Blog + Dog, In My Own Words, Lifestyle

Christmas Tree Hunting in 2020; A Family Tradition

I love Christmas tree hunting even more beause of Beau. | Sweater | Jeans | Flannel | Boots | Beret

Christmas tree hunting has been a tradition my entire life.

What is the definition of Christmas tree hunting? For me, it means, first, locating a Christmas tree farm: one that grows Christmas trees. [My personal favorite in the Houston area is High Star Christmas Tree Farm. It’s north of Houston. They have amazing prices and friendly staff.] Once at the farm, the hunt is on. Grab a saw and a measuring stick. Find the plumpest, tallest, most symmetrical tree that your space allows. Lay down on the ground, saw that tree down. Shake it, bundle it, pay for it, put it in the truck, head home to set it up and decorate!

Every single year, minus 1999, 2014, and 2015, I have gone to a tree farm, hunted the perfect tree, and cut it down. By I cut it down, I mean, my father, my boyfriend, my friend, my boyfriend, anyone that wasn’t me cut it down. We’ll get to that in a moment. The reason for no tree hunting in 1999 was: My family and I weren’t home for Christmas. We were celebrating in California with family, so we decorated a Christmas cactus. 2014 and 2015 did not have a tree hunt because I was living with my best friend’s family, and they have a fake tree. 

Beau loves the big dogs that moo so much!!!

Out of my thirty Christmases, I have had a real live tree personally cut down (by a someone close to me but not me) for twenty-seven of those Christmases. 

The most fun part about Christmas trees… I’M ALLERGIC!!! Our love is greater than my inability to touch them. I have a commitment to real trees because I love them, I love their smell, I love having a real tree that I picked out of the ground. Luckily, I have people who love me enough to struggle cutting down a tree, setting it up, and decorating it. I, graciously, take on the role of manager, pastry chef, and barista. Everyone gets what they want, but mostly I do.

Loving on the best girl in the whole world.

Once Beau entered the family, she started coming on the hunt for the perfect Christmas tree. This is her fourth year. This year, we have five extra dogs in the house. We decided to save our sanity, and only brought Beau with us to hunt. She loves it. She loved looking at the big dogs that go moo and rubbing up against the pine needles. She did her very best to try and greet every human and pupper she met. And per usual, she did not want to cooperate for family pictures, but I managed to get one nonetheless. 

This is also the first Christmas in my own house. A house with a very high ceiling, a very large living room, and fireplace warranting a large ass tree. I managed to find the chonkiest twelve foot tree I could find. It is a giant of a tree. I love it so much. The amount of joy it brings me is too great for words. Pictures will be coming soon. Bringing it in, setting it up, and decorating it was a several day process because it’s very large and very beautiful. I am in love with my Christmas tree. 

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

bisous und обьятий,
RaeAnna + Beau

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Blog + Dog

Beau and Christmas Tree Hunting

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On the hunt for the perfect Christmas tree!!! | Beau’s Christmas Sweater | Black Shirt | Jeans | Sparkly Shoes |

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Posing while Beau is straining to greet passers by. | Beau’s Christmas Sweater | Sherpa Jacket |

The simple joys in life bring me the most happiness. Christmas tree hunting with Beau is one of the best things we do all year. 

This was Beau’s third year Christmas tree hunting. She doesn’t contribute anything but cuteness to the adventure. Actually, it’s a total hassle bringing a dog. Trying to find the perfect tree to fit in the home I have and not the massive living room I wish you had and cutting down a tree with a saw while juggling an enthusiastic people greeter on black Friday at a Christmas tree farm is a hand full. Worth it! But a handful.  

Last year, we took our Christmas picture at the Christmas tree farm. Beau was cooperative for picture last year. This year… a whole different story. We weren’t planning on taking the Christmas picture… but a nice picture would have been grand. There is ONE picture where she’s looking at the camera. The rest, she’s straining trying to go say ‘hi’ to all the people cooing at her. Suffice to say, we gave up on the family photo this year. *Insert our efforts here.*

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THE good one. It was also the first one. | Black Shirt | Jeans | Sparkly Shoes | Beau’s Christmas Sweater | Dylan’s Buffalo Plaid Flannel |

Beau was more comfortable on the tractor this year. She even laid down. A cute little boy, named Leo, gave her a sticker. She didn’t love it, but she managed to keep it on until we got to the car. A five year olds feelings were not hurt on our search.

We’re working on decorating the tree today. It’s been up and decorated with lights since Friday, but we’ve been busy [read as: lazy], so it hasn’t been done yet. My office is decorated, and most of the house is decorated. Just the tree and a few garland strings need to be put up to finish the look!

Now it’s time to start baking because I have fun recipes coming your way for Christmas/winter inspired goodies!!!

Fun Fact: I am allergic to Christmas trees. I can’t touch them because they make me itchy. If they poke me hard enough, which is not hard at all, I break out in cute little pustules. Merry Christmas, I look like I have the plague. 

bisous und обьятий,
Beau + RaeAnna

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Blog + Dog, Style

Christmas Tree Hunting

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We had so much fun at High Star Christmas Tree Farm in Houston. Beau’s Jacket (sooo warm and a deal!) | My Shirt (perfect winter flannel) | My Jeans (I wear these all the time) | My Shoes (I love the sparkle!) | His Shirt (perfect flannel)

Christmas tree hunting is one of my favorite activities of the year. There were only a few years after college when I didn’t hunt for a tree because family I lived with had a fake tree *gasp*. Even in my college apartment, I cut down a tree every year.

As a kid, my family brought our dogs with every year it wasn’t too cold for them. They always had a blast running around the tree farm sniffing all the smells. My brother and I would run around pointing at our favorite trees. I have always loved the big fat ones. The fatter the better. One year in college, I found the fattest tree, and it was 12 feet tall. It was ginormous. And it didn’t fit in my tree stand. It ended up being one my favorite disasters, and my best friend and I still giggle about it!

The Christmas after Beau came home, it wasn’t even a question of if she would come with us or not. We didn’t know exactly how she would do riding on the trailer at the farm or with all the people around, but she was a dream. Beau is incredibly well behaved around all the people, loves sniffing the smells, and running between the trees as best she can on a leash. This year, she did even better on the trailer. I’m such a proud Mama!

This is our third Christmas in Houston. The first year, we found High Star Christmas Tree farm just North of the city. We love it. The prices are unbeatable. They’re very kind. And they’re dog friendly! We’ve gone every year! Beau has come with all of her years with us! So, two.

Beau helped pick out our tree. As best as she can…. She sniffed it and wagged her tail, so I’d say that’s a yes. I’m so picky about trees. I like them tall and fat, but we don’t have a ton of tree space in our apartment. It’s also important to find one that is green and doesn’t have too much dead stuff in the middle. It’s a process. When we arrived, we took the obligatory blogger pictures. Then we spent an hour roaming around looking for the perfect tree. Don’t go tree hunting with me unprepared for a bunch of walking and “hmm…,” *head tilt*, walk around, and “not quite.”

The tree is now up and decorated. I couldn’t be happier. I love sitting at home with a cup of cocoa enjoying all the lights! Beau cuddles have made my Christmas season a gazillion times better.   

If you still need a tree, you can find more information about High Star Christmas Tree Farm here. They’re really wonderful. This is not sponsored at all. I genuinely love them!

*Style* We decided to be nerds and all wear matching shirts. Beau LOVES her jacket. It keeps her so warm. It is an absolute must in the cold weather for our furry friends. It’s a deal at Target under $10. My shirt is from Old Navy. Dylan’s shirt is from Target. I actually wear his when I want the over-sized look! My jeans are talls from Abercrombie, but they come in short and regular too. I wear them all the time. I’m absolutely in love with my shoes. They’re silver sparkles from Old Navy! I’m wearing a size 7.5, and they’re true to size.

Happy Wednesday! Love,
Beau, RaeAnna, & Dylan

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Beau’s jacket doesn’t actually fit that way. You couldn’t see the pattern when she wore it the right way, so it’s a bib.