Traditions are so important to our family, and we have created so many that I hardly know where to begin! One of my favorite holiday traditions began when I was just a young girl and now I continue it with my own children. My mom would read The Night Before Christmas to my brother, sister, and me each Christmas Eve before putting us to bed to anxiously await Santa’s visit the next morning. I love being able to continue this tradition every year.
The Night Before Christmas is such a special book. The book truly elevates the Christmas spirit we all feel during this time of year and I can especially see that through my children. Every year, we look forward to reading this book during our nighttime routine while wearing our new Christmas pajamas.
As construction slows at Lakestone, our family is beginning to enjoy the holidays at our home in the way that I intended us to during the design process. This cozy reading nook has become an absolute treasure for my kids and me. The quality time together, and the extra cozy space, allow for precious memories to be created in sharing secrets and reading stories. The Hamada Weaves upholstery weave is a large-scale plaid fabric by Harlequin / Sanderson Design Group, inspired by a 1970’s textural fashion stripe blends bold emerald and marine colors with pops of burnt orange. Drawing you in with traversing curtains and a matching roman shade provided by Budget Blinds, this multi-color fabric offers unexpected pops of color in an otherwise crisp white space. Positioned between the bedrooms of each of my three children, spaces that reflect three different personalities, this reading nook becomes a shared experience as you travel between them.
Getting cozy this year was easy to do with these custom upholstery pieces and was further enhanced by Pink Chicken’s adorable matching Santa pajama set for the girl’s. To fit our family we needed an extra seat that can easily pull up comfortably at the base of the window seat, so I chose the Minted for West Elm furniture collection that includes fresh, unique prints on both square and round ottomans, depending on how we are spending our time together, and use them interchangeably.
Of course, we finish the night by putting cookies and (almond) milk out for Santa too.
During the week of Christmas while the kids are on a break from school, they spend a day decorating Christmas cookies with their grandmother. Finding a refined sugar and dairy free recipe that is Santa approved has proved to be challenging, but our family finally found one that has stood the test of time and received approval from my three test tasters.
We’ve enjoyed folding Paleo Running Mama’s Paleo Gingerbread Cookie recipe into our holiday traditions to keep the kids’ health in mind without sacrificing these special moments that bring us together. A tasty recipe that can be cut into fun holiday shapes or an easy base cookie to enhance with colorful refined sugar free icing, whatever your crew prefers Santa will be sure to enjoy.
