Will y’all send all your good thoughts to the Winchester house next week, pretty please? We’re staying in Florida for Thanksgiving, and I’m attempting to make my grandmama’s famous Turkey Dressing for the first time all by myself. It’s KPW’s favorite, and he swears it’s not officially Thanksgiving without it. Spending the holidays away from your family can be a bittersweet part of getting married, and I remember having a bit of a meltdown as I approached our first married Christmas, knowing it meant my first Christmas Eve not with my parents and baby sister. Whether you’re celebrating with your new family or you’re riding out a holiday solo with your darling husband, I have a few ideas for how to make the holidays a bit brighter.
It’s good and healthy to embrace the traditions of your new family, and to remember that they are likely just as beloved to your significant other as your traditions are to you. But it can be fun to do a little blending. Talk with your husband early in the planning process about something you’d like to introduce his family to (ideally something that doesn’t clash with one of their established traditions). Maybe it’s a Thanksgiving dessert, or something that goes in every stocking year after year at your house. Letting your new loved ones in on of your special traditions is a great way to make your family feel close by, even if you’re apart.
Make it a point to spend a little one-on-one time with your new husband doing something that will be special just for the two of you. Perhaps you can go on a morning walk to get coffee before the hustle of Thanksgiving prep is in full swing? Or sneak away from the family and drive around to look at Christmas lights after supper. Kyle and I drag our Christmas stockings (from each other) upstairs and open them by ourselves at bedtime on Christmas night. The best part is that we can do this little tradition regardless of which family we are spending the holiday with!
I begged the rest of the married SW gals for a few tips based on their personal experiences, because, after getting married, we’ve all spent different holidays away from our families. I hope it gives you a bit of extra encouragement and perhaps a little inspiration for the upcoming holidays
Emily: Think outside the box. My family has come to hold the actual dates of holidays quite loosely, and to celebrate when we can be together. (It’s actually a bit of a joke in the SW office, as the girls see me taking “Christmas vacation” over Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend!) Home truly is where the heart is, and we’ve found that Christmas is also when we are together. This allows us to travel to celebrate with both families, which is our highest priority, and to not go crazy rushing from one house to the next.
Amber: We love the opportunity to host our own holiday dinner (even if it was just the two of us!) featuring not only dishes or recipes we grew up on, but a few new ones to start our own traditions. Decorating for the holidays is something I enjoy immensely, and instead of being disappointed that my family wouldn’t be visiting and able to enjoy all the festivities, I scheduled a FaceTime date with them to do a little tour of our home including all the inside holiday decor and the outside Christmas lights! I even made hot chocolate and Christmas cookies for the occasion.
Marissa: With our families living in different states, my husband and I have yet to have the chance to celebrate a combined family holiday, so before we got married we decided to alternate years. Thanksgiving with one, Christmas with the other, then each year it switches. Though we have had to be a bit flexible, having a system in place has helped deter hurt feelings, on everyone’s part! However, no matter how loved you are by your in-laws, it’s never easy to be away from ‘home’ for the holidays. Making a point to FaceTime with my family has helped to ease missing them. And even having a rescheduled holiday before or after the actual day helps feel like I’m not missing out on anything.
Photos by Blue Ribbon Vendor Jen Dillender, from Christina and Blair’s home tour
Part of the fun of getting married is blending two families and two sets of holidays schedules and traditions together. Remember to give yourself a little grace as you work to figure things out. Do you have a great tip for how to spend the holidays away from your family? Please share below!
Too fun! Would love to win!
My favorite way to prepare for the week is to plan to have my Sunday’s completely free of commitment! I work for lululemon so my weeks are filled with lots of sweating and engaging in the community which is fun but tiring, so I like to take time to plan my “sweats” for the week on sundays and I go to my favorite deep-stretch yoga flow!
I prepare for the week with lists and making sure my wardrobe is ready to go.
What a fun idea for a giveaway!
I always get ready for the week by planning my week in my Simplified Planner after church!
Super excited for this giveaway! Y’all are amazing!!!
What a fun giveaway, I hope I win!
Yay for FitFabFun!
My favorite way to prepare for the week is to clean house. Mundane, but I always feel good Sunday night knowing the house is clean, fridge is full of food for the week, and I’m ready to tackle Monday morning!
great gift for the new year!
My favorite way to prepare for the week is to plan my meals, go grocery shopping, and write out my to-do list for the week!
I love to meal plan! It makes me feel like I am a step ahead for the week when I know what I am making each night for dinner, and one step closer to know what I’m buying when I go to the store :)
I love to prepare for the week by doing the laundry, cooking a few meals, and changing the linens!
Love this giveaway!
My favorite way to prepare for the week is to meal prep!
Fit fab fun sounds awesome! It’d be a great asset to use to during months of wedding prep!
I always start my morning with a cup of coffee before I walk to work.
Meal planning helps me tremendously to conquer the week ahead!
to wash all clothes on the weekend, prepare meals or write down what to eat.
I prep for each week by filling up my tank on Sunday night with some of my favorite people at our small group. Afterwards, I plan out my daily “to-do’s” in my planner for the week & create a grocery list to buy the following morning. I set out my clothes to teach my 6 am Monday morning barre class & get to bed early! :)
Meal plan and make sure ALL my groceries are purchased… no time for mid-week trips back to the store!
My favorite way to prepare for the week is to catch up will all my roommates about what’s going on with them. It feels so good to be known by your friends.
I love preparing for the week by meal prepping my lunches and organizing my planner! I would be lost without my Lilly Pulitzer planner!
Would love the baby it’s cold outside mug!
so fun!
I plan out my meals and my workouts for the week on Sunday!
I like to sit down with my calendar and journal and think through the upcoming week, a cup of hot tea on hand :)
I wanted to try this but it’s out of my budget currently. So fingers crossed!
I’ve heard of FabFitFun so often and I’ve been meaning to try out their service! Love this!
I prepare for the week by grocery shopping, making a big crock pot of something to eat for next week and spend a little quiet time with my fiancé.
I like to make a list of all my To do’s for the week, helps me feel a little more organized.
I always make sure to get a good night’s sleep on Sunday
i write out a loose calendar and cleaning schedule and meal plan!
My favorite way to prepare for the week is to take a nice warm bath and light candles.
I prepare for the week by spending quality time with my family to relax Sunday night
My favorite way to prepare for the week is sitting down Sunday evening and writing out my list of goals, meetings, work out classes and everything else that needs to get done. I then add them to my calendar and schedule everything out. It helps me to go into a new week feeling prepared and stress free!
I like to prepare for the week by my having all my laundry done and meals prepped on Sunday evenings.
I prepare for the week by having a nice relaxing Sunday!
How fun!! This would be an exiting treat! I love checking the mail!!
I always spend a few hours on Sunday afternoon grocery shopping and then prepping my meals for the week so that I’m not running around like a chicken with its head cut off every morning. I also lay out my outfit for the morning the night before. All little trick I learned from my girls, Karena and Katrina at Tone It Up!
My favorite way to prepare for the week is to precook some healthy foods that can snacked on or cooked for dinner
One of my favorite ways to prep for the week is to make sure the house is in order.
meal prep on sundays and write a list of goals for the week
Favorite way to prepare is set out my clothes for the next couple of days to include accessories and prep my lunch.
My favorite way to prep is ensuring my calendar is up to date with everything for the upcoming week and that I have a great cup of coffee first thing on Monday morning.
To relax the night prior to starting my week with reading a good chapter and ensuring my wardrobe is set out.
My favorite way to prepare for the week is to complete our grocery list, go grocery shopping, and create a to-do list for personal and work projects. If there’s a lot for the week, I’ll prioritize from high to low. Once all of that is complete, I’ll do yoga for about 30 minutes and then meditate.
My favourite way to prepare for the upcoming week is Sunday morning church. Time worshipping with community is the best way to set my heart in the right place for the week ahead.
I check my calendar so I can plan ahead – and confer with the hubby so we both know what’s going on!
My favorite way to plan for the week, iron my outfits for the week!
I prepare for the week, first with prayer by putting God first and then try to keep a list of what i need to do.
I go over my week in my planner and try to gather anything I need together. I also make a note with all the things I need to do the night before.
My fave way to prepare for the week is to take a walk in my nearby park on Sunday evening.
I prepare for my week by doing major meal prep!
I would love to win this
I like to prepare by making a Sunday checklist and cleaning to prepare for the week.
I prepare by writing everything in my planner!
To make a game plan with meal prep!
I would love to win this! I have been wanting to subscribe to them for the longest time but haven’t had the money! Would be a dream come true :)
I love to plan out my to do’s with a cup of coffee on Monday morning- it’s the best way for me to prepare for the week ahead. Especially when I have my favorite mug and my dog snuggled up with me! ❤️
Sounds like a lot of fun goodies
Masking Mondays!
I normally pray and make lists :)
One of the best ways for me to prepare for the week is a Sunday afternoon movie with a cup of coffee and cuddles with my kiddos , husband, and pups. The chance to enjoy what matters most energizes me for a productive week! :)