our first philly christmas

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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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a woodland christmas

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I started looking forward to the holidays in this house as soon as we knew we’d be staying for a bit. We’ve always had a tradition of cutting a fresh tree, but this year it felt even more authentic, doing it in the mountains. While sometimes I wish we could just wander into the woods with an axe like back in the day, we found a charming local farm and quite possible the prettiest tree we’ve ever had. I even broke out the “nice” ornaments from storage, and it was comforting to see some old friends. Many of them are vintage (my grandparents) and I’ve slowly added to the collection each year. The kids got to have their own colorful tree in another room (which you can see in my holiday highlights), but in true 2020 form, a few strands wouldn’t light this year and we ended up with a striped tree…I’ll spare you those images, lol. We have so much to be thankful for, and the gratitude hits hardest during the holidays. We will never forget this year…for so many reasons.

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francophile gift guide

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My passion for all things French is well known – it was the inspiration for starting this blog, and fueled my most recent venture, @thefrancophiles. I always seek out French brands and French-inspired products as gifts, and enjoy curating Francophile-focused gift guides each holiday season. I either own these items or covet them myself (ahem Santa), so you can feel confident about any and all of them. It’s difficult for me to narrow the selection, but you can always peek at my personal Pinterest, as well as the Francophiles Pinterest boards, for more inspiration. Happy shopping mes amis!

 

1.   you simply can’t go wrong with this stunning mini candle collection by Diptyque.

2.   inspired by French body care + handcrafted in Seattle, French Girl Organics Lumière body oil is a luxe treat.

3.   while there are numerous books I could include, this one about the history + brand of Veuve Clicquot is a beauty.

4.   for la petite Parisienne…this chic tea set by Moulin Roty is sure to delight.

5.   this Obvious State mug is perfect for the intellectual Francophile (or coffee lover), “mostly because it’s in French”.

6.   one of Oprah’s favorite things this year, the holiday trio cookie box by Maman is a perfect hostess gift!

7.   whomever is at the receiving end of this French-scripted tassel tote will be thanking you a million times over.

8.   this chic + comfy sweatshirt by Clare V. is a take on the French national motto and benefits Every Mother Counts.

9.   a fun gift for any aspiring Francophone, this French Words Boutique notebook is a personal favorite.

10. for the little Francophiles or Paris-obsessed friend, this wooden Eiffel music box will surely be treasured.

our christmas

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Well, we finally did it – matching family pajamas! I wish you could see mine a bit more, but this is what you get from a timed photo, ha. Next year we’ll invest in a family photo shoot, as it’s been too long since we had a professional capture us as a family. We had a lovely, lazy Christmas, which is honestly still happening because we all got sick with colds the next day. But back to the big day – it all started with discovering Santa had enjoyed the scotch + pfeffernüsse we had left for him (see this post for more about that family tradition). The first presents they found were in their stocking – adorable, handmade teddy bears that give back. Nothing sponsored – I’m sharing the link because I love gifts that give back.

 

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santa express

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We might have to call 2016 the “year of the train” for us – we’re on a roll! This was our first experience at the Strasburg Railroad in Lancaster – I think it’s going to be a new holiday tradition. One of their most popular events is the Santa Express Train, which has been happening since 1959! I couldn’t wait to give the kids the experience, and I was pretty excited myself, having never been on a vintage steam train. We had the pleasure of being pulled by the #90 locomotive, circa 1924, and rode in the passenger car #58, circa 1911. After geeking out over all the equipment (I have my Dad to thank for the interest), we boarded the train and anxiously awaited the arrival of Santa.

 

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