Holiday – Snapshots & My Thoughts by Ailee Petrovic

Gift Guide November 10, 2016

2016 Gift Guide for the Gadget Guy

Today is all about the Gadget Guy, so basically I had a ton of help with this post. Since my readers don’t typically fall into this genre, I’m going to do a bit more explaining today than the previous two days (do you really need me to detail the purpose of a vase?). I think these nine items are super cool, and I’m even including two on my own Christmas wish list!

I’ve got three more gift guides coming up for guys, so if your spouse, dad, boyfriend, guy friend isn’t super techy, have no fear! Hopefully I’ve got you covered in days coming. But for now, let’s dive into these gadgets.

Roomba: This one is a no-brainer. Everyone I know who has a Roomba loves it. You can schedule the time for the Roomba to start, and it goes to work, moving around your house, sucking up bits of dirt and dust. I remember reading about the Roomba in a marketing book at Texas, thinking it was the most robotic and futuristic thing ever, which makes me feel old now that it’s pretty commonplace! This is a gadget everyone needs!

Gift Guide November 9, 2016

2016 Gift Guide for the Little Ones

The second gift guide is for ‘little ones’ (there will be a separate list for baby’s first Christmas!), and I could have included fifty items in this roundup because there are so many cute gift options for toddlers and young kids.

If you’re looking for something educational, this magnetic alphabet book is perfect for kids 2 and older. I’ve ordered it for Isla for Christmas, because she currently loves going over her letters and spelling words aloud (repeating after us, of course). If you’ve got a musical kid in mind, this guitar and this xylophone (or Isla-phone, as my little one calls it) are perfect – reasonably priced and really good quality too.

Gift Guide November 8, 2016

2016 Gift Guide for the Hostess

I’m kicking off my 2016 holiday gift guide series with suggestions for the hostess-with-the-mostess in your life. Whether it’s the cutest cheese board ever, this adorable mask bottle opener, or this ‘Fancy Another?’ serving tray (in just a few months, I’ll take ~~one~~ ~~two~~ three others!), any party thrower would love to receive these gifts.

Fashion December 2, 2014

Gift Guide for Baby’s First Christmas

If you’ve been following Snapshots & My Thoughts for awhile, you’ll know I’m very excited about celebrating Isla’s first Christmas. I outlined many of our family traditions as part of the weeklong ‘Isla’s First Christmas with Carter’s’ series. All baby ‘firsts’ are so special, and there are a lot of sweet gifts you can give to your little one to mark the occasion!

Isla's Christmas with Carter's November 14, 2014

Isla’s First Christmas with Carter’s: Relaxing Family Time

As I mentioned yesterday, we tuck into a delicious meal cooked by my very talented mother almost immediately after opening the gifts from under the Christmas tree. When we finish our Christmas lunch, everyone admits defeat, and we normally go to the living room and lay on the couches in a food-induced coma. After being all dolled up for a few hours in fancy clothes, we will change into more casual, comfortable outfits to ‘play’ with our new gifts. Last year, Sasha gave me an iMac, and I stared in awe at this big screen for hours and hours, never wanting to leave its side. Most of Isla’s presents this year will be stuffed animals (she already loves this laughing monkey that she got to ‘preview’ and BabyLit’s A Christmas Carol) or developmental toys, so I know she will want to lay and play too.

The perfect outfit for Isla to change into after being in a dress all morning is the 3 Piece Long-Sleeve Body Suit (love the solid red and floral pattern), with the adorable Sparkle Pants and this amazing Fuzzy Faux Fur Vest from Carter’s Holiday Collection. In fact, I’d love to be a baby and wear that entire outfit.

There is a park less than a quarter mile from our house, so we will bundle up and walk there (burn off those Christmas cocktails!) with our sweet dog, Belle. Although it’s not freezing cold in December in Texas, it’s definitely cardigan weather. I adore this sweet Shimmer Cardigan. We love seeing extended family and friends on Christmas after spending the morning and early afternoon with my parents. How sweet is Isla’s friend, Kevin, in the Stretch Jeans, Poplin Plaid Bodysuit, and also that adorable Polar Bear Tee (found in stores, not online – similar here)? Carter’s entire holiday collection (boys and girls of all ages) is so perfect for relaxed play.

How do you spend Christmas afternoon? Do you eat? Play with gifts? Travel to visit family? Please share your traditions in the comments below!

In case you missed it, you can read Monday’s post our annual family photo tradition, Tuesday’s post about the Christmas Eve candlelit church service, Wednesday’s post about opening stockings on Christmas morning, and yesterday’s post about gifts under the tree and Christmas lunch.

Make sure you enter to win the $100 Carter’s gift card and free outfit of your choice from the Isla’s First Christmas with Carter’s series! The deadline is tonight at midnight.