Happy Thursday.

Thank you so much for sharing your traditions - there are so many great, meaningful ones listed. I have read through the comments a couple of times now  and am planning to add some to our own traditions.

A couple simple ideas I loved was eating Christmas Eve dinner by candlelight with lots of candles (even if it is something perfectly simple such as pizza - we usually do a bigger early dinner on Christmas day - not sure what will happen yet this year with all our guests), spending the night in the living room all together near the tree + watching movies (just picked up Elf at Target this morning) + eating pizza (anything having to do with pizza is good in my book), and getting an ornament box set up just for Simon.

I have an ornament box that my Grandma Cathy made for me and my siblings (and cousins) when I was a kid that holds all the ones I have received over the years. My Mom even kept track of where they came from (who + when). She is so good at writing things down. It is a super special treasure and I want Simon to have the same sort of experience as well.

Here's a peek inside:

Today I am working on work stuff and getting ready for my holiday gathering tomorrow night. I am hosting my first every get-together (another benefit of not traveling so much) and I am really excited. Ever notice how inviting people to come over spurs you into action on projects that have been waiting forever to be completed? That is totally happening around here and Chris has been a major help in this department.

We got our tree last night at a local lot and it was the easiest and simplest set up we have experienced in our 9 years of marriage. Ever since I can remember we have been using my Grandparents old metal Christmas Tree stand. Last year it finally rusted (worse than it was already rusted) and ended up staining the carpet so I was finally justified in disposing of it. We should have gotten rid of it a long time ago.

Yesterday morning Chris picked up one of those Krinner Click Fix Christmas Tree Genies. Seriously, it is the best thing ever. You just set your tree in it, click a lever a couple times with your foot and it's done. We laughed quite awhile about how much BETTER it was than the old one which took forever to get set up. It's one of those great little things that made the whole experience a million times better.

Starting Saturday I will be posting my holiday December Daily journal pages each day over on CK's website (not sure on the exact link yet) - check back for more information on that one. Jessica posted an awesome digital template for her December Daily album here (instructions are located within the post). Love the idea of using one template foundation for each day and simply varying the content, papers, etc.

Happy Thursday!

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43 thoughts

  1. Margie says…
    11/29/2007

    Love the ornament box idea. My mom let my brother and I pick out a new ornament each year and now we do the same with our three children - my husband and I pick one out too. I love the idea of each person having their own personalized box!
    Wanted to share a couple of our traditions since I missed the tradition blog entry.
    I have each child who can draw, draw one Xmas themed picture, I scan it into the computer and use it on our Xmas card - either the card itself or on the return labels or on our Xmas photo collage. That is another tradition. Instead of a Xmas letter, we do a collage of photos throughout the year and mail it to out of town friends and family inserted in our card. Our card is always a family photo we take each year on the beach. I always have a family member or friend take it and they turn out better than any professional photo we have ever had taken! Probably because we take so many more photos at the shoot than the pros do.
    Thanks to everyone who shared their traditions - I've written a few down to add to our growing list of old & new traditions. Thanks Ali for doing this. It is always so fun.

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. melisa says…
    11/29/2007

    I really love the idea of the ornament box, i really wish my mother had done that for me, but because you shared such a wonderful tradition with us, i will now start a box for each of my three girls. thank you so much and your mother to for such a great tradition.

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. Margie says…
    11/29/2007

    Oh, almost forgot to add the tradition of getting a special Starbucks holiday treat after picking out our Xmas tree - whether it is at a farm or Home Depot!

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  4. anne says…
    11/29/2007

    I CAN'T wait until tomorrow. It's going to be a lovely time! :)
    ~Anne

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  5. Cynthia Friese-Hassanein says…
    11/29/2007

    Ali- I love the ornament box, that is so great. This year I've decided to on my blog do my own version of advent calendar countdown to celebrate all the wonderful traditions of this holiday season and then in Jan., take all my blog entries then turn them into a mini-book. Thanks for sharing your traditions. Look forward to checking out your December Journal pages.

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  6. Paola Norman says…
    11/29/2007

    Ali, I thought that since you were entertaining so much this month I'd share with you a super easy super fast receipe that you can have on hand: You only need about 5-10 min..
    Chocolate Mint Fudge:
    3 cups chocolate chips (semi-sweet is good)
    1 can of condensed milk
    1 pinch of salt
    1 tsp peppermint extract
    1 tsp vanilla extract
    1 cup of walnuts (optional)(chopped)
    In a saucepan heat condensed milk and chocolate chips over low-med heat until chocolate chips are melted and mixed in the milk. Stir in the other ingredients and mix well. Pour into a 8 or 9 inch pan that has been lined with aluminum foil. Let sit until firm.. remove foil. Cut in pieces and enjoy!
    I usually make 2 one with nuts and one without.. and I like to double the receipe..take care!

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  7. katharyn brine says…
    11/29/2007

    OHHHH! Love your new blog banner! LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT! Also crazy about the lined ledger paper one you had at the beginning of the year.

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  8. Jennie DeMichielli-Moreland says…
    11/29/2007

    Ali,
    Elf is one of our favorites. Another movie to keep in your collection for the holidays or give to those you love is "The Ultimate Gift" You will have tears at the end. We love it. Some of the gifts are Joy, Patience, Love etc. Happy Holidays from Portland Oregon.
    Jennie

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  9. dr berry says…
    11/29/2007

    What a treasure- that ornament box. "Elf" is my all time fav holiday movie. It makes me laugh every time I watch it. We even watch it in the summer at least once.
    Thanks for sharing- I love all your holiday idies. There just aren't enough hours in my day to do all those awesome things.
    Happies at ya!!

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  10. Autumn says…
    11/29/2007

    Hi Ali. I heard about your open house this weekend from my friend Laura in Salem. Good luck with the event. I bet it will be spectacular! Everything you do exudes awesomeness! You, Master Ali, totally ROCK!
    By the way, will you be teaching a class at the CK Convention in late February? I am about to buy a ticket to Portland just in case you will be teaching there.

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. Dalne says…
    11/29/2007

    What a great idea? I have never heard of an ornament box before but it makes so much sense. A special box to store things that you treasure. The value of this is your special things forever and ever so you can hang them on your Christmas tree wherever that maybe. Can't wait to see the Ali version of this great idea. I have been loving the Christmas posts. Good luck with the entertaining. Remember hospitality resides in our hearts not in our homes.
    Kindregards
    Dalne

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. homedotmade says…
    11/29/2007

    Two more ornament traditions... One is that every vacation we take, we buy an ornament (or something else small that could hang on our tree) put the year on it in some place and use it as a souvenir of our trip. We have ones from Aruba, Seattle, Steamboat Springs, The Wisconsin Dells, etc. and it's always fun to talk about with the kids.
    The other ornament tradition we have is that I have a picture frame ornament for every year since we have been married and I put in it a picture representative of the year or something significant that happened.
    The year we got married-our wedding picture, the next year, the picture of our house, baby pictures the year the kids were born. I even have a few that are "memorial" ornaments for the years we lost my brother and my father in law.
    It too brings the memories back and is wonderful to be able to look on every year.

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  13. Penny says…
    11/30/2007

    I love the ornament box. What a special treasure.

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. Kimberly L.C. says…
    11/30/2007

    Great post today!
    I think we're going to have to get that stand since last year as I was putting the star on the top of the tree, the whole thing fell over, ornaments and all. It was quite traumatic and I lost several prized ornaments in the process!
    Hope you had a fun party last night!

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. leah says…
    11/30/2007

    Love the ornament box idea (never seen one before...) If you find directions/pattern will you please share a link? Thanks!
    Good luck on your holiday gatherings! :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. Beth says…
    11/30/2007

    My son only just turned one....so now...I feel I should go through the ornaments and try to remember where they came from and write it all down...I do remember where most of mine came from....so I guess I should do the same for him....thanks

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  17. Lietje says…
    11/30/2007

    Ali
    I really, really, really love the ornament boxes.
    We have a tree full of new and old ornaments (many of them bought when i was a little girl) I really wished my mum had made notes why and when I picked that special piece.
    I also wished that I noted down why my kids picked some special pieces. Why they fall in love with them. The pieces I hate and always try to hang them on back site of the tree ;) a very, very, very blue bird, a orange tree or a pink fungus. I hate them but I also love/treasure them..... but not in FRONT of my tree ;) But I'm sure in a couple of years I hang those pieces in the front because then they remind me of the years gone by :{
    When i'm decorating the tree at my mothers (81) house, each year i'm still surprised she has ornaments my father picked as a little boy (early 1930 ths) I'm really love them. And when she is gone.... They are going to hang in MY tree but I will never now when he got those and why.
    Really treasure your box!!!! Love it.

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  18. kelli smith says…
    12/01/2007

    I love that ornament box, should post the directions or even the dimensions so we can all sew-lift it....

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