Grandparents Holiday Gift Guide

As I was chatting with my Mom the other day about Christmas shopping she suggested I make a gift guide for Grandparents & I thought wow what a great idea! Grandparents are so important but honestly a little tricky to shop for, so below I've listed some of my favorite gifts to give & things my grandparents have asked for in the past. Some other ideas not linked below would be a pedicure gift card- my grandpa actually loved getting them! A gift card to their favorite restaurant or even better take them out for breakfast or lunch- they really just want to spend time with you!

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Teddy Bear Jacket

*This post contains affiliate links- thank you for supporting Nicholle Sophia

It's officially winter here in Vermont as we've had our first snow fall & below 30 temps! This teddy bear coat is the perfect item to keep you cozy and warm all winter. What I love about this piece is that you can easily layer sweaters under it as it's not a tight fit- it's meant to be oversized. I also love that you can throw this coat on & instantly look so glam even paired with just dark denim. I've worn this jacket to grab a coffee & out to dinner & everyone loves it! Although I will tell you that Kyle says I look like a lost polar bear #men . I'm linking a few different options in different price points below. I would either size down in these coats or stick to your normal size as all of them generally run large. For reference I'm wearing a small in this coat & it's quite roomy. 

Hope you've enjoyed!

XO,

Nicholle 

Black Friday & Cyber Monday Sales 2017

Hi all- I'm updating this post to include all of the Cyber Monday Sales as well! 

*This post contains affiliate links- thank you for supporting Nicholle Sophia

One of the biggest shopping days of the year is almost here! Happy Black Friday! I thought it would be helpful to compile some of my favorite sales & discount codes to make shopping a little easier for you. I use Black Friday to get a lot of my Christmas Shopping done- I'm not one to wait until the last minute as I find it can get quite pricey that way. I always have a list of things I need to purchase and then I find the retailers that are offering the best discount on those items. Below is a list of the sales that have started- As more sales are posted I will update the list below!

*If you click directly on the retailer's I mention it will take you to their site so you can shop!
Forever 21
21% off everything // Code: CYBER21 & Free shipping on all orders

Target
15% off your entire online purchase s

BH Cosmetics
Up to 60% off

H&M
30% off purchase over $50 & free shipping // Code:5038
25% off purchase over $25 & free shipping // Code: 3535
25% off all sale // Code: 9225

Loft
50% off everything & free shipping // Code: CLICK

Rebecca Minkoff
25% off $100 with code: BLACK25 // 30% off $250 with code BLACK30

Baublebar
35% off everything // Code: CYBER35

DSW
25% off everything // Code: HOLIDAY2017
 American Eagle
40% off everything & free shipping

T3 Hair Tools
25% off // Code: FRIDAY17

Francesca's
30% off entire store!

LLbean
20% off clothing & outerwear & Free Shipping // Code: THANKS20
25% off Wicked Good Slippers // Code: CYBER25

Old Navy

50% off entire purchase including clearance!

JCREW

40% off everything + an extra 10% off & free shipping // Code: SHOPFAST

Gap

50% off everything code: CYBER // Extra 10% off with code: TREAT

Express

Everything 50% off & free shipping

Urban Outfitters

$50 off $150 & $15 off $75

Holiday Cheese Board

The Holidays are here & with that comes lots of little get-togethers & parties. I'm the type who loves to entertain so I enjoy putting together little spreads of snacks for gatherings. This cheese board is one I'd put together for any of my get-togethers this season with family or friends. I've made this exact one before & it was a hit- I had to refill a few of the items before drinks were even finished! If you have picky eaters or allergies it's easy to tweak these boards to fit everyone's needs. 

I will generally make sure everyone has their drinks prior to setting the board out. I always have wine, a few different local beers, and of course liquor for mixed drinks. For non-alcoholic beverages, I have on hand seltzer, a fruit juice, and a few sodas in the small cans. 

What to include // 

- Hard cheese (manchego, parmesan, aged cheddar) 

- Soft cheese (brie, cheese spread, gorgonzola) 

- Nut or seed (almonds, cashews, sunflower seeds)

- Cracker or chip ( pick a higher end cracker- no ritz!) 

- Meat (salami, prosciutto, sausage) 

-Olives (kalamata, black, castelvetrano) 

-Dip (salsa, chipotle dip, bacon horseradish) 

-Garnish-( fresh fruits like blackberries or herbs like rosemary) 

I'd love to know what you put out for appetizers!
XO,
Nicholle 

Womens Gift Guide 2017

I promised you a Womens Gift guide & here it is! Below are some of my favorite items this season that I think any women in your life or yourself would love! To shop any of these items you just have to click directly on the picture and it will bring you to the retailer. Some other great gift ideas I love are a nail or spa gift certificate, a subscription to their favorite magazine or a gift basket filled with their favorite things. Every year I make my best friend a little gift bag with items that I know she will love, some will be as simple as cozy socks or cute oven mitts and then I'll add in a makeup palette shes been eyeing- she always loves it!

Hope you've enjoyed!
XO
Nicholle
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Thursday Thoughts

How dreamy is this picture!? This was taken at the hunting camp my Dad goes to. There are so many beautiful hidden spots here in Vermont. The weather has started to turn & I have officially seen the first dusting of snow on the ground- it has me so excited for the upcoming holidays! 

Things I did this week //

* Powered through this final week before Thanksgiving! The students & I are in need of a much-deserved break. They've been working so hard and I think a week off will be good for all of us! 

* Started putting out decor for Christmas! I'm definitely not one of those people who feels like there's a set date for decorating for Christmas- Whenever I get into the spirit I do it! 

* Made a few new recipes- I showed one of them on Instagram & you all seemed to love it- It's so fun to share what I'm making every night. If you ever have any requests just let me know!

Things I'm doing this weekend // 

* Food shopping for Thanksgiving- not that thrilling I know but I love cooking and holidays so I enjoy it! I still need to decide what I'm going to make for dessert!

* Shooting some fun new clothing pieces - I purchased a teddy bear jacket and OH MY it's so cozy! 

* Making my list for Black Friday shopping! I asked over on Instagram if you guys wanted to see a post with all of the best sales & there was unanimous yes, so I'll be sharing that as soon as possible! 

What are your weekend plans?

XO,

Nicholle 

Reversible Plaid Blanket Scarf

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Happy Tuesday!

I've found the perfect scarf for cold weather! What I love most about this scarf is that it's reversible so really it's like 2 scarves in 1! At under $30 you can't go wrong- and both the prints are so cute. I paired this cozy scarf with a simple striped peplum top, I love mixing prints and stripes are mild enough to pair with a red plaid. As you can tell you can wear this scarf a few different ways. I personally like wearing it as more of a shall/wrap. I find myself feeling a little trapped if I wrap it fully around my neck as the scarf is so big. This scarf truly does keep you warm and is perfect for a freezing cold day- it's not just a cute accessory. This would make a great gift for any of your girlfriends this holiday season! Also as a side note how cute are the Starbucks holiday cups!? Mines filled with just hot chocolate! 

Hope you've enjoyed!

XO,

Nicholle 

Easy Weeknight Dinner

I'm back with another dinner recipe! This one is perfect for weeknights when you're a little crunched for time but still want a warm meal. This takes under 20 minutes to put together & is so delicious!

I paired this meal with a light salad- it would also be great with garlic bread! 

Ingredients // 

1 Pk. Chicken Sausage (I used garlic) 

1 Jar Spaghetti Sauce

2 Handfulls Fresh Spinach (torn into smaller pieces)

1 Pk. Ravioli or Tortellini 

2 Tablespoons Softened Cream Cheese 

Instructions // 

1. Cook your pasta & set aside- You can use frozen or fresh pasta as it will be cooked prior

2. Dice up your chicken sausage and cook in a skillet over medium heat unit warm

3. Add in your jar of spaghetti sauce & any spices you like- I added some Italian seasoning & garlic

4. Once sauce is hot stir in cream cheese until blended- this will create a creamier sauce

5. Toss in your pasta & mix until coated with sauce

6. Finally toss in your spinach and remove from heat

All Done!

Hope You Enjoy!

XO,

Nicholle 

Thursday Thoughts & Sephora VIB Sale

                                            *This post contains affiliate links- thank you for supporting Nicholle Sophia

It's my favorite time of year! The Sephora VIB sale is almost here! Before it officially starts I wanted to share a few items I have my eyes on. This sale is the perfect time to stock up on gifts for the holiday season at a discount! Sephora is giving its Beauty Insider Rouge (VIP) members 20 percent off in stores and online with the code "20FORROUGE." From Nov. 10-15, VIB members and Beauty Insiders can join in. If you're a VIB member, you can use the code "20FORVIB" for 20 percent off. Beauty Insiders can take 15 percent off with the code "INSIDER15."

The products linked I either have or really want- like the T3 Curling Wand, I've been wanting this & what better time to get it than 20% off!? You can use the discount codes more than once so don't worry if you place an order & find other things you want! Let me know what items are on your list!

Things I did this week //

* Went to the Flynn (our local theater) to see a performance of 'A Christmas Story'. This has always been one of my favorite movies as my family turns it on every Christmas since it plays for 24hrs on TBS! I was so excited to be able to see this show live with my Mom!

Things I'm doing this weekend // 

* Manicure! I need one soo bad. The colder weather in VT dries out my hands and in turn, ruins my poor nails- they need some TLC!

* More Hallmark movies! & the start of my Christmas decorating. Last weekend I grabbed a few items I wanted to use to do some DIY holiday decor so I'm going to start piecing all of that together. 

Have a great weekend!
XO,
Nicholle 

Mens Gift Guide

So the Holidays are right around the corner and you have ZERO ideas what to get the men in your life- have no fear, I've got this! If there's one thing I think I'm really good at it would be buying gifts for others. I feel like that's one of my best skills! I started shopping for Kyles Christmas gifts at the end of October- but in my defense, his Birthday is at the beginning of December so I need to be extra prepared around the holidays! The gifts below would be perfect for any guy in your life whether it's your husband or your brother.

I'm planning on doing a few more gift guides this season so let me know if there are specific ones you want to see!
*This post contains affiliate links- thank you for supporting Nicholle Sophia