holidays

“Until we can receive with an open heart, we’re never really giving with an open heart. When we attach judgment to receiving help, we knowingly or unknowingly attach judgment to giving help.”
― Brené Brown, The Gifts of Imperfection

For the holidays, I let my oldest daughter have her way with decorating. As a minimalist, it is important to still retain balance and value the wants and needs of others. My daughter loves the holidays and everything that it stands for; such as quality time spent with loved ones, holiday traditions, and decorating. I usually give her the entryway table as her canvas, but this year I also included our front door.

Every year, we pick out our Christmas tree the weekend after Thanksgiving. I also take my daughters to see The Nutcracker at a local performance arts theater. This year, we went as VIP and had the most magical experience together. Then, we enjoyed hot cocoa, as we drove through a large local park decorated with Christmas lights, while singing to Christmas music playing in the background. As an after school activity, we had a holiday baking party for the girls and their friends. Each girl had so much fun that I plan to add this to our list of holiday traditions.

At the beginning of December, I pull out the Christmas mugs for the girls to use and tiny Christmas trees to put near their bedsides. We celebrate the Winter Solstice with handmade gifts and gratitude. Since we went to Disneyland over summer break, I gave the girls tiny Disney necklaces that said believe and dream, instead of handmade gifts.

We usually travel out of town for the holidays, since our family lives out of the area. The girls open their presents on Christmas Eve, so we can spend Christmas day with our family. This year and last, we hosted and our family came to us. I absolutely love hosting and cooking for everyone! I made health conscious dishes, with gluten free, and vegan options, and everyone loved them. Plus, I knew they left feeling nourished and loved. What more could I ask for; I just can’t imagine a feeling more precious.

What are your family’s holiday traditions? What is your favorite holiday dish? Did you travel to see your loved ones or did you host this holiday season?