#Wifey Diaries: Christmas Jewelry

This Christmas season was so special.  It was our first Christmas as a married couple, as a family of two.  We had the best time with both of our families - and I massively enjoyed my ONE day off of work!  Working the holidays just makes you appreciate the little bit of time off with loved ones that much more, I've decided.  I also may have decided this because it's better for my sanity, but thats besides the point.  I know Christmas seems like it was a longggg time ago, but I still have some pretty details to show you!

As a newlywed, I got a couple very special & fun new pieces of jewelry that I wanted to share with you!  They are PERFECT - and would be perfect gifts for any newlyweds in your life.  I squealed for joy with each and every one.  They were thoughtful and simple and very ME.

First - my #Wifey necklace!  I already shared this one with you here, but it's worth sharing again. My littlest sister Sara got it for me - it comes in silver or gold, and they've added a few different fonts...but I'm obsessed with mine!  The swarovski rhinestone "i" is the perfect little touch.

Next up is the necklace I just shared on Tuesday - my Friction silver state necklace!  Katie got this for me in New York, at one of the many holiday markets!  We go shopping at them every year together, and this year she specifically led me away from this particular shop, so I was completely surprised when I opened up this beautiful necklace.  This one kills me - it is all of my homes in one place.  There's a miniature Rhody, CT, and an "M".  The first pic below is a little awkward, but it shows each individual charm the best, so I'm leaving it for ya.  The second one is a more accurate image of how the necklace hangs.  You can also get this necklace in silver or gold, with any combination of states you'd like!!

The last piece of jewelry is this bangle bracelet my MIL got for me.  It is a simple silver bracelet with an engraving inside - "the joy is in the journey."  When Ant proposed to me he talked about the journey we would be embarking on.  I referenced this is my vows back to him during our ceremony...so the reference to the journey is a special one for both of us.  It was such a thoughtful gift!!  This exact bracelet is from Lia Sophia and you can't get it online anymore, but MantraBand has some similar styles, if you like this one!

Aren't they perfect??

xoxo

Christmas at the Lake

Every waking minute the last few weeks has been spent either A. working, or B. trying to have as much holiday fun as humanly possible while NOT working!  Which doesn't leave a whole lot of time for anything else.....luckily, I knew December was going to be crazy - so Ant and I took advantage of a couple of well timed days off early on to get the house ready for the holiday season!  I love that I can now invest in holiday decor without feeling guilty about how much use it will get - I'm not decorating a corner of our temporary apartment living situation....I'm decorating our HOME!  As it turns out, that justifies wayyyyy more adorable little trees :)

 First, I came home with three Christmas trees - two for the mantle and one for our wine rack!

We don't host actual holidays - our schedules make it next to impossible...but we did have both sets of parents over for a "between holidays" meal...the table runner I found at Christmas Tree Shops matches our new Restoration Hardware dinnerware perfectly!  I'm also in love with the "M" votive candle holder I found at Marshalls!

The next three are finished views of our mantle.  This is by far one of my favorite parts of the house, especially this time of year.  Our fireplace has so much character, and when the wood stove is roaring there is nowhere I'd rather be snuggled up!  In addition to the Christmas trees and a collection of candles, Ant and I added a garland this year.  I'd been talking about buying one and asking Ant for his opinion - and he suggested we make our own!  So we did just that.  For a first attempt, I'm pretty happy with how it turned out....and it's even more special that it was made from our own backyard!  I'm not especially crafty, but it's fun to try sometimes.

What is your favorite holiday decor?? and how early do you start putting it up?

xoxo

Oh Christmas Tree...

On Monday, Ant and I went out on the hunt for our first Mascia Christmas tree!  This is our fifth Christmas living together, and our second Christmas in this house...but our first one as a married couple!  I thought it would be fun to go into the archives and find photos of our Christmas trees throughout the years...

Here are the pictures of our three trees at our apartment...

This picture was hard to find - before the days of instagram and our fancy new computer.  This was our first tree together ever...awww....

I can't find the photo evidence, but I'm pretty sure this is our home depot tree. Thank goodness for Ant, his patience and his ability to think fast in stressful situations ;)

Our last apartment tree - we got a little bigger this time around!

When we moved into our new house, I was determined that we were going to cut down our own tree - since the previous years we had gone to a variety of "pre-cut" places in town.  We successfully found a tree - but wayyyy underestimated the size we could fit in our new home!  We were thinking apartment sized, which translated into tiny in our new home :)

Monday Ant and I both had the day off from work - so we took advantage and went to one of the local tree farms!  It was just about the perfect day for picking out the perfect tree - as you can tell by our outfits it was NOT cold, no hats and gloves necessary! {Ants was more for his bad hair day} ....NOT normal for December in Connecticut.

Hubs on the farm

We found "the one!"

Christmas 2014 - The Mascias 

MUCH better...now it just needs presents!

Lit tree = cozy home.

Couldn't leave without a wreath! Love the deep red bow against our cute black cape :)

Do you have your tree up yet?  Is it real or artificial??

xoxo

Christmas Wish List

So...it isn't even December yet, I realize.  BUT I work retail, and this week is Black Friday week!  To many people, Thanksgiving might be the more important holiday that comes to mind this week...... but if we're being honest, my Thanksgivings have always been a little funky.  This year I will be at work by 3:30pm on Thanksgiving - and we have been CRAZY at work the last few weeks, all prepping for Black Friday.

In the spirit of shopping, I thought I'd share with you my current Christmas list!  Last year's list was all about wants - and this year's list seems to be a little more of a mix.  Here's what Mrs. Mascia is currently wishing for...

Aquinnah shield studs

Jewelry from Aquinnah was on my list last year - and I have been SO good and not bought anything for myself all year!  I was lucky enough to work with her on all of my bridesmaids earrings for our wedding, and gifts for both my mother and mother in law - so now seems like a good time to spoil myself with something! I LOVE these shield stud earrings.  An amazing pop of bling without going over the top

iPhone 6

Ahhh, this one falls into the category of needs, sadly.  I have held out SO long with my darling iPhone 4s, but it is finally starting to show its age.  Time to upgrade to the newest and largest iPhone 6!

iPhone 6 case

If I'm getting a new iPhone - a new case to go along with it would become a "need" you could say, no?  This Michael Kors one from Nordstrom acts as a card holder as well, which would be helpful at work.

Spa Gift Certificate

One thing I NEVER say no to are gift certificates to the spa for either a massage or a manicure.  After the holidays at work, a massage would be the perfect way to relax....and my poor fingers could legitimately ALWAYS use a mani.  

Pier 1 Loveseat

Ant and I would not exactly agree on which category this falls into...I would call it a need - he considers it a very solid WANT.  Sooo, it is probably going to sit on our "to do" list for a little while.  We need a loveseat/chaise/chair in our bedroom - and have found a couple that we love - this one at Pier 1 included.  Sadly, it is not quite high enough on our priority list to justify the expense right now....but if Santa wanted to drop it off at the front door - he's more than welcome!

Paloma's Nest Ornament

This "Our First Christmas" ornament from the Southern Weddings shop showed up on my instagram feed one day, and I fell in love.  It is so simple, and so sweet.  No explanation needed!

So there you have it....a few of the things currently on my Christmas list!  At the end of the day, I'm mostly just excited to celebrate our first Christmas together as husband and wife.  There's something about being married that takes the idea of holiday family time to a whole new level.  I can't wait to build our own holiday traditions together! ....whatever those may be :)

xoxo

RH 2014 Holiday Guide

Okay friends, one happy holiday-ready newlywed here.  I know it might seem a little early to be talking about the holidays {We haven't even picked our pumpkins yet}, but when you work retail you are used to Christmas coming early!  So Thursday when I went to get the mail I was soooo excited to see my RH Holiday Guide!!! Ant promptly suggested we throw it away, knowing the damage I could do - but I decided against that :)  Instead, when I was catching up on Scandal Friday night, I decided to look through it.  Scandal + RH + red wine is basically the best version of a mevening {evening for me} that exists.  

Ant and I did a wedding registry through Restoration Hardware, which was the first time I really experienced the store.  Let me tell you, there is nothing more luxurious than walking through their Boston location with a personal shopper scanning things as you go.  It was fabulous!  Even more fabulous are the quality pieces we got for our new home through it.  Restoration Hardware, in my opinion, is very hit and miss.  Some items come in at a very respectable price, ESPECIALLY for the quality you are getting.....and others sometimes are just way off our price range.  But either way it is SO fun to "window" shop.  I thought I'd walk you through a few of my favorites....

The first five items I just love.  I want to buy them, and just might when the hubs isn't paying attention!  I love mercury glass in general, and I think mixing these in red, white and silver would be the perfect way to add a touch of the holidays without going over the top.  At $29 for a set of 4, the price is good too!

If the floors in your house get as chilly as mine - you want these in your life!!  You can't beat $19 - and wolf or coyote would look just lovely on my cold toes.

We LOVE our linen napkins and table runner, and these guest towels would match our grey bathroom perfectlyyyyy.  The fact that you can monogram them makes them a perfect gift for newlyweds, also!

If you know me at all, I am a sucker for blankets.  I collect them, and use them, and love them.  There will never be enough snuggly blankets in my life!!!  I'll take one in each color of these bad boys, please and thanks.

This is probably something that will end up in Ant's stocking.  Hopefully he doesn't read this and ruin the surprise!!  I have a passport case that I got in college that I love and use and have almost entirely worn out.  This leather one {I prefer the lighter color} is perfect for your jet setting friend, or husband!

The next item on my list I was pretty sure I could find for cheaper somewhere else....but I was wrong!  I tried Etsy, my go-to...as well as any other normal retailer I could think of!  As it turns out, white lighted birch branch wreaths are not very common.  So!  At $59 I guess that makes this quite the bargain.  With our little black house, I think this white wreath would really pop!

The last two items I felt the prices were probably higher than they needed to be....so I did some bargain shopping!  These snowflake ornaments start at $9 each, but JCPenney has a set of 3 for $17.99!

The last one, my ultimate find is the marquee signs.  I LOVE these.  I think they are simple and sweet and a perfect way to add some holiday spirit to your home...but at $179 seemed a bit pricey.  Target to the rescue!  They have signs in a very similar style, for only $17.99!  I obviously can't speak to the quality of either, but for $17.99....who cares!! You can't go wrong.  Doesn't that mantle in the picture just look so cozy???

Are you starting to think about the holiday season yet??  Where do you start your shopping??

xoxo

Alicia Ann Couture - Holiday Special!

I had actually planned on going back and talking about my glamour shoot again soon, but when Alicia posted her holiday special I couldn't wait!!  Last year, I talked a little bit about my experience in this post, when she had her last holiday special.  At that point, I hadn't purchased any pictures or done much of anything other than gotten some of the proofs back.  Soooo, I wanted to go back and tell you all over again why I LOVED this experience and think you should stop thinking and email her, now.

Below are a few of my favorite images...

This was easily one of the most fun Halloweens I've ever had!  I got to play a very different kind of dress up - and I have never felt more beautiful or had more fun. 

Before I even got my photos back, I knew what my plan for them was.  I was going to do "teasers" of some of the pictures for Ant as gifts throughout the year....with the final gift being on our wedding day.  He received photos in his cards on our 5 year dating anniversary, Christmas, Valentine's day, and his birthday/our engagement anniversary.  Originally, my plan had been to get him a photo album as the final gift, but in the time between booking with Alicia and getting my pictures back, she had added another amazing option - a matted folio.  I decided that was the perfect way to give them to Ant - it was unique and special!  Below is how I gifted it to him, and where it currently resides in our home :)

Long story short, here is the promotion - it is an INSANE deal.  $150 includes the shoot and hair & makeup - all you need to do is purchase the photos/products after!!

Thanks me later :)

xoxo