Favorite thing about the holidays:
Having everyone together and evoking memories of my mother when she was with us and, of course, loved ones from years past. We always go to church on Christmas Eve, a family tradition. The holidays truly connect you to your family, God love them. I even spoke with my sister on Christmas Day last year! When my children were younger, I looked forward to having them home for a few weeks. Now I only get a few days.Favorite holiday treat: Super-duper rich homemade egg nog and beautifully frosted holiday cookies.
Cook or cater? I have done both. One year my mother-in-law, whom I love but who cooks everything herself, was miffed that I let Celebrity Bakery cook our meal. We stuck the turkey in the oven to warm up, and it never did because my oven had broken! We microwaved that bird. Now, since I seldom cook at home, we cook the holiday dinners. I order a fresh turkey from Whole Foods, stuff it early on Christmas morn, and cook it in a brown paper bag—an old trick I learned my very first holiday in Dallas.
Best gift you ever received: Will it hurt my husband’s feelings if I don’t say the tourmaline and diamond ring he gave me? Nah. Because I truly love my KitchenAid mixer in cobalt blue that my kids bought me two years ago. I had never owned a mixer because I felt they hogged counter space. My daughter told me I’d love it, and I do. I really do.
Worst gift: Where shall I begin? I think it was this awful pottery lamp my husband brought me from New Hampshire years ago, like the late 1980s. I hated it. I tried to break it. I hid it. It moved to rooms of lesser and lesser importance in our house till I got rid of it. Then I found out it had been made by a Dartmouth grad “potter” in New Hampshire who later became the CEO of Deutsche Bank. I could have sold it back to him for millions!
Holiday sweaters? Yes, to be worn on Christmas Day or to tacky holiday sweater parties.
Tinsel? No, not since the dog ate it and almost died.
Real tree or fake? Fake, now. When we moved to our new home with tall ceilings I spent $400 on the most beautiful live Christmas tree I could find. It was gorgeous. The bigger the tree, the bigger the pine needle mess.
How old were you when you learned the truth about Santa? I was 4 or 5. I think I was upset. I think my older sister told me. Want to know why we don’t speak?
When does the tree go up? Usually the tree goes up around the 15th of December. I stay up all night to do it and finish it in two to three days. Oh, and I decorate three trees—the main one in the living room, all white lights; a smaller multicolored one in the family room with ornaments from Maine; and a tree on our back patio.
When does the tree come down? A few years I took them down right after Christmas if we were going out of town. Most of the time, I aim for New Year’s Day and usually get them down a week or two after.
Presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas day? Christmas Day, after everyone wakes up
Favorite ornament: Too many! I have ornaments from my parents’ first Christmas together in 1943, ornaments that were gifts from dear friends throughout the years, ornaments my children made, handmade nautical Maine ornaments for the family room tree, and the Christopher Radkos. I also love my white doves that I bought a long time ago in Boston.
Favorite holiday candle: My husband is not a candle person, so we seldom burn candles in the house. But I love to light a fire in the fireplace.
Wreath on the front door? Yes. And white lights in the front trees that I finally hired someone to do after I almost fell out of the tree stapling them up a few years ago. I also love the lit, moving deer because it gives my dog something to bark at.
Favorite thing about the holidays: Seeing my family. We live all over the United States, so this is the one time we can all get together each year.
Favorite holiday treat: My grandmother’s Spritz cookies. She passed down the recipe to my sister, and she makes them every year.
Cook or cater? My mom and sisters cook. I pour the drinks.
Best gift you ever received: My husband and I don’t really celebrate occasions with fancy gifts, but each year we’ve been married he ends up surprising me with a thoughtful gift. It’s usually something I had mentioned months earlier but completely forgot about. Somehow, he always seems to remember.
Worst gift: The worst gift was probably a regifted candle I saw a friend pull out of her stash when we showed up with gifts.
Holiday sweaters? Yes. The tackier, the better.
Tinsel? If I’m responsible for cleanup, nope.
Real tree or fake? I grew up with a fake tree and now have a small one for our house. We’re all about convenience.
How old were you when you learned the truth about Santa? Santa’s not real?
When does the tree go up? Sadly, it goes up a week or two before Christmas when I realize the in-laws are coming over soon. It usually comes down the week after Christmas.
New Year’s resolution: It’s typically related to booze.
Presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning? Christmas morning
Favorite ornament: A musical note my grandmother gave me. Every year, she would tie an ornament on her present to us, so we have quite a collection.
Wreath on the front door? Nope. Bah, humbug!
