As a little girl I always loved the magic and sparkle of Christmas. The love I felt for the holiday season traveled with me into my adult life and now I get to share that same love with my little boy. I have holiday traditions I’ve kept with me, but as a young mom I’ve started new traditions. Growing up, I didn’t live in the same house as my brother. He’s much older than me and I grew up living the life of an only child, and my big brother lived in New York City, immersed in politics and the quintessential adult life. I awaited the annual Christmas visit from my brother with childlike excitement every year. He would come down from the city early Christmas Eve and we’d go to a favorite Italian restaurant with my parents and my grandma. I’d wear a pretty, Christmas dress and listen to interesting adult conversation.

Christmas Eve was always festive, bright, and merry. We’d have dinner at the restaurant, return to my house for presents, and I’d fall asleep listening to my brother and dad discussing politics over late night liquor. I’d wake up to the feeling of Christmas morning, feeling as though anything was possible beneath the sparkle of our Christmas tree. Our Christmas tree was always colorful and over the top with homemade ornaments, expensive ornaments, colored lights, and a tree top angel. Every room in the house had a smaller, table top Christmas tree with a different theme and my mom always made her famous egg nog. The whole season was magical and I never forgot the way I felt during this time of the year.

I carry all of those beautiful memories with me and this year, for the first time in many years, we’re going back to that Italian restaurant for Christmas Eve. My brother doesn’t come down for Christmas anymore, but we just saw him for Hanukkah at his apartment in the city. It was so nice celebrating the first night of Hanukkah with my brother and my family (another tradition). I’ve always celebrated both holidays, growing up Jewish and Catholic.

I’m so excited to share one of my favorite holiday traditions with Andrew and Greyson tonight. Christmas Eve dinner is one of many holiday traditions I’ve kept with me, but the new traditions are just as special. Andrew and I took Greyson on a Christmas hayride the other night and we took a photo with Santa. We looked at each other that night and realized this will be something Greyson will look forward to every year…a lit up hayride and saying hello to Santa. I’m obsessed with the glitz and the enchantment of Christmas, and I want to create the perfect experience every year for my son and my husband. I make sure all of the gifts are perfect, the wrapping paper, the Christmas tree, the moments, and the photos.

Andrew and I decided that we will wrap all of the presents tonight and we’ll stay up late, setting up all of the gifts as if Santa was just there. We’ll leave out carrots for his beloved reindeer, cookies and milk for Santa, and I even bought a card for Greyson from Santa himself. Every Christmas Eve, including tonight Greyson will get Christmas Eve pajamas and a holiday book. We’ll read him his holiday book and once he’s asleep Andrew and I will watch a Christmas movie together. I bought all of us matching plaid pajamas for Christmas Day, and we plan on staying in our pajamas all day, which is the best feeling in the world. I can’t wait for Greyson to wake up to an overload of presents and pretty wrapping paper beneath our decked out tree. That is just another reason why I love being a mom…creating breathtaking moments for my son.

You can recreate and create any traditions you want for yourself and for your family, which is the true magic of the holidays. Let each day be filled with joy, hope, and beauty. Hold onto the sparkle and the gorgeous time spent with the ones you love and never forget what it feels like to wait for Santa. I’m wishing everyone a peaceful Christmas Eve filled with laughter, great conversation, and love. I hope everyone wakes up to a perfect Christmas Day…Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy New Year! ✨♥️