I'm so excited to be involved in this amazing blog hop! I'm even more excited to share a fun Christmas memory with you all. Plus I'm giving away an ebook to everyone who comments on this post!!! And as an added bonus just for you all I will be giving away 3 $5 Amazon cards and 1 $10 Amazon card!!
My memory is more of a tradition, but I'll tell you when it all started :)
I'm really lucky in having my dad marry an amazing woman who has always treated my older brother and I like we were her own kids. I was 14 when they got married and our first Christmas as a family my beautiful step-mom Annette started the tradition of giving us a new tooth brush in our stocking for Christmas.
I know it seems like not a huge thing, but for me it's always been one of my favorite parts. I can remember as my little brother got older and more excited about Christmas and Santa he would ask how Santa knew he needed a new tooth brush.
I lived at home until I was 22, so I had a lot of years with her and my dad. She's always gone out of her way to make Christmas special and magical for me and my brothers, and now for my son and niece and nephew.
Now that I'm married and have a family of my own, I have continued the tooth brush tradition! We always get a new tooth brush from Santa!
This is me and my amazing 2nd mom Annette! Not a Christmas photo lol but one of the two of us that I love.
Tell me your favorite Christmas tradition in a comment on this post and you will get a free ebook from me! And now for the awesome Rafflecopter giveaway for the amazon cards! Enter below! Plus there is a Blog Hop wide Rafflecopter for you to enter, plus how to follow along to all of the stops!
The Book I'm spotlighting is Never Let Me Go part 1. Anyone who comments on this post will get an ebook copy sent directly to your Kindle or Kindle App :)
One night. That’s all it was supposed to be. No strings. No complications.
Grace DeLeo didn’t do one night stands. She was a relationship girl through and through. All of that went out the window when she met Logan in a bar while he was in town on business.
Logan McFadden liked his no strings lifestyle. He loved his rules. Everything had a place, and there was no space for a relationship or feelings.
One night. That’s all it took to change things forever.
Trust. A little word that means so much.
Grace Deleo wanted to jump. She wanted to dive headfirst into love with Logan. The one thing that was missing was trust. If she couldn’t trust him, how could she love him?
Logan McFadden knew he had screwed up the best thing he had going for him. All he had to do was tell the truth and it all would be ok. But trust goes both ways. Could he trust Grace with his secrets?
Can they learn to trust each other and let love win?
One night. That’s all it was supposed to be. No strings. No complications.
Grace DeLeo didn’t do one night stands. She was a relationship girl through and through. All of that went out the window when she met Logan in a bar while he was in town on business.
Logan McFadden liked his no strings lifestyle. He loved his rules. Everything had a place, and there was no space for a relationship or feelings.
One night. That’s all it took to change things forever.
Part 2 is available on Amazon now for only .99!
Trust. A little word that means so much. Grace Deleo wanted to jump. She wanted to dive headfirst into love with Logan. The one thing that was missing was trust. If she couldn’t trust him, how could she love him?
Logan McFadden knew he had screwed up the best thing he had going for him. All he had to do was tell the truth and it all would be ok. But trust goes both ways. Could he trust Grace with his secrets?
Can they learn to trust each other and let love win?
Part 3 releases 1/26/15!!!!
Happily ever after...did it really exist? Did a walk down the aisle with the man of your dreams automatically equal a ride off into the sunset?
Saying I do was supposed to be the end of all their problems, not the beginning. Grace and Logan were about to embark on one of the most challenging years of their lives.
Can they pull together and trust that their love is stronger than anything that would tear them apart? Their first year of marriage would be the most difficult year of all. They would face things that would break up even the most solid of couples.
Happiness, was it actually attainable? Find out in the stunning conclusion of Logan and Grace's story.
Please feel free to stalk me ;)
email: gibson.jessicaj@gmail.com
Website: www.releasedaydiva.com
Book Blog : www.bookonthebrightside.blogspot.com
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Jessica-Gibson/e/B005OT569M
Twitter: @jessicajgibson
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Enter this other contest as well!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Follow along on the hop!
My favorite Christmas tradition is every year on Christmas Eve is we all pile in the family car (or 2) and go around the 3 towns (we live in a small Podunk county) and look at christmas lights! It's something we have done since my and sisters and I have been little. I 23 and it's something I look foreword to every year! It has now been passed on to my nephew who is 5!
ReplyDeleteRebecca
beccb5@yahoo.com
That sounds like so much fun!! I love Christmas lights :)
DeleteMy favorite tradition is we play the dice game for gifts but there is one gag gift. A porn dvd with lotion its funny to see who gets it. Thanks g.bookley@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteHahaha that is hilarious!
DeleteJessi, my dear, I heart you hardcore! Thanks for being part of our hop. I loved your Christmas memory too. Here's to many more toothbrushes! ;) Our family always gives out new pajamas to everyone. All the girls match and all the guys match and then we take family pictures. It's so much fun! I hope you have a good turn out for the hop! (And I most likely have all your books. I try to buy them every time I see you come out with a new one. <3 )
ReplyDeleteI'm the same with you Lacey!! I squee anytime I see a pre-order link on FB for one of yours!
DeleteMy favorite Christmas tradition is going to the Christmas Eve children's Mass where all the kids acted out the Gospel. Thanks for the contest and Happy Holidays to all.
ReplyDeleteread4love@gmail.com
That sounds really amazing!
DeleteYour post is beautiful! My family always puts an orange in the toe of the stockings and a bag of corn nuts gets put somewhere in there too. We always get movies as presents as well, so we watch them after we're done opening our gifts, haha!
ReplyDeletekamerysolomon@yahoo.com Thanks again, Jessi!
Sounds like an awesome Christmas, relaxing and watching movies!
DeleteI LOVE your tradition!! I think my favorite, right now, is being able to pile on the back of a trailer and driving around town singing carols. I look forward to it every year <3
ReplyDeleteHuge squishy hugs to you and your family. Merry Christmas <3
Love you sweetness!!!
DeleteOur tradition is always having jelly fruit slice candy - my mom still goes and buys it and puts it in all our stockings even though we're all over 30! LOL we always say it isn't Christmas without them!
ReplyDeletepepsichick1982@yahoo.com
Thank you and Happy Holidays!
Rebecca
That candy is strangely addicting!
DeleteWe all load up in the car with hot cocoa and cookies and drive around and look at the the lights. WE have a small town in our county and all the houses decorate. It's just beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThank You and Merry Christmas
Crystal Young
crystaley73@yahoo.com
Sounds amazing!
DeleteMy favorite Christmas tradition is, we would walk through town (my hometown in the Netherlands) after w kids changed into PJ's sat at the coal heather eating some soup, watching Christmas movies, and unwrap one small present. Only light came from the tree, candles, heater ad tv lol
ReplyDeleteThat sounds magical Niki!!!
DeleteEvery year my family makes homemade ornaments & buys one crazy ornament and we swap with my family that lives out of state! Family traditions are the best! michelle.watson28@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteI love that!!!
DeleteMy favorite tradition is going out to dinner on Christmas Eve and coming home to open one present. Happy Holidays!
ReplyDeleteliese1235 at gmail dot com
We always opened one on Christmas Eve when I was little too!
DeleteThank you! Happy Holidays! Princessmegs25@msn.com
ReplyDeleteOur family tradition is to go and look at Christmas lights on Christmas Eve then come home, open one present and watch a movie. I also always give the kiddos a new toothbrush as it is something they always need in their stocking. Merry Christmas and thank you for the chance. abookreviewer(at)yahoo(dot)com
ReplyDeleteOur Christmas tradition is that on Christmas Eve we read "Twas the Night Before Christmas" and you were allowed to open one small present. Then on Christmas Day you have to wait for the parents to wake up (now this is me holy crap) and then you have to eat breakfast first. My father always make creamed chipped beef and over medium eggs on toast served with mimosas for breakfast (it is the very best!) and you cannot open any presents until breakfast is over. Then and only then the youngest is elected "Santa" and they have to hand out the presents one at a time, everyone gets one then you open it and the cycle starts all over again.
ReplyDeleteNo matter how stressful prepping for Christmas is I always look forward to Christmas Day.
Thank you for this wonderful gift, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. jjtease87@hotmail.com
My favorite tradtion is in my hometown. The fire department goes around the whole town over a week. They have Santa on the firetruck. We always give them cookies and get our picture with Santa. They have been doing it for over 30 years. I can remember riding on the truck with Santa around the block when I was small.
ReplyDeleteHi there, I need your email address please :) And thank you so much for taking part!!
DeleteMy favorite tradition is going to church on Christmas eve where we have a little parade of nations. The kids dress up in traditional clothing from their heritage and carry candles up to put around the manger. My son is usually the smallest in his class, and he looks so cute in his little Irish knickers and newsboy hat. Melts my otherwise cold black heart. (angelatarantula@yahoo.com)
ReplyDeleteMy family puts up the Christmas tree and spends hours looking at the lights and singing Christmas carols. It's my favorite tradition to this day! kgonzal8@villanova.edu
ReplyDeleteEvery year my husband and I make reindeer food with our kids and let them throw it out in the yard for Santa's reindeer. We also make cookies for Santa :) tiffanesloan@yahoo.com thank you so much. Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteThank you and Happy Holidays!
ReplyDeleteju.martinhao@gmail.com
Juliana Ignacio
Thank you and Merry Christmas! als115@optonline.net
ReplyDeleteThank you and Merry Christmas. jessbl75@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteDinner with the family has always been a huge thing for us. One of my favorite parts of that has been watching new family members try salt beef for the first time.
ReplyDeleteMiranda dustykattc@hotmail.com
DeleteI do the toothbrushes with my children too :) Love it. My favorite tradition, one that is not quite the same anymore, was my Grandma's socks. She would buy a few large packs of socks and every one of her 8 children, their spouses and somewhere around too many to count grandchildren received a pair of socks for Christmas. The tradition has been continued even after her passing, but it really isn't quite the same.... <3 thank you for sharing your memory and for being a part of the book hop. annangelich12@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteWe always do Christmas breakfast! It actually ends up being more like brunch.. LOL. But after everyone has opened their presents we make a big breakfast and then relax the rest of the day! :)
ReplyDeleteCBadder2@aol.com
I just wanted to stop by and wish you Happy Holidays, Jessica! I love your step-mom's tradition. What a good idea.
ReplyDeleteMovie marathon on Christmas eve...Merry Christmas
ReplyDeletemithay36@gmail.com
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteMatching Christmas pjs for the kids and Christmas Eve at my mom & dad's house. <3
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas!!
Lesley
lesley2038@gmail.com
Having the kids wear their new pj's and watch a Christmas movie together on Christmas Eve :-)
ReplyDeleteMelissa
mellie_jo_4@yahoo.com
My mom started giving my brother and I a Christmas ornament each year. I kept that tradition going with my girls. When they leave home they will have enough ornaments to decorate their own trees.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas!
Deletebeckerjo at verizon dot net
My Dad and I always went out into the woods and got our own tree when I was growing up. Somehow, we always found just the right one. Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDelete1mad@marktwain.net
my favorite was breakfast at my parents house with the whole family before everyone went to other houses. lynn16@zoominternet.net
ReplyDeleteWe watch Christmas Vacation
ReplyDeleteriquitawagner@gmail.com
Mine is similar to yours, my mother buys specialty candies every year to put in our stockings. Every year I can't wait to find out what crazy and different candy she has found for us to try!
ReplyDeleteThank you and Merry Christmas!
triton3122@gmail.com
Merry Christmas
ReplyDeletekittycat10611@hotmail.com
Spending it with my besties Huge Italian family.... always an adventure!
ReplyDeleteThanks and Happy Holidays
rintaviv@gmail.com
Hi :-) My favourite Christmas tradition is a little bit after Christmas. In my country, we celebrate The Three Wise Men's day, and the night before, the "Kings" mysteriously leave gifts for the children in and around their slippers. It's a joy to wake up in the morning to these surprises, and I still do it even though I'm a grown up now because the thrill never gets old ;-)
ReplyDeleteCheers and happy holidays!
Can I get your email address??? I have never heard of Three Wise Men's day, but that sounds so cool! Thank you for sharing!!!
DeleteOh, and I love your toothbrush tradition! Iti's so funny and cute :-)
ReplyDeletefamily......thanks Lisa T t.lisa89@yahoo.com kindle
ReplyDeleteI enjoy our ugly sweater Christmas Eve.
ReplyDeleteNikki
nbfzdm@verizon.net
Kindle
Merry Christmas. Our kids, when they lived at home, were allowed to open one gift on Christmas eve :) theb1tch69@gmail.com kindle/mobi :D
ReplyDeletemerry Christmas
ReplyDeleteTaKiesha Smith
takieshasmith@hotmail.com
My favorite Christmas tradition is "Little Christmas" - on the feast of the Epiphany (Jan 6th) my family (mom, dad, brother, hubby, daughter, and I) all get together and have a family dinner and we exchange small (under $10) gifts.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas!!
flyerkat{at}verizon{dot}net
Happy Holidays! One of my favorite holiday traditions is letting my daughter pick one present to open on Christmas eve. -♡- April
ReplyDeleteaprilkirkland@rocketmail.com
Making Tamales with the Family.
ReplyDeletefamforever4@gmail.com Merry Christmas!!
Merry Christmas Just being together
ReplyDeleteRobbie Bauldree
rbauldree2001@yahoo.com
Family and cornish hens!
ReplyDeleteHappy holidays!
Juilia
mrsskippydo@live.com
Family and cornish hens
ReplyDeleteHappy holidays!
Juilia
mrsskippydo@live.com
Christmas Eve we gather together and hang out, talking about when we were younger and remember those who are no longer with us. Happy Holidays!
ReplyDeleteJessica
jmtarrats@gmail.com
Baking Christmas cookies with my mother.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas!!!
Thank you very much.
artgiote at gmail dot com
our favorite tradition is to open one gift the night before <3
ReplyDeletethanks for the blog hop fun! kindle doe.dowiesplace@gmail.com
Happy Holidays!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the gifts.
We got to a choir concert at church, followed by driving around at looking at decorated houses.
wismomworks@gmail.com
Happy Holidays, sweetness! :)
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas & Happy New Year!
ReplyDeletemzlbell2010@gmail.com
Merry Christmas, my favorite tradition was always making homemade sugar cookies that we could decorate. So many different shapes. ashley_dene@hotmail.com
ReplyDeleteMy favorite tradition is where we let the little kids open one present on Christmas Eve. Merry Christmas!!! thebookminion@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!! hmr7706@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteWe have a very strange Christmas tradition. It has roots back in my own childhood, when my sister made up an imaginary horse named Elmo that was our family pet. I told my kids about Elmo (and my sisters and I still talk about him at family gatherings), and one year I had the idea to have "Elmo" visit our house on Christmas Eve (in addition to Santa). He leaves one small present (usually in the $5-8 range) in a simple paper back on each family member's nightstand/bedside table. Even adults get a gift. And it's usually the same thing for everyone. Don't tell, but this year Elmo is bring Webkinz Rockerz Plushies!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, how fun!!! Can I please get your email address? Thanks!
DeleteMerry Christmas!
ReplyDeletesburch@mail.bradley.edu
Merry Christmas! zimmermantammie@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteOur favorite tradition is going caroling with other choir members from our church. Thank you and Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteMary McCoy emmasmom69 AT gmail DOT com
Cinnamon rolls for breakfast Christmas morning.
ReplyDeletesherry bauer sbauer518@hotmail.com
Merry Christmas!
I am not from a place where Christmas is celebrated :/
ReplyDeletesakshi012@hotmail.com
Every where we open on Christmas present on Christmas Eve - It is always our matching Christmas pajamas, a movie and a treat. My mother did this with me and my sister when we were little and I continued the tradition with my sons. Thank you and Merry Christmas - Saraiyaproperties@gmail.com and I read on a kindle.
ReplyDeleteListening to Christmas music and watching classic Christmas movies/shows
ReplyDeleteShirley Thompson/shirlntn71@gmail.com
Staying up all night on Christmas Eve to cook dinner, then eating early on Christmas.
ReplyDeleteHolly Letson ~ For Amazon, I use sailorneptunemichiru at gmail dot com
Wanted to stop by and say Merry Christmas Jessica
ReplyDeletedecorating the tree together
ReplyDeletebn100candg at hotmail dot com
our family always does tree together. and we watch Charlie Browns Christmas
ReplyDeleteCan I get your email addy please?? My husband's family always watched that one also, and we just started that tradition with my son :)
DeleteHi! Happy holidays! Thank you all for the fun!! Hope you have a blast with your family! My favorite is decorating the tree. I love this part. We always laugh! Theres always stories being told, a bit of fighting which results into giggles, etc. :)
ReplyDeleteShadow
shadowluvs2read(at)gmail(dot)com
Merry Christmas!! My favorite tradition is the Christmas dinners and being around family <3
ReplyDeleteLen Phelps - aphelps7377@gmail.com
megagod2005@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteMy favorite Christmas tradition is decorating or Christmas tree all together as a family. Then sitting together in front of the fireplace spending time with each other enjoying some sweet treats and each other. Happy Holidays! Thanks. dachshundlady@comcast.net
ReplyDeleteMy favorite Christmas Tradition is decorating the Christmas tree every year with my family!!!-Christy Love- Christy_love14@hotmail.com
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas, Wonderful giveaway. I love baking this time of year and sharing with everyone.
ReplyDeleteahutfelter@gmail.com
Illimani - illimani818@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteHappy Holidays!
Happy Holidays and Thank you. I don't really have any traditions. The only one that comes to mind is hot cocoa and cookies while opening one gift on Christmas eve.
ReplyDeleteKimberly Talbot / devynsmom95@yahoo.com
Thanks for the giveaway! I have a tradition of giving the kids a new pair of pajamas on Christmas Eve, so they look nice for pictures on Christmas day. Merry Christmas!!! mamacitasteph@hotmail.com
ReplyDelete