Our Holiday Haven Series is wrapping up this week. I have loved gathering advice and taking a peak into the lives of so many wonderful bloggers during this holiday season. Rene, from cottage and vine is here today. She is simply wonderful. I adore her style and all that she does in her home. Everything she puts together looks effortless. Even here header looks like it is straight from a magazine. Enjoy! 
Thank you Courtney for inviting me to participate in the Holiday Haven Post!
What is my holiday haven? My holiday is watching my family enjoy the day. When we started a family, my husband and I decided that we wanted Santa to come to our home instead of traveling. We wanted the boys to wake up in their own home and go downstairs to see what Santa brought.
What do we enjoy doing as a family? We have a wood burning fireplace in our family room and on Christmas morning, we love to turn the Christmas tree lights on and start a fire in the fireplace. It is so cozy to have a fire as we open presents. Days before, I make cranberry bread and chocolate chip pumpkin bread for us to nibble on as we take in the morning.
How do I make things run smoothly? Over the years, I have learned that the more time and care I take with storing decorations after the holidays, the easier it is to find things the next year. Each year, my mother gives each of us a special ornament. I found that labeling the boxes with the name and description of the ornament helps when taking down the tree. Then when each boy is grown, he will have his ornament collection to take when he starts a family.
How do I take time out to treat myself? I have been saving a gift card that Mr. & the boys gave me for Mother’s Day. Once all of my holiday ducks are in a row, I plan to reward myself with a massage and pedicure. Courtney, thanks again for inviting me to participate in this fun series! {Image source: Living Etc., Real Simple, Hand and Stone } ………………………………………………………………………. Thank you, Rene! I love the idea of having Santa come to our house as well. You can’t get moments like that back. And what a wonderful idea to hand off a box of ornaments when your sons are grown {makes me teary eyed!} What about you? Do you have special ornament traditions?
Sounds fabulous, lovely things to enjoy the holiday season, love Posie
So sweet about the ornaments. My parents did that for us when we were little, so now we each have tons of fun ornaments, each with memories to put on the tree! My grandma also gave me one Precious Moments ornament each year I was alive, so now I'll have 20! So special. Your boys will love it…what a wonderful mom you are!
You know that I'm originally from Germany. There Santa arrives in the evening of the 24. But I think it's much nicer, relaxed and in pajamas on 25. in the morning the Christmas present to make. This is so cozy and the children have time throughout the day to play with their gifts. Later meet the family, has time to eat and enjoy.
In the evening all is in rush and stress.
Have a wonderful monday!
Tine
Thanks for having me over Courtney! Also thanks for being such a sweet blogging friend 🙂
-Rene
We too start a fire in the morning and have homemade cinnamon coffee cake, and play Christmas music. It is very relaxing after the hectic days leading up to the big day.
Totally agree about not traveling! I finally had to put my foot down and now my parents come here on Christmas Eve and spend the night. There is just something about being at your house Christmas morning : )
Paula
Wonderful Rene and Courtney! Thank you for sharing your Christmas morning with us, it sounds perfect!
We made the decisions early on that we wanted our kids to wake up in their own beds on Christmas morning too. Enjoy the spa treatments, you won't have to wait long now…Christmas is almost here!
I think a massage and pedi sounds like the perfect way to relax! Great post.
Christmas morning in front of the fireplace – so lovely! Thanks for sharing your traditions, Rene, and for hosting this series Courtney! Fun to read.
I need to visit Cottage and Vine more! She is awesome! We were just talking about having Christmas at home too. I am definitely taking her advice about putting away the Christmas decor this year. I want things to be easy next year! This has been a fun series Courtney.
i just found your blog – lovely!! nice post too!!
So lovely, Rene! Like Rene, we decided that we wanted our son to have memories opening presents in his own home! So, Christmas day is spent at home and the day after is spent traveling!
So sweet about the ornaments…I do the same thing to my children…even when I'm far away from them I do send a Christmas ornament a month before Christmas( always get them on sale on boxing day) to be placed on the tree for them to remember me if I'm not there…Such wonderful attitude towards this crazy season!
Fabulous post!!
hugs
lila
I love those stockings hanging from the branch! Great post!
Luvs!
I read Rene's blog daily. She's wonderful and always has great ideas and inspiration and is such a sweet woman. We also spend our Christmas at home and start Christmas morning by the fire, Christmas music playing, and opening gifts in our PJs. Rene has a great tip about labeling the boxes with the description of the ornaments. Something I am going to do this year. I loved those beautiful stockings hanging from the branch! I enjoyed your Holiday Haven series, Courtney! Great idea.
This is a great inspiring post.I am stocking much pleased with your good work about cottage holiday. You put really very helpful information. Keep it up.
Thanks for sharing!