Happy Tuesday Penny Darlings!
It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood! I’m getting pumped for some potato filling, cooking, & most importantly: the socially acceptable transition to Christmas season! Ha! Now while I’m more of a November 1 kind-of-gal – now I won’t get any funny looks for bumping Christmas music on the radio, wearing sweaters every day, and being a general Cindy Lou Who!
Let me just sneak the boring stuff so we can get to the goods! Check me out on Instagram here! I also have a selling Instagram page where I sell some of my old clothes/styles so that I don’t drown in my own wardrobe.
I absolutely love the holiday season. For real, at ANY time of year, if you ask me what my favorite season of the year is, I’ll answer: Christmas season.
And I, for real, have a small dresser dedicated just to holiday sweaters & Christmas clothes. Again, ya girl has no chill at all. When I saw all the new holiday gear at Christopher & Banks – I became OBSESSED! I love a good novelty look without being too over the top! It’s the perfect way to mix kitsch with class for a perfect holiday look!
As we tick closer & closer to the holidays – it’s easy to get to be a bit of a Grinch for all the hustle and the bustle and the tinsel and travel! So today, I teamed up with my friends at Christopher & Banks to share my tips on getting in the holiday spirit!
Put on your Christmas gear!
Get out those cute sweaters, those tacky vintage sweaters, the printed leggings, the Santa hats, & adorable jammies! Even my puppy has his Santa outfit on! (and isn’t he the cutest?!).
I whipped out my sweaters over a month ago (#NoChill amirite?!). I also spent nabbed these amazing holiday sweaters in this post from Christopher & Banks! Shop this red & black winter sweater here!
Note: I love Christopher & Banks! because it’s stylish, size inclusive, & seriously cute! All my sweaters featured are a size 3x and fit perfectly!
Eat Some Christmas Cookies
Honestly, one of the best parts of the holiday season is the snacks. I am a snack QUEEN. But I am also an abomination to baking – so I usually stop at my fave local bakery!
Whether you spend the holidays baking cookies, sending sweets, or even supporting local bakeries – you know you have to get your cookie on. My faves are Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies (it’s my dad’s recipe & it’s a literal showstopper!)
Shop my adorable llama tee from Christopher & Banks here!
Also including my dad’s cookie recipe:
- 1/2 Pound(s) (2 sticks) margarine or butter, softened
- 1 Cup(s) firmly packed brown sugar
- 1/2 Cup(s) granulated sugar
- 2 Tablespoon(s) milk
- 2 Teaspoon(s) vanilla
- 1 3/4 Cup(s) all-purpose flour
- 1 Teaspoon(s) Baking Soda
- 1/2 Teaspoon(s) salt (optional)
- 2 1/2 Cup(s) Quaker® Oats (quick or old fashioned, uncooked)
- 2 Cup(s) (12 ounces) semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 Cup(s) chopped nuts (optional)
- 2 Egg(s)
Cooking Instructions
Heat oven to 375°F. In large bowl, beat margarine and sugars until creamy. Add eggs, milk and vanilla; beat well. Add combined flour, baking soda and salt; mix well. Add oats, chocolate chips and nuts, if desired; mix well. Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 9 to 10 minutes for a chewy cookie or 12 to 13 minutes for a crisp cookie. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheets; remove to wire rack. Cool completely. Store tightly covered.
*NOTE: I CALLED MY DAD TO GET THIS RECIPE AND AFTER I WROTE IT ALL DOWN HE REVEALS THAT IT’S ACTUALLY JUST FROM THE QUAKER OATS WEBSITE. I AM SHOOK-ETH.
Spend Time With Loved Ones
With all the crazy hullaballoo around the holidays – it’s easy to get overwhelmed or even stressed out. It’s full of travel, gifts, wrapping, decorating, parties, cookies, sweaters, obligations (even fun ones), and shopping.
It’s so easy to forget the best part of the holidays: being around people you love! I know I’m excited to see my older brother (who lives 8 hours away!) & my BFF is coming to visit from Chicago – so I’m pretty pumped!
Shop this adorable fair isle sweater from Christopher & Banks here!
Shop Small & Shop Local
This is something I’m talking about every holiday season. I love to shop small & shop local for my holiday gifting! It’s so fun to hit the brick & mortar shops, to see the displays, to chat with people – it’s the best!
I usually end up doing a mix of small and local gifts with some larger retailers! There’s always a mix for all the friends & families in my life! Preston & I took a stroll in State College to stop in all the shops along the main drag! This Nittany Quill display totally stole my heart!
Shop my Christopher & Banks Scottie sweater here!
Decorate!
My mom always lamented the process of decorating, but still had over 10 boxes of Christmas decorations, so I think she secretly loved it! While I only have two boxes so far, my collection is growing!
I love adding a mix of classic with kitsch while being teeteringly close to the edge of “too much” or “too extra” with my decor. Coming home to twinkly lights & tinsel is such an easy way to get in the mood.
Honestly, last Christmas, Preston & I got a tree together for the very first time and it was so special and beautiful – so getting to decorate together is one of my favorite & most romantic holiday traditions with my husband.
Shop this adorable snowy mountain sweater here!
Check out Christopher & Banks Online!
Website
*this post is sponsored by Christopher & Banks, however all thoughts and opinions are my own!*
SO HERE’S THE “END OF BLOG” SPIEL!
If you are at all interested in doing a collab or working with me – please feel free to check out my new Contact Me! page!
Follow me on Instagram: @thepennydarling
If you want to follow my darling, Preston – you can click here!
Subscribe for updates!
If you’d like to donate to help me keep Penny Darling going – click here!
Thank you for all that you do. You are truly extraordinary.
Love all you wonderful ladies (and gents!) out there!
How Very,
Abby
Penny Darling 