With family arriving tonight for our first Christmas in Richmond, we wanted to share our holiday card with you first — because you really do feel like family to us. This little blog wouldn’t exist without your help, encouragement, and occasional well-timed laughter, and we truly appreciate each visit, comment, and click. Thank you for dropping by and being a part of our year.
Earlier this month we put together the photo for our card using a stash of ribbon we picked up on clearance last holiday season. A few of those ribbons later made it onto our tree, and they added just the right touch of color and whimsy to the shot. The image itself is actually a composite of two photos. Getting our toddler Clara and our chihuahua Burger to sit perfectly still and cooperate at the same time proved to be more optimistic than realistic — toddlers and dogs have their own plans, after all. If you’ve ever tried to wrangle both into a single frame, you know how unpredictable the results can be. We had fun sorting through the outtakes and found plenty of candid, silly moments that didn’t make the final card but are delightful in their own right.
We hope your holiday weekend is filled with joy, family, good food, and some well-deserved relaxation. This season tends to bring a mix of chaotic to-do lists and warm, slow moments, and we wish you many of the latter. Even though the days between Christmas and New Year’s can be busy and a little chaotic, we’re planning to keep things steady here on the blog with a short post each weekday from Monday through Friday. We’ll be sharing progress updates, small decorating peeks, and a few behind-the-scenes glimpses into our projects and celebrations.
One of the projects we’re hoping to complete is some cabinet priming and painting. If all goes according to plan, expect a modest reveal in the first week of January. We’ll share the process pictures and lessons learned so anyone considering a similar refresh can pick up a tip or two. Home projects rarely go exactly as imagined, but they almost always teach you something useful — and usually deliver a satisfying payoff when the final coat goes on.
We also just learned that we have a significant book deadline on January 4th: the final manuscript is due. That news adds an extra dash of urgency to our otherwise festive season, so you might spot a photo of us balancing a laptop, a paintbrush, a toddler, and a chihuahua at the same time. There’s a decent chance a cookie covered in sprinkles will make an appearance as well. Multitasking is a holiday tradition around here — writing a paragraph between coats of paint, proofreading while stirring a pot, or soothing a squabble mid-sip of eggnog. If you’re wondering what we’re up to in the next few weeks, those are pretty reliable guesses.
We’ll keep sharing small updates and bits of inspiration through the end of the year, and we’re looking forward to returning in January with a few finished projects and fresh ideas. In the meantime, happy holidays to every last one of you — may your season be warm, peaceful, and full of the people and little things that make it meaningful.
Update: We’ve also put together a list of favorite holiday décor finds, many of which are budget-friendly and under $15. If you’d like a quick round-up of simple decorations that still feel special, we’ll share those best picks soon.