Do you prefer artificial Christmas trees or real trees? Artificial all the way!! We put up multiple trees throughout the house and we are early decorators.
When do you decorate your Christmas tree? I am actually sitting by our main tree right now!! Usually about the second week in November. Christmas is always a big deal in our house, so we love to enjoy it all as long as we can!!
What is your favorite Christmas song? What makes it your favorite?“Silver Bells” because it was one of my Papa Danny’s favorites that he would sing to me all the time when I was little. He has since passed so it holds a special place in my heart.
What is your go-to holiday drink? I’m an egg nog lover. But I’m also a huge coffee fan and my current favorite is gingerbread/vanilla iced coffee with almond milk.
What is your favorite Christmas present that you have ever received? I have so many different special Christmas present memories. I received my first microphone when I was only 2 years old and was completely obsessed with it!! Then when I was about 11 I got my first guitar and I remember it feeling like the most magical moment when my parents brought this big box in the room. From then I never put it down.
What were your Christmas traditions when you were younger? Like I said, Christmas has always been an absolutely magical time in my house. From the time I was little my parents always made it so special. From the traditions and decorating (our house is always decorated like a winter wonderland). Putting cookies out for Santa, baking tons of homemade cookies and treats with my Mom, making homemade pierogie, decorating inside and outside, building gingerbread houses, making reindeer food on Christmas Eve, having an Advent Calender filled with candies, watching Christmas movies every night starting in November. Honestly, the list goes on and on and on!!
How have your Christmas celebrations changed since becoming an adult? Everything has truly stayed the same. Other than becoming more hands on as I grew older with things like decorating, baking, shopping for presents and things like that. Adding new traditions here and there as well. I was raised with the appreciation and love for the traditions and I think that’s what makes it all so special and magical.
How will Christmas be different at your house this year be different this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic? Much like thanksgiving, we just won’t have a houseful of family and friends like usual. We are still doing everything else. The decorating, the cooking, the baking and everything else that makes Christmas so magical!!
What is your favorite Christmas memory? Each Christmas has something special about it for me. But I would have to say the last Christmas where all of my grandparents were still with us. They have all since passed and those memories when they were here will always hold special in my heart.
How do you spend the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day? Watching Christmas movies, setting goals for the New Year, using new things that were Christmas presents and just enjoying the holiday time.
How do you spend New Year’s Eve? I’ve played shows on New Year’s Eve before, but when I don’t have a show we celebrate at our house with family and friends with a buffet dinner.
How will the pandemic impact your celebrations? We won’t be playing a show this year and we won’t have a houseful of family and friends. However, we will still be doing our dinner and watching the ball drop.
What do you typically eat on New Year’s Day? Pork and sauerkraut of course!! It’s good luck!! And lasagna because this is an Italian household.
Do you have a New Year’s Resolution for 2021? I would have to say to just continue to be the best me I could be, continue to chase dreams, achieve goals, do what I love, make a difference through my music and my message and for the health and happiness of myself and all of my loved ones!!