Merry Christmas Eve!
My dearest friend Michelle Boyd took Christmas card photos for us this year, and I couldn’t love them more. I’m now the biggest fan of dressed down family photos — like, no shoes allowed.
And dog hair on my jeans. :)
Today, Aaron and I are going home to spend Christmas with my family. Tonight, we’ll be heading to the Christmas Eve candlelight service, watching It’s a Wonderful Life, and eating fudge. You know, all the best kind of happy, sappy, Christmas stuff.
The end of the year is always sacred for me. Think: time to reflect, time to breathe, and time to remind myself of what’s most important in life.
It’s always hard to slow down and take a break — but I’m always glad when I do. I come back refreshed + refocused. So … I’m going to take a little break from blogging until January 5th so I can finish this year well and start next year with purpose.
Here are some fun things for you, while I’m gone:
Need a holiday playlist? Here’s a quiet one and here’s an upbeat one.
And here’s a quiet, wintery one for after Christmas.
Making New Year’s resolutions? You’ll like these.
Want a good book? Try More or Less. It’s on the topic of living generously + living with less.
And finally, want another good blog to read? Try Design For Mankind. Pure awesome.
I hope you have the best Christmas + New Years ever! Sending love your way.
xo
Thanks for all the playlists! Sounds like you have a perfect holiday time planned!
Merry Christmas! x x x
Oh and GORGEOUS! Photos! You have the best friends :)
Thank you for the link to your playlists; which will be played whilst I prepare food for tomorrow. Have a lovely Christmas and relaxing break. Rachel ☺
Merry Christmas Caroline! Thanks for a year full of wonderful outfit ideas and positive thoughts. Can’t wait for 2015!
Merry Christmas, Caroline! Thanks so much for all the inspiration this year. You rock, girl!
XO,Gina
I would like to wish you, your husband and the rest of your family a merry christmas! Enjoy your time together!
By the way, the pictures are gorgeous! Just like you, I prefer the dresses-down ones because for me they show the comfortable side to the festive days! :)
Love,
Svenja
Merry Christmas to you too! :) Yay for Christmas and New Year’s Breaks!!! enjoy it! <3
Merry Christmas Caroline! Have a wonderful time with your family and a great break with plenty of time to get refreshed and renewed!
Merry Christmas Caroline!!! You’ve inspired me and so many others
Loveley photos! And a Merry Christmas too you :)
http://korinsusanne.blogspot.no
I wish you and your family a blessed Christmas, Caroline. Enjoy your time with your family.
Love and blessings,
Nicole
Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year! Your blog has been an inspiration to me — keeps me in check! — maybe I will even try my hand at a capsule come Spring! I adore your thoughtful words and style. Looking forward to 2015.
What lovely pictures! Thank you for sharing yourself with us this past year. I applaud you for taking time for yourself over the next couple of weeks and spending time with loved ones. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you.
I wish you have some great holidays and enjoy your well deserved time off Caroline! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year :)
Merry Christmas to you!!! Have a lovely end of 2014!
absolutely love these photos!
Totally understand about the dog hair :) lint rollers unite! Have a wonderful holiday and happy new year with the hubs and family. Take care…can’t wait for more winter outfits. Oh…and thank you for the book recommendation…the greatest gift. Im loving it!! :)
You are AMAZING! Thanks for the tunes, and happy holidays to you too!!
Merry Christmas! Looking forward to seeing your new outfits next month :).
Merry Christmas to you and yours! I LOVE the dressed down family photos… so sweet.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Caroline!!
Caroline, I hope you have a wonderful, blessed Christmas! Enjoy your time with family. I’m excited to read the book you recommended. It looks like a good read.
Oh Caroline!!!! Just saw this and wanted to send a big thank you. I’m a huge fan of your mission and really have been wanting to send you a note for forever but you know, life. ;) thank you for the sweet mention and keep up the great work! I’ll be reading with diligence, and hopefully emailing you soon. ;)
Love love love!
E.
I love that second shot of you guys holding your mugs :) Currently listening to your after Christmas playlist! MERRY CHRISTMAS!! -Audrey | Brunch at Audrey’s
A very Merry Christmas to you as well, dear Caroline…enjoy your time off with your family!! We’ll be waiting right here…looking forward to what the New Year has in store!! P.S. The “no shoes” thing is great, but for me, it’s no SOCKS, too…I don’t like wearing them (even in the middle of winter!!)
http://www.StyleIsMyPudding.blogspot.com
Admiring your willingness to slow down and reflect. It is, easier said than done! x
Thanks for sharing Make it happen (lara casey book). I watched a Wonderful Life for the first time this Christmas Eve. Great movie!
So glad you featured Design For Mankind! One of my favorite blogs to follow. :) And how great that Erin commented?! The merriest Christmas to you and your little family!
Merry Christmas Caroline! Thank you for helping me discover a more simple lifestyle this year. I am really motivated to apply it to a couple more areas of life in 2015 (and beyond). I really appreciate your blog and your thoughtful posts. So much to smile about. Keep up the good work, enjoy the time you are taking to rest and I am really looking forward to following you into 2015! May you carry the joy of Christmas and the gift of Christ in your heart all year long. All the best, Adrienne
Luv your photos!!! Wish you the very best for this coming year Caro! :)
Merry christmas and a happy new year, Caroline!
I found your blog whilst being stuck in a style rut this year. Although we do not have the same style, the principles you built your wardrobes on are general and apply to all kinds of styles. I found so much inspiration here and your blog quickly became a favorite of mine.
Your outfits are inspiring, your style is interesting and your photography fuss-free and cool. Keep those posts coming, I am always looking forward to them.
Have a great 2015!
I hope you had a very Merry Christmas! So happy to hear you are taking a bit of a break. Hope this link encourages you to keep moving in your way not somone else’s:
http://moneysavingmom.com/2014/10/perfectionism-disappointing-readers.html
Just so you know – I can’t wait for your jewelry and accessories capsules! I also really enjoy when you recommend non-fashion items like books and organizational tools. Looking forward to see what you’ve got up your sleeve for 2015!
Great blog! Love your style!! xo~ Lena
http://www.felinecreatures.com
Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year to you and your family! :-)
I’m SOOO glad that I found your blog this year! Looking forward to next years blogging from you :)
Hi Caroline, I absolutely LOVE your blog and have been so blessed to see how you have handled yourself recently in cyberspace.
Question: I have just downloaded the Bloglovin app so that I can read my favorite blogs all in one spot. You are in my top 5 for sure, but I cannot find you in their search function, even when typing in the whole website addy. I think you may have to go in there and claim your domain or something? If you have time to look into this, I would love that!
Your blog is the only one so far I can’t find and if I can’t get you then I might search for another option! I am trying to focus my web browsing for the New Year so that I am doing less mindless browsing and shopping so even using a blog reader will help me strive for minimalism in 2015!
Thanks for your time!
I’ve been missing you in my blog feed. I hope you’re having a great holiday season, but I also hope you’ll be back soon. :)
Just discovered your blog!!! Your style is flawless, exactly my taste. You are such an inspiration! Can’t wait to start my own capsule wardrobe!!!!
Happy New Year! Love your energy! Keep on! Remember you can always turn off the comments!
Hi Caroline! I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoy and appreciate your blog! Happy 2015.
Hello! I only found your blog before Christmas, but I must say that I have been truly inspired! Our styles are fairly similar and as I looked through your posts, I realized that I probably don’t need to go buy much, but pare down what I already have into the items I actually wear and the items I don’t. You’ve also given me new ways to style so many of the items I already have! Once again, thanks for sharing your journey through this endeavor. I always look forward to your posts!
Cheers!
Sara