Day 1 of the 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways! (with Shannon Acheson)
*Give Away has Ended*
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Welcome to my 13th annual 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways!
Years ago, I had an idea that has since grown into a fun and fabulous annual tradition. For 12 days in December, I have a guest share about a Christmas topic such as their favorite Christmas memory, movie, food, or tradition. They also offer a giveaway of the day. To enter to win it, all you need to do is answer a “quick question” of the day in the comment section and you will be eligible. Easy!
IMPORTANT NOTE: Although all you need to do to enter is comment here, I will also be snooping around on social media, such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, looking for people who are promoting the giveaway by sharing an image along with the hashtag #12daysofchristmasgiveaways When you do so, you will be entered a second time for the giveaway that day!
Additionally, there is a grand prize for one person who comments on all 12 days, so set a daily alarm on your phone from now until December 18th and join the fun!
This year our Grand Prize is worth over $225!! It includes:
- A leader kit of my What Matters Most Lifeway study of Philippians, including the teaching DVD’s and one Bible study guide.
- A Wheatfield Woman ESV journaling Bible from Wheat and Honey Co.
- A pink cable knit throw (other color options available)
- A pour-over coffee dripper
- A half pound of Fortress coffee, a company started by two fellow alumni from my favorite college on earth Spring Arbor University
- An insulated pink shimmer mug (or color of your choice)
Ok…up first is a new friend of mine. Shannon Acheson is an author, home design and lifestyle expert, and creator of the popular website Homemade Lovely! Be sure to follow her on Instagram for some fabulous ideas.
And now, here’s Shannon!
Day 1: Christmas Eve Tradition
Since my husband and I didn’t actually grow up celebrating Christmas, we’ve had to create our own Christmas traditions. A couple of my favorites that we return to again and again are opening one gift each (always pajamas) and our stockings on Christmas Eve, and also making and eating cupcakes to celebrate baby Jesus birth (we do this a little less often now that the kids are older but it was definitely a highlight when they were young). We look forward to all these simple traditions every year.
Now, for my giveaway!
I mentioned opening pajamas and stockings on Christmas Eve. Is there something you usually do on Christmas Eve each year? Go to a candlelight service? Open new slippers? Watch a movie? Order pizza and drive around looking at Christmas lights? Tell us what it is in the comments and you’ll be entered in today’s giveaway. Remember, if you want to enter to win the grand prize, you must comment on and share all 12 days.
Day 1 Giveaway
Thanks Shannon! For first prize, Shannon is giving away a copy of her new hardcover book Home Made Lovely I have this book sitting on my coffee table right now and I love working my way through it. It will give you tons of ideas and loads of inspiration for making your home welcoming.
Everyone wants a home that is beautifully decorated and clutter-free, but most of us are unsure how to get there without breaking the bank. In Home Made Lovely, Shannon Acheson takes the overwhelm and guesswork out of styling and organizing a lovely home.
Home Made Lovely is a mind-set: Decorating should be about those who live there, rather than making your home into a magazine-worthy spread. This book will help you:
· decorate in a way that suits your family’s real-life;
· declutter in seven simple steps;
· perform a house blessing to dedicate your home to God;
· be thankful for your current home and what you already have;
· brush up on hospitality with more than twenty actionable ideas that will make anyone feel welcome and loved in your home.
In Home Made Lovely, Shannon meets you right where you are on your home-decorating journey, helping you share the peace of Jesus with family members and guests.
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Shannon Acheson is a mostly self-taught designer, decorator, writer, and stylist. Although she has completed her interior design training, she’d much rather teach you how to decorate your own home than do it for you. She is the editor and designer behind the design and lifestyle company and blog HomeMadeLovely.com. Her happy place is in the suburbs of Toronto, where she is a Homebody with a capital H, a Jesus girl, a happy wife to Dean, and a homeschooling mom of three teenagers. Learn more at www.homemadelovely.com.
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Don’t forget to answer today’s quick question in the comments below!
NOTE: Affiliate links may be included. We only recommend products we know our readers will love!
12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAYS RULES
- U.S. Addresses only please.
- You can comment on all 12 days (once per person) up until midnight Pacific time, Sunday, December 20. Each day will be linked below for easy reference.
- One daily winner will be chosen from each day’s comments.
- To enter to win the Grand Prize (worth over $225 and includes: A leader kit of my What Matters Most Lifeway study of Philippians, including the teaching DVD’s and one Bible study guide; a Wheatfield Woman ESV journaling Bible from Wheat and Honey Co.; a pink cable knit throw (other color options available); a pour-over coffee dripper ; a half pound of Fortress coffee, a company started by two fellow alumni from Spring Arbor University; an insulated pink shimmer mug–or color of your choice), comment on and share all 12 posts. You can use the share buttons below or repost and share on Instagram (my fave!) and tag me @karenehman.
- All winners (including Grand Prize) will be announced here on the blog on Monday, December 21, and contacted via email. Please allow 4-6 weeks to receive your prizes.
Day 8 with Chrystal Evans Hurst
When we were younger we always went to my Dad’s parents home. His sister and family would come over too. We had sandwiches and salads for supper. My Aunt always made homemade pies. We exchanged gifts played games and enjoyed everyone’s company. Then we would load up and go visit my Uncle’s family. The evening was always full of fun food and fellowship. My Uncle’s sister took us to Sunday school and church. She gave me my first Bible . That was 50 some years ago.
#12daysof christmasgiveaways
Our Christmas Eve tradition started when I was a kid and I have carried on with it for my kids. My dad would always read Twas the Night before Christmas and we would drink hot cocoa while he did. It’s not much, but it was always right before bed. Now I read it right before bed to my kids and we usually read The Grinch stole Christmas as well and then we put milk, cookies, and carrots for the reindeer in our fridge for Santa. (we have 3 very rambunctious cats that would tip over the milk and lick the icing off the cookies. Santa knows where to find them. And then we run outside and sprinkle reindeer food on the ground so the reindeer will find our house. I love doing it for Christmas every year.
Although in Canada and, sadly unable to participate in this offer, I wanted to share something that our family has done since my kids were small. We have simple supper on Christmas eve before getting dressed up nice for Christmas eve services at church. The Simple Supper (has been stew, mac 7 cheese, very basic humble food) is a reminder of the humble beginnings of Jesus with Mary and Joseph travelling to Bethlehem and taking shelter in a barn.
Our church has a Christmas Eve service outside at city hall no matter the weather. It is beautiful and amazing to do church service right in the heart of the city, outside.
Growing up my family, brother, sister, mom ,and dad would attend a candlelight Christmas Eve service in South Pasadena. Every attendee would get a candle and light each other’s candle with the shared flame. I still remember being dressed up and feeling the magic of illuminating the courtyard. Such a beautiful sight!
After the service we would drive to San Gabriel and watch a re-enactment of Mary and Joseph proceeding to a stable, with a manger and live animals for the arrival of baby Jesus. Once those festivities were over we would go and have tamales at a nearby restaurant for dinner. Such beautiful Christmas memories.
Growing up we did the Christmas Eve service at church every year, lighting candles around the church and singing Christmas songs! Now we do a Christmas Eve party at my mother in laws each year.
We always go to Christmas Eve candlelight service and then have a ham dinner. We eat ourselves silly then the kiddos get to pick one present (it’s always predetermined and it’s always new pajamas!)
We always go to my Mom’s on Christmas Eve and when the kids were little (They’re all grown now!), we acted out the Christmas story with my Mom reading from Luke 2. It was always hilarious, but yet so sweet and wonderful! We still eat pizza and open our gifts with her!
We always went to a Christmas Eve service while visiting my mother-in-law in Wisconsin. This was a highlight for her to get to do this as she no longer drove and had no way to get there at night.
We actually do the same thing lol. My mom tries to trick us every year. No matter how small or big the box is, it’s ALWAYS pajamas. We also hang out, play games, make cookies, eat pizza or tacos, and fill the house with laughter.
Christmas Eve is always about family! Spending time together, eating, laughing, making memories. It may not be the same exact thing each year, but each year is special in its own way when we spend it together!
I wrap a box of Christmas jammies, slippers, and Christmas movies for the kids! My oldest loves it so much I think he likes it more than the actual Christmas Day presents! We also let the kids open one present.
It’s fun to see what traditions the kids remember from year to year. We usually drive around and look at Christmas lights, do a special devotion for advent and light our advent wreath, bake sugar cookies, participate in the church’s Christmas program. We love making memories!
Our Traditions since our girls have gotten older is we spend Christmas Eve with the older daughter and Christmas morning with the younger. Then in the afternoon we host my sister and family and mom and dad
Not necessarily a tradition but when the boys were small we were always running ourselves ragged finding the presents we had hidden so they could all be wrapped or assembled and then wrapped. It was a task trying to keep all 4 of them asleep because they were so curious about what Santa had brought them.
As Roth many other comments , my parents and 5 siblings attended chriustmas eve mass then returned home to open gifts. We lived across the street from church and I akways did and still do look for the star above the manger
Our consistent tradition has been listening to Christian Christmas music and opening the stocking Christmas Eve. When the kids were younger and there were many inexpensive gifts one they got to select one and open it before bed.
Our tradition on Christmas Eve is to go to our churches candlelight service and then come home and open one present . Oftentimes we open one before service after our traditional dinner. It’s usually a dress shirt or tie to where at service!
Christmas Eve service with the family and matching PJs for the kids!!
When our granddaughter was 2 years old she was helping me put out our Nativity. I pointed to the baby and asked “who is this”? She replied “baby Jebus”. So now every year we put out baby Jesus, and when we pray we often say “in the name of Jebus”.
Christmas Eve service and opening one present Christmas eve?
Christmas Eve service and opening one present Christmas eve?
Christmas Eve is all about candlelight service and beautiful Christmas hymns and carols with family, I am from New Mexico and the traditional meal is buffet style, tamales, posole, green chile rellenos and bischitos. I have continued that tradition even though I now live in the southeastern US.
On Christmas Eve, we go to church then put on our yearly Christmas pajamas and read the story of Jesus’ birth in Luke.
Christmas Eve has always been to spend time with family and friends. Now that all my children but one have families of there own Christmas day is spent with my youngest and myself spending the day together.