Christmas Eve | Wrapping + Singing

I love Christmas Eve. There is something so magical about the sense of anticipation. For our family, it is not just the anticipation of gifts, though our 9 year old can hardly contain his excitement over opening a book we will be reading together. {I love that he’s so excited about a book!! Feels like a mom “win” for me.}

For us, today and tomorrow are more than anything about the culmination of Advent. We realize that we have not been waiting alone. God is with us. He’s still with us and waits with us in our hopes and longings, and that’s worth celebrating.

Whatever your Christmas traditions, you will probably have some gifts to wrap and that always requires a good playlist, so I thought I’d offer some inspiration on both fronts today!

I’ve confessed to you before that I am a bit of a Maria. Brown paper packages tied up with string truly are one of my favourite things. This Christmas, I decided to work with two variations on that theme. For the guys in my life, I substituted the brown paper with road maps, and I rather love the result.

Simple yet interesting {and free from a Travel Info centre!}, the maps nod at the journey we are taking together in life. The symbolism may be lost on our little guy, but I will savour it quietly nonetheless. The other hidden beauty in this wrapping? It’s very forgiving. All the lines and squiggles of the roads make for a very non-linear pattern so that odd shapes don’t look quite as odd when wrapped. The paper is also thick enough to handle strange corners without ripping. Who knew? 

My other variation on this year’s theme is equally simple but a bit girly-er in the details. Starting with my classic brown paper package, I substituted the “string” with a few lovelier options.

Sweet and simple. For some, I added some fresh elements, and for others a customized tag {these take too long to put on every gift or I would have!}.

It’s an eclectic mix, but I love how it all looks under the tree, and I can’t wait to see the joy in the faces of my loved ones as they open their gifts this year.

And now, my 3 favourite Christmas albums! These have been on repeat the last few weeks as the primary soundtrack for our holidays. I think you’ll love them too!

I will be taking a little posting holiday from now until January 2nd. Until then, my wish for all of us is that we will slow down and really connect. My hope is that we will allow ourselves to be filled with wonder and gratitude for the gifts we have been given that could never fit into boxes or be wrapped with paper and tucked under a tree. 
For me, this next week will be all about snuggles, games and reading by the fire; cooking and baking and skating and hot chocolate; visits with family and friends; and time to just reflect as we prepare to welcome all the possibilities and potential the New Year holds for us.
Wishing you a very meaningful and hope-filled holiday season with the ones you love. I can’t wait to share my journey of hopes and dreams and inspirations with you in the New Year, and I can’t wait to hear about yours!
Merry Christmas.
xo
s.