Celebrating the Holidays...

This past weekend we celebrated Christmas with Hubby's brothers and families. It was so much fun to spend quality time with everyone, especially my nieces and nephew. For the past four years, we've added a new family member to the family Christmas picture. This year was my adorable niece Charlotte. Next year we will be no different...we will add one more...

...that's right, I'm PREGNANT!!!! I'm 17 weeks along and feeling great. Our little bundle of joy is due Memorial Day weekend and in just a couple weeks we will find out what we are having. I'm so excited to announce this to all of you because now I can really get back to blogging...I have so many things to share with you but don't worry this blog isn't going to turn into a full on Mommy/Baby blog. Please share with my your baby must haves and any tips. :)

Christmas came a little early...

This year Hubby and I decided not to exchange Christmas gifts and get one big gift for us. We decided on the iPad 2! We picked it up over the weekend. We haven't set it up yet...I know shocking...but life has been so crazy with the holidays. Our plan is to get it set up this week. What are some of your favorite iPad apps? Do you blog from your iPad?

Winter Closet Clean Out

I just posted the items from my winter closet clean out to ebay. Lots of Banana Republic, J.Crew, Boden and a Target Missoni dress. Check them out. All in great condition and I'm sad to part with some but I have way too many dresses in my closet.

Fun Organizational Goodies

Big thanks to Jewish Girl in WASP's Clothing for introducing me to See Jane Work the ultimate destination for cute organizational items! Anyone who knows me knows how obsessed I am with being organized. I could spend a fortune at this place but resisted temptation and only picked up a few items.

Calendar Stickers - Perfect for my Life Planner

Pack this Pad - Help my stay organized for all my upcoming trips

Knock Knock File Folders - Great way to keep my files organized

Reward Program - For each dollar you spend you get a reward point (you must be logged in) and your accrued points will show up at check-out where you will have the opportunity to use all or some accrued points towards your current purchase. If you don't use them, don't worry they'll continue to accrue. See Jane Work will often run Rewards Points Promotions like double or triple reward days.

Now through Dec 2 get 35% off your entire order. Just enter promo code CYBER35.

Updated Skin Care Regime

Back in January I posted my updated skin care regime. I thought I would revisit this topic and let you know what's changed.

MORNING
Cleanse - Cetaphil Cleanser - Still using. I'm almost done with it and will be looking for a new cleanser at the start of the new year. Any suggestions?
Scrub - New to my routine - Kate Somerville's ExfoliKate - It's pricey but I absolutely LOVE it! A little goes a long way.
Tone - Clean and Clear Deep Cleansing Astringent - Still using but only once a week, if that.
Eye Cream - Boscia Intensive Eye Treatment - I wasn't a huge fan so I'm not trying Boscia's Enlivening Amino-AG Eye Treatment. It's not that great either. Would love some of your recommendations. Preferably something I can buy at Target.
Serum - None right now - I'm using one right now that I love Olay Regenerist Daily Regenerating Serum
Cream - Olay Total Effects Advanced Anti-Aging Skincare UV Moisturizer plus SPF 15 - switched back to an old favorite - Olay Regenerist Advanced Anti-Aging UV Defense Regenerating Lotion SPF 50
Spot Treatment - First Aid Blemish Eraser

EVENING
Cleanse - Fresh Soy Cleanser and I use the Clarisonic - Still using my Clarisonic but switch to Kate Somerville's Purity Clarifying Cleanser
Eye Cream - Boscia Intensive Eye Treatment - I wasn't a huge fan so I'm not trying Boscia's Enlivening Amino-AG Eye Treatment. It's not that great either. Would love some of your recommendations. Preferably something I can buy at Target.
Treatment- Korres Quercetin & Oak Antiaging & Antiwrinkle Oil-Control Treatment - I like how my skin looks in the morning after using this but I might try Korres Face Serum next - I no longer use the treatment, I switched the serum and love that with the night cream. Perfect combination.
Cream - Korres Quercetin & Oak Antiwrinkle Night Cream
Mask - Boscia Luminizing Black Mask
Spot Treatment - Epiduo (prescription from my dermatologist)

What are your favorites from your skin care routine? I try to have a happy balance of drug store and Sephora items but lately I feel like I'm constantly at Sephora. What are your favorite beauty bargains?

When purchasing skin care products I always try and do it online through drugstore.com and Sephora via Ebates. For those of you not familiar with Ebates it is by far the easiest way to earn FREE money by shopping online. All you have to do is go to Ebates, log in, search for the store you plan on shopping at, click the link and voila you are taken there and all you have to do is shop! Each store has a corresponding percentage of cash back. And the money just adds up. Every quarter Ebates will send you a check and all you have to do is cash it. If you haven't already signed up, I definitely recommend that you do. You get $5 just for signing up! Click here to start getting free money! In addition to cash back from Ebates, drugstore.com gives you 5% back from your purchase in drugstore.com dollars.

How drugstore.com dollars™ works:
You earn drugstore.com dollars on all the eligible purchases you make during a calendar quarter (every three months). Then, you have one month to spend your dollars. Your dollars will be applied to the first eligible order you place during that month using your registered drugstore.com account.

For example, if you purchase $200 in eligible products between October 1 and December 31, you’ll earn $10 in credit to spend on your first order in January.

Only a few more days left...

Tomorrow is the last day to purchase fabulous Stella & Dot jewelry from my online boutique. How purchase is below. And don't forget about the giveaway. See below for those details too.

1. Visit www.stelladot.com/ashleypolo
2. Fill your shopping cart with amazing item
3. Checkout and enter "Christina Scripps" as the hostess.

Each person that places an order will be entered to win either

Josephine Earrings

OR

Signature Clover Bracelet

Feel free to email me if you have any questions about any of the pieces...chances are I own it and love it! Happy Shopping and Gift Giving!

Thrifty Thursday - Make some $$ from Christmas Shopping

Everyone knows my LOVE of Ebates and I wanted to share with you that its a great way to make some money back on all the Christmas shopping you will be doing. I start my Christmas shopping early as you can see from the nice Ebates check I got in the mail last week (my biggest check yet)! This is the time of year that Ebates increases cash back percentages on tons and tons of stores. Combine that with the many free shipping offers you are sure to save some time by shopping only, avoid the craziness at the mall and earn some extra cash back...thank you Ebates!

For those of you new to this blog, this is by far the easiest way to earn FREE money by shopping online. All you have to do is go to Ebates, log in, search for the store you plan on shopping at, click the link and voila you are taken there and all you have to do is shop! Each store has a corresponding percentage of cash back. And the money just adds up. Every quarter Ebates will send you a check and all you have to do is cash it.

If you haven't already signed up, I definitely recommend that you do. You get $5 just for signing up! Click here to start getting free money!

Stella & Dot Boutique Now Open with Another Giveaway Opportunity!

It's time for the Stella & Dot boutique...just in time for holiday shopping. As many of you know, I'm slightly obsessed with Stella & Dot jewelry so my favorite stylist, Ashley, is helping host another online boutique. To start shopping:

1. Visit www.stelladot.com/ashleypolo
2. Fill your shopping cart with amazing item
3. Checkout and enter "Christina Scripps" as the hostess.

And now the giveaway part. Each person that places an order will be entered to win either

Josephine Earrings

OR

Signature Clover Bracelet

Feel free to email me if you have any questions about any of the pieces...chances are I own it and love it! Happy Shopping and Gift Giving!

Favorite Thing #226 - Fredric Fekkai Brilliant Glossing Cream

I received a free full size sample of Fredric Fekkai's Brilliant Glossing cream and instantly fell in love with it. I put a very small size (about the size of a pea for my long pretty thick hair) in my wet hair then blow dry and style. My hair is so soft and shiny after using this product. I highly recommend it. My perfect styling combination now is this product with Favorite Thing #33. Remember you don't need to use a lot...the more you use the more your hair will feel weighted down. What are some of your favorite styling products.

Stella & Dot Giveaway Winner

Sorry for posting this a day late. Yesterday was a crazy day. Congrats to Kate Schroeder for winning the Stella & Dot giveaway! My Stella & Dot online boutique will open on Wednesday night. Stay tuned for a blog post about it and another chance to win a fabulous giveaway!

Kate - Please email me at christinasfavoritethings@gmail.com for the details on how to use the $50 Stella & Dot credit towards the Harlow bangle or the After Midnight necklace...or whatever else you'd like.

Virginia Belle 2 Year Blogiversary Giveaway

Be sure to check out Virginia Belle's giveaway celebrating her two year blogiversary. I'm loving the adorable Anthrpologie apron. Check it out here.

And don't forget to enter my Stella & Dot giveaway!

Giveaway Time!

I'm so excited to announce the latest giveaway. There are so many cute new things for fall with Stella & Dot that I had to do a related giveaway -$50 in credit towards a Stella & Dot purchase! I'm super excited to be partnering with Stella & Dot rep, Ashley Polo, on this fabulous giveaway. She's agreed to give one of my luck readers a $50 Stella & Dot gift certificate to be used towards a purchase at my online party starting Nov 16.

Entries will be accepted till midnight ET on Nov 12. Winner will be announced Nov13. Anyone is welcome to participate in the giveaway. Ways to enter are below. $50 must be used during my online show starting Nov 16.

Please leave a comment for each entry
1. Follow my blog through friend connect
2. Go to www.stelladot.com/ashleypolo and let me know what piece you would buy if you won
3. Friend Christina's Favorite Things on Facebook
4. Tweet about this giveaway and be sure to include me (@xtinafavthings)

Day 4 - Positano

I was really looking forward this day trip. Positano is another ferry ride from Amalfi but only about 50 minutes. This day the weather was absolutely perfect…just windy of the ride over.

What I loved about this town is that there is only one road that allows motorized vehicles so the streets were fairly quiet. The town is literally up and down. As you travel through you are constantly going up and down steps and hills. Up to this point, I hadn’t done much shopping for myself but did find a adorable maxi dress (50% off) from a cute boutique.

We had lunch on the water at Le Tre Sorrelle where Hubby had his favorite cheese on the trip, Provolone del Monaco.

All in all Hubby and I had a really enjoyable day trip. It was perfect weather and we got a really great picture...Christmas card photo??

Favorite Thing #225 - Kelly Moore Hobo Bag

I owe this new favorite thing to all of you. When I asked about a cute, stylish camera bag for my SLR I got an overwhelming response from everyone that hands down I needed to get a Kelly Moore bag. Well I bit the bullet and purchased the hobo style in gray. I'm SOOO happy with the purchase. It's the perfect bag. The compartments fit my camera, wallet and everything else perfectly.
Here I am sporting the bag through Italy...

Momma's Got a New Pair of Shoes

Instead of doing a week full of Italy recaps, I thought I would share some recent purchases in between my vacation posts. Right before I left, I purchased my first pair of TOMS, the black glitter ones. One of my friends at work has these and I fell in love instantly and had to have them. I'm sooo happy with my purchase. They are comfortable and look super cute with black leggings. I was surprised at how affordable they were as well. I guess I just assumed because they are so popular they would be in $100 range. I was very pleased with the $54 price tag and 5% cash back from Ebates. Here are some IRL pics I took with my blackberry.

Day 3 - Capri

Today was unusually cold which sucked because we took the ferry over to Capri. It was so cold that I had to buy a sweatshirt. We took the 2 hour ferry ride over to Capri in the morning (have I mentioned how cold it was) and it was a great way to see a different view of the coast. Capri definitely wasn’t my favorite of the places we visited. Even though this isn’t peak tourist season it was packed with people. We had lunch at a place called Villa Verde, which was very good food. The walls were covered with photos of the owner and celebrities. The favorite thing I ate was the fried mozzarella. Excellete!

The pictures from here aren’t nearly as good as the other destinations. As you can tell from my face…I’m not thrilled because I'm freezing!!!!

Day 1 (travel) & Day 2 (Amalfi and Ravello)

Travel to Italy was pretty easy, no problems but it was a long journey. We left DC on a 7pm flight and finally arrived in Amalfi around 5:30pm the next day. Our hotel in Amalfi came as a recommendation from our travel agent Lisa at Travel Place. Hotel Marina Riveria is right on the coast and our room has an amazing view.

We can literally see the water from our bed…just amazing.

We explored the town a little, had dinner and then crashed hard. I was so exhausted that I didn’t take one picture. We ended up sleeping for over 13 hours.

Our first full day in Amalfi started a little later than we had thought since we slept in so we decided to really explore Amali. We did some sightseeing, a little shopping and a lot of eating. The one trattoria we ate at had the best spaghetti pomodoro. Hubby said it tasted just like his Italian Grandma’s pasta.

Per some of your recommendations, we decided to head to Ravello during the late afternoon. We walked around and saw some amazing sites and did a little more shopping. Hubby picked up a pair of shoes and I got a cute bracelet. After all the walking around we were starving and headed to Trattoria Cumpa Cosimo, a recommendation from the hotel. It was AMAZING!!!! I got insalata mista and fettuince bolognesse and Hubby got grilled provolone and fettucine with porcini mushrooms. Such an amazing dinner. I highly recommend this place. Very affordable, great service and the food is out of this world!