Old Navy Friends & Family Fall 2020 Haul

Old Navy's Friends and Family sale for this year just happened this month. Along with my 50% off, I also got Super Cash back (which I typically turn around and use on gifts) and 4% cash back through Rakuten. Now, if the items would just arrive! I haven't actually placed an order with Old Navy since early March, so I haven't dealt with them since the pandemic. Usually they ship out orders much faster, but I've found this latest time to be quite a wait between placing the order and them putting it out for shipping. Not much of an issue right now, but might be worth noting if you're planning on placing an order as the holidays get closer. Give yourself enough time for it to arrive!

My order does have two things for my husband for Christmas, not pictured (he sometimes looks at my blog!). I'm not looking forward to wrapping them. I am absolutely horrible at wrapping! And Larry? He's basically a "use a whole roll of tape for two presents" kind of person. It can take me a good five minutes to get into anything he wraps and he takes it so seriously. If you get a present from us, you're going to automatically know which one of us wrapped it. And better yet, if it's in a bag? Yeah, it's from me. 😄 What kind of wrapper are you?

Here's what I picked up for myself! I thought about wrapping them to put under the tree, but let me be honest with myself. The chances of that happening are slim. These are probably going right into my closet for rotation. Haha!

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My Warm and Cozy Inspired Christmas List

It's a strange year and the holidays feel different this time around. I must admit that I feel torn about how to do holiday posts this year. I normally do gift guides, but it doesn't feel exactly like the right fit for me at this time. So I'm thinking of sitting this year out with those, but still showing a few festive ideas here and there. I have Bath and Body Works and Old Navy hauls that I'm thinking of posting that are full of current items still available, should you see something you like. Today's post, I'm sharing a few things on my Christmas list. Perhaps these types of posts feel like the same idea, but I just don't want to have posts labeled as gift guides this year. Absolutely nothing against those who choose to do them!

I think with it being the holidays, you should at least treat yourself to a gift that makes you happy. Maybe you're not seeing family. Maybe you can't afford gifts for everyone this year and gift giving is your love language. Whatever may be going on, remember to go easy on yourself. This won't be a normal holiday season for anyone. So again, go easy on yourself and try to surround yourself with things that make you happy. Music, a glass of wine, twinkling lights, holiday movies, etc.

If it makes you feel warm inside, it is a winner. I think that was what I was thinking of when I was deciding on what I truly want at this time. We're home a lot and I just want all of the warmth, coziness, and good vibes. I want our home to ooze hygge! Not featured on this list is the ever-so-essential and yet ever-so-boring things I wouldn't mind getting under the tree like new sheets, towels, and a vacuum cleaner. No pun intended when I say our ancient one sucks at doing its job. 😜 

And if I get nothing but a few days of vacation with my husband and dog, sitting by our trees, watching festive shows, and eating treats we don't normally eat all the way until the new year? I'm sooooo okay with that too. Because at this point, I think the true gift will be 2021 arriving. Good grief, please be better than 2020. Am I right?! 🙏

• Ninja Foodi 5-in-1 Indoor Grill and Air Fryer -My big ticket item I've been wanting. I cook all of our meals aside from the rare takeout and this thing seems to do a little of everything! Our super old grill is on its last legs and this seems like a good option while giving me even more flexibility in the kitchen than I had before with it being able to air fry and dehydrate!
  
• Bailey's Red Velvet Cupcake - Red velvet everything! We're not ones to really drink that often, but something about the idea of some of this in hot chocolate? Sign me up. That sounds amazing and perfect for sipping in front of our big tree!
  
• Replica Coffee Break Fragrance - It was between this and Gucci Guilty. After having a sample of Gucci Guilty, I really fell for it. Then I saw this and thought, "yep, gonna need that". Haha! A scent that mimics coffee with notes of lavender? Two of my favorite things? Sign me up. Take my money!
  
• Laneige Lip Daydreams Set - A balm for the day and a sleeping mask for night? Love it! Even better that the sleeping one is in the limited edition "sweet candy" scent.
  
• OGX Coconut Coffee Body Cream and Scrub - I've heard so many good things about these and the scent. Honestly, it had my heart at coconut and my soul at coffee. Do I need another lotion or scrub? Probably not. Do I still want them? Abso-darn-lutely.
  
• Sherpa Pullover - This specific one is from Old Navy, but I haven't come across too many sherpa fleece things I don't like. I'm a texture person, so I love throwing on things like this or covering up in a soft blanket. And coming into late fall and winter, I don't think the limit exists for how many warm things to own.
  

What's on your list? I wish you all well this year as the holiday season is upon us. May you stay safe and healthy.

InstaMonth for October 2020

I would have gotten this post up yesterday, but we took a vacation day for the heck of it. I think we needed a mental break! Being an American in Canada, I feel the stress of the pandemic, the election, and everything doubly so. I've just been feeling EVERYTHING at the highest volume and I needed a day. I'm not getting to go home for my brother's birthday or US Thanksgiving as originally planned before the days of the pandemic, but we already had that week booked off and we're keeping it as a holiday week for a staycation. I'm looking forward to the time off, but do very much wish it could be spent going home as I'm sure many of you are wishing as the holidays near.

We're still treating that week as my Thanksgiving, of course. All the baking, cooking, Christmas and Thanksgiving specials and movies, Christmas music, you name it. As a matter of fact, our trees and decor are going up tomorrow because I can't wait any longer. And if you already have yours up, kudos! It's anything goes this year. Whatever makes you happy! I have Christmas music going as I type this post and it never fails to put me mentally in a happy place. It's not much, but it helps. Above all else, take care of yourself!

I'm keeping this Instagram round-up short and sweet this month. As always, if you'd like to follow each other, you can find me as @wendybanner on there. I hope you're all staying safe and healthy. Don't let down your guard, because the pandemic is still here and stronger than ever. Thinking of all of you!

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Blog of the Month for November 2020 - Laura Hadley

In October, Sophie from The Beauty Informer was my featured blogger. You can read that post and see other past featured blogs under the "blog of the month" label! Being my blog of the month gets you a designated blog post, a sidebar button, and a mention on my Twitter account. The sidebar button stays up all month long. I don't believe in necessarily making bloggers pay for advertising and I'd much rather show you blogs that I really enjoy reading. And I hope you end up enjoying them too!

For October, I am featuring Laura from Laura Hadley. With Laura's blog, you are going to get a mix of posts with beauty, lifestyle, and more. You'll see wedding updates from her (canceled this year due to COVID 😢), food reviews, and beauty reviews like this one about Maybelline's Color Strike Eyeshadow Pen.  She's always willing to support fellow bloggers on her social media, which is always appreciated. I hope you'll check out her blog!

October 2020 Favorites

Yesterday was a long day and night, let me tell ya. Today is looking like a repeat. I think what some of these election results have shown me is going to stick with me for a long time. I don't want to argue politics. I'm not interested in playing devil's advocate or having anyone play one with me. We all have different views and opinions. For me and my mental health, I'm better at seeing your opinion and scrolling past it, conversing a bit with you if I agree with you or know that it can be a discussion and not an argument, and moving along the majority of the time. That doesn't mean either of us are right or wrong or that either of us won or lost the argument.

I spent a greater part of the night highly emotional and had to ban myself from my phone as 2am neared or I wouldn't have stopped watching. Some behavior of people I know and don't know is sticking with me. Attacking, insulting, being snarky to someone simply because their candidate lost. I don't know...I just can't do that. I wouldn't do that. I don't want to insult a candidate for their looks, age, or whatever that has nothing to do with their political stance. I don't want to attack you, be attacked, or see others be attacked. I try my best not to treat others that way or have them feel that way.

This election is more than just politics. It's about things that have been made to be political that never should have been. It's about rights that could be stripped from other human beings. It's about not respecting everyone equally. It's about the Supreme Court. It's about those 233,000+ deaths. It's about unity over division. For me. It's about those things FOR ME.

I'm not saying everything I want to and I'm sure some will find fault with what I have said. Opinions and minds are not going to be changed by others being defensive or offensive. I'm not out to change all opinions, views, or mindsets. I'm out to grow and build upon my own and get better and do better. Actions speak louder than words and both can have consequences. I want my actions and words to show that I am an ally. I can't change a mind that doesn't want to be changed or the actions of others, but I can choose my own actions. I can be a part of the change that I wish to see. It all comes down to a person's definition of change, I suppose.

"Real change, enduring change, happens one step at a time." - Ruth Bader Ginsburg

If you scrolled past all of that to get to the favorites, that's okay. They're right below, so let's get to them! I didn't realize they were so Maybelline heavy, but it's safe to say that Maybelline is among my favorite drugstore brands especially in the lip department. They just rarely get lips wrong!

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