Five (Six) on Friday: Gift Guides and Such

We are in full-on celebration mode around here! We go straight from Thanksgiving to Davis’ birthday to Christmas. I am hosting some events, including a very special 3 year old’s birthday party today, and I am also helping plan events at church and preschool. And we are traveling tomorrow for Todd’s work Christmas party. I have everything from dalmatian tails to fire truck cakes to party outfits to DIY manger scenes to catering menus on my mind!  Ha!

For today’s five six, I have a gift guide for the guys in your life, our advent calendar, the advent devotion I’m doing, a sneak peek of Davis’ party, a party outfit, and a surprise delivery from a friend!

I am linking up with April, Natasha, and Christina; Karli; Erika, Narci, and Andrea for Five on Friday, Oh Hey Friday!, and Friday Favorites.

ONE: Buying for men can be difficult! Here are some ideas for your husbands, boyfriends, dads, brothers, uncles, older sons, etc! Todd-approved. 😉

Daniel Wellington watch | Michael Kors Watch | QALO ring (flexible silicone wedding band, perfect for working out, etc! Todd wears his almost every day) | pocket square | J Crew shirt | Patagonia trucker hat | Ray Bans | Diadora shoes | Queen City Carolina Panthers shirt | Yeti Rambler | Yeti Roadie | toiletry bag | Airframe Portable Car Mount Holder | Monogram Double Old-Fashioned | Power Drill

One more thing that I forgot to include in the collage:

Powerbeats 

I also posted a beauty and skincare gift guide yesterday!

TWO: I finally got our advent calendar up! I still need to write on the chalkboard. I bought ribbon, those little brown envelopes, and the wooden star stickers from Hobby Lobby. The mini clothes pins are from Michael’s, and I used a chalk pen to write on the envelopes. Inside each envelope is a piece of card stock with something for each day written in gold Sharpie. I used this list of advent verses for us to read each day. Davis may not understand it all, but he really enjoys when I read to him from my Bible!  We wanted to do something intentional for each day leading up to Christmas. Some of our activities include: giving a toy to Toys for Tot; going in jammies to see Christmas lights; making Christmas cards for grandparents; making Christmas cookies with cousins; going to the live nativity at the Billy Graham Library, reading Christmas books, etc!

THREE: Speaking of Advent, I am doing the She Reads Truth Advent devotion each day, and I am really enjoying it. Plus it absolutely helps keep my focus on Christ amidst this crazy season. I pull out my Bible while I read it and underline some of the verses.

It is also the best reminder of Jesus and God’s promise during this awful and scary time in our world.  One of my favorite names for Jesus is Prince of Peace.  (Read Isaiah 9:6-7)

FOUR: The countdown to D’s fire truck birthday party is on! I am not going to go as crazy as the past couple of years (1st birthday; 2nd birthday), but I’m still hoping it’s fun for him and his friends! I will post all the details in a post next week. Here is a look at his cake (not my best work!!! but he will like it :))

FIVE: Each December we travel to VA for my husband’s work party. Their district covers several states, so everyone is spread out. This is the only time we are together with the spouses included, and I enjoy getting to see everyone. I haven’t put a ton of thought into what I’m going to wear this year, but I did find a sweater this week to pull my look together. Most of my items are new, but they were all on significant sale (shoes were around $25!), and I will wear them all again.

faux leather jacket | heels (I found mine at Nordstrom Rack. They are sold out, but these are a more updated take on a dressy black sandal.  And they’re under $50) | “jeans” from Gap (they are pull-on and very skinny, like denim leggings) | sweater

SIX: I have some of the sweetest friends! I received a package from Anthropologie this week, but it wasn’t something I had ordered. I opened it to find the food journal I blogged about. My incredibly thoughtful friend Caroline sent this to me! It totally made my day!

Thank you all for reading!  I’m hoping to catch up on blog reading on the way to VA.  I’d love to find some new blog friends through the link-ups!  Have a great weekend!