I hate shopping. Yeah I said it. I am a girl, and I hate to shop. This makes shopping for Christmas gifts like a strategic war game that I will never win. I get a few ideas for the couple of people I actually buy for and then talk myself into all the reasons why no one will like them. No, Dad will HATE this Roku for the TV and Mom is going to roll her eyes at that pair of slippers that I thought she'd love.


I hype myself up for a trip to the mall. "It's going to be great! My list has awesome ideas on it and I'm gonna get in and get out with all those fab gifts!" Fast forward an hour later. I am walking around aimlessly through the mall trying to decide if I should go into Best Buy or Target. I window shop and "oooohhh and ahhhh" over some of the items, but still can't bring myself to go in and purchase anything. What's wrong with me?

Maybe it's because I have a problem with parting with my money. I have been training myself over the past 2 years to think before I splurge. There is no need to buy on impulse and I have gotten really good at researching the best prices. I usually find all of the gifts I want to buy on a good deal. Maybe this is why I hate to shop. It reminds me that I need to save and can't go crazy just because it is the holidays.

Maybe it's because I take after my dad. He shops every year on Christmas Eve. I find that procrastinating makes everything more stressful, but hey! I still get the good presents. Right? Nothing more festive then rushing around the mall on Christmas Eve with all the other last minute shoppers. Enough to raise the blood pressure and possibly start on that grey hair.

Maybe it's because I think to much about what everyone is going to buy me. Will Jamie get me a gift card? How much is Rob going to spend? Where is Mom going to shop for me? I need to purchase something as equally cool as they buy me. Oh darn if only I knew what they all bought. It would make this so much easier!

Maybe it's because I dislike the cold. No matter how bundled up I get, I still feel like I could freeze when I step foot outdoors. Snow is pretty but it deters me from wanting to go out and shop for people. Ice makes driving a load of fun. Can't I live in Florida? My gift shopping mood may change.

Maybe because I insist on making all of my Christmas Cards. I can't give a gift without a card! Oh look there is only 2 weeks til Christmas and I STILL haven't come up with a theme for this years card. Maybe I can buy some instead. No NO, I will make them. I always make them. Maybe if I make no cards, I won't have to buy gifts. NO that makes you a bad person. Okay I will get out my paper and glitter.

So there you have it. Christmas shopping is my nemesis. I always come through in the end but man do I make it hard on myself. How about you? Do you have any issues with shopping? What plans do you set up to get it done?

Hi guys! So today I have done something a little out of character for me, and that's uploading a video! I decided to do an un-boxing of my Influenster Frosty VoxBox. I had a lot of fun with this!

• McCormick Gourmet All Natural Thyme (Full size)
• Red Vines Fruit Vines Bites in Cherry (Full size)
• Candy Cane Lane Green Tea by Celestial Seasonings (Sample)
• Eco Tools Sleek + Shine Finisher hair brush
• NYC Expert Last Lip Color in Sugar Plum (Full size)
• Rimmel London Scandal Eyes in Black (Full size)
• Rimmel London Just Let It Go Gentle Eye Makeup Remover (Full Size)
• No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Advanced Serum (Sample Size)

Hey there lovlies! Welcome back to another round of my year in review. I have already went over January, February, and March in week 1. Last week I recapped April, May, and June.  (Click on the group of months to recap if you missed any!) This week I am bring you my 3rd quarter. The busy months as I like to call them! Summer! Sit back and enjoy!

So many of you know, I share a birthday with a little holiday call New Years Eve. Have you heard of it? Oh you know, it's only one of the biggest party nights of the year! I have read a lot of lists on why December birthdays suck, but at least if you were born on December 19th you still get your own day so to speak. It's still rough, but it's not a world holiday. I wanted to share with you 10 reasons why December birthday, specifically on New Years Eve suck!

* Everyone is out of town. They go home to visit friends and family. Because of course no one calls their current town home anymore, its where ever they last lives for more than 5 years.

* The people who didn't go "home" have a party to go to. Cause lets face it, if your party isn't  "happening" then your plans ain't happening!

* Bakeries get a little thrown off when you ask for a "Happy Birthday" cake. Don't know how many times I've been asked to "come again?"

*Christmas happens. You just got a gift for Christmas. Why do you need another one for your birthday? Isn't one enough?!

* You get a "December birthday" card every year from at least 4 people (IF they remember at all). Can't anyone just forget its December and just send me a normal card?

*You try to be reasonable and move your birthday festivities to the beginning of the month. Your response: I just spent all my money on black Friday. I'm broke.

* You re-think your reasoning and realize early December is to early, how about mid-December? Response: Sorry I have a holiday party to attend! Darn!

* Your best friends swear they are throwing you the best birthday party yet! You walk in to streamers, noise makers, HAPPY 20?? everything, and 50 of your closest friends. Um awkward?

* Shoot! I live in the north. There's a foot of snow outside, its below freezing, and having the strength to look cute gets harder by the minute. Aren't sweat pants sexy?

* And my all time favorite reason why having a NYE birthday sucks: I get another 365 day to think about all the wonderful plans I want to make for next years birthday bash! Sweet! A girl can dream right?

It wouldn't be the holidays around here on The Trish List without talking about freebies. What kind of friend would I be if I didn't tell you all that there are LOADS of freebies and giveaways around the holidays. Companies new and old want you to buy with THEM and them alone. They will offer up all kinds of goodies and shiny discounts to nab your attention. Now I'm here to show you how it's done.


First thing you want to do is "like" all of your favorite brands on Facebook and "follow" them on Twitter. This will let you be the first to know when they are giving away stuff or offering amazing discounts. You aren't anyone until you have tons of social media friends. #AmIRight? This is one of the main sources for those free holiday gifts. True story. I have won many of my presents over the years.

Next thing you want to do is Google "25 Days of Christmas". Yes I know I am little late on this post, but you still have plenty of time to get in on some pretty sweet giveaways. Many companies host these types of giveaways along with Advent Calender type offers. Every day they "open" a new gift for you. The good news is, is once you are registered for these events, all you need to do is enter your email each time you enter.

The last thing I highly recommend if becoming members of a couple of sites. These sites are always looking for people to review products and will offer up some pretty cool swag. The holidays seem to be a good time to come out with a bunch of neat things. On Monday alone I received 2 boxes full of goodies to try and review, all free.

Check out Influenster. They offer up "VoxBoxes" that come with an assortment of products and have been know to send out Keurigs!

Another favorite is BzzAgent! They have been giving out lots of toys for the holidays.

And FINALLY check out Smiley360. They have some pretty cool campaigns and I have certainly been included in a lot of great studies.

So what are you all waiting for? Get out there and get some freebies!