Secret Santa

We are playing secret Santa at work, and I LOVE IT. Y'all, I have been so spoiled. If you need cute, affordable Secret Santa gift ideas, you came to the right place.

1. Hair ties

2. Starbucks ANYTHING!!!

3. Adult coloring book

4. Fun socks 

5. Instagram Mini Prints

6. Emoji Magnets 

1. Fun hair ties, perfect for those girls on the go.

2. Starbucks coffee, cups, or gift cards are always a Great gift. 

3. I own this book and I LOVE IT! It is perfect to use after a crazy day. 

5. These are so trendy and are a great gift!

4. I mean, how cute are these

6. How fun are these magnets? They have sticker emojis too!

I hope this Holiday season is treating you well. Through all the hustle and bustle, I pray you can find some peace and joy! What are some items you would like to receive? Happy gift giving!

Remember to refresh yourself,

Kelsey

What to Buy the Men in your Life!

I don't know about you, but men are the HARDEST to buy for. My husband in particular would rather receive nothing. Me being a shop-o-holic, I do not find that acceptable. This year I did major research and got him the PERFECT gift. I'll have to post that after Christmas. Through research I found these other fun gifts for men!

1. Fit Bit Serge! This is on my "wish list" as well... hint, hint!!!

2. Patagonia vest. I love how casual and classy these look!

3. Happy Socks! These are so fun and look really nice for work. 

 4. Dollar Shave Club. I got this for Jeffrey last year and he loves it!

 5. Bob Marley earbuds. My brother swears by these. He claims they are even better then beats. I trust my brother too because he is a music snob!

Happy shopping for the men in your life. May they be easier to buy for then the men in my life! 

Remember to refresh yourself,

Kelsey 

Friday Favorites

IT'S DECEMBER!!!!!!!! Where did the time go??? When I was younger I remember rolling my eyes at people saying how fast Christmas came and went. Now, I have turned into one of those people. Where, oh where, does the time go! If you find Father time, tell him to SLOW it down.

Here are all of the MUST DO Christmas-y fun things...

//Wrap presents!
I love giving gifts. I think I like shopping for the person and searching for that "perfect" gift! I also love crafts which makes for some fun and pretty wrapping. I decided to make my own gift tags and bags this year!

//Bake.
I might be gluten free, but I sure do love a good cookie. Since I am in 2 weddings in June, I am trying to be "good". I give you the "healthy", actually not so healthy, but let's pretend it is anyways, Holiday Chex-Mix. Super easy and delicious.

//Listen to Christmas Music.
I love Christmas music. I have been replaying Josh Groban's Oh Holy Night constantly!

//Mistletoe.
I have been obsessed with Christmas foliage. I went to Home Depot and purchased poinsettias, a Christmas cactus, and mistletoe. They make our home so cozy and I sure do love stealing a kiss every time Mr. Nelson walks under the mistletoe!

//Decorate.
I love decorating for Christmas. Here is a picture of a few places in my home.

What Holiday traditions do you have?

Remember to refresh yourself,
Kelsey 

BIG changes ahead...

Some of you already know, but I thought I would announce the Nelson's big news to the Blog world. A few weeks ago Jeffrey accepted a new job with a company in Atlanta, Georgia. He will be the new Senior Business Analyst/ Project Manager (My husband now answers to FANCY PANTS JEFFREY). What does this mean for the Nelsons?

1. Jeffrey will no longer be in weather, he has made the big, bad move to software and software engineering.

2. This is a HUGE jump for him, which also means more responsibility. This is a travel position where he will go out and meet with clients and do his "thing" with their software databases. With that being said, he will be traveling Monday morning- Thursday afternoon most weeks. The best part of the travel is I can stay at PCA because he will never go into an "office". How great is our God!!!

3. Since he is traveling a TON, he has Fridays off!!!! Did I hear Par-tay Friday at 3:30???

4. Skype will be the Nelson's best friend. We are considering buying stock, what do you think?

5. God has been so alive through this switch so we are choosing to make the most of his traveling. We just purchased 2 marriage devotionals that we will read weekly, journal about, and then discuss together via skpe while he is away. It has great review so I am excited to try it.

We are looking at his travel as a positive thing. I will be taking Pilates twice a week, I am joining a women's bible study group, on top of tutoring two nights a week to keep me busy. I have also created a HUGE list of crafts to make. Y'all, this is only Monday-Wednesday... I might be overbooking myself.

I am nervous about him traveling, but I feel like this opportunity is HUGE for our family. We both feel like this is God's plan. It is good, SO good! We are thrilled and beyond excited for this new adventure.

Say a prayer for me to keep my overzealous, type-A, energetic self busy! I am VERY nervous about all of the travel, if you have any ideas or tips please let me know!

Let's all remember to refresh ourselves,
Kelsey 

I'm so Thankful, you already know!

I am so thankful, blessed, thrilled, overjoyed, and just plain happy! Life is good, SO good!

Here is why I am thankful:

1. God's love and forgiveness. This is the greatest gift of all. I have seen my faith grow and shape over the past few moths and it is glorious. God is alive and living in our lives.

2. Jeffrey. Y'all, my husband is the best. You heard it, mine wins all amazing husband awards! Jeffrey is the smartest, hardest working, loving man. He makes my heart skip a beat and brings me so much joy. I am so thankful for you and our 10 years of dating and 5 years of marriage.

3. Palmetto Christian Academy! I LOVE my job. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE! The kids, parents, teachers, sand other staff are all incredible. I truly enjoy going to work every day. As I write this, I am literally grinning from ear-to-ear. When you love where you work and what you do, you will never work a day in your life.

4. My family. I can go to my family for anything and they are right there giving me advise or lending an ear. They have raised me into (what I think is) a wonderful, strong woman. Thank you for being there for me and loving me always.

5. My friends. I have old friends and new friends and you all mean the world to me. I am so blessed that God has put so many amazing people in my life. I can honestly say I am never without in the "friendship area". I am blessed with friends from when I was seven years old that have grow-up with me, to new friends I have only had a few months. Either way, I am so thankful for you listening to me, laughing at and with me, praying for me, and just being a great person I can count on.

6. YOU!! I am thankful for you reader, that you have endured by super cheesy, life is great Blog post. I am so glad you read my Blog and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

As you can see I am one blessed woman. Life is good. I went through a very rough, depressing time last year (worst school year of my LIFE... insert drama queen, crying emoji here). I am beyond pleased that those times are far behind me and there is NO looking back (ever, ever, ever). Thank you to everyone who has taken me to where I am today, there is no where but up!

Happy Thanksgiving Blogging world. There is so much to be thankful for.

What brings you joy this Holiday season? What are you truly Thankful for?

Remember to refresh yourself,
Kelsey

Black Friday 101!

These items are my top five Black Friday "must haves"!

1.

I have been eyeing this for so long and I believe it is time to just break down and try it. I have read a ton of other Blogs that swear by this mask. 

2.

These gorgeous flats are on my "I want to own these someday" bucket list. They are 33% off at Nordstrom!

3.

Plaid blanket scarfs are so popular right now. Whether you are shopping for yourself or a friend, you cannot go wrong with this accessory. 

4.

I am IN LOVE with leather leggings. They are so perfect for a date night out

5.

Piko tops are the best. I throw this top on with a pair of leggings, booties, and  scarf. They are so comfortable and look so great with anything. I want one in every color. 

What items are on your shopping list?

one // two // three // four // five 

Remember to refresh yourself,

Kelsey

Oh play me some mountain music

Last week Jeffrey and I went to the North Carolina with a group of friends. It was so refreshing to spend time in the mountains relaxing and laughing with some of my favorite Houston and Charleston people. Here is my mountain getaway "must-do" list:

Listened to Backstreet boys and musicals and sing at the top of your lungs while you drive up to the top of windy, scary mountain at 10:00 pm.

Stay up until 5:00 am snuggling and talking about everything.

Eat at Junction, just do it!

Go shopping, wine tasting, and talked for hours in a cocktail-coffee bar.

Hike and soak in God's creation.

Devour the best gourmet pumpkin chocolate in all of North Carolina.

Sometimes a small trip away with friends is refreshing and turns out to be exactly what you need. I am so thankful for people who "put-up" with me and love me anyways. I have only know these friends for a short amount of time, but our friendship seems like a lifetime.

The best part of the trip was seeing Jeffrey and his lover Freddie sit in the hot tub alone listening to "Macho, Macho Man". Why is their bromance so cute?

Here are some more highlights from our trip:

Remember to refresh yourself,

Kelsey