Surviving the "Christmas Is Over" Hangover

It’s the week after Christmas. The presents are opened, the family was visited, and the new year is fast approaching. Christmas was great, for sure. But you still feel sort of... unfulfilled. And maybe you feel this feeling every year. We spend all of December frantically trying to “feel Christmas” and all of January reminiscing it. Somehow Christmas Eve comes and we focus on all the things we didn’t do yet. The photos we didn’t take. The movies we didn’t see. The extra presents we didn’t buy for people. It’s ridiculous.

Most of us are totally blessed. We have a family that loves us, and we got plenty of gifts. But we can’t help but wish we bought more, or got more. Maybe even did more. Last year, my tree was so full of gifts (mostly for the baby!) that it was overflowing. I was scrambling so hard to get everything ready for when family came over that I didn’t even get to photograph the cute gifts in a perfectly curated pile of my favorite gift wraps. I mean, the ones my sister got were SO cute and I only got to admire them for a second before I ripped the gifts open and tossed the wrapping paper away.

When family arrives, the chaos of the day prevents you from taking any well-lit or well-posed photos. Lucky for me, my sister suggested we pose in front of the tree with Hailey last year and that’s how we got these cute photos. But without that, I would have missed an opportunity to take these priceless pictures. In fact, on the way home from John’s uncle’s house, I realized I didn’t get a single photo of me and Hailey on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, aside from selfies I took. I was crying when I realized that she’d be looking back one day and not even see me there. I ended up dressing her back up once we got home on Christmas and took some photos in front of the tree, because I couldn’t handle NOT having a photo of us together on her first Christmas.

Every year, I say I need to start things earlier. And every year, I’m there with a list of things I didn’t accomplish. Maybe the days after Christmas should be spent planning for next Christmas. Nothing crazy. Just a reminder to do all the things you wanted to do. Like bake Christmas cookies, and wrap gifts in a professional manner and then take photos of them. Watch a Christmas movie, wear your matching pjs and take a photo. It’s a great way to hold on to a little bit more of that Christmas spirit, while also ensuring that the feeling of Christmas comes back next year. It doesn’t even have to be anything fancy- a cell phone photo of the fun is better than nothing at all. It’s important to point out that so much of what you see online is taken days or even weeks in advance. Everything is a photo shoot, perfectly posed and directed to elicit just the right emotions. Sure, Christmas cheer is one of them. But so is inferiority, regret, and comparison. So while my to-do list for next year will include taking nice photos of the fun, I don’t want to spend all my time pretending to do fun Christmas activities, and not actually do them. I encourage you to do the same thing.

What should go on this “next Christmas” list? It could be a photo scavenger hunt, or a scrapbook activity. And it should start with a list of what Christmas means to you- memories associated with it, activities to do, ways to give back and help others. And maybe if we use that Christmas regret from this year, we can create a concrete plan for next year that helps us to enjoy the holiday season for everything it is, and not everything it wasn’t.

So, on that note… what was your favorite part of the holidays this year? What will you be adding to your list for next year? Let me know in the comments below!

How to Find Your Christmas Style

A few years ago, we celebrated our first Christmas in our new house. I wanted to go all out and decorate. We bought a new (fake) tree at a black Friday sale and I made plans for the perfect decor to fill my new home. Our old tree was about 5 feet tall, and while it was a perfect fit in our tiny NYC apartment, it would look like a dwarf in our large house. With this new tree came the need for new ornaments. Since we had 3 cats, and hoped to have some kids soon after, we decided to go with plastic ornaments instead of glass. In case you aren't aware, it's really hard to find cute plastic ornaments. They're usually cheesy and cheap looking, without necessarily being inexpensive. I looked at all the pretty glass ornaments and felt envy for the types of people who could buy them. It felt like my childhood all over again.

How my Christmas Past Affected my Christmas Present

You see, back at my parent’s house, we used to have this big beautiful Christmas tree. I remember making ornaments with my dad and putting up the same ones every year. Each one seemed to have a story and while it was kitschy, it was really sweet. We used multi-colored lights (because, you know, the 90’s!) and metallic gold fluffy garland. After a while, my grandmothers got sick and my mom did too. It took a heavy toll on her since she had to care for them, rushing from the hospital to the nursing home to see them both. My dad had to work a lot and my sister and I often ended up at his office with him. She and I would share his secretary’s chair after she left so that we could go online, since they had internet access there.

Because of all this stress my parents had, our house got forgotten. It filled with junk and we essentially became hoarders. I don’t use that term lightly- we were. The holidays became a little less glamorous for us. There was literally no place to put our tree anymore. Because my parents were so overwhelmed, we’d usually end up cleaning a spot for the tree and putting it up at the last possible minute- Christmas eve. After a few years, even this didn’t happen anymore. We bought a tabletop pink tree (the cutest!) and this replaced all our old decor.

Now, back to out first Christmas in our new home.

When my husband and I bought our house, this felt like a new opportunity to have that special Christmas I could only dream about. I had visions of Hallmark-movie-style decor in my head and I imagined a home fully decked out for Christmas. I bought a ton of new stuff to go with all the stuff I had brought over from our apartment. I had the perfect decor, the perfect home, and possibly even the perfect life. Finally, it was like everything had come together for me.

I'm not sure if it was the new house, but Christmas didn't feel like Christmas that year. The whole house had been decked out, but it somehow didn't look Christmas-y enough for me. Everyone else that came in felt the Christmas spirit, but I sure didn't. I struggled to figure out why as I packed up all my perfect decorations.

It wasn't until a month later, when I went into a thrift store near our wedding venue in Hawley, PA that I realized what had happened. I never had perfect Christmases growing up. We were a "put the tree up in a scramble on Christmas Eve" type of family. Perfect Christmas trees and decorations were only found in catalogues and hallmark movies. Cheesy, bright 90's holiday decor was all I ever really knew. So, while I might have dreamed about a day when I could have that perfect Christmas home, I didn’t truly feel like the kind of person who would have one.

It turns out, making a place feel like Christmas doesn't have to mean a perfect catalogue home. It can mean vintage ornaments, nostalgia, and the cheesy ornaments you had as a kid. Now, I try to keep my Christmas decor feeling fresh but also traditional. That means taking the same items out of storage year after year, and trying to buy ornaments and decorations that have meaning to me. It’s less about what’s pretty and more about what feels like me. I know my style will change over the years, but right now it’s a slightly nostalgic and colorful version of Christmas. A more upscale version of the ones I had as a kid, if you will.

To find your Christmas style, I’d recommend asking yourself these questions:

1. What did I love about Christmas as a kid?

2. What kind of decor am I drawn to? Think about colors and styles.

3. What’s my favorite piece of Christmas decor that I currently own? How can I add more decor like it?

4. What decor do I put up every year that I don’t like anymore? And, what don’t I like about it?

5. What color do I have most in my Christmas decor? Do I want to continue with that, or change it up?

I’ve been asking myself what exactly I want my home to look like and what Christmas means to me. It turns out it’s less about being the picture perfect Christmas, and more about being my picture perfect Christmas!

What does your perfect Christmas look like? Are you into traditional colors, fun colors, muted colors? I think we all know which ones I’m drawn to, haha! Let me know your preference in the comments below!

DIY Monogram Stockings

So, it's happened. Christmas is over! If you're like me, you're sadly putting away your decorations until next year, while simultaneously scouring the stores for new discount Christmas decor and supplies. Plain stockings are abundant, but what can you really do with those? Well, how about adding a monogram for every member of your family!? Aside from being stinking adorable, these stockings make great place settings at the dinner table. Just tuck a few utensils in them, or use them for a crafting party. The options are endless!

You will need:

White Stockings
Acrylic paint (here)
Foam Brush (here)
Stencils (here)
Tassels (here)
Pom poms (here)
Needle & thread
Painter's tape or washi tape
Scissors

Directions:

1. Decide which style of letter you want to use, and collect the letters you need for your stockings.

2. Place your stencil on the stocking and tape it in place.

3. Using a foam brush, paint on the letter. My stencil didn't lay 100% flat, so I had to press it down while I painted so paint didn't seep through. Once you've made sure there are no missing spots, carefully peel off the stencil.

4. While your letters dry, start making your pom pom tassel charms. Take a needle and thread, and string it through your pom poms. Then, add a tassel charm, and sew back up through the pom poms.

Voila! That's all you need for these adorable monogrammed stockings. Mine are mini sized, but you can definitely get a set of larger ones to hang by the fireplace!

DIY Colorful Jewelry Ornament

Ok guys, two very exciting things for this month. 1, Christmas is coming. And 2, I launched a jewelry shop!!!! Now you can wear gorgeous statement pieces just like me! They’re perfect for adding a pop of color to any outfit. I especially love wearing them to dress up a simple tee shirt and jeans (basically my go-to outfit), or to spice up your party outfits. And, they’re especially glam for all those holiday parties and events you have to attend this month! Swapping out your jewelry can give your dresses a whole new look. Since these jewels are so affordable, they’d be an amazing gift for friends. What if you put them in a super cute package tied with a bow?! These earring ornaments are way more fun than regular ho-hum packaging, and they’re super easy and affordable to do!

You will need:

Plastic Ornaments (similar here)
Cardstock (similar here)
Embroidery floss (similar here)
Styrofoam circle or similar (here)
Scissor (here)
Earrings (here)
Pencil (similar here)
Glue gun

Directions:

1. Open your plastic ornament and trace a circle onto the back of your cardstock.

2. Cut out the circle.

3. Place the cardstock circle against the inner edge of your ornament. Trace around the excess and trim

4. Place your cardstock on a styrofoam circle or something similar and press your earring through to the other side. Try to keep it centered.

5. Add the back of your earring to secure it.

6. Add a string of embroidery thread in a similar or contrasting color so you can hang your ornament

7. Glue your cardstock onto the ornament to hold it in place. You can either use only one side and glue it on all the way around, or use both halves and use a few dots of glue along the inner edge.

Now you can place it in a box, or hang it on the tree until Christmas! I think it looks so glamorous and fun, especially with the pops of pink.

Pssst- all these pieces (and more!) are available in my jewelry shop! Head on over to see the full collection!

Colorful Ornament Making Party

We are SO CLOSE to Christmas! One of my favorite things to do as it approaches is gather up my friends, have a party, and make something for the holidays. I love crafting (is that a secret?) and anytime I get to do it with others, I am in heaven! I wanted to whip up a simple party that brings my friends together to do something I personally LOVE- making ornaments! While everyone else is baking cookies, you can find us creating one-of-a-kind baubles for our tree that we can use year after year. I teamed up with Oriental Trading to create a simple and affordable ornament making party for you and your besties (or kids!) this holiday season.

*This post was sponsored by Oriental Trading. All projects and opinions are my own.

I set up my party by putting a white tablecloth on the table, then stacking a few colorful plates for each setting. I started with a square gold polka dot plate as sort of a charger, then added a red paper dinner plate, a pink paper dessert plate, topped with a pink plastic plate for a little sparkle. It really reflected the light nicely! Then, each setting got a white stocking to customize filled with paintbrushes for the craft projects and a paint palette to keep things neat.

I used plates I already owned to hold all the craft supplies. My small ramekins held the sequins, my cupcake stands held the confetti, and white plastic bowls held misc supplies. My gorgeous pink pitcher was filled to the brim with perfect clear ornaments just waiting to be filled!

The table was filled with all sorts of embellishments to create the ornaments, like pom poms, sequins, tassels, and bells! I also had some craft supplies on hand, like scissors, glue guns, paint trays, and mod podge.

A white cake stand held our paints. I dressed it up with some sisal trees and some wooden frames ready to be painted!

I really wanted the table to have a bright and cheery Christmas palette, so I added the paper fans as a backdrop (DIY here), and matched the decor around these adorable mod napkins! The confetti and sequins worked as both a craft supply and decor.

Even though the color scheme didn't exactly scream CHRISTMAS, I still wanted the party to have a Christmas vibe. What embodies that better than Christmas trees?! I placed them everywhere I could, from the sisal trees on the cake stand, the clear trees surrounding the base, to the paper fans on the wall.

With a party so intimate and cozy, you're bound to have unexpected guests! Just like Roger, who came to take a nap under the table.

Overall I think this party is great for getting everyone in the crafting Christmas spirit. It surprises me that most people don't know about Oriental Trading and how many amazing party and craft supplies they have! With this setup, I can imagine everyone gathered around the table sipping some wine and laughing about funny Christmas stories! Or, maybe swapping memories from their favorite Christmas. Either way, this party is sure to please! Head over to Oriental Trading now so you can get your supplies in time for Christmas!