Author: Big Mama

Listen. This is one of the many reasons why Gulley is my best friend. Many of you asked if she’d put together a Christmas wish list for teen boys and I had this in my email inbox about six hours later.

And I have to say that I think she and her boys came up with some fabulous ideas.

Here you go:

1. Joola mid-size ping pong table

This is portable and much less expensive than a full-size table. We actually took this on one of our road trips. It is so easy to set up and the kids love it.

You could also add in some ping pong paddles and balls. Which, let’s face it, this would kind of be a lame gift Christmas morning if the kids only got the table.

2. Jersey/shirts for favorite team

The boys love a jersey and/or a t-shirt for various sports teams. Will enjoys specific players and Jackson is just a fan of a general team shirt.

3. Nerf guns

Nerf guns come in all price points and are for all ages. You can never have enough Nerf guns.

4. Flashlights

All types, sizes, price ranges. My guys always love a flashlight. Also, Bass Pro Shops sells a pack of ten small flashlights for just $9.99 that makes a great stocking stuffer. (It’s not online, but in the store.)

5. Headphones

Beats are the most popular, but there are all price points and varieties of headphones and earbuds.

6. Over the door basketball goal

This is a total hit and provides endless entertainment.

And then they can graduate on to this bigger version, the Indoor/Outdoor XL Big Basketball Hoop Set – 27″ x 18″ Backboard + 15″ Rim

This is in Will’s room and bolted to the wall. It’s meant to be inside and is smaller, but still so much fun!

7. A fathead –

These are expensive but a huge hit.

8. Guy Harvey t-shirts

You can’t go wrong with a t-shirt. Especially if it has an outdoor theme.

Or you could opt for a Vineyard Vines t-shirt.

9. Ihome/speakers

There are so many versions, but my guys love to listen to music and charge their phones.

10. Under Armour anything!

Under Armour is standard apparel. Will subscribes to the theory that the more neon, the better.

11. A new football/basketball/insert favorite sport

I know it seems simple but sometimes a new ball will get them outside playing. I’m for anything that gets them outside playing!

12. sleeping bags

This is always a good option, especially if your guys like to camp out.

Or you could opt for a sweatshirt blanket.

(True story: Gulley and I went to the A&M/Auburn game a year ago and the game was terrible, but it was so cold that Gulley bought an A&M sweatshirt blanket at Kyle Field and, to this day, will tell you that was the best part of the 2015 football season.)

13. Giftcard to Stubhub

Last year my sister gave my boys gift cards to Stub Hub. We ended up making a great memory at a Spurs game!

(Gulley texted me to make sure I added that you can do this in any price point because most cities will have a variety of events to choose from that range in price.)

14. Funny t-shirt/posters/memorabilia from your child’s favorite TV show

We binge watched Parks and Rec and Jackson’s favorite thing in his room is a poster from the show.

15. weatherman wingman multi-tool

I added this one because Gulley’s list stopped at 14 and I needed it to be 15 because I have issues. But I will say that boys of all ages enjoy a multi-tool/pocket knife type thing.

Hope this helps! A big thank you to Gulley for putting this together!

Gulley and I had a full weekend of shopping even though it was cold and rainy here. Although I will say that we called it a day much earlier than usual on Saturday afternoon because we both felt like we were close enough to being finished and, also, ONLINE SHOPPING. So we did the only smart thing that could be done and drove home, put on dry pajamas, poured some wine and shopped on Amazon.

In fact, this year was really the first year that we were completely out of the toy zone. And I have to say that I am not sad that I’m not frantically searching for a Hatchanimal that’s completely sold out everywhere. Nothing says Merry Christmas like being price-gouged on Ebay because you’re desperate and don’t want Santa to get bad press.

Anyway, I searched high and low and here are some ideas I’ve compiled for the teen girl on your Christmas list. I realize that not all of these are for everyone, but I tried to find a little something in various price ranges and taste categories. Also, if you have any great ideas, please share in the comments! We will all be forever grateful.

1. adidas super girl track pants

Adidas are back. Probably because in the words of Run DMC, “We make a good team my Adidas and me.” Caroline loves these track pants, but you could also go with the original logo leggings.

Or an adidas crewneck sweatshirt

And these adidas original superstar sneakers would be a big hit.

2. erin condren notebooks, stationery, notepads, etc.

In truth, this Erin Condren stuff would be great for any woman on your wish list. I love all the colors and the patterns on everything from notepads to life planners to notebooks.

3. bluetooth wireless earbuds

Apparently regular earbuds are over. It’s all about the wireless bluetooth. These come in all kinds of price points, but these have great reviews and seem like a good starting point.

4. pink full zip hoodie

Gulley remarked this weekend that Victoria’s Secret is a marketing marvel because that store never fails to be jam packed full of people. And they sell underwear. But they also know how to continually update their merchandise and their Pink Collection is a big thing for teens right now.

5. pottery barn faux fur bean bag

Truth be told, I’d like to have a faux fur bean bag. These come in small or large and who doesn’t love sinking into a bean bag? Especially one made of faux fur?

6. voluspa reed diffuser

Caroline is all about her room smelling good. There are various ways to achieve this, but these reed diffusers seem like a better option to me than candles. You could also go with an essential oil diffuser. Or girls that age do love a candle, you just have to remind them to blow it out when they’re leaving the house.

7. ulta brilliantly beautiful color essentials collection

You can’t go wrong with a makeup set. Ulta always has a good selection at good prices.

And I love this essie winter collection mini set of nail polishes.

And if you really have a girl who’s into her beauty products, it might be fun to get her a birch box subscription. For $10 a month she can get a box of sample products every single month for a year.

8. clarisonic mia brush

I’m a big believer that good skincare starts early, especially because teen girls can be so prone to breakouts anyway (And then insult to injury, this happens again in your forties). When you order a Clarisonic from the Clarisonic site, you can get it engraved which is kind of a nice touch.

9. polaroid instant film camera

Because everything old is new again. Adidas, Polaroids, Atari. It’s just a matter of time before Jordache jeans make a big comeback.

10. james avery necklace

Gulley and I ran in James Avery to get a few gifts and I saw so many great thing that would make good gifts…a ring, a cute necklace, a leather bracelet.

11. j.crew cable knit sweater

I bought this sweater for myself and Caroline stole it from me before I even wore it one time. She actually likes it because it’s oversized on her so maybe order it a size up.

12. sloane ranger smartphone wallet

Caroline is always taking her phone when she goes places but doesn’t like to carry a purse and doesn’t always have a pocket. I love this smartphone wristlet because it’s the perfect phone solution.

13. monogrammed rain jacket

Marley Lilley has a ton of cute monogrammed clothing options, but this rain jacket caught my eye. Maybe because I got rained on all weekend long. But it’s worth looking around on their site because there are lots of things that would make a great gift.

14. moon and lola nameplate necklace

I’ve always been a fan of these nameplate necklaces.

15. mouthguard challenge game

If you’re looking for a fun game, this promises to be a big hit and make everybody laugh. We also love doing a puzzle or two over the Christmas break and I think these White Mountain puzzles are the best.

And so there you have it. I hope you find something here and that it alleviates some stress from your Christmas shopping experience. Best of all, you can buy all of it online. Gulley and I decided this weekend that our goal is to eventually turn the shopping weekend into a spa weekend and just order everything on the computer in between a massage and a pedicure.

It’s called working smarter, not harder.

In case you were wondering, I still have pumpkins on my front porch. And my yellow mums have bloomed again. Essentially, I have the porch I wanted to have two weeks ago.

But we are tentatively planning on going to pick out a Christmas tree on Sunday so we are making forward progress. And Gulley and I are having our shopping weekend this weekend so I’ll come home with lots of wrapped presents that will be in need of a tree. What I’m saying is that, slowly but surely, I’ll be decking the halls even if I don’t currently have a functional kitchen.

Here are some cute things I found this week that would be great, whether you’re shopping for yourself or looking for some good Christmas ideas.

1. lakeside tie-front hoodie

Maybe it’s because my college years took place in the early 90s, but I have a love for the tie-front shirt. And here is a tie-front shirt/hoodie combo. Who can resist that?

It’s on sale for $49.95 but Anthropologie is offering an extra 40% off all sale merchandise with no code needed.

2. adventurer shirt jacket

I have loved this ever since I first saw it. It’s lightweight like a shirt, but with the fit of a jacket and I love the embroidery detail on the sleeve.

It’s on sale for $99.95 but an extra 40% off with no code needed at checkout.

3. antique rose cardigan

I own this cardigan and it’s a favorite. Super soft and comfortable. You definitely want to order it in a bigger size if you want it to fit like it fits the model in this picture.

It’s $44 and also comes in evergreen and burgundy.

4. timber work cutout belt

True story. I can’t really remember the last time I wore a belt. But I saw this one on sale for $39.95 with an extra 40% off and am wondering if it might be time to invite a belt back into my life?

5. embroidered chambray button down

This feels a little more spring/summer to me because I can just see this with white jeans. Maybe because that model has it on with white jeans.

But it would also look great with some burgundy or gray jeans or even dark blue jeans right now. It’s on sale for $59.95 but with an extra 40% off.

6. cable knit infinity scarf

Now this would be a great Christmas stocking stuffer or teacher gift. I love an infinity scarf because it takes the guesswork out of trying to tie a scarf the right way and no one will accuse you of looking like a Hufflepuff. This one comes in camel, charcoal, green, mustard and red and is on sale for just $11.98.

7. caroline patchwork poncho

How fun is this? It has great reviews and I can see why. It’s such a unique, fun piece.

It’s on sale for $129.95 but an extra 40% off with no code needed.

8. nike element dry-fit half zip performance top

I feel like I spend 95% of my time in workout clothes. Working out is optional. And so I need to grab at least one of these Nike tops.

They are on sale for $48.75 and also come in gray, green and orange.

9. zella live in slim fit leggings

I love my full-length zella leggings. In fact, I have some full-length leggings from Lululemon but I prefer my Zellas. They are so soft and comfortable and never get too stretched out. Plus, they look nice enough to wear with a sweater and boots or you can just wear them as workout wear.

10. sole society thalia cross body bag

A cross body bag is such a great thing to have because it gives you a hands-free option. Plus, they are so in right now. This one is a great look for a reasonable price and also comes in black.

That’s it for today.

Have a great Friday.

***EDITED TO ADD: A WINNER HAS BEEN CHOSEN AND NOTIFIED BY EMAIL! THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED! THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR PARTICIPATING!***

So apparently it’s that time of year. Which, at my house, just means that it’s the time of year when I feel bad that I still have pumpkins on my front porch.

But if Instagram is to be believed, then many of you have already decked your halls and are in full blown Christmas mode. I’ve done a little online shopping here and there and Gulley and I are headed out this weekend for our annual Christmas shopping weekend so I’ve been making a list and checking it twice. And so I thought I’d share a few good gift ideas I’ve found so far.

Next week I’ll attempt to put together a list for the teenage girl. And I’ll see if I can convince P to help me put together a list for men who don’t want things like a fancy deluxe shaving kit.

There’s also a giveaway today so don’t miss your chance to win a really cool gift.

Here we go.

1. Harbor and Home reclaimed wood sign GIVEAWAY

A few years ago I decided that I really needed a wooden sign in the shape of Texas. And so I looked on Etsy and found Harbor and Home. I adore my sign and can’t say enough about how well it is made. Best of all, they can do all kinds of different states and letters depending on what you want. This would make a great Christmas gift for somebody.

But, even better, Harbor and Home is giving away a sign to one of you. You can choose the design you want. All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on this post…you can say anything or let me know what you’d want made. I’ll keep comments open until December 2 and then choose a winner through a random draw.

One last thing, if you want to order one of their signs for Christmas then you need to place your order by December 10th. After that date they will not be able to deliver in time for Christmas. Also, they ship their state signs in packaging that is the shape of the state, so keep that in mind if you want it to be a surprise for someone in your house!

2. leith shawl collar cocoon cardigan

I meant to order this way back this summer during the Anniversary sale. But I procrastinated and they sold completely out. And so I stalked the Nordstrom site until I finally got one in the charcoal gray. It is everything I wanted it to be…super soft, so lightweight yet totally warm.

They are now restocked and it’s the perfect sweater and it comes in olive, charcoal, burgundy and tan.

3. ugg ansley slippers

If I had these I would feel so much better about driving Caroline to school in my pajamas. These are for indoors or outdoors and I’m in love with them. If I were to point P to one thing on this list, it would be these slippers.

They also come in hot pink, chestnut, black, chocolate and moonlight. I would tell you what color I want but I’m torn between the hot pink, chestnut and gray.

4. beaded fringe earrings

I love these beaded fringe earrings. They are $28 and come in so many different colors.

5. j.crew marled tassel scarf

I saw this scarf earlier this week and nearly ordered it. But then I found a striped scarf at another store and ordered it instead. It came in yesterday, I tried it on and Caroline said, “Look Dad, Mom looks like a Hufflepuff!”

The lesson here is I should have gone with this understated, pale pink scarf. It’s on sale for just $19.50 with free shipping and no one will accuse you of looking like you belong in one of the houses at Hogwarts.

6. xo cable turtleneck sweater

I love this sweater because it is both cable knit and it doesn’t have a defined waistband. It also comes in navy and is on sale for $39 with free shipping.

7. lindsay letters sweeter than honey coloring book

I am such a fan of Lindsay Letters. In fact, one of her gorgeous canvases would make a great Christmas present.

But if you’re looking for something at a lower price point, she has this gorgeous new coloring book that releases on January 24th. You can preorder it here and receive a free downloadable page that you could wrap up for Christmas along with a set of coloring pencils like these.

I believe coloring is the 2016 version of knitting. At least for those of us who can’t knit.

8. wine glass markers

How fun are these? They’d make a great stocking stuffer or a perfect hostess gift along with a bottle of wine.

9. st. jude thanks and giving sherpa throw from Pottery Barn

We are always needing a blanket in our house this time of year. Not to mention that I always need a good blanket to take with me to cold Saturday morning soccer games. I love this red and black buffalo check sherpa blanket from Pottery Barn.

It’s on sale for $48 and, best of all, 50% of the proceeds are donated to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

10. noonday collection firelight necklace

I’m such a fan of Noonday Collection and they are having a big sale right now. This necklace happens to be my personal favorite and is on sale for just $39.

So there you have it. Feel free to leave any great gift ideas you may have in the comments and don’t forget to enter the giveaway for a chance to win a wooden sign from Harbor and Home.

Have a great Wednesday!

When I was fresh out of college and living in my first apartment, I had big dreams for myself of how glamorous and sophisticated my adulthood would eventually be. This was never more evident than in the fact that I purchased a subscription to Southern Living magazine even on my very limited new career girl budget.

I would look forward to that magazine arriving in the mail each month and spend hours perusing the pages, turning down corners of pages with recipes and decor that seemed especially inspirational and dreaming of the day that I would perform these same feats of decorating and culinary greatness in my own home.

Which is why it really seemed like a low when I found myself at age forty-five making Thanksgiving dessert on top of my washer and dryer.

Oh sure. It looks glamorous and ripped straight from the pages of Southern Living, what with those Hefty trash bags and styrofoam cups in the photo. But the truth is I feel like it represents the evolution of a marriage. You start off all starry-eyed and grateful that your future mother-in-law has entrusted you with a precious family recipe and, twenty years later, you begin to wonder if she shared that recipe so that you could experience the same nightmare she has for the past fifty years which involves the challenge to find ladyfingers at the grocery store two days before Thanksgiving. Granted, my mother-in-law is much more organized than I am and probably has the forethought to buy ladyfingers much earlier than two days before Thanksgiving and freeze them until they are needed. But almost twenty years of marriage has taught me nothing and I still frantically search for ladyfingers at the last minute every year, which inevitably requires a trip to at least three different grocery stores and the loss of the delicate thread of sanity I have left. You want to know what the seventh circle of hell looks like? Just visit the Central Market parking lot the day before Thanksgiving.

And in case you were wondering, I am not making a Rachel Greene trifle with jam, custard, beef and peas. It’s chocolate ice box pudding and it is truly delicious even though it requires the dreaded mission impossible for ladyfingers.

We did have a very nice Thanksgiving with my sister and her family at Bops and Mimi’s house. In years past we have had a Turducken, but this year we opted for the lesser known Turporken. If you are a wordsmith, then you might have deduced that this version involves pork instead of duck. It was delicious but we all agreed we weren’t sure there was actually any pork involved. It just looked like a lot of turkey to me and I find turkey to be the most overrated of all the meats.

But, let’s be honest, Thanksgiving is really about the carbs. The dressing, the broccoli rice casserole, the sweet potatoes, and the dinner rolls. I put a few asparagus on my plate because it made me feel better about myself, but they were the only thing left at the end of the meal. A good Thanksgiving plate is really meant to be mainly beige/yellow in color with the only splash of color coming from the cranberry sauce. It’s how the Pilgrims and Indians meant for it to be.

After lunch I noticed Caroline lying on the couch next to Mimi and Bops and it was too sweet of a moment to not capture. It made me realize these are the days I’ll look back and miss someday. These three have been as close as can be since the day Caroline was born and time hasn’t changed that even though life moves a little faster and keeps us busier as she gets older.

And then I tried to get a nice picture of these two.

Successful as always.

And one of the three of us.

Slightly better but only because I threatened them both with bodily harm.

Eventually we headed home and were all in our pajamas by 5:30 p.m. which is really the best way to spend Thanksgiving night because stretchy pants.

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving and are recovering from all the carbs and the pies and the grocery store parking lots.

Well I worked on this while watching the Aggies “play” LSU.

And that’s all I have to say about that.

On the upside, there are tons of great Black Friday deals to be had and tons of Thanksgiving leftovers to eat. So make yourself a turkey sandwich with cranberry sauce, get comfortable and give in to the wonder that is being able to finish all your Christmas shopping while still in your pajamas. God bless the 21st century.

Here are some of my favorites:

1. pavin button-down tunic

I’ve loved this tunic since I first saw it and now it’s on sale for $59.95, plus Anthropologie is offering an extra 30% off everything with the code LETSGO at checkout.

2. mixed wool stripe cardigan

I tried this on last time I was in Anthropologie and am so torn because I really like it but I really don’t need another sweater coat type thing. It’s on sale for $99.95 plus an extra 30% off with the code LETSGO.

3. caslon contrast cuff crewneck sweater

I ran in Nordstrom last week and ended up buying this sweater in navy. I didn’t mean to but then I tried it on and it was just so soft and comfortable. Even better? It’s now on sale for $35.39.

It also comes in gray and navy here

4. free people criss cross sweater

I love the criss cross detail on this sweater and it comes in a bunch of color options, although I think I’m partial to black. It’s on sale for $51.90.

5. cable knit pullover

How great would this be for all the Christmas get togethers and festivities? You could dress it up with black leggings or just throw it on with jeans.

6. the ikat elephant runaround tunic

This has been my favorite item of the entire fall. These runaround tunics are so comfortable and I wear them to work out or even with jeans and boots. Ikat Elephant is offering my readers 30% off this tunic Friday only with the code BIGMAMA30 at checkout (only wine and grey left!).

Also, they will have 30% off everything in the store beginning Saturday, with the exception of the runaround tunic and there are some great gift items and a leopard pom pom beanie that I’m kind of obsessing over.

7. j.crew factory shirttail hem sweatshirt

I really like this because I love the layered look but hate to actually layer. J.Crew Factory is offering 50-60% off everything and they also have a ton of pj pants and other things that would make great Christmas gifts.

8. gap stripe shaker cardigan

Gap is offering 50% off everything with the code TGIF50 and I think this cardigan is just perfect.

9. bp bar pendant necklace

This bar pendant necklace is on sale for just $7.96 and also comes in silver. And you know that what separates us from the animals is our ability to accessorize.

10. tiered lace tunic

I loved this tiered lace tunic in white but I like it even more in black. It’s included in the 30% off everything at Anthropologie with the code LETSGO at checkout.

11. frye melissa leather cross body bag

The next few things are definitely splurge items, but I figured it might give you a direction to point your significant other if you’re in the market for a new purse or pair of boots. I love this cross body bag and it’s 25% off and now $283.50.

12. hunter rain boots

These Hunter rain boots are going fast because they are 25% off and on sale for $112.50.

13. tory burch marion suede hobo

Well. This purse is gorgeous. And it’s 30% off yet still $332.50. But swoon.

14. ugg ava tall water resistant boots

I don’t need another pair of boots, but these would be at the top of my list if I did. I love the suede, I love the heel and I love that they are water resistant. They are 46% off and on sale for $119.91, plus they come in other colors.

15. lucky brand beeliner fringe bootie

These are over 50% off and on sale for $66.69. I love the fringe and they come in other colors.

That’s it for today.

Happy shopping!

Have a good Friday.