What I got for Christmas

Happy New Year's Eve y'all! I hope you are relaxing or sipping a little champagne with friends and family. I wanted to share a few of my favorite Christmas goodies that I received this year. I love to see what other people get for Christmas because I am nosy - so I thought I would share a few of my goodies. 

My mom and I are doing Christmas next week but my favorite gift that I don't have a photo of would have to be our new bench for the end of our bed. I knew I wanted a classic tufted bench and my dad and his fiance Suzanne let us pick out exactly what we wanted. I am IN LOVE with it. We went with this bench and I could not be happier - it was definitely our big Christmas gift this year. It looks so gorgeous at the end of our bed. 

Talk is Chic - Kate Spade notebook to carry for blog ideas

Pom Pom Keychain - I have seen so many bloggers carrying these on their bags and I thought it was too cute - Henry is not a fan 

I really needed some new beauty products so my family got me several goodies 

Naked 2 Urban Decay Palette - my Naked palette has been one of my faves for years and I can't wait to try this one out. 

Tarte Lip Set  - this lip set is adorable and the colors are gorgeous and totally wearable. 

Maybelline Master Contour Palette - this palette is a new one and I think I might review it after I start using it. 

Amazon Echo - My Uncle got these for our whole family this year and it is really cool. It does everything from play your music to give you the weather for the day. I know you can also sync it to your home if you have a smart house. 

Fur Vest - this vest came from Suzanne's store Golden Griffin in Huntsville, Alabama and I am officially obsessed with it - fun outfit post coming next week. 

Gorgeous mixed print infinity scarf 

Herringbone vest I have been dreaming of for two years is finally mine. 

Jo Malone Peony and Blush Suede - I am OBSESSED with this perfume and have wanted it for years. It smells amazing and it is my new favorite scent. I want to get the big bottle soon. If you haven't smelled it's a must. 

It was the Christmas of vests for sure. My mother in law gave me this adorable black faux fur and I was so excited because I didn't have one in my wardrobe. 

new robe from Victoria's Secret that I am in love with - probably the coziest thing ever. I technically got this in the after Christmas sales and this exact one is sold out but there are some other really cute options. 

We had such an amazing Christmas and a wonderful 2015! We feel so blessed to be surrounded with such amazing family and friends. I also feel so lucky to have my blog and have so much fun coming here and talking about all of my favorite things. 

I am really looking forward to 2016 - so many amazing things on the horizon. I have accepted a new job with an amazing company here in Mobile that I will be starting in the next two weeks and I couldn't be more thrilled. Tons of fun posts coming for 2016! 

Thank y'all so much for reading! 

Ulta Beauty - 2016 Must Haves

Lorac Unzipped Palette  | Tarte Lip Set | Clarisonic | OPI Cult Faves | Marc Jacobs Rollerball Set | Anastasia Contour Set  | Real Techniques Brush Set  | Body Butter Set | Naked 2 Palette | Nyx Butter Lipstick

I'm back with another fun post today - beauty necessities. A must have in every gal's daily routine. I love the start of the new year - it always gives me a great reason to start fresh, regroup, and reorganize my life. I received a few new products this year and I cleaned out my beauty drawer and reevaluated what I have and what I need. Ulta is always my must-stop spot for all my necessities and I have rounded up my must-haves for 2016. 

A few new additions are the Naked 2 palette, Tarte lipstick set which is an amazing deal, and several small body shop body butters - officially the most nourishing lotion I own. I am obsessed and all of these amazing products are so good. I really want to add them all to my collection.

Let me know which products you love and which ones you really want to add to your collection! 

Thank you for reading! 

Bacon and Jalapeno wrapped Pimento Cheese Balls

Happy Monday after Christmas - probably the hardest Monday to jump back of the year. It's really not too bad considering it's a short week with the New Year's holiday Thursday and Friday. I know that we are all starting our New Year's resolutions soon but you might want to want until you make these amazing cheeseballs for your New Year's celebrations. 

I made this recipe for our annual Christmas Eve Eve party with friends and it was seriously amazing. Everyone loves pimento cheese and you add a little bacon and jalapeno into the mix and those babies went like hotcakes. This is probably my new go-to recipe. The only thing I did differently with my recipe is that I didn't add the pecans. Let me know if you make this recipe and if you enjoyed it. 

Thank y'all so much for reading! 

2015 Year in Review

Christmas is over and it is giving me the sads.... anyone else? We had a wonderful holiday season and I am bummed to see it come to an end. I loved doing a fun little round-up of my year in 2014 here so I thought it would be fun to do the same thing in 2015. It has been an amazing year and I am really looking forward to what 2016 has in store. 

- chopped all my hair off and donated it, so glad I did it but I won't be cutting my hair again any time soon - growing it out is difficult

- another super fun Mardi Gras season on the books 

- being featured in the May issue of Mobile Bay Magazine was a huge highlight

- annual same sweet girls beach trip with my besties - planning the 2016 trip and can't wait to do it again 

- super fun cruise to the bahamas with our best friends 

- segment on Studio 10 about my organizational tips was another highlight for WSLG 

 - blogging and styling for Mobile Fashion Week was tons of fun 

- Thanksgiving 2015 fun on the books 

- McT State Champs another huge highlight of the year and so much fun to be there to celebrate with Henry 

- so in love with our Christmas 2015 photo shoot and how our cards turned out this year

2015 was one for the books and I am excited to see what 2016 has in store for our family! 

Thank y'all so much for reading and all of your continued support of this blog! 

Merry Christmas

Merry Merry Christmas to you all! I hope you are having an amazing day surrounded by family and friends - sipping cider and watching the last of the Christmas movies until next year. I feel so blessed and am really looking forward to everything that 2016 is going to bring. Thank you so much for taking the time out of your day to come hang out with me here on the blog - it means the world. 

" For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and his name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace" 

ISAIAH 9 VERSE 6

Santa Baby

Happy Wednesday or as I like to call it Merry Christmas break. Christmas vacation starts today at noon and I can't wait to soak it all in. I have a tiny bit of wrapping and cooking left to do but this girl is ready to get festive. 

Henry and I snapped these photos last weekend in downtown Mobile at the Christmas tree and they just feel so full of Christmas cheer. I have to say that this red dress is probably the first truly red dress I have ever owned and I don't know why I haven't really worn this color before now. It's not really a color I gravitate towards but I knew this year I wanted a proper Christmas dress and this beauty fit the bill perfectly. It didn't hurt that it's only $16- a price that can't be beaten. I plan on wearing it to tonight's Christmas Eve Eve party. 

Dress | Tights | Heels | Bag similar here | Earrings similar here | Bracelet | Rayban Aviators | Polish Essie Wicked with Glitter coating 

T-Minus 2 days until Christmas guys - hope you have finished up all of your shopping and are ready to relax and enjoy the festivities. I will admit I was feeling a little overwhelmed with my to-do list last night - Snapchat Gracie Johnston for more on that. A little Christmas movie ( Home Alone ) and some hot cocoa made me feel instantly refreshed. I have an amazingly yummy appetizer coming your way later today that would be perfect for your Christmas party! 

As always thank you so much for reading! 

Johnston Family Christmas 2015

A few weeks ago I had so much fun doing a blog photo shoot with the talented Jenny Rexrode and she was sweet enough to take our Christmas photos as well. I absolutely love getting and giving Christmas cards - it might be one of my favorite parts of the season. I also always love any excuse to get Henry to do a new photo sesh with me and get some new photos of us together ;)  

I mean y'all know he loved all the fake dancing we made him do ......he is seriously the best sport about this stuff and probably deserves a husband of the year award. I just love how they turned out. I knew I wanted a traditional Christmas look and I couldn't be happier with them. The twirling photo makes me giggle - might have to frame that one. 

Happy Christmas Week y'all! I am a little bit behind on everything I wanted to accomplish this week since our calendars have been so full every single day - it has been so much fun stuff but I am a little bit worn out. We are really looking forward to spending Christmas Eve and Christmas relaxing between our house and Henry's parents. I have finished almost all of my shopping and only have a few gifts left to wrap - snapchat me for all the latest Christmas festivities Gracie Johnston.  I am really looking forward to the break. Check back for a super festive Christmas Eve look later today to make up for my lack of posting yesterday! #naughtyblogger

Thank y'all so much for reading! 

* Photos by Jenny Leigh Photography