Noel: Gift Guide For the Homebody

Christmas Gift Guide: For the Homebody by knhale // 1. Anthropologie Mr. Boddington's Pride and Prejudice // 2. Capri Blue Volcano Candle in a Jar // 3. Origins Lavender and Vanilla Body Souffle // 4. Scoutmob Coexistence Flower Art Print // 5. Anthropologie Amethyst Crystal Lamp Base // 6. Fortnum and Mason Royal Tea // 6. Scoutmob Pink Himalayan Bath Salts // 7. Free People Border Print Robe // 8. Kate Spade New York Larabee Road Coffee Pot // 10. Williams Sonoma Agate Gold-Rimmed Coasters // 11. Horchow Sferra Emma Pointelle Throw // 12. Piperlime Sabine Emerald Green Pave Stud // 13. UGG Ansley Women's Mahogany Slippers //

For the Homebody.

This gift guide is for that lady who chooses to (or needs to!) hibernate when the weather gets chilly. If you're ridiculously busy with all the reasons in the world that you have to stay busy, it's time for your reality check (and bubble bath!) Put down the iPhone and the to-do list and aaaaaaaaaallll the other excuses you have to NOT relax. And just take a moment for you.

If you know someone who needs a good vacation from the mind, this guide should steer you in the right direction. Your secret santa could use a relaxing soak in the tub with a classic read, a decadent candle and absolutely nothing on the calendar.

Happy gifting!

December Delights List

December List by knhale // 1. Free People Hiker Heathered Highland Sock // 2. Anthropologie Hand-Crocheted Earband // 3. Starbucks Winter Bev // 4. Anthropologie Aquarella Infitity Scarf // 5. Yarn for Crochet Projects // 6. The North Face Women's Arctic Parka // 7. Michael Buble Christmas Album // 8. Aveda Comforting Tea // 9. Anthropologie Daisy Stitch Fingerless Glove // 10. Papyrus Christmas Cards // 11. Anthropologie Volupsa Crane Flower Candle // 12. UGG Classic Short Women's Chesnut Boot // 13. The Honest Company Hand Sanitizer Spray //

Wintery December.

It's officially Christmas season. There are no more cases of Christmas music violation or Christmas decoration violation because the season is officially official. Break out your sparkly lights, your tacky Santas and piney wreaths, because Christmastime is here! For me, this time of year means unearthing my unnattractive but oh-so-warm North Face Puffer Coat. Stepping outside to run errands can only mean one thing these days: icy wind burn. So I pile on the hefty socks, gloves (I was recently gifted a pair like these by this gem), scarf and headband, too. No point in stopping there. No matter what your opinion is about UGGS (my sister thinks they're ugly as sin), you can't deny their toasty comfort. And of course, while I'm out and about, I like to clutch onto a warm beverage as if it's my personal handwarmer. My favorite fancy Starbucks indulgence is a tall toffee-nut latte. Order it. You won't be disappointed. And don't forget the hand sanitizer, because, ew, everyone on the subway is sneezing. The crochet yarn and the Christmas cards await my attention when I get home; these are my favorite wintery projects. My bff often accuses me of being an old lady trapped in a 20-something body. I just chuckle because she's sort of right. But winter is for hibernating, right?

November Delights List

November List by knhale // 1. Le Creuset Signature Round Dutch Oven // 2. Anthropologie Tea and Toast Butter Dish // 3. Williams Sonoma Holiday Toile Apron // 4. Scoutmob Walnut Bread Cutting Board // 5.  Anthropologie Avian Canopy Dinnerware // 6. Anthropologie Twinkle Lights Potholders // 7. Anthropologie Laguiole Cheese Knife Set // 8. Williams Sonoma Apple Spices Turkey Brine // 9. Williams Sonoma Le Creuset Silicone Cooking Tools Set // 10. Sorel Tremblant Moc // 11. Anthropologie Colorblock Cardi // 12. Anthropologie A Beautiful Mess Dishtowel // 13. Apothic Red Wine // 14. Anthropologie Made With Love Cookie Stamp // 15. Anthropologie Sorrento Platter //

Northern November.

This weather makes brings out all sorts of maternal instincts that I didn't really know I had. All I want to do is cozy up in my softest clothes and get to work in my kitchen, cooking savory stews and baking succulent treats. My oven has been working over time on all sorts of recipes, both experimental and age-old favorites. This list is a bit of what I have and a bit of what I WANT, to keep doing what I do! All of the above would make that Thanksgiving Day prep a lot more vibrant and memorable :)

When I get busy in the kitchen, I tend to hang out in my home clothes (my husband's hilarious term for comfy clothes), which includes something like the Sorel Tremblant Moc and an oversized sweater like this dreamy Anthropologie Colorblock Cardi, or anything that can be easily shed when the temperatures begin rising! And if I'm in dinner-time mode, there's always a good reason for popping open a bottle of your favorite table wine to smooth out the baking anxieties. I got a particular kick out of this dishtowel; I wonder if the gals over at A Beautiful Mess know that Anthro has a crush on them. Pretty legit. That's when you know your blog has ARRIVED. If I could be whipping up some of my Georgian recipes in anything Le Creuset, I would simply die and go to Heaven. We'll see if Santa is feeling particularly French this year.

October Delights List

October List by knhale // 1. Gwyneth Paltrow's It's All Good Cookbook // 2. Trader Joes Autumn Mums // 3. Urban Outfitters Staring at the Stars Cardigan // 4. Capri Blue Mercury Glass Candle // 5. Urban Outfitters Midi Chain Ring // 6. Kate Spade New York Cedar Street Maise Handbag // 7. Origins Plantscription Serum // 8. Anthropologie Petite silk pants // 9. Paper-Source Gold Confetti Thank You Notes // 10. Christian Dior Miss Dior Fragrance // 11. Clinique Black Honey Almost Lipstick //

Oh October. 

I really love this month because Autumn begins to set in and I get to celebrate the birth of some of my absolutely favorite people. First my mother in law (she's pure joy, people, seriously) and then both of my gorgeous, talented sisters. It's an absolute thrill gift-shopping for all of them, because it's so much fun to shower the ones you love with treasured surprises. And when you're doing it on a budget, you have to be selective and really think about what they want... which leads to discovering things you kinda want, too. This list is a compilation of a few things I've pick up here here and there and a few things I'm dreaming about. 

With all the wonders of fall comes one not-so-wonderous occurrence: dry skin. I've been using (7) Origins Plantscription Serum and it's really doing the trick. I am no stranger to Origins products, but this one is an especially magical elixir. In excitement for fall, I decorated my outdoor space with a bevy of these (2) fun fall mums in several colors and I ordered a sample of this (10) Christian Dior Miss Dior Fragrance from Sephora (we shall see how it goes, I'm pretty selective about my perfume choices.) I'm getting motivated to start cooking healthy again, so this (1) Gwyneth Paltrow's It's All Good Cookbook is on my list to buy. My adorable god-daughter got me my first Kate Spade bag for my birthday (does that little gal have excellent taste or WHAT?) so it's caused me to stumble over to their site and start drooling over maaaaaany of their gorgeous creations for fall, like (6) Kate Spade New York Cedar Street Maise Handbag. My sweetheart-of-a-sister-in-law got me this truly deliciously-scented (4) Capri Blue Mercury Glass Candle for my birthday, and it's been making my house smell like a masterpiece. Well, actually, it smells like Anthropologie, and that's pretty much my idea of what Heaven smells like. Score. And I might have treated myself to a few little things, like these (5) Urban Outfitters Midi Chain Ring and an old favorite, (11) Clinique Black Honey Almost Lipstick, but those were just for funsies. And since I've been writing a fair share of thank-you notes this week, these (9) Paper-Source Gold Confetti Thank You Notes have definitely gotten the best of me. They're so delicately pretty it's dangerous. The rest are dream items. Although I'm not totally sure how well I could rock those slouchy silk (8) Anthropologie Petite silk pants (but they are just so darn cute.)

Keep dreaming of lovely Autumn things, dear Oy-sters. The weather is just right for dreaming.

My Merrell Challenge Gear

My Merrell Challenge Gear by knhale // 1. C9 Champion Sports Bra // 2. Eos lip treatment // 3. Women's Nike Tempo Track Short // 4. iPhone // 5. Reebok Zigkicks // 6. iTunes gift card // 7. Sport Arm Band for iPhone // 8. Gaiam Sublime Yoga Mat //

The Challenge Update.

I've been running. Getting my groove on, if you will. For those of you who missed it, I am partaking in the Mapmyrun Merrell Challenge, which means I am challenged to run 30 times in a span of 45 days. So far, I am on Day 9 and I've done 6 runs. On the Mapmyrun app, I am in the top 8%, but (wait for it), I am in 2574th place. Basically there are a LOT of people who are out there, dreaming of free tennis shoes. Which is what you win, IF (in my case), you go up over two thousand places. Awesome, huh? No really, though, it is kind of awesome.

The Gear.

I created a round-up of the gear I've been using during this particular season. Anyone else fancy a run every now and then? You will like all of this stuff. Seriously.

1. C9 Champion Sports Bra: The best sports bra ever. 'Nuff said.

2. Eos lip treatment: I also really really love my Eos lip balm. Have I shared this with you before? OH THE GLORY. I especially love the honeydew honeysuckle and passionfruit flavors. They're a little elusive, but you can usually find them at Walmart or Target (check the ends of the aisles in the beauty section.) Seriously. This is a worthy three bucks spent. It's like your lips go on vacation...

3. Women's Nike Tempo Track Short: These are just the best shorts! They're the perfect length, never feel too tight, and always let enough breeziness in for, um, leg breath-ability? And they have some pretty wild colors... which I really dig.

4. iPhone: Bless you, dear Steve Jobs. I looooOOOooovee my sweet white life accessory. I run with this bad boy and listen to tons of inappropriate rap whilst doing so.

5. Reebok Zigkicks: The Reebok zigs are a wonder (and isn't this color to die for? I feel like I light up the dirt path when I run!) My dear friend Carrie introduced me to the world of Reebok, and I am forever grateful. Their gear is awesome and these shoes especially fit my large feet oh-so well. (For those of you keeping tally, I am only 5'4 and wear a size 8.5 shoe. I think I drank too much coffee as a 13-year old.) 

6. iTunes gift card: Sweet i-tuneage.

7. Sport Arm Band for iPhone: My precious little stylish sis got this for my birthday last year. It holds my phone in so I don't have to actually hand-carry it around (I would surely drop it) and therefore listen to the above-mentioned tunes.

8. Gaiam Sublime Yoga Mat: When I finish my run, I like to cap it off with about 10 minutes of abs or some pushups mixed in with some yoga stretches. Makes me feel all "Ommmm" inside.

The are the glories of my running world. Please enjoy. Do you have any gear that helps in your workouts?