Today is the last LET’S LOOK of 2021!!!
WHOA!!!
That went by quickly!!!
Okay, but first, you guys!!!!! Sheaffer and I cried so many tears yesterday over how generous YOU are!!!!
Today is the last day for…
…our St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Fundraiser Plus Christmas Giveaway! At midnight tonight (CST), St. Jude will randomly select one of the donors to receive…
…our fabulous prize of this Chloe tote filled with all of our very favorite things!
DONATING TO ST. JUDE VIA THIS LINK WILL GIVE YOU THE CHANCE TO BE THE LUCKY RECIPIENT OF OUR FAVORITE THINGS GIVEAWAY PACKAGE.
ONE LUCKY LADY IS GOING TO GET AN AWESOME PRIZE PACKAGE, AND ST. JUDE FAMILIES ARE GOING TO BENEFIT GREATLY FROM ALL OF YOUR GENEROSITY.
Here are the simple steps:
1. Go HERE and make a secure donation on our St. Jude donation page by tonight at 11:59 p.m. CST.
2. Our contact at St. Jude will choose a random name from all of the donations (made via this link), and we will announce the recipient on Friday’s blog post.
It’s one simple and FABULOUS way to celebrate the holidays! You can see all of the details also on yesterday’s blog post!
Whew! Okay, if you don’t know what this is, once a month, Erika and I do a little link up where we “look” at different aspects of our lives (and then if you blog, you share and link up too!). It’s often a random little assortment of topics.
In January, we looked at our coffee bar areas.
In February, we looked at our love languages.
In March, we looked at a perfect night in.
In April, we looked at our fridge and pantry.
In May, we looked at our outdoor organization.
In June, we looked at our summer bucket list.
In July, we looked at our bathroom organization.
In August, we looked at our phone, apps & such.
In September, we looked at meal planning.
In October, we looked at holiday decor storage.
In November, we looked at our Thanksgiving menu.
Today, we’re looking at one of my favorite things…OUR CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS!
Awwwwwwwww!
I was born for this post because my family LOVES CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS!!
I’m going to share a few and then please, share yours too!
This last weekend, we were so happy to do this Christmas tradition here…
…see the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders perform at The Star in Frisco! A few years ago, the Cowboys started hosting this fun tradition several times a week where, for free, you and your family can head up to their practice facility (The Star in Frisco, TX…not the big stadium in Arlington) and the cheerleaders put on a show! There are fireworks, extra dancers and musical numbers, Santa arrives and of course, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders are there. The performance is outdoors and lasts about 30 minutes. It’s super festive, super fun, and super family-friendly!
Thanks to the huge screens and big stages, there really isn’t a bad place to stand while you watch…
If you’re local, this is totally something you should do! Check online for the performance dates and times!
Speaking of local things to do…
…going to Highland Park Village to see the lights is a must 🙂 . Just seeing them is magical.
If you have a chance to make reservations in advance…
…you can take a carriage ride through there too 🙂 .
Every Thanksgiving weekend, McKinney hosts their annual Home For The Holidays event!
This is something we’ve loved doing for years and years and years 🙂 .
Also in McKinney…
…it’s our annual Parade of Lights! This is such a fun event that typically happens the second Saturday night in December. It feels like the whole town comes out for this parade around our historic town square where all of the floats are aglow. This is my FAVORITE McKinney tradition!
Ice skating is always a family tradition for us! Well, I mean…not for me but for Andrew and the kids 😉 . I am really good at watching them though. Ha!
We always make a ton of cut out cookies this time of year. You can see our favorite recipe HERE.
Andrew (and Kensington) took this pic on Sunday night. We were all six piled on the couch watch Christmas with the Kranks. Watching holiday movies is FOR SURE one of our very favorite family traditions!!
And of course, one of our most loved traditions is…
…Jammy Cocoa Christmas 🙂 . You can read all about this special tradition (including the rules!) in this post HERE.
We’ve already checked this tradition off our list this year. I have some pics of our cozy fun night…
Nothing says looking at Christmas lights more than fake glasses. Hahahahaha!
We took approximately 4 billion pictures like this and for whatever reason, Ashby didn’t make it into a single one. What was she doing back there?!?! #hiding
Our first stop, getting goodies at Starbucks! Smith’s face says it all.
Nothing says Merry more than wearing your your pjs into a public place 😉 .
We got our drinks and treats, bundled back up in the car and listened to my Christmas Playlist as we looked at lights around McKinney (go to Tuckerhill if you’re local!). This is truly one of our VERY favorite traditions!!
One final favorite tradition, enjoying lots and lots of hot chocolate! My kids want it for breakfast, after school, in the evening…all the time, so look what I did this year…
…I made a Hot Chocolate Board for you to use as inspiration to your next batch!
Whether you’re hosting, having a fun family movie night or just need a little extra merry in your day, head HERE to check out my board.
Well, that wraps up Let’s Look for 2021!
If you have suggestions for things we can “look” at in 2022, please comment and share! I’m about to make our prompts for next year and would covet your input!!
Merry Wednesday, friends!!! Thank you so much to all of you who linked up with us this year!! xx
Elspeth says
How fun! I always love reading about your favorite traditions! Happy holidays!
http://www.elspethsdaybyday.com
Erika Slaughter says
And now I’m in the spirit! ?⛄️❄️ Looking forward to Friday!
Jodi says
Would love to see “How I organize my closet or organize my clothes”! Seriously! Showing what you hang vs what you put in drawers, how you categorize the different categories of hanging clothes along the rack, how you move out seasonal clothes, etc, etc. Whether a “Let’s Look” theme or a dedicated post on all.the.things related to clothing organization, I think that would be a fun and helpful topic!
Lori Whittington says
Yes! I second this. 🙂
Katie says
Go see the Burkmans house in Frisco. They were featured on the Great light fight show on ABC. Make sure to park and get out to walk
Laci Murray says
you have the best traditions!
Lea says
I love reading your tradition posts! Everything looks so fun. One thing we did this year that your kiddos might enjoy is hot cocoa flights! We did 4 different flavors and got the cutest little platters to serve them on. It was a HIT!
Pamela says
One of our favorite traditions is to bake a birthday cake for Jesus…we even sing happy birthday to him ?❤️ For next year I would love a house tour some time other than Christmas…maybe spring or summer would be fun ? Thank you for your blog…I have been reading since before you adopted Ashby and I love it
Mix and Match Mama says
Oh Pam!! Thank YOU so much!! Merry Christmas!
Kala says
Love reading these! I’m going to suggest adding jammy cocoa Christmas to our family traditions! One idea for next year—let’s look at healthy habits ?
Laura says
What a fun time. Your town really has a lot to do for the holidays.
Have a great holiday season.
Erin H says
We’re doing our Jammy Cocoa Christmas next weekend! My daughter is 3 now so I think she’ll be super into it… can’t wait!!
Beth Valenta says
Love Christmas traditions! My daughter and I always do random porch drops of an arrangement with pine, etc. to someone that might need a little cheer. We never say it is us, we just leave it at night. We also enjoy going to a local pub that transforms itself into Miracle on 34th street and serves drinks like the run run rudolph, etc. It’s really magical. Can’t wait for a new year with you girls! I so enjoyed the podcast this week too.
traci maruri says
I have followed your blog for years and been a little less on posting recently, but this fundraiser hits me on a whole different level this year. Our precious 4 year old daughter, Reese, was just diagnosed with B cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia this September. It has rocked our world and never in a million years did we think we would be in this position-BUT GOD. He did and He does and He WILL see us through. I follow and love Schaeffer’s blog too. Just wanted you to know all you both are doing means so much. Praying you and your families have a very Merry Christmas!
Mix and Match Mama says
Oh Traci! Traci, I am so sorry your family has been going through this. I am writing Reese’s name down right now and will continue to pray for her specifically and your family. Please, please, please keep me updated on her journey. Please let me know if there are any specific things I can pray for or do for you. I have a page in my prayer journal for blog readers and a page for people fighting cancer, it will be an honor to write your family’s name down and pray for Reece an for you.
traci maruri says
that means so much!!! i love that you genuinely care about your people. thank you so so much. I will definitely keep you posted.❤️
Laura Stevenson says
Hi Shay!
Quick question~ on your suggestion I went to the Circle E Candle store in Fredricksburg and basically bought the store 🙂 What do you do with all the leftover glass jars? They are too pretty to throw away! Thank you, and Happy Holidays!!
Mix and Match Mama says
They are such pretty jars, but I’ve been buying them for over 20 years and go through at least one a week, so I totally cannot keep them. I’m glad you visited them at their store!
Sonya Derczo says
Where did you get your black boots that you’ re wearing the Sbux Christmas lights night? I need those!
Mix and Match Mama says
Those are Sorel from awhile back!
Denise says
Love that Boston is represented TWICE in your pictures! You REALLY have to move here – even closer to Nantucket ??
Lindsay Whitty says
I love all the traditions!!! ❤? Okay, so some Let’s Look ideas:
1) What you eat in a week – common breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks throughout a typical week (weekends too!)
2) Everyday cleaning/organizing – how you keep your houses so beautifully kept together. I have 5 pups, so I’m always interested in other people’s vacuuming strategies, etc. (I have a cleaning service too, so I more just mean the smaller daily clean ups.)
3) Like you, I tend to include either a salad or roasted veggie as a side to every dinner. But I need new inspiration! Your go to roasting ideas, salad mixes, etc. would be such a helpful post!
4) I’d love to see your full closet organization, including Andrew’s/Tab’s sections! Inspiration for when we add a larger, walk-in closet. ?
5) A post on how often you organize and purge around the house (all of it – clothes, decor, kitchen items, kid’s stuff, etc.). Do you have a specific system, or places you love to donate? How often do you do a good purge? Etc.
6) Date night ideas or ways you stay connected and keep your marriage fun and engaged!
7) A post on your friendships and how you stay so close, avoid drama, show up for each other, etc. – y’all are such an inspiration for girlfriends!
8) Hosting dinners and events (other than the few you already talked about in the podcast) – tips for making your home cozy and inviting, favorite recipes to serve dinner guests, favorite drinks/cocktails you love to serve, etc. How often do you entertain (i.e. do you have another family over for dinner once a month? Stuff like that).
Mix and Match Mama says
Thank you so much for all of great ideas, Lindsay!!!
Taylor R says
Andrew’s jammies look like jeans 😛 Merry Christmas to you and yours, Shay!
Mix and Match Mama says
Ha! They’re Under Armour sweatpants!
Penny says
You have such good ideas! I love the “Jammy Coco Christmas!”
Here are some of my ideas for next year’s “Let’s Look:”
1. “My Hometown”
2. “My Mom’s Closet”–with their favorite places to shop for clothes & accessories, because some of us who follow your blog & Erika’s are old enough to be your mom, plus your moms are so stylish! 🙂
3. “My Favorites from High School & College” (books, movies, songs, fashion, etc.)
Katie B says
I would love to read a “look” at how you give back. Do you donate time/money/goods? If so, to which organizations? Also, how do you instill a giving back attitude in your kids?
Nicole says
What’s your go to cozy drink that late from Starbucks for Jammy Cocoa Christmas?!
Mix and Match Mama says
Well, I have to have decaf or else I will not be able to sleep! I just asked for a decaf non-fat chestnut latte 🙂 .