Every year, I always go to Disneyland around this time of the year to view the holiday decorations and partake in the festivities. But this year, I decided to mix it up and go to another theme park in Southern California and see what their Christmas season is like. I was lucky enough to go to Knott's Berry, or shall I say Merry, Farm with one of my best friends. My best friend, Michelle, has a Knott's season pass and every year when she renews it she gets a free guest ticket. This year I was her lucky guest and we had a holly jolly time.

If you have never been to Knott's Berry Farm before, the best way to describe it as a hybrid of Disneyland and Six Flags. I say this because they have a fair amount of children's rides and have a cartoon mascot, Snoopy from Peanuts, yet they have a ton of thrilling coasters that are similar to what Six Flags has to offer. But specifically for Christmastime, Knotts has so much to offer this holiday season. Here are some of the highlights!

Festive Decor! When walking around Knott's, you truly can feel the holiday cheer. The park went all out on garland and wreaths. All throughout the park you can see the decor, and even some Christmas tress. Even in Camp Snoopy you'll find Christmas decor that makes up a perfect photo opportunity.

Christmas Craft Village! One thing that makes Knott's Merry Farm so unique is their Christmas Craft Village. So many local vendors set up booths in Ghost Town to sell some one of a kind knick knacks and trinkets. You can even see demonstrations of chainsaw wood carving and glass blowing! The craft market really looks like as if the Etsy homepage came to life!

Live Entertainment! Throughout the park you'll find Christmas carolers, a holiday saloon show, and two other live shows that feature the Peanuts gang. There is also the ice show, Merry Christmas, Snoopy! It is always a fun thing to watch, however it is only performed on the weekend. Sadly I did not get to see this show, but if you happen to go to Knott's on the weekend during this festive season, I highly recommend you watch it!

Festive Food! Knott's is well known for their boysenberries and fried chicken. But if that's not festive enough for you, then you can always go to Santa's Cabin or Mrs. Claus' Kitchen, both are sponsored by Hershey. In Santa's Cabin, you can find fresh baked cookies, pastries, hot chocolate, and even seasonal craft beer and hot holiday spiced wine. In Mrs. Claus' Kitchen you can actually decorate your own holiday cookies!

Nightly Snow! In Southern California, you can't always find snow during Christmastime. But luckily for us locals, theme parks create some snow to give us that festive feeling. On Ghost Town's Main Street and School House Road you'll find snow every night with a light show synced to some of your favorite holiday songs.

Knott's Merry Farm will continue to run until January 6, so there is plenty of time to get your holiday cheer on before Knott's Berry Farm returns. Also if you are looking for something to do this New Years Eve, Knott's will have special fireworks, live entertainment, and special extended hours for the holiday. It really is a blast and something fun and festive that the whole family can enjoy. Until tomorrow.

Sending out Christmas cards is a timeless tradition. Some families send them out throughout the month and others buy cards to pair with a gift. Sending out a Christmas card during this time of the year is a little thing you can do to show your friends and family members that you are thinking about them. Buying cards can be really expensive, yeah I'm looking at you Greeting Card company, but that shouldn't stop someone from sending a card to someone they care about.

You don't need to buy a fancy card to send out this holiday season, in fact you can always make them yourself! There are so many Instagram video tutorials, Pinterest tutorials and even some Blogmas posts from other bloggers showing off how to make a great card all by yourself. So this weekend, I went to work on making some of these DIY Christmas Cards and here's how they turned out!

I'm going to be completely honest with you, I could have done a lot better. I feel bad for my friends who are going to get the cards I didn't do the best on. But what really matters is that you always try your best and as long as it comes from the heart that's all that matters. Here are a few tips I have if you're going to attempt to make any of these cards.

The card with the flat ornaments is probably the easiest one you can make. For all my beginner crafters out there, this card is going to be your best friend. Pick the paper you want to use as the color for an ornament, and to get a perfect circle shape use a cup to trace the circle. And voila a perfect circle! Then when you want to create the ornament topper, cut out a mini trapezoid. Glue it all down, make a line from the ornament topper to the edge of the card and write down what you want your card to say. And then you're all done!

For the Starbucks Cup card, this one was also quite easy to make. Cut a tall Starbucks cup in half along the seam. To give it a pop of color, I hot glued the edges of the cup onto a piece of green paper and then glued the green paper on the card. Then write whatever you want it to say. Pro tip, get a slightly bigger envelope. The addition of the cup onto the card makes it a little bulky.

When it comes to the card with the Christmas tree and reindeer, this one was not my proudest crafting moment. The green paper I used for the tree was just too small. I was trying to upcycle some green scraps I have collected over the years. The scraps were too small to make the 3D tree, yeah that's supposed to be 3D. I ended up gluing it all down because I was ashamed at how funky it looked. So if you want to make it 3D like it is supposed to be, using bigger pieces of paper will be a lifesaver. As for my fingerprint reindeer, less is more. The lighter one was used with less marker, while the darker one had more. Make sure you leave just the right amount of room to connect the body to the head, otherwise it will just look wonky like mine.

For the card with the two Christmas tress on it, this was me trying to redeem myself from the ugly tree I made with the fingerprint reindeer. I chose some different shades of green paper to cut into different triangle shapes and glued them starting with the largest on bottom and smallest on top. This is craft is so easy and simple and it looks so cute!

The 3D ornament card was the first one I attempted to make, and with this one I bit off more than I could chew. Each ornament needs three circles, so use a cup to make the perfect shape. Then once you have them all cut out you fold them in half and glue one half to another half. This is where things got tricky, it turns out I can't cut a circle to save my life. Some were too big and others too small, but it wasn't that huge of an obstacle. When you have the circles lined up you can measure and cut them to make sure they are even. While I like the idea of the 3D ornaments, I think I'll stick with the flat ones since it is a lot easier.

My attempt to make Christmas cards shows you that you don't have to be a fancy artist or calligrapher to make a decent looking card. Making a card is a better option than buying a card. It will save you money, and it will really show the person you are sending it to how much you care. Take a look at what you have lying around your house, this is a great opportunity to take something old and make it into something new. Happy crafting and good luck! Until tomorrow.

One of the main holiday traditions in my household is having a different themed Christmas Tree every year. My mom has done this all throughout my life, for as long as I can remember. We've had everything from a Barbie themed tree to a Disney themed tree. There have been so many themes, it is nearly impossible to remember them all. But this year, our tree's theme is something I'm really excited about. I proudly present our Broadway themed Christmas tree! Seeing Broadway shows is something my parents and I do quite often. Every so often we'll go down to Los Angeles and see the new shows that are playing at the Pantages or more recently at the Ahmanson. In fact last month, we just saw Dear Evan Hansen and at the end of this month we're going to see Come From Away. And even sometimes we'll travel across the country to see a show! This year, we actually flew to Boston just to see Moulin Rouge while it was in previews. Some of the ornaments we have on the tree this year were bought from shows we have seen this year like Aladdin and Dear Evan Hansen. The ones shaped like the Playbills were purchased from Broadway Cares, which is Broadway's philanthropy that fights against AIDS. And some of the speciality ones like the Hamilton star ornament and Wicked snowflake were bought from Etsy. All I can say is that I'm absolutely obsessed with this year's Christmas tree! One thing I love most about this tradition is that the tree is never the same. What does your tree look like this year? Do you have any Christmas tree traditions in your family? Let me know! Until tomorrow.

Last year, I wrote a Blogmas post about the Hallmark Christmas Movie Formula. In short, every holiday Hallmark movie is the same. This has become a well known fact, and has led to the creation of the Hallmark Christmas Drinking Game. And today, I'm going to play it.

The movie I have chosen to watch is A Shoe Addict's Christmas, one of Hallmark's new Christmas Movies this year. The beverage of choice is a sparkling cranberry vodka, this was honestly the most festive drink I could think of, I'm more of a beer person to be honest. Now buckle up it's going to be a wild ride. Fair warning, this post will contain spoilers for the movie, also if you need a reference here's the Hallmark Christmas Drinking Game rules sheet.

The movie stars Candace Cameron Bure, so that's a shot to start off the game. Woo! This is going to be a fun time. So the movie starts off with our main character, Noelle, Christmas related name take a drink. Pause. Do we have to take a drink whenever someone says her name? If so, that's going to be a lot of drinks. Anyways, back to her story, she's going through her jewelry. She stumbles upon a necklace, which seems to be sentimental. She decided to put it away because it belongs to her dead mother, take a drink, that's a reference to a dead relative.

We then meet her love interest, Jake, who is a fireman. Jake talks about taking a new desk job but doesn't want to leave because the fire station reminds him of his father, who used to be captain. Drink again, there's another dead parent! The cut back to Noelle, who is at her job at the department store, decorating the store for the holidays and ogling the shoes. Jingle Bells is playing in the background, so take another drink! Then she heads back to her apartment only to find boxes all over the lobby. Turns out she has a new neighbor, and you guessed it, it's her handsome fireman love interest. He introduces himself, she's does the same, and he cracks a holiday joke at her name, DRINK!

The next day, Noelle is back at work and her boss gives her a special task, to find the name of an employee from the 90s as part of a present he's putting together for his mother, the owner of the store. Noelle has to go down to the basement to find it, eventually she gives up for the day and heads back up to the store. Turns out a blizzard struck and her boss closed up the store and sent everyone home early. She's snowed in, TAKE TWO DRINKS!

While waiting for someone to rescue her, Noelle meets her Christmas Angel, who is wearing an ugly Christmas sweater, drink! The Christmas Angel offers her a pair of shoes that will take her back to Christmas past. She accepts the shoes and take a drink for the magic deal with the Angel! She goes back to her past Christmas and takes the advice of her Christmas Angel. She makes a different choice and now she's on a different path. After getting a glimpse of this new path she is brought back to her reality, still snowed in at the department store. However, the fire department has showed up! Guess who saves her? That's right her hunky new neighbor.

Flash forward it has been a couple of days, Noelle has been hard at work planning the Annual Firefighter's Gala. She heads home after one day of work and gets hit by a snowball. Turns out Jake was having a snowball fight with some local kids, take two drinks. Then they find out they have to work together to plan the gala. So the fun begins, Noelle's Christmas Angel, still wearing the ugly sweater so drink, starts pushing the two together. They take a horse drawn carriage ride together and jingle bells plays in the background, DRINK! Noelle resists the Christmas Angel at first, but she starts to come around. She takes the second pair of shoes given to her and is transported to another event where she could have had a different outcome. This time it is to strengthen her relationship with her father. They drink hot cocoa, take a drink, and bond over how much they both miss Noelle's mother, and take another drink.

After that trip to the past, Noelle starts to lighten up. She grabs hot cocoa with her Dad in real life, drink. Then on another errand for planning the gala, Jake and Noelle end up making Christmas cookies thanks to the Christmas Angel, and take another drink. Jake and Noelle start to get closer, they decorate the Christmas tree together. That's a holiday tradition right? We're going to take a drink here anyways.

Noelle wants some answers about this alternate future that she could have had, so she asks her Christmas Angel for the details. The Angel obliges and gives her this cheesy Christmas metaphor. She compares every opportunity to a sleigh, which that alone deserves all of the drinks. Noelle takes her Angel's advice and starts to fall in love with Jake. But oh no, her boss and the mean owner of the store don't want her to plan the gala with Jake anymore because he's too free spirited and the gala is a regal affair. Also Jingle Bells is playing in the background. Drink! Man that department store really likes to play Jingle Bells. Noelle, not wanting to hurt Jake's feelings, bakes him some Christmas cookies to try to break the news to him. Drink! After seeing how excited he is for the gala, Noelle is unable to break the news to him. Instead he asks her to be his date to his fire station's Christmas party.

Eventually, Jake finds out he is longer allowed to help plan the gala and he's obviously upset with Noelle. Noelle then gets upset with the Christmas Angel. Ya da ya da, Christmas magic, everyone makes up. Noelle and her Christmas Angel are friends again and she gets one last look into Noelle's possible future. It's with Jake! Noelle and Jake make up and the gala, the store owner apologizes and says the gala could use a little more fun. It starts to snow and ends with a Christmas kiss, and then you finish up your drink!

A Shoe Addict's Christmas definitely lives up to the Hallmark Movie Formula. It's a great cheesy movie to watch with friends and family and enjoy a cocktail or two. Luckily, playing the drinking game with this movie wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be, I had a total of three drinks. Enjoy all the Hallmark Christmas movies that are currently playing. And if you choose to play the Hallmark Christmas Drinking Game, please do so in a responsible manner! Until tomorrow.

Congratulations! We've done it! We've survived the first two weeks of Blogmas. If you're participating in Blogmas, you're probably tired and running out of ideas. If you are having zero problems during this Blogmas and are on fire with these posts, well you are very lucky. Writer's block, especially during Blogmas, is no joke.

For all my fellow writers who are experiencing writer's block or are running out of ideas for Blogmas posts, today's post for is for you. I am giving you the gift of some blog post ideas for Blogmas! Let's check them out.

Posts to Make You and Others Feel Festive:

Advent Calendars

Christmas Music Playlist/Favorite Holiday Songs

Best Ways to Spread Christmas Cheer

Best Christmas/Holiday Movies To Watch

Christmas Tree Unveiling

Holiday Decor Ideas

Making a Winter Bucket List

Your Holiday Traditions and Memories

Living Your Best Life This Winter:

Dealing With Holiday Stress

Holiday Health Tips

Ways To Treat Yo' Self

Hangover Remedies

Doing the Holidays on a Budget

Ways To Give Back This Holiday Season

End of the Year Reflection

Resolutions for the Upcoming Year

What's Going On In Your Neck of the Woods?:

Christmas Markets

Local Holiday Events

Christmas Tree Lightings

Holiday Concerts

Festive Date Night Ideas

Posts That Help With the Gift Giving Process:

Your Christmas Wishlist

Gift Guide for Significant Others

Where to Find the Best Deals During the Holidays

Gift Guide for Tech Lovers

Ideas for Stocking Stuffers

Gift Guide for Pets

DIY Gifts

Secret Santa Tips

Last Minute Gift Ideas

Being A Holiday Trend Setter:

Christmas Makeup Looks

Winter Essentials

Festive Nails

Christmas Outfit Ideas

What To Wear to a Holiday Party

Winter Skin Care Guide

How to Find the Cutest Ugly Holiday Sweater

Best Holiday Scents

Eat, Drink and Be Merry:

Holiday Cookie Recipe

Favorite Christmas Treats

Holiday Cocktails Recipe

Christmas Dinner Menu

Hot Chocolate Recipe

Healthy Holiday Snacks

Getting Crafty:

Gingerbread Houses

Making Your Own Christmas Cards

Wrapping Presents Guide

DIY Gift Tags

Christmas Crafts for the Kids

Customizing Your Christmas Stocking

Whenever I run out of ideas for Blogmas, what really gets me inspired is seeing these kinds of ideas from other Blogmas bloggers. It's okay if you run out of ideas, it happens to everyone. What's important is that you don't give up, inspiration will come eventually. And if you need some extra help, you can always turn to your friends and family for ideas. If you want to talk to another writer, I'm always willing to help out a fellow blogger.

Until tomorrow!

As time goes on and on, climate change gets worse. Let's face it, our planet is dying. So why not do something good this holiday season and give out some eco friendly gifts? Whether you're shopping for a family member who doesn't believe in climate change or a friend who is living their best green life, check out my guide of green gifts to give this holiday season.

Something everyone should have is a Reusable Water Bottle. Plastic bottles are so bad for the environment and for you. When you drink out of a plastic bottle, little particles of plastic leak into the water you're drinking. Gross right? Instead choose to give a reusable water bottle as a gift, literally everyone can use one.

For your candle lover, why not get a Soy or Beeswax Candle? What's wrong with regular candles? Turns out they're bad for the environment too. Candles are made with paraffin wax, which is full of hydrocarbon. Hydrocarbon is essentially what fossil fuels are made up of. So if you want to get an eco friendly gift for a candle lover, choose an organic candle made from beeswax or soy. If you want to be even more eco conscious, choose an essential oil diffuser instead!

The war on plastic straws has been going on all year long. So if some of your friends and family haven't hopped on this bandwagon yet why not get them some Reusable Straws? Now you can find so many different types of reusable straws out there. Stainless steel, glass and even retractable keychains, there is literally a reusable straw for everyone.

For the person who can't start their day without a cup of coffee, give them a Coffee Traveler! The United States alone throws out around 108 billion disposable cups per year. So the perfect eco friendly gift for a coffee lover would be a reusable coffee cup. So many stores sell reusable cups for both hot and cold beverages. You really can't go wrong with any one of these!

One of the most eco friendly resources out there is bamboo. Bamboo can make literally anything, cutting boards, toothbrushes, sunglasses, bathtub trays, and so much more. You think it, they probably have it. Since bamboo is a natural resource, it can break down and decompose unlike products made out of plastic. So when in doubt choose Anything Made Out of Bamboo!

For the environmentally conscious tech obsessed, you can't go wrong with a Portable Solar Charger. Portable chargers are a handy thing to have no matter what, but what's really cool about the solar ones is that you don't need to constantly recharge them. If it can feel the suns rays, it will charge up. How cool is that?

A Tote Bag is just a fancy version of a reusable grocery bag. They tend to be big and roomy so they can hold loads of stuff. Plus they are durable so you don't have to worry about them ripping right away. A tote bag is versatile and can be used for anything, like as a purse, a beach bag, a shopping bag, and so much more. If you want to go the extra mile this holiday season, use a tote bag instead of wrapping paper or a gift bag. The planet will thank you.

Giving green gifts this holiday season is one way to help save the planet. Not only are you lowering your carbon footprint, you are encouraging others to do the same. By giving these eco friendly gifts, you're encouraging your friends and family members to get into greener habits. We only have one planet so let's take care of it so we can have many more years to celebrate the holidays! Until tomorrow.

When Christmas comes around, there's one question that is always asked. Have you been naughty or nice this year? Santa sees everything, like it says in the song, he sees when you're sleeping and he knows when you're awake, he knows if you've been bad or good. So have we all been good for goodness sake?

Let's take a moment to think about this, were we good people this year? Some definitely have not been, others have been good, and others have been medium. If you think about it, every action we make can have either a negative or positive value. Every action either contributes something good or bad into the universe.

Now it is fair to say that people can't be perfect all the time. Human beings make mistakes, that's how we learn and evolve. So if you haven't been the best version of yourself this year, it's never too late to turn over a new leaf. Here are some suggestions to help you go from naughty to nice.

Be Positive. If you want to be a nicer person, the first and easiest step to do is to just be a positive person. If you're constantly negative, you're only bringing yourself and others down. Getting into a positive mindset will do wonders!

Do Something Selfless. One quality that always gets someone on the naughty list is selfishness. If you have some self absorbed tendencies, try cutting back. Stop thinking about yourself and think about others. Go out of your way to do something for someone else. Even the smallest gesture will give you that warm fuzzy feeling inside.

Be Grateful. Instead of focusing on what you don't have, take a second to appreciate everything you do have. Be grateful for your friends, family and all the other great things in your life. Show your gratitude daily, and never take anything for granted.

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff. Throughout our lives we all experience moments that just make us angry and upset. Instead of lashing out and harping on those experiences, it's better to just brush it off and keep on living life. Of course if something does happen that really hurts you and you need to address the matter, try to do it in a positive way. Instead of focusing on the pain, use it as a way to grow.

Admit Your Mistakes. If you know you've been a complete nightmare this year, own it. Apologize to whoever you hurt, make it up to them. But most importantly, forgive yourself. As long as you own up to the mistakes you've made and are ready to make amends, you're on your way to becoming a better person.

If you want to be a better person this year, the first step is to realize is that everyone makes mistakes. Life is all about self improvement, and Santa knows that. Just because the year is almost over, that doesn't mean it's too late to start being the best version of yourself. Start now and take that mindset into the New Year. Until tomorrow.

One place that always goes all out during the holidays is Disneyland. On November 9th, Disney's Festival of Holidays returned to the California Adventure park in Anaheim. The Festival has two main attractions the marketplace and the entertainment. You will find a variety of dance, live music and a holiday-inspired performances throughout the park this holiday season. And like aways you can meet Santa Claus in the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail.

Along with the Festival of Holidays going on in California Adventure you can find Disney's ¡Viva Navidad! Street Party. Viva Navidad! has Donald Duck and the Three Caballeros bringing out some holiday cheer with festive puppets and the music of mariachi and samba musicians.

But what's the main attraction for the Festival of Holidays? THE FOOD! Just like last year, the Festive Food Marketplace is back, but with some changes. Each booth is completely different compared to last year and has a variety of options. Along with the the food vendors, the Market Place also has booths for Disney's holiday merchandise and speciality boutique pop-up shops. Here are all of the food stands that are part of this year's marketplace.

Merry Mashups has combined some of your favorite holiday classics. Here you can find the turkey & stuffing tamale with cranberry relish, lox & everything bagel nachos and even the hot cocoa marshmallow macaroon.

Winter Wonders has some feel good food that will make you feel warm and cozy. Here you can find the pumpkin soup with maple cashew cream, chana masala with grilled garlic naan and a vanilla cranberry trifle for dessert. I actually tried the chana masala and it was delicious! However, the serving size was on the small side and the "grilled" naan was cold.

Brews and Bites should just be called Brews and One Bite. The only food item on the menu is the chorizo queso fundido with house made tortilla chips. The rest of the menu is just the assortment of craft holiday brews. The best deal here is getting the alcohol flights, because you get a taste of four different brews.

At Favorite Things you'll find holiday ham shanks and Reuben potato tots to eat, but the real winners here are the eggnog cocktail and the cranberry sangria.

Holiday Duets has some interesting pairings here, the curry cauliflower soup is made with lamb and the shrimp and grits comes with sausage. Disney thinks they are perfect pairings, but I can't help but disagree. But you can't go wrong with the festive Mickey and Minnie Cookies here.

If you're looking for something sweet then Visions of Sugarplums is the stand for you. Here you'll find warm sticky toffee pudding, a white chocolate cranberry blondie, the eggnog wreath éclair and horchata fudge. Also here you'll find the Sweet Dreams and Milk Special, your choice of dessert and a carton of Horizon's organic milk. Yum!

At Blissfully Braised the name of the stand says it all. Here you'll find braised pork belly and cornbread cakes with braised collard greens and gravy.

Grandma's Recipes has your classic holiday treats like pot roast and candied yams. What you'll also find is what Grandma is drinking while she cooks. Here you can find cider and blonde ales that have a tart and fruity taste.

Spicy Celebrations is where you'll find hot fried turkey, jalapeño latkes and chocolate chipotle pot de crème. The real winner here is the pomegranate margarita.

A Twist on Tradition doesn't really seem that different to me, but maybe to some it can be seen as unconventional. Here you'll find pozole rojo beef with hominy polenta and “chicken-less” mole with Spanish rice. I honestly cannot wait to try the vegetarian mole! Also you can get the black forest yule log here.

The Winter Sliderland booth just reminds me of Thanksgiving. The turkey slider and stuffing mac and cheese just seems like some creative Thanksgiving leftovers to me. The only thing that throws off the Thanksgiving vibe is the milk chocolate-candy cane pot de crème dessert.

Making Spirits Bright is obviously the best booth in the Festive Food Market Place. Here you'll find a variety of wine, champagne, and even some festive mimosas. Make sure you get one of the Flights so you can sample three of the beverages. Yum!

If you plan on eating your way through the Festive Foods Marketplace then you might want to invest in the 2018 Disney Festival of Holidays Sip and Savor Pass. This pass comes with an official credential and lanyard and eight coupons that can be redeemed for food and beverages at select booths. The coupons do not work on alcohol and you get one coupon per booth essentially. The pass is $54 total, so if you plan on eating at all of the stands this might be a good investment.

Personally, I love holidays at the Disney parks. Something about the Disney Christmas magic just makes me feel so warm and fuzzy inside. The Festival of Holidays is a great addition to the park, however there's one thing about it that really grinds my gears. While the food is tasty, the portions are just way too small for the price paid. But hey that's just me. What do you think about the Festival of Holidays this year? Let me know! Until tomorrow.

Shopping for presents during the holiday season is one of the most stressful things about this time of the year. It can be even more difficult if you have no idea what to get someone. Whether you're stuck on what to give your mom or the person you barely know in your workplace gift exchange, follow these tips to overcome your gift giving struggle.

Think About The Person. Think about who you are shopping for. What do they like? What do they need? What reminds you of them? What's something you two have in common? Did they mention anything they really want or need? Asking yourself these questions is a simple thing to do when starting the gift idea process. When you're done doing that, make a list of all their interests and needs, then take it from there.

Do Some Research. If you're really stuck and have no clue what to get someone try to fish some ideas out of them. Take a look at their social media, see if they've posted anything or created an online wishlist. Or ask the people who know them the best for some help. Or you can take the direct approach, ask the person if there is anything they wish Santa would bring them this year. It can be a fun conversation topic and it can actually help give you some ideas!

When In Doubt Be Practical. When you get really stuck an easy thing to do is think of the things this person will actually find useful. Because the worst thing you could do is give someone a gift just because you have to give them a gift. You can never go wrong with giving someone a practical and useful gift. Simplicity is always key.

Don't Procrastinate. When you have no idea what to give someone, sometimes putting it off seems like the best idea. This isn't always the case. Instead of putting it off, keep it on your mind. Maybe while shopping for gifts you know you need to get you will see something that will help inspire you.

Just Have Fun. The whole point of Christmas is to spread joy and good cheer, and it's important to never lose sight of that. If you're still stuck on what to get someone, think about what would bring them joy? What is something fun for them? Giving them something that is simply enjoyable or provide an enjoyable moment is something every one needs.

When it comes to buying gifts, don't take it all too seriously. The whole point of exchanging gifts is to spread joy and show the people you care about how much they mean to you. Don't sweat the small stuff. Whatever you end up getting or doing for someone this holiday, I'm sure they'll appreciate the effort you made and that's all that really matters.

Now it's time for me to follow my own advice, there are two weeks until Christmas Eve and I do not want to be one of those last minute shoppers out there! It's time to buckle down and finish up all my Christmas shopping. How about you, how do you overcome the gift giving struggle? Let me know! Until tomorrow.

One of the most popular holiday traditions is the daily unveiling of an Advent Calendar. Every year, Advent Calendars seem to get more and more popular. Today, companies make all sorts of Advent Calendars. You have your traditional paper ones, your beauty ones, your candy ones, and even some have been made for socks. But where did the tradition come from?

The term Advent comes from the Latin origin which means coming. Advent is the period of four weeks before Christmas. The term "coming" is used to signify the birth of Jesus. Advent Calendars began in the 19th century as a way to countdown to Christmas. The first forms of these calendars were started in Germany by making 24 tallies on a door and wiping one off each day. Wow! Haven't we come a long way since then?

When paper calendars started to become a trend in the 1900s, the traditional Advent Calendar we know of today became the standard. Each calendar is made with 25 different slots, or doors, and behind each door is a holiday themed scene. Over time, Advent Calendars have evolved and now include prizes behind the doors.

Advent Calendars have come a long way since they were first introduced! Here are some pretty cool Advent Calendars that are currently available.

Traditional Advent Calendars

Peanuts Advent Calendar. Each box reveals a holiday antic and features all your favorite Peanuts characters.

Sweet Christmas Advent Calendar. This holiday sweet treat themed Advent Calendar has all sorts of Christmas characters and activities hidden behind each slot.

Twinkle and Shine Advent Calendar. If you want to learn more about holiday traditions from all around the world, this advent calendar teaches you a fun fact each day!

Beauty Advent Calendars

The Body Shop's 24 Days of the Enchanted Advent Calendar. Inside you will find 24 beauty favorites from The Body Shop that will revive and re-energize your body and mind.

Ciaté London Mini Mani Month Nail Set. This comes with 20 mini nail polishes, one full-size polish, a mini treatment, a mini top coat, and nail transfers.

Nyx's Sugar Trip 24 Days Of Beauty Advent Calendar. This beauty advent calendar is filled with 24 different makeup products including lipsticks, eye shadow and highlighters.

Candy Advent Calendars

Lindt Bear Advent Calendar. Who doesn't love some Lindt chocolate?

Reese's Countdown Christmas Advent Calendar. You really can't go wrong with a Reese's candy every day.

Godiva's 2018 Advent Calendar. By far one of the most popular chocolate Advent Calendar.

It may be nine days into December, but that doesn't mean it's too late to get in on the fun of an Advent Calendar. I'm definitely thinking of buying one! What about you, do you have an Advent Calendar? Until tomorrow.