Ho Ho Ho Part 2- What to Buy Him

Merry Christmas!! 


Welcome back to with a sunnyside for my second holiday gift guide of the season! I am so excited for the upcoming Christmas season. Here are my top gifts for the men in your life!!

My first gift suggestion is the Heritage Backpack from Herschel Supply Co. 

Price: $54.99

This backpack is perfect for the men in your life. It is super trendy. It is a classic design and super functional for a boy who travels a lot or just needs a trendy bag to carry at school. I wish that they made these backpacks for girls!! If you want something similar to this, Herschel Supply Co. has lots of options for you.

My second gift suggestion is the Beats Pill 2.0. 

Price: $149.99 (Look for specials from Target)

Do you have a guy in your life that loves to listen to music? The Beats Pill comes in 3 different color options. The Pill is super cool because it is Bluetooth and is easily portable. The compact size is easy for traveling.

The third gift suggestion is the True Grit Pebble Pile 1/2 Zip Pullover

Price: $135.00

This best seller pullover is perfect for the men in your life. Boys could easily wear this pullover with jeans or khakis when you're headed out during the winter. These pullovers are super trendy and I have seen them all over. Be sure to get it now! I found this one from Onward Reserve.


My fourth gift suggestion is a Gold and Silver Petanque Bocce Ball Set 

Price: $54.99

This is a perfect gift for the boy who loves to play outdoor games. If he loves corn hole, this is another super fun game that he might like! With the bocce ball holder comes 2 koozies that will keep your drink cool while you're playing!

The fifth gift suggestion is the UP2 by Jawbone. 

Price: $99.99

The UP2 is bluetooth compatible and is recharged by USB. The super trendy fitness band is perfect for the athletic boy in your life. The fit band is super cool because it can track your sleep patterns and your daily activity. The newest design has lots of color options and a very unique look that could work for a boy or a girl.

My fifth gift suggestion is the Polo Ralph Lauren "World of Polo" Mini Coffret (Limited Edition) Cologne Set 


Price: $57.00 ($72.00 Value)

A cologne set is a perfect gift for your boyfriend because you get to pick the smell he wears! You never have to worry about him wearing a smell you don't like. Also you get to pick stuff that you like, too!! I love this idea because you are buying something that a boy doesn't want to spend his money on. For all we know, he might not even care about smelling good!

My sixth gift suggestion is Hawks Tickets 

Price: Varies

This is a super fun thing to get the guy in your life, especially if he is into basketball. Sometimes the best gifts aren't tangible items, but things that you can make memories doing. Hawks tickets would be fun because its something you can do together, but can also bring out his competitive side.

My seventh gift suggestion is the Daniel Wellington Dapper St. Mawes Watch 

Price: $299.00

This gift is PERFECT for the boy in your life that is obsessed with his watch game. The Daniel Wellington watches are so classic and will never go out of style. They have a classic leather band and plenty of different faces you can choose from. This watch is less sporty and is perfect for more of a classic guy in your life! 

My eighth gift suggestion is the Holiday Gingham Classic Tucker Shirt 

Price: $98.50

This shirt is perfect for the holiday seasons. The button up style is still in and will never go out. The holiday button ups from Vineyard Vines perfect because boys can wear them under the pullovers and jeans or even dress them up with khakis and a bowtie. They are super cute!!




My ninth gift suggestion is the Columbia Men's Collegiate Long sleeve Shirts 

Price: $75.00

Senior friends, this is the perfect gift for you to give your dad if you've decided on a college! This is great because it is a personal gift you're giving that he can wear when he comes to visit you next fall at college. I've included both of my options! Will my dad be saying Go Dawgs or Hotty Toddy next year?





My tenth gift suggestion is The Tie Bar Large Style Box

Price: $99.00

This Nordstrom exclusive is perfect for the guy in your life that needs the perfect bowtie, pair of socks, or pocket square to complete his outfit. The box includes a tie that is versatile and perfect for a day to night transition, super fun socks and pocket square that will add a pop to any look!

My eleventh suggestion is the Pace Break Short from Lululemon 

Price: $64.00

Girls or boys for that matter, don't jump to conclusions and assume that Lulu is only for girls. I hear nothing but good things about mens Lululemon. The reviews say nothing but good things about this shorts and how multi sport versatile they are.

My twelfth gift suggestion is the Nike 'Flex Fury' Running Shoe from Nordstrom 

Price: $54.90 (Normally $99.00)

All the reviews on these shoes are women buying for the men in their life, which is exactly what you should be doing if you're reading this gift guide. These shoes are super cute for the athletic guy in your life. These can be worn with jeans or with the Lululemon shorts above. If you're interested in these, make sure to order soon before they run out!

My thirteenth gift suggestion is the White Wing Small Wallet 

Price: $46.00

This wallet is perfect for any gift for the guy in your life! It is super trendy and very moderately priced. Boys are always in need of a place to hold their money this is the perfect solution. It has a slim profile is perfect to slide right into their pocket.


My fourteenth gift suggestion is the Nike Therma- Sphere Pullover 
Price: $64.00

This Nike pullover would be perfect with a pair of joggers and the Nike shoes above. I love this pullover and can only imagine how comfy it is! This the perfect gift for you to get your sporty guy who likes to just hangout, watch movies, and wear comfy clothes!

I hope these gift suggestions help you to decide what to buy the guy in your life!! If you're still struggling, head over to your favorite website and look for their gift guide tab and search by gender and then category (ex: for  the guy who has everything).

Merry Christmas and Happy Shopping!

Ho Ho Ho- What to Buy for Her

Happy Holidays!! 

If you haven't started your holiday shopping yet, you probably will soon. I am super excited for the holidays and to share the suggestions I have for what to buy for the women in your life. Whether it is your mom, grandma, best friend, or girlfriend, all my favorite items are below and the items range from all price ranges. 

Kendra Scott jewelry has become one of my holy grail items in the past few months. Although the items tend to be more pricey, they are well worth the money spent. The newest collection features darker colors, which are perfect for the upcoming winter season. 

My first pick is the Rayne Necklace in Mirror Rock Crystal 

Price: $95.00 

You can get this item online at kendrascott.com or in stores. If you'd rather choose a lighter color, there are plenty of options in every color you could possibly want. I chose this item because it is SO trendy. These necklaces are very in right now, but also match with anything you're wearing. 

My second gift choice is the Marc Jacobs Fragrances Daisy Rollerball Trio 

Price: $48.00 ($86.00 Value) 

If the adorable holiday packaging hasn't already sold you, the scents are wonderful. I gave this gift last year or the year before and it was a great give. If the woman in your life has trouble committing to a fragrance then this is perfect for her. This gift gives her the chance to test 3 different fragrances at the same time. She can also stick them in her purse and take it on the go! You can find this at your local Sephora or online. 

My third gift pick is Nike Roshe Runs

Price: $75.00 

Want your girl to look sporty and trendy at the same time? This is the gift you want to buy. Roshes have become extremely popular in the past year and if  your girl doesn't have a pair yet, now is the time to purchase some. Order them from Nike

My fourth gift pick is Hammered Moscow Mule Mugs in Copper Tone Stainless Steel

Price: $19.99 

These are the cutest mugs out there. If the girl you're buying for is a coffee drinker than I bet she would love to receive these mugs. 

You can order these here from Bed, Bath, and Beyond. 




My fifth gift pick comes from Kate Spade and is the Gallery Drive Kerr Wristlet 

Price: $70.00 on sale for $52.00

This wristlet is absolutely adorable. The gold color is so cute and so trendy. For the friend who is searching for a wallet and purse in one, this is the gift you should buy. If you search around you can find a great deal!


My sixth gift is Lululemon Speed Short 4 Way Stretch 

Price: $54.00

These are the perfect gift for the sporty friend you have! Lululemon has lots of options for all different types of sporty friends. They have everything from fun colored shorts to leggings to jackets and even workout tops. In a perfect world, Lululemon would make running shoes to match with all the other apparel options. 

The seventh gift suggestion is the PJ Salvage Print Flannel Pajamas 

Price: $62.00

These are the cutest pajamas ever. I love PJ sets and all the options that PJ Salvage has to offer get me super excited for winter weather and warm flannel pajamas. You can order these online from Nordstrom. 

The eighth gift suggestion is another that I have given before it is a Lush Wrapped Gift called Festive Friends 

Price: $29.95

For our friend who is all into baths and loves be clean. Included in this prepackaged gift is 4 bath bombs! The best part of this gift is that it already comes packaged and wrapped. 

The ninth gift is the Crosley X UO Cruiser Briefcase Portable Vinyl Record Player

Price: $98.00 

This record player could easily be the post popular gift for the year. You can buy these adorable record players along with your favorite records straight from Urban Outfitters. If you'd like to look for a deal, check Amazon for the deals. 


The tenth gift is Phone Case of the Month Subscription Box 

Price: $10.00/ Month 

This gift is perfect for your friend that loves her phone. This is such a fun gift because it truly is the gift that keeps giving. Every month, a different phone case shows up with cute packaging. You can subscribe to the box here. 

The eleventh gift suggestion is a S'well Water Bottle 

Price: $25.00- $45.00 

This water bottle can keep your drink warm or cold for 12 hours!! This is so cool because you can keep whatever type of drink you prefer easier. I think this gift is so unique because it's not just your average water bottle. Plus they have so many colors so you are sure to find something for whoever you are buying for. 

The twelfth gift suggestion is the Street Level Reversible Faux Level Tote & Wristlet

Price: $48.00

There are 6 possible color options for you to choose from if you want to purchase this bag for yourself or one of the women in your life. I have seen a tote similar to this by Free People, but this one is super cute and cheaper so why not! You can find it at Nordstrom. 

The thirteenth gift is a monogram robe

Price: Ranges ($29.00 on Etsy) 

I really love this gift because I love monograms. I actually have this on my list (so Mom if you're reading this...). I think this is perfect because once you get out of the shower it is so hard to switch straight to real clothes, so instead of chilling in a towel, why not chill in a cute monogram robe? You can order it from Etsy here! 





The fourteenth item on my gift guide list is the Layla Gunmetal & Rose Gold Frends Headphones 

Price: $120.00 (On Sale now!) 

I've heard nothing but good things about these headphones. They are SO fun looking and seem like the perfect gift for your friends who love to listen to music or travel frequently. Order these headphones today from wearefrends.com 

The fifteenth item on the list is the Bosco Ski Top- Deer Oh Deer Graphic shirt from Show Me Your MuMu 

Price $118.00

If my mom sees this shirt, she will die and tell you she has to have it. This shirt takes Christmas shirts to a whole new level. As opposed to wearing weird and usually tacky Christmas sweaters, why not wear this one? So cute and so seasonal! 


The last item on the list is a Leather Tassel Keychain from Urban Outfitters

Price: $18.00 

This gift is perfect and easy for all of your friends who drive. This tassel keychain is so adorable and super trendy. It would look so cute on your keychain and even hanging from a bag! 


The last suggestion I have if you're still struggling with what to buy your friends or siblings is a gift card. Unfortunately, a gift card isn't as personable, but it will be well appreciated when they don't have to pay for their next trip to Starbucks! 

To My Dearest Nanny..

Loosing a family member is the hardest thing I have ever experienced in my whole life. This loss within my family was extremely expedited. I was hoping that it didn't come so soon because I feared the pain I felt until yesterday. Yesterday, I received closure on the passing of my Nanny. The heartbreak I once felt has now been replaced with peace. The Lord has His ways of doing things and trusting him means that I trust his plans. So thankful for Jesus' perfect timing. Please continue to pray for my family as we navigate unknown waters and that we continue to feel comforted that her separation from us now is not final. Jesus couldn't have picked a better person to be waiting for us as we enter the pearly white gates of heaven later in life. Today I rejoice in the fact that one day I will be reunited with her. We will miss her so much. We love you Nanny & promise to take care of Pop.

Below is the eulogy I spoke at the funeral. 

Good Morning, my name is Anna Kate and I am the oldest of the 8 great grandchildren. Nanny has 8 great grandchildren- myself and my two sisters, Lily and Megan, and cousins, Trip, Bradley, Eric, Sammie, and Trey and we all love her so dearly.
Today I have the greatest honor of reflecting on the extremely happy life of my Nanny. It has always been and still will be one of my greatest joys to say that I have great grandparents, especially for someone of my age. Although her years outnumbered mine, I will forever cherish the time we have spent together over the past 18 years.

When I reflect on her life, I can’t help but think of the things she loved

Nanny loved our great grandfather, Pop

Nanny was a lover of Christmas and the color yellow

She loved to travel

She loved to plan ahead

And was also a lover of Jesus

Nanny loved to travel and that is a trait that she has passed on to all of her grand children and great grandchildren. It was one of her greatest passions, and she enjoyed it even more when travelling with the Joy Club from Alpharetta First Baptist or her family.  Over the past 8 years, Nanny led our family adventures to many destinations throughout the country on many different cruises. Nanny loved the color yellow and she represented the color well. When I think of yellow, I think something that brightens up a room or immediately makes people smile, and Nanny did exactly that. On a bad day she could make me smile. In some of the most recent times I spent with her and Pop, I would sit across from their recliner chairs asking them about what they had done during the day. Often times it wasn’t much, but on a special occasion she would start telling a story from the past- the lady had an incredible memory for the past! What she didn’t know about her story telling was that it reflected the way she made people smile. She wore yellow all the time, whether it was a yellow top, jacket, or pants. She brightened up any room she was in. She loved yellow so much that he whole formal living room is yellow!!

Nanny was a lover of Christmas. Although she didn’t think they were tacky, she loved wearing tacky Christmas sweaters on Christmas day. I will miss laughing at those sweaters this holiday season. Along with that love, came shopping, which is why I am convinced my shopping love is genetic! She and my mom would go on secretive holiday shopping trips that always ended up in the until this past year, off limits wrapping room that was full of surprises all because everything looked so great she had to buy it all.

Nanny was a great planner. She planned out everything from the meals we shared together as a family to some things that are present today at her funeral. When we visited her in the hospital last week, she told us all about the party she was having on Saturday. She frequently reminded us that we needed 20 rib eye steaks, coincidentally enough for our whole family, mashed potatoes, and salad. She was also very adamant that my dad not worry about the yard, but more importantly the party.
We will miss her this Thanksgiving as Lily tries to fill big shoes and attempts to make Nanny’s classic cornbread straight from “seasoned” caste iron skillet, her Christmas spirit will be missed this holiday season, and I will miss her earthly presence as I graduate this spring.

Nanny was a faithful follower of Jesus and that was extremely evident in the way she loved Alpharetta First Baptist Church. The evident happiness in her life was reflective of the joy Jesus filled her with.  I am so thankful that Nanny’s belief in Jesus grants her a life in heaven and her joyful spirit will continue to be with us.

Nanny will continue to live on in my life. Every time I walk into Nanny and Pop’s, I am reminded of her spirit because of her yellow family room- the room representing the way she lit up our family. Her spirit and kind heart will live on in my life all thanks to the way she loved me and other friends and family.

Thank you all so much for being here with us today as we celebrate Nanny’s life and cherish the memories we all have with her.

(Haiti)ing that We're not There

I promised a series about blessings and I'm not forgetting about it, but I cannot let an opportunity pass to share what's heavy on my heart.

A 2 hour and 48 minute plane ride away, a completely different climate, and way different culture is Haiti. On an island with the Dominican Republic is an extremely poor country that is still struggling to recover from an earthquake. Although governmental unity may appear to be lacking, Jesus' presence is definitely not.

I had the privilege of serving this weekend on my second international mission trip. I've been praying since the summer that Jesus' uses us in big ways over a short period of time. We spent exactly 58 hours in Haiti and I truly believe the Lord used us exactly how He planned to do so.

I can barely contain my excitement as I write this all out because I am SO excited about the potential we have as a school to make a difference in a place that seems so foreign.
One of the major things that Haiti and King's Ridge have in common is the faith in Jesus' plans for our lives and that was very evident this weekend.

Our adventure this weekend was all thanks due to Luke101. The mission statement is "to support groups and individuals working to spread the Gospel of Christ around the world." Doing just as they say they will, Luke101 supports 3 local Haitian pastors who are working to spread the Gospel in Haiti. Pepe, Alix, and Jusme are all faithful to the Lord's plans for their lives.

Soccer teams in Haiti, especially the ones coached by Alix, Jusme, and Pepe, are a major privilege and honor. Students selected to be on this team are leaders within their communities, consistent school goers, and faithful followers of the church. Over the weekend, we were able to hand out cleats to 2 teams that are fully sponsored by families or groups here in the United States.

On Sunday morning we went to a church in Canaan. Canaan is a community all situated on a mountain. The lady who started the church prayed at the site of the church and felt that Jesus had called her to have a church there. Lots of prayers later she decided to build it, if she built it, people would come. We experienced Sunday morning church at a local Haitian church and it was one of the highlights of the trip. At Canaan, we handed out 2 bags of rice and beans to the congregation and challenged the people to invite someone to church and bless them with the 2nd bag of rice and beans. All of that was extremely powerful, but the part we're still thinking about today is the fact that the community's children had an hour walk down the hill to school. There has to be something we can do about that. Building a school might seem completely ridiculous, but it is so possible!!

Above are 2 ways that we could make a major different in the communities in Haiti.

As you reflect and consider where you want to serve this year, consider all that I've told you. Haiti along with many other places have great potential for impact this year. Pray that Jesus calls you wherever He wants you to go and follow him. Join KR in serving through Luke101 in Haiti.

God be Praised for...

King's Ridge Christian School.....

While King’s Ridge has been one of my greatest blessings for the past 10 years I know that God’s presence has been one of King’s Ridge’s biggest blessings. He has been faithful and providing blessings among King’s Ridge Christian School since the grocery store days. The community at King’s Ridge has been faithful in praying for God to bless the students, faculty, and staff.

I feel like God has blessed King’s Ridge the most at Convocation at the beginning of the year. I feel God’s blessings upon our school when we are all crowded in the gym when Mr. Rhodes talks about the accomplishments of our students and the growth of our community and campus. The distinct time I remember being blessed by King’s Ridge students and staff was this past year when I struggled to support a friend in throughout a hard time. During this emotional time, friends that King’s Ridge has blessed me with surrounded me and I couldn’t be more thankful for them. The faculty and staff surrounded me and uplifted me and attempted to give me answers to the unanswerable questions. Mr. Arnold, thank you for being a blessing to me and trying to give me answers for questions that aren’t always answerable. I appreciate you and acknowledge the way the Lord plans to use as a blessing.

God has blessed King’s Ridge Christian School with those willing to donate in order to grow our campus. God has blessed King’s Ridge with a faithful community who believe in Him. God has blessed King’s Ridge with confident leaders like Mr. Rhodes and Mr. McCown. God has blessed King’s Ridge with a growing student population that is becoming incredibly diverse. God has blessed King’s Ridge with trustees and founders who believe in His plans for our school. God has blessed King’s Ridge with friends like Callan and Patrick who challenge students to step out of their comfort zone (it’s funny how God’s blessings to my school turn out to be blessings to me). God has blessed King’s Ridge with a growing campus. God has blessed King’s Ridge with growing facilities. God has blessed King’s Ridge with the parents of those in the Lower, Middle, and High Schools. God has blessed King’s Ridge with a dedicated staff who serve in more places than the classroom.

God has greatly blessed King’s Ridge Christian School and definitely holds KR in the palm of His hand.

I think the important part to take from the blessings that God has bestowed upon us is to be incredibly thankful for them but also do as God calls in Genesis.  Genesis 12:12 says, “I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you . . . and you will be a blessing to others.” God has begun to craft King’s Ridge in just the way that He planned and those hand crafted plans should be used to be a blessing to others. I believe that God’s blessings on King’s Ridge Christian School have taught me to be thankful and have helped me to realize how I should  be using my blessings in hopes of blessings others.

Happy Thursday, yall!! Count your blessings today J