My Merry List
Ho, Ho, Ho.. I’m getting old.
I feel too old to be writing a Christmas list, I know. I have a huge family and right now there’s really only 2 or 3 kids truly young enough to be asking for toys. The rest of us range from a senior in highschool to new parents with their own baby. Since the majority of us have surpassed wanting RC cars and dolls, our lists look a little different.
Once I realized I had free will and could put things like shampoo and conditioner on my Christmas list, opening presents has a whole new meaning. Last year I compiled arguably my most favorite list so far. I got decorative serving trays for my apartment, a dutch oven to make soups & bread in, and this amazing, huge, weiner dog pillow that sits across my bed. This year, I’ve curated a wonderful assortment of self care products I’m truly excited about.
The Self-Care Essentials
For some odd reason, having chapstick and shampoo on my Christmas list makes me feel like I’ve got my priorities straight. I struggle to splurge on the self care items I love so why not throw them on the Christmas list and see what happens. Some self care items i’m wishing for this year are:
Scar Sheets. These are mainly on my list this year because of my recent knee surgery. I'm trying to keep my scar in the best shape possible. Also, I intend to use some of the sheets for face taping at night. Influencers have done their jobs and influenced me into thinking I need to put tape and sheets on my face at night to avoid frowny lines and wrinkles.
Burt's Bees Coconut & Pear Chapstick. I’ve been looking everywhere for this… flavor? Scent? I’m not sure how to reference it but I can’t find it in stores anymore so on the amazon wishlist it went.
Grande Lash Serum. My lashes haven’t been curling properly, I fear they seem shorter than usual. This is something I’ll probably buy myself if I'm not gifted, I’ve heard great things about it.
Truss Shampoo and Conditioner is my fancy choice for hair care. I love this shampoo & conditioner but sometimes I can’t bring myself to buy it because it’s $30 a bottle, therefore.. On the list it is.
Chanel Mascara. This is my favorite & only mascara. If I have to choose between my nice shampoo and this mascara, I choose this every time. I’ve been using it for as long as I can remember and It’s what I think looks best on my lashes.
Headache Cooling Gel Wrap. I turn 23 this year… my hangovers are starting to worsen…. Just kiddingggg. In all seriousness this wrap is great for immediately relieving headaches and migraines, it’s a necessity in my opinion.
Heatless Curl Wrap. I’m trying to keep my hair healthy by avoiding heat but my grown out bangs never dry correctly.
Wide Tooth Comb. For gently brushing out my heatless curls in the morning.
Concealer & Foundation Brushes. I just started using concealer to cover up my new dark circles & was in dire need of some new brushes. The last time I bought brushes was in highschool and it was a random pack from Urban Outfitters.
New Cosmetic Bag. It looks like a sardine can and I love it. I need an extra makeup bag to carry my brushes.
Investing in my Space
I’ve recently moved into my first apartment that isn’t student housing. I’m weary of acquiring too many things, moving is a pain in the a**. But, I love spending time in my little sanctuary and I’d love some decor items to make my space feel like me.
A Renter-Friendly, Battery-Powered Sconce is at the top of the list. I plan to either hang some of my art or showcase my 2025 vision board and want some soft lighting to make the space feel more custom.
Dome Cloche for Candles. I didn’t even know what this is, but I am trying to dress up my nightstands with some inspo pics I’ve got from pinterest. A reverse Google search clued me into what a “Cloche” is and now I’d like one.
A Heated Throw Blanket. It gets cold in Tallahassee. I don’t like to turn the heat on. Having a heated blanket between the sheet and comforter is heaven, it’s enough to stay home and enjoy rather than go out and bear the cold.
Also on my list are some Large and Small Non-Stick Baking Sheets. I don't have any, it's as simple as that.
A set of Decorative Ceramic Bowls with Lids as Tupperware. My roommate and I are in need of tupperware but I don’t feel like buying a set of *ugly* glass, snap to close lidded tupperware just to not want to pack up when we move. I found this beautiful set of 4 bowls with lids that can serve as tupperware, storage, or to eat out of.
The Glass Matches Cloche. Again, I didn't know what a cloche was but all it took was an inspo pic from pinterest to get me to add it to my decor list.
Candles & Wallflowers. I did NOT know how expensive candles can be until this year. I love making my room smell like vanilla cupcakes but I do not love spending $10+ on candles that burn out quickly.
For Me, Myself, and I
Of course, no Christmas list is complete without a few personal treats.
Book. I am about to dive into the writings of Fyodor Dostoevsky, and decided The Brothers Karamazov will be my intro to his work.
An AirTag & AirTag Case. It’s going to be my new key ring. It’s going to stay in my purse. And I will not lose my purse or keys again.
Jewelry. I wasn’t going to ask for jewelry this year but my mom loves to help me accessorize so I found some cute Amazon bangles to include. In lieu of talking about accessorizing, a gold fishbone claw clip is also on my list. I love metal claw clips, they always help me dress up my outfit.
Shoes. Rather than exposing my cute new shoe choices, I’ll specify there is a pair of boots (not Uggs), sneakers, and sandals. Maybe you’ll see what they are in a future post.
Final Thoughts
As much fun as it is opening up presents, I’m excited for the year I get to be a gifter. I buy my parents presents and we open those on Christmas Day, but Christmas Eve is the main event for the family where all the kids open up all their presents at the same time. Hopefully I can participate in the White Elephant in the next couple years. My cousins need to start having some kids so we aren’t the “young” ones forever.
Happy Holidays!