Looking Back on 2016

It is only fitting with today being New Years Eve to look back on this past year. It has been up of ups and downs, but luckily for me it contains mostly ups. I applied to college, survived junior year, and had a great with my family and friends. I went on several trips that took me to the city and to the beach. Here are some of my favorite moments from 2016....

Boston // Over spring break I got to go to Boston. I spent the beginning of the year planning for the trip and it may have been my favorite part of the year. It was so fun to see family and spend time in the city. Boston is definitely my favorite city to be in. 

College Tours // I also spent a large part of my spring touring colleges. I toured 5 in total: Tufts (in above picture), Boston College, Northeastern, Northwestern, and UChicago. I really liked most of them and ended up applying to 4 of them. 

Florida // Going to Florida is always so relaxing. Since we go the same place every year, it always feels like home. I love the beach and the sun. Going in the begining of the summer was a great way to kick off summer break. 

Door County // I probably used too much gas going to Door County too many times but oh well. It is really my favorite place to be in the world. It is relaxing and full of memories. I got to spend time their with a variety of people. Thanks to Door County, I was never home on my days off of work. 

 Chicago // This year was the first time I could ever go on a trip with just my mom and it was so nice. We went to Chicago and shopped all day. It was great to have time with just her. Chicago was such a fun trip and I hope to do it again before college. 

 Senior Year  // As much as I am not someone who loves high school, the start of senior year has sure been fun. I have been able to spend time with so many of my friends. We have had brunches and dinners together and have spent more time together than before. 

 College Tours (again) // Instead of touring colleges this fall with my parents, I went and stayed with some friends at Marquette and  UW Madison It was totally different, but so much fun. It made me realized how close I am to going to college and I am so excited. 

 Family // This year it felt like I spent a lot more time enjoying being with my family than before. I was able to do a lot of special things with them such a trips and special lunches. I will miss them a lot next year, but I am so thankful for this past year. 

2016 was a pretty good year. I know that 2017 will be a year with a lot of change, the biggest of which is going to college. This upcoming year will be a year of lasts and a year of many firsts and I am so excited to see what will happen. Now on to 2017!

xoxo,

Maddie

Top 5 of Christmas

This was a busy week. Almost everything I did revolved around Christmas so I decided that instead of writing a Thursday Three post I would share my top five moments of Christmas. This was a great Christmas and I know I keep saying that so here are the top five of this past Christmas! 

1. I got to see almost all of my family this year. On Christmas Eve I saw my entire side of my dad's family and on the 26th I saw my mom's parents. It was great to see everyone when I normally see them only a couple times a year.

2. My friends and I did a secret Santa and it was a bunch of fun. We all meet up after Christmas to go out to dinner and exchange gifts. It was a fantastic time and it always reminds me of what great friends I have. 

3. I gave my mom a cape from Vineyard Vines (with help from Dad) and it was the highlight of opening presents. She had no idea that I would get her that! I love surprising people with their gift and I really did well with hers. 

4. I got a parka for Christmas and I am so excited about it! My parents had been keeping it a secret for over half the year. They were so happy to give it to me since I had been really wanting one. It is probably the gift I will use more than anything else. 

5. On the 23rd I was planning on helping my grandma bake for Christmas Eve and wrap presents. I went to her house and went out to lunch together. It ended up snowing a ton so I had to leave without doing anything. I love spending time with her and it was probably my favorite part of this break.

Have a great week!

xoxo,

Maddie

What I Got for Christmas

| Pullover Sweater | Socks | Flannel | Vest | Shampoo | Mug | Coat | Travel Mug | 

     The main reason I like giving and getting gifts during Christmastime is because it is a great way for people to show their appreciation for others. I really love getting gifts because I love seeing what other people think I would like. This is true especially for my siblings and my Aunts. 

     One of my favorite gifts this year was the parka. My parents had always told me that I would get one once I decided of where I am going to college. After visiting UW Madison this fall, I knew that I would definitely need one. I wasn't expecting to get a parka, but I am so excited that I did! My other favorite gift would be the vest. I have been wanting a vest from J Crew for so long and I finally got one! I would say the sweetest gift that I got was from my brother and he got me the shampoo. This was one of the first years he tried to get me something I liked. I am so excited to use it since I had been wanting nice shampoo, but I forgot to ask for it!

    This Christmas was such a great year in terms of giving gifts. I manged to surprise everyone and it seemed like they all liked their gifts. Christmas this year was a great one, and I hope you had a good one too!

Happy Holidays!

xoxo,

Maddie

Christmas Eve Outfit

| Shirt (similar) | Skirt (similar) | Boots | Earrings |

    My family hasn't dressed up for holidays since I was a little girl wearing a puffy dress. Even though there is no need to figure out what would look nice, I can't help myself from doing so! This outfit is probably what I would wear. I love the plaid and it looks pretty good with the black skirt. The skirt I got a while ago from Top Shop, but I have have never worn it. I forgot that in the summer I would never wear black, but in the winter my family doesn't go out nearly as much. Overall, this outfit is great because it so pretty comfortable, but still looks classy for being with family. 

     This year for Christmas Eve, my family is going over to my grandparents and everyone will be watching the Packer game. It's going to be like a big, fancy tailgate, but indoors and with better food. This is always my favorite part of the holidays and I cannot wait to enjoy it!

Happy Christmas Eve!

xoxo,

Maddie

Thursday Three

This week was a pretty good one. There was a snowstorm, an almost cancelled day of school since it was so cold, a relaxing weekend and a bunch of excitement for Christmas. This week of school has been dragging along, but at least today is the last day before break! Here is what happened this week:

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From Friday to Saturday there was a pretty big snow storm. We got about 9 inches of snow. I love taking walks after snow storms since it is so pretty and peaceful outside. The only disappointment about this storm is that I would have had a snow day if it occurred on a school night.

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The decorations around my house make me so happy. I love sitting by the tree and be reading a book or doing homework. It is so pretty and it looks even better with all of the gifts around it. I have been reading a book that contains of bunch of short Christmas stories and it is super cute. This is the perfect way to end a day. 

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This past weekend was really cold. It never got over zero degrees for a couple of days. I found that on those days my camp socks and sitting by the fire was the way to keep warm. Sitting by the fire is something I really enjoy, whether it is a bonfire or in the fire place, they all are amazing! 

Have a great Christmas weekend!

xoxo,

Maddie

The Best Christmas Movies

| The Bishop's Wife | It's a Wonderful Life | Miracle on 34th Street | Elf | A Year Without a Santa Claus |

Christmas break is right around the corner. I always try to watch as many Christmas movies as I can that week. My all time favorite one is The Bishop's Wife. It is such a great story, and let's be real, Cary Grant was pretty good looking. As much as the old Christmas movies will always be my favorite, there are a couple newer ones I like as well. Elf is always amusing, and The Year Without a Santa Claus has some of the funniest songs. Christmas movies are a great way to spend some quality time with friends and family! 

What is your favorite Holiday movie?

xoxo,

Maddie

Snow Day

| Shirt | Vest (similar) | Leggings | Socks (similar)| Boots |

     This past week has been crazy in regards to the weather. Earlier on, the wind chill was around -20 for  the week. Now this weekend there is a snow storm, and we are supposed to get almost a foot of snow! 

     The need to wear warm clothes this week has been evident. I loved being able to wear my LL Bean flannel. It is so much warmer than any other brand I have tried. Honestly, LL Bean has been killing it.  my bean boots have been my go to shoe now that there is snow on the ground, and it is socially acceptable to wear winter boots on a daily basis. Pretty much, if you need any thing for colder weather, LL Bean is the place to shop. 

Stay Warm!

xoxo,

Maddie

Thursday Three

This week was a nice change from normal in the way that it was a busy, but fun week. I got to bake a bunch of Christmas cookies, go shopping for my families presents and overall get in the Christmas mood. The best part is that I have been listening to Christmas music non stop and this is the time of year when no one cares if I do! Here is what happened this week:

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I know that I am very late to the game, but I finally went to Starbucks and got a holiday drink. I normally go to a local coffee shop but I was at Starbucks for a meeting. I love most seasonal drinks, but the peppermint mocha is probably my favorite. 

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I went to the Packer game on Sunday against Seattle it was fun, but really cold. That morning it had snowed about 4 inches so the snow was everywhere. The main reason I like the Packer games is that I get to spend time alone with my dad. It was a super fun game and it was great to finally see a Packer win.

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Wrapping Christmas presents is one of my favorite things to do. I love knowing what other people are getting, and I love the act of wrapping [resents. For some reason I find folding paper extremely exciting. It is always great to sit, wrap presents and jam out to some Christmas music. 

How was your week?

xoxo,

Maddie

Christmas Wish List

I love reading about what other people want for Christmas. It can give you a sense of what the other person likes and sometimes some great ideas for what you might ask for. This year I did not ask for a lot of things, but what I did ask for was a little more expensive. Since I have a job, I can buy myself most of the inexpensive things I want. I like to use Christmas as a chance to see about getting what I have been wanting for a really long time. 

I can safely say I have no idea about what I am getting for Christmas. My parents do a great job of keeping these types of things secret that it is always a surprise. I am so excited for Christmas, both to see what I get and to give my family their gifts from me!

What did you ask for?

xoxo,

Maddie

Gingerbread Cookies

Gingerbread cookies are my favorite to make around Christmastime. I always look forward to making them! They are so soft and the frosting goes perfectly with them. Here is the recipe for my favorite holiday cookies! Make sure to let me know what you think of them if you bake any! 

Gingerbread Cookies
Makes 50 cookies

Ingredients
1 cup granulated white sugar
2 tsp ginger 
1 tsp nutmeg 
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt 
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 cup butter softened
1/2 cup evaporated milk
1 cup molasses
3/4 tsp vanilla extract 
4 cups white wheat flour

Directions
-Combine the sugar, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, salt and baking soda. Mix well.
-Add the butter, evaporated milk, vanilla and molasses. Mix well. Add the flour 1 cup at a time. The dough should be stiff enough to handle without sticking to fingers. Kneed the dough for a smoother texture. 
-Add additional flour to prevent sticking. Put the dough in the refrigerator so it is easier to roll out.
- Roll dough out 1/4" think on floured surface and cut into cookies. 
-Bake for 8-10 min at 375 degrees.
-When the cookies are cool, frost

Frosting
Ingredients
2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 Tbs. milk

Directions
-Mix all ingredients together

Volia! 

I hope you enjoy the cookies!

xoxo,

Maddie

Thursday Three

This week was kind of a boring week since nothing too exciting happened. The good thing is that I finally finished by college applications! I had been working on them since August so it is great to finally be done.  Now I have to wait to find out where I get into which will be in quite a while. Here was my week:

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 The past weekend my mom and I made a ton of gingerbread related things. We made Gingerbread cookies, gingerbread pancakes and plain gingerbread. I love gingerbread and it is one of my favorite treats of Christmas! 

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 It snowed this week! This was the first heavy snow of the year. Everything is so pretty one it snows. It was only about three inches so it melted pretty quickly, but I don't mind. My only thing is that I really want snow for Christmas.

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Tuesday was St. Nicks day. I like this holiday since I get really nice chocolate. It is the one time of year were my parents by us good candy so I always look forward to it. We also have this tradition of getting socks and I am always excited to see what my socks look like.

Have a great week!

xoxo,

Maddie

Holiday Playlist

Christmas music is probably my favorite music to listen to. I am not normally the type of person who will just chill out and listen to music for fun, but during the holidays I do all the time. I love upbeat and light hearted music. Here is my favorite music to listen to this holiday season:

I have also found some great playlists on Spotify. My favorite is {Happy Holidays} and another great one is {Christmas Music 100 Hits}. Have any that you love? Let me know in the comments!

xoxo,

Maddie

Camel & Blues

| Sweater | Button Down | Jeans | Shoes | Watch | 

I recently discovered this sweater in my mom's closet and I am in love with it. It is very soft and just a little over sized which makes it really comfortable. What I love the most is the camel color.. Camel is such a great color because it looks good almost any season and always looks classy. I feel that a sweater similar to this should be a staple in almost every ones closet. The color goes well with so many other colors, the cable knit gives it a timeless look and the fit makes it comfortable while still looking nice. 

xoxo,

Maddie

Thursday Three

The beginning of this week was a quick one. After Thanksgiving, my family spent the weekend decorating for Christmas. It was so great having a five day weekend that it completely refreshed me. Now all I have to do is make it to Christmas Break. Here was my week:

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It was barely 24 hours after Thanksgiving when my family started the Christmas decorating. My favorite part of the house right now is our mantel. I love our stocking, which were handmade by my grandma, and I love how it looks over the fireplace. Now all we have to do is get the tree...

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I love Christmas mainly for the cookies, so you know I made some. I made sugar cookies first. I love decorating them even though they look horrible. Decorating cookies is always a blast because mt mom puts on the Christmas music and my whole family decorates the cookies. 

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I had cutest doughnuts the past week. One was Chocolate Chip Pancake flavored and the other was a cider flavored doughnut. These were from Dough Babies in Madison. I liked the Pancake one, but I found that the cider doughnut was a little spicy for my taste. 

How was your week?

xoxo,

Maddie

Best of November

November went by so quickly. It must have been because I was gone almost every weekend. I feel like things go faster when there is something to look forward to, and this month was full of that. There was my visit to Marquette University, my visit to UW Madison, and finally Thanksgiving. This month I spent so much time planning for these that it went by quickly. 

| Scrunchies | Scarf | Bean Boots | Duffel Bag | Chambray Shirt |

     It seems really random that I would have scrunchies on here, but I had to get some for a 90s theme party and I actually love them. They don't pull on my hair and cause it to break. I have some friends who wear them all of the time, and now I totally understand why.

     I was so excited to get a chambray shirt because I have been wearing my moms for the past year and now I finally found one that I like. There was a new store in my mall that opened and there it was! I also have been loving my plaid scarf. A couple of months ago I had a green plaid scarf on the blog and I loved it so much that I got a red one as well. Now that it has snowed and it is always cold outside, I am always wearing my bean boots. They are perfect to throw on with a t-shirt and leggings or with a nicer outfit for school. 

     Finally, I have been using my duffel bag a ton. The Vera Bradley one looks small, but it can actually fit so much. I used it both times I visited a college and it held everything I needed. I would totally recommend one if you don't have one already. 

What was your month?

xoxo,

Maddie

15 Gifts under $30

Whether you are going to parties and need a hostess gift, are giving small gifts for you friends or need socking stuffer ideas, here is a list of 15 different things that would fit that bill perfectly. Some of these gifts are better for different occasions but they all are perfect to show your appreciation for others.

| Mug | Recipe Book| Stationary | Pillow | Candle | Nail Polish | Body Mist | Journal | Bath Bomb | Scarf | beanie | Socks | Travel Mug | Bracelet | Earrings | Colored Pencils |

Out off all of these my favorite is the Vanilla Chai Candle. I don't normally light candles but one that smells like Chai could definitely change that. I adore chai tea and it would be so fun to be smell it. I also think that the Essie nail polish is the perfect gift for people when you don't know what to get them. Just pick up a festive color and it becomes a great small gift. My mom normally gets me some fun color for almost every holiday and it has become one of my favorite things!

What was your favorite?

xoxo,

Maddie

Thursday Three

Instead of doing a Thursday Three in regards to what I did in the last week, this one will be three things that I am thankful for this Thanksgiving. I love Thanksgiving for the food, but I love getting to see some family members that I don't normally see too many other times of the year. With that being said here are three of the things that I am thankful for:

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The number one thing that I am thankful for is my family. Who else would put up with me through all of my craziness. I am so grateful for their support over the years, especially with all of this college stress. I can always rely on them if I ever need advice or anything else. I really don't know what I would do with them. 

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The same thankfulness goes with my other family: my friends. These girls listen to me complain about everything and still want to be around me. I can always count on them for a laugh and a good time. Most of all I don't know what I would do without them. Even though we both look horrid in this picture, my best friend who gets me through the worst of days. 

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Finally, I am unbelievably thankful for Door County. We all have the place that makes us the happiest, and this is my place. There is no where else in the world that I would rather be. The happy memories, calming feeling and people there all make it so that I am at my best there. 

There are so many other things that I am thankful for, but Happy Thanksgiving!

xoxo,

Maddie