12 Days of Christmas! I Christmas House Tour Video & Giveaway. {CLOSED}
Welcome to the 12 Days of Christmas!
I am SO excited to share with you guys that every day for the next 12 days, I’ll be vlogging (think day in the life, waaaay oversharing, Q+A videos), sharing the video here on Crumbs (and on youtube!) and holding a giveaway of my favorite things!
Here’s a peek at some of the Christmas decor in our home. So sorry if I make you nauseaus with my shaky camera skills and poor editing – I’m still learning! There are a few things I left out because I have constant #mombrain and either forgot or wasn’t able to get it together in time. Things like my favorite mini Lenox nativity set (I have no idea where to place it this year, since Max will shatter it), the Pottery Barn Kids advent/Christmas countdown calendar (that is sewn completely crooked but I refused to send back because I opened it ON the first day of advent and was determined to have a cute calendar… ), our favorite Christmas pillows and outdoor lights, etc. I wanted to wait until everything was perfect, but if I waited, I knew I’d never do it and I’ve wanted to make videos FOREVER now.
The first year we were married, Eddie surprised me and bought a tree, decorated it and made his man cave apartment a winter wonderland for us. It was actually the second tree he bought, because the first was waaaay too big, but final sale. So we ended up with two trees! That year, we put up two trees and bought lots of ornaments at Michael’s and Joann’s. That’s where the majority of our ornaments are from, along with a few Martha Stewart from Macy’s that are about eight years old and some new ones from Michael’s this year that I bought for the white tree.
I bought the white tree last year at Treetopia on sale after Christmas. The copper/blue tree is from Target this year, and by far my favorite one. The red/green decorated tree is from Frontgate and will hopefully last us a million years.
My mom made our house incredibly magical when I was growing up. In fact, she still does and I’m hoping that I can get a video of hers before these 12 days are up! She’d stay up all night for days to turn the house into a Christmas wonderland for my brothers and me. It was the most magical time EVER.
Needless to say, I’ve been a complete Christmas freak since I was a kid. When school started up again, I’d wake up early and go downstairs just so I could sit by the Christmas tree in January before we got on the bus. It was my absolute favorite!
Eddie and I were determined to make our house as Christmasy as we could for Max this year. Eddie decorated gingerbread houses for eight hours because he is a perfectionist, and even set up his own tree downstairs in the basement that I didn’t get to capture. It has been so much fun and I love sitting under the lights every night.
Enjoy! And scroll down for giveaway #1!
GIVEAWAY!
Every day for the next 12 days until Christmas I’ll be giving away some of my favorite things. I want to show every bit of my appreciation for you guys sticking here with me for over seven years, reading the rambles that I write and making my recipes and leaving comments and supporting me 100%. Even when I write horrific run-on sentences and use 34 exclamation points in one post. And say “literally.” Ugh.
THANK YOU so much for being here. You changed my life and I am forever grateful for you.
Today I’m giving away a mirrorless camera! If you read my favorites post, you know I use one all the time and I even shot a few pieces of the video here with mine. I was super excited to giveaway the Samsung nx300 that I always talk about, but unfortunately it’s no longer available. Instead, I’m giving away the comparable Sony alpha a6000, which I’ve even considered switching to. This giveaway is not sponsored or affiliated with anyone and is given by me. It is open to EVERYONE EVERYWHERE! Wahoo.
To enter: leave a comment on this post sharing your favorite holiday memory!
For a second entry: SUBSCRIBE to the howsweeteats youtube channel. There is a red button on the right side and you will only be notified when I upload a new video. This is the best way to be notified of a new video/giveaway in these 12 days too! Leave a comment telling me you did so.
For a third entry: follow howsweeteats on instagram. Leave a comment telling me you did so.
The giveaway will only be open for 24 hours (!!) so be sure to enter and share! A winner will be picked at random. Come back for a new video and giveaway tomorrow. xoxo
1,439 Comments on “12 Days of Christmas! I Christmas House Tour Video & Giveaway. {CLOSED}”
i love making latkes as a family. my dad and my sisters hand grate the potatoes. i mix it all together with the other ingredients. my mom fries it. my sisters & i sneak bites of the crispy edges. we have a special silly family song that we all sing after we light the menorah. it’s just so fun!! and now that we’re grown and all live in different places, we facetime in so we can all be together
Following on IG
My favorite memory is when my parents sent me on a scavenger hunt to find my big gift (a Suzuki Trail Hopper motorcycle in 4th grade).
I’m following on Instagram.
I’m following on YouTube.
My dad waking me up by playing Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer on the piano in the mornings during the holidays (so much better than an alarm clock!!).
Following on IG too! :-)
Already following on Instagram :) Setting up the Anglaspel, lighting the candles and then watching the angels circle round with the twinkling sounds.
“Santa” used to mark all the gifts with our first initial in pen, and we would have to inspect the package to find the letter to determine who it belonged to. So fun!
My family doesn’t celebrate Christmas, but when I was little my neighbors would invite me over every year when they were doing their gingerbread houses and decorating their tree, and they would give me presents too! It was a super sweet because they said they wanted me to get to experience the fun!
Subscribed on Youtube!
Watching White Christmas. Every year (usually multiple times) for the now 30 years of my existence. I never had a sister to sing the sister song with but my mom always sang it with me…and now my husband does ??
Followed on Instagram!
My sister and I took turns putting the ornaments on the advent calendar. That and making press cookies are my fondest memories.
Oh and following you on IG and YouTube! ❤️
Of course following you on IG!
When I was four years old and it was my sister Erin’s first Christmas, our older sister Mary did something quite interesting. On Christmas Eve, my dad forgot to turn off the lights on the Christmas tree and Mary woke up at 5am to see all the shiny wrapped presents sparkling under the tree. She begged my mom to open “just one” present and my mom hesitantly obliged, but made Mary promise to go back to bed. Well, Mary was allowed to open just one present and my mom tucked her back into bed. Around 8am, my mom woke up with enthusiasm to go wake her three girls and watch us open all the presents she meticulously wrapped for hours and hours. My mom lived for the joy and delight on our faces as we opened our gifts from Santa. When my mom went into the living room she was met with horror and awe upon seeing that Mary had opened not just one present, but EVERY present under the tree. My mom was devastated, but we were just happy to have plenty of new toys to play with! For years after that mom didn’t sleep on Christmas eve, filled with worry that Mary would “black out” again and open all the gifts. Now that it’s been many years later, we all share a good laugh every Christmas eve about Mary’s gift opening frenzy. Mary is a new mom this year and we can’t wait to see what trouble baby Tim gets into! She is in for it if he’s anything like she was. :)
Subscribed to Youtube!
Following you on YouTube now!
I loved caroling in my neighborhood
Following on instagram!! Love your blog:)
When my dad was growing up, Santa brought the tree and decorated it, and when they woke up on Christmas, they’d have a tree and gifts! Because my mom thought it was insane for Santa to bring gifts AND set up the tree, they compromised… To carry on that tradition, my family would always wake up early on Christmas Eve and watch my dad bring the tree inside and put the lights on. Then, we’d spend all day decorating it before going to mass at night. Those are some of my favorite memories! Because we’d put the tree up so late, we’d leave it up welllll into January!
I also follow on Instagram!
My favorite memory is making cookies.
I follow you on IG (@treats_with_a_twist)
My sisters and I always watched The Muppets Christmas Carol together!
driving around looking at christmas lights
I have wonderful holiday memories. My mom always made Christmas so wonderful with tons of beautifully wrapped gifts, a tree decked out in ornaments and fresh baked cookies. She always made homemade cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning and that smell is just heartwarming to me.
My favorite memories is my dad using his giant VHS camera to video tape our Christmas eves!
Yay! Subscribing to your YouTube now!
Followed on Instagram/YouTube! SO happy to see so many comments on this post, I love seeing the amazing scope of your readers!! My favorite holiday memory is making saltine toffee aka Christmas Crack with my family!
My mom made my cousins and I matching pajamas every christmas eve and after opening our presents, we would change into them and sit with my grandfather while he read the Night Before Christmas. It was such a special tradition. Your house looks incredible. I love the look on Max’s face as he watches the train set. My grandfather also set up trains every Christmas – it added to the magic.
I follow you on insta.
Now following you on Youtube!
My favorite Christmas memory is from when I was around 6 years old during Christmas night my mom let my brother and I peak from the staircase into the living room and there we saw Santa himself dressed to the nines placing our presents under the tree. It was all so real, that is until Santa was ready to leave. He walked over to fireplace and suddenly there was endless smoke followed by “Santa” coughing up a storm. We were quickly ushered back to our beds.
Years later I learned that my sweet Uncle Mike, who never half asses anything, played the part of Santa that night with a faulty fog machine and all. ☺️
My favorite holiday memory is getting engaged on Christmas morning and instead of saying “yes!!!” Like a normal person, I said, “SHUT UP!” Yup ?? I did eventually say yes and now we spend our holiday making it magical for our son.
My favorite Christmas memory was all of Christmas Eve!’my mom used to wake me up early in then morning and we start cooking!!
Following on IG!!
Leaving carrots for the reindeer.
Wonderful house decor!! I’d love it if you could give a hint at sources for beautiful artificial trees–you have many amazing ones. Found my way here from recipes on Huffington Post and I’m glad I did.
My favorite Christmas tradition is my brothers and I would bake Christmas cookies with our Dad on Christmas Eve. I made oatmeal raisin, my older brother ginger creams, and my younger brother candy cane cookies. All recipes from an old Betty Crocker cookbook!
Decorating for christmas the day after thanksgiving with my mom
Driving around together looking at Christmas lights and after going to Krispy Kreme to get coffee and doughnuts!!
I’ve been following you on instagram for eva!?
My favorite Christmas memory is making and decorating a gingerbread house every year with my mom!
I subscribed to your YouTube channel!!!
My favourite memory is the tree decorating
I follow you on insta
I’m already following you on instagram!
I subscribed to your you tube channel
My favorite Christmas memories have always been centered around our beautiful tree! With high cathedral ceilings, my dad has always insisted on a tree that reaches all the way to the top. Most years, we can bargain with him but one year, it topped out at 18′, actually touching the beams! This year, it’s a much more reasonable 14′. Before the decorating can begin, it’s a whole process to even get it upright, involving my annual role of climbing onto the roof to help anchor it through the windows. Needless to say, it’s given us lots of great memories despite a few frustrating moments over the years. The best part is always once it’s fully decorated, when we can finally enjoy the lights by the fire with family and friends. It’s absolutely magical! Merry Christmas!
My favorite was and still is baking and decorating sugar cookies with my family.