Bryan Ellis Chief Revenue Officer | realtors.com
Cara Kane, a senior director of corporate communications at KB Home, is known for her minimalist lifestyle, avoiding clutter and unnecessary decor. However, she makes an exception during the Christmas season. "The holidays allow me to splurge," she states.
Christmas holds special significance for Kane, influenced by cherished childhood traditions. She acknowledges that her holiday enthusiasm might be excessive but notes she is not alone in this sentiment. According to the 2023 Deloitte holiday survey, Americans plan to spend $1,652 on average during the holidays—a 14% increase from the previous year. The National Retail Federation projects consumer spending between $979.5 billion and $989 billion for November and December 2024.
Kane's Orlando home features six Christmas trees with distinct themes. One tree in the family room celebrates her children's milestones with personalized ornaments marking significant events such as getting a driver's license or favorite TV shows like Sesame Street and South Park.
Despite her sons' growing interests in TikTok over traditional holiday activities, Kane continues their Elf on the Shelf tradition with "Elfie" delivering new ornaments each day leading up to Christmas. "They still enjoy waking up each morning to discover what unique ornament was brought," she remarks about her sons.
In contrast, another tree in the living room reflects Kane's relationship with her husband Chris through photos and mementos from shared experiences like scuba diving or family trips. "We love taking an evening, just him and I...hanging each ornament and remembering so many moments and milestones," Kane shares.
Kane also has a sports-themed tree in the playroom displaying photo ornaments of her sons in various team uniforms alongside memorabilia from MLB stadium visits. Additionally, both teens have personal trees in their rooms decorated with school-made ornaments.
In their primary bedroom stands a white tree adorned with beach-themed ornaments symbolizing vacations past and future aspirations for retirement near Orlando’s coastlines.
While typically maintaining a clutter-free environment, Kane utilizes a storage unit costing $146 per month to house extensive seasonal decorations organized meticulously by holiday type—something she deems worth every penny due to its contribution towards joyful family memories.
Reflecting on these efforts rooted deeply within personal nostalgia aimed at creating lasting familial traditions: “I hope someday they will have same desire carry on traditions…remember how many great memories were made during holiday season,” expresses Cara Kane wholeheartedly before returning orderliness post-Christmas festivities upon December’s end arrives."
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