Things I’m Loving Lately #15
Good morning! I was up, bright and early, at 4AM. Turns out when you go to bed at 8PM, your eyeballs pop open in the wee hours of the morning .
It’s fine with me though because my productivity skyrockets between the hours of 4AM-7AM. It only goes downhill from here!
This morning, I’m bringing to you my weekly Things I’m Loving post where I discuss a few of the things that made me happy this week. As always, play along in the comments section of the post. One thing I love more than anything is reading all the things you all have been loving lately!
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Blanket Scarf
Before we moved to Tennessee, Hema bought me this double-sided blanket scarf on Amazon – contributing the first-ever item to my first-ever “winter wardrobe.” (Living in California for the first 29 years of my life meant that I didn’t need to invest in anything more than a few sweatshirts or a jacket). Since then, I’ve purchased two more of them! They are SO comfortable and do such a great job at keeping my face and neck warm. It’s really versatile and can be worn as a shawl or a scarf. But, the most important benefit is that it keeps me cozy all day long.
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Surprise Packages
It felt like Christmas came early this year! When I got home from work, I had two packages on my doorstep. Beth’s Mama (AKA Mama Velinsky) sent such a thoughtful gift filled with all sorts of Christmas goodies. From a tablecloth to kitchen towels to an ornament that sings the “Love Shack,” she stuffed our package with a few decorative items that have added so much merriment to our home!
And then Arjun sent us our very first, personalized doormat. How appropriate that our first doormat be Christmas-themed? I love seeing it every time I walk up to our doorstep. It’s brightened up our otherwise simple walkway and it makes me so giddy to add this to our collection of Christmas items. I feel so fortunate to have such caring people in our lives. These items have added such a festive, homey touch to our apartment and we are so grateful for them – especially being so far away from family and friends during this time! -
Elfster: Secret Santa Exchange
Every year, my family sets up a Secret Santa exchange. There are way too many of us to buy gifts for each and every person so, as always, we set up a Secret Santa to make it more meaningful (and affordable!). Once again, we used Elfster to make everything a breeze. Elfster is a free site that allows you to create a Secret Santa exchange and draw names without the person who set up the exchange knowing who has whom. You can also create wish lists within the site to help everyone in your exchange with gift-giving inspiration. We’ve been using Elfster for Secret Santa exchanges for years and highly recommend it!
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The Blogging Community
Back when I started this blog in 2012, I never would have imagined that I would be writing in it daily. I have never stuck with something for this long. Whether it be a certain type of exercise or a temporary food phase, eventually the excitement always wore off. But this blog has been something that I have been consistently excited about. From sitting down and reflecting on my day to day to reading all the comments people leave on each post, it’s been such a fun journey and I feel like I’m always learning something new. I’ve joined a few Facebook groups to learn more about the behind-the-scenes stuff that I never really understood and everyone has been more than helpful. I’m excited to see this blog continue to develop. But, for now, I want to thank you – if you are reading this – for being a part of this journey with me!
Questions of the Day:
- What’s your favorite winter item or accessory?
- Do you participate in a Secret Santa exchange?
- If you blog, how long have you been doing it and what do you blog about? (Leave your blog address. I’d love to follow along with your journey!)
- What’s one thing you’re loving this week?Â
If you blog, how long have you been doing it and what do you blog about? (Leave your blog address. I’d love to follow along with your journey!)
I am part of Two Monkeys Travel Group team. I have become part of the team because I love to read articles about travel and how people use travel as a journey to learn more about themselves.
What’s your favorite winter item or accessory?
I like a really good and comfy pair of winter boots/shoes.
Hi Divya!
Happy December! I hadn’t heard of Elfster, so our family will definitely have to try this out. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
It’s so great to hear you have stuck with blogging for so many years. I’ve wanted to start a blog for so long, and I’m so happy I finally did it this year!
Here are a few things I’m loving lately: road trips, Christmas decorations (Target + Potterybarn killed it this year!), Corepower Hot Yoga, and hiking.
xx
Courtney
http://www.thedaringdarling.com
Oh gosh, I’ve only ever taken one CorePower Yoga class (I think it was Yoga Sculpt) and it was EXHAUSTING. I was sore for SO MANY DAYS after. I now know why everyone looks the way they do! They kicked our butts in that class! (And people go back daily for that butt-kicking!)
Hi Divya! This is such a great post. I really enjoyed reading it. My family participates in a secret santa every year. We all gather together in my cousin’s house and we have so much fun! It is something we look forward to! My favorite winter item is my comfy throw which has been with me for years (a gift from my grandma). I have been blogging for a long time and I manage 6 websites of various niches – celebrity news, tv shows and movie reviews, parenting, travel, and pets.
I really enjoy reading your blog and you always make me smile! I have been blogging for about 5 months now – I’m a life coach specializing in women’s wellness and I agree that the feedback and comments are what makes it all worthwhile.
To answer one of your questions, I don’t do Secret Santa but in my old book club we played Naughty Santa. I can’t quite remember the rules but it involved passing gifts around and ‘stealing’ the gifts you wanted. It was a really fun Christmas game!
I love that scarf! It looks so comfy!
Hi, Divya! As always, I love your Thursday posts. I’m going to need to check out that blanket scarf for sure!! I’m a lifestyle blogger, new to the game, and still learning the ropes. I absolutely love the community of wonderful people I’ve “met” through it though. 🙂
I love Scarves but since I am lazy I like the Infinity scarves, I am surprised its that cold in Tn already. That elfster thing is a great idea and I am going to steal that for a post. I blog about Women, Health and Money. It has officially been a year.
It’s not too cold probably. I’m just a wuss! And I panic when it gets below 50, haha 🙂
That snowman package is really cute! My favorite winter wear is furry jacket, or furry scarf 🙂
I love the secret Santa thing! I’m participating in one at work this year and tomorrow is our first day of exchanging surprises. Makes me excited to go to work!
I’ve been blogging for 6 or is it 7 years–Miki’s Hope is a mixed blog and you never know what will appear there–one thing is certain BOOKS–some with giveaways–some not. My favorite winter accessory is my nice warm quilt–love to cuddle up in bed under it and either read or just daydream.
{Hope you’re in a safe part of TN! Sending prayers to all those in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge!} Right now I am loving warm blankets and (mermaid) sequin decor pillows! I am enjoying following your journey 💛
I am about an hour and a half away from the fires. I’ve been watching the news non-stop and am praying for the families affected by the fires. It’s devastating and I wish there was more we can do. Our school has come together to make donations and offer whatever we can.
Hopefully the rain this week helps out and keeps it under control until they can put them out entirely.
Love your new scarf and the Christmas doormat!
I live a bit farther north than you – New Hampshire, where I’m all about spring, summer, and fall. I’ll be skipping most of winter because I’m traveling south…all the way to Key West for 2 months. I don’t do snow anymore 🙂
I’ve been blogging since 2007…you can find me at http://peggynolan.com
Happy December!
When I worked in an office we would have a Secret Santa, it was always so much fun! I’m loving that personalized door mat, it’s adorable.
I LOVE the blogging community! I never realized it existed until last year and now it’s keeping me going so much! Surprise packages are pretty amazing too 🙂
Blanket scarves are the best! They’ve been one of my faves lately too, especially as my office gets really cold. The heating in my workplace sucks, so I curl up by a space heater and wrap myself up in blanket scarves during winter!
love the blanket scarf and the blogging community it pretty great too.
Loving the scarf! It’s finally cold here. As much as I love the warmth of sunny days, it’s nice to have a change. Makes it feel like Christmas when it’s cooler.
What a beautiful doormat! I love it, I need one!
I love blogging. It’s been such a rewarding journey. 🙂
I love this! How sweet to come home to a surprise package! Every year my husband’s family does a gift exchange, so you never know (or you’re not supposed to know) who has you, so it’s always a fun surprise on Christmas morning. I love that we still do it even though half of us are scattered across the country.
I’ve been blogging since Feb 2012. I don’t do Secret Santa Exchanges but wish I could find one with friends.
We should somehow figure out a blogger gift exchange! If not this year, then next!
Blanket scarves are so on trend this year. I am a scarf hoarder.
love scarves… and I keep collecting more! One day I shall sew them all together to create a colorful circus tent
What’s your favorite winter item or accessory? – Scarves!
Do you participate in a Secret Santa exchange? – I don’t anymore, but my extended family and I participate in a mean game of White Elephant!
If you blog, how long have you been doing it and what do you blog about? (Leave your blog address. I’d love to follow along with your journey!) – Since the geocities days…. so a very long time. But this blog is about 8 years old. http://whatiruninto.com
What’s one thing you’re loving this week? – the lovely Japanese persimmons my neighbor gave me. I’m baking a cake with them!
Today was the first day I got to use a blanket scarf this year! WIN!
Scarfs are definitely essential when you live in the northern or eastern regions of the world. I do hope that you find a way to embrace and enjoy it!
I glad to see you have been blogging for so long. I have had my personal blog for less than a year(about three or four months now), and when life gets busy, it is so hard to keep up with. I do enjoy being able to write, and reading other’s thoughts. I hope one day I can run a super successful and interactive blog.
This week, I am loving that I have been able to take a few hours of each day to really focus on getting my work done, rather than leaving it all to pile up and complete at the last minute.
Love that scarf! Also, I think our family needs Elfster, I can’t wait to check it out!
Blanket scarfs are so adorable! If only Texas would start getting cold so I can start wearing mine:)
Where is that door mat from?! I LOVE it. And I’m all about blanket scarves too. They are so warm and cozy!
I think my cousin bought it from Personalization.com
I love personalized things so much! Bonus points because it’s Christmas themed!
I love the blogging community too!! And big blanket scarves!
I love that you do this weekly. It’s so important to be grateful for the things in our lives. Thanks for sharing.
Blanket scarf! That’s super comfy, it’s one of the best things in the world! Who wouldn’t love a good surprise! The blogging community is awesome!
Happy December! I’ve been blogging for 2 years now and I love it! The Blogging Community is a big reason for this! I think big cozy scarves and wool hats are my favourite Winter accessories 🙂
Ellie
http://Www.Maplesyrupandteacups.blogspot.com
These things make me happy too however; never used Elfster but, know many who do and like it. Loving scarves too 🙂
That doormat is great. I hate to have my neck cold so I have a few scarves that I use during the winter.
Hi Divya,
Happy December! Can’t believe how time flies!
Love your scarf! I live in Florida where it is always the sunshine. Therefore I never got an opportunity to buy heavy woolen stuff! I also love your personalized doormat.
Regarding your questions, I’ve been blogging for a year and a half and it has been a wonderful journey meeting so many virtual friends sharing common interests to grow with each other. My blog name is Ana’s World (www.anamikaojha.com) which is a Travel and Lifestyle blog where I share my traveling tales, adventures and everything that gives me happiness!
Cheers.
Ana
Your scarf does look so warm and cozy. Temperatures in Vietnam are still in the 90’s, so we have to miss out on cozy winter fashions. But secret gifts are perfect anywhere – especially ones that sing Love Shack.
Hope you are okay and not affected by the fires and winds.
Praying for the families that have been affected.
Love your scarf, your doormat, your Christmas tree, your blog and you the most:):)
If it gets too cold at night, do you have a center heating system or you use your own small room heaters. Try and stay indoor after the sun sets that way you can stay warm…….
No secret santa for us. We just buy gifts for family and neighborhood kids.
My favorite winter item these days are my wool slippers that I love to wear specially early in the morning.
Good night for now.
I have almost the exact same scarf! I love it!
I always love all the little packages we get this time of the year. Matter of fact I can’t wait to go shopping next week and get everything wrapped.
For my current blog http://www.thelavenderhytta.com I have been blogging for almost a year. It will be a year in March. I discuss how to live a natural lifestyle and how even the little changes can make a huge difference.
I’ve been blogging for 5 years now at http://joseyphina.wordpress.com and it’s been an amazing journey so far!
I am in love with that double-sided blanket scarf right away and that personalized doormat is something quiet amazing as I always love personalized gifts so much. Your blogging journey is amazing and I wish you more success to come!
Yes! The blogging community is such a blessing! I am incredibly thankful for it and don’t know what I’d do without it!
I’ve been loving my free time this week. It allowed me to get some work done that I’ve been putting off for a while.
Awesome list of favorite things! I like how warm blanket scarves make me feel during the entire winter! They’re my favorite accessory!
I love blogging and I’ve been blogging since 2012. Love that scarf!
Feel you on the 4-7 am productivity levels. Love the doormat!
4 to 7 am cycle if productivity is making me feel very bad.Lovely list. And I adore the blogger’s community too.
I generally prefer warm gloves or a cozy hat to a scarf. Mostly because I never really know what to do with a scarf…
As the weather gets colder, I reach for NY gloves more frequently. My hands get very colder and I need them.
As for Secret Santa, I used to join in but no more. Happy Holidays!