Christmas Running Playlist

Christmas Running Playlist

If you’ve been following along on Instagram, then you know that I decided about a month ago to set a goal of being a “runner.” I was running regularly until about 10 years ago when I got a stress fracture. Afterwards, I never got back into it. I do cardio exercise regularly, but it hasn’t been in the form of running.

Click the photo above to find this playlist on Apple Music.

I found a walking-to-running plan on Pinterest, and I thought I would give it a try. My husband and I weight train 5-6 days a week, so I would be lying if I gave the impression that I was starting from zero activity level. Even so, I have found it to be very difficult. About a month into the plan, I hit a mental wall. The plan was requiring a set number of minutes running, then a set number walking, then a different set number of minutes running, etc. I was finding that counting the minutes until I was “supposed” to start walking again (before running again, LOL) was actually making it more difficult for me.

So I’ve set the Pinterest plan to the side, and I am just working on increasing the number of minutes per day that I am able to run. I am allowing a rest day in between each run until I have more endurance. In the meantime, I’ve signed up to run a 5k on Christmas Eve. I put together a Christmas Eve running playlist to listen to while I train.

Click the photo above to find this playlist on Apple Music.

I use Apple Music, and I will link it HERE if you want to use it as well. (Apple Music comes free with my cell phone service, sorry Spotify users.)

Click the photo above to find this playlist on Apple Music.

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Must have winter accessories

Style it Saturday, Winter Holiday Finds

Hi, friends! Welcome back to another edition of Style it Saturday! Today I am sharing some special finds that would work for the holidays and through winter. As always, you can click the photos to be taken directly to each of these outfits on my LTK.

First up is a holiday party outfit. Together these pieces make for a classic, sophisticated look. Separately, you’ll find that you can dress them up or down for countless looks.

Holiday party outfit
Click the photo above to find these exact pieces.

Next, here is a cozy, casual look for the holidays. This would be perfect for running errands or catching a movie.

Casual winter outfit
Click the photo above to find these exact pieces.

Finally, here are some must-have winter accessories. These classic pieces can be used year after year.

Must have winter accessories
Click the photo above to find these exact pieces.

That’s all for today! Be sure to follow me on LTK, and never miss a deal or outfit.

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Countdown to Christmas this year‘s best advent calendars

Countdown to Christmas: This Year’s Best Advent Calendars

It’s November 1st, and if you haven’t started planning out your fun Christmas activities, today is a great day to start. One of our family’s favorite traditions is an advent calendar. They’ve changed over the years as our kids have grown. Some years I put together the little advent goodies to open each day, but on other years I felt like it was much easier to buy one that was ready-made. Today I am sharing a dozen of the best advent calendars you can find this year.

Below you can find a description of each calendar. You can either click on the name of the calendar to be taken directly to the retailer, or you can click on the photo below to be taken to my LTK shop. Did I miss a really great advent calendar that you’d recommend? Be sure to let me know in the comments.

This year‘s best advent calendars

Playmobil was the very first advent calendar our kids did! Pro tip: This is actually a reusable advent calendar. Open the boxes carefully and save them to use again year after year. Click HERE for the Playmobil advent calendar.

Pukka Tea makes a wonderful advent calendar. My daughter and I did this together one year, and it is one of her favorite memories. Pukka tea is organic and sustainably sourced. Click HERE for the Pukka Tea advent calendar.

Dog Treat advent calendar is always fun to do at least one year if you have a furry friend. Our family had a ton of fun spoiling our pups with these delicious treats each day. We even made them pose with a Santa hat to get a cute photo opening their box each day. Click HERE for the dog treat advent calendar.

Rituals bath, body, and beauty advent calendar is really exciting for the makeup fan in your house. It even comes with little string lights to decorate the tree. Click HERE for the Rituals advent calendar.

Sugarfina advent calendar is perfect for the person who wants a little sweet treat each day. Each drawer is filled with FOUR pieces of candy! Click HERE for the Sugarfina advent calendar.

Harry & David Deluxe Advent Calendar is highly rated. These are some of the most decadent truffles you can taste. Click HERE for the Harry & David advent calendar.

This Wooden Advent Calendar is perfect for busy, small hands. No worries if they want to add the ornaments over and over again. With 5-star reviews from parents who love it, you can’t go wrong with it for small children. Click HERE for the wooden advent calendar.

Lego Advent Calendars are a hit with kids and adults who are kids-at-heart! Our college aged son picked this out for himself this year; he remembers having a lot of fun doing a similar one as a kid. Click HERE for the Lego Advent Calendar.

Coffee Advent Calendars are perfect for the coffee lover. They’re going to drink a cup each morning, so why not make it fun and festive? We love this one for the Keurig owner. Click HERE for the coffee advent calendar.

I am especially excited about this Bon Mamman advent calendar. I love their French jams and honey. For the price, I think this is one is a gem. It has sold out on a few websites, but I found one that still has it in stock. Click HERE for the Bon Mamman advent calendar.

Ornament advent calendars can help you get into the holiday spirit each day. At $125, this is one of the pricier advent calendars on the list this year, but I think these little glass ornaments are beautiful. Pro tip: save the calendar to store the ornaments in for next year. Click HERE for the ornament advent calendar.

The Adventure Challenge advent calendar is one of the more affordable calendars on the list this year. It is also one of my favorite finds! This advent calendar has a little scratch off box each day with an activity to do together with your loved ones. The website says, “this holiday edition was created to help build new holiday traditions, find new ways to connect during a busy season, and enjoy time with loved ones.” Love it! Click HERE for the adventure challenge advent calendar.

I’d love to know which ones your family did this year! Follow me on Facebook to share a photo of your advent calendar. You can also find me on Instagram and LTK, just search “BelleAntiquarian.”

Until next time!

Abby

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Activity gift guides for the whole family

Activity Gift Guides for the Whole Family

Today I am sharing some activity related gift guides for the whole family. These are gift ideas for the “tech tired” shopper. The gifts featured are ones that will involve the gift recipient in fun activities and hobbies and will get them up off of the couch and off of their phones.

Below each picture you’ll find a list of the items in each group. You can either click on the item’s name to be taken directly to the site, or you can click on the picture to find the gift guide on my LTK where I’ll be featuring curated gift guides all season long.

Here are a few gift ideas for the the men:

Click the photo to find the commissionable links for these exact gifts.

Here are some activity gift ideas for Women:

Click the photo to be taken to the exact links for these gifts.

Here are some activity gift ideas for the older teen boy:

Click the photo to find the exact links for these gifts.

Here are some activity gift ideas for the older teen girl:

Click the photo to be taken to the exact links for these gifts.

Next are some activity gift ideas for kids:

Activity gift ideas for kids

Finally, here are some activity gift ideas for toddlers to enjoy:

Activity gift ideas for toddlers

If you’re looking for more gift ideas this season, be sure to follow me on LTK or subscribe to my blog in the box below. (You can unsubscribe at any time.)

Activity gift guides for the whole family

AbbyLeave a comment

New for Christmas 2022!

We aren’t yet to Halloween, and here I am coming at you with a Christmas post. Over on my Instagram I polled my followers as to whether they had started their Christmas shopping yet, and the majority said “Yes”! I have found that shoppers will always get the best deals in the 3 weeks before Halloween. Not only are we seeing Black Friday and Cyber Week sales, but Amazon is offering Prime Preview Days, Walmart has Walmart Deal Days, and so does Target.

Today I am sharing some Christmas decor items that have arrived on the shelves of my favorite stores. In the past few years the most popular items have sold out long before Thanksgiving. You won’t want to miss tomorrow’s post. I’m going to show several “dupes” for more expensive designer Christmas items, that are just the same – if not better – quality.

First, here are some items sold exclusively at Walmart. You can find these exact items by clicking on the photo below. I really like all of the pieces Walmart offers in this group, but the ceramic houses are a DEAL. Walmart’s artificial trees sell out every single year. If you see one you like, you can buy it online to pick up in the store. I linked my favorite one – just click the photo!

Walmart Christmas finds
Click the photo above to find these exact items!

Next, here are some finds from Target. Sadly Target has already sold out of several Christmas decor items. All of the ones in this photo are still available at the time of this post. Click the photo to find each item! My favorites in this group are the velvet ornament balls and the block print pillows!

Studio McGee Target Christmas decor
Click the photo to find these exact pieces!

And finally today, here are some Pottery Barn Christmas decor finds. Pottery Barn is my absolute favorite for finding classic, well-made Christmas items. They are a little more expensive, but the quality will last for years. I absolutely love the stockings made in vintage grain sacks. They also come in a French blue color. I recommend getting these Santa mugs if you like vintage ones. The vintage ones have skyrocketed in prices the last few years. Click the photo to find these exact items!

Pottery Barn Christmas finds
Click the photo above to find these exact items!

I am really looking forward to sharing more deals with you! Please click below to subscribe, or follow me on LTK or Instagram.

~Abby

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Winter Stovetop Potpourri

Hi! I’m just popping in with a quick post to share an easy stovetop potpourri recipe.

This potpourri is actually wonderful any time from autumn through winter. With citrus and layers of spices, it will warm up your home. This is a natural, non-toxic way to make your whole home smell heavenly.

A few tips before we get to the recipe: The amounts for these ingredients are flexible. However, Star Anise is very strong. I don’t recommend using more than 3 seed pods. The best place to find these spices is in the Hispanic area of your grocery store. Not only will the quality be wonderful, the prices will be, too. For example, the cinnamon I buy in the Hispanic area of the store is not only bigger, but it is much, much more affordable.

Winter Stovetop Potpurri

A warming potpourri scent filled with citrus and spice.

Credit: BelleAntiquarian.com

Ingredients

  • 1 small orange or lemon, sliced
  • 1 cup of whole, raw cranberries
  • 1 tablespoon of whole cloves
  • 2 sprigs of fresh rosemary
  • 3 star of anise dried seed pods
  • 3 whole cinnamon sticks
  • water

Directions

  1. Add all of your ingredients to a large sauce pan.
  2. Fill the pot 3/4 way full of water.
  3. Put the pot on a stove burner on the low setting.
  4. As the pot steams or simmers, it will fill your home with a beautiful, natural aroma.
  5. Don’t allow the pot of water to boil. Don’t leave it unattended. You will need to add more water, depending on how long you allow the potpourri to simmer. Don’t allow the water to burn off completely.

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Stocking Stuffer Ideas for the Whole Family

Here are a few stocking stuffer ideas for toddlers:

Click the photo above or HERE for the toddler stuffer ideas.

Next, here are some stocking stuffer ideas for little girls:

Click the photo above or HERE for little girls’ stuffer ideas.

And now, here are some stocking stuffer ideas for little boys. Just a heads up that there are only a few of the Santa Legos in stock:

Click the photo above or HERE to find the commissionable links for the items pictured.

Here are a few stocking stuffer ideas for teens:

Click the photo above or HERE for teen stuffer ideas.

Dad would love any of these stocking stuffers on Christmas morning:

Click the photo above or HERE for Men’s stocking stuffers.

Last, but definitely not least, here are some stocking stuffer ideas for the ladies! Men, do not forget to fill Mama’s stocking. We don’t want the kiddos thinking she was on Santa’s naughty list.

Click the photo above or HERE for Ladies’ stocking stuffers.

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What Do You Give Someone Who Has Everything?

A follower recently messaged me asking for advice on what kind of Christmas gift to get for the person who has everything. In her case, she was shopping for her in-laws and parents, who didn’t really *need* anything. In this situation, I recommend one of two categories: Consumables or Experiences.

Consumable gifts are gifts that are going to be used. This could be something that is eaten or something that will last for just a season. Of the two categories I am featuring today (Consumables/Experiences), I generally prefer to give consumable gifts the most. Consumable gifts require less effort for the gift recipient.

Here are a few examples of consumable gifts:

  1. Real Christmas greenery – This can work for both local and long-distance gifts. For several years we bought table top Christmas trees or wreaths for both my Dad, who lives 1,500 miles away, and my Mother-in-Law, who lives 30 minutes away. This a great gift that will last for the season, and then it can just be thrown away. HERE is my favorite place to order from. Make sure that you enter the shipping address as the gift recipient’s address. Also be sure to leave a gift message. When I receive an email notification that it’s been shipped, I like to call or send a text that says, “Something we ordered for you should arrive on XX/XX/XXXX. Merry Christmas!”
  2. Specialty food gifts – This is often a decadent splurge that people don’t spend on themselves, but love to receive as gifts. In the past I have sent filet steaks for a big birthday year. I have also sent gifts of gourmet pears, apples, and specialty cheeses. These are great gifts for long-distance family members. For local family members, I like to put together my own basket at World Market or order one from Sprouts. When I am ordering food gifts to be shipped, THIS is my food gift favorite retailer. If you want to take a specialty food gift up a notch, consider a food of the month subscription! I’ll never forget the year my parents were gifted a subscription to the Fruit of the Month – it was something we all looked forward to!
  3. Another great “consumable” gift is a personalized calendar. You can easily create and personalize one with digital photos. At the end of the year, your gift recipient isn’t left with any clutter or junk; they can simply throw it away! One year for Christmas I created a calendar for my dad. Each month featured different pictures of him with his grandkids. I would say that is 100% grandparent gold!

Experience gifts are another great idea for the person who has everything. However, there are a few things I would keep in mind when gifting experiences. Make sure you consider if the experience you are gifting is good for an individual or a couple. Would the experience be something that the recipient would actually enjoy doing? I’ll explain more in a minute.

  1. A good experience gift for a long-distance family member or friend would be to find a highly rated local restaurant, and send them a gift card for it. Take it up a notch and ask if you can make the reservation for them. When you call the restaurant, explain that you are gifting an experience at the restaurant, and ask if there is anything special they can do. Sometimes they’ll offer a complimentary dessert or something.
  2. Theater tickets for an upcoming show or concert are a great “experience” gift. This would require some planning ahead of time to make sure the gift recipient is free on the day of the show. (Tickets for a sporting event would fall into this category as well.)
  3. A gift certificate to take a class would be a fun experience gift for the person who has everything. Maybe they have always wanted to learn French cooking, photography, or salsa dancing. A quick internet search should help you find the perfect class for something your gift recipient is interested in.
  4. A day at the spa or salon. This doesn’t just have to be for women! Try giving a certificate for a couple’s massage. A local Foot Palace pedicure would be enjoyable to both men and women.

And now a few things to consider for the “experience” gifts. If your gift recipient is single, it might not be the best idea to give them theater tickets unless you’re planning to take them. For me personally, a spa/salon day would not be an enjoyable gift, because I do not enjoy those types of things. Make sure the experience you are gifting is one the recipient would actually enjoy, and not something that you think that they SHOULD enjoy.

I hope these ideas help you to find the perfect gift for the person who has everything! To find all of the consumable gifts that I recommend in one spot, you can follow the commissionable links HERE or click on the photo below.

Click the photo above to find these exact commissionable links!

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More Christmas Gift Ideas

Welcome back for another roundup of Christmas gift guides! If you remember from my last post, my goal isn’t to get you to buy something that you weren’t planning on getting. I want to give you some ideas for gifts you were already going to buy.

You can click any of the gift guides below to find the commissionable links for those exact items. Subscribe below, and never miss a gift guide!

First up, some ideas for your mom or mother-in-law. Sometimes Mom is hard to shop for because she already has everything. Many of the items on this gift guide are sentimental things she’ll love.

Click any photo or HERE to find the commissionable links for those items.

Next, some ideas for dear ol Dad!

Click any photo or HERE to find the commissionable links for those items.

Need some ideas for those hard to shop for teen girls? Here you go…!

Click any photo or HERE to find the commissionable links for those items.

What about the kid who has everything? Here are a few ideas that will keep them busy!

Click any photo or HERE to find the commissionable links for those items.

Headed to a party this holiday season? Don’t arrive empty handed!

Click any photo or HERE to find the commissionable links for those items.

Do you have a coffee lover in your life? Here are a few unique gifts they would enjoy!

Click any photo or HERE to find the commissionable links for those items.

What about a foodie? Who knows, maybe they’ll whip something up with one of these gifts and share it with you!

Click any photo or HERE to find the commissionable links for those items.

Ready for December! Count down the days to Christmas with a fun advent calendar. Here are a few advent calendars for grownups and kids!

Click any photo or HERE to find the commissionable links for those items.

I hope these gift guides gave you some ideas! Let me know what kind of gifts you need help with!

AbbyLeave a comment

Christmas Table Round up from 2020

Good morning, friends!

We are a week into the new year, and looking back I can say that we had a wonderful Christmas season. We enjoyed so many traditions, and I am thankful we were able to host some special meals. I am rounding up some of the table settings I used for Christmastime 2020. These were previously posted by themselves either on Instagram or blog posts. I am putting them all in one place in case anyone would like to save them to Pinterest to reference later. I’m happy to give sources or links if anyone has questions. You can save this post to Pinterest by scrolling to the bottom of the post and clicking on the Pinterest button, or you can use the Pinterest extension on your chrome bar.

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