Home for the Holidays! We recently pulled the plug and cancelled the Airbnb we had booked in our hometown for Christmas. It was heartbreaking, but we knew in our hearts it was what we needed to do. For months, we had been stressing about it as we watched Covid numbers skyrocket. When we finally made the choice to cancel the trip, it felt like a huge relief. Even though we are very sad to miss spending the holidays with family, we are trying to reframe it as an opportunity to spend one very special holiday in our home in Tennessee. We are making a holiday to-do list full of fun memories to make with the kids, stocking up on ingredients to make all our favorite recipes (hello, homemade Chex mix for the third time this season!), baked goods, and keeping our weekends at home full of Christmas movies.
Our strategy is to keep the spirit bright by packing our schedule with all the things we love to do as a family. Santa pancakes, making a Christmas fort, watching Elf and Home Alone and making crafts and recipes with the kids!
Here are 10 things I am loving this week!
1. My friends Stefanie and Jacqui both launched new blogs this past month. Check out 1000 Miles From Nowhere for mid-century interiors with a boho twist and Baby Boy Bakery for delicious recipes and stories of motherhood.
2. These PJs look so comfy. I love all the colors they come in.
3. Are you dressing up for NYE (I’m assuming we’re all staying home)? Even though it might be cheesy, I REALLY want to dress up … in all gold. Haha. Which dress do you like more: this gold sequined one or this one with long sleeves? And do you like these shoes?
Or should I just wear PJs? All or nothing.
4. I got this beret and it’s perfect!
5. Unfinished wood trees to paint!
6. My favorite toys to collect for myself … I mean for my children. 😉
7. I’ve gotten into the habit of getting a new puzzle for every holiday (for when my sister visits or something like that!). I got this one to do over Christmas. It’s 1,000 pieces and I am so excited. It really helps me get offline and chill. Well, this paired with a hot toddy probably. 🙂
8. Holiday book list for kids. We always add a few new books every year. It’s one of our most-loved collections.
9. I’m loving my new retro fridge. If you’re curious how it compares to a SMEG, I would say they are very similar.
10. Our favorite essential oil diffuser is on sale.
Sending the biggest hug to you this week. I know I say that a lot and I wish you knew how sincerely I mean it every single time. xx- Elsie
This is the sweetest sentence: “I know I say that a lot and I wish you knew how sincerely I mean it every single time” <3
Hi Elsie! I just wanted to pop in and say thanks for being honest and sharing about having to cancel your Christmas plans. I’m sorry that you can’t be with your family, and parents this year. I made the same hard decision this week, and it felt so comforting to know I’m not alone (sometimes it feels like I’m the only one trying to make safe choices). Anyways, sending you lots of love as you celebrate this year.
I love the long sleeve gold dress! Go for it, dress up and have fun at home : ) The shoes aren’t really my style but I’m sure they would look cute on you!
The long sleeve gold dress gets my vote and the shoes are adorable!
If you are looking for gold heels, you should check out my friend K.K’s. She started this business a few years ago after getting divorced and after dreaming of it for years and she designs the most stunning shoes and gets them made in Italy with the most beautiful leather. It has been so cool to watch her small business take off and I must own 6 pairs of her shoes by now, bc they are so well-made and not many other people have them and I always get a million compliments…check it out – https://kkdodds.com/collections/mary-janes/products/holiday-oro. xo
I love the long dress with no sleeves! It would look so cute on you, and I loveeee the shoes! Those trees are adorable. You gotta do what feels right for you at this time and I’m sure it was so hard to pull the plug, but you always do such a good job of making things magical for Nova and Goldie!!!
Long sleeve dress! So pretty and looks more comfy
I say pick the dress with long sleeves. If is ridiculously beautiful. Also, the shoes are perfect.
that retro fridge is half the size of the SMEG, Id say its not a very fair comparison…
Hi! Just a note there are different sizes of smegs.
You should totally dress up to stay at home for NYE! Like in The Holiday at the end ?. Make it fancy with the girls, it’ll be such a sweet memory.
My mother always gives me a puzzle for Christmas among the other presents – it should be a tradition of
ours for more than 25 years now. 🙂 And totally relate to the decision of staying home – it will be my first Christmas apart of my family, so my heart is broken, but I believe it is for the best.
We’re doing the same, staying home rather than our usual 6 hour drive to see the family. I realized the other day that while I’m going to miss seeing family (it’s been a year for us) I am so happy to spend a holiday at home. Less packing, traveling, hauling all the gifts back and forth, trying to see everyone and please everyone with our holiday visit. It’s going to be nice to do Christmas our own way! Bonus, I could actually buy large items for the kids since we didn’t have to travel! Playhouse is on the way! Merry Christmas to you guys, I hope your stay at home holiday is magical! ♥️
A different option for NYE… the whole family can DIY crazy, sparkly sweatshirts! Use tinsel, glitter paint, stars, foam stamps, etc. (You could still buy the gold heels;) Cheers!
I really like the gold dress with the long sleeves. The shoes are fun, too.
We can totally relate to having Christmas at home (and no travel). We’re in the same boat as you. Hopefully we’ll make some fun memories in this stranger-than-normal time! Sending hugs to you and your family!
Calico Critters! I’m glad I’m not the only mama who has a weakness for them. Our local toy store introduced us to them and now we keep adding to our stash; I justify with “Oh I’m supporting a small locally owned business.”
Hey Elsie!
What a cute photo! I just launched a new blog too, so I will definitely check out Stefanie’s and Jacqui’s blogs. Sorry to hear about your Christmas, but I hope everything works out for you and everybody has a great, if different, Christmas after all.
Becca