The most wonderful time of the year has arrived! As much as I love the holidays it’s typically a hectic time for me. From the Christmas shopping, parties and traveling to see family things can become stressful real quick. I know I’m not the only one who feels this way. The holidays should be relaxing so I rounded up some of my favorite ways to make the season a little less stressful.

1. Listen to holiday music// I don’t know about y’all but Christmas music makes me happy! It gets me in the festive spirit and it’s just good for the soul!

2.Watch your favorite movies// I love being all cuddled up on the couch while watching my favorite Christmas movies. I am a sucker for Hallmark movies of course. My new favorite movie is The Christmas Contract featuring some of the OTH cast (one of my favorite shows back in the day) and it’s filmed in Louisiana.

3.Say NO when needed// As much as I would love to attend every event and volunteer my time it’s just not possible. It’s okay to say no! Sometimes you need to step back and take a break.

4. Enjoy a nice warm bath// Anytime I start to feel stressed, taking a bath always puts me at ease. I get my favorite soap, bath salts and a glass of wine and let my worries wash away. One of my favorite soaps to use that helps me relax is the English Lavender from Yardley. I pair it up with Dr. Teals soothe and sleep epsom salts and I am relaxed AF.

5. Have a pajama party with your girlfriends// Who doesn’t love cozy Christmas pj’s and a night with your favorite ladies?! Hanging out with my girls always helps me de-stress. Some good wine and lots of laughs makes

6.Burn your favorite candles// Having my house smell festive makes things cozier. Some of my favorite candles to burn are Twisted Peppermint and Marshmellow Fireside from B&BW.

7. Curl up with your favorite book// Being able to escape all the craziness with a good book always helps me feel more rested and recharged.

8. Treat YO SELF// I know the holidays are about giving to others but I am all about treating myself as well. Get a mani/pedi, massage or something you’ve had your eye on. Another way I love treating myself is putting on a good face mask. One of my favorites is Farmacy Bright On Vitamin C  Mask. Remember taking care of yourself is a must! You deserve it!

I hope these ideas help you relax a little more during a time that can be very stressful. 

Do you practice self-care during the holidays? How do you relax during the holiday season?

Hi There!! How has everyone been?! I know things have been extremely quiet around here lately but for all good reasons. I figured today was perfect to get all caught up on why I’ve been so MIA recently. Grab your favorite drink and let’s get cozy.

While at our coffee date I would tell you…

I’ve been MIA because life has been crazy BUSY. Thankfully things have slowed down somewhat. October flew by in a blink of an eye for me because I was finishing up all things wedding. My husband and I got married on October 27th in New Orleans. Our wedding was a complete fairy tale and absolutely perfect. I’ll share photos soon! I will say that I am happy I am done with wedding planning but I still feel like I should be in planning mode. I kind of miss it. I’m sure that will wear off sooner or later. After our wedding was over with and we returned from our honeymoon I got back into the swing of work and have been non-stop. Another reason why I have not been blogging.

I am super excited that the holiday drinks at Starbucks have returned. I absolutely love their Caramel Brulee lattes. Yes, I know…super BASIC but hey, a girl has to live. What’s your favorite holiday drink?

I miss my sweet blogging friend Leslie. I know everyone who is apart of the same blogging groups know’s about her passing. It still doesn’t seem real but I know that she is doing amazing up there in heaven. She was such an amazing person. The energy she put off was infectious. Leslie was my biggest cheerleader when it came to blogging but also a dear friend. I am so thankful that blogging brought us together.

I am SLOWLY getting out of my comfort zone. I plan on sharing makeup looks that I put together on the blog very soon. Of course I am no MUA but makeup is my passion. I originally started this blog because I wanted to share makeup looks. So be on the lookout for those soon!

With life getting back to being somewhat normal I plan on getting back into the swing of blogging again. I hope that I am able to start blogging at least twice a week again. We will see how things go. I have started planning out blogging content, so I think that’s getting me back on the right track.

This time change has me all messed up. I went from my body being used to Daylights saving time, to Mexico time back to daylights saving time then it ended. I feel like I want to go to bed by 7:00 and then I am wide awake typically around 4:30 am. Hopefully soon my body will adjust.

The one year anniversary of my grandfathers passing was on Friday. I honestly can’t believe it’s already been a year since his passing. I miss him dearly but I know he is watching over me.

I have been in complete Hallmark Christmas movie mode. I love being able to snuggle on the couch with the hubby and fur babies while watching all the sappy movies.

I recently became a dry shampoo lover. I had never been the one to use dry shampoo because I am so picky about the way my hair looks. I know all of you are probably like girl what is wrong with you?! So when I got extensions a few months ago I knew that washing my hair every day would not be the best option. Now I use dry shampoo like it’s going out of style! I go three days at a time typically without washing my hair. Dry Bar dry shampoo is life! Seriously if you haven’t tried it…get you some.

So that’s all I have to share on this coffee date. What has been going on in your life?! 

I can not believe that September is over with. I always feel that once July hits the months start flying by. Maybe that’s just me. I will say though that I am happy Fall is finally here (or at least I have been hoping it will show itself here in Texas). I’ve seriously been counting down the days and have been watching the weather for signs of cooler weather. Fall is my favorite season! While time is flying by, I found some new favorites to share with y’all. Let’s dive in!

Loreal Lash Paradise Mascara $9.99// It’s been a while since I’ve been obsessed with a drugstore mascara. I know a ton of bloggers have raved about this mascara. So I finally decided to give it a try and let me tell y’all!! I fell in love with it almost immediately. Talk about intense volume! If you’re looking for an affordable mascara give this one a try.

Current Lip Combo// So I’ve been wearing this combo non-stop recently. I figured because I have so much makeup that I needed to start using more of what I have and not buy as much. That’s easier said than done of course. I line my lips with the ColourPop Lippie Pencil in Faded which they no longer have. It’s a dusty mauve shade, so it shouldn’t be hard to find a shade similar to it. Then I fill my lips in with NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Never Say Never and then top it with Buxom plumping lip polish in Savannah. I’m wearing it in this photo here and see swatches below.

Sharp Objects TV Series// This show is based on the book from Gylan Flynn and let me tell you, SO FREAKING GOOD!!! I have not read the book yet but all my friends say it’s just as amazing as the show. Of course, I am a huge fan of reading and watching anything dealing with thrillers. This show kept me guessing and when I thought I had it figured out it threw my completely off guard. I’ll be reading the book ASAP!

Hot/Cold Pack $15// I received this in one of my FabFitFun boxes previously and it has been such a lifesaver. I used to experience a ton of pain in my left shoulder so this was one of my saving graces when it came to reducing some of my pain. It’s super convenient for traveling or bringing anywhere which is a huge plus.

Farmacy Honeymoon Glow AHA Resurfacing Serum $58// I’ve been using this serum for a little over a month now and absolutely love it!!! Since I’ve been using it I have noticed a slight increase of improvement in the texture of my skin. The radiance that it gives though is absolutely amazing! So if your skin is looking a little dull this will help your complexion a lot! This can be used on all skin types and when using it for the first few times you will feel a slight tingle. The tingle is nothing that hurts (at least to me it doesn’t), so just expect that should you decide to purchase it. I use it three times a week applying it before I go to bed.

I didn’t write anything about the Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Moisturizer because I did an Instagram post on it recently. But it’s an amazing lightweight moisturizer. I guess that means I really had six favorites.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Ladies raise your hand if you’ve ever had an issue finding a good moisturizer for the summer time. 🙋‍♀️Seeing that I live in the South where it’s extremely hot I need a moisturizer that is light weight. I’ve been loving the Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream Hydrating Moisturizer from @peterthomasrothofficial. This moisturizer is light weight but extremely hydrating. I love that it does not make my skin look greasy or overly oily. If you have sensitive skin like myself you won’t have to worry about using it! It’s so gentle. . . . . . #sweetteaandhydrangeas #ad #CloudCream #PeterThomasRoth #WaterDrench #PTRcult #beautyblogger #skincareobsessed #everydaybeauty #photosinbetween #theeverydaygirl

A post shared by Sweet Tea & Hydrangeas (@sweetteaandhydrangeas) on Aug 17, 2018 at 9:45am PDT

So there you have it! I hope you enjoyed the things I loved in September. What have you been loving lately? 

Hi Friends!! I hope everyone is having a great week so far! I must say that even though this is a short work week for me, it’s been the longest! Anyone else feel this way? I think that always happens though after a nice long weekend. I’ve noticed a lot of new readers around here recently, so I thought I would tell you a little bit about the girl behind the blog. I always love reading posts like these because it allows me to learn more about my fellow bloggers. If you’re new welcome! If you’re a frequent reader, I hope you learn something new. Here we go!

1. I was named after a girl that my parents went to school with. I will say that when I was younger I didn’t always like my name. I used to get picked on and get called “Mistle-toe”, etc and it drove me nuts. Now I’m like at least I don’t have a name like a million other people in this world.
2. My favorite colors are red, blue, pink and yellow.
3. I am obsessed with all things makeup and skincare. I particularly love eyeshadow palettes. I have way too many to count but always find an excuse to buy another one.  When it comes to skincare, I am a face mask junkie.
4. I am the oldest of four children.
5. My fiancée and I have been together for a little over 8 years.
6. I am not a very patient person. I’ve got better with being more patient as I’ve gotten older…but not much.
7. I have a degree in Psychology and a minor in Criminal Justice.
8. My favorite sports to watch are football and baseball.
9. I could eat sushi several times a week.
10. My favorite candies are Kit Kats and Reese’s peanut butter cups. Pretty much any candy that has peanut butter in it I am all for.
11. I work in Human Resources. There is never a dull moment to say the least.
12. My favorite season is Fall.
13. I love reading my horoscope and anything that deals with astrology, which is why I only get my horoscope and pam read by the best in Indianapolis psychics whom I have been visiting for years now.  I’m a Gemini. Sign of the twins!
14. I’m a very in your face type of person. I can be very blunt and to the point when it comes to most situations. I don’t typically hold back.
15. I love dancing. I danced for fifteen years and loved it!
16. I enjoy reading books, especially thrillers.
17. My favorite things to drink are water, Dr. Pepper, wine and margaritas.
18. My taste in music ranges from R&B, Pop, Rap, Country to oldies. If I find a song that I like it really doesn’t matter the genre. Some of my favorite artists are: Britney Spears, Lil Wayne, Tim McGraw, Post Malone, Alanis Morrissette, Drake, Demi Lavato…the list goes on and on.
19. I am obsessed with my dogs Boundin and Peanut. If I could rescue every dog, I would.
20. My grandparents are my world. I love being able to spend time with them whenever I can.
21. I’m a natural brunette.
22. I used to be a social worker for individuals with developmental disabilities.
23. I love lifting weights.
24. My favorite foods are: oysters, steaks, crawfish, tacos and sushi of course. I love food to be honest.
25. I love to travel. My dream vacation would be Bora Bora.
26. My favorite movie is The Notebook.
27. If I could meet any blogger it would be Maddie Potter Duff from Ottestyle. She seems like a sweetheart and someone who would be a blast to hang out with.
28. I’ve been blogging for almost four years.
29. I’m a sucker for Reality Tv. I know….I can’t help it.
30. I have a huge fear of public speaking. This is why I don’t record a lot of live videos on social media,etc. I’m trying to get over this fear slowly.

I hope everyone enjoyed learning a little bit more about me today! This post made me think a lot! 

I would love to know more about you! Share some facts about yourself in the comments below. 

Hi Friends! I haven’t shared recent happenings in awhile, so I thought I’d say hi and we would get caught up. Life has been crazy busy lately between getting last minute wedding stuff together, work and just life in general. As much as I enjoy things being busy I am ready for things to slow down just a bit (that probably won’t happen till after the wedding). I can also say that I am in complete awe that July is over. This year has seriously flown by! I won’t lie I am so ready for Fall and some cooler weather already. It’s in the high 90’s to 100 degrees here and I’m over it. Anyone else there with me? Enough of my random ramblings here’s what I’ve been up to lately.

Life Updates

• My  fiancé and I registered for our wedding gifts. Seeing that we already have a lot of stuff, trying to register wasn’t exactly easy. We only registered for 64 items at one location and I believe 6 at the other. So yeah….I need to go in and add more things. My fiance honestly could have cared less because he feels we have everything that we need currently. I had to explain that you upgrade your current items for better ones. If you have any suggestions on must haves let me know!!!
• We went cake tasting which was a lot of fun!!! Not exactly what I expected but still enjoyed it. I was lucky that we both already knew what we wanted as far as designs, so the appointment was quick and easy. We decided that our wedding cake flavors would be amaretto and praline. For the groomsmen cake he decided on a strawberry filling.
• We saw Pentatonix in concert and I was so impressed! They are amazing performers and their energy was insane.
• I recently purchased some extensions from Hidden Crown to try out for the wedding. I purchased the halo one first and I will admit I’m still trying to work it correctly. I think I need to loosen it some and work out the kinks. I will say that I loved the way it made my hair look. I felt like a princess. I also just purchased the clip ins to see how I like those.

• I went to Nashville for my bachelorette party and had a blast! Nashville seriously stole my heart and I can not wait to go back. The people were so nice there and we had such a good time partying it up.

Blog Updates

• I recently became a brand ambassador for both MaskerAide Beauty and Farmacy. I could not be more excited and honored. I have been using their products for well over a year now and for them to have reached out to me was amazing. I honestly never thought I would be at this point when it came to blogging. I say this because I know I am not the best blogger out there, so to even have been considered makes me happy.
• I am still in the process of updating the look of STH. It’s taking a lot longer then expected but I’m okay with that. I do not want to half way do something and it not be how I want it. I also will be changing the name up a bit. Of course once everything changes over you guys will be the first to know!
• I am thinking about trying out IGTV. I will admit that I hate being on video or hearing my voice on video. So I am trying to get better with this at least right now on IG Stories then potentially branching out to IGTV. Have you used IGTV yet? If so let me know how you like it!

Recent Purchases

I have been buying way too many things lately but that’s okay! I have been able to save money despite all the purchases I have made.

I went in for a dermaplane facial months ago and loved how my skin looked afterwards. My make up went on so much smoother and my skin looked refreshed. Of course finding the time and the money to keep getting them….isn’t always budget friendly. So I had seen the DermaFlash 2.0 system and thought maybe it would be worth trying out. I am so glad I purchased it! It’s extremely easy to use and I can do it at my own convenience. I’ll have more of a full review coming soon!

I am branching out more with trying drug store beauty products. I used to wear drug store makeup a lot when I was younger but now I mostly wear high end brands. On my most recent trip to Target I picked up the Physicians Butter Bronzer, Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer, L’ Oreal Lash Paradise Mascara, Aveeno Ultra Calming Makeup Wipes, Pixi Flawless Beauty Primer and Pixi Fast Flash Facial set. I know a ton of bloggers have raved about the first three products I listed, so I thought I’d give them a try as well. Once I try these products out I will give y’all feedback on if they are worth the hype!

I’d love to hear what has been going on in your life lately! Also what are some recent purchases you have made?

Disclosure- This post has been compensated by Basic Invite, Inc. All opinions expressed are 100% my own. 

This is the very first post that I’ve written in regards to wedding planning. So I’m extremely excited to be sharing our Save the Date cards with y’all today!  Once Joey and I decided on our wedding date and location, I was ready to design our cards. I absolutely love receiving paper invites when it comes to special occasions. I guess I am just old school like that. I feel that with technology these days, paper invites aren’t a popular thing anymore because it’s much easier to send an invite through text or online. With that being said we knew that we wanted something more personable this is why we decided to order our Save the Dates from Basic Invite.

Designing Our Save the Dates

Basic Invite allows you to choose from 180 different color options when designing your cards. When it came to deciding on what type of design we wanted, we knew that we wanted to include at least one of our wedding colors. Our wedding colors are marsala, navy and gold, so I felt that the Foil Collection was absolutely perfect. We went with this collection because it allowed us to have the gold color we wanted for the writing. Once we picked out the design of the card from the foil collection, it was so easy to customize to our liking. I loved that while we were designing the cards we were able to view all the changes we were making as we went. We were very surprised with how easy it was to design the cards because we are not the most creative individuals. One of the great things about Basic Invite is that you are able to order a custom printed sample to see and feel the quality of the invites before you decide to place your final order. This is a big deal because I know that I would not want to spend a ton of money up front and not be happy with what I received.

In addition to designing our cards I was able to choose from over 40 different colors for the envelopes. One great feature that Basic Invite provides is their free address collection service. This service allows you to request addresses by simply sharing a link and then they are printed out on the envelopes (at no charge).  This was a huge time saver because we had over 200 cards to address. Another thing I loved about the envelopes is that they are peel and seal (so no licking required) which makes the process much quicker!

I am extremely pleased with our Save the Dates. I was so happy that the whole process was simple and easy. If you’re looking to design your Save the Dates I highly recommend using Basic Invite. You will not be disappointed!

Have you created cards through Basic Invite? If not check out their website for all your invitation needs.