1. MAKEUP/SKINCARE ITEMS

For adult women, makeup is like toilet paper, you can always take more because you know you'll use up what you have and will need extra eventually. I suggest adding an eye shadow palette or maybe a new makeup brush to her stocking this year. For men, you can add skincare products like beard oil or lotions.

2. STRESS BALLS

This is a great gift idea for adults who experience a lot of stress in their everyday lives. Give them a little guy like the one on the right to help them manage it. I personally really like the putty-based stress balls or squishies, which now come on keychains.

3. WIRELESS ACTIVITY TRACKERS

You don't have to purchase an Apple Watch or FitBit Tracker to give one for the holidays. There are a ton of super affordable versions of these at places like Walmart, Target, and several bargain stores like Ross or Roses. Many adults are hoping to lose weight in the new year, so this will help them keep track of their progress and their goals.

4. NEW WALLETS

Men in particular tend to be hard on their wallets, as many of them store them in their back pockets and sit on them throughout the day. Women can be just as hard on theirs. Get the adult in your life a new wallet so that theirs doesn't fall apart on them!

5. A BLUETOOTH TRACKER

Adults forget things. That's not a jab. I'm 25 and I forget where I've placed things often. Bluetooth trackers like the Tile tracker is a great way to keep track on them. Put them on or in whatever you tend to lose and connect  them to your phone. You can easily pull up their location if you lose your items!

6. REUSABLE ITEMS

We are at a critical point in our climate problem, especially in America and overpopulated cities around the world. Getting a reusable item is a great way to inspire change. I'm personally hoping for a reusable straw, but I love reusable bags and bottles like these!

7. PERSONAL CARE ITEMS

These can be new toothbrushes, bath scrubbies, lotions, nail kits, body wash, lip balm, or some other care item. You are supposed to change out some things after a few months and you will always need new things, or at least want to try them!

8. A TOY FROM THEIR GENERATION

Christmas is a great time to let your inner child loose. Get them a smaller toy from their generation. You can get kids from the 90s a Tamogatchi, for example. This is super customizable! I think it would be a nice surprise to get a toy as an adult!

9. MINI CANDLES

There is absolutely nothing I love more than lighting a candle and enjoying some coffee or hot chocolate around this time of year. You can find mini versions of your favorite candles virtually everywhere, so I think they make really great stocking stuffers, but they are rarely included!

10. MINI TECHNOLOGY

Portable chargers, new headphones, a strong charging cable, a mini microphone, and much more! These little pieces of technology may just come in handy! I know my mom and husband both seem to break their charger cords OFTEN! I think this is perfect for the on-the-go adult as well!

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1. CUSTOM OFFICE SUPPLIES

I know it sounds expensive, but ordering bulk or when a custom print shop is offering a sale. I think that a custom mouse  pad would be a great idea, if you are in an environment where mouse pads are used on a daily basis.

2. GIFT CARDS

Gift cards are an easy way to give to your coworkers this season. Give them a gift card they can use anywhere, at a shop like Target or Walmart, or to a coffee shop in your area. They will be so happy you thought of them and can use the gift cards to buy what they need or want from the store that you got it from!

3. GIVE AN OFFICE GIFT

When I was growing up, we used to get a present "for the house." It would be something like utensils or new pots. Why not do the same for the office? Surprise coworkers with a new-and-improved coffee machine, chair cushions, or something else that makes sense for your environment.

4. HANDMADE OUTERWEAR

Everyone needs to stay warm this winter, especially if you work outside. Surprise your coworkers with handmade hats or scarves. They will be happy that you put time into making or picking it out for them and they will use it all season long for years to come to keep them warm.

5. NOVELTY DESK ITEMS

There's nothing quite entertaining than novelty desk items. Get them quirky desk organizers, desktop games, funny sound buttons, and more. Keep them entertained when they are in an afternoon lull.

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1. CHRISTMAS MUSIC

2. WE CELEBRATE JESUS' BIRTHDAY!

3. THE FOOD OF THE SEASON

I know we just stuffed our bodies with...er...stuffing and turkey and stuff, but nothing can beat the treats and foods we make in my family around Christmas time.

4. CHRISTMAS LIGHTS!

5. COOL WEATHER

6. GIVING GIFTS I KNOW THEY'LL LOVE

7. HOT COCOA

8. CHRISTMAS MOVIES

9. TONS OF GET-TOGETHERS

10. CUDDLING!!!!!!!

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YOUR MOM

Christmas is a great time of year to spoil your mom. One thing you can get her is a nice piece of jewelry. Save the "Mom" necklaces and jewelry for Mother's Day and get her a piece that she can wear every day or on special occasions. I'm not personally a mom, but I know I always got things for my mom and nana that were specific to their "titles."

YOUR DAD

I think that a great idea for a Christmas gift for dad is something practical that all dad's probably use: a wallet. I say this because not all dads are beer-drinking, sports-loving, tool-using, grill-o-hollics like society thinks they are. Give it a personal touch by adding their name or initials to the wallet!

YOUR GRANDPARENTS

If your grandparents are like mine, they never really "want" anything for Christmas and tell you to save your money for something else. However, there is one thing that my grandparents would never tell me not to gift them: pictures of our family.  If your family doesn't take photos often, schedule a photo shoot and add the photos to a book or to a frame. Your grandparents will love it!

YOUR IN-LAWS

Last year, the first year Jonathan and I were married, I decided to give my mother and father in-law a basket of coffee stuff. It included coffees, creamers, and more. It was also supposed to include a "mom's coffee spoon" I ordered special from Etsy, but it didn't arrive in time. We also gave them a gift card and they really seemed to enjoy it. We made sure to use a basket they would reuse, as well!

YOUR BROTHER/SISTER (IN-LAW)

YOUR TEENAGER

Ah, to be a teen again! I remember being totally bratty about the things my mom picked out for me sometimes. Instead of having to wait in long return lines, you can always give your teen a gift card to their favorite store. That way, they can choose what they like. It will also save you a lot of trouble when it comes to finding what they would like, plus they aren't at the sentimental stage where they want you to pick something that you think they'd like.

YOUR LITTLE ONE

These guys aren't too hard to shop for. I think that toys are always a good option, but I think it is always a great idea to give an educational toy. You can spring for something like an e-reader or a computer for smaller children. This will help them learn while they are at play! It will give them a passion for learning new things, which is very important at their age.

YOUR BOYFRIEND/GIRLFRIEND

If you aren't married but you have a special someone, they can be so difficult to shop for. However, I think most people who are in a relationship typically like to have a matching set of something. Bracelets are good and are understated, so they don't scream "I'M IN A RELATIONSHIP" and can work with every day outfits.

YOUR COWORKERS/BOSS

You either love your coworkers and boss, or you don't. Me, I love the people I work with. It is so easy to just give a blank coffee mug and candy, but I think the best gift to give would probably be some nice office supplies. ​A nice planner for the new year or a zip-up notepad holder that is maybe personalized is a great idea!

CLOSE FRIEND/FAMILY MEMBER

Close family members are easy to buy for. Just get them something that they LOVE. My best friend LOVES BTS, so a great thing to get her would be some of their merch. I also have a best friend who loves music, so I could get them something like that!

LESS CLOSE FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS

If you don't talk to someone once a week and you don't have a super close relationship, they qualify as "less close." Get them something simple like a $5 gift card to a store they use or to a coffee place.  ​You could also just give them some cash in a Christmas card and I'm sure they will be happy that you thought of them!

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GO SEE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

ROAST MARSHMALLOWS

I love roasting marshmallows over the fire, but we actually don't have a fire pit or anywhere to have a fire. Usually, when we would go to Tanglewood Park, we would stop in the middle where they had a fire pit and marshmallows to roast.  Last year, I wanted to roast marshmallows, so I did it over my stove, although that might not be safe. No matter what, I really want to do that this year, as it is just something special for the cold months!

PURCHASE GIFTS FOR PEOPLE

My favorite thing to do during the holidays is give. I love finding a present that I think would be perfect for someone and watching their eyes light up when they open it. I'm looking forward to doing more shopping as the weeks go on!

WATCH A CHRISTMAS PARADE

I'm not sure if this will actually happen this year, but I'd love to watch a Christmas parade at some point. I love going to parades, especially when I can pack some hot chocolate to enjoy as I watch the parade go by. ​I am going to try and find the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade from this year to rewatch it and enjoy the bands and performances!

HELP MOM DECORATE

My mom is in the home stretch of finishing her stint in her boot. In about a week, she should be able to start walking 20 minutes every hour. But, I know lugging a tree and decorations to the front of the house can be difficult, knee-scooter or not. I'm going to help whenever I get home for the holidays, which actually isn't for a few more weeks. But, I'm excited!

HAVE A CHRISTMAS MOVIE MARATHON

Just the other day, I was adding a number of Christmas movies to my list on Netflix. I can't wait to watch them. In fact, check back on Mondays during December for my Merry Movie Mondays where I will review Christmas movies from the big screen and from Netflix. I recently saw the new Grinch movie and I know we have to watch my hubby's favorite, White Christmas, a few times this season!

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BEAUTY PRODUCTS

E.L.F. LIP EXFOLIATOR, SWEET CHERRY | $3

It's starting to get a little colder where I live, and you know what that means: my lips are SUFFERING!  Luckily, my lips aren't chapped, they're just dry. I decided to give the lip exfoliator from e.l.f. a try and I ended up liking it. At first, I thought it seemed really creamy, but that was just the top layer coating. After a few rubs on your lips, you will get to the exfoliator. I thought it was perfect for lips (not to coarse but not to fine either) and it smelled great. I loved the scent as well, but I didn't see any other ones at Target when I purchased it. But, you can visit the e.l.f. website to

DOVE BODY WASH | $8.94

I recently tried some Dove body wash and I loved it. It is really great for dry skin, which I suffer from immensely.  The body wash is also sulfate free. I also like that it has a cleaner scent that is somewhat neutral so that I can use my Bath and Body Works lotions without having contrasting scents! So, if you're looking for a moisturizing body wash, I think you should try this Dove body wash. I use my body wash with that purple scrubby.

ENTERTAINMENT

NOBODY'S FOOL

Ever since I saw her in Girl's Trip, I've loved Tiffany Haddish. So, when I saw that she would be in Nobody's Fool, I decided that I wanted to see it. The storyline follows Danika, a businesswoman who is dating a man she has never met. Her sister, who was recently let out of jail, decides that Danika is being catfished and invites Neiv and Max from the show by the same name to come and investigate. But, Danika tells them they are wrong. The story takes several turns and I know you will love it as much as I did.

DAZ GAMES

FOOD

TURKEY, DUH!

Oh my goodness. I've had so much turkey this month. It all started Nov. 19 when my job had a free turkey dinner for faculty and staff and their families. It was delicious.  Then, of course, there was the meals with our families, which was great as always. Turkey is so good, but it makes you so tired!!

NON-VISIBLE THINGS

ORGANIZATION

Whenever I start to feel stressed or as if there is too much going on, I like to start organizing. Not only does it take my mind off of the stress, but it also helps me put everything in its place so that it looks nice and I know where it is. My favorite places to organize are my work office and my home office. These are probably the most stressful places, so it is good to calm them with organization.

GOD'S PRESENCE 

TIME TO JUST BREATHE

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I was sick of plucking unruly hairs and, although my facial hair was blonde, I felt like I had much more of it than the average woman.

This photo to the left doesn't have much of a focus point but, if you look closely, you can see the tiny and numerous blonde/white hairs around my jawline. I really hated this because my preference is to remove hair. If it wasn't this thick, I probably wouldn't have even bothered with it. I just want to stress that it was ME who didn't like having this much facial hair, not anyone making fun of me or telling me I should get rid of it. I also want to stress that what you do with your facial hair is your choice. This post isn't me telling you that you have to remove it to feel or look beautiful. This is just what I prefer, and that should be OK for me!

THE RESULTS/HOW IT FEELS

Please excuse the un-made bed in the background and take a look at my jawline now. You likely see some stray hairs that I may have missed but, for the most part, there is far less hair on my face.  My skin mostly feels really soft, and I don't necessarily feel the pricklies that you feel after a few days without shaving your legs. That's probably because facial hair is a lot less coarse than other hairs, so it won't come back as think as leg hair does. ​I am planning on doing a face mask tonight to see if my face feels more moisturized now that the hair is out of the way!

HOW I DID IT

I feel like this method worked for me rather well. To start with, I used Nair hair remover cream for the face. To use this, you simply apply a thick coat of the cream to your face, let it sit for 5-10 minutes, and wash it off. It works like regular Nair, but it is for your face. I then used this $10 facial hair shaver to remove hair in areas that I didn't apply Nair, mainly on my neck and closer to my mouth and eyebrows.  The Nair does kind of burn, and adding lotion to it will make it burn a bit at first, but it will subside after a few minutes. Your face will feel naked, because it is, and it will be smoother.

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EARN: DO SOME FREELANCE

SAVE: USE COUPON CODE SITES

EARN: PLAY TRIVA FOR CASH

SwagIQ is a trivia app you can download on your smartphone. Games are played every weekday where you answer trivia questions to battle it out against other players for the grand prize, which is usually $1,000.

SAVE: SIGN UP FOR A SAVINGS PLAN

Saving money for gifts can be tough, but savings programs through your bank can make it easier. I bank with Wells Fargo, and a few dollars is transferred from my checking account into my savings account every now and then when I make a purchase. As long as you can keep your hands off of the money, you'll save it up and have spare cash for presents!

EARN: FIND A SEASONAL WEEKEND JOB

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FACE MASKS

This can be the perfect stocking-stuffer for the person in your life who LOVES to pamper themselves or take good care of their skin.  I prefer sheet masks, so this year, I'm asking for a 12 pack of the Celavi Essence Facial Paper Face Masks! I like them best because they don't have to dry like peel-off masks or clay masks!

2ND GENERATION ECHO DOT

I really love the idea of not having to fiddle with my phone as soon as I wake up to figure out the weather. Instead, I'd love to just ask the Amazon Echo to tell me the weather so I can wake up before choosing my clothes for the day.

FOLDING TV TRAY TABLE

Jonathan and I have a chair in our room that I like to sit in sometimes, but it is really hard for me to use my laptop in the chair because it sits so low on my lap. To fix this, I want to get a TV Tray Table like the one from Amazon. This will raise it up to where I can reach it and allow me to use my wireless mouse!

CLOTHING

It's so funny to me that I actually WANT clothing for Christmas. When you're a kid, you always hate getting that! However, I always like to add new pieces into my wardrobe. My favorite stores are Rue21, Forever 21, and Torrid. All of them have plus-size options!

A LABEL MAKER

I know this seems weird, but I really want a label maker this year! I found the DYMO LabelManager 160 Handheld Label Maker on Amazon. I feel like this will help me organize I bit better and label things legibly!

HIGH-QUALITY DSLR CAMERA

At my job, I use my camera often. But, it isn't MY camera. It belongs to my place of work. I really want my own camera, but this is always a big-ticket item. I've been told by many of my photographer friends that you should always try to buy the camera body new, which is the expensive bit, and try to find inexpensive used lenses.

MOVIES

I love movies, and I have a pretty big collection in our house. I really liked The Equalizer 2, Incredibles 2, Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation, The First Purge, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom and Ocean's 8! I think all of these are now out on DVD or will be out before Christmas!

AN EARRING HOLDER

I currently use a jewelry box to store my earrings and things. I recently inherited a nicer box with different smaller compartments and a place to hang my necklaces. However, I'd like to get something like the Mango Steam Jewelry Organizer for Christmas. It just keeps the earring pairs together well and will keep me from searching for matches all morning when I'm getting ready!

DONATIONS

If you run a blog, you know how expensive it can be, especially in the blogmas season! I'm doing blogmas this year and need some supplies. Of course, I'm sure I'll be paying for most of it, but donations to my PayPal account or CashApp are always helpful!

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GET YOUR BLOOD TESTED

​Whenever I was having trouble with my health, I had to get some blood work done. During this time, I found out that I had anemia, which is low iron. ​Having lower iron levels means that you are tired more often than not.

DRINK MORE WATER

​Most of the reason for my fatigue can also be pointed to dehydration. When your body isn’t properly hydrated, you can start to feel tired. I was just drinking a ton of diet soda, justifying that it was OK because it didn’t have any calories. But, the reality is, regular and diet sodas alike are packed with sodium, which is known to cause dehydration.

HAVE A CUP OF COFFEE

​I’ve found that having a cup of coffee when I get home from work has helped somewhat in increasing my energy levels. ​This is particularly great for household chores, as it takes more energy to do those than it does to sit and type out the blog post for the day.

HAVE A SNACK

​Snacks can be a good source of energy when you’re running low, but you have to make the right choice about what snack you will have. As someone who did the low-carb diet for a long time, I would often reach for a string cheese, but these were very low in carbs, the element that actually gives you the energy.   Odds are, if you’re not eating enough carbs, you’re not going to have the energy to do what needs to be done around the house!

CHANGE YOUR CLOTHES

​I work in a business setting, so I wear business clothes. I’m in a dress, skirt, or slacks every day. ​This gets really uncomfortable and I often change into what I will wear for bed right when I get home in an effort to get more comfortable. This isn’t a good idea, as it further tells my body that I am in rest mode and don’t need to do anything else. ​

​DITCH THE HEAT

MOVE MORE DURING THE DAY

I personally have a desk job. I sit at a computer all day and do my work. On some occasions, I have the opportunity to be more active, but my average day involves me sitting down for 8-ish hours. Be sure to take a few breaks (as legally given to you) throughout the day and get up to stretch or just pace around in your office.

AVOID SUGARY FOODS IN VENDING MACHINES

It is really tempting to take out your change and head to your office's vending machine when you're starting to feel sluggish just before you clock out. However, this can be a bad idea, as many vending machines are loaded with sugary-carby foods that may give you a small energy boost, but won't do much for you permanently. Instead, opt for something like jerky, seeds, or berries!

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