look is on par with my style these days and I like the idea of moving the little wreath.  Now Eric and I had a little debate over this because when he was growing up he counted down to Christmas, starting at 1 and ending on 25.  Now, this way isn’t wrong and I’ve done that before too, but for this one, since it’s counting the “days until Christmas” I think it’s right to start at 25 and count down to 1 so on Christmas Eve there is only 1 day until Christmas.  Who’s with me?  Target has a similar one to this here.

I also think these two from Target are cute…..

 

The Christmas Tree one has it so each day flips and on the other side is a snowflake or some Christmas symbol and then the Santa chimney one is so cute!  Santa starts at the top and moves down as we inch towards Christmas.  I think this will be a cute one for Leyton when he’s older and I like the ones with chocolate so kids get a little treat each day.  That always made me so excited as a kid!  Speaking of Santa…..

How cute is this mug?  I’m a sucker for holiday mugs and I have to admit the ones like this from Pottery Barn are sooooo disappointing!  They look just like this and are cute but literally hold like a shot of coffee.  Sorry PB but this mom needs a vat of coffee and your itty bitty mug doesn’t cut it!  So yesterday I found this bigger version at Sur La Table (I’m so obsessed with that store!) and it was on sale for like $8 so I scooped it right up!

Also, at Sur La Table….

Can someone tell me why it is SO hard to find iced gingerbread cookies at Christmas time?  Isn’t it a staple Christmas cookie?? They are hands down my favorite Christmas cookie and I kid you not they are impossible to find!!!  So every year I snag these from Sur La Table because they are the only place I can find them and they are delicious!

Here I am enjoying my cookies and my new mug this morning :).  ‘Tis the season!

Okay, who saw my Instagram post this past weekend where I shared my coat from J.Crew Factory…..

Friends, I am obsessed with this City Coat from them!  I got this one last year but couldn’t wear it because I was so pregnant!  But this year, I’m wearing it on repeat!  Technically, it’s not Christmas related but I’ll be wearing it to all my Christmas and holiday functions so it counts!  Now, this color is not available this year but I was at J.Crew Factory yesterday and here’s the current selection…..

I see you, baby pink!  I also loooove that blue!  It currently comes in 8 colors.  Shop all options here.  Also, J.Crew Factory is currently running a sale of 50% off everything (well everything but this coat of course) and an extra 20% off your purchase with code: FROSTY.  Funny story about my hot pink version…Eric and I were shopping this weekend and walked into a store and the sales lady was like “Wow, that coat is bright!”  Which…duh, hot pink is my signature color, that’s why I got it ma’am!  And then yesterday when I was in J. Crew Factory the one sales guy commented about how bright it was.  I wanted to be like, ummm hello!  It’s from here! Haha, I guess shocking pink isn’t a winter color people are used to seeing.  I for one, love it!

Also, while at J. Crew Factory yesterday, I picked up this cute sweater to wear to a Christmas function….

I just think that bow is so stinking cute!  And you can snag it now for 50% off plus the extra 20% off!  I missed the 20% off when I bought but here’s a couple things I didn’t buy in store that I’m eyeing up now since they are part of this awesome sale! (Links below picture to shop).

1. Tartan Slippers – not included in the promo but currently $20.
2. Cuffed Striped Boatneck Shirt – $24.50 plus extra 20% off.
3. Rollneck Pullover Sweater – comes in 6 colors – $34.50 plus extra 20% off.
4. Peyton Mixed Stripe Sweater – under $20 and comes in 8 colors.
5. Tie Bell-Sleeve Pullover Sweater – comes in 2 colors.  $22 plus extra 20% off.
6. Classic Fair Isle Sweater – $39.50 plus extra 20% off.
7. Marled Jogger Sweatpant – comes in 3 colors.  $24.50 plus extra 20% off.
8. Classic Plaid Scarf – excluded from the promo but currently less than $20.  Comes in 9 colors.
9. Plaid Cape Scarf – comes in 5 colors.  $24.95

I’m getting back to Christmas stuff in a minute I promise, but here are some good Men finds from the J. Crew Factory sale too….

1. Walker Vest – comes in 2 colors.  $34.95
2. Sweater Fleece Half-Zip – comes in 5 colors. $49.00 plus extra 20% off.
3. Cardigan Sweater – $54.00 plus extra 20% off.
4. Fair Isle Hoodie Sweater – comes in 2 colors.  $43.00 plus extra 20% off.
5. Half-Zip Sweater – comes in 6 colors.  $19.50 plus extra 20% off.
6. Striped Crew Neck Sweater – comes in 5 colors.  $19.95

Okay, back to Christmas must haves.  If you’re still in need of some cute stockings, I can’t recommend these from Personal Creations enough.  They are so cute, great quality and I literally ordered them and had them like 3 days later!  I love that they are cohesive and we have our own but they still match.

Next, if you are looking for some good Christmas/winter books to read I love this series from Elin Hilderbrand.

There is actually a third (technically there’s four) but the first one, Winter Street I gave to a friend so I don’t have it here to picture, but it starts with Winter Street, then Winter Stroll, followed by Winter Storms, and then the 4th one that got added recently is Winter Solstice.  They are just fun, easy reads that center on a family in Nantucket at Christmas time and it jumps around from character to character throughout the books but ties them all together too.  It sounds like it could be confusing but it isn’t at all.

And lastly,  if you’re like me and love Christmas pine type candles and holiday scents, but don’t want the toxicity that comes with candles, then I’ve got you covered.

These are on repeat at my house these days! I was so worried that once I ditched candles I wouldn’t be able to have the Christmas smells, but these two have saved the day!  Northern Lights Black Spruce smells like a Christmas tree lot and Christmas Spirit just has all those yummy Christmas aromas that evoke the holiday season!  You can shop these oils by going here and if you aren’t a member you can become one by buying a kit and adding these on, or go below member and select retail to skip the membership and wholesale pricing and just buy the oils.  Feel free to message me here or on instagram      ( _jillkoch_ ) or facebook (Jill Weaver Koch) or email me jillcomesclean@gmail.com for help purchasing or getting started.

Okay friends, that’s it for this round of Monday Must Haves.  I hope you found some good items to add to your Christmas collection or to gift others.  Have a great week!  See you back here Wednesday!

 

Hi friends!  Can you believe we are already at the point of the 11 month update?!  Leyton turned 11 months on Monday so I decided to take a little break from the holiday gift guide series to do an 11 month update for you all (and for me to look back on in years to come because we all know this mom brain won’t remember squat).  Months ago I was sharing pictures of Leyton for a monthly update and remember thinking how weird it would be to do his 11 month update knowing we are only a month away from him turning one year, and yet here we are!  Last night I was going through all his pictures from the past year and I couldn’t believe I was looking at the same baby.  He was so little!  It seems like a totally different baby and yet it doesn’t.  In many ways I see that exact same adorable personality peaking through at 2 months that I see now.  As crazy as it is to be writing an 11 month update I really can’t believe that in a few short weeks we will be celebrating one year!  Continue reading “LEYTON’S 11 MONTH UPDATE” →

Happy Wednesday friends!  I’m going to be doing a new segment the last Wednesday of every month called What’s Up Wednesday!”  It’s where I link up with Mix & Match Mama, The Larson Lingo, and Sheaffer Told Me To, and we answer these questions……

It’s just a fun way to share some random things, and I always love seeing other people’s What’s Up Wednesday posts to see what they are up to, too!  Okay, let’s get to it!

WHAT WE’RE EATING THIS WEEK

So this is where I would love to have beautiful pictures of the meals I’m making this week, but friends, let me let you in on a little secret…..I rarely cook. Eric and I are take out aficionados which isn’t always great but it works.  Now that’s not to say I never cook.  I definitely do and usually I try to make at least 1 or 2 meals a week, but having just come off of Thanksgiving and being busy with Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Leyton, and everything in between…cooking has taken a back seat.  I’ll get back to it next week.  Sometimes I make a meal every day of the week.  It truly just depends.  So this week, it’s take out city.  I will say, once Leyton is older though I plan on cooking regularly.  I grew up with home cooked meals every night and I want to do the same for him.

WHAT I’M REMINISCING ABOUT

I posted this picture on Instagram yesterday because I was going through our pictures from Hilton Head and reminiscing about warm beach days since it’s been cold here.  Snowing even!  But as much as I love Hilton Head I’m happy for cooler weather now.  I love when it’s cold and snowy this time of year.  When the house is decorated for Christmas and it’s cold outside, it’s truly perfection.

WHAT I’M LOVING

If you follow me on Instagram you know I have been raving about this devotional.  You guys, it’s soooo rare for me to find a devotional I look forward to reading every morning, but I seriously l-o-v-e this one!  Lysa TerKeurst hits the nail on the head most days and it’s just so relatable.  Pretty much every morning I read it I’m underlining and highlighting and saying YES repeatedly!

WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO

All last week was really spent spending time with family.  My sweet parents came in last Monday and stayed until Black Friday.  So we spent the week hanging out, enjoying the holiday and they enjoyed getting to spoil and snuggle their only grandson.  And per usual my mom cooked our portion of Thanksgiving dinner (Eric’s parents hosted but we brought some dishes) and my dad fixed things around the house.  They are the best!  We also decorated for Christmas last week too, so that’s another thing we’ve been up to.

WHAT I’M DREADING

I actually can’t think of anything I’m dreading.  I love this time of year and all things holidays!

WHAT I’M WORKING ON

I feel like I’m always working on 50 things at once, but currently, among blog posts (working on some gift guides among other things), and all things Christmas, I’m scouring Pinterest and working on……

Leyton’s first birthday party (insert cry face here)!  How is he almost a year old?!  Anyways, I know that with the holidays, it will be here before I know it so I need to get a jump start now to get planning and get things together.

WHAT I’M EXCITED ABOUT

Well aside from the holidays and Leyton’s first birthday, I am super excited to begin Christmas traditions!  Eric and I have been coming up with a bunch we want to do.  Ideally, I want to do a 25 days of Christmas type thing where we do something each day.  Not necessarily big things, but it can be anything from watching a Christmas movie one night to visiting Santa or The Festival of Lights at the Zoo.  I love Christmas traditions and can’t wait to make some with Leyton!

WHAT I’M WATCHING/READING

Okay, well it goes without saying that I am watching all.the.Hallmark right now!  I don’t care how predictable and cliché they are, I can’t get enough of the Hallmark Christmas movies.  There’s so many cute new ones this year, but I also look forward to my favorites (mainly any of the ones with Candace Cameron or Lacey Chabert).  A Christmas Detour is still one of my favorites.

And on the complete opposite end of the spectrum…..who is watching this?

I’m only one episode in but you guys it’s soooo good!  I’m hooked for sure.  Parts of it are based on a true story, which makes it even more intriguing!  Definitely check it out on Bravo on Sunday’s if you haven’t yet.

As far as what I’m reading…..like with my tasks I always feel that I am reading 50 different things at once too, but yesterday I picked up these two…..

I’ve heard good things about The Subtle Art of Not Giving a #@%! (don’t mind the language) and I kept putting it off and putting it off.  Then I was at Target yesterday and saw it and decided to give in and see what all the hype is about.  So stay tuned.  And then this magazine caught my eye at the checkout.  Friends, I am perpetually trying to get into a routine of better habits. Not that any of mine are particularly terrible, but with a little one now I feel like my day needs to be more structured if I want to get anything done and so I need better habits that allow me to be productive.  Does that make sense?  So hopefully this magazine has some good tips!

WHAT I’M LISTENING TO

On repeat!  These 4 albums give me all the feels this time of year.  It’s like as soon as you hear the first song on each album it just instantly transports you to Christmas time.  I just started listening to the Home Alone soundtrack and you guys, the very first song on there is the one from the opening to the movie and as soon as you hear it, you just picture that blue house on the screen moving further and further away until it switches over to the magnificent McCallister mansion. Ahhh seriously, all.the.FEELS!!

WHAT I’M WEARING

Also on repeat…..the Barefoot Dreams Circle Cardigan!  So stinking warm and comfortable!  Also, loving these over the knee boots!

WHAT I’M DOING THIS WEEKEND

I think we are going to attempt to see Santa with Leyton.  Fingers crossed that it goes well as he is definitely in the stranger danger phase.  And fingers crossed that we pick a decent time to go where there aren’t 5,000 people also there for the same thing.

WHAT I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT MONTH

This little guy turning a year old.  Here he is at 2 months.  I mean can you even handle it?!  Ahhhh!

WHAT ELSE IS NEW

Nothing that I can really think of.  I think that’s mostly it.  We aren’t too exciting over here.  Just hanging out and enjoying showing Leyton all his holiday firsts!  Here’s something that’s new for Sebastian…..

As an early Christmas gift Sebastian got a new leash from Pack Leashes.  We love this company because for every purchase made they donate a pound of dog food to a shelter in need.  Their products are durable and quality made and come with a lifetime warranty.  They have a great selection of leashes, collars, toys, etc.  Best yet, they gave me a code to share with you guys!  Anytime you make a purchase and use the code: SEBASTIAN you get 20% off AND they will donate 4 pounds of dog food to shelters in need versus the regular 2 pounds they typically donate!  Just head here to check them out!

BONUS QUESTION: FAVORITE THING TO DO WITH YOUR ELF ON THE SHELF

Well, since Leyton is still a baby we haven’t incorporated the Elf into our lives yet (which I’m going to enjoy for the time being since I see people often struggling to come up with ideas as time goes on) but my sister does it for my niece and I get ideas from her.  Here’s their most recent “visit”……

And while we are discussing the Elf, why don’t we take a look back at the year Sebastian had a romance with the girl Elf and the boy Elf tried to interfere….

Haha, I still laugh when I see these and get such a kick out of how good Sebastian was to cooperate with these pictures each day.  The old man in him these days would likely not stand for it.

Okay friends, whew!  That was a long post.  Thanks for sticking it out to the end.  I’ll have another What’s Up Wednesday at the end of next month.  Be sure to check back Friday where I’m kicking off the first of a series of gift guides with a gift guide for the women in your life.  Happy middle of the week!

 

Happy Monday friends!  Is anyone else still coming off the exhilarating last few days that was Thanksgiving, then Black Friday sales, then extended Black Friday sales??  And just when we are winding down, here comes Cyber Monday! Because there are so many great Cyber Monday sales happening today I decided to make my Monday must haves a Cyber Monday edition!  There is a little bit of everything here and price points vary.  I wanted to bring a large variety of options since many of you, like me, are using these sales to knock out some major Christmas shopping.  Okay, so lets hop to it!

First off….last week I raved about these pajama bottoms from American Eagle, because they have London landmarks all over them, and you guys they are still on sale for $20!  They also come in solid green and red and have matching tops or you can mix and match with other tops. Continue reading “MONDAY MUST HAVES: CYBER MONDAY” →