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hello, my friends! it’s a new year + a new opportunity for all of us. while our little family cruised into the holiday season with the full-blown flu/virus that was going around, i still managed to take a little time to try and prepare for what 2026 was going to bring. and, thankfully before the virus hit, i managed to get my 2026 erin condren planner ordered and on its way so i could get some planning underway when i felt better!
(side note: this is year 7 or 8 with using erin condren planners each year, and they are still working wonderfully for me + our family life! i’m able to keep everything work-related + etsy-related in one place!)
our family’s usual christmas time is spent with just our core four at our home in illinois. christmas eve was spent at an early morning present delivery with our local goodfellows organization, then christmas eve church service (with our youngest serving as an acolyte, which was so special!), and then wrapped with me making my favorite air fryer turkey breast, shrimp cocktail (my boys’ favorite!), garlic mashed potatoes + green beans. it’s what i always call my simple-special dinner because it feels like it took a long time but i have managed to make it about as easy as i can!
christmas eve always, always ends with matching pjs (vineyard vines are always our faves for the boys!) + even though the boys are 16 and 12, reindeer food is still always made and sprinkled on the front lawn. (curious about reindeer food? we literally make it out of whatever we have at home! some oats, some brown sugar, some regular sugar + some sprinkles create a great little fun tradition!)
the boys are finally to an age where christmas morning wake-up no longer happens at 5am. thank goodness! this year, they managed to let us sleep until 8am, and while chaos was calmer, it was still a choatic morning…topped off with a waffle tray for breakfast. (this is seriously one of my favorite christmas morning breakfasts…it’s super easy + beyond me, no one in the house loves breakfast casseroles.)
(my latest obsession from this holiday: those teeny-tiny hazelnut filled waffle cones! i found them at aldi before christmas, and oh.my.goodness, they are incredible! also if you haven’t ever searched aldi at the holidays for amazing treats, you must!)
our christmas morning isn’t the end though because once we have a chance to clean up the chaos, we pack our bags and head to indiana every year to celebrate with my husband’s side of the family. it’s a four-day getaway that let’s us celebrate with more family + get ready to say hello to 2026!
here’s to hoping + wishing each of you an incredible start to the new year, peace for a year full of love, and the chance to spend time with those you love.
