We’ve had a #palmtreechristmas once before. . .
But due to unfortunate circumstances (which may or may not have been my entire family getting sea sick on the boat & then proceeding to fight like they were on the movie Overboard) that Christmas didn’t turn out to be one of my favorites. . .

Although, this one did. 
This year’s celebration of the holiday, untraditional or otherwise, will always go down as one of my very favorites.

We decorated with island-inspired decor, dressed the tree while jamming to a mix of island music + christmas music. Spent christmas eve in eating a crab feast + playing farkle. Then, on Christmas Day, we went out sailing with Honu Sail Charters. We all love to sail so it was truly a delight! We clinked our glasses while cheersing one another, sipped champagne & soaked up the sun. After the sail, we had a lovely dinner in a friend’s home with a lively group of characters (now, our new friends).

To say our holiday was really, truly calming & special would be an understatement. We all went to bed with smiles on our faces!

So, here are my tips for anyone celebrating a holiday in a new (& untradtional) way:

1. Don’t expect things to “feel” the same
   They won’t! You’re in the tropics, or in a new place, or away from your family (the list goes on) . . . Things are just different.
   & that’s okay! The more you expect it to feel the same, the more disappointed you’ll be! Instead, try hard to focus on the new, the exciting–the things that are thrilling to you.
2. Embrace the beauty in the differences 
   Why fight the culture or the climate you’re in? Rather, embrace the different situation you are in & celebrate that! Bring on the island-inspired decor, music, customs, traditions, etc. The more you grasp onto these things & celebrate in that spirit, the less you’ll miss the traditional ways you spend the holiday!
3. Unplug, slow down & honor your loved ones
   When we are zoned into what everyone else is doing, it’s easy to feel that we are missing out on something or for us to begin craving something outside of our reach! We went from being excited about being in the warm weather, to craving the “cozy” looking snow, from enjoying our sweet little family to craving a rambunctious family-filled home – S T O P !  Remember, comparison is the thief of joy. Ditch your devices + spend quality time with the ones right in front of you–I think you’ll be surprised about how much more grateful you are.