Some of My Favorite Christmas Gifts

This year, the best gift was our vacation in Niagara Falls. There was our wreck, then the huge ice storm hit, and then some horrible person took it upon themselves to steal our credit card info. To say that I was feeling the need for a getaway was an understatement! And a few nights in a hotel and going over the border for a little retail therapy really hit the spot. We came back to the existing problems, but a little rejuvenated in other aspects.

I am a little late in sharing a few of my Christmas gifts with you this year, as I had other posts to put up first. Like I said previously, I hope you don't mind a few belated 2013 themed posts.

 ^ We only put up our small tree on the years that we won't be in town. The big one stays in storage, but we can't just not decorate at all. I mean, that's part of the fun! So this little cutie goes up with a small dose of our favorite ornaments.

^ Jewelry items. I got the bangles and rings from Torrid. My husband got me the snowflake charm for my Pandora bracelet. I love snow and snowflakes! This goes well with the snowflake necklace that he got me last year. And oh my goodness, I could not pass up the glitz of the bangles and rings!

^ Home items. Unless you are new to my blog, I think we all know by now of my love affair with polar bears, right? From Chapters, I got an awesome polar bear bookend, snow globe, and furry cozy throw blanket. I have a bone to pick with Chapters about the bookend, though. It was advertised online as a set of two, yet when my husband went to buy them for me in store, they told him the price was only for one. I am a stickler when it comes to false advertising, so they'll be hearing from me very soon on the matter. That throw blanket is the softest blanket I've ever felt.

I also got two large back-up Leaves candles from Bath & Body Works. I need more candles like I need a hole in the head, but they were on sale for $10 each. I couldn't pass that up! My husband surprised me with  the most amazing LED penguin and polar bear decorations from DeSerres. You guys, that penguin is life-sized. Oh, heck yes! I've named him Blue for obvious reasons. Can't wait to move and find a spot for everything!

^ My beauty items. I already got so much with the Black Friday sale, F&F sale/VIB sale, and then the VIB coupon. I honestly did not feel the need for ask for anything beauty related after that. I needed more ribbon hair ties, because these things are the best hair invention ever. Like ever. While over the border, I also got the Real Techniques brushes at Ulta. My husband sneaked into Sephora while in Buffalo and picked out the Naked Basics palette, hair ties, and Deborah Lippmann Stronger nail polish.  A husband that will go into Sephora on his own and voluntarily for his wife- I have myself a keeper. ;)

^ Fun entertainment and food! I got the Special Edition Harry Potter boxed set with covers illustrated by Kazu Kibuishi. I'm a Potter fanatic and cannot wait to reread the series! I won the new Glee Christmas album on Twitter. The Olive Garden dressing, Taylor Swift calendar, and Goo Goo Clusters came from my good friend Daniel. Three of my very favorite things! 

For CDs, I have been dancing and singing along to the new music of Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, and Paul McCartney. For DVDs, I got Despicable Me 2 and Twilight Breaking Dawn Pt. 2. Mitch Albom is one of the best authors I have ever read and I cannot recommend his books enough. Tuesdays with Morrie is one of those books that is just full of wisdom and will touch the very depths of your soul. I cannot wait to delve into his newest book, The First Phone Call from Heaven.

Big "ticket" items! Haha, see what I did there?! I got tickets to four Toronto Rock Lacrosse home games. Lacrosse is one of my top sports (tied with NFL) and I always look forward to the games. I also got tickets to Justin Timberlake and Lady Gaga. I've got some fun events in my future!

I love and appreciate all of the big and small things that I got and this past Christmas break was great. I couldn't make it down south to be with my family, but I did spend it with a lovely vacation and friends and family up here. All of those good times hit the spot and I just feel refreshed and ready to tackle this new year! 

P.S.- If you have a Christmas gift post, please link me to it! I love looking at what other got as gifts. I think you can learn a lot about a person by what their family and friends pick out for them. :)