For me, the holidays are not complete without a bag full of little boxes from Hallmark. Growing up, we eagerly awaited our annual Hallmark ornament every December and we would speculate about what ornament we would open that year. Whether we got something in our special Hallmark theme like penguins, mice, or puppies, or whether we got something that was a special reminder of the previous year, getting our holiday ornament was just as much a part of Christmas as opening presents each December.
With as much as I adored my family’s Hallmark covered tree growing up, I knew I was going to miss that immensely when I moved out. The thought of putting generic bulbs and tinsel on the tree made me incredibly sad, so I was thrilled when my mom gave me a few of my special ornaments of my youth as a housewarming present.
It really was no question I was going to continue the Hallmark tradition with my husband as well, and eventually we would continue it with our children. And, even though my husband didn’t grow up with a Hallmark tree, once he saw my mom’s tree with all our adorable miniature reminders of years past, he was very much on board with starting our own Hallmark tradition and we each went out to surprise the other with a special keepsake ornament .
Our first Christmas in our own house was much merrier when we added my ornaments of my youth as well as the keepsake “first Christmas together” ornament and the “new home” ornament with the key. And, since that Christmas over 14 years ago, we have collected quite the array of Hallmark boxes, each labeled with the date and the recipient.
They started out symbolizing the things we were doing as a new couple, focusing on our travels and our many adventures, and then in 2007 we got our first “expectant parents” ornament. Now, every branch of our tree is literally covered in Hallmark memories that the four of us have collected, and as the years pass they only get more and more sentimental and irreplaceable.
There’s just something really fun about decorating for the holidays with the family, singing Christmas carols and oohing and aahing over all our special ornaments. Every year we bring them out is like taking a quick trip down memory lane to remember all that we were celebrating in years past and it will always be one of my most cherished memories of the holiday season. And, now what’s even more fun is that the kiddos are really into it as well and decorating the tree has become just as much about talking about each ornament as it is about putting it up on the tree.
This year, I was thrilled to add not just 4 new ornaments to our tree, but a whopping 10 new Hallmark Keepsake ornaments. This is partly because I literally have no self-control when it comes to ornaments, but also because I had the pleasure of meeting the wonderful people behind the Hallmark brand while at BlogHer and they surprised me with a little box of holiday goodness this December that included the ornament I had been coveting since its release in October, the North Pole Countdown Keepsake Ornament.
Thinking about starting your own Hallmark Keepsake Ornament tradition? Of course, you can always visit a store so you can see all the adorable-ness in person, but you can also order online. Although I love shopping in my local Hallmark stores, a huge benefit of shopping via Hallmark.com is that you can filter the ornament results by who you are shopping for, by features, and even look for specific characters and series.
But, don’t forget that Hallmark is about far more than just ornaments, they are also the undisputed king of greeting and holiday cards. This year they launched their new Signature line and I would be lying if I said I didn’t want one of every single card in the series. Instead of the traditional cards you know and love, the Signature line is truly unique with a lovely handmade appearance that I adore.
Made with premium papers and fun embellishments, they are incredibly fun and a great new twist on the traditional Christmas card. But, as pretty as they are, the thing I love the most is that many come with removable embellishments that become gift tags and even ornaments!
Looking for something even more unique? Well, did you know you can even create your own one-of-a-kind holiday cards directly on the Hallmark website? It’s true, and you can even order them as late as the 17th with expedited shipping! So, get on it!
Whether you are creating a new family tradition, completing a collection, or helping someone you love start their own tradition there really is no better place to start than Hallmark. With keepsake ornaments that will easily become some of your most cherished treasures and premium cards that can connect loved ones near and far, Hallmark is about celebrating every last bit of the holiday season.
A big thank you to Hallmark for sending some cards and ornaments for us to cherish this holiday season. As always, all opinions are 100% ours.