I always get excited for HGTV's Holiday episodes to start airing. But this season, we have a very special series to look forward to. The Property Brothers, Jonathan and Drew Scott are going back to their country roots to bring us a brand new holiday series, Property Brothers at Home on the Ranch! Although I could watch it just for the scenery, the truth is I can't wait to hear them reminisce about their lives growing up on the ranch. #BrothersatHome
Thinking about the boys heading home to the country for the holidays strikes a personal chord with me. The anticipation of this series has taken me on a trip down memory lane, back home to my holiday roots. This look back at my childhood has made me realize how much of my parents' traditions are still going strong in my suburban home. I grew up in the country in a small town called Davisburg, Michigan. We lived down a dirt road on a large piece of land in a charming salt box reproduction built by my Dad and passionately decorated by my Mom.
(My Childhood Home in Davisburg, Michigan)
The holidays were a very special time of year for our family. Every year, my mom went all out with country-inspired Christmas decor, hand-made gifts, heavenly baked goods and hearty holiday meals. My three siblings and I looked forward to our holiday traditions when we were younger, even though there were times (our teenage years) when we pretended not to. Now that we are older, our holidays in the country are reflected in our suburban lives and in our traditions.
For instance, my favorite holiday tradition growing up was hands-down our holiday meals. Christmas breakfast was a very big deal. I've carried on that tradition with my own family and each Christmas we start the day with a very special, very big breakfast. Just as my mom did, I set the table using our best dishes and linens.
My mom always had a fantastic centerpiece. Her table was adorned with fresh evergreen clippings from around the house or dried flowers from her gardens. Her centerpieces are not something I could ever replicate, so I do the best I can with pretty plants from our local nursery, or sometimes even floral arrangements from the supermarket, tweaked and embellished, of course, to make them special.
Even though a lot of our suburban Christmas morning breakfasts are inspired by my childhood country Christmases, there are differences. For instance, when I was a kid, my dad would prepare French toast in a cast iron skillet. The recipe I use is this Overnight French Toast.
My daughter and I have made it a tradition to prepare this dish after we return from Christmas Eve church service. We also set the table the night before and make sure everything is ready to go so in the morning, all we need to do is pop the casserole in the oven and start making childhood memories of Christmas breakfast for my kids.
I can't wait to watch the Brothers at home and get a glimpse at their life growing up in the country. In the new episodes, Jonathan and Drew Scott, The Property Brothers, go back to their roots as ranch kids in Alberta, Canada in a new HGTV Holiday series Property Brothers at Home on the Ranch. Jonathan and Drew help close friends of the family transform a run-down horse ranch into a dream property. Their family joins them as they reminisce about growing up on the ranch and how the "Cowboy-Code" of hard work and keeping true to your word helped them become international home renovation celebrities.
HGTV's Property Brothers at Home on the Ranch premieres November 25 Wednesday 9/8c.
Cowboys, take me away!
Now, it's your turn, please leave a comment below sharing your favorite childhood holiday memory or tradition for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card!
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This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older (or nineteen (19) years of age or older in Alabama and Nebraska). Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. The notification email will come directly from BlogHer via the sweeps@blogher email address. You will have 2 business days to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected.
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love taking our grandkids to look at Christmas lights and for ice cream after!
ReplyDeletewatching White Christmas with my mom and sister. The men don't get it, but it's the best Christmas movie!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite memory is going to my grandparents house for Christmas at their farmhouse in a rural mountain town. They have passed away but it was simple and perfect.
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/MarySouth3/status/667025601627222016
ReplyDeleteSarah your description of your childhood home and life sounds lovely.....your mom making Christmastime special and your dad's cast iron skillet French toast. So nice that you continue those traditions with your own family! Your table looks so pretty - I love the black and white basket for the centerpiece. One of my favorite childhood memories is setting up the Nativity on our mantle. My teenage son shocked me last year when he said that was his favorite part too (I thought he didn't care much about holiday decorating, but it turns out he loves all the little things we do every year :) ). Family traditions are such a special part of growing up.
ReplyDeleteI love hanging the advent calendar - as a child I loved putting a new "snap" on the Christmas tree. As we counted down the days until Christmas was here. Now I get to share that childhood tradition with my son who loves waking up and putting up a new "ornament" snap on the same calendar tree.
ReplyDeleteI loved the fact that our tree was put up after my bed time and it was always a big surprise. Waking up to presents and the tree. Now our home is decorated weeks in advance and there is no surprise.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite memory was Christmas eve with my cousins. Traveling to Muskegon for a big meal where everyone brought something to pass. The excitement was almost unbearable, but it was so fun. My children experienced it when they were younger as well and now as we wait on Grand Children to enter our lives I'm sure that experience for them will once again bring on that familiar excitement!
ReplyDeleteI always loved when Santa Claus would drive by my house on the firetruck! I would watch from the window and then rush into bed, so I would be asleep before he came down our chimney! ;)
ReplyDeleteI love watching the Property Brothers and really look forward to the new series. They have such great style , I can't wait to see them transform this one!
ReplyDeleteHaving moved from Michigan to Florida I do miss the snow at Christmas. I guess watching the Brothers will fill the void😀
I have fond memories of Christmas get-togethers with my large family. Mom always cooked a ham, and we had scalloped potatoes and other long-time family favorites. There was also lots of laughter, talking and singing.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite holiday memory is hiding behind the Christmas tree in the middle of the night trying to get a glimpse of Santa Claus.
ReplyDeleteheather hgtempaddy@hotmail.com
I'll be spending my first Christmas in Florida. We look forward to creating new traditions …..and lots of family visiting in the coming year
ReplyDeleteMy favorite memory was going to see the Radio City Music Hall Christmas show.
ReplyDeletemami2jcn at gmail dot com
tweet--https://twitter.com/mami2jcn/status/667110649298817024
ReplyDeleteMy favorite memory is cooking Christmas cookies with my grandma
ReplyDeleteelena150980 at yahoo dot com
https://twitter.com/ElenaIstomina/status/667118058868113410
ReplyDeleteelena150980 at yahoo dot com
On Christmas Eve my grandparents would take us on a drive through town to look at all the lights..... while we gone Santa came. Every year I would "just miss him."
ReplyDeleteYour childhood home is beautiful! I'm glad you cherish those memories. I too am looking forward to the Property Brothers at Home on the Ranch :)
ReplyDeleteI remember helping my mom decorate the house for Christmas with fresh evergreens. She put them everywhere and transformed our home into a holiday wonderland. It was so fun to be a part.
ReplyDeleteWe used to go to a tree farm and cut down our own tree.
ReplyDeleteChristmas eve dinner at grandma's house with all the cousins!
ReplyDeleteAnother special memory was going to a Christmas festival in the small town I lived in. Carolers, hot chocolate, and of course Santa Clause made it magical.
ReplyDeleteWe had a lot of great family traditions for Christmas! We cut our own tree. We set up the train track below the tree. We had a dinner Christmas Eve with close friends. Christmas morning we all had to wait at the top of the steps until my Dad would make sure Santa wasn't there which just built more excitement. Then after we opened presents we went to one grandparent's home for lunch and presents and then we went to the other grandparent's home for dinner and presents. We never got to play with our new toys until the day after Christmas. Instead we spent the whole day with our family and no toys! And I have such great memories of Christmas! It was the best!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite holiday tradition is waffles on Christmas Eve. My grandmother started it before I was born, and now I make the same dinner for my family. Thank you for the wonderful giveaway.
ReplyDeleteErin
ErinLoves2Run at gmail dot com
One of my favorite childhood memories was one Christmas year when my mom gave me a troll collection. I was so ecstatic, because I was a big fan of trolls at the time. Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteSeasideMermaid@twc.com
I love traditions, so do my kiddos. We always have two breakfast dishes, a breakfast casserole and a sweet treat. I started thaose when my children were so little it's all they remember. They are all teens now, but they are as into it as ever. Thanks for sharing your story!
ReplyDeleteOn Christmas Eve we would participate in our children's Christmas Eve program at church and then on the way home we would drive around town to look at all the Christmas lights. We've continued that tradition with our kids.
ReplyDeleteI think my favorite Christmas tradition is my great-grandma's punch! We make it every year and it has fruit juices and lemon-lime sodas and ice cream, and it's delicious! It reminds me of my great-grandma, too.
ReplyDeleteI posted a link to twitter! https://twitter.com/briecs/status/667365519226511360
ReplyDeleteMy childhood Christmas memories are very sad. When I became a mother I made it a point to change that for my own children. Every Christmas morning before we open gifts my husband will read the story of Jesus's birth from the bible, we do a small devotion then open gifts. We don't want to ever forget the true meaning of Christmas!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite holiday memory and tradition was painting the "stained glass" ornaments for the Christmas tree every year.
ReplyDeletekellywcu8888ATgmailDOTcom
tweet
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/Kellydpa/status/667387672667791360
kellywcu8888ATgmailDOTcom
My favorite memory was going to bed on Christmas Eve wearing new pajamas that my mom made us each year and then going to sleep listening to my dad read the Night Before Christmas.
ReplyDeleteAs a child it was setting out treats for Santa & his reindeers Christmas Eve. When we woke up Christmas morning they were partially eaten and the hay was gone. My mother made wonderful memories for us :) apikula.aussie18@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite tradition is to pick Christmas tree with my family and decorate together.
ReplyDeletetcarolinep at gmail dot com
tweet-https://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/667559729682477057
ReplyDeleteOur favorite tradition is going!to!Christmas parade as a family!
ReplyDeletehttps://mobile.twitter.com/1Angiel30/status/667737590364176385
ReplyDeleteMy favorite is all the Christmas cookies my mom would make. We always got to help and sample everything!
ReplyDeletechambanachik(at)gmail(dot)com
My favorite childhood tradition is baking with my family. My aunt, uncle and my Mom. Always fun. So I carry on the tradition and bake with my kids all the time.
ReplyDeleteamy [at] utry [dot] it
tweeted:
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/uTry_it/status/667791690694967296
amy [at] utry [dot] it
My favorite childhood memory is going over my Grandmother's house for dinner.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite childhood tradition was making and decorating gingerbread houses with my mom and brother. We would actually make the gingerbread from scratch! yarbr012@gmail.com
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/yarbr012/status/667886373882474497 yarbr012@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteMy favorite memory is baking cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve with my mom and sister, followed by writing letters to Santa
ReplyDeleteI tweeted! https://twitter.com/fitnessfrosting/status/668065525574930432
ReplyDeleteThere were certain holiday decorations that stood out for me, and then, of course, there was the picture my parents would take of the three kids standing in the hallway, waiting to go out to the Christmas tree. Mostly, though, it was Christmas Eve services....
ReplyDeleteBeautiful home! One of my childhood traditions was our 'stocking notes'. Each year we would leave little notes in each other's stockings stating what we would give each person if money was no object. Of course, many of them were material things but we probably had an equal amount of sentimental and priceless gifts that money could never buy. Great memories...
ReplyDeleteShelley
My favorite childhood holiday memories were, of course, the arrival of Santa and the toys. I loved to see all the cookies eaten by "Santa" in the morning :)
ReplyDeletetweet-https://twitter.com/LuLu_Brown24/status/668151934516264960
ReplyDeleteMy favorite childhood holiday memories are of spending Thanksgiving with my Grandparents especially my Grandfather. He always made me feel loved and was always glad to see me.
ReplyDeleteWe always went to my dad's parent's house for Christmas Eve as a tradition and had the traditional Christmas Eve Italian feast of 7 fishes. After that we passed presents. My grandmother and grandfather gave all the children presents from the Santa that always came. It was always such a joyful and celebrated time and then we would all go to midnight mass to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior.
ReplyDeleteTweeted https://twitter.com/aqualina56/status/668280615335297024
ReplyDeleteMy favorite childhood memory is getting to make chrsitmas ornaments and crafts each year.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the giveaway :)
allisonrswain(at)gmail(dot)com
Tweet
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/allisonrswain/status/668492313514147840
Every Christmas Eve the entire family gets together and has delicious soup and buffet goodies. Then we have the best white elephant gift exchange. It seriously is the highlight of the year!
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/esuark17/status/668663545383403521
ReplyDeleteMy favorite childhood memory is going to Midnight Mass with my grandparents on Christmas Eve. We don't do that anymore and I miss it.
ReplyDeleteDigicats {at} Sbcglobal {dot} Net
Love your childhood home and special memories you cherish. My favorite childhood memory was going to the movies in the evening on Christmas Eve and when we returned home we discovered Santa had been there.
ReplyDeleteI always loved riding around with my brothers to see the holiday decorations at night. There were certain areas where the houses went all out and we looked forward to taking the drive to check it all out each year.
ReplyDeleteprettyinhotpink6 at gmail dot com
Tweet: https://twitter.com/PrettyHotPink6/status/669196519296208900
ReplyDeleteMy favorite childhood memory is all the aunts, uncles, and cousins cramming into my nana and pop-pops trailer on christmas eve. There was tons of italian food and lots of laughter.
ReplyDeletedemureprincess7(at)gmail(dot)com
Drinking hot chocolate while decorating the tree.
ReplyDeleteMCantu1019 at aol dot com
that moment of the year when my father took the Christmas decorations box which had been sleeping on the higher shelves for nearly a year and me and my brother opened it just to find out that everything was still in its place, ready for a new set up. priceless.
ReplyDeleteefinetto(at)gmail(dot)com
My favorite memory was helping my Mother make the holiday meal and then sitting down together to watch High Society
ReplyDeletemummytotwoboys@yahoo.com
tweeted https://twitter.com/mummytotwoboys1/status/669725076074418176
ReplyDeletemummytotwoboys@yahoo.com
We always decorate the tree on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Starts off the holidays right!!!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite childhood memory was when I was about 6 and we went downtown to watch my uncle sing in the choir at Christmas. We got to look at all the Christmas window displays and it was a magical wonderland, all the lights and animated figures. I still remember Macy's window. momofmultiples29 at gmail dot com
ReplyDeleteWe decorating the Christmas tree after thanksgiving dinner with family. i loved it!
ReplyDeletetina19820115@gmail.com
https://twitter.com/HappyTina0115/status/670435454051876864
ReplyDeletetina19820115@gmail.com
My favorite memory was Christmas morning when I was seven. There was a bike by the tree that was a total and wonderful surprise.
ReplyDeleteTweet
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/clc408/status/671422518587170818
I enjoyed decorating the tree with my mom
ReplyDeletedlatany at gmail dot com
We always read a children's book called Santa Mouse about a little mouse who is Santa's helper until one day he falls off the sleigh in a snow storm. He follows a yellow light at the top of someone's Christmas tree as it guides it him through the snow to their house....then he sleeps in the branches waiting for Santa to arrive. So of course every year where some people place a star or an angel atop their tree, we are always sure to put a bright yellow light!
ReplyDeleteTweeted
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/rubylorikeet/status/672304051631992833
I have great memories of cooking and baking along with my mom as a kid. She taught me so much!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance to win!
wildorchid985 AT gmail DOT com
tweet--https://twitter.com/WildOrchid985/status/673227227769737218
ReplyDeletewildorchid985 AT gmail DOT com
We always open our presents on Christmas eve in the evening.
ReplyDeletehttps://mobile.twitter.com/michael64263870
ReplyDeletestaying up til midnight on Christmas eve so that we could open one gift
ReplyDeleteI love trimming the tree as kid
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/purplelover04/status/675188291067641857
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/purplelover04/status/675188291067641857
ReplyDeleteMy favorite memory is cooking Christmas cookies with my Mom.
ReplyDeletes2s2 at cox dot net
https://twitter.com/susan1215/status/675493474288840704
ReplyDeletes2s2 at cox dot net
Decorating the tree!! Afjackly@oakland.edu
ReplyDeletehttps://mobile.twitter.com/kytah00/status/675998559628562432 Afjackly@oakland.edu
ReplyDeleteMy favorite tradition was getting in the kitchen with my mom and grandmother and baking and cooking for what seemed like days that we would laugh and have fun!
ReplyDeletemy4boysand1@gmail.com
I tweeted my4boysand1@gmail.com
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/my4boysand1/status/676155085227958276m
One of my favorite memories from my childhood is making our own tree decorations. My mom and I would string popcorn and holly berries and make paper snowflakes. Our favorite tree lights were the old fashioned bubble lights. I still wish I had a set of those.
ReplyDeleteTweet - http://www.theyellowcapecod.com/2015/11/giveaway-hgtv-property-brothers-are.html
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/Esham4life/status/676202411388764160 shawn92379@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteSitting down and eating with the whole family! shawn92379@gmail.com
ReplyDeletei remember always getting up super early, like at 3, with my brother and sister and we would open our stockings...then go back to sleep.
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/raggammuffin/status/676224326866231296
ReplyDeleteMy parents couldn't bear to wait until Christmas morning for the fun so they arranged for Santa to leave my gifts on our front porch sometime during Christmas Eve evening while I was preoccupied.
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/suburbsanity/status/676409656856748032
ReplyDeleteWe had every year an advent calendar with chocolate, I loved it !
ReplyDeleteMy email is redaurelie(at)gmail(dot)com
My tweet https://twitter.com/AurelieRed/status/676421828408135681
ReplyDeleteMy email is redaurelie(at)gmail(dot)com
My favorite tradition is matching PJs with my mama! We still do this, and this year, we're wearing leggings printed with Santa-hat-wearing skulls. So fun!
ReplyDeleteTweeted :)
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/WhitSweeps/status/676587354857975809
My favorite tradition growing up was getting to pick one gift to open on Christmas Eve.
ReplyDeletenuthouse(at)centurytel(dot)net
tweeted: https://twitter.com/KerryBishop/status/676785147459608576
ReplyDeletenuthouse(at)centurytel(dot)net
We got to open one gift on Christmas Eve.
ReplyDeleteTweeted https://twitter.com/Lindiac/status/676916018091020289
ReplyDeleteMy favorite holiday tradition is the treasure hunt we set up for the kids on Christmas morning. Starting with a note under their pillows they follow clues left all over the house that leads to a special gift.
ReplyDeleteMy parents started it with me, and we did it for our kids. Now we're doing it with our grandkids.
eswright18 at gmail dot com
tweeted
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/eswright18/status/676956129163898880
eswright18 at gmail dot com
My favorite holiday tradition is putting out our shoes and if we are bad we get coal otherwise candy! seyma_bennett@hotmail.com
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/SeymaShabbir/status/676967667580977152 seyma_bennett@hotmail.com
ReplyDeleteI always loved baking with my mom in the kitchen. Had to keep up with a list to keep everything straight.
ReplyDeletewestiemks5 at yahoo dot com
Tweeted! https://twitter.com/pixel_berry_pie/status/676992384102744064
ReplyDeleteI loved baking Christmas cookies with my mom every year when i was a kid.
ReplyDeleterounder9834 @yahoo.com
tweeted
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/thomasmurphy40/status/677003086569865216
rounder9834 @yahoo.com
My favorite childhood memories are during the holidays getting together with the family and giving gifts.
ReplyDeleteI publicly Tweeted this giveaway: https://twitter.com/versatileer/status/677067414023053312
ReplyDeleteBaking holiday treats and preparing the meals with my omi
ReplyDeleteTweeted https://mobile.twitter.com/SAHMofDQ/status/677146964102914048
ReplyDelete#SweepstakesEntry- comment
ReplyDeleteI always loved baking holiday cookies with my mom the few days leading up to Christmas
KC
#SweepstakesEntry - tweet:
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/thrincor/status/677153945115090945
KC
For me, it is all about sugar cookies and music. One of my fondest memories from my childhood is making homemade, iced sugar cookies with my mom while listening to Johnny Mathis' Christmas album. Brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it.
ReplyDeleteAngie
14earth at gmail dot com
I tweeted here: https://twitter.com/MsTofuFairy/status/677178458913525762
ReplyDeleteAngie
14earth at gmail dot com
My favorite childhood tradition was baking cookies with my mom or a cake and then leaving santa a slice of cake or some cookies
ReplyDeletetbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
tweet https://twitter.com/ChelleB36/status/677191746019827712
ReplyDeletetbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
Going ice skating at Rockefeller Center every year as a child is my best memory.
ReplyDeletetweeted - https://twitter.com/usnamom2014/status/677248086587125760
ReplyDeleteI liked receiving a pair of pajamas on Christmas Eve. wlbellows at gmail dot com.
ReplyDeleteI sent out a tweet: https://twitter.com/electricstar/status/677285045770412032
ReplyDeletewlbellows at gmail dot com
Going to midnight mass on Christmas eve then coming home for hot chocolate and opening 2 presents. One was always PJs and the other was a surprise.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the contest.
slehan at juno dot com
https://twitter.com/slehan/status/677289874060275712
ReplyDeleteslehan at juno dot com
Our family wasn't big on traditions.
ReplyDeleteAlthough we did all pick out and decorate our Christmas tree.
thank you
Tweet https://twitter.com/JalapenoMama/status/677294612373966849
ReplyDeleteMy favorite Christmas tradition is the German tradition of the Christmas pickle. I hide a pickle ornament on the tree before Christmas and whoever notices it first get a special treat.
ReplyDeletedmarie824 at aol dot com
tweeted - https://twitter.com/dmarie824/status/677309303552782336
ReplyDeletei always enjoyed the tradition of picking one gift to open on Christmas eve!
ReplyDeletedebbiebellows (at) gmail (dot) com
i posted a tweet here:
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/purplepanda1966/status/677696920710684672
debbiebellows (at) gmail (dot) com