J and I do our holidays a little differently now. The first few years we were married, the holidays left us stressed, frazzled, and exhausted. We’d end our “vacation” feeling more tired than when it started. So a few years ago, we made a decision.
And now we stay home for the holidays.
What that meant for us, though, was that it was time to start our own traditions! I have a few things from my childhood that I need for it to feel like christmas. And so does he. So we married those things to create our own holiday traditions! I’ve partnered up with Man Crates, an awesome new company who create the best gift crates filled with all sorts of goodies for men that he actually has to open with a crowbar, to bring you guys a His & Hers version of our Holiday Survival Kit! (Also, just real quick, what man wouldn’t want a gift they need a crowbar to open? Just sayin’).
Holiday Survival Kit by hodgespodges featuring winter candles
For it to feel like Christmas, I need the following:
- Fleece Lined Leggings. Okay. That’s a little specific. But basically, my parents’ house was known as the “happy pants” house. My siblings would all do their rounds on Christmas all dressed up, and by time they ended up at my parents’ house, they’d just want to change into “happy pants.” So no, I don’t do the dress up thing on Christmas.
- Red Wine. Since I was old enough to drink (and mayyyyyyybe just a little before then) I’ve enjoyed a glass of red on the days leading up to the holiday. Now, it’s a little less necessary since I’m not in a house with all of my siblings and countless family members for days on end, but you get the point 😉
- Bath & Body Works Winter: Okay. This one is more recent. Back in 2012, J was already living in Buies Creek and I was still in Charlotte. That Christmas, J came home for several weeks. I’d just bought this candle and it burned that whole holiday season. We spent the night in a homemade fort. We built a ginger-bread house from scratch. We spent an entire day on the couch watching Christmas movies. All with that candle burning. It was such a special holiday that now I need the scent to feel like “home” at Christmas time. Unfortunately, I don’t have access to a Bath & Body Works on the regular, so I have to improvise. Never fear! There are a couple dupes for this! Glade Hayride melts & Better Homes & Gardens Winter Ski Resort candle (walmart)!
- M&M Chocolate Chip Cookies: Since I can remember, my sister has made M&M chocolate chip cookies at Christmas, and therefore it’s not Christmas unless I have some of those. Now that we stay home, I make a few batches here!
- National Lampoons Christmas Vacation: This is the holy grail of my Christmas. Back when I wasn’t even old enough to understand half the movie, this has been the epitome of Christmas at my parents’ house! So now the week of Christmas, we’re sure to have a Christmas Vacation night!
Hubs Survival by hodgespodges featuring a food & drink
Things are a little different for the husband. All he asked was that we carry on his family’s tradition of watching the Home Alones (uh, duh, only the first two) and order pizza! Uh, a tradition that involves pizza and I don’t have to cook or clean up? Fine by me!
He also enjoys:
- Crown Royal: + diet coke. Tis his drink of choice.
- Slippers: It’s pretty much the only time of the year that he actually wears slippers. Of course he has to have a pair that has an actual sole because if Santa brings him anything that he can play with outside, he runs straight out the door to test it out.
- Terry’s Orange Chocolate: I’ve learned that it’s just not Christmas morning if there isn’t one of these in his stocking. Yeah. I found that out the hard way a few years ago… haha!
What are some of your must haves for the holidays?
linked with Becky
Holidays were some of the most stressful days of our early marriage, too. It's difficult to bring two different sets of traditions into one family at the same time. It sounds like you've found the perfect solution, though. Love it! Happy holidays 🙂
-Claire
http://www.fashionandfeathers.com
#1 we enjoyed actually beginning to build our traditions for ourselves last year. So more on that later.
#2 All three movies literally make my heart swell. In fact I added National Lampoon's to our Netflix queue only to find it on a very long wait.
#3 I want fleece lined leggings now. Where are the most affordable ones located?
I just got my first pair of fleece lined leggings and i'm never going back!! Love that you guys have made your own traditions!! xo, Biana – BlovedBoston
This is the most adorable idea! Mark came home with Home Alone the other day and was so excited. I was like ohhhhkayyy. So apparently men like that movie 😉 Fleece lined leggings are fabulous I 100% agree!
Those chocolate oranges are surprisingly delicious!
Fleece lined leggings are absolutely a necessity!
I love how you all have merged your Christmas traditions!
Aww thats sweet! Fleece lined leggings sound FABULOUS. I should get a pair since sadly I would get a lot of use out of them here! Love Christmas Vacation and Home Alone too. 🙂 I hope that you enjoyed your weekend too!!!
I forgot about those orange chocolates, I used to love those! Making and decorating Christmas cookies and watching movies (Elf, The Holiday & Christmas Vacation) are my favorite traditions.
I need those leggings. Chocolate oranges are one of my favorite things. Bath and Body Works candles are absolutely the best (Sidenote: They do still have that Winter scent!) and my favorites are Marshmallow Fireside and Fresh Balsam and Cinnamon Frosting (for winter…I have different favorites for spring/summer/fall, I'm a little bit of a BBW candle junkie).
I'm a big fan of taking it easy during Christmas. It's no fun to have to go back to work after the holidays all stressed out and feeling like no relaxation took place!!
CHRISTMAS VACATION!! Is it weird that I really want to own some glass Bullwinkle the Moose mugs someday…?
Annnd I completely misread your post and thought it said they don't HAVE that Winter scent anymore, not that you can't access them! Do what we do – order online! 3 wicks are 12 bucks right now! 🙂
Loved this! And good for you guys on making the decision to stay home!! We live over an hour away from any of our closest family so the holidays = traveling, too. We keep saying as soon as we have kids, we're making everyone come to US!
Ahhh I got that winter candle for this year (still trying to burn off the "sweater weather") but can't wait to use it!! And Home Alone is the best!! I think your new traditions sound perfect 🙂
Yes to fleece lined leggings, so comfy and warm! It's awesome that you were able to merge your traditions together and I think it's great that you don't stress yourself out trying to run all over the place on Christmas! Staying at home sounds just perfect!
Christmas Vacation is a must for me too, that and at least one glass of eggnog 🙂
Brooke
Pumps and Push-Ups
I am dying for a pair of fleece lined leggings! As soon as I'm of normal size, I must find a pair! I agree, holidays can be stressful. We still haven't figured out exactly our plan of attack for this year; it is so hard to please everyone that much I know!
Such a cute post! I have to watch Elf, The Grinch and Home Alone every year, certainly must have a winter scented candle, Queen Anne Cordial Cherries and my mom's sugar cookies! Replace your red wine with eggnog.
Such a sweet post! I totally agree with you… DG and I are excited to spend our first married Christmas together. We're going to D.C. and I can't WAIT. Winter is such a great scent. My scent that reminds me of DG is "Tis the Season" by Bath and Body Works. That's all we burned our first Christmas together! xoxo
Dude, I haaaate dressing up for Christmas! My family has always done pajamas but we do both mine AND Pete's extended family so I have to at least make myself not look like a fucking gargoyle when we go.
1 and 2 are the only Home Alones that matter. What were they even THINKING making 3?!
How do I not have fleece lined leggings?! I need to remedy that. I pretty much an in agreement with all of this. Even the pizza. 🙂
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