Everybody likes Christmas, right? I mean, almost everybody.
But we wanted to go deeper with our staff and learn about those special traditions and memories that make the season just a little bit brighter. Read on to learn more from Carrie, our Inbound Marketing Strategist to find out her Christmastime faves and fails!
Q: Do you open gifts on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?
We open one gift on Christmas Eve, usually after we get back from church and have a nice dinner. Everyone in the family picks out one small gift for other others to open. Usually it is something small. Then we do our stockings. We usually get lots of mints, lotions, deodorant, and candy in our stockings.
Christmas morning is the bigger celebration, but we only open gifts after we've had a good brunch. It is torture for the kids, but it helps the celebration last a little longer. And we open each gift in order from youngest to oldest, one at a time.
Q: What is your favorite Christmastime tradition?
I have a love hate relationship with my dad giving me chocolate covered Christmas Santas in my stocking. I hate them and he knows it.
Q: What are the Top 3 Christmas movies?
White Christmas is my top movie, Christmas Story is second, and The Holiday is third!
Q: What is the worst or weirdest Christmas gift ever received?
When I was 11 my grandma handmade a dollhouse for me out of yarn and plastic canvas and it was atrocious. I hated it, and I was so offended because I was a middle school girl and life offended me.
Q: What is your favorite Christmas season recipe (drink, cookie, meal, etc)?
I love making Elderberry syrup, because I'm a ridiculous hippy. I love the taste and I really feel like it keeps my family healthier during the cold winter months! Here is my recipe:
Q: Do you prefer eggnog or hot chocolate?
I prefer eggnog with rum and minus the eggnog. I prefer rum.
Q: Do you like colored lights on your tree or white? Big or small?
I am a born-and-raised warm white light girl! Usually we go for small mini-lights, but this year we opted for C7 size and I'm LOVING them, even on our crazy tree.
Q: Favorite holiday memory as a child?
I loved that my parents would always hide my biggest Christmas gift somewhere in the house. We would all get done unwrapping presents and my parents would act like we were finished.
Then as we were throwing out the discarded gift wrap they would suddenly "find" an envelope with my name on it. It would always lead to a scavenger hunt around the house so I could find my final, big gift. Such sweet memories.
Q: What is on your Christmas wishlist this year?
I would love to get a nice pair of bluetooth headphones and a plant or two. I especially have my eye on a fiddle leaf fig or a monstera plant!
Q: Real tree or fake tree?
Fake. Ain't nobody got time for pine needles.
Q: What was your favorite gift?
I'm a thought-behind-the-gift girl so I love most things I have received as long as they come from someone I love!
Q: What is the most important thing about Christmas to you?
I love being with family and trying to take a few extra breaths to remember the reason that we celebrate. I'm a Christian, so Christmas is an extra special time to try and refocus on the work of Jesus Christ.
Q: Christmas letter, card, photo card, or nothing?
I love getting letters, but I don't send them. I am a horrible person.
Q: Do you have a charity you serve or give to at Christmas?
I don't have anything that I do differently at Christmas versus the rest of the year. I do love putting money in the red buckets though!
The end of the year isn't just a time of dreaming and planning for you, it can also be a great time to think more deeply about your business and what you want to accomplish in the next year. If you're thinking about implementing new branding, web design, or marketing into your new year plans, don't forget to invite Five J! We love helping businesses strategize and move toward their goals.
