Hi Loves,
If you have been following on my journey on Instagram, you would know that this year has been very challenging for my family. We have been battling autoimmune diseases and so much more. It’s just been tough for all of us.
Around this time last year, Bryce and I found a 9ft tree from the thrift store for $20. We finally put it up this year, removed all the pre-lit lights off it (which was a pain) and decorated it with ornaments that have a ton of meaning. We were so lucky that my grandmother allowed us to go through her expansive ornament collection and choose our favorites. When my grandfather was still around, he made sure that my grandma received a new Hallmark collector’s ornament every single year.
It was like taking a trip down memory lane when we went through all of her ornaments. There were so many that I remember being in love with as a child. My grandmother hasn’t set up her big Christmas tree for the past few years, so seeing some of these ornaments was like going back in time.
I love learning about other people’s history and the items that mean the most to them. I thought a dedicated post to the ornaments that I hold dear to my heart would be fun.
We have a few dog dedicated ornaments on our tree. My mom ordered this one from an Etsy business and it looks identical to Sky.
I come from a long line of crafters. Handmade ornaments passed down from generation to generation mean so much to me. These beautiful ornaments were made by my great grandmother Ruby and my grandma Phyllis. Both very talented women.
After Bryce and I had lived in our current apartment for a year, my mom made this ornament of our building for us.
My grandma was great about saving everything from her Hallmark ornament collections. This Hallmark storefront comes from one of the building lines. If you turn it around, the inside is a replica of the store.
She also had a collection of houses, lighthouses and barbies.
My parents, my brother and I all have bells from Hallmark with our names on them. This has been a tradition passed down from my mother’s side of the family.
I would be lying if I didn’t cry a little when I saw my grandmother’s vintage glass ornament collection. Everything was preserved in the original boxes and crates.
Bryce and I hope to have a separate travel tree someday, but for right now, we have slowly been adding to our travel ornament collection.
This past New Year’s, we decided to fill a glass ornament with all of the special moments from last year. It’s a hanging time capsule. To learn how to make your own, click here!
For as long as I’ve lived, my family has always put birds in their trees. The light pink bird below, I picked up at RE:’s booth at the KC Holiday Mart. My mom found a nest for it that we wired on to the tree then filled with mini colored ornaments.
This tree holds so much meaning to me. I could look at it for hours and never be bored. If only these ornaments could talk…
Until next time, Spread Kindness. Merry Christmas!
HW
by Twofold Media 
2 Responses
Hayden – this is your mom’s cousin, Nancy, from St. Louis. I am sitting here with tears in my eyes as I read about your ornaments and the meanings behind them. Please e-mail me and tell me how your grandmother is. I have tried calling her several times and never get an answer.
I LOVE your postings!!!!
Nancy