Hey Dana Jane

Tag: holiday

  • Another Christmas Come and Gone

    Another Christmas has come and gone. Just like that, the wrapping paper is torn and tossed, the cookies are crumbs, and the lights are starting to lose their magic. Every year, I swear I’ll slow down and savor it all, but somehow, 2024 felt especially fast and furious. It’s wild to think the new year is just a week away.

    Time is a thief, isn’t it?

    I look at my boys, and I wonder how they grew up so quickly. One minute they were sitting on my lap, clutching a sippy cup, watching Christmas specials, and the next, they’re towering over me, with their own opinions about life and their own dreams to chase. It’s bittersweet. I love watching them become who they’re meant to be, but I’d give anything to relive those simple moments—just for a day.

    And then there are my parents. Every Christmas with them feels more fleeting. Their mortality weighs on me, not in a sad way, but in a deeply reflective one. It makes me think of my own. I still feel like the kid at heart, caught somewhere between wanting to sleep in on Christmas morning and needing to make everything magical for my family. But now, the torch has been passed, and I’m the one hosting the holidays.

    Me—the holiday matriarch. It feels strange even to write that.

    I catch myself sometimes, standing in my kitchen with flour on my shirt and a ham in the oven, wondering how I got here. When did I become the one keeping the traditions alive, the one making sure the stockings are hung and the cookies are baked? I still feel like the child running around the house, sneaking extra sprinkles on my sugar cookies. And yet, here I am, creating those memories for my boys.

    If I’m honest, it’s overwhelming at times. But it’s also a gift. A reminder that life keeps moving, even when we wish it would pause. It’s a call to hold tight to the moments we have—to look around the room and soak in the laughter, the chaos, and the love.

    As we say goodbye to Christmas and prepare for a new year, I’m reminded that the best we can do is live fully in the time we’re given. To show up, to love deeply, and to embrace every moment—even the messy, complicated ones.

    So here’s to another year gone by and a new one on the horizon. May we find the courage to keep passing the torch, to honor those who came before us, and to cherish the memories we’re making for those who come after.

    Time may be a thief, but we have the power to make it count.

  • Four Days Until Christmas: Cue the Chaos!

    It’s here, folks. The final countdown. We’re officially four days away from Christmas, and you know what that means: peak holiday panic! If you’re anything like me, this is the time of year when you question all your life choices, like why you thought you had “plenty of time” to buy gifts or why you volunteered to host the family dinner (again).

    Let’s break down what this magical-but-chaotic moment looks like:

    The Gift-Giving Gauntlet

    If your Amazon cart still looks like a wish list instead of an order history, it’s time to accept your fate: you’re now at the mercy of expedited shipping or, worse, the mall. (Is there anything more terrifying than a mall parking lot in late December? I think not.) Bonus points if you have to brave the store for “one last thing” and end up wandering aimlessly through aisles of scented candles, wondering if Aunt Carol would prefer “Winter Wonderland” or “Cinnamon Chaos.” Spoiler alert: she’ll say she loves it but secretly re-gift it next year.

    The Wrapping Olympics

    For those who actually have gifts ready, congratulations! Now comes the wrapping phase, where you realize that you’ve once again overestimated your abilities. One gift looks like it was wrapped by an elf, and the next resembles a crumpled burrito. And don’t even get me started on finding the tape. I swear it’s a Christmas tradition for the tape to vanish exactly when you need it most.

    The Great Cookie Crisis

    Oh, you thought you were done baking after the neighborhood cookie exchange? Think again. Someone (probably you) decided homemade cookies are a “must” for Santa. Cue the flour tornado, the burnt batches, and the inevitable argument over whether gingerbread men or sugar cookies reign supreme.

    The “Did I Forget Something?” Spiral

    With four days to go, it’s also prime time for the “did I forget someone?” panic. Your brain will inevitably conjure up the image of your child’s teacher, your neighbor, or that coworker who casually got you a gift last year, and suddenly you’re racing to find something that screams, “I totally planned this in advance!”

    The Magic Amid the Mayhem

    And yet, in the middle of all the madness, there’s something undeniably magical about this time of year. Maybe it’s the twinkling lights or the sound of your favorite holiday songs. Maybe it’s the way your kids’ faces light up when they talk about Christmas morning. Or maybe it’s the sheer adrenaline of pulling it all together at the last possible second.

    So here we are, four days out, holding on to our hot cocoa and our sanity by a thread. Take a breath. Remember, it doesn’t have to be perfect to be memorable. Whether you’re a meticulous planner or a last-minute scrambler, Christmas will come, the day will be special, and you’ll laugh about the chaos later.

    But for now, good luck—and may your wrapping paper never run out before the last gift.