A January Hello

Well, we are almost mid-January already & I thought it high time I pop in and say 

HELLO ... from the other side!

Ohhh ... 

is anyone else absolutely loving the new Adele project like I am?

She is an amazing singer!

The primary reason for this post, you ask?

It's just a random post with not much heavy duty anything ... just a hello & what've you been up too?

Keeping warm, I hope.

We have enjoyed mild weather up to last week, in which we had a couple of really cold days.

Even got a few inches of snow.

But then it jumped back up to the 40s & turned rainy.

I welcomed it completely cause it beat away the icky, dirty snow that was piled up here & there.

I'm not a fan of that.

And today, it's absolutely frigid ... in the single digits.

I have yet to de-Christmas.

Everything is still in place & honestly, it's not bothering me one bit.

It was pretty cozy the other day when the snow was falling & the tree lights were on, 

especially seeing as how we didn't have any snow around Christmas time.

I'll probably get to taking things down next week ...maybe.

And believe it or not, we just had our final Christmas get-together on Saturday!

The Smith side always meets in January.

We had a good time spending a few hours with family, 

some that we only see a time or two each year.

And the white elephant gift exchange is always fun too.

And speaking of gifts, that's where the rest of this post comes in.

 I kinda had a theme-type gift giving scenario going on this year.

I found something I liked & then built off of that.

I even coordinated some of the gift bags with the gifts ... not for any reason other than it was fun!

I love love giving gifts so I couldn't resist snapping a couple pictures of my favorite finds.

As I'm going through my phone to see what all I had taken pictures of,

I sure wish I could've taken pictures of it all!

This gold and black ensemble was for my sister.

It all started with the coffee cup!

I found this adorable hat for my dil Abigail.

She often wears hats & it reminded me of her.

I found it at the Covered Bridge Fest ... & then came the hunt for a scarf to coordinate.

I was glad to find this one at Forever 21 ... it was perfect. 

I wanted to buy my girlies rainboots last year but didn't find what I was looking for ...

so when I found these in late spring, I knew I had to make a very early Christmas purchase. 

These are Winnie's ... Abigail's were bigger checks in royal blue and black.

And what about these shoes?!!!!

I can't even express how fabulous these are!

I decided I wanted to make a gift card bouquet this year.

This little poinsettia was the perfect place to start & I loved how it turned out!

I hot glued the gift cards onto wooden skewers & tied a bow around the flower.

Cutie patootie.

This is a gift I received ... from James.

Isn't this over-the-top girlie?!

It smells fabulous!

He also fixed me up with some nice make up & new brushes!

 

This was part of a gift from a sweet friend ... and I think this may be my new favorite lotion!

It is just right ...  thick, non-greasy, and smells great.

 

Not only did I buy a few gifts that had a bicycle on them, I got a few in return!

I bought this one for a sweet friend who loves bicycles as much as I do.

I loved the saying ...NOTHING is worth more than this day.

Another sweet friend bought me this paper set.

There are all sizes of sticky notes inside & I just adore it.

(This is from another one of my friends who loves bikes!)

She also got me this notebook ... what an encouraging message on the front!

(Wish I would've snapped a pic of the coffee mug & apron that came with it ... so cute.)

 

And this gift right here ... well let me tell you, it made my day & them some!!

My sweet friend, who likes to buy coordinated gifts too, got me this gift all centered around the fact 

that I'm going to get my first grand baby in late spring!

This is a gift for me, otherwise now known as Henry's Gigi!

I have oohhhed and ahhhed over the gorgeous babies in this book,

all the while imagining what our sweet Henry will look like.

 

This is a picture that James took of me back in the fall at the Covered Bridge Fest.

I think my big smile says it all!

Speaking of Henry, James & I found this candy bar in an old-fashioned candy store

& had to buy it for Henry's mommy and daddy.

Love these two three SO much.

 Lastly, I didn't buy these songs ... or receive them, but they are SO cute that I had to post them!

Best socks ever, right?!

I hope the last half of your January is wonderful, that you stay warm, & keep smiling!

Depression rates are sky high in January & February, so make sure you are keeping yourself

encouraged & doing fun things.

Bundle up and get out into the sunshine, even if it's just a few minutes.

It'll do you good.

Before you know it, spring will be here.

I'm looking forward to it already.

I hope to chat with your more often this year ... even if it's just a post like this one

to pop in & say hello.

Hugs to everyone,

Who doesn't love a good party?!
You can find me here linking up with these great blogs.
Monday           Amaze Me Monday     Coastal Charm    The Dedicated House
                     I Should Be Mopping the Floor     The Hankful House     The Modest Mom
Tuesday        A Delightsome Life    A Bowl Full of Lemons  
                                    Titus Tuesday  A Stroll Through Life
Wednesday   Raising Homemakers        Savvy Southern Style      
                              The Thrifty Home   A Wise Woman Builds Her Home
Thursday    Between Naps on the Porch    Katherines Corner 3D Lessons for Life
           Hope in Every Season     Lamberts Lately
Friday      Rooted in Thyme  The Thrifty Groove   Farm Blog Hop   Flea Market Friday   Missional Women
 Best of the Nest  Anything Blue Friday   French Country Cottage  The Girl Creative
Sunday    Nifty Thrifty Things   Simple Saturdays    Sew Many Ways