My Birthday and Holiday Wishlist

The reason I love December so much is because the entire month is filled with shopping trips, brunches and dinners with friends, wrapping presents, decorating the tree, spending time with family, and of course my birthday! Our family likes when we put together wishlists because it gives them a guideline on what we want each year. I’ll admit, this year I had a tough time pulling together things I needed. So rest assured that the items on my birthday and holiday wishlist below are things that I really love. 

1. Barefoot in Paris: Easy French Food You Can Make at Home, $25.72: While in college, I dined at a French restaurant near my apartment and fell in love with French cuisine. I watched Julie and Julia over and over again, saved endless photos of the Eiffel tower on my computer, and dreamed about one day going to France. Although I’m not sure a trip to France will be happening this year, one of my goals for 2016 is to learn how to make a few French recipes.

Ina Garten is one of my favorite chefs, so when I found out she had a French cookbook filled with easy recipes you can make at home, I knew I had to own it. According to the description on Amazon, “All of these dishes are true to their Parisian roots, but all offer something special—and are thoroughly delicious, completely accessible, and the perfect fare for friends and family. Barefoot in Paris is suffused with Ina’s love of the city, of the bustling outdoor markets and alluring little shops, of the bakeries and fromageries and charcuteries—of the wonderful celebration of food that you find on every street corner, in every neighborhood.” YES PLEASE.

2. Nila Anthony Faux Fur Pom-Pom Key Chain (gray or teal), $15: Pom-poms are all the rage right now, and have been popping up on literally everything from sweaters to hats to shoes. I’m usually not a pom-pom person because they seem too girly for my taste, but I’m obsessed with this key chain from Nordstrom. 

3. Gap Cable Knit Pom-Pom Beanie (red), $24.95: I love winter hats. I can’t seem to have enough. This year, as I mentioned above, I’m all about the pom-poms. This red beanie from Gap is affordable and super warm. All of my winter hats are gray or black, so this would add a pop of color in my mostly neutral wardrobe. 

4. Free People Easy Cable V-Neck Sweater (ivory), $76.80: This Free People sweater is so versatile. You can wear it with jeans, skinny black dress pants or even black leggings on the weekend. 

5. Madewell Skinny Skinny Jeans, $128: Madewell’s jeans are like no other. I don’t currently own any, but I hope that changes in the near future. I’ve told Bryan numerous times over the past few months how much I need new jeans. My old Gap jeans just aren’t holding up any longer. They start to sag within a few hours and look horrendous. 

6. Young Living Rose Shaped Diffuser, $74.14: If you read my post last week about my gift guide for health and fitness lovers, you already know that I’ve been eyeing this Young Living diffuser. Check out that post to read all about why I want one and details about its many benefits. 

7. Jo Malone Wood Sage & Sea Salt Cologne, $65: It takes me forever to find my signature scent. Last year, I discovered Jo Malone’s Wood Sage and Sea Salt cologne. I received a tiny sample from Nordstrom, and I used it sparingly for months. The cologne “blends woody earthiness with sage and the sea.” It’s basically perfection in a bottle. It took so much time for me to find a scent that wasn’t too sweet or girly, but also wasn’t too masculine. Wood Sage and Sea Salt is the perfect balance. 

8. Pottery Barn Grand Embroidered Monogram Hand Towels (set of two/black monogram, black stripe), $59: I’m in the process of redecorating our master bathroom. Over the past few months, I’ve added a new cosmetics tray, dark gray rugs, a shelf, a new white shower curtain, a new favorite hand soap, and a few black and white decor pieces. I’m going with a black/white/gray theme. These monogrammed hand towels from Pottery Barn would really tie everything together in our newly redecorated space. 

9. Anthropologie Celestial Coaster Set (white), $40: I firmly believe that great home decor is all about the details. We currently have the most horrific coasters. I’m not sure where they came from, but they are wooden and are constantly getting stuck to our glasses. This set from Anthropologie is so gorgeous and great quality. I’m hoping someone buys me these so I can toss out our current coasters and put out these much more aesthetically pleasing version. 

10. Tiffany Medium Round Link Bracelet, $185: I’m really into silver bracelets right now. I love how they look stacked on my wrist. this bracelet from Tiffany is STUNNING. I saw it online a month or so ago and went into the store to try it on. It was exactly what I was looking for. I love that it’s understated, but it’s a classic piece. 

11. Amazon Kindle Paperwhite, $120: I’ve been really getting into reading this year. Right now, I’m listening to two audio books during my commute to and from work. I’m almost done The Four Agreements, and I’m about to start Leah Remini’s memoir Troublemaker. I’d love to have a Kindle Paperwhite so I can read at home and when I travel. Packing up loads of physical books is getting to be a struggle.  

12. Ray-Ban Original Aviators (black), $105: I don’t buy a lot of sunglasses for myself, and when I do it’s usually a pair of $15 ones from Target. Unfortunately, you get what you pay for. I had to throw out many of my Target sunglasses this year and am in need of a new pair. I love Ray-Ban because their products last. I even got Bryan loving his new pair of Wayfarers. I’ve been on the hunt for a pair of black frame/black lens aviators for a few months and this pair from Ray-Ban is finally back in stock. They will look great all year round in all types of situations – by the pool, in the car, dressed up or dressed down.  

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