Merry Christmas Eve! I can’t believe we are here. I hope you are enjoying the day with loved ones! We got our annual Santa pic taken Monday (snapped this waiting in line) so our Christmas Eve is clear for all of the traditions we’ve set up with our kids through the years. And drum roll please.. I’m done wrapping! This is the first year I won’t have to spend hours on Christmas Eve putting everything together. Very proud of myself.. it’s a Christmas miracle! Ha.
Santa was GOLD with my kids this year. He took charge and made them turn in their cell phones and talked to them for quite a while and was so funny! He also made me hop in for one pic at the end! He said he has had more teens and adults than ever before getting pictures with him. See kids! You aren’t the only ones. ;) Funny thing is my kids complain about having to do our annual pic with Santa but then I heard them talking about how they’ll be doing this forever with their spouses and kids.
They secretly love it. For the most part. ;)
I’m just happy we have one more pic to add to my wall! 2024 baby! Each year with my 3 kids is such a gift.
I came home from the mall and put together a simmer pot! I knew we would be mostly home for the rest of the day and this makes the house smell so good! My mom always made simmer pots during the holidays when we were growing up. That smell of cinnamon takes me back every year! I usually just use one of my pots that I cook with but I ordered this new clear simmer pot a few weeks ago and was excited to try it. I’m sure most of you have made a simmer pot before, but if you haven’t they are so easy! You can really add anything and play around with different combinations/smells. I always use oranges (sometimes lemons), cinnamon sticks, cranberries and star anise.
I usually order the star anise on Amazon. Sometimes I use whole cloves and sometimes I just use ground gloves if that’s all I have. Sometimes I add nutmeg and vanilla too. You can’t mess this up which is why I love simmer pots so much!
Add water and whatever you want to include and bring it to a boil and then just let it simmer for a couple of hours. Easy and done and smells so good!
It looks pretty in this clear pot too. I’ll have this and my Christmas candles on repeat over the break whenever we are home!
A few pics of life lately! We had our annual stocking exchange and ate outside this year.. it was such a beautiful table and a beautiful day! A fun tradition a couple of friends of mine started and organized last year. (Did I share this last year? If not I’ll have to explain it at some point!)
Diet Coke with lime, good food and good friends. A combination I’m always here for. :)
{Puff Sleeve Velvet Blouse / Collette Cropped Wide Leg Pants / Similar Heels}
This puff sleeve velvet blouse has been so fun to wear for holiday events! It fits so cute and I love it with high waisted pants.
My beaded pearl bow purse was also a must have for me this holiday season as you know! It seemed to work with everything. (So grateful for good friends!)
Kenny and I have been each other’s ride or die this year with the kids gone more. We miss the full house but it has been so fun spending more quality time together! Feels like we are taking a step back to the early pre-kid days. :) We’ve also been able to spend more time with couple friends which is always a good thing! (This view is off of the restaurant C-level.. a fun spot if you are visiting San Diego. You feel like you are sitting right on the ocean when you eat with this view watching ships go by!)
We went to the San Diego Symphony for the first time with friends this month and it was absolutely incredible. All Christmas music and I teared up during several songs!
A fun new December tradition to add to the list! December needs to be 3 months long. If I was in charge of things that is the first rule I would make.
My lemon art came in the mail today! A reminder that spring will be here before we know it. I’m in no rush to get through the holidays! I know I’ll be sad when my girls leave again and it’s time to take down the Christmas trees. Having a few cute new things to decorate with for spring helps things feel not quite as depressing. Plus lemons! Lemon are so happy. I’m a fan as you know. :) (I shared more spring favorites below and some fun things for travel if you are vacationing over the break!) Knowing that it’s time to organize will also help to cheer us all up! I have a lot of spaces that are full of too much stuff. Looking forward to giving my home a deep clean out and organizing all the things.
And taking you all along for the ride again of course. :)
Merry Christmas! I can’t begin to express how grateful I am for this community. Your kind words and support here on my blog and on IG bring a smile to my face every single day. 2024 was a harder year for me (not trying to be dramatic.. ha.. we are doing great and have so much to be thankful for!). But it was definitely an adjustment year for me with the girls leaving and there were tears and sad moments a lot of days. You all give me a safe and happy place to land each day and help keep things Sunny Side Up more than you know. Thank you!! A million times thank you. I wish I could give each of you a huge hug in person. I truly hope you have the best holiday season and a happy kick off to 2025! I’ll see you in January! We have lots of fun things to do in the new year so rest while you can. ;)
LOVE YOU ALL! – Erin
