As we all know, Disneyland is the happiest place on Earth. But during the winter time it also becomes the merriest place on Earth! Disney has been known to add holiday elements throughout the original theme park, like all the Christmas decor, holiday themed rides, and winter treats. But not much transforms in the second theme park in Southern California, Disney's California Adventure. But this year, the holiday cheer has spread across Disney Way and into California Adventure. Not only is the park all decked out in holiday decor, like every year, there are some new additions this year. Some rides in Cars Land have a holiday makeover. Luigi's Rollickin' Roadsters became Luigi's Joy to the Whirl, and Mater's Junkyard Jamboree became Mater's Jingle Jamboree. Basically those two rides now have a holiday soundtrack rather than their usual songs. Regardless it's still really cute and festive.

Other parts of the park have also been given some holiday cheer. Grizzly Peak has some festive outdoor decorations. In the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail, you can actually meet Santa Claus himself up until Christmas Eve. Even A Bug's Land has a holiday revamp, this area is dedicated to Pixar's new movie Coco. If you haven't seen the movie yet, you can actually go to the Bug's Life Theater and watch a little sneak peak of the movie. Also for the spirit of Navidad, California Adventure has the ¡Viva Navidad! Street Party at the end of Paradise Pier. It features Donald Duck and the Three Caballeros plus some amazing live performers. In this area you can indulge in some holiday hispanic cuisine and even meet Disney's new Latina princess Elena of Avalor. Let's not forget that World of Color Season of Light has returned as well! But the big draw to California Adventure this year is the Festival of Holidays.

The Festival of Holidays is a huge celebration for not only Christmas but all holidays during this time of the year! Along the walkway from Pacific Wharf to Paradise Pier you'll find little pop up shops and boutiques that sell holiday items for each holiday, craft stations for each holiday like Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza, Diwali, and Navidad. Also during the day time, in the main viewing area for World of Color, you'll find live music, dance and holiday-inspired performances.

The main draw of the Festival of Holidays is the Festive Foods Marketplace. Alongside the boutiques and pop up shops, you'll find kiosks serving holiday food from all around the world. There's a total of twelve different kiosks with different festive foods and even some specialty drinks and cocktails. For more information about each stand, and to check out the menu, click here. My personal favorite stand was Making Spirits Bright, here you'll find wine and different flavored mimosas, you can actually get a sampler for a reasonable price! If you are a Disneyland Annual Passholder, you can purchase the Sip and Savor Pass at the AP Corner at Sonoma Terrace. For $45 you get a 2017 Festival of Holidays lanyard with eight coupons that are redeemable for non-alcoholic beverage and food items at the Festive Foods Marketplace kiosks! So if you want to try something at all the stands it's not a bad deal.

The Festival of Holidays along with the holiday decorations and attractions will be up and running until January 7. So there is still plenty of time to absorb the holiday magic even after the holidays. Also this year, Disney's California Adventure will celebrate Three Kings Day and El Día de los Reyes Magos, those celebrations will begin January 4.

If you plan on going to any of the Disney resorts during this holiday season, make sure all your social media posts include the hashtag #ShareYourEars. For every post using the hashtag, Disney will donate $5 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. If you're not planning on going to the park, you can still use the hashtag! Post some of your favorite photos with the hashtag, it's all for a good cause. You have up until Christmas Day to help Disney spread some holiday cheer!

That's all that's going on at the happiest place on Earth this holiday season. I can't wait until I'll be able to head back to enjoy some of that Disney Magic. Until then, I'll be at home prepping for the holidays. For all you who are going to be at the parks during the rest of the year, enjoy it!

Until tomorrow.

Christmas is rapidly approaching, and time is running out to get all your shopping done. This time of the year can be stressful whether that's due to financial reasons or a lack of time or not planning ahead. Needless to say once the big day comes, there's nothing we want to do more than relax.

Think of all the people who work hard all year long and never take a moment for themselves to relax. If this sounds like someone you know, and you still need to buy them something for Christmas, this gift guide was made for you! Cozy gifts are great for everyone! Who doesn't want or need to relax and unwind?

Pajamas That Give You The Warm Fuzzies! Pajamas are a perfect gift for relaxing in the holidays. Who doesn't want to be warm and fuzzy while sipping cocoa or eggnog by an open fire? Store like Old Navy and Target currently have some epic sales going on for their pajamas. Who wouldn't love some warm and fuzzy holiday themed pajamas for the end of the year?

Clouds For Your Feet. A nice pair of slippers as soft as a cloud is a perfect cozy gift. Zappos is paradise for shoe shopping. They have every possible shoe style and every well known brand out there. They have over a thousand different slippers! Odds are you're bound to find at least one pair, that your giftee will like! If slippers aren't what you're thinking of, then go with fuzzy socks instead!

Nap Kit. What's more cozy then having the perfect napping accessories? Getting a fuzzy blanket, eye mask and a soft pillow should do the trick. If you want to make it super personal, Joanns sells kits where you can build your own fleece blanket. It may take some time, but the work you put into it will be appreciated.

A Robe No-One Wants To Take Off. Nothing screams coziness like a fluffy robe. I'm not going to lie, I have a fluffy robe on my Christmas wishlist too. With the colder weather, we can't help but want to bundle up, even when we're not outside. Bed, Bath & Beyond has a great fluffy bath robe, but you can find nice robes anywhere like Target, Wal Mart, Kohls, Victoria's Secret, Nordstrom, Macys, and etc.

Relaxation Kit. When in doubt, make your own relaxation kit. You can get a box or basket and fill it up with little trinkets. Candles, bath bombs, face masks, bath products, essential oils, etc, etc, there is literally so much you can do. Plus you can find any of these items at basically any store in America. It's something easy and quick to put together.

A Good Book To Curl Up With. If someone's idea of relaxation is curling up with a good book, why not treat them to a new read? Barnes and Noble has some special offers going on at the moment, which includes 50% off select books. Picking out a book for someone else can be tricky, but if you know their general interests odds are you can find them a decent read! Let's keep our bookstores up and running!

The options are endless when it comes to picking out the perfect cozy gift. What's important to remember is to think about what would really make this person you're getting a gift for relax. Maybe they're the mani-pedi type, or maybe they're the Netflix and chill type. You know them best, so put yourself in their shoes. Good luck shopping!

Until tomorrow.

Finding the right look for a holiday party can be tricky, especially when there are holiday parties for multiple occasions. Work parties, family parties, friend parties, etc, you wouldn't wear the same exact outfit to all of these parties. Because each party has its own atmosphere and vibe.

If you're struggling to find something to wear the holiday party season, have no fear. Follow this guide to gain some outfit inspiration.

If you've been invited to a holiday Cocktail Party, this can always be the trickiest one to dress right for. Typically, cocktail parties are on the fancier side. So think of dresses or dress pants if that's your style. Whenever I think of a cocktail party, I think of those sparkly dresses that extra girls love to wear for New Years or their 21st birthday. But that's not what you should wear to a holiday cocktail party, unless it's red or green of course. But if you want something a little more simple, a little black dress (LBD) is always a timeless option. You can always dress it up and make it festive with jewelry and makeup. If dresses aren't your style, no worries. Take a nice pair of dress pants and pair it with a nice top and a blazer and you're good to go.

For the working gals out there odds are your job is going to have some sort of Office Soiree. Now if you don't work at some fancy office, don't sweat. Odds are your job will have some sort of company party or luncheon. For this, you're going to want to be festive yet professional at the same time. There's so many ways you could go. If you value comfort over trendiness, take a festive top or sweater and dress it up with some dress pants. If a sweater is your style, maybe add a collared shirt underneath to give it the preppy look. My favorite go to look is the cropped sweater and skater skirt with some tights, which I actually wore to my work's holiday party this year. If you want to be trendy and festive, look for red or green dresses. Remember to keep it simple and professional!

What does one wear to an Ugly Sweater Party? Hmmmm. Maybe an ugly sweater? Kind of obvious right? With the popularity of ugly sweaters, the options have become infinite. Not only do they make super festive sweaters that even light up, there's literally a sweater for every type of person. You can find Christmas sweaters with animals on them, funny pop culture references and even sweaters for your favorite movies and TV shows. The saying is true, you can really find anything on the internet.

If you're getting together with your group of friends for a Holiday Hang, this might be the easiest party to dress for. When you're with your friends, you're comfortable. There's really no need to overdress yourself. But you do want to make sure your look is Instagram ready. Did you really go to a holiday party if there's no post on Instagram? Smart casual is the best way to go for any sort of party with friends, unless a dress code is stated otherwise. Jeans, a cute sweater or flannel, and maybe a scarf would do the trick. If you want to be a little dressier, try a skirt with a sweater or even a nice sweater dress or casual dress. Since this is a more causal event, there's no need to go all out, unless you and your friends are that extra.

Last but certainly not least, we have the Family Party. 99% of us will most likely spend some time at some sort of family function this holiday season. Take into consideration how your family operates, are they super casual? Or is every family party like a fancy gala? Depending on the mood of your family that's how you should dress. If your family is a jean and sweater type, then stick to jeans and your favorite Christmas sweater? Or does everyone wear the best formal wear? Well good think you have that red holiday gown. No matter what remember to keep it classy and festive. Target currently has festive printed dresses which would be perfect for any family occasion.

No matter what you wear, you're going to have a great time. As long as you're with your friends, family and loved ones, it will be a great occasion. What is your go to fashion look for a holiday party? Let me know!

Until tomorrow.

Christmas is getting closer and closer, so if it hasn't been done yet, it is about time to get the Christmas Tree all decorated and ready to showcase. Not too long ago, my family and I picked out and got our tree delivered all in one day. In fact, it only took 45 minutes. I'm not even joking, I think that was a world record. On our way to our normal Christmas Tree lot, we discovered it was no longer there. Our original game plan changed so we were headed to another lot we knew of. But along the way to the other Christmas Tree lot, we discovered this new one and figured why not check it out.

Stumbling upon this Christmas Tree lot, was the best thing to happen to us. We hit the jackpot. Not only did they have standard green trees and offered flocking services, but they already had trees that were already flocked and came with a stand. At a decent price too, might I add. Within, ten minutes we had our tree picked out and paid for. They even offered to deliver the tree right now, the guy put the tree in his truck and followed us to our house. And just like that, our tree was now perfectly perched in its traditional spot.

The next day, my mom and I were hard at work decorating the tree. Normally each year, we have a specific theme for our tree. Most of the time, it's based on places we've traveled to or big life events or silly fads. My pitch was for a rose gold tree, which got denied, multiple times. But nevertheless, my mom decided on just a simple color scheme this year: pink, green, and purple. Lucky for us, over the years we've accumulated a lot of colorful ornaments, especially pink ones.

We put on the ornaments, the lights, and added lots of ribbon/bows, and voila our tree is now complete! Not too shabby, right? Personally the ribbons are my favorite, and not to mention some of the pink ornaments actually look rose gold. So in the end both my mom and I were winners.

Seeing a bunch of different Christmas Trees, always gives me inspiration for possible themes for the next couple of years. I already have a bunch of ideas! What are your go to decorating styles for your Christmas Trees? Let me know and comment below!!

Until tomorrow.

Whenever you're shopping for new lip shades, it can be a fun experience or your worst nightmare. Taking swatches of all the different colors and trying to find the one that works best for you can be messy and tedious. Especially when you're trying to find the perfect lip shade for the holidays.

The first thing any beauty expert does when picking out a new lip shade is think about what type does she want. Is it a classic lipstick, a liquid lipstick, or even a tinted lip balm? What about matte or satin? With all these options it can be hard to decide what works best for you. For most people, finding a hydrating and long lasting lip product is like finding the holy grail. Here are some of the best products and shades for this holiday season.

Red is the most popular color during the holiday season, and it's easy to see why. Throughout this time of the year, all you see is red and green. So a red lip is the most practical and the traditional holiday shade. But picking the right shade of red for your skin tone can be difficult. But luckily, Rihanna being the amazing and genius woman she is created a red liquid lipstick for all skin tones. The Fenty Beauty Stunna Lip Paint Longwear Fluid Lip Color is a long lasting (12 hours!!!) soft matte liquid lipstick. All Fenty Beauty products are all the rage at the moment and it's easy to see why! Pink may not the most popular color during the holidays, but it is a pretty popular shade year round. For some ladies, it is a signature shade so why not wear it during the holidays? The great thing about pink lip shades is that there are so many different shades of pink. From bubblegum to magenta, there is a shade of pink for everyone out there. One of the best lipsticks out there are the Wander Beauty Wanderout Lipsticks. These lipsticks have a creamy matte formula that leaves a bold and bright color on your lip that also lasts for a long period of time. When you purchase a Wanderout lipstick, they actually come in packs of two. One shade is bold while the second shade is neutral one that matches the bold one. Talk about a two for one special! Nude shades are always a year round color so it is no surprise that they are just as popular during the holiday season. Sometimes finding the right nude is a real hassle. To find the perfect nude shade, it's best to go a little bit darker than your natural lip shade. Also during the winter time, one of the biggest struggles is dealing with chapped lips. So a tinted lip balm is the best thing to use during this time of the year. It will provide a nice tint to your lips while keeping them hydrated and moisturized. For those with damaged lips during the winter time, this is the best compromise. When it comes to tinted balms, a nude shade is always the way to go. The best tinted balm out there is the Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment. There are a variety of shades that range from clear to berry. But if you're looking for the best nude one, the honey shade is a must have. Berry colored lipsticks may not seem very festive, but that’s not the case. While they are the most popular during the spookiest time of the year, they still are popular during the merriest. Why you ask? Well what’s more festive than sugarplums and the sugarplum fairy? NOTHING! Berry shades are so great because there are so many different kinds to choose from. From violet or red or even pink undertones, there’s a berry shade for everyone out there. And with Urban Decay’s Vice Lipstick, all those options are there. When I say they have almost 100 different shades and styles I’m not even joking. You can get a matte, a satin, a shimmer or even a high shine lipstick in whichever shade your heart desires. Dark colors have recently become more and more popular every single year. Once autumn comes around, all of the dark browns, burgundies, wine and other deep shades become instantly popular. These colors stay around until the end of winter. All these dark lipsticks scream maturity and strength. Kat Von D’s Everlasting Liquid Lipstick is one of the best liquid lipstick brands out there. All her shades are very pigmented and bold no mater what shade. So can you imagine how great her dark lipsticks will look on your lips? Bold shades have become all the rage lately. From electric blues to space grays, these bold colors only have one thing to say. Whoever is rocking them is one bad bitch. Bold shades are hard to pull off and anyone who can rock them confidently is a badass in my book. While there are a lot of brands out there who make bold shades, the most intriguing ones out there are the Glitter Flip liquid lipsticks by Ciaté London. These liquid lipsticks have seven different shades, a couple are tame but the rest are bolder colors. However, those tame shades are not boring whatsoever. Each lipstick, no matter what shade, is infused with glitter which gives it a metallic tone. What’s bolder than that? Holiday Limited Edition lipsticks always come out every year, but none have been as popular as Too Faced’s Melted Matte Liquified Matte Long Wear Lipstick from the Holiday Kiss Collection. This lipstick is sold out in just about every single Sephora on the planet and online as well. Why you ask? Well besides the gorgeous red/brown color and long lasting formula, what really makes this lipstick special is that it legit smells and tastes like gingerbread. After trying this out, I really can’t think of another lipstick that is more perfect for the holiday season.

Finding the right lip shade no matter what time of the year or occasion is always difficult and tricky. Always remember to always put your style and aesthetic first. What may be the most popular trend at the moment may not always work, and it’s important to make sure you feel confident and comfortable in your own skin. No matter what you decide, you’re going to slay this season.

Right now, my go to lip shades for the holidays will either be a red or that Too Faced Gingerbread lipstick, if I can get my hands on it! What are your go to shades this year?

Until tomorrow.

During the holiday season, everyone is on the go. People are going home for the holidays to spend time with their loved ones. Others go on winter vacations while they have the time off. Needless to say, getting where you need to go can be a complete nightmare. Back in November traveling for the Thanksgiving holiday was heinous especially in Southern California. Traffic was backed up on all the freeways and lines at LAX were out the door. Needless to say, it was pretty much the same throughout the United States. Most likely, it will only get worse with the upcoming holidays.

With Christmas and New Years rapidly approaching, it’s safe to say more and more people are going to be on the go. In order to survive the chaos and make sure you get to your destination without any hassle follow these tips for stress free traveling during the busiest time of the year.

Pack What You Need. Some experts advise travelers to pack light and only bring a carry on to avoid the long lines for checking a bag. But sometimes that doesn’t always work out. Most of the time, the influx of carry on items makes security lines even longer and there is never enough air bin space available. At LAX, some TSA agents will not let you bring bigger “carry on” luggage through the line and will make you go check it anyways. If you know you can’t fit everything in a tiny carry on bag, then do not force it. Do what works best for you and your travel needs.

Don’t Wait Until The Last Minute. Get everything you need all together at least the day before you leave. The more time you have to pack your bags and wrap up presents, the less stuff you’re likely to forget. Make a list of everything you need at least week before so you give yourself enough time to get everything together. If you need to add more items to your list, you have plenty of time to think as you go. This will relieve some of the travel day stress, and make your journey easier on you.

Dress For Comfort. When you’re going to be traveling for a long period of time, dressing for comfort rather than style is the best case scenario. Wearing something tight and uncomfortable while you’re traveling is only just going to make getting to your destination more miserable. Wearing stretchy material will make you feel more relaxed during a stressful period of time. If you want to be extra comfortable during your travels bring a blanket and pillow so you can reach the ultimate comfort level.

Be Prepared. No matter how long or short your travel time may be it’s always best to be prepared for any possible scenario. According to Murphy’s Law, anything that can go wrong will go wrong. You never know if your flight will get delayed or even cancelled. There could also be a major traffic accident, you never know. It’s best to be prepared for any possible outcome. Sometimes all you can do is make the best out of the situation. Make sure you bring a snack or get food for your journey so you don’t get hangry. Also remember to charge all your devices for your journey and download all the necessary apps and movies/shows before you leave! Finding an outlet at the airport will be a mission especially with all the extra amount of people traveling. If you’re driving or plan on getting a rental car make sure your car charger is coming with you! With any delays or getting their early, you’ll have a decent amount of time just waiting and hanging around so bring a book or magazine to occupy your time.

Check Traffic Before You Leave. With today’s technology fighting traffic and avoiding it in anyway possible is actually a reality. Apps like Google Maps and Waze help drivers get to where they need to go on the quickest route possible. Waze even has the option to plan ahead for your drive. All you have to do is put in the time you want to arrive and Waze will let you know what time you need to leave.

Be Early. Especially if you’re flying, you’ll want to get to the airport as early as you possibly can for your flight. Lines for checking in and security are going to be long no matter what so it’s best to have more time rather than less. If you can, check in for your flight online to save time, most airlines let you check in online twenty four hours before your flight departs. But if you’re checking in a bag, you’re going to have to check in again in order to get your baggage tags so it might be pointless to check in twice. If you don’t want to have to get to the airport super early and don’t want to wait in the super long lines, invest in TSA Precheck, an expedited screening that has a way shorter security line.

Relax! The only way to successfully get through traveling during the holiday season is just to relax. Take every moment as they come, and control your emotions and stress. Look around at the holiday decorations at the airport and on the road. Don’t be mad if things don’t follow though exactly how you planned. Take a deep breath. Sometimes things are just out of your control and there’s nothing you can do. Just remember where you’re going and why you’re headed there. Every little obstacle will be worth it once you get to your final destination.

This is the busiest travel time of the year so keep in mind you’re not the only one headed somewhere important during this holiday season. If you follow these tips, you’ll survive holiday season traveling this year. Make the best out of the situation and do the best you can to try to make it enjoyable.

Safe travels to you all this holiday season!

Until tomorrow

Shopping for the beauty lover in your life is easier said than done. Every single department store or beauty retailer has an endless amount of options. And for someone who is clueless about the beauty world, it can be overwhelming to attempt to find the perfect gift. But today we're going to break down all the different types of potential gifts and which is the best to get based on what your beauty expert will love most.

For the one with the Popping Highlight there are several go to brands that are known for their glow. Right now, the Anastasia Beverly Hills glow kits are a hot ticket item. Also if you can find Rihanna's Fenty Beauty Killawatt Highlighter in stock at Sephora, your beauty lover will love you forever for being able to snag it. For something a little more basic and classic, you can't go wrong with the Becca Après Ski Glow Face Palette. If you have no idea what brand your beauty guru loves best, then the Sephora Glow For It gift set is your best bet and a pretty affordable option. For $40 you get a sampler set of the best selling and most popular highlighters.

For the one who is Palette Obsessed, picking the right one can be difficult because of all the options. The Naked Palette by Urban Decay is the perfect starter eyeshadow palette. If your beauty guru is obsessed with beauty influencers then the Morphe Jaclyn Hill Eyeshadow Palette collaboration is a good go to. If your beauty expert isn't easily swayed by influencers then any of Morphe's palettes will get the job done. Right now, everyone is obsessed with the Huda Beauty palettes from Sephora, so snag one if you can. But honestly, there really isn't a bad palette out there. Brands like Tarte, Too Faced, Anastasia Beverly Hills, and other A List beauty brands all make killer palettes.

For the one who is the Lipstick Queen, you can go one of two ways. 1. Get the lip gift set with every color in the crayon box or 2. Stick to one shade and get a gift set that has a variation of the same shade. If your beauty expert has one go to shade she adores, stick with that. Sephora currently has gift sets that will focus on one standard shade type, like nude or bold. Each of those gift sets have several different lipsticks from different brands all in a similar shade. However, if your beauty guru wants something new, NYX offers several different gift sets featuring almost every single color of the rainbow at an affordable price. My personal favorite is the Lippie Countdown Advent Calendar, it's a festive and fun treat for the holiday season.

For the one who needs to Relax and Unwind, you can't go wrong with bath bombs, face masks, or any kind of bath product. Bath & Body Shop gift sets have always been popular, but even more now Lush has taken over the game. They have great gift sets already wrapped and ready to go! If you're looking for face masks, Sephora also carries a gift set filled with their most popular masks that work for all skin types. If you want something more high end, Glam Glow also has a great skincare gift set.

For the one who creates Nail Masterpieces, almost every department store and beauty retailer has nail polish gift sets. The most popular gift set at the moment is the Love OPI XOXO miniature gift set from Ulta and it has a variety of colors and it is a limited edition set specifically made with the holidays in mind. But another great nail polish brand is Ciate London, they currently have a winter gift set as well. It contains festive and sparkly nail polish!

No matter what you decide to do for your beauty enthusiast, as long as you put some thought and effort into it they will appreciate you no matter what. Plus if you're still having some trouble just ask for assistance at your local beauty retailer. They're there to help make your shopping experience easier and help you pick out the perfect gift.

Are there any beauty products you're dying for this holiday season? Personally, I could use some new bath bombs. Comment below!

Until tomorrow.

Participating in a Secret Santa gift exchange can be a really fun holiday experience. Some families draw names to make the whole gift exchanging experience easier. Or maybe your work is putting on a Secret Santa gift exchange to lift up some holiday cheer. Sometimes even groups of friends will put on a Secret Santa for fun. Either way, it's supposed to be a fun experience but that doesn't mean that it can't be stressful.

There's always a chance you could pick the name of the person you know like the back of your hand, but if you're not so lucky (like myself) you'll pick the name of someone you don't know very well. Last year (and even this year) for my job's Secret Santa I picked someone that I hardly knew at all. But luckily, someone in the office came up with a genius idea to put together a Google Doc where we all could share our likes and interests. For me, this was a huge help! Since I knew nothing about my person, I was able to look at her likes and put together a decent gift for her.

But sometimes you don't get a crutch like a document filled with gift ideas made by your person, even though that's a really good idea. So for those of you struggling to figure out what to get your Secret Santa this year have no fear. Here is what you can do to be the best Secret Santa:

Think About Your Person. This may be an obvious tip but it truly is the best place to start. Close your eyes, picture the person. What's their style like? When you think about them what are they doing? Do you and this person have a memory or a significant event where you two bonded? Little questions like this can help you figure out the core personality of your person which could lead to an amazing gift!

Check Out Their Social Media. This may make you feel like a stalker, but if you do not know anything about your person and have zero clues about who they are this will help a lot. Just by going to their Facebook page you can literally look at pages they've liked and maybe even shared. The same goes with Twitter and Instagram, you can see what they've posted about or even check out other posts they have liked. Sometimes even checking to see what kind of accounts they follow can help you narrow down your search.

Gather Some Intel. Now you don't need to be a spy to complete this task. All you need to do is figure out who knows your person best and ask them for some advice or if they have any suggestions. Or if you're feeling really brave, you can casually talk to your person and try to get to know them a little better. Just be careful and don't let them figure out you're their Secret Santa! If you start eating lunch with them everyday and are constantly playing twenty questions they will definitely figure it out.

Make A List. When you write something down it can help you visualize and think clearly, especially if you are completely stuck. Take the time to gather what you know and write it all down. This will help you come up with some possible gift ideas. Maybe you can even narrow it down to the actual gift!

Stay In Budget. This may be an obvious tip, but remember to always keep to the set budget. Even if you get your best friend, you may want to spend an excess amount because you really care about that person. But it is important to keep in mind about everyone's feelings. Also don't be that person who spends less than half of the amount. If finance is a huge issue for you, you can always opt out. No one will judge you for not participating. As long as you play fair and stay in the budget it will be a great time!

If You're Still Stuck It's Okay To Be Generic. Sometimes there are people who are just difficult to figure out what they could possibly want or even need. And that's okay, because they probably don't know what they want either. In these circumstances a gift card is probably your best bet, and that's perfectly fine. Whether it's for their favorite restaurant, store, coffee shop or even the movie theater, that could be the most practical gift and it will be appreciated.

When in Doubt Listen To Your Gut. If you're unsure or not positive that your person will like what you've picked out, don't stress over it. If something called out to you, trust your instinct. It called out to you for a reason. As long as you do your best and put some thought into it, your person will appreciate the time and effort you put into their gift. If they complain and say you're the worst Secret Santa ever then that's their problem, not yours.

The point of Secret Santa is to have fun! If you received someone you don't know very well don't dread it, look at it as an opportunity to get to know them a little bit better. Be sure not to give any of the secrets away, the whole point of Secret Santa is that it is supposed to be a mystery! It starts to lose the magic once everyone knows who has who. Don't stress, and remember to have fun! And as long as you follow these suggestions, you will slay your Secret Santa gift exchange this year!

Now you tell me, are you participating in a Secret Santa this year? Do you have any tips and suggestions you want to share? Comment below!

Until tomorrow!

One of the best parts of the holiday season is when all the tv channels start playing all their Christmas themed movies, tv show specials, and who could forget the holiday classics that always air around this time of the year. In fact, Freeform (formerly known as ABC Family #NeverForget) has one of the best lineups during this month. Every year starting on December 1, Freeform begins their 25 Days of Christmas programming. Every day until Christmas Day you will find nothing but holiday movies and specials on this channel. Sometimes they play other movies during this time like Pixar or Harry Potter movies, but the majority of the content is Christmas/Holiday related.

This banner shows what the main attractions are for each night. But have no fear, you don't have to wait for the evening to catch the movies. In fact, Freeform starts playing Christmas movies and specials around 7AM each day and continues to play them until midnight every day. You can check Freeform's daily schedule and even their upcoming daily schedules online. If you do not have access to Freeform on your television, they do offer an app you can download or you can go to their website and watch live from there. However you do need to have a TV provider login or an account with an online streaming cable service to be able to access it.

Throughout the holiday season you can watch classic movies like The Santa Clause, Elf, Christmas Vacation, The Polar Express and many more on Freeform. But Freeform also shows their own holiday specials and movies. You can watch previous ones like The Mistle-Tones, Holiday in Handcuffs, Holidaze, Snow, Christmas Cupid and many more. Are these movies the best? No. But if you need a laugh and are in the mood to watch a cheesy holiday themed movie that has a little romance to it, these will get the job done. This year, Freeform introduced a new original holiday movie called Angry Angel starring Brenda Song and Jason Biggs. I for one am really excited to watch this movie, it looks funny and sassy!

Speaking of new movies and premieres on Freeform, this year there is a new addition to the movie lineup for the 25 Days of Christmas. This year, you'll be able to watch the holiday comedy Christmas with the Kranks. It will debut two weeks from today on Saturday, December 16 in the evening after Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas.

Freeform will also show some Disney Parks holiday specials. The first one to air will be the Disney Fairy Tale Weddings reality show that will be all about winter and holiday weddings. So if that's something you're into, check that out on Monday, December 11. For me, weddings are the last thing on my mind during this time of the year. The second special to air is something for all the Disney and Disneyland lovers out there. This one is called Decorating Disney: Holiday Magic, if you ever wondered what goes on when decorating the parks during the holiday season this is going to be the special you want to watch, and this will air on Monday, December 18.

This is Freeform's 21st year putting on the 25 Days of Christmas, so if you haven't tuned in yet, what are you waiting for?! Turn on your TV right now and put it on Freeform and catch a movie to get you in the holiday spirit!

So tell me, what movie are you looking forward to watching this holiday season? For me, it definitely has to be Elf. Until tomorrow

Sometimes during the holiday season, you just need to treat yourself. Most likely, there will be amazing sales anywhere you go! It's going to be really tempting, so if you find something you like for a great price why miss out? Nothing is worse than feeling like you missed out, especially if it's something you've been eyeing for quite some time. Plus we all have that one store that always has something we want or need. For me, that store is LOFT.

For those of you that do not know about LOFT, it is a magical and heavenly store that sells clothes and accessories that you can wear at home or even at your workplace. Basically, they have all kinds of wonderful things! LOFT is part of the Ann Taylor family, however it is the lower-priced and more casual young sister of Ann Taylor. Basically, LOFT is a store for the stylish and professional fashionista.

But anyways, the real reason why I got to do a little shopping at LOFT was because my Mom got some LOFT cash when she went shopping there last month. To simplify it, LOFT cash is basically a coupon rebate. Sometimes LOFT will have different weeks throughout the year where they will give out LOFT cash. Most of the time, you have to spend $50 to get $25 LOFT cash. Normally you get almost a month to earn these coupon rebates and then once that earning period is over you have a week to spend whatever LOFT cash you earned. So anyways, my Mom went shopping during the earning week and was kind enough to let me use her LOFT cash during the redeem period. So here are a few of the things I got:

Right now, flannel and plaid anything is all the rage. Which makes sense, because the print is cute and most of the time it will keep you warm. So at LOFT, I purchased two plaid items: a plaid infinity scarf, which is pictured, and a lightweight plaid tunic which sadly is not pictured.

The plaid infinity scarf is literally the warmest and softest scarf I have ever touched. It's so comfortable and easy to wear. Plus, what's really cool about this scarf is that it has a different print on each side of the fabric. The front is a blue and green plaid while the back is a black and white houndstooth. So it's basically a reversible scarf! You can mix and match the patterns and surprisingly they go well together, they do not clash one bit. The plaid tunic is a thin long sleeve shirt. The shirt is a lightweight blouse with 3/4 sleeves and is a little on the long side.

The last shirt is a black sleeveless peplum top. In the picture it looks brown but it is definitely black. This shirt is on the short side because it is a petite top. One of the great things about LOFT is that they do sell petite clothing, so to my fellow short people you can find great quality and reasonably priced clothing that does fit true to size.

Last but certainly not least, I got the one item I was lusting over. That's right. It's a unicorn sweater. They physically did not carry it in the store closet to me. So I had to order it online. I'm always a sucker for a good sweater. But what is the real selling point is the unicorn, aka the greatest animal of all time. The sweater fits well and while also being really comfortable and cozy.

LOFT is one of my favorite stores and whenever I go there, I have no problem finding something I like. All their clothes and accessories are great quality and are worth the price you pay. Check out their website, most of their winter items, like sweaters, outerwear, and accessories are 50% off! Now, you tell me, what is your go to clothing store? Or what store can you always find something you either really want or need?

Get out there and treat yourself!

Until tomorrow.

Living in a place where winter means 60 degrees is cold, it's safe to say that cold weather is not my speciality.

So having to travel to a place where winter actually exists can be a little challenging. Especially when there are so many restrictions when it comes to traveling nowadays. The best thing to do when you travel is to pack as light as you can. The less stuff you have to drag around, the better!

Here are some of the tips and tricks I've learned when it comes to packing light, especially for colder weather:

Bulky sweaters are always a great go to when it comes to cold weather. However, when you're trying to pack they're not so great. They may keep you warm but they take up so much room in your suitcase. If you have space for bulky sweaters, pack as many as you can! But, if your space is limited take less big sweaters and pack more tops that can be used as layers. With a variety of options you'll be able to mix and match to create a new look each day. Also don't forget your accessories! Hats, gloves, and scarves will freshen up your look. Plus it's easier to pack more smaller accessories rather than bringing extra tops and sweaters.

When it comes to pants, there's not much you can do to keep warm. Sure you can wear leggings or tights underneath but doubling up on pants is not comfortable. Jeans will always be your best bet! Also, the best thing to do is to pack socks that you know will keep your feet and legs warm. Pro tip: knee high socks will be a life saver and keep your legs super warm. And for shoes, your best bet will be boots. Whether it's combat boots or UGG boots, you want something that will keep your feet warm.

But the most important thing to remember when you're packing for colder weather is to not pack your heaviest and bulkiest items. Instead, you will want to wear them or carry them while you travel. This works best especially when it comes to bringing a coat. Plus you will only need one coat, so that will save a lot of room in your suitcase, especially if you wear or carry it.

The best thing to do when you're packing is to always be prepared. Make a list of everything you want to bring and especially what you will need to bring. If you're really concerned about space in your suitcase, invest in packing cubes! They'll help you organize your suitcase and all of your items.

So there you have it, that's my quick little guide and a couple of tips for packing for colder weather. What are some tricks you have up your sleeve when you pack for a trip?

Until tomorrow.

Something that every person from Southern California knows is that we're completely spoiled. California is the greatest place to live, and that's mainly because we have the best weather in the world. No one can fight us on this. Sure it does not rain or snow a lot and we're constantly in a drought, but hey you win some and you lose some.

California in the the winter is like everywhere else in the fall or towards the end of it. The temperature is a high of 70 degrees and depending on the day it can get as low as the 50s, and on very rare occasions it can get down to the 40s. The only thing is that during the winter, that is when California is supposed to get its rain.

So if we don't get snow or a lot of rain, what do us native Californians do in the winter for fun? Well, there's lots of things to do that are special to California and there are some normal winter activities we participate in.

Just because we live in California, that does not always mean we haven't seen snow. In fact, we have plenty of snow towns that are a couple of hours away. Lots of people will travel to these towns for a weekend getaway. See, us Southern Californians are smart. Instead of living in the snow, we travel to it. One of the most popular getaways in Southern California is a trip to Big Bear. Big Bear is a cute mountain town with several ski and snowboarding resorts. But for a further trip there are other ski resort towns up in Northern California like Lake Tahoe and Mammoth Mountain.

Plus if we really want to stay local but still see snow, plenty of theme parks will re-create that snow feeling. Disneyland will create snow for their holiday firework show and Knotts Berry Farm has holiday music and falling snow on Ghost Town’s Main Street. However, you won't find any snow at Universal Studios but you will see The Grinch and rest of the residents from Whoville.

The same goes with the outdoor seasonal ice rinks. Every major city has their fancy outdoor ice skating rink but what's so cool about California's outdoor ice skating rinks is that you get to skate under the sunshine with some gorgeous almost summer like weather. What could get better than that?

One of the best things to do in the winter in California is to go whale watching. During this time gray whales are migrating from Alaska and are heading south to Mexico. They migrate to Mexico in the early winter and return to Alaska in February and March. Lots of coastal cities offer boat tours for whale watching. They'll take you out so you can watch the whales swim by.

Since we're already on the topic of the ocean, why not take a trip down to beach? Sure it may be a little cool with the ocean breeze and the water will be freezing, but there's nothing like sitting on the beach with a blanket and a comfy sweatshirt. Plus you can always have a bonfire!

As you can see, California has it all. We don't get to miss out on winter, instead we have things that make winter even better. Have you ever seen a palm tree with Christmas lights on it? It's pretty cool. California has everything you want and need. I might be a little biased when I say this but California really is the best state. Now you tell me, what's winter time like where you're from?

Until tomorrow.

Even though it officially hasn't been winter until today, December 22, 2015, it sure has felt like it. The sun has barely been out and shining and the nightfall comes a lot quicker. It's crazy how the sun sets around 5pm each evening.

But today we have the shortest day of the year, the winter solstice! The winter solstice marks the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and it also marks the longest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere. But this year the winter solstice actually started on Monday at 11:48 p.m. EST. So technically, winter started yesterday here in the USA.

The winter solstice occurs because as we all learned in school, the Earth rotates on its axis which means it is tilted. So when the Earth rotates around the sun we experience seasons thanks to the tilt. Each hemisphere experiences winter when it is tilted away from the sun and summer when it is tilted towards the sun.

So this leads us to a very fair question. Why is the Earth tilted? Scientists do not know for sure, but they hypothesize that the Earth is tilted because of collisions during the formation of the solar system billions of years ago. So what I've learned was that seasons are a complete accident. Yikes.

But anyways, in the winter time we experience limited sunlight. We already got a sneak peak of what these days will be like. On average, according to the International Business Times the United States gets between 8 1/2 hours to 10 1/2 hours of daylight per day. While poor little Alaska has less than four hours of daylight per day.

But since winter is officially and finally here, we know that spring is on the way! So enjoy your hot cocoa and snuggling with the blankets while watching Netflix while you can. And if you get snow, enjoy it for a bit then complain, because not everyone gets to experience snow. But while you're busy shoveling all your snow, I'll be at the beach. So I guess you win some and you lose some. Enjoy the winter and holiday season, it won't be around for much longer! I hope you enjoyed this little science lesson and until tomorrow.