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As we head into the coziest time of the year, I’m starting to slowly turn off my engines and get ready to hibernate a bit. My kids’ Christmas break is one of the only times of the year that I actually take time off from work to rest– and by this time every year my mind and body are screaming for the break. If I’m being completely honest, and you know I love being honest with you on here, my tank is functioning on empty at this point. Being a content creator is a wonderful, very flexible lifestyle (A Motherhood dream!), but the lack of boundaries can make it especially challenging to authentically take time “away” from work. I’ve gotten better at this over the last four or five years, but the juggle is never perfect. This year, I feel like my relationships are out here screaming for a Christmas Vacation, too!
I’ve had to relegate a lot this year that doesn’t deserve to get relegated. While The Westport Project has been an interesting and fruitful addition to my work plate this last year, I can say with certainty now that the commitment has been WAY more than I expected, in all ways. I have had all my bandwidth used up at this point, and I’m kind of running on empty. I’m looking forward to really unplugging at Christmas and enjoying some restful time of reconnection with the friends and family I love the most! I find that creativity is a delicate creature sometimes, and it requires a lot of rest and inspiration to really function at its best. I’m really looking forward to seeing what kind of fresh outlook I can come to the table with once I’ve cocooned myself into the holidays for a bit!
Today, I thought I’d share a bit about our plans for the holiday season. You’ll notice that there is a big emphasis on intentional time with the kids– and relaxing! LOLZ. After taking off for the Thanksgiving holiday, we plan to spend Christmas snuggled up at home– with a couple of jaunts into the city sprinkled in. Hopefully we get some good snow and can make it a pretty one, too! I’d love to hear about your Holiday plans in the comments!
Thanksgiving in Mexico
We’re spending Thanksgiving at a gorgeous, kid-focused all-inclusive in Mexico that we’ve never been to before! I’ve heard great things, and I’ll definitely share all the details once we leave. Ian and I have found over the years that all-inclusives are the best way at this stage of parenting to have a stress-free and fun vacation for every member of our family. Nothing worse than begging a five year old to eat a $40 resort burger. I’m looking forward to trying a new property, and exploring!
New York City Ballet’s The Nutcracker
Major and I have a tradition of going every year to see the Nutcracker at lincoln center! This year is extra special since he is enrolled in School Of American Ballet (the feeder school of the NYCB) and so he will see some of his school friends in the show! His level of ballet isn’t eligible yet to audition, but it’s something we’re considering for when he moves up!
Westport Academy Of Dance’s The Nutcracker
Our own town has a wonderful Nutcracker, put on at Major’s old dance academy. I’ll be taking my older two to see their friends dancing in this production! I know Maj misses seeing his old dance friends, and so we’re looking forward to taking in this show as well.
The Lightscape at Brooklyn Botanical Gardens
My brother and his fiancée live near the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, and they have been telling us that the light show there during the holidays is incredible. We’re looking forward to checking it out this year!
Black Rock Theater’s A Christmas Carol
A bunch of the kids’ friends are performing in this heartwarming holiday show, and I’m looking forward to seeing it for the first time on stage! This show features NYC professional adult actors as well as kids, so it’ll be a nice mix.
Christmas Movies Galore
We love watching Christmas movies with the kids, because it’s always such a fun time to mix our childhoods with theirs. Christmas movies from “yesteryear” are STILL the best ones, and that is a hill I will die on! Nothing beats cozying up in our media room, on our cozy velvet sectional, with tubs of popcorn and a zillion blankets, and watching a great Christmas movie. Here are some of our personal favorites:
- The Grinch
- Elf
- Home Alone / Home Alone 2
- The Family Stone (not with kids)
- While You Were Sleeping (not with kids)
- Christmas In Connecticut (not with kids)
- The Holiday
- Annie
- The Nightmare Before Christmas
- The Santa Claus
- Miracle on 34th Street
- Red One
Christmas Day Lunch
I’m hoping to host a little Christmas Day lunch for family this year! We’ve done this is years past, and it’s a fun way to break up the day and reset after a whirlwind morning! I typically cook really traditional foods, with a more brunch vibe: think honeybaked ham, biscuits, fruit salad, grilled asparagus,
stuffing, and mimosas.
The Museum Of Natural History
For some reason, this museum has always given me holiday vibes. Maybe it’s because of how grand it is, maybe it’s because it’s classically NYC, or maybe it’s because you truly need an ENTIRE day to explore it. But, I love visiting with my kids when we have more time over Christmas Break!
Weekend Alone With Ian
Kyle has the kids for the weekend after Christmas this year, and I’m planning something special for Ian and I over those two days! I’m thinking maybe a spa, or something similar, just to get some
relaxation and pampering in. Our relationship deserves some R&R this year, too! I really love a staycation vibe (my own bed is my favorite bed to sleep in. LOL), and we’re lucky to live in an area with some good spa options to make both work. I also have big plans to do a jigsaw puzzle Ian got me for Christmas last year, of Lady And The Tramp (my fave Disney as a kid).
Cozy NYE At Home
I’m a big fan of New Years Eve IN. I’ve never been much of a NYE party girlie, and that has become more and more the case as I’ve gotten older. Our usual vibe is being in with the kids, making delicious food, and playing some great board games while “watching the ball drop” on the TV. That is in quotation marks because I have been known to put on a past year’s version on the TV and do a fake countdown to get the kids to bed earlier. The days of being able to pull that off may be passed, but the intention is the same. Ha!
Dry January!
A few months ago, I stopped drinking alcohol during the week, and it’s been great for my mental health and just overall energy levels. I’m planning to write a blog post about that next month, if anyone wants some motivation for
Dry Jan! But I do plan on doing Dry January again this year as well. Alcohol is not something I really focus on anymore, and it’s led me to drink WAY less. I have thoughts about it, but I will save those for the blog post!
Make sure you follow along on my socials to watch all of this in action. Wishing you and yours a wonderful, cozy, intentional, and peaceful holiday season!
Photographs by Julia Dags | Copyright © 2025 Happily Eva After, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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It’s refreshing to see your honesty about needing a break. Balancing work and personal life can be a real challenge, especially when boundaries blur. Your reflections on juggling responsibilities and relationships resonate with many. Taking time for yourself is crucial for well-being. Wishing you a rejuvenating Christmas vacation ahead!
I enjoyed reading about your holiday plans for 2025! It’s very inspiring to see how you prioritize family outings. We arranged a surprise trip to Italy last year, and it changed everything for us. Exploring together helped us bond in unexpected ways.