Snapshots

My flight back to my hometown for the holidays is tomorrow evening, and I couldn't be more excited!  I've been waking up every day this week with a little jolt of joy that I'm one day closer to being home with my family.

A few shots from the last few pre-vacation days:

The cutest Christmas card and an adorable decoration.

Sass for the suitcase.

My new Kate Spade wallet from the most amazing boyfriend on the planet.

Christmas lights aglow in my room.

Holiday Ear Candy

With the exception of the one year I worked in retail through the Christmas season, I love look forward to the day after Thanksgiving every year because along with Black Friday deals, it means that Christmas music listening season has been officially ushered in.

I made myself a little holiday playlist to listen to while wrapping presents and wanted to share it with you!  If you have a Spotify account, search for "A Various Vanities Holiday", or you can check out some of the clips provided below.  Happy listening - remember and believe in the healing power of all music, even with the terrible tragedies of the day.

Darlin (Christmas is Coming), Over the Rhine
All My Bells Are Ringing, Lenka
I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm, Kay Starr
Twinkling Lights, Office Romance
Winter White, A Fine Frenzy
Christmas Lights, Coldplay
Carol of the Bells, The Bird and the Bee
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear, Norah Jones
Merry Christmas, Baby, Sheryl Crow
Cold December Night, Michael Buble
Baby, It's Cold Outside, Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Jordan
A Marshmallow World, Francesca Battistelli
Sleigh Ride, Los Straitjackets
Christmas Wrapping, The Waitresses
Please Come Home For Christmas, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
All Through the Night, The Kingston Trio
I'll Be Home for Christmas, Katherine McPhee
Winter Song, Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson
Happy Xmas (War Is Over), Christina Perri
Mele Kalikimaka, The Puppini Sisters
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Tyler Hilton
What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?, Ella Fitzgerald

Anti-Stress

Let's be honest - no one likes finals, and the older I get and the more finals I complete, the more I loathe them and the stress that they cause me.  Last week was finals week, and my stress level was running quite high.  I'm naturally a very anxious person so I am always looking for things to help me de-stress.  Here are a few simple things that I use and do to keep the stress levels at bay; hopefully they help for any of you working your way through finals/holiday commitments!

I've expressed my preference for Volsupa candles before in other posts, but this Goji Tarocco-Orange scent has just enough citrus to keep me alert while writing papers and the flickering candle light from the three wicks casts a soothing light. 

The less sleep I get, the more stressed I tend to get; this sleep mask blocks out all the light and helps me get a deep shut eye.

I always unwind with a crossword puzzle before I go to sleep to distract my mind from the details of the day (plus, when I find I can't answer anymore of the clues, I know it's time to turn off the lights).

I've been using Bath and Body Works' pillow mist for ages; I've come to associate the scent with falling asleep and spray it on my pillow just before climbing in bed.

 It's dark chocolate so it's healthy, right?

Watching old sitcoms.  30 minutes of bliss.  I've been watching a marathon amount of That 70's Show lately.

Snapshots

Today marks the first day of finals week, which means in a week I'll have some semblance of a normal schedule - hooray!  Once all my final assignments are turned in, I'm planning on getting in some holiday shopping and getting ready for my trip home later in the month!

In the mean time,  here are some snapshots I've taken over the past week:

My roommate's dog ready for cuddle time - the best way to spend a cold evening.

My ever growing collection of prints from Anthropologie.

Writing holiday cards and keeping track of addresses.

My Cyber Monday Nordstrom sale score. 

Gorgeous leaves outside my apartment; of course, the rain washed them all away over the weekend, but they're too beautiful not to share.