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!Â
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’ve been following you on instagram for like, ever!
Just subscribed to your YouTube!
Aaaand now I’m subscribed to your youtube channel!
Hello Jessica!
So !sweet! of you to do a giveaway. One of my favorite Christmas memories is when my mom made cut-out cookies with my daughter last year. My mom was so happy and having the time of her life because – for the first time – she didn’t have to do any of the work for cut-out cookies. She got to skip all the stressful parts and get right to decorating with her granddaughter. Such a sweet memory seeing them work together in the kitchen.
PS – I subscribed to your you tube channel and followed you on instagram! I currently shoot with a Canon T3i and am looking to jump into mirrorless. Fingers crossed!
making christmas cookies with my grandmother!
I also follow on instagram!
My favorite Christmas memory is going for a nice snowy walk after a wonderful morning or eating delicious food and opening presents! I am following you on youtube and Instagram (Popcorn & Chocolate)!Â
My favorite Christmas memory is making homemade cinnamon rolls with my mom every Christmas Eve.Â
My favorite Christmas memory is waking up early on Christmas morning to bake breakfast with my mom before the rest of the family woke up. Always beautiful with the christmas lights and the feeling of excitement.
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My favorite Christmas memory is actually the year my grandma died a little before Christmas. My parents didn’t want my grandpa to spend Christmas alone so they packed my brother and I up in our van up with all the presents and food and we drove 7 hours up to the little fishing town where my dad grew up. We spent a week up there filled with lots of old-fashioned traditions and what should have been a really sad time was actually incredibly special.
My favorite Christmas memory is two-fold. First, baking ALL the things with my mom. Second, spending most of Christmas Eve day with my husband eating cozy Italian food and watching movies before meeting family for Mass that evening.
I am Jewish so I do not have any Christmas memories growing up. However, now that I am married to my husband who is not Jewish, I have learned to cherish all of his family’s Christmas traditions. I think my favorite is my annual glass of eggnog :-)
Also, follow you on Insta and love your videos!
+1 follow on IG
One of my favorite Christmas memories is when my brother and I had a suspicion that our parents were the real “Santas” so we snuck into their closet and found all the gifts! We didnt tell them that we knew until later though :)
I also just followed you on instagram!
When my ripens came to visit us for Christmas with their 3 week old daughter.Â
My favourite memory is Christmas Eve service at my church!
My favorite Christmas memory was getting engaged last year!!
I already follow you on Instagram!
I follow on Insta (missleahrae87)!
I subscribe on Youtube (Leah Hart)!
My favorite Christmas memory is getting to dig into our stockings while my parents got their coffee. Since this was before quick coffee makers they needed some time, so my Mom made sure our stockings were really stuffed. It was so much fun, I always do the same for my kids now. I could spend a fortune just on stockings.
I follow you on instagram
My favorite Christmas memory is making gingerbread houses with my mom. I remember the year that I messed up the dough and the houses were collapsing all over the place. It was a disaster but a humorous one!
making pizelle cookies with my mom
Baking Christmas cookies! I’ve already gone a bit overboard this year!
My favorite Christmas memory is making sugar cookies with my mom. We would spend hours decorating them! I make them every year and now I can carry on the tradition with my girls.Â
Already following you on Instagram!
Omgggaad! What a fun video! You’re motivating me to put more effort into my Christmas decorating this year!
My favourite Christmas memory would be the first Christmas my husband and I celebrated together as a married couple, 2 years ago. It was so nice bringing our families together and sharing in the spirit of the holiday together :)
Your giveaway is so fun, thank you thank you!
I’ve been following you on Instagram forever (handle: tanverelli), and on YouTube for a few weeks (handle: tanveefication).
Looking forward to more festive videos!
Started following you on YouTube recently too!
Christmas is the most magical time. I loved going to chop down our own tree with my parents and brother but my absolute favorite was baking cookies with my mom. We always made huge platters to give away to family and friends. While we made some delicious ones, spritz cookies were, and still are, my favorite on the plate!
And naturally, who isn’t already following you on both instagram AND youtube. You’re too great to not follow!
I loved baking Christmas cookies of ALL kinds w/my grandma, great aunt, mom, and sister. I still make the same cookies for my family 30 years later:)
My favorite Christmas memory is putting together the wooden carousel that moved by the heat from the candles. Such a fire hazard but so cool for a kid!Â
My favorite Christmas memory is spending Christmas Eve baking cookies with my mom and sister while watching It’s a Wonderful Life!
I already follow you on InstagramÂ
My favorite Christmas memory is making my mom’s famous carrot cake with her the few days before Christmas and then delivering to lots of family friends on Christmas Eve!
Oh, and I already follow you on Instagram :)
Just subscribed to you tube! Â My favorite Christmas memory is sleeping with my sisters on Christmas Eve and watching Home Alone!
I follow you on Instagram
My favorite christmas memory was laying under the christmas tree the night before christmas and having my dad tell my sister and I christmas stories from his childhood.
I subscribed to your YouTube channel!
I also follow you on instagram!!
My favorite Christmas memory/tradition is making our family’s Christmas cookie recipe! It’s been in the family for generations!
I follow on Instagram!
My favorite Christmas memory & a tradition we still do today is chinese food & going to the movies!
Following your instagram :)
I subscribed on YouTube!
I can’t really speak to my favorite Christmas memory, since I’m Jewish, but I wanted to participate all the same. It is amazing that you guys are creating such wonderful memories for Max! I would have to say that my favorite Chanukah memory was in 2013 when Chanukah fell on thanksgiving and it was deemed “thanksgivukah.” My dad  (who does not normally get swept up in the holiday spirit) bought a menorah in the shape of a turkey, even though it won’t happen again until 2070. I love when people get into the holiday spirit, regardless of what they celebrate!!
My favorite christmas memory is making cookies ALL month long and watching holiday movies every weekend. Then on Christmas day being able to eat all those cookies and watching A Christmas Story marathon alllllll day. Oh, also staying in pajamas for the entire day..who needs to dress up for the holiday?!
also, I already follow you on insta