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The first holiday in our Philadelphia home got off to a great start. We usually cut down a tree but this year we kept it simple and found a local spot that had trees fresh from a farm (we’ll be giving it to goats when it comes down). I wanted to honor the age of our home with 1920s inspired decor and wrapping, and focused on Art Deco vibes. I used mostly vintage items as accents, ribbon I’ve had for years, but did purchase some handmade paper (we’ve carefully saved each piece so that we can repurpose it next year, which is a small way we can reduce our waste). We added this special ornament to our collection, in honor of our first city christmas. We had exciting plans, but 2021 was getting ready to test us in a big way.

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One week before christmas…we all got Covid. My husband had to travel for work and caught a breakthrough case in NYC, and unknowingly brought it home to us. After almost two years of being so careful, always masking, protecting our family and others…we were in shock. Thankfully we’re all fully vaccinated, but I had not yet had a booster – it hit me the hardest (I have underlying health conditions). It was two weeks of mostly moderate, very random symptoms for me, which was incredibly mentally challenging. We actually opened gifts over a three day period, in windows where we felt ok, and it helped us to savor the season. Side note: I’m thankful to have any photos from this holiday! We’re finally all on the mend, and as with many around the globe, our covid christmas served as a reminder of what is truly important.

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