Las Vegas, also known as Sin City, is home to all your favorite vices: drinking, gambling, smoking, clubbing, and etc. But what most people do not know is that Las Vegas has so much more to offer! There are a bunch of other fun activities and sights to see in the city of sin. Here are some of the best things to do and see while in Las Vegas.

Shopping! Las Vegas actually has some of the best shopping experiences. On the strip, several hotels contain malls and various amount of luxury shopping opportunities. Caesar's Palace has the Forum Shops which includes popular retail shops like H&M (which is actually the largest in the world), Victoria's Secret, Sephora, and etc. The Forum Shops also has almost every high end luxury retailer you can dream of, like Fendi, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and many more. While Planet Hollywood has the Miracle Mile, which is filled with 200 different shops and restaurants. Also in Las Vegas, there are two outlet malls nearby, the South Premium Outlets and the North Premium Outlets. Both are very similar, however, the North Premium Outlets have more luxury stores like Burberry, BCBG, DVF, Tory Burch and more. While the South Premium Outlets have your standard shops like Kate Spade, Coach, Gap, Nike, and more.

Sightsee! Las Vegas is one of the very few cities where the points of interests are the hotels themselves. The extravagantly themed hotels have a lot of things for tourists to see and do. The Flamingo has the flamingo and bird habitat, the Venetian has the canals, the New York, New York has its Roller Coaster, the Paris has the Eiffel Tower, just to name a few. But each hotel has an attraction that makes them standout. Take a walk down The Strip and see all the hotels, especially when they are all lit up at night, it's such a glorious sight. If you're feeling very adventurous, make your way down to the iconic Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Sign which is at the southern end of the Strip. There's not much around it, but it is a great photo spot!

Take Advantage of the Free Entertainment! If you want to catch some free entertainment plenty of hotels offer free little shows throughout the day. Some of the best complimentary hotel shows are: the Bellagio's spectacular fountain show, the circus performers at the Circus Circus, the Fall of Atlantis at Caesar's Palace, or even the Volcano at The Mirage. These shows are no longer than five minutes and are just some quick things to do and see. But if you have a little more time to spare and you're a huge TV fan, check out Television City at MGM Grand. It h is a television research center where you can sign up to test watch a TV pilot for some upcoming TV shows. All you have to do is watch the pilot they provide and complete a survey. It's fun and free activity to do! Plus they give you a little coupon book at the end as a thank you gift.

Chill By The Pool! During the summer time, Las Vegas can get scorching hot. Now while all the hotels are air conditioned, one of the best ways to stay cool is to relax by the pool. Some of the hotels in Vegas are known especially for their amazing pools. The Go Pool at the Flamingo has a big party atmosphere, but getting to relax in one of their Flamingo inner tubes is a real game changer. However, if that's not your scene the Flamingo has several other family pools filled with waterslides and lagoons. But hotels like Wynn Encore, the Mirage, MGM Grand, the Cosmopolitan, the Hard Rock Hotel and The Cromwell have some of the best and exclusive pool parties. But based on pools alone, Mandalay Bay has the best pool options out of all the other hotels. It's not even a pool. It's an actual beach filled with sand, a wave pool, and even a lazy river. At Mandalay Bay's beach it feels like you've been transported out of the Nevada desert and into a tropical paradise.

Be A Foodie! Las Vegas is home to buffets and five star restaurants. Getting a good meal in Las Vegas is never a problem. Chefs like Gordon Ramsay, Bobby Flay, and Guy Savoy are some of the many famous celebrity chefs with their own restaurants in Sin City. But if exquisite dining is not your style or out of your price range, don't worry there are plenty of other affordable places to catch a bite to eat. Las Vegas is also home to some restaurants that can be hard to find based on where you live like Wahlburgers, In N Out or Shake Shack. If you want to get the full Las Vegas experience, then a buffet from is your best bet! Some buffets can be ridiculously overpriced, so do some research before and pick what works best for you!

Grab A Drink! If you are above the age of 21 and you didn't get an alcoholic beverage in Sin City, were you even there? Las Vegas is known for its cocktails. Each hotel bar and restaurant has their own signature and special cocktail. What's most popular is getting the frozen yard drinks from places like Fat Tuesday, which indeed are very delicious.

Catch A Show! Las Vegas may be known for all its hotels and casinos, but it is also known as the Live Entertainment Capital of the World. If you're all about the theatre and big productions check out some of the musicals that are currently running or a famous/classic Las Vegas production, like the Blue Man Group or a Cirque du Soleil show. Or check out a magic show, you are in Vegas! Penn & Teller, David Copperfield, and Criss Angel are some of the many magicians that have residencies in Las Vegas. However, one of the most popular things to do is see a Las Vegas headliner show/concert. Tons of performers like Britney Spears, the Backstreet Boys, Jennifer Lopez, Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, and many more stars have residency shows in Vegas that perform almost daily.

Test Your Luck At The Casinos! One of the biggest draws to Las Vegas is the gambling. Every hotel has their own casino, and even the airport has their fair share of slot machines. In every hotel you'll find card tables, slot machines, live bingo and keno, and even sports books. Any way you want to gamble, there's definitely a way in Las Vegas. So if you're in Sin City, why not give it at try? Who knows, there's always some beginner's luck there!

If you're still having a hard time deciding what to do in the city of sin, have no fear. Websites like Groupon offer a variety of experiences at low prices. You can find just about any activity, tour, or even event tickets at a discounted rate. Especially in Las Vegas, Groupon offers some amazing experiences like tours to the Hoover Dam or Grand Canyon, club crawls, and even thrilling experiences like zip lining and ATV riding!

From the gambling and nightlife scenes to the extravagant shows and picturesque views, Las Vegas has a lot to offer those who visit this infamous city. With a city that has so much to offer, you'll have a fun and exciting time no matter what you decide to do.

Until next time.

An investment in a beauty subscription is the best way for beauty enthusiasts and newbies to get try new products before fully committing to purchasing the full size version of a product. It's a great way to save money while keeping up with the latest beauty trends. One of the best subscription boxes out there is Play! by Sephora.

For those of you who have never heard of Play! by Sephora, it is beauty subscription service that includes five samples from high end brands that you know and love from Sephora as well as a bonus fragrance sample. So for $10 a month you get six samples plus some other perks from Sephora, like 50 bonus Beauty Insider Points and a free one-on-one tutorial with a Sephora Beauty Expert. Not a bad deal right?

Now that you know all about Sephora's Play! Box, let's get to the good stuff. The boxes themselves and the samples inside! let's go all the way back to December 2016, and see what we got!

The main emphasis of the December Play! Box was on the products you would absolutely need to look your best for a fancy night out and end the year right. In the December Play! Box were the following samples:

• Elizabeth and James Nirvana Bourbon Eau de Parfum
• Drybar Bay Breeze Hydrating Shot
• Make Up For Ever Step 1 Skin Equalizer Primer
• Bobbi Brown Smokey Eye Mascara
• Sephora Collection Cream Lip Stain in Always Red
• Urban Decay All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray

When it comes to fragrances, I'm a sucker for scents that are either very sweet or floral. So when I saw the sample from the Olsen twins brand: Elizabeth and James, I was intrigued. I have heard a lot of good things about the Nirvana Bourbon Eau de Parfum, and I was impressed. It has a very sweet yet musky smell. The blend of vanilla bourbon and spice wood with a little pinch of a floral scent makes an interesting and edgy combination.

Drybar is known for their high end and luxurious products that gives any woman salon quality hair every time. Drybar has been on my Must Try list for years, so when I saw the Drybar Bay Breeze Hydrating Shot in my Play! Box, I was stoked. But sadly, my hopes were just way too high. The Bay Breeze Hydrating Shot is to be used after shampooing and it is suggested to use the entire bottle in one sitting. Which makes sense, because there is not enough spray in the bottle to use again. In fact, there's barely enough to use one time, especially if you have long and/or thick hair. The spray is also nothing like a spray, instead it is really creamy and it gets clogged in the applicator very easily. Plus, the creamy spray is really hard to spread throughout your hair, you literally need to spray it everywhere, if you can. Once you wash it out, your hair will feel rough for a bit bit it will get softer once it dries.

For any makeup enthusiast, primer is absolute must have product. But finding a primer that makes your makeup long lasting and soothe your face can be difficult to find. However, Make Up For Ever's Step 1 Skin Equalizer Primer can do both very well. The primer's formula does a great job of balancing the texture of the skin by making it really smooth. Sine the formula spreads so well, you do not need to use a lot at one time. Take a little bit of primer and massage it onto to your face and your skin and will feel very hydrated and super soft. After that, apply your favorite foundation or tinted moisturizer with no fear since the Make Up For Ever Step 1 Skin Equalizer Primer will support and strengthen it all day.

Finding an amazing mascara that can lengthen and thicken your lashes is similar to finding a needle in a haystack, extremely rare and can take a good amount of time to find. However, the Bobbi Brown Smokey Eye Mascara comes pretty close to perfection. Even though it doesn't add a lot of length to your lashes, it does a great job defining your lashes while providing a creamy coat that does not clump or smudge even after coating your lashes multiple times.

Right now liquid lipsticks are all the rage. Celebrities like Kylie Jenner and Jeffrey Star have their own liquid lipstick brands that cost a lot of money and are constantly sold out. However beauty lovers are still obsessed with their products which in all honesty are not the best quality. But luckily, other brands like Sephora have created great quality liquid lipsticks at an affordable price. The Sephora Collection Cream Lip Stain comes in every shade you could think or dream about. The consistency of the lip stain is very creamy and spreads very well, a little will go a long way. Plus it dries super fast so there are no worries about it smudging or fading away. The lip stain is hydrating and lasts all day. The shade Always Red is a classic bold and bright red, which every lady truly needs.

Whether you wear your make up for ten minutes or ten hours, setting spray is a must have! No one wants their makeup to smudge or fade right away, that's why setting spray was invented. A spray for your face that keeps your makeup in tact, that's genius. The Urban Decay All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray is by far the best setting spray out there. Some setting sprays make you feel like you're spraying yourself with a water bottle, but Urban Decay's setting spray is a gentle mist that soothes your face and keeps your makeup in tact for a long period of time. The one and only problem with the setting spray is with the applicator. The button will occasionally get stuck, which makes it hard to spray. But other than that, this spray is absolutely magic.

The December Play! Box was full of amazing must have products for not only a night out on the town but for daily life. Whether it was for an office holiday party, a New Year soiree, or ringing in the New Year on the couch, these products had you covered. I'd give this box 4/5 stars. The real gems of the box were the Sephora Collection Cream Lip Stain in Always Red and Urban Decay All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray, while the biggest disappointment was the Drybar Bay Breeze Hydrating Shot. Now, let's see what January had to offer!

The January Play! Box really started the New Year off right. It contained products that were essential to giving your look a fresh feeling and brand new start. It really took the idea of new year, new you to a whole new level. In the January Play! Box were the following samples:

• Tory Burch Love Relentlessly Eau de Parfum
• Ouai Treatment Masque
• Drunk Elephant Lala Retro™ Whipped Cream
• Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey
• Tarte FRXXXTION Stick Exfoliating Cleanser
• IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better™ CC+™ Cream with SPF 50+

Romantic scents and fragrances are different for everyone, what could be romantic and sultry to one person could have the opposite effect on another. But when it comes to the Tory Burch Love Relentlessly Eau de Parfum it truly is the definition of romance, but not for the reason you're thinking. This scent is actually based off of the love story of Tory Burch's parents. Burch's father would write love notes to her mother and have them published in their local paper. The notes were signed Love, Relentless, and it was a secret for the two of them to share. Just the story alone is romantic. But when you smell the sweetness of the floral perfume, it honestly does smell like love. When you smell Love Relentlessly it feels like you're falling in love.

Whenever your hair needs a little pick me up, a good deep conditioner or hair mask always does the trick. I'm a big fan of hair masks so I was excited to try the Ouai Treatment Masque! The mask itself smells really good, and that nice fresh smell transfers right to you hair while making it silky and smooth. If you have damaged hair, this mask will be your best friend because it really does revitalize and strengthen your hair. The only problem with the hair mask is that you do not get enough, especially in the sample size. My half ounce bottle was not enough and I really wanted and needed more!

If you want to try out an award winning moisturizer, then you need to check out the Drunk Elephant Lala Retro™ Whipped Cream. In 2016, it won the Allure Best of Beauty award and it is easy to see why! The cream is extremely hydrating and moisturizing, it's perfect for dry and fine skin. Plus it smells really good! What's also so great about the brand, Drunk Elephant is that they are a cruelty free brand that supports the International Elephant Foundation. A great quality product from a great quality brand, can you ask for anything better?

If you're looking for a lipstick that gives no color or tint to your lips then Clinique's "Almost Lipstick" is what you're looking for. In all honesty, "almost lipstick" is just a clever name to give to a sheer lipstick. But really, who would honestly buy a sheer lipstick? Isn't the point of lipstick to add some color to your lips? The only thing the Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey has going for it is that it is hydrating and moisturizing. This product is basically an overpriced "tinted" balm.

Most face washes or cleansers are not necessarily very travel friendly or convenient to use. They can be bulky or even leak through the top lid. I can't tell you how many times I have had some of my beauty products leak all over my toiletry bag while traveling. It is an annoying circumstance to say the least. So when I find products that are perfect for traveling, I get excited. My latest discovery came from this Play! Box, the Tarte FRXXXTION Stick Exfoliating Cleanser! The cleanser comes in a little stick, which is very similar to a glue stick. It's very easy to apply, all you have to do is apply it directly on your skin in circular motions. This cleanser is gel that is also good for all face types and it can even be used as mask too. The cleansing stick is only one ounce, so you can take it anywhere! From traveling on an airplane or to the gym for your post workout shower, this little cleanser is the perfect when you're on the go.

On the days when you don't feel like wearing a lot of makeup, a CC cream or tinted moisturizer can be your life saver! It gives your face the coverage it needs with little to no work. One of the best CC creams out there is the IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better™ CC+™ Cream with SPF 50+. CC cream stands for color correcting and this cream provides a full and flawless coverage while protecting your skin with SPF 50. It is also very soothing on your face. There are five different shades for this CC cream, and each shade is adaptable and true to its tone.

Overall, the January Play! Box was a smashing hit, filled with a variety of great quality products to start the New Year off right. I'd give it 4/5 stars, the major hits of the Play! Box were the Tarte FRXXXTION Stick Exfoliating Cleanser, IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better™ CC+™ Cream with SPF 50+, and the Drunk Elephant Lala Retro™ Whipped Cream. The only miss was the Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey, which was a major thumbs down. This Play! Box would have scorn higher but that "lipstick" really brought down the overall value of the box.

But on the bright side, I know whenever I get my Play! Box from Sephora, there will be some amazing products to test out! In fact, February and March's boxes are already looking promising, be on the lookout for that upcoming review!

Until next time.

Whenever the new year rolls around everyone has different resolutions. Whether it is to lose weight, have a healthier diet, or even try different recipes, it's always great to start the new year off by trying new things.

So when I received the Tasty Voxbox from Influenster last year, I was hesitant. There were some products I already knew I loved, but majority of those products were items I never wanted to taste or try.

For those of you that have never heard of the website Influenster, it is a website where members can leave product reviews and some lucky few get to actually test out some products for free! Members connect all their social media profiles, the more followers you have, the higher your influence. Every once and a while members get to take surveys to see if they match up for a product campaign, which are also known as Voxboxes. With the product campaigns, you get to test out some products and you are assigned optional social media tasks, the only requirement is to fill out the survey after! The best part is that, this website is 100% free! How cool is that?!

When 2017 came rolling around the corner, I decided this is the year I'm going to try new things. My first step towards this resolution was actually giving some of these products a chance.

Just to make everything completely clear, I received the following products complimentary to test and review. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

Inside the Tasty Voxbox were the following products:

Splenda Naturals Stevia Sweetener

Frank’s Red Hot Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce

A Coupon For Smartmade by Smart Ones

French’s Orginal Crispy Fried Onions

A Coupon For Country Crock Buttery Spread

Yogi Tea Bags in Green Tea Blueberry Slim Life and Sweet Tangerine Positive Energy

Kashi Dark Cocoa Plant Protein Powder

Artificial sweeteners are always popular to use, especially for coffee or tea. People always pick the sugar substitute because it seems like the "healthier" option. That might be because they are low in calories. But most of the time, artificial sweeteners end up tasting a lot sweeter than actual sugar. But with the Splenda Naturals Stevia Sweetener, you get the sugar taste combined with the guilt free feeling because it is low calories, just like an artificial sweetener. But what's the difference? Well instead of using synthetic sugars, this type of Splenda sweeter uses natural and non-GMO ingredients. It has a Stevia extract which comes directly from the Stevia plant. So in short, it is like a healthy sugar alternative that tastes exactly like sugar! Sounds too good to be true right? Well us sugar lovers lucked out because it is as true as it can be!

When it comes to hot sauce, Frank’s Red Hot Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce is easily the best choice. Why? Well, the original sauce is made with a premium blend of aged cayenne peppers. It adds the perfect amount of spice and heat to all of your favorite foods. It really is the perfect balance of being not too hot while having a little kick, and it can be paired with anything. In fact, their slogan is "I put that s*** on everything," and you literally can. In all honesty, Frank's Red Hot Sauce has been my go to hot sauce for years and I really do put it on everything.

Microwaveable meals are always good go to meal, especially if you really don't have time to cook a full meal. But with most microwavable meals there are always problems. Either they're not too filling or they do not taste good at all. Smart Ones is known for their healthy and great tasting meals but now they have a new and different option: Smartmade by Smart Ones. Smartmade has a range of meals that are made just like you would make at home. They use ingredients and cooking techniques like grilling or roasting, and even added some even healthier options. Now if you're a vegetarian, there are only two vegetarian options, which is why I never redeemed the coupon. However, for all of the meat lovers out there, you're in luck. A majority of the Smart Made meals include meat.

The product that really made me step out of my comfort zone was French’s Orginal Crispy Fried Onions. I had no desire to try it, but nevertheless I stuck to my resolution and tried it. And to be quite honest, I did not (and still do not) understand the point of these. It is literally a box of chopped up onion rings. Personally, I would never add chopped up onion rings as topping to my salad or on my veggie burger. I even searched Pinterest to find a use for them, and nothing sounded good. And I certainly would not eat these as a snack. But to each their own.

In my family, our go to butter alternative is the Country Crock Buttery Spread. So when I saw the coupon for a free tub of Country Crock, I was stoked. When it comes to butter alternatives finding one that tastes just as good as butter but has fewer calories can be difficult to find. Country Crock's original buttery spread is made with real ingredients like a blend of oils, water and a pinch of salt. They also have at least 70% less saturated fat and 60% fewer calories compared to butter. Country Crock's buttery spread is a delicious alternative that can be used for just about anything! In fact, along with the coupon, Country Crock provided a cookie recipe. The Make It Yours Cookie Recipe is also on their website.

When it comes to tea, you either love it or you hate it. Personally, I strongly dislike most flavors. However, when I saw the Yogi Tea Bags in the Tasty Voxbox, I figured I'll give them a try, especially since the flavors I received were very intriguing. The two flavors I received were: Green Tea Blueberry Slim Life and Sweet Tangerine Positive Energy. The Green Tea Blueberry Slim Life tea, by far, was the superior sample. When you first take a sip of the tea it does not taste very strong, instead you get a subtle sweetness thanks to the blueberry flavor. But as you let the tea sit and absorb into the water it gets stronger by the second. The same goes with the Sweet Tangerine Positive Energy tea, it takes a bit to fully absorb into the water. But once it does, the taste is strong and any tea lover will enjoy it. The tangerine flavor is unique, but it gives the tea a sweet and fruity flavor. On the actually tea bags, they have compliments and encouragements on them! How sweet is that?

When you're a vegetarian or vegan, getting enough protein is always a main concern. Finding an alternative protein can be difficult, especially if you want something that tastes great. Most people go for a protein bar or shake, but most of the time those are not the tastiest. So when I saw the Kashi Dark Cocoa Plant Protein Powder in the box, I was hesitant to try it. I'm not a huge fan of protein shakes, but figured why not give it a try. Even though I'm not a big protein shake fan, Kashi's powder was actually pretty good! It contains 21g of plant protein, all while not containing any GMOs, be gluten free, and also be vegan friendly. This is a product that actually is really good for you. Mix this powder with your favorite kind of milk (or milk substitute) and maybe even add some other ingredients to have a filling meal while you're on the go. Or if you really want to get creative, add some powder to your favorite pancake mix and have some protein filled pancakes! Now that's really delicious.

Even though I was hesitant to try some of these snacks, I have to admit that Influenster was right, they were pretty tasty. Here's to the New Year and trying new things! Speaking of trying new things, join me on Influenster today! It's free, why not sign up and get one of these awesome boxes for yourself?

Until next time.

If you have no idea what to get someone or really do not want to buy anything huge, stocking stuffers will be your best friend this holiday season.

You can buy a stocking and even decorate it, especially if you feel like being really creative. Then add some little gifts and trinkets inside. And voila there's your gift! Here are some ideas for some great items to give as a stocking stuffer:

Travel Size Bath/Beauty Products: No one can really object to travel or miniature size bath or beauty products, they'll never go to waste. Shower gels, face washes, lip balms, Poo-Pouri, hair products, the options are literally endless. Travel size bath and beauty products are good for any person you're shopping for!

Tech Accessories: Little things like chargers, flash drives, screen protectors, battery packs, phone cases, and tech wipes are great gifts that are truly appreciated. They're things that you will need eventually at some point in time. Plus nowadays they make all kinds of little accessories for our smart devices.

Miniature Bottles of Liquor: Alcohol is always a great gift, especially if the person you're shopping for loves to enjoy an adult beverage or two. Plus the miniature liquor bottles are really cute and fit well in a stocking.

Socks: Nothing is better than a fun pair of socks or warm pair of slipper socks. They're so cozy and most of the time inexpensive. You can always find a fun pair of socks at almost every store especially during the holiday season. Plus it's a practical gift, who does not like or wear socks?

Candles: Candles are very popular to give during the holidays, and it's easy to see why. Many stores have holiday scented candles or you can go with something a little more basic. Candles are perfect for relaxing and they are always appreciated.

Fun Stationery: Stuff like crazy looking pens, funny tape dispensers, clever list pads, or even an adult coloring book are great little gifts, especially for the office supply lover. Plus it is extremely practical and it's more likely to get used at some point.

Sweet Treats: Most stores sell gift baskets full of sweet treats like candy, coffee, tea and etc. Plus there are plenty of holiday themed and limited edition treats out there. So why not put a few in a stocking, who would not like that?

Gift Card/Cash: When you're absolutely stuck on a gift and you waited until the absolute last minute, a gift card will be your best bet. Get them something practical, like a store they constantly shop at or their favorite restaurant. If none of that works, go for cash rather than one of those Visa or Amex gift cards, they charge an additional fee to activate them.

The best thing about stocking stuffers is that any kind of little item could work. Lots of stores sell fun little trinkets and gag gifts that you could use to fill up a stocking. Best part of giving a stocking full of little gifts? You don't really need to wrap it. Put the items in and some tissue paper and you're good to go! What are some of your go to gifts for stocking stuffers?

Until tomorrow.

The best part of the holiday season, hands down, is decorating the Christmas Tree. Getting to decorate the tree for the holidays with your loved ones is a big tradition for most families. Plus, we all know it's officially Christmas time when the tree comes out.

When it comes down to picking out a tree there are so many options. Some people have a fake tree they use every year, which is very smart and saves a bunch of money. While others purchase an actual real tree, that smells really good. Plus let's face it, real trees are much better and are more authentic than a fake free.

So when Christmas time comes around to the Simpson household, we like to go as a family to our local Christmas Tree lot and look for our perfect tree. Traditionally, our perfect tree is a 6 foot tree with heavy flocked tips. For those of you who have no idea, a flocked tree is a tree is a tree basically covered in artificial snow. So the Christmas Tree looks like snow has lightly fallen. Because even though we can't really have a white Christmas in Southern California, the flocking makes it feel more wintery and festive.

The next part of the process when it comes to prepping the tree is picking a theme. Yes, we're one of those families that comes up with a different theme for our tree each year. In the past we have had a Frozen themed tree, an Ireland themed tree and so many more that I can't even remember. A lot of the time, we pick a theme based off how the year has been.

This year, my mom originally planned to have a really depressing theme. She wanted to have a tree in mourning, and decorate it in all black. Shockingly, no store sells solid black ornaments, thank goodness. So instead of being completely morbid we decided to have a happier tree. So this year's theme was around the world! Normally whenever my family travels purchase an ornament from the vacation destination. So over the years, we've accumulated a lot of ornaments so it was something easy and simple to do! Plus, we won't be home this year for Christmas, so the travel theme really works this year.

I may be a little biased, but I think the tree looks amazing! Plus, how can you not love the warm feeling you get when you see or walk by the tree. Plus seeing all the presents under the tree gives you that warm and fuzzy feeling inside, even though those presents may not be for you. It's hard to not feel festive when you take the time to decorate and admire the tree.

And there you have it, you have now seen the Simpson's Christmas Tree! What does your Christmas Tree look like this year, do you have a theme or maybe a color scheme? Let me know! Also, tweet me pictures of your Christmas Tree at @heykaitlinmary I'd love to see your Christmas Tree pictures this year!

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.

One thing that really seems to be forgotten during the holiday season is giving. Sometimes the focus is solely on the sales and presents. But what is more important is that we focus on what the holidays are all about, giving back.

Here are some ways that you can give back this holiday season:

Use AmazonSmile. AmazonSmile is a way to support your favorite charities while you shop on Amazon. All you have to do is use the link: smile.amazon.com, sign in to Amazon, and then choose a charity. There are over one million charities to choose from and Amazon will donate 0.5% of your purchase price to charity of your choice.

Visit A Nursing Home. Nursing homes can be pretty lonely, especially during the holidays. So why not take some time out of your busy schedule and spend some time chatting with a senior citizen. Maybe bring them a holiday card to get them in the spirit.

Donate Toys and Clothing. Why wait until spring to do some decluttering? Why not take the time to go through your unused toys and clothes and donate them. Local shelters and churches will take these donations and put them to good use. There are also organizations like Toys For Tots and the Salvation Army who also take any kind of donation.

Adopt A Family. Lots of local organizations and religious groups can give you the opportunity to sponsor a family in your area. When you sponsor a family, you help provide them Christmas. What that means is that you will provide food for their meal and some presents. It's a great way to help a family in need!

Donate Can/Boxed Food To A Food Bank. During the holiday season, your local food banks could always use extra items. Why not donate a couple extra food items to those in need? There's probably plenty of cans or boxed food items in your pantry that you don't need right away.

Anonymously Pay For Someone’s Lay-Away. When you put items on lay-away, you pay a deposit to secure an item for later purchase. This can be paid off by using a payment plan or paying it off in full when you can. For those who are tight for money or have bad credit, it is a popular alternative for holiday shopping. If you really want to give back, you can go to stores like Wal-Mart or K-Mart and anonymously pay off the rest of someone's lay-away balance. The family will get a call and they can come retrieve their items. It's a great way to really make someone's holiday.

Volunteer At A Shelter/Soup Kitchen. Not everyone has lots of money to donate to charity, so something even better that you can do is donate your time. Any kind of shelter or soup kitchen can always use extra help no matter what time of the year. Donating your time and energy is a really valuable and gratifying experience.

Do A Simple Act Of Kindness. Sometimes people can be selfish, so why not do something small that could really make someone's day. Why not pay it forward when in line at your favorite coffee house and buy a drink for the person behind you? Or give a generous tip to a waiter or server. Or maybe buy a homeless person something to eat! Anything small like that really could brighten someone's day, and it could inspire them to be just as kind and generous as you.

If you decide to give back somehow during the holidays this year, just remember it's not a competition. It doesn't matter how big or small your gesture is, what really matters is that you decided to take the time to be selfless. Whether you donate money, items, or your time, someone will appreciate the effort you made. So tell me, how do you plan to give back during the holidays?

Until tomorrow.

Last night, country music star Kelsea Ballerini performed in Downtown LA at the Wiltern for a sold out crowd. For those of you who do not listen to country music or have been living under a rock, Kelsea Ballerini is the newest and next big thing in country music. Think of her as a combination of Carrie Underwood and Taylor Swift. In fact she was recently nominated for Best New Artist at the Grammys.

The show was brought to you by Go Country 105, LA's hottest country music station. Their street team was at the venue passing out all kinds of swag like chapstick and mints.

The opening act was Australian country music singer Morgan Evans, who is actually Ballerini's boyfriend. His style of music is very similar to another Australian country star, you might know him, the one and only Keith Urban. Charming and talented, it's easy to see why Ballerini is dating him and picked him to open for her in Los Angeles. In fact, he said his "one job was to get everyone ready for Kelsea," which he definitely did.

Once it hit 9:00 pm, the lights dimmed and Ballerini's name was lit up on the backdrop after an epic light show that certainly hyped up the crowd. She came out in an adorable sparkly pink and blue dress (or romper, it was hard to tell) and started the show with her latest hit, "Yeah Boy," which got everyone off their feet. That wasn't the only feel good song you could dance to. In fact most of the show was filled with songs that did just that. Especially songs like "Square Pegs," "Dibs," and "XO."

It was not all one big dance party, Ballerini slowed it down a couple times to sing some of her ballads, like her big hit "Peter Pan" and "Stilettos" a song off her debut album. Besides singing some of her biggest hits and the other songs off her album, she also sang a couple of new songs from the newest album that she has already started working on. Also what's a concert without a couple of cover songs? Ballerini covered two of her favorite songs: one country song and one pop song. She sang David Allan Coe's "Tennessee Whiskey" and Adele's "Send My Love (To Your New Lover), absolutely beautifully.

Ballerini ended the show with an encore that she performed within the audience. She was set up on the side of the pit filled with her biggest fans who kept trying to get a selfie with the star. This moment captured what Ballerini wants all her shows to be like, a great time for all her fans and friends.

Last night's stop in Los Angeles was the seventh stop on Ballerini's The First Time Tour. And yes you guessed it, this was her first ever headlining tour. She just finished performing shows on the East Coast and is now headed to Las Vegas and Texas to wrap up her tour. If you're in the area, check out her show, you won't regret it! And if you missed her this time, she should be back with another tour sometime in the future!

Until tomorrow.