DIY Gift Ideas

I have been a DIY Mrs. Claus running around covered in glue, paint, and sugar busy making Christmas gifts for friends, family, and co-workers. Here are my DIY gifts that your friends will enjoy and actually find useful!

The hubby and I at the Charleston boat parade this past weekend

1. Homemade Sugar-Cookie Scrub // This is a great gift and so easy to make. I actually made one for myself because it is so awesome. 

Sugar-Cookie Scrub

1 cup white sugar

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup coconut or olive oil

1 tablespoon vanilla extract.

***Mix all in a large bowl and spoon into a clear jar***

2. Ornaments // I have been a little elf making millions of ornaments. All I did was purchase some paint pens and look up fun sayings. You can even fill them with fake snow or glitter. I am really happy with the way they have turned out.

3. Keep Sake Boxes // I would these on Pinterest and had to make them! These are so cute and are really useful for those special jewelry pieces. 

DIY Gemstone Keepsake Box

1. buy small boxes. I found mine at Michaels.

2. Spray paint them using a glossy white color.

3. 3. Once the paint is dry, glue a gem to the top. I got my gems at Michaels as well.

I hope you are enjoying this Holiday season. What DIY gift ideas do you have?

Happy crafting!

-Kelsey 

AWWWW-KWARD!

One of my favorite times of the Christmas season is our very awkward photo with Santa. Each year we have a different Santa, and you can see they just get better and better (I am being sarcastic),

Roxie is our baby, so we make her do all ridiculous holiday things because, well, because we can! I present to you five years of fabulous faux-Santas! Enjoy!

This was our first year with sweet Roxie!

This was behind the scenes from this year's Santa photo!

I hope you enjoy these as much as we do! What awkward traditions do you have?

-Kelsey 

Friday update... 1 week down, a million to go!

It has been one week since Jeffrey started his new job. Thank you to everyone for their texts, calls, Facebook messages, prayers, and well wishes this past week. I feel so loved! How did my first three nights go without my bffl Jeffrey? *drum roll please* It went a lot better then I thought. So that's good right? So how was the first week for Mr. Big-shot? His response, "boring". He is ready to start meeting clients, working with his team, and manipulating software and other Georgia Tech grad smart stuff. He reassured me by saying there is HUGE opportunity for him and our family so we are so thankful! 

I will admit, I did go to work with wet hair one day and no makeup the next so it is still a work in progress. The main point is, I made it! I cooked for myself (except Monday and Wednesday; I went out with friends). Okay so you caught me, I only cooked one meal out of the three, but hey, that's something right?!?!

I wrapped gifts, went to Pilates twice in one week, tutored, and cleaned. All and all, I accomplished a lot. Did I miss my husband? H-E-(double hockey sticks) YES! I missed him something fierce, but I was strong and prayed and God got me through those three days just like HE will get me through the next three days until...well, until Jeff decides his next big job... so I am thinking early retirement?!?! Just kidding, or am I?!?

When Jeffrey came home yesterday, we cooked greasy food and sat like bums on the couch talking and snuggling. Perfection I tell you, absolute perfection. He is working from home today and we have a very full, fun weekend planned in Charleston.

These are our "we are so excited to be together again" faces!

I am so excited to see what the future holds. In the mean time, I am so thankful that I am being so loved and taken care of by friends and extended family. God is so good! I would be lost without my faith and trust in our Savior. It is so refreshing to know Jeffrey and I are on the same page. It makes my heart flutter when he says he is praying for me. Y'all, I am truly blessed.

Remember to refresh yourself,
Kelsey 

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