I didn’t post a Christmas list this year because I honestly hate writing out everything I want. I’m not saying it’s a bad thing for everyone else. Maybe I’m just more selfish that y’all because I feel like it puts too much focus on me and makes me only think about myself during this incredibly important season. However, it is Christmas Eve and my mom is in bed so I’m going to post my list of gifts I bought for my family!
I seriously had so much fun shopping for them. I think the best part of having a job so far has been having the liberty to buy my entire family gifts. It’s definitely what I’m most excited for tomorrow.
The first thing I did this year was buy stockings for my parents. They always fill them for us, but they never have any so I thought it would be really fun for them to have one too! I bought their favorite snack, candy, sodas, some nice pens for my dad, wash tape, fuzzy socks, and hand sanitizer for my mom, a McDonalds gift card for my dad and Starbucks for both. They don’t know I filled stockings for them and I think it will be a very fun surprise in the morning.
Caleb: Tickets to Motown!!! I’m definitely excited about this one since I get to go with him! I took advantage of Pantages’ black friday sale and bought tickets to 3 different shows! I also bought him 2 cases of Dr. Pepper because he’s obsessed.
Jake: Battleship and a gift card to Chipotle
Emilee: This game she really wanted called Simon and some doll accessories
Isaiah: A “What Does the Fox Say” book because he still isn’t over that craze and a gift card to PetSmart so he can pick out his own fish and fishtanks!!! The only pets allowed in the Mackie home. 😉
Mama: I took her to see White Christmas a few weeks ago (which was phenomenal) and she thinks that was her present, but I also got tickets for us to see “Finding Neverland in February!!! I really like buying show tickets as a gift…
Daddy: I put in some money for my sibling’s gift to my parents for part of my gift to him (which has been gift cards to restaurants and the movies for as long as we can remember) and I bought a frame that will have a quote by Martin Luther in it.
That’s it for tonight! I only wrote about immediate family because I’m not sure if other people will read my post before tomorrow night. Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you have a wonderful holiday surrounded by good food, loved ones and joy.
Gift Givin’
I’m one of those weird people who loves wrapping presents. I think it’s so fun to gather everything you’ve naught for loved ones and make them beautiful surprises. This year I tried to pick a theme and go with that. Of course, I’m insane so I didn’t finish shopping until this evening meaning I was wrapping until 3:30am. Yay me. Here are some fun ways to wrap if you’re anything like me and don’t do anything until the last minute.
Cast of Characters:
This blue snowflake print on butcher paper. I love it because the pale blue and delicate white snowflakes look so nice against the dark butcher paper it’s on which it’s printed.
Red card with Christmas trees. It’s rustic. It’s adorable. It was on sale. I love it.
And then plain old butcher paper that I didn’t take a picture of.
Assorted ribbon
The basics
This stamp I found in the Targetdollar section. (The wonderful place where I spend such a large quantity of my time and my money) ❤️
And, of course, my best friend, the gold sharpie.
Let’s Get Wrapping
It helps a lot to start with a nice clear space (preferably a table)
The eggnog vanilla the is optional, but highly recommended. 😉
There are so many beautiful ways to wrap gifts. Here are a few of the ways I did it. 
Finished Project
We have SO many gifts under our tree so I set all of mine up in a corner. It’s so crazy to think that they will all be opened so soon!
QOTD: Do you enjoy wrapping presents?
The Best Way to Spred Christmas Cheer… *blogmas day 22*
The best way to spred Christmas Cheer is singing loud for all to hear.
That is seriously so true! After our sleepover, we all got up and went caroling. We went to several homes and sang for some sweet older ladies.
Next we went to Starbucks because we were exhausted and needed our coffee (or cake pop for most of this girls) fix. We ended up singing in the store and everyone loved it! They posted it on their store’s website and said it made their day.
Last we went to a mobile home park. To be completely honest I was tired, not in the best mood, and really didn’t want to go. But I am so glad we did. We walked through the entire complex singing songs in beautiful harmonies that we made up on the spot. It was pouring rain and people came out of their homes to hear us. We sang “Oh Holy Night” for a man in his final hours. Some of these people don’t even have anyone to spend Christmas with. It was such special experience for everyone.
QOTD: Do you Christmas Carol?
The Best Christmas Sleepover Ever
Well hopefully you watched the vlog in the last post and saw some of our annual Christmas Sleepover! Here are some of the details!
We had a bunch of my little sister’s friends over for a sleepover a few days ago. I was a little wary to have 6 girls running around, but it needed up being SO fun! I adore all of these girls and they are so sweet and so funny! I think I had just as much fun as they did and it’s definitely something we’ll do again.
It started with a fun itinerary I made from gold balloons, ribbon, and pretty paper. Each balloon had a time on it and when that time came, they popped the balloon to reveal what we would do next. The girls loved it and it involved lots of screaming and lots of giggling
The first balloon called for making personal pizzas and picking a movie! We watched a cheesy Hallmark movie called Dear Santa which also included lots of screaming and giggles. The pizzas turned out great and were SO delicious.
After the pizza we paused the movie (more screaming) and did various activities such as rocking out to Mariah Carey, building a gingerbread house that was SO cute and then fell apart, and played Christmas Concentration.
Christmas Concentration is a game we created last year and it’s pretty much our favorite thing of all time. You know the game “Concentration. Concentration begins. Keep the rhythm. Keep the rhythm to the end.”? Well these girls are crazy good at it and to keep it fun we had them pick “christmas names”. (Gingy, Santa, Cocoa, Elfie, Jolly, Joy, etc) This year the picked the most epic names yet and we were laughing hysterically. Make sure to check out the vlog so you can see how much fun it was.
Next we baked cookies! What is it about girls and baking cookies? They all loved it and the cookies were delicious! We made molasses spice cookies and cracker toffee.
After all of the screaming, giggling, games, screaming, singing, giggling, dancing, screaming, baking, and giggling we were tired (I was almost in a coma of exhaustion) and made beds in the living room to watching movies and sleep.
Breakfast!!! I am not a breakfast person, but I had fun with this.I made eggs bacon, chocolate filled croissants, and virgin mimosas. I’m pretty sure none of them actually knew what a mimosa was before then, but they loved them.
Well that concludes our Christmas Sleepover! I hope you got some fun ideas and enjoyed the pictures of these wonderful girls. I adore them all.
QOTD: Did you have sleepovers growing up? Do you host them for your kids or prefer them to enjoy festivities elsewhere?
A Christmas Vlog! *blogmas day 20*
I know this is late, but it took quite a while to edit and between my work schedule and all of the festivities, I’m just not getting around to it! I hope you watch it and enjoy! ❤
QOTD: What’s your opinion on the whole vlogging trend?
These are a Few of my Favorite Things *guest post by Skylar Ray Rose*
Tonight you all have the privilege to hear from one of my good friends Skylar! She just released her first album available everywhere and I hope you all go check it out!
Christmas time is always accompanied with traditions. Every family has different traditions, but I wanted to share a few of mine. These silly memories and traditions are what make this holiday season different from any other holiday, and I love being able to share it with my family and friends.
My first family tradition is pictures with Santa. Every year, we always find time to squeeze in a picture with Santa. These pictures never fail to make us laugh and reminisce. Here are a few of my favorites from the years….
2004
2006
This Santa is one of our closest family-friends! We couldn’t get to a “real” Santa, so he stepped in and did the job. We never recognized him… we’re so blonde 😉 2007
One of my all-time favorites because this was our first Santa picture with our adopted brother and sister. 2010
Only 2 out of 5 people are actually looking at the camera (insert eye roll) 2011
Our most recent pic! We have yet to capture a picture with Santa this year! 2015
My second all-time favorite Christmas tradition is watching Christmas movies! As expected, Elf is at the top of my list. It never gets old and it remains a classic in my family. There is nothing like getting some hot coco and cuddling up in a blanket to watch Elf. I also love watching Hallmark movies. I am not a romantic, unlike my friend and author of Making Orange Juice, BUT I do love a good Hallmark movie. Mostly fake and cheesy, they put me in the Christmas spirit and make me laugh.
Lastly, I love the tradition of decorating. Every year, we drag out the Christmas decor and blast Christmas music and set it up. Our house does look like Christmas threw up on it, but it’s fun to have a bright and joyful home. We also love decorating our tree. Each ornament has a special meaning to my family and we always talk about all of our memories though the years while we decorate our tree. Decorating cookies is always fun too! With younger siblings and with my clumsiness, our kitchen never remains clean. At the end of the day, I love all of my family’s crazy and silly traditions. Comment below some of your favorite Christmas traditions. Merry Christmas!
A Christmas Timeline
I finally broke my streak. I’m honestly surprised I got as far as a did, but I was hoping I could keep it up until Christmas. Last night I went to a show and didn’t get home until late. I also thought I was getting sick so I fell asleep before I had a chance to post. So hopefully this post will make up for the absence of last night’s.
Thanksgiving Day: My family hosts between 40-50+ people.
Black Friday: My parents go Christmas shopping leaving me and my cousin in charge of 8-12 kids ranging from babies to teenagers. The ban on Christmas movies is lifted and we spend the day watching Eloise, Elf, Polar Express, and/or other favorites.
Sometime within the last few days of November and the first few days of December: Decorate the house! We pick out the tree, make tollhouse cholcate chip cookies, and decorate.
Two weeks before Christmas: Christmas break! Typical Homeschool fashion, we end the year early and sneak in as much education disguised as fun as possible.
When regular school begins Christmas Break: Thouroughbread lights and Logan’s candy factory!
Christmas Eve Eve: We watch Eloise at Christmas Time.
Christmas Eve: Celebrations with my dad’s side of the family. Dinner, a Christmas Eve Service, and presents with cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents. Then we go home, open PJ’s, and all 5 kids sleep in one room! (yes, it is complete chaos)
Christmas Morning: We wake up, open presents, eat cinnamon rolls, and watch the Nativity.
Christmas Afternoon: Aunt Carol’s!! We spend the afternoon with family, good food, Cottie’s rolls (made by Carol) and many more presents.
QOTD: What does your Christmas season look like?
An Untradtional Traditionalist’s Favorite Christmas Traditions
I am not at all traditional. I don’t think all Christmas decor needs to be red and green. I’ve never had a cake at my birthday parties. I think overly traditional weddings are boring. I just not a traditional person. However, I love traditions. Little things that I consider “a tradition” make me who I am. I hate missing them.
Today my family went Christmas shopping. The annual sibling shopping trip took place without me. I have a crazy work schedule and already bought all of their presents so it would have been completely pointless for them to wait for me. But it’s a tradition and it made me sad. It made me think of how that will be life in a few short months, that’s how everything will be. Anyway, instead of dwelling on that, here are some of my favorite Christmas traditions we celebrate every year.
Christmas Eve PJs
Once in a while my parents will try and convince they didn’t by pajamas, but they always do. And we always take a picture in front of the tree.
Looking at Christmas Lights
Usually at Thoroughbred, but we’ve done it other places before.
Decorating the Tree
Even though I usually stay up all night cleaning up the mess, it’s still one of my favorite parts of the year.
Church Christmas Party
We always play the white elephant gift exchange and it’s so much fun.
Christmas Morning
We wake up, my parents take forever to get up, we open presents one at a time so everyone gets to see, we eat cinnamon rolls, etc
Watching the Nativity
Every morning (except for when Christmas is on a Sunday, so we probably won’t do it this year) we watch the Nativity while we eat breakfast.
After Christmas Day
We have a day where we use our gift cards we get to restaurants or whatnot and we see a movie.
I’m so grateful for my parents who work so hard to make everything special and memorable. QOTD:What’s your favorite Christmas tradition?
Stocking Stuffer Must Haves
Stockings are my favorite part of Christmas presents. I think it’s the girly girl in me that just loves all the little chapsticks and treats and colors.
When I was 7 all I wanted was a baby sister. My mom was pregnant and I thought we were finding out the gender sometime in the new year. However, my parents surprised us and had “Emilee” (the name we had all agreed on if it were to be a girl) embroidered on our matching stockings. I was, of course, ecstatic and it was the highlight of my Christmas. I think that is part of the origin of my love for stockings.
Buying those things is fun too! I can’t wait to fill them for my future kids someday. Here’s a list of some fun stocking essentials.
EOS chapsticks
because who doesn’t love them?!
A nice water bottle
perfect for new year’s resolutions of health and they’re just fun
Fuzzy Socks
you can NEVER have enough fuzzy socks. I would know, I have an entire drawer full of them
Gum
because everyone has that moment when someone you want to impress walks up to you just after you ate garlic
TicTacs
“you can never have enough of your favorite two calorie breath mint”
Sharpies
am I the only one who is in love with these?
Washi Tape
need I say more?
Highlighter
the glittery kind you put on your face
Makeup
every girl loves fun eyeshadows and lipsticks
Bath Bombs
why are these so fun?
Bath and Body Works Travel Size
I feel like these are always on sale
Bobby pins and rubber bands
perfect for the theatre kid in your life. we never have enough
Phone case
fun, protective, and can make a perfect fashion statement
Gift Cards
Starbucks, iTunes, Target, gift cards are always a good idea
Earrings
they’re just so fun to get and to give
Small cologne or perfume
just make sure you know which smells they like
Travel Charger
for the person who’s on their phone too much or always forgets to charge it at night
QOTD: What is your favorite thing you’ve received/put in a stocking?
RJ and Isaiah Talk About Christmas
What’s your favorite part of Christmas?
RJ: “Seeing Santa”
Zae: The Gingerbread house
Who is Santa Claus?
RJ: I don’t even know
Zae: A man who gave away presents a long time ago and loved God.
Why do we celebrate Christmas?
RJ: I don’t know. Cuz the Lord came born?
Zae: Cuz the Lord was born
What’s Mommy’s favorite thing about Christmas?
RJ: Opening up presents.
Zae: Presents
What’s Daddy’s favorite thing about Christmas?
RJ: Looking at lights with me
Zae: Presents
What’s My favorite thing about Christmas?
RJ: Doing Christmas lights
Zae: Gingerbread house
What do you want for Christmas?
RJ: Ice powers
Zae: Lego set
What’s the best Christmas food?
RJ: Candy Canes
Zae: Cinnamon Rolls
Are you gonna buy anyone a present this year?
RJ: Yeah, for Isaiah
Zae: Yeah, I have to buy them for all of my kids! (what?!😂😂😂 I think he meant his siblings)
What was the best part of Christmas last year?
RJ: I don’t know! Sitting on Santa’s lap with Isaiah.
Zae: The presents
This is the end of the interview because they both got mad at me and walked away 😂😂😂
Making Orange Juice 