Deck the halls on a dime

Living alone for the first time gives you a whole new sense of control and independence. I get to do everything my own way and on my own time. My family has always been a "wait-until-after-Thanksgiving" family as far as Christmas decor goes, and I respect it, but I love Christmas and I just simply could not contain my excitement. I told myself to wait. But how does one not go crazy when you're flooded with Christmas in every store you walk in to? I was drooling when I went in to Target last week.

But unfortunately I've got a sick pup (click here to read more on his GoFundMe) who needs lots of medical attention, which in turn means lots of money, and I also went a couple of weeks out of work, which meant I had to keep my budget super tight.

I wanted so. badly. to buy up Target and HomeGoods and clear them of their Christmas sections, but I'm a lady on an extreme budget these days, so I had to figure something else out. This year I did all of my Christmas decor shopping at, drum roll please, the Dollar Tree.

I went garland crazy. You can wrap garland anywhere and things immediately look more festive! I want to keep it on my bar cart year-round! I also threw two Christmas kitchen towels over the handle to pull it all together. (PS- the wine glass and candy canes inside it were also from the Dollar Tree!) I bought 5 strands of garland total + 2 towels + 1 box of candy canes= $8 total.

Ok let's be real- I have two huskies with endless energy and I do not have the patience for glass ornaments. They're pretty, sure. But I don't need sliced up paws and endless sweeping and frustration just because those nuts think the ornaments are more of their ball toys to toss around. I bought 6 packs of varying ornaments (I got 4 of the same gold and silver ornaments and 2 packs of red to add a little bit of color). And again, garland. It fills up the extra space and makes the tree so much shinier! 6 packs of ornaments and 2 strings of garland? $8 to decorate the tree.

These mini Christmas trees make several appearances in my house. They're so festive and for $1 each I went a little nuts and bought 4 of them. They look great on an end table, coffee table and/or kitchen table! I also bought 3 festive faux flower bunches and put them in little glass jars. $5 total. Now I won't lie and say the "home for the holidays" sign didn't come from Target- but it was from the $1, 3,5 section for only $3, bringing this table to a total of $8.

Stockings! Oh how I love to jam-pack stockings full of goodies months before Christmas. I was so thrilled that the Dollar Tree had Star Wars stockings, because it's perfect for my nerdy boyfriend. They also had stockings for pups to fulfill all of my dog-lady desires (and cats, for you crazy cat ladies!). I have yet to buy a stocking for myself, but I know my mom and dad will pull through on one for their house ;)  Stockings= $3 total.

Wine glasses!! I'm so big on wine glasses. I used to be a crazy coffee mug hoarder (I won't lie, I still am) but as soon as I was introduced to the gloriousness that is wine, I became a wine glass hoarder. I stalk HomeGoods wine glass section on the regular because they have the cutest glasses for great prices. But low and behold, the Dollar Tree had these simple yet gorgeous glasses (they've got a gold lining on the top! Ahh). I bought a few for drinking, and one to hold candy canes in on the bar cart! Four wine glasses= $4.

Obsessed with the gold rim. It takes them from simple to elegant, and they look far more expensive than $1! They even have matching coffee mugs (got those, too) and plates so you can have a gorgeous table setting if you're hosting Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner!



And the grand total? $31 for all of this holiday gloriousness.
I did purchase a couple other things that weren't photographed, but all in all, I didn't go over $50! The Dollar Tree is your friend! While I was in HomeGoods I also made a few other purchases (a Christmas themed mug that says "Dog Mom" because that's the kind of person I am) and some gift wrap.
The Dollar Tree also provided me with 6 rolls of wrapping paper, however I will say that HomeGoods has amazing prices on gift wrap and you generally get more square feet!  And the Dollar Spot at Target is home to many cute glitter mini-trees and festive signs.

Happy budget shopping!

'tis the season for wishlists

In the Gibson household, Christmas lists begin around the same time as Halloween. My mom has always been one to get her Christmas shopping done early (I applaud you, Mother, I really do) because she hasn't the patience for long lines and traffic-hell come December. While most people are still trying to decide what they're going to dress up as for Halloween, I'm trying to get my Christmas list together for fear of my mother verbally harassing me if I don't get it to her in a timely manner (first world problem, am I right?).
A few years back I began making visual wishlists for her because I found them so much more appealing than handing over a bland sheet of notebook paper with my hardly-legible chickenscratch all over the place. I would copy and paste a photo into Microsoft Word and underneath I would give a size, color, and link to the website where she could purchase said item. Technology is crazy, people. Absolutely crazy.
Ever since then, I have become a huge fan of making online wishlists, whether it be a Christmas list for my (super-freakin-awesome) mom, or just for me to cry penniless tears over things I love yet can't afford. I could spend hours doing this.
All of the items shown above can be found on PersunMall for crazy affordable prices.  Perfect for Christmas shopping :')

xo Susie

flowers in winter

Sooooo I'm always complaining about it not being cold enough in Texas, right? Well, the temps have finally gotten super low and I now realize how miserable it is trying to take photos when it's freezing out.
That's why this post only has two photos. My older sister (who took them) and I were both rapidly turning into icicles so we had to cut this one a bit short.
On Christmas I got about a billion and one giftcards to Forever21, so this outfit is comprised almost solely of F21 items EXCEPT the beautiful black cape! I got that c/o MySocialOutlet (probably the coolest company ever...you muuuust check them out!) and I am so in love with it. It's so cozy and it's very high quality, and actually kept me quite warm!
I'm also really digging the floral leggings. I have taken quite the liking to patterned pants/leggings, and I can't stop buying them.
xo

holiday gift guide: for him

The age old question: what the heck do I get my boyfriend for Christmas?
S O L V E D.

1.  A watch. Simple, classic, and always welcomed.
2. Beanies are the cutest things in the world on a boy. Buy him one so YOU can benefit from it.
3. Boys who can skateboard/longboard are so attractive. If he doesn't know how, make him learn. If he already does, he will love you forever if you get him a new board.
4. Who can deny the cuteness of a bow-tie on any boy? Cute overload.
5. Beats by Dre are perrrrrfect for any boy who is into music. 
6. A pair of brogues is something every male needs in his closet. So you're doing him a favor.
7. Cologne is one of the most simple gifts you can get for your man. If you're in a new relationship, this is something I'd suggest. It's not too much, nor too little. Plus, who doesn't want their man to smell nice?
8. Ray-Ban Clubmasters are so stinkin' cute, and every boy needs a pair of Ray-Bans. They're timeless.

Enjoy spoiling your man this holiday season! xo

// school days

There are certain days that I am ready to give up on school completely, and then there are days like today, when I can cozy into my chair in front of the computer with a giant mug of tea and just enjoy being there.
I'm beyond ready for winter break, though, I'll tell ya that.
I'm also WAY over this 80-degree December weather. Not cuttin' it.



Hope everyone has a super-festive rest of your week! December is the best month of the year, enjoy each and every day! xoxo

one holiday down- now on to the next

Well, Thanksgiving is almost officially over. I had such a great, family & food-filled day, and I couldn't be happier!
But now that Thanksgiving is over, ALL that's on my mind is C H R I S T M A S!

I am a huge Christmas gal. I love everything about the season!
So, onto the dress above. I just stumbled upon it and decided immediately that it had to be my Christmas dress. I'm not usually one to dress up for Christmas, but I've decided that I want to start doing so. How perfect is this dress?! Crochet accents always remind me of the holidays, plus the color (duh) sooooooooo it's been decided.
I must have it. This dress can be found here!

I hope everyone's starting to get into the Christmas-y mood :') Tis the season!! xoxo

my christmas wishlist

christmas list by insusiesshoes 

The holidays are speedily approaching and my mom has been nagging 24/7 about getting my Christmas list to her! But I mean, I can't complain...she's just being a good mom :')

I've been dying to have a Nespresso machine for quite some time now, because as many of you who read my tumblr frequently know...I am a diehard coffee fan. This way I can make latte's and fun drinks at home instead of spending really excessive amounts of money at Starbucks every week (it's gotten a little embarrassing how often I drag my coffee-deprived little body through the doors of SB).

I've also been asking for an Instax for a few years, and I think this is the year I'll finally unwrap that baby! My family is a HUGE polaroid family, but I love the size of the mini-instax, and I've been begging for it. My mom's so sick of listening to me that I think she's just going to get it ;)

Coffee cup...what can I say? 

THOSE WEDGES. They are only $20. TWENTY. They're perfect.

Daisy is my faaaavorite perfume and I'm dying to finally own it. I need 2 smell pwetty again!

I am always looking for new lip-wear to try and I've heard nothing but good things about Bobbi Brown products, and this color is stunnnnnning, so hopefully I'll find that little gem waiting for me in my stocking!!

I AM IN LOVE WITH HEART SUNGLASSES. They're so cute. I'm fairly certain I look like a 5-year old in them, but a cute 5-year old....right?
I just bought a pink pair and I want more colors. White appears to be what's next. Fingers crossed.


What's on your Christmas list?? :) xx  

this afternoon

Came home from school early because I wasn't feeling well and now I'm just lounging and being lazy as ever.
The most recent UO catalog is so good (but they always are!) and the starbucks holiday cups are getting me into the christmas spirit, despite the warm weather we're STILL having.

sweaters and coffee

A few of my favorite things from this Christmas!

Went out to Dallas today with one of my friends, Bryce, and among other things, came home with this sweater from F21 and these boots from Urban Outfitters!

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