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Holiday Gift Guides 2021

Holiday Gift Guides 2021

Getting holiday gift guides ready in November is a first for me. Actually, getting them ready in general is a first. I thought it would be best to go ahead and post mine since shipping speeds are expected to be slower this year. To be honest, I just started shopping for my friends and family. Last year, I started shopping at the beginning of December, but since I could have a baby any day now, I’m choosing to start earlier. LOL.

Anyways… We all know that holiday shopping can be a pain. If you’re like me, and you kind of get stuck when buying for people, holiday gift guides are a lifesaver! I wish I had known about these sooner because it could have saved me a lot of googling. 

This year, I won’t have a lot of time to go out and shop so I will be doing most of my Christmas shopping online. Between prenatal appointments, family gatherings, and preparing for my babe that is soon to come, these gift guides have really come in handy.

I know many momma’s get busy around this time of year, so in spite of that, I have created five holiday gift guides to help you shop for your loved ones. Completely hassle-free! ENJOY!!

 

Gift Guide For Her

Everyone knows that buying for any woman in your life can be quite hard. Whether it’s your friends, sister, mom, mother-in-law, grandma, etc, it can be hard! Everyone has different tastes and no one wants to spend an extreme amount. I made sure to include a variety of items ranging from cozy and soft to stylish and handy! 

 

 

Gift Guide For Him

Whether you’re buying for that special someone in your life or even your brother, this gift guide is bound to have something in it that any man in your life will love! I can think of a lot of family members who would love everything on this list. 

 

 

Gift Guide For Mom

She raised you. She loves you. Shopping for mom can be an exciting time! After all of those years of her giving you gifts at Christmastime, you can finally return the favor. How awesome is that? Any mom will love this list of gifts but it’s the thought that really counts. You can even consider buying these gifts for your mother-in-law as well!

 

 

Gift Guide For Dad

Shopping for your dad or father-in-law can be extremely hard at times. I know that I struggle personally with it, but if you know what he likes and dislikes, it can make shopping easier. You know what else can make shopping for dad easier? This gift guide!

 

 

Gift Guide For The Mom-To-Be

If you’re buying for a mom-to-be this Christmas, this gift guide could help guide you on what she wants. I personally am a mom-to-be this Christmas season so trust me, I know what a new momma wants. Giving her gifts that will keep her cozy during and after pregnancy is very helpful. In this gift guide, I have included items that will help her during pregnancy and postpartum.

 

 

 

I hope these gift guides have given you some ideas when you start your Christmas shopping. If you’ve already started your Christmas shopping, I hope these help you finish up. Christmas is only a few weeks away so don’t wait too long to start (or finish) your holiday shopping!   Check out my latest blog post, Forever 21 Deals As Low As $1.80!

 

Forever21 deals as low as $1.80!!

Prices as low as $1.80??

 

That’s right! Starting today you can get Forever 21 deals as low as $1.80! How awesome is that? These deals are a part of their early Black Friday and Cyber Week discounts. This is only the beginning of many more deals to come! Be on the lookout for more deals from your favorite stores coming your way soon!

These deals won’t last long so make sure you check them out ASAP! Christmas and other holiday festivities are just around the corner so make sure you get all of your holiday shopping done in time.

 

All of the Forever 21 deals going on right now:

 

-You can use code EXTRA40 to get an extra 40% off of already marked down items! Up to 80% off clearance + an extra 40% off.

-If you download the Forever 21 app, you can get another 30% off discount code when you make an in-app purchase.

25% off of your purchase when you use code: friends25 at checkout.

30% off of your purchase of $85 or more when you use code: friends30 at checkout.

Sign up for SMS or text and get 20% off your purchase of $50 or more!

Buy 3, Get 1 Free on all Organically Grown Cotton items! Prices as low as $3.99!

-Up to 60% off ending soon!

Sign up for emails and take 20% off your next purchase of $50 or more!

EXTRA40 deal is valid 11/4/21-11/11/21.

Check out my latest post, 10 Must Have Maternity Clothing Items!

 

10 Must Have Maternity Clothing Items! 

In my opinion, one of the most important things during pregnancy is being comfortable. With your body changing so much, being comfy is always a priority. Throughout my pregnancy, I have constantly been researching the cutest + comfiest clothes that are maternity must-haves

You’re probably wondering, what do I really need throughout my pregnancy? Well, first off, you need the basics. Such as leggings, a few comfy tops, maternity underwear, etc. I’m going to share with you my top ten maternity clothing items that I can’t live without! The products I have found so far will leave you in the comfiest state while you carry your little one.

Let’s get started!

#10

Motherhood Maternity Crop Leggings

I purchased a pair of crop leggings like these because I wanted a nice cotton pair and some that weren’t long. I also knew that I wouldn’t just want to wear jeans all the time and when paired right, this pair of leggings can be fancied up. I was extremely pleased when I got this pair because the legging wasn’t see-through and it was a good length.

I normally wouldn’t wear cropped leggings, because I like mine long, but these were just so cute and comfy that I couldn’t resist. I think these will pair well with a nice sweater and sneakers when cooler weather comes my way. 

#9

Motherhood Maternity Scoop-Neck Tank

This tank gets a 10/10 all the way. It’s 58% cotton so it’s very breathable and light. I love wearing mine with pajamas or shorts. This tank works perfectly as a basic tank and can be paired with anything!

#8

Fitglam Maternity Tank

I’m going to admit that I have struggled with finding maternity tops that fit me in a flattering way. I’m petite, so everything fits weird now that I’m pregnant. I have been loving oversized tops and fitted maternity shirts, though. Here is a tank that I absolutely love! This tank top has been a lifesaver! First off, it’s really cute and comfy on my belly. It’s not uncomfortably tight on my belly and it’s breathable. I got this one when I was around 20 weeks along and it was perfect timing. By that point, all of my pre-pregnancy workout tops were either too tight or fitting cropped. This tank comes in many different and unique colors! I got the aqua color and it’s beautiful. 

#7

Maacie Maternity Leggings

Okay, finding comfortable leggings to accommodate my belly and my height was not as challenging as I thought it would be. I wanted a lightweight pair that wouldn’t see through and would feel comfy on my belly. Let me just say, I was shocked when I tried these on. They looked heavy and not very lightweight in the picture but when I got them and tried them on, I fell in love. They are super soft and light. I could wear them as pajama pants if I wanted to. They also look super cute and have pockets on both sides to put your electronics in.

Being 5’3’’ I thought they would be too long but these leggings are the perfect length. They definitely give me a workout pant vibe so I would wear these with a sweatshirt or tank top depending on the weather. Surprisingly, I love them more than the non-maternity leggings that I own. I think that says something!

#6

INNERSY Postpartum Underwear

These undies are something you need while pregnant and you can even wear them postpartum!

#5

Motherhood Maternity Under Belly Joggers

This pair of joggers have been amazing and friendly to my new bump. They are lightweight and comfy enough to wear as pajama pants or casual!

#4

Motherhood Maternity V-neck Tee

I really like this top because it accommodates my belly so well! It fits perfectly on my belly without being too tight. I don’t normally wear v-necks but this tee is so soft and comfy that I figured I should at least give it a try. I’m glad I did because I love it!

#3

H&M MAMA Ribbed Top

Yes, I finally did it. I finally found a ribbed top for expecting mothers! I couldn’t believe my eyes when I found this top at H&M. I had really missed not being able to wear a textured t-shirt and finding this top made me so happy. So far, this shirt comes in turquoise and beige. I went ahead and grabbed turquoise because blue looks great on my skin and I’m expecting a boy. This shirt can be styled with almost anything and it is great for layering. I can’t wait to start wearing this shirt everywhere!

#2

Motherhood Maternity Relaxed Fit Shorts

Finding shorts that weren’t too tight around my belly wasn’t a struggle until I hit 25 weeks when my belly started growing overnight. I’m glad I already had this pair of shorts on hand and ready to wear! I love this pair because they are comfortable and easy to move around in. I can fit the waistband on my belly and below it as well. Definitely something I needed!

#1

H&M MAMA Ribbed Tank

I have seen a lot of mama’s wearing ribbed tank tops that weren’t for maternity wear and I looked for a while before finally finding one for pregnancy. Y’all, I’m in love. The colors are beautiful and with the tank top being almost completely cotton, it’s so comfortable and light. This tank can be paired with almost anything and has a stylish texture. Another great feature? It comes in a 2-pack and comes in six eye-catching colors! How great is that!

Lastly,

I hope you have found something on this list that will help you and your ever-growing belly on your pregnancy journey. Motherhood is beautiful and I wish all the momma’s out there the absolute best. Need some food recommendations to help accommodate your morning sickness and food adversions? Check out my Pregnancy Food Favorites here!

Pregnancy Food Favorites

If you’re a mama out there who is struggling to find some snacks or meals to help with inescapable nausea and food aversions that come with pregnancy, I’m your girl. I was a picky eater before I became pregnant so as soon as the food aversions hit, I became even pickier. Crazy right? I used to not be able to eat a whole bunch of dairy pre-pregnancy due to being lactose intolerant but lately, I have been craving milk. I guess my little one likes calcium!

Below are a few of my favorite snacks and meals throughout my pregnancy so far. I hope you find something new to try!

 

Snacks:

  • Benton’s Cookie Thins.
  • Chocolate oatmeal.
    Here’s what I put in mine: 1 cup of instant oats, ½ cup of cocoa powder, ¼ cup of your favorite nut butter (I use almond or soy butter), ¼ cup of butter, and ½ cup of sugar.
  • Fruit bowl that consists of strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries.
  • Mandarin orange slices.
  • Toast with butter and strawberry jelly or soy butter.
  • Homemade hashbrowns.
  • Banana chocolate smoothie.
    Here’s how I make mine: 2 banana’s, ½ cup of cocoa powder, ½ cup of your favorite nut butter (I use almond butter), 1 ½ cups of oat milk, ½ cup of sugar, and 1 cup of ice. I add more ice if needed.
  • Carrots and ranch.
  • Enjoy Life protein bites.

 

Meals:

  • Breakfast burritos.
    When I make mine I have to have these ingredients: homemade guacamole, scrambled eggs, ground chicken or turkey, sauteed spinach, and occasionally hashbrowns.
  • Chicken Alfredo.
  • Caesar salad.
    I love adding Ken’s Caesar Dressing on top of mine.
  • Chili with a piece of grilled cheese on the side.

I hope this has helped inspire you to make some of these pregnancy snacks and meals! 

Trying Something New

Trying Something New

Proverbs 16:24 

“Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.” 

Welcome to my Sugar Sunshine Life! It’s a new day and I’m going to try something new. I’m guessing it’s pretty obvious, I’ve started a blog!

Starting a blog page has been on my heart for some time and over the past few weeks, I have been working very hard on my website! It’s made me happy to have something to occupy my mind with and to have something that’s just mine to work on. Here is a little info to help you get to know me.

 

About Me

I am 19 years old and from Birmingham, AL. I’m married to the love of my life, Elijah, and we are expecting a baby boy in December of this year. Our family has a farm consisting of goats, pigs, chickens, turkeys, and bunnies. We have an adorable Border Collie named Snoopy who watches over all of our family’s farm animals. I’m a Christian and a lot of what I write will include Christ and how He influences my life every day. 

 

About My Blog

I chose the name Sugar Sunshine Life because of Proverbs 16:24. I believe in the sweetness of words and being a light, or sunshine, in this world. It would be awesome if I could spread inspiration to people through my words and also encourage others to go and make their dreams come true. Being a blogger has been a dream of mine and to finally embrace it has been a blessing. I will be sharing my favorite homemade recipes along with my fashion favorites! I will also be sharing about things that are currently happening in my life and what’s on my heart.

Something that has inspired me to write is that I want the world to be a better place. I feel that I have a responsibility to share the good news and be a light in this world. Many women I know have inspired me through their blogs to start one of my own as well. I have always loved to write so I think when it comes to blogging I’ll have an opportunity to express myself in ways that I haven’t been able to before. Growing up I always wrote short stories to entertain myself. Now that I’m older, I’ve channeled that energy for writing into blogging.

In the past year, I have written for other bloggers so I’ve grown more knowledgeable and more experienced in that time alone. I’m thankful for those opportunities because they truly helped me grow as a writer. I got to see firsthand how a blog is run and how to use certain features and writing styles.

 

I hope that you turn your dreams into a reality and choose Christ every day.

 

My socials are InstagramFacebookPinterest, and LiketoKnow.It