We enjoyed a very Merry Christmas with my family in Jacksonville yesterday.
Ryan and I woke up before everyone else and celebrated our own little Christmas before the smells of breakfast caused my family to stir.
I had to laugh when I began unwrapping the gifts Ryan stuffed in my stocking. My stocking was filled to the brim with gum.
I am an avid gum-chewer, so this was right up my alley. My husband knows me so well!
I loved our quiet Christmas exchange before the hustle and bustle of the day began and I loved the gifts Ryan gave to me, especially a Blue Apron gift certificate, a new purse (in solid brown) and a cooking class date night in Ocala. We are a big fan of giving each other “experiences,” and I know we’ll have a blast on our date night!
Once we were done exchanging gifts, breakfast was ready and we gathered around the table with my family to eat and open our stockings.
Oh monkey bread, you are so delicious.
This year was a special year for my sister’s fiancé since he officially got a family stocking with his name on it.
My mom made the stockings my sister and I use by hand when we were born and Ryan got one when he joined our family a few years ago. If the stockings symbolize anything, Ross can officially feel like a member of the family now!
With our stockings emptied and food in our bellies, we moved into the living room to open gifts.
Even the dogs received a few presents and Sadie seemed excited about her stretched out pig toy!
Can’t you tell?
We tried to prolong the gift-giving as long as possible and spent most of the day lounging around in our pajamas.
Leslie seemed pretty excited about the Tuna Melts My Heart calendar I gave to her.
She is just as obsessed with that hilarious dog as I am! His overbite cracks us up and we send each other screen shots of Tuna from time to time to make each other laugh.
In the early afternoon, we were all in the mood to get outside, so we bundled up (Florida-style) and took Sadie and Kona on a walk.
I love getting outside on Christmas because it’s always so quiet. We walked for a little less than an hour and the dogs had a blast sniffing every single blade of grass and mailbox we passed.
Once we arrived home, we spent some time hanging out before it was time to put the finishing touches on our Christmas dinner. We did a small-scale Thanksgiving dinner complete with stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and gravy, pumpkin pie and more. I went to bed feeling very full and very lucky.
It was a great Christmas!
Stitch Fix Giveaway Winners
Congratulations to…
- Kim N.: “I’d love to see some fun colored skinny jeans! Or a really fun long sweater to wear with leggings.”
- Carrie: “What a great concept! I would love a new winter dress for the holidays!”
- Stacey Weaver: “I just had a baby on Saturday and am in dire need of some new casual clothes that fit. I would love mostly a blouse, sweater and some pants with a cute bangle or long necklace! Thanks for the giveaway!”
- Hannah: “I’m definitely in need of a new cocktail dress to wear to some of the weddings I have coming up!”
- Diana: “I would love some new outfits for teaching! It’s my first year as a grade 2 teacher and I want to keep my preppy but fun loving outfits up to date, but it is hard to find the time to go shopping lately! I love scarfs, skinny jeans, and sweaters! Chunky necklaces are always a great accessory!”
All giveaway winners have been emailed. I hope you all love Stitch Fix as much as I do!
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Merry Christmas!! What fun holiday celebrations. I got that exact same purse in black! I love it but I want a purse with handles I can wear on my shoulder easily and not around my elbows so I’m exchanging it for a similar one.
That monkey bread looks amazing!!
Love the matching pj’s! So cute!
Thank you! 🙂
I love that your mom gets you and your sister matching pajamas. My mom still does that, too. I’m 28 and my sister is 29. Most of our clothing presents were the same, except for color. She even got us PJ’s for our upcoming cruise that are exactly the same. She’ll be in our cabin, so I’m wondering if she got a matching set for herself, as well.
Gotta love funny family traditions. <3
We do the same thing for Christmas – basically spend the whole day together lounging in PJs. 🙂
I love that you and your sister have matching PJs. So cute!
Can you please link to where to find your ear warmer headband? Thanks!
It was in my Christmas stocking but my mom said she got it at Bed Bath and Beyond. 🙂
I love the matching Pjs! Looks like your christmas was nice & relaxing! Just wondering what camera you used to capture these photos…. They are so crisp!
I love the idea of giving “experience” gifts as opposed to something tangible. The cooking class date sounds like it will be a ton of fun!
Looks like you all had a wonderful Christmas together!
PS–that monkey bread looks so amazing.
I love that you and your sis have matching pjs 🙂 And to just go overboard with my cheesiness today (I blame pregnancy hormones), seeing the relationship between you and your sis make me excited to being having another little girl. I hope she and Hailey will have a similar relationship!
Merry Christmas!
My Mom makes monkey bread for Christmas morning too! The idea of gifting each other experiences is really neat!! Looks like you had a great Christmas with your family.
Mmmmm monkey bread!!
We got matching pjs too—so so fun!!
Sounds like the perfect Christmas!!! LOVE the new bag!!!
Looks like a great Christmas! My mom and sister went on a walk with me as well yesterday. It’s such a fun way to spend time together! 🙂
Wow that monkey bread looks good! I made your white chocolate and crushed peppermint oreos and they were a huge hit! Looks like you had a wonderful Christmas!
Woah too funny! I got my little pup the same exact pig toy! He LOVES it
Sounds like you had a pretty magical Christmas. 🙂
I love giving and receiving “experience” gifts! So much fun! Congrats on the new stocking, Ross!
You and your sister are adorable!!! Looks like a great Christmas Day. I love the matching pjs. I love love love monkey bread. Delish!
Me, my sister and my mom always open our stockings first then wait for my dad to wake up! I love your scarf Julie, Merry Christmas!
Love the red and white stockings that you and Ryan use! Are those the ones your mom made? If not, mind sharing where you got them?
Looks like you had a really great Christmas holiday! Being around family during the holidays is great. And that monkey bread looks fantastic!
What a fun Christmas! My brother’s wife just got her stocking this year! It is the official “welcome to the family” symbol!
I love that you took a few minutes to have a private gift exchange. Christmas can be overwhelming so its nice to have a few minutes alone with eachother 🙂
I love that infinity scarf!!
Merry Christmas!! Love those headbands you and your sister both have on! Very cute! Glad you had a wonderful holiday 🙂
Looks like a fun day! I had to laugh when you said you prolonged the gift opening as long as possible. My sister and I do the same thing. We hate rushing through it, and try to make it last!
Your dog’s face! Lovely!!! You and your sister wearing the same pjs reminds me when my mom dressed me and my sister with identical clothes! Merry Christmas!!
I love Tuna, he’s so ugly he’s cute 🙂 Glad y’all had a great Christmas!
that’s Jacksonville is amazing
Omg Sadie’s face ❤
Do you have a recipe for that money bread?? It looks insanely delicious!!!
Monkey*** bread
What did you give Ryan for Christmas? / What are you giving him this year?! I’m racking my brain trying to figure out something besides clothes to give my boyfriend! haha
Right now most of his gift center around warm-weather apparel b/c, moving to NC from Florida, he only had TWO sweaters!!
Good idea! Forecast for Virginia tomorrow is SNOW! AH!