Add it Again: Tree Time 2023 with June Diane Raphael, Jessica St. Clair and Casey Wilson

Summary

Podcast Summary: Add to Cart with Kulap Vilaysack & SuChin Pak

Episode: Add it Again: Tree Time 2023 with June Diane Raphael, Jessica St. Clair and Casey Wilson
Release Date: December 20, 2024
Hosts: Kulap Vilaysack & SuChin Pak
Guests: June Diane Raphael, Jessica St. Clair, Casey Wilson

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Introduction to Tree Time

In this special holiday episode of Add to Cart, hosts Kulap Vilaysack and SuChin Pak welcome their guests—June Diane Raphael, Jessica St. Clair, and Casey Wilson—for an in-depth discussion on their unique Christmas tree traditions. The episode centers around the concept of "Tree Time," exploring how each participant adds personal and creative touches to their holiday decorations.

Celebrating Individual Traditions

June Diane Raphael opens the conversation by sharing her "Gilded Woodland" hero tree, a majestic real tree adorned with glittering woodland creatures. (02:47) June emphasizes the blend of nature and sparkle, stating, “It's literally forest themed, covered in gold” (09:16). Her tree serves as the centerpiece of her holiday decor, representing her love for nature infused with festive glamour.

Jessica St. Clair introduces her elaborate Christmas village, complete with animated lights, musical elements, and miniature characters. (20:18) She describes the transformation from a simple village to a "metropolitan sort of situation," highlighting the intricate details that bring her setup to life. Jessica explains, “It has lights, it has music... an ice skating rink” (20:22), showcasing her dedication to creating a vibrant and lively display.

Casey Wilson presents a multifaceted approach to holiday decorating, maintaining multiple trees across different spaces. (50:05) From a grand nine-foot real tree in her family room to a specialized podcast studio tree and an honorary tree dedicated to her late mother, Casey illustrates the depth of her festive spirit. She shares, “It's a small tree, but it's my honorary tree with bubble lights and Coca Cola ornaments” (54:52), demonstrating a blend of personal memory and creative expression.

Navigating Decorating Challenges

The hosts and guests delve into the logistical challenges of maintaining multiple Christmas trees. Sujin Pak discusses the difficulty of integrating trees into various spaces without overwhelming her home’s aesthetics. (37:46) Kulap Vilaysack adds humorously, “Don't come for my spot on that. It’s the only thing that gives me joy” (13:22), highlighting the personal significance of their decorations.

June Diane Raphael acknowledges the emotional aspect of altering family traditions. (27:49) She reflects, “There is sadness with moving forward. There is loss,” emphasizing the balance between honoring past traditions and embracing new ones.

Creative Expressions and Innovations

The conversation shifts to innovative decorating ideas that go beyond traditional trees. Casey Wilson introduces "blow molds"—large, freestanding ornaments—that add a vintage charm to her living space. (42:23) She describes them as “retro statuettes” that complement her overall theme, enhancing the festive atmosphere without relying solely on existing tree decorations.

Sujin Pak shares her experience of evolving her Christmas tree setup, incorporating themes like peppermint and considering future variations. (29:29) She explains how each year's decorations inspire her creativity, saying, “My Christmas tree voice” (29:54), indicating a personal journey of self-expression through holiday decor.

Emotional Resonance and Community Impact

The episode underscores the emotional resonance of holiday decorations, with Casey Wilson sharing her honorary tree dedicated to her mother. (54:56) This act of remembrance adds a heartfelt dimension to her festive display, illustrating how personal experiences shape holiday traditions.

Kulap Vilaysack introduces her unique touch—miniature mouse houses adorned with Christmas elements. (62:02) These whimsical additions bring joy and creativity to her home, reflecting the influence of family members, particularly her children, on her decorating choices.

Conclusion: Embracing Personalized Holiday Traditions

As the episode wraps up, the hosts and guests reflect on the importance of personalizing holiday traditions to reflect individual identities and family dynamics. (66:15) June Diane Raphael concludes, “If you believe, then you're welcome. If you don't, that's really fine,” promoting a message of inclusivity and acceptance for diverse holiday expressions.

Kulap Vilaysack emphasizes the playful and creative aspects of holiday decor, encouraging listeners to explore their unique styles: “Let children bring a fresh perspective” (64:14). This collaborative spirit fosters a sense of community and shared joy during the festive season.

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Notable Quotes

• June Diane Raphael (09:16): “It's literally forest themed, covered in gold.”
• Jessica St. Clair (20:22): “It has lights, it has music... an ice skating rink.”
• Casey Wilson (54:52): “It's a small tree, but it's my honorary tree with bubble lights and Coca Cola ornaments.”
• Kulap Vilaysack (13:22): “Don't come for my spot on that. It’s the only thing that gives me joy.”
• Casey Wilson (54:56): “It's my honorary tree dedicated to my mother.”
• June Diane Raphael (66:15): “If you believe, then you're welcome. If you don't, that's really fine.”
• Kulap Vilaysack (64:14): “Let children bring a fresh perspective.”

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This episode of Add to Cart offers a heartfelt exploration of holiday traditions, emphasizing the importance of personalizing festive decor to reflect individual identities and foster familial bonds. Through engaging discussions and personal anecdotes, Kulap Vilaysack and SuChin Pak, alongside their guests, celebrate the diverse ways we embrace the holiday spirit.

Transcript

[Unknown Host]

Are you interested in how ordinary people turn their big ideas into a business? Want to learn from real entrepreneurs and get actionable advice on how they succeeded? Then this is Small Business behind the Buy Is for you. It's the official companion podcast to Prime Video's new show called Buy it now, where entrepreneurs compete to win $20,000. In each episode, you hear directly from the winning entrepreneurs revealing the backstories, challenges, and the business strategies that turn their dreams into reality. Follow this is Small Business behind the Buy on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. And big thanks to this is Small Business for sponsoring the show.

[Reshma Sajani]

Hi, I'm Reshma Sajani, founder of Girls who Code. Look, I'd consider myself a pretty successful adult woman. I've written books, founded two successful nonprofits, and I'm raising two incredible kids. But here's the thing. I still wake up wondering, is this it? And if the best years are yet to come, when's that going to start? Join me on my so Called Midlife, my new podcast with Lemonada Media, where we're building a playbook for navigating midlife one episode at a time. Each week, I'll chat with extraordinary guests who've transformed their midlife crisis into opportunities for growth and newfound purpose. At some point, we all ask ourselves, is there more to life? I'm here to discover how to thrive in my second act, right alongside you. My so Called Midlife is out now, wherever you get your podcasts.

[June Diane Raphael]

Lemonade Carters, welcome back to ADD to cart. I'm Auntie Cuckoo V. Lysack.

[Jessica St. Clair]

And I'm Auntie Su Pak.

[June Diane Raphael]

Sue, before we go any further, I just. I want to take a moment to reflect on what is about to be a momentous occasion.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Yeah, I woke up already jazzed.

[June Diane Raphael]

Yeah. Because before the angels descend upon us, before holiday mania and Christmas joy explodes onto the ears of our dear listeners.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Well, it's been a long time coming, you know, this meeting, meeting of the minds, what we're about to do here. You and Casey Wilson first introduced me to this concept of tree time in July. That's important. And really, life has been quite altered ever since. But while I was a little angry.

[June Diane Raphael]

Put off.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Put off. Yeah. Okay, okay.

[June Diane Raphael]

I don't wanna put words in your mouth. Angry is okay. That's clear.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Angry. I bare ass naked swimming in the deep with the sharks. I'm about it. Tree time is everything.

[June Diane Raphael]

Yeah. You've earned this moment, Sue. We've all earned this moment to cozy up and exist beside our many Christmas Trees. And by we, I do mean all of us. Please add to cart for a very special tree time round table. The jingle bells of the Christmas ball. June Diane Rayfield and Jessica St. Clair. Please, everyone, everyone clap.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

It's the holiday season.

[Jessica St. Clair]

I don't know that.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

Diddy, thank you so much for having us. This is almost as exciting as Christmas itself. And that says a lot.

[Sujin Pak]

Oh, it's so true. I love that you framed this as a round table because I was a little worried there were going to be so many voices, you know, so many be heard. Yeah.

[June Diane Raphael]

Do you ever worry about that, both of you?

[Sujin Pak]

Sometimes I do.

[June Diane Raphael]

Be honest.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Well, up at the top of the show, it just did say, like, how are we going to get through this with four alphas talking about. I mean, what can only be. Yeah. This most passionate topic. I feel like I. I am. I'm just stepping up to the plate. So I'm comfort.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

You're all learners watching the learner. We are all lifetime learners. But you are learning today, Sue. And that doesn't mean you can't interject and ask questions, but you can take a backseat and just learn as I am. Also, I think if we were to hierarchy it, quite frankly.

[Sujin Pak]

And.

[June Diane Raphael]

Oh, here it goes.

[Jessica St. Clair]

So it's no longer a roundtable. Now it's a pyramid.

[June Diane Raphael]

It's a Christmas pyramid. Go ahead, Jess.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

In a pride of lions, I would argue that not every lion is doing the same thing. You know, of course we have the male lion who isn't doing a goddamn thing. And then we got.

[Jessica St. Clair]

And not invited.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

And not invited. Right. He's taking a nap. But what I would say is, and. And this is going to cause friction. I would put COO as the grand dam of Christmas. She is the Kris Kringle of Christmas June right underneath. In support. Okay. And consultancy. I think I am very much at the bottom and I'm still learning.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Yes.

[Sujin Pak]

I actually, I'm gonna say something. I. I think you're probably right because my holiday spirit wants that for everyone. Like, I don't need a position. The holidays are so personal to all of us that I.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Here she comes. It's coming around.

[Sujin Pak]

It's. No, it's coming true.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Get ready.

[Sujin Pak]

I love, you know, I love that cool up goes so hard. I. I love that cool up starts so early because it does make me feel a little freer. So I think you're right, Jess, in that having some, you know, checks and balances, I guess, some branches of government, it feels like I can let her be a bit fringe because then I seem more mainstream.

[June Diane Raphael]

100%.

[Jessica St. Clair]

And here we are.

[June Diane Raphael]

That's right.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Here we are. I knew you were gonna land that plane. I knew it. I saw it circling around the bullseye, and there she landed the plane.

[June Diane Raphael]

I am in the deep end, you know, and I'm fringy Casey, who may or may not join us. She is tinselly. And that's.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

Yeah, that's.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Now, where does Casey sit on this holiday pyramid, if you will?

[June Diane Raphael]

The dais.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Yeah.

[Sujin Pak]

Yeah. I do think Casey is cool. Up is definitely, like, the most radical, you know, and the most sort of like, military.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

Takes the biggest swing, and she takes humongous swings. Her trees. Her hero tree is themed. That's enormous. She's the first one of all of us, and maybe the only to attempt ribbon threading off of that was this year.

[June Diane Raphael]

That was this year. That was this year.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Yeah.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

And to do it so that it looks like she's always been doing it.

[Sujin Pak]

Yeah.

[Jessica St. Clair]

I don't know if it was last year. I had no idea this thing even existed. A tree collar.

[June Diane Raphael]

That's right. I have tree collars. That's on my bedroom tree.

[Jessica St. Clair]

But you know what?

[June Diane Raphael]

Ladies, ladies, before we descend into madness, can we please go around the table to say how many trees we have? Oh, hold on, hold on, hold on.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Hold on, hold on.

[June Diane Raphael]

We've got Casey's.

[Sujin Pak]

Hold on. I gotta go grab my coffee bean. Hold on one second.

[June Diane Raphael]

Go get your coffee.

[Jessica St. Clair]

June has a coffee Bean order. She's running to get that.

[Casey Wilson]

I have a La Scala chop salad next to me that I'm putting off of this. We all want things.

[Jessica St. Clair]

And now Casey Wilson has entered the room.

[Casey Wilson]

Hello, sushi.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Ms. Tinsel herself.

[June Diane Raphael]

Okay, Casey, you have lost your voice.

[Casey Wilson]

Podcast tree.

[June Diane Raphael]

She's lost her voice, but she's showing us her podcast studio. Tree. Casey, wait, wait, wait. Where we're at now is before we descend into madness, I'd like us all to go around the table to say how many trees we have.

[Casey Wilson]

Great.

[June Diane Raphael]

If you have more trees coming where they are and if there's a theme to them, I'll start. And we're going to end with Casey.

[Casey Wilson]

Okay, can I say one thing? Cool out before we go around? Which is just to say that I'm more proud to be a part of this roundtable than I would to be a Best Actress Hollywood Deadline roundtable. I would report.

[Sujin Pak]

Me, too.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Never heard of it. Don't care. Yeah, it's not relevant.

[June Diane Raphael]

We were talking about my hero tree. Hero tree, of course, is number one on the call sheet. Speaking about Hollywood actors and actresses.

[Casey Wilson]

Our hero tree should be in that article.

[June Diane Raphael]

That's right. It's your showpiece. Okay. It's the one that people are seeing. Mine, of course, is every year since about 2019, has been of the theme Gilded Woodland. Gilded woodland. I mean, obviously that's clear what that is.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

No, it is clear when you see it. It is.

[June Diane Raphael]

What is that?

[Coolop Vilaisak]

It is.

[Jessica St. Clair]

What is that?

[Casey Wilson]

No, it's clear.

[June Diane Raphael]

Obviously.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Clear beyond. What does that mean? Is it a Victorian woodland?

[June Diane Raphael]

Oh, you're thinking of the Gilded Age. No, it's woodland creatures.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

Not. Not that. It's not that.

[June Diane Raphael]

True, true. So it's gold, sparkly. You know, my deer have glitter on it.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Oh, okay. Okay. Oh, it's literally.

[June Diane Raphael]

It's literally howled.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Yes. It's literally forest themed, covered in gold.

[Casey Wilson]

That's right. Yeah.

[June Diane Raphael]

Yeah, basically.

[Sujin Pak]

But that feels such. And that felt reductive the way you just said it.

[Casey Wilson]

Thank you, June, for defending our friend.

[Sujin Pak]

It felt basic.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Like it's. It is what I. I meant it that way because I'm trying to keep. I'm trying to keep learning down to the normal space for the rest of us.

[June Diane Raphael]

Okay. Thank you for the voice of the audience. We do need this where there is.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Going to be a fragment of the audience. And at this point, it's a small fragment because we've lost the mainstream, the small fragment, who are, like, with me, like, we need to get it down to real words that mean something to people like us. Okay, Got it. Woodland creatures. Got it.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

Right. And I think that what is so special just to bring it back to June, what June said earlier is that each of us on this Christmas is here text thread, which I was added to at a very late stage in the game, I think in maybe like first week of December last year. And it was a very provisional ad. It was like, let's see how you do. Well, because I.

[Sujin Pak]

And I had just been there for a little while, Jess, but I felt like there were some unspoken community guidelines that I was very worried you were going to violate.

[Casey Wilson]

Wow, June, go on.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

What were they? Cause I didn't violate them enough to get kicked out.

[Casey Wilson]

Well, Jessica, when you asked last night. I'm sorry to do this, guys. Cause I know I.

[June Diane Raphael]

We gotta do it. Let's just do it.

[Casey Wilson]

I'm sorry.

[Jessica St. Clair]

She's just setting it on fire.

[Casey Wilson]

You know what?

[Sujin Pak]

Let's do it.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Let's starting it on fire.

[Casey Wilson]

I know I don't have a voice, but I have voice enough to say this when you had the gall last night, Jessica, And I love you very much. What did I do to ask, and I quote, where do I get a good fake tree from? I said no.

[Sujin Pak]

Wow.

[Casey Wilson]

I answered it for that. For now. I answered it. But that was hard.

[Sujin Pak]

It was worrisome.

[Casey Wilson]

Like, that's, like, 101.

[June Diane Raphael]

You know we've been saying Balsam Hill.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

I know.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Even I know that.

[June Diane Raphael]

Over and over and over.

[Sujin Pak]

I'm so.

[Casey Wilson]

But I knew that wasn't what your heart felt, Jess. But it. It couldn't help but say something.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

Well, even more hurtful. I wanted to make sure there wasn't a better tree than the fake one Coulop had. I knew Coulops was from Balsam, and I just wanted to see, like, oh, wow.

[Sujin Pak]

Okay, guys. This is sort of like on the Housewives when they're like, don't come for the kids. Like, don't come for her tree.

[June Diane Raphael]

Don't come.

[Sujin Pak]

Don't.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

I just wanted to make sure, like.

[June Diane Raphael]

We'Re all, I'm always my bedroom tree.

[Sujin Pak]

About my friends, anyone's trees. Okay, guys are coming. No, no, no.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

But Coolop keeps being like, cool up's very secretly aggressive. As I've said, she's the Dick Cheney in this. In this group.

[June Diane Raphael]

I don't know what you mean by that, but go ahead.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

And so, like, I have secret. Gotten a lot of pressure from the group to have a bedroom tree, because I think a lot of people thought, oh, you know, she lives in Santa Monica where, you know, we don't have as much real estate. And then June got her little grubby hands on my bedroom a couple months ago, and she was like. This was like, in August. She was like, there's room enough for a bedroom tree, and I still don't have one. And so cool Op will say things like, oh, and is the fake one going up to the bedroom tree? Like, I don't have a bedroom tree.

[Sujin Pak]

Yeah, you've been sidestepping that. And it's.

[Jessica St. Clair]

How is she in the group chat? I mean, I'm just asking as, like, a learner, so I know what the rules are, Sue.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

Don't fucking come for my spot on that.

[Jessica St. Clair]

I'm asking.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

All that I live for. It's the only thing that gives me joy. So don't come for me.

[June Diane Raphael]

I'm sorry.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

Don't think, like, you could slide in.

[Jessica St. Clair]

I was just asking as an.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

Do you have a better trick?

[Casey Wilson]

That's a great question. Because when she doesn't do what our basic requirements are, it does give one pause.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

Do you have.

[Jessica St. Clair]

I just want to Know what the rules are?

[Coolop Vilaisak]

Do you have a bedroom tree?

[Jessica St. Clair]

Well, we're going to go around and.

[June Diane Raphael]

You'Re going to be all right. Jess, you said that you were going to do a bedroom tree. So I am only trying to encourage and uplift my friend from what she stated, okay?

[Coolop Vilaisak]

Now I'm going to have to throw my husband under the bus. This is so horrible that this podcast is ripping families apart. But had ordered a fake Christmas tree, okay, From Paul Shear's suggestion, which was not through Balsam, okay? It was waiting for me at Lowe's. And then my husband drops the bomb. I don't know about a fake tree. What about off gassing now? How can I come for him? Okay? He's a cancer survivor and Bibi and I locked eyes. Like, this motherfucker comes back to that, doesn't it? This motherfucker is going to fucking Grinch out on our fake tree. So then I said, okay, change of plans. We're going real tree. So then I go to get my real tree and I thought, well, I don't have a bedroom tree and I don't think I can even get one in time. I go, so I'm going to go big on my hero tree. So I got a motherfucking nine foot. I have a nine footer I'm staring at right now. Real. You guys want to come for me about a bedroom tree? I got a nine foot real tree cut down in the Pacific Northwest. Okay? I'm fucking staring at it right now. I put those lights on myself, okay? So don't come for me for bedroom trees.

[Casey Wilson]

Yeah, she is a very big, like, big house in the woods. Laura Ingalls Wilder type crystal.

[June Diane Raphael]

Okay? Yeah, yeah, but with a French. With a French vibe. There's definitely French vibes.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

So, yeah, that's the only tree I have. It's nine foot. Fucking supported a group of real woodland animals. At some point did yours. No. Cause your shit made up.

[June Diane Raphael]

You just split their. They are.

[Sujin Pak]

They don't have their tree anymore.

[June Diane Raphael]

You took it from them.

[Sujin Pak]

So one tree. So what I'm hearing after all, that is one.

[Casey Wilson]

One.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

Yeah, for right now. For right now.

[June Diane Raphael]

And Jess, you have stairs. You're not bringing another real tree upstairs. Let's just let it go. Let's let the bed. I'm fine with you letting it go.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

I might bring it up. I might bring it up there, but there's not enough.

[June Diane Raphael]

Then you'll have to take it.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Now, here's an email question just coming in on the telegraph.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

I thought this was gonna be so fun.

[Jessica St. Clair]

First of all, Casey, you're losing your voice, so don't scream when I ask this question, okay? Okay. Now, would it be wrong to have some sort of a potted plant and then you put lights. Are lights around it? What type of pot is vomiting in her mouth?

[Casey Wilson]

I'm not that mad at that question.

[June Diane Raphael]

But. But, but what potted plant?

[Jessica St. Clair]

Like, I don't know, like, whatever potted plant.

[June Diane Raphael]

Tomato.

[Casey Wilson]

Guys, we have to. We can't expect someone. We have to bridge the aisle. Guys, we can't expect everyone.

[Sujin Pak]

I don't know. But I would prefer. Suchin, if you're not gonna put another tree in a bedroom or another room, then get some garland and drape it with a shower curtain. Talk about reductive. Sorry, Suchin, for our friend, but I don't want taking a plant that's already there and trying to spruce it up with lights and stuff. That makes me sad.

[June Diane Raphael]

That's what I'm running from.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Childhood. Yes. Yes. Childhood.

[June Diane Raphael]

That is me putting lights.

[Jessica St. Clair]

It's triggering for me. Yes. Yeah, but I thought maybe Dad's lime.

[June Diane Raphael]

Macro tree and putting presents underneath something like a terracotta pot.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Yes.

[June Diane Raphael]

Yeah, that's not what I want.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Yeah, of course. But Sujin, who hasn't had lights around a snake plant? You know?

[June Diane Raphael]

All right, sue, sue, let me get a little. Let's take heat off Jess, and let's go to you. Let's go to you, Sue. Okay.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Okay.

[June Diane Raphael]

Where are you at right now?

[Jessica St. Clair]

Okay. Zero.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

Zero what?

[Sujin Pak]

Zero trees.

[Jessica St. Clair]

No trees yet.

[June Diane Raphael]

But when will the tree come to.

[Sujin Pak]

Where are they?

[June Diane Raphael]

It will.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

Where are they?

[Casey Wilson]

Did your house burn down, Sue?

[June Diane Raphael]

Yeah.

[Sujin Pak]

What's going on?

[Coolop Vilaisak]

KS tree Chaos Tree.

[Casey Wilson]

KS Tree, Sue.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Well, the tree is at the nursery that we always get our trees from here in Santa Barbara. And we usually get the tree, you know, I would say a week or so before Christmas.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

Oh, my God. What are you talking about? Do you hate yourself? Do you hate your family and your children?

[Jessica St. Clair]

We have sometimes trimmed the tree on Christmas Eve. That could be a family tradition. I'm just throwing it out there, you guys. Everyone blink. Nobody has blinked.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

My contacts are dry. Have run dry.

[Jessica St. Clair]

On Christmas Eve. Hear me out. On Christmas Eve, you put on the Christmas playlist. Okay? You get out your portable.

[Casey Wilson]

We know what you do. We're talking about when we know we get on the playlist.

[Sujin Pak]

I don't understand.

[Jessica St. Clair]

But on Christmas Eve you have. You're like Max Christmas spirit. I'm just. I'm just telling you because you've been survived. That's right.

[June Diane Raphael]

Yeah, you.

[Jessica St. Clair]

So now you're on. Yes, Max. Christmas spirit. You're high, essentially, because tomorrow is the day, you know, and so this tree trimming Christmas Eve is like no other. Some would say it's. It's explosive, you know?

[Coolop Vilaisak]

You know when they trim the tree Christmas Eve, you know when they do that in the fucking Christmas Carol, when they don't got nothing, but they got a light and they're lighting real candle on a tree and hoping it doesn't burn them in their fudgeing sleep. That's when they do that because they don't have enough candle wax to last that night.

[Casey Wilson]

Is when you are visited by, like, you have to make such seismic shifts in your life. You're visited by a ghost of your former self and your future self. That's how wrong it is.

[Sujin Pak]

Now, sue, are you decorating other things?

[June Diane Raphael]

Okay, here we go. Sue, let them know about your village habit.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Absolutely. Some of you may know that I went really hard about two Christmases ago and purchased a village. The village of my dreams.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

Oh, truly wonderful moving parts.

[Jessica St. Clair]

It has lights, it has music.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

Wonderful.

[Jessica St. Clair]

There are characters in it. There's a Santa sleigh ride that goes around a Christmas tree. I have a car. There's a ice skating rink.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

Wonderful.

[Jessica St. Clair]

All of this this year.

[June Diane Raphael]

This year, she added another piece to her. It started as a Christmas village. It's now is moving to sort of a metropolitan sort of situation.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Yes. Tri city and Tri city. Yeah.

[Sujin Pak]

So the. What. When does the village go up?

[Jessica St. Clair]

So the village goes up.

[Casey Wilson]

December 23rd.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Turkey gets bagged on Thanksgiving. It goes into a Ziploc. The whole thing gets shoved off right into a garbage. Large hefty garbage bag and on the table. Then comes the Christmas village the day after Thanksgiving. So you have tree time, I have village time.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

Okay. And what I'm hearing is that you want it, Sue. You want. This is your gateway drug and you're wanting it, and you just don't feel yet like you can go whole hog.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Now, I'm not going to throw my husband under the bus, but here he goes.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

Beep, beep, beep, beep.

[Jessica St. Clair]

The wheels on the bus go round and round. Now, to be fair, I started off before meeting Coolop and doing this, and you three Christmas ladies, like normal Christmas Eve, we decorate. You get the tree maybe a week before, maybe the week of.

[June Diane Raphael]

No, it's not normal. Go ahead.

[Jessica St. Clair]

You get your presents, you wrap them in whatever you wrap them in, and it's fine. And so over the years, this has awakened in me, this child that was lying dormant inside of me that I never nurtured. And so this child is awakening. But you have to ease into it. Absolutely. If you're with a partner who's like, what the fuck are you talking about? It's July.

[Sujin Pak]

Right?

[Casey Wilson]

Right.

[Jessica St. Clair]

And so this gateway drug is this village and the tree is right now immovable.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

Okay. But I'm not saying is the marriage immovable. I mean like.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Tbd. Tbd. Maybe if I. If I get. Maybe if I know that there's a group chat invitation in the future. Just saying in the future.

[Sujin Pak]

Yeah.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Some things.

[Sujin Pak]

Okay.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Can be discussed.

[H]

Struggling to make healthier choices or stick with your goals. You're not alone. We all know it's tough to create lasting changes in our lives, especially when it comes to eating and exercise habits. That's where NOOM comes in. NOOM isn't about quick fixes or strict diets. It's a flexible psychology based program that helps you build healthy habits that fit into your life. With noom, you'll learn how your mind works and why you make the choices you do. You'll have personalized lessons, a support system and tools that track your progress, all designed to guide you on your journey. NOOM uses psychology. That's why they say losing weight starts with your brain. But it also takes into account your unique biological factors which also affect weight loss success. What makes NOOM stand out is that it's not just about the number on the scale. NOOM helps you change your mindset so these healthier habits stick long term. Ready to feel more in control of your health? Take the first step today. Stay focused on what's important to you with NOOM psychology and biology based approach. Sign up for your trial [e-mail] that's n o o m dot com.

[Unknown Host]

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[Sujin Pak]

And by the way, Sue, I wouldn't be surprised if like Casey and Cool off and Paul had a separate chat outside of the main one. Like I wouldn't be surprised, Jess, if they were quiet. Yeah, they're very quiet.

[Jessica St. Clair]

If they splintered off, lose your voice completely.

[Casey Wilson]

Sorry, I can't. No one can hear me.

[Sujin Pak]

And I think that's fine because I.

[Casey Wilson]

Have to say that I really discount codes for Spode exactly.

[Sujin Pak]

Like I. And you know, I really respect it because they will go a little bit and I think we need people to push us. You know, we need motivation. And I don't think I would have ever had a bedroom tree if not for Casey and Coolop. And that's a very real impact they've had on my life.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

And June, tell people about the theme of it because it's really something.

[Sujin Pak]

I was wondering when it was going to come around yes.

[June Diane Raphael]

Let's go to June.

[Jessica St. Clair]

How many trees? Where are they?

[Casey Wilson]

So I hate to keep doing this, but just one such in one. Go on June.

[Sujin Pak]

Well, right now. 00.

[Casey Wilson]

Well, yeah, I guess you're right.

[Sujin Pak]

000 tried to give it. And by the way, just. Just to talk about trees for a second, I want to tell you such in that I grew up in a family where we. We did always get a Christmas tree. Always a real one. And. And there was a lot of like my. The lore in my family and the narrative that I bought into for many, many years was like, you're not a real Christmas person if you don't get a real tree. And so I have had to. I have had to unlearn many painful falsehoods. You know, and I didn't want to.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Say it, but I. I do feel that.

[June Diane Raphael]

But the technology has advanced.

[Casey Wilson]

No, but it's important you can say that because that's a part of this. There is sadness with moving forward. There is loss.

[Sujin Pak]

There is. And such. I felt. And I'm still working through my own internalized hatred of victories, you know, And I'm realizing how it's harming me and my family.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

So holding you back.

[Sujin Pak]

Yes. So I am here as also a student of Christmas, and I am evolving. I really am. So right now, I had. Last year was the first year I had a bedroom tree.

[Casey Wilson]

And it's a real bedroom tree. June.

[Sujin Pak]

No, it's fake.

[Casey Wilson]

Okay.

[Sujin Pak]

Okay.

[Casey Wilson]

Because I was thinking needles up the stairs. Okay, cool.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

No.

[Sujin Pak]

And so Paul did not think there was room for this bedroom tree. And there is. And there was. And so last year we just had simple white lights on it and bows. And then this year it really. I will say that my trees. This year I have felt that I have really been inspired creatively through my trees. And I don't want to take this to the writer's strike and the actors strike and the negotiations and the kind of creative stifling that I have felt over the past, you know, seven months or so. But it was as though I could finally express myself.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

Yes.

[Jessica St. Clair]

You found your voice. Your Christmas tree voice.

[Sujin Pak]

I did. And so when I tell you. I remember where we were at traditions, when I saw that peppermint garland and I thought, my bedroom tree will be a peppermint tree. And.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Oh, wait, so you. So now there's a theme.

[Sujin Pak]

Wait, there's a theme to my bed.

[Jessica St. Clair]

So before there ever.

[Sujin Pak]

There wasn't.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Have you always had a theme? Okay, got it.

[Sujin Pak]

It wasn't last year.

[Casey Wilson]

That's more advanced Course studies. It is.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Wow. That is ap.

[Casey Wilson]

And I don't say that to make anyone feel badly. No, it's just simply to say like.

[Sujin Pak]

And Casey, like, I am so proud of it. You know, the pride to see it in person. Yeah, you do. The pride I feel in this bedroom tree is honestly like nothing I've felt before. And I've sent the picture of the peppermint bedroom tree to pretty much everyone I know.

[Casey Wilson]

And guess what? That's brightening their day.

[Jessica St. Clair]

It does. It has also could scare people. I'm just speaking from the email crew. The email crew needs a voice at the table. All voices are welcome here and we have to represent. But there are some email people are saying that's scary.

[Sujin Pak]

Well, but listen, the one thing I'm already thinking about, because what I've learned from the Christmas is here chat is so much of the holidays is about being in the moment, is about just enjoying what is and really slowing down. And I am. But at the very, very same time, I'm keeping an open notes document that has notes for next year.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

That's so you. That's so.

[Casey Wilson]

But see, that's why it's Christmas is here. Right? To me, it's like they say, part of the fun of a vacation is planning the vacation. Like that actually in some ways is more dopamine activation for people than the actual vacation.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Oh, science.

[Casey Wilson]

And so even. Yeah, I thought I would bring some science to this mumbo jumbo, but I do think. Think that the notes. I have a folder, like all of it. I have so many Pinterest boards for different themes of trees and things. And I'm not to jump on you, June. I'm just simply saying I think all of it brings joy for the present in that. In those various presents all over the year. And then you can really sink into your peppermint tree.

[Sujin Pak]

And. And, and yeah. Because now I'm already thinking like, is it a peppermint tree? Every year it's such a. It's so fully realized. But maybe next year it's a different theme. And I'm excited to explore that. So that's tree number one.

[June Diane Raphael]

Now, Paul was invited. He is out of town. He is so sad not to be here because, you know, man's got opinions.

[Sujin Pak]

Yeah. And I will say he did something that was very wonderful. I will admit our setup this weekend was like not great in terms of just where everyone was emotionally. And a part of the reason was because we were so frantic. Cause he was getting on a flight on Sunday night and so. But when we came back from the east coast from Thanksgiving, Paul had already taken out all of the ornaments and had already put the bedroom tree up. So it was. There was a layer of, like, things are out. At least prep.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

You gotta prep. That's. That's my big note. But you said June. You know, December 25th. That's when we're on Balsam Hill buying our fake trees for next year. So it's like, we do need to be thinking ahead, and that needs to start. Sometimes on Christmas Day, you should be.

[June Diane Raphael]

Adding a little different from what Suchin's doing on Christmas Eve. Just let's have starting.

[Casey Wilson]

She's starting. You're starting for next year. She's starting 2023. And I want you on 2024.

[Sujin Pak]

So that's two trees right there. Okay. So that's my bedroom tree. And then, of course, I have my hero tree. And I'm really happy with the hero turned out. You know, the hero tree as a real tree from Home Depot. They have the best trees. Don't let anyone tell you different. But I will say the hero tree definitely has a lot more kind of like Die Hard ornaments and sort of like Star wars ornaments than I would necessarily have chosen. Have chosen. But I also am like, this is the family tree. So whatever's great about a couple trees.

[Casey Wilson]

Is like, let them live there.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

Well, let's also say this in the gilded Age, which I am streaming on Max with Danielle.

[Casey Wilson]

As am I.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

As am I. Ladies retired to a drawing room. Ladies had their own bedroom to decorate as they pleased. And so maybe that bedroom tree is mommy's tree.

[Sujin Pak]

It feels like a Jess. It feels like mommy's tree, and I love it. So the here tree is beautiful. Now, I did add something this year.

[June Diane Raphael]

Oh.

[Sujin Pak]

Which, you know, every year, I like to take some ribbon from a gift I got or some and put it on the tree. Mailers are perking up, and I like to put it on as a decoration from years past. And that's my special thing. But then this year, I decided I saw this plaid ribbon tartan. Yeah. And I thought, you know what? I think this needs to go on our tree. And it is on it. I don't know if anyone noticed it in the photo, but it. It is giving me life. That little splash of plaid. So that's the hero tree. I'm very happy with how she turned out. And then we have the kids bedroom tree. That was a new purchase this year also from Home Depot. And that's a more slender. No. Cool up. No.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Okay.

[June Diane Raphael]

Okay. I Was like, how do you get. Okay, great.

[Sujin Pak]

No, no, no, no. And that was really. Yes. She svelte, you know, she slim. Yes. At traditions. We had bought the boys some ornaments as a special thing for their tree. And they put them up and then Sam had already fallen asleep and Gus and I were in there decorating and I mean, I told you guys already, but it was, it was really. We decided to put all of his sports medals on the tree.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Oh, that's cute.

[June Diane Raphael]

So inspired.

[Sujin Pak]

It was. Again, this is where I feel like we were kind of vibing outlet.

[Jessica St. Clair]

This is where you finding your voice.

[Casey Wilson]

And everybody's getting kind of their perfect tree in their bedroom.

[Sujin Pak]

That's what it felt like. And then, you know, we took the kids to go see Gutenberg over Thanksgiving, which was so incredible on Broadway. And Josh Gad and Andrew Reynolds signed their Gutenberg hats and wrote a special note to them. So we had those hats. And at the very same time, when I said, should we put a star on it? Both Gus and I looked over and saw the two hats. And then we put the two hats on top and it was like, it really felt. Our trees have felt very inspired and very aligned in flow.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

You're in flow.

[Casey Wilson]

Yeah.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Personal. Yes.

[Casey Wilson]

An aligned Christmas video.

[Sujin Pak]

It's been a very on purpose Christmas so far. So that's. That's three trees total. Now I'm in my office and to be quite honest, the hero tree is so close. It's right over there.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

It's. But it's also.

[Sujin Pak]

But it feels far away.

[June Diane Raphael]

It's far.

[Sujin Pak]

And the only thing I have to look at out here. I don't see Christmas out here.

[Casey Wilson]

I don't like that, June. I don't like it, June, because guess what, you're in your office a lot of a day. And that's my point about these trees. It's not to be decadent in this and that. It's like we only have so much time between the 1st and the 30th, and you're not always sitting in that room. I'm sorry, but you're not.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

No. It's so true.

[Sujin Pak]

Right. So I am feeling that. And that's.

[Casey Wilson]

But that's the thing. Next year maybe we come up with a garland. Yeah, just a little something.

[Sujin Pak]

I think I need a little something.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

I think you fitted tree moment. I think you can feed a tree in your. In your office.

[Sujin Pak]

Listen, I think that's, that's been a big lesson and I credit my, you know, foremothers Casey and Kula, because I do think that They've opened up my mind to where trees can fit.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

It's so funny because Suchin is laughing. But when you immerse yourself. But when you know. And I understand, sue, because I was there. I was you looking through a frosted glass from the outside. And what was going on.

[Casey Wilson]

Fake Christmasy background.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

Yeah. And what was going on behind those doors seemed unattainable to me, and I had to laugh. And then when you get on the inside of the Christmas is here text change. That seems normal. What's going on inside? Wouldn't you. What's going on outside, which is, quite frankly, what's going on in your house. Seems grotesque. Seems harsh. And not a place I want to be.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Yeah. Depressing. Say it. You can say that.

[Unknown Host]

Clinically.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

Depression.

[Sujin Pak]

I want to see that village. I would love to see that village.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

But I want that village to feel like it's integrated into the rest of the home and not just this outpost.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Yeah. I mean, listen, you'll get our email feedback. There's just too much. The calls are coming in. I can't. I can't take them all. But we've lost some folks.

[June Diane Raphael]

She's our command center right now.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Yeah, we've lost some folks. I'm gonna be honest with you. We've lost some folks with this tree roundtable.

[Sujin Pak]

Let them go.

[June Diane Raphael]

I'm not looking. You know, I'm not looking to change minds. Okay. I'm not looking. No, this isn't some religion that I'm trying to get more, you know, believers. If you believe, then you're welcome.

[Jessica St. Clair]

But if you don't, get the buck out.

[June Diane Raphael]

Yeah, no, Be here. It's okay. If you're interested, come through.

[Sujin Pak]

That's right.

[June Diane Raphael]

It's a cozy, cozy place.

[Sujin Pak]

That's right. We have to stand in our power and our truth. And if, like others choose to, you know, be in the light with us, that's great. And if not, that's really fine.

[I]

Yeah.

[June Diane Raphael]

Do you.

[Sujin Pak]

So does that lead us to Q or does that lead us to Casey? Yeah, I. I know. I've named all my trees. I've got three, so I don't know.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Casey.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

Yeah.

[June Diane Raphael]

Where we're at Casey. And just to. But, you know, I think it's really important to. To declare that Casey did coin the term tree time.

[Jessica St. Clair]

I mean, tree time is her lifetime. I mean, of course.

[Casey Wilson]

I actually think I'm now living a tree time. 365.

[Jessica St. Clair]

You are. Okay. It's not.

[Casey Wilson]

It's a state of mind.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

I think people should know that when you're In Casey's house, there is always a throw in a little Christmas touching you or at arm's reach, like, everywhere. She's always, like, trying to. Trying to swaddle me, like, in her office. I'm like, I don't need. I don't need that. Like, I'm in work mode. I don't need to have, like, cashmere wrapping around me so only my eyes are being shown. So that's what I mean about when I luxury. We talk. And you do so much of your business in bed, which is also very gilded age of you.

[Casey Wilson]

And why I need a tree in my office, which is also my bedroom.

[Sujin Pak]

Yeah.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

Okay.

[Casey Wilson]

So I'll quickly take you through because, you know, look, I'm on. I, as a foremother, though, sometimes also have to ask myself, have I done too much?

[Sujin Pak]

Really?

[Casey Wilson]

And let's talk it through.

[June Diane Raphael]

Let's talk it. Let's lay it down.

[Casey Wilson]

Hero tree, nine footer, Balsam Hill. Every year, it's pitch perfect. I'm sorry, but it is. You can do colored lights. White lights. You can. That's my, like, red, green. It's just your traditional treat.

[Sujin Pak]

Yeah.

[Casey Wilson]

Now then, I come to our family room, and this year I added blow molds to my mantle area where the hero tree is. And that has been like. The blow mold is something I didn't know I was. But I didn't know what they were. I was shopping with Jun and Koo when I found two candles that say Noel on them and having them flank my fireplace. My tip for this holiday is get other things with light. It doesn't have to be a tree to have other little points of light. Like, even for your office unit. I don't think we necessarily always need a tree. I've now been getting really into garlands and flocked garlands this year. Just a little something with lights. It really does the trick the same way a full tree will for you.

[June Diane Raphael]

Which makes me say June, because I know you've already placed the blow molds that you purchase at Tradition.

[Sujin Pak]

I can move them to my office.

[June Diane Raphael]

Move them to your office. I love.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Now I can't tell from the picture, you guys, they look like ornaments. They look like kind of like.

[Sujin Pak]

No, they're freestanding retro ornaments.

[Jessica St. Clair]

But they're freestanding. How big are these guys?

[Casey Wilson]

They're big. Like, so my candles are like, you could flank a doorway with them. Some of them.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

I see.

[Jessica St. Clair]

So they're almost like little retro statuettes. Yes, Right.

[June Diane Raphael]

But light up.

[Jessica St. Clair]

It'll that light up. So it can be candy canes. It can be candles, it can be a snowman. Santa. Got it.

[Casey Wilson]

Crackers. Yes. Whatever. The texture though is almost waxy in in appearance and very fun, but not fun that it's like a blow up Santa. It's not that fun. It's like, oh, it's fun of yore and fun in 80s 90s fun to me.

[Sujin Pak]

Yeah.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

Red trope. Like a vintage.

[Sujin Pak]

Yeah.

[Casey Wilson]

Yeah. So that has been all the difference for my Christmas this year is the blowmole.

[Sujin Pak]

But and I will just add that I do think, you know, if you get blow molds, just keep an eye on the fire hazards of it all. I just want to make that safety announcement.

[H]

Struggling to make healthier choices or stick with your goals. You're not alone. We all know it's tough to create lasting changes in our lives, especially when it comes to eating and exercise habits. That's where NOOM comes in. NOOM isn't about quick fixes or strict diets. It's a flexible psychology based program that helps you build healthy habits that fit into your life. With noom, you'll learn how your mind works and why you make the choices you do. You'll have personalized lessons, a support system and tools that track your progress, all designed to guide you on your journey. NOOM uses psychology. That's why they say losing weight starts with your brain. But it also takes into account your unique biological factors which also affect weight, weight loss, success. What makes NO stand out is that it's not just about the number on the scale. NOOM helps you change your mindset so these healthier habits stick long term. Ready to feel more in control of your health? Take the first step today. Stay focused on what's important to you with noom's psychology and biology based approach. Sign up for your trial [e-mail] that's n o o m dot com.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Today's episode is sponsored by acorns. Well, it's that time of year where people are thinking about res resolutions, what they want to do differently, right? In 2025. Last year, save more money was the most popular resolution in America. And when eggs cost 8 to 12 bucks a carton. And after all that holiday shopping has hit your checking account, you're kind of left wondering, where did all my money go? Good thing there's acorns now. Acorns makes it so easy to start automatically saving and investing so your money has a chance to grow for you, your kids, retirement. Listen, I'm an expert in practically everything. That's what comes with the auntie title. But I'm not a financial expert and some would say I am the opposite of whatever that is. Which is why I love the help of Acorns because it recommends a diversified portfolio that fits me and my money goals. And right now my goal is to build that she shed of my dreams back there. Head to acorns.com add to cart or download the Acorns app to start saving and investing for your today Paid client. Endorsement compensation provides incentive to positively promote Acorns Tier 1 compensation provided investing involves risk. Acorns Advisors LLC and SEC registered investment advisor. View important [e-mail] Add to Cart okay parents, we've all been there. This is what I call the post holiday Sugar crash and it is real. And let's be honest, finding snacks that satisfy your kids and let's be really honest ourselves isn't always easy. And that's where Thrive Market comes to the rescue. They make it so simple to find healthier kid approved swaps for all those sugary junk filled favorites. For example, they have this thing called the Healthy Swaps Scanner okay in the Thrive Market app and it is a total game changer. All you do is scan a product that your kids love like their favorite chips or crackers and the app app shows you a cleaner, healthier alternative. We've made some great swaps. How awesome is that? Instead of sugar pack snacks, we're stocking up on brands like Simple Mills Crackers, Annie's Mac and Cheese, always a favorite chops Beef sticks for this old lady and well, lesser evil Popcorn. I know popcorn, trust me, can be evil. My kids absolutely love them. I feel good knowing that they're eating something just a bit more nutritious. The best part? Everything gets delivered straight to my door. So I don't gotta stress about searching through grocery aisles or trying to figure out what exactly is on this teeny tiny ingredients list. Ready for a junk free start to 2025. Head to thrivemarket.com add to cart and get 30% off your first order plus a free sixty dollar gift. That's T H R-I V E market.com add to cart thrivemarket.com add to cart.

[Casey Wilson]

So then in our family room I've been holding on to this same I grew up getting a new tree. We went out and got a tree okay at Mr. Jingles. And that one I will just say of all the trees like it just suffers. It's like pitched forward too much. The lights aren't quite where I want them. I'm not saying it's bad. But I will say it's the room I go to least now.

[Sujin Pak]

Interesting.

[Casey Wilson]

But that one really has like the popsicle sticks from when I was little and like the kids. That one's. But those are our fun ornaments. I love the ornaments. It's like ones friends have given. That just feels like fun.

[Jessica St. Clair]

But it's in a room that you'd never go into.

[Casey Wilson]

No, I am in it, but I wouldn't choose to be in it.

[Sujin Pak]

Yeah, I understand.

[Casey Wilson]

Okay. So then up in my room I have my bedroom tree. Now I actually stripped down in the bedroom just to white lights on a fake tree. I used to have like kind of pinks and silver on there. I ran out of steam. I'm not, I'm not describing them in order of when I put them up. Okay.

[Sujin Pak]

Okay.

[Casey Wilson]

So. But there I also have my white. A big, very big Christmas village happening under my tv. So it does feel that there's little details, but it. The tree is just white lights.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

I love that. I think that's nice.

[Casey Wilson]

And it's pretty sizable. So then in my kids rooms this.

[Sujin Pak]

Year at Mississippi we're at three. So now we're heading to four.

[Casey Wilson]

Yeah, we're gonna round them out in four, five upstairs. Okay. Now they're very little. I mean like mini babies.

[Sujin Pak]

Okay.

[Casey Wilson]

But they all need their own lights and ornaments, guys.

[June Diane Raphael]

Yeah, but aren't they like. They're like three feet though, aren't they?

[Casey Wilson]

Yeah, but they don't decorate themselves.

[June Diane Raphael]

That's right. That's right.

[Casey Wilson]

Or them.

[June Diane Raphael]

So they're not that many. Many. They're small trees.

[Casey Wilson]

They're small trees. Like. Well, we'll get to of course my podcast studio tree. So theirs are decorated. They look very cute. But we're watering those. It's annoying. Oh, okay. But have you guys gotten that? My main add to cart thing. And I'm gonna get the name. Is that big candy cane that you stick into the bottom of a tree so you can pour the solution in on top. We'll go down to the bottom.

[Sujin Pak]

Casey, I got something even better for you.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

What?

[Sujin Pak]

What's this? I've got a self watering wrapped gift that looks like a gift under the tree.

[Casey Wilson]

What?

[June Diane Raphael]

What?

[Sujin Pak]

And it does it for you? Paul has had it for the last three years.

[June Diane Raphael]

We need a link. We need a link.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Okay.

[Casey Wilson]

Honestly, add to cart should be one link and it should be this.

[Sujin Pak]

Yeah.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

Everything else.

[Sujin Pak]

And Paula's been totally gatekeeping it. Yeah.

[Casey Wilson]

But this is Paul.

[June Diane Raphael]

He is. That has not come up at all.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

And that's not Cool.

[June Diane Raphael]

Paul, now maybe Case will go in her family room with this. That's what.

[Casey Wilson]

Yes. Thank you.

[June Diane Raphael]

Paul is keeping her out of her family room.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Wow. Yeah.

[Sujin Pak]

Wow. Yeah. No.

[Casey Wilson]

Okay.

[Sujin Pak]

He's already. Because we had that candy cane like, that was like. That was an early iteration. And then there was an advancement made in the tree watering technology.

[Jessica St. Clair]

If you get the tree, say, two or three days before Christmas, you don't need. I mean, you don't even need to water it really.

[June Diane Raphael]

Well.

[Casey Wilson]

It's already dead as a doorknob.

[June Diane Raphael]

So, Jin, do you pull it down the day after Christmas? Like, when does it come down?

[Casey Wilson]

Great question.

[Jessica St. Clair]

I mean, I don't do the pulling down because that breaks my heart and cool up.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

You are not to talk about post Christmas because I don't want to cool up. You're very, very strict about when they come down. Is that right?

[June Diane Raphael]

I mean, it's.

[Jessica St. Clair]

It's.

[June Diane Raphael]

Cause it's heartbreaking. It's heartbreaking because now we're after the Super Bowl. You know what I mean? And so it's like it's time to.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Yeah. It's just dark until next year. Yeah.

[June Diane Raphael]

Although Casey and I were talking last year, her dear friend Amanda. You know I'll never say it right.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

Huggy hug, Hoogie Hugga, Hiji, Hygie hiji.

[June Diane Raphael]

Could be. Could be. We're saying all the letters is to this idea of keeping the cozy. Take all the ornaments out, maybe leave what you can with just lights and bead garland take us into.

[Casey Wilson]

You know, you live in like a cold part of the country. She likes to ride it through January, which is a tough month, depression wise for a lot of people.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

Oh, it's tough for everyone.

[Sujin Pak]

Jason man Sukis in, you know, during COVID left his tree up till.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

That's a cry for help. That is a cry.

[Jessica St. Clair]

That is a cry for help.

[June Diane Raphael]

But the issue with me keeping it for too long is that I gotta haul all this. It's all gotta get put away.

[Casey Wilson]

Well, now am I allowed to tell? So I'm just trying to see how real we should be here. Now, June, you once said a phrase that rang so true to me, which was, I never said I was relatable.

[Sujin Pak]

And I don't want to be.

[Casey Wilson]

Yeah, but all the work I'm about to tell you involved me in my home for two full days with a crew.

[Sujin Pak]

It has to ask.

[Casey Wilson]

I had to load in.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Yeah.

[June Diane Raphael]

Casey, you haven't finished. The tree can also. Let's finish. There's more even done with the tree count.

[Sujin Pak]

No, I Do want to ask? Because I picture Casey, I picture like several people coming in with like picnic tables to just like, not picnic tables, but like folding tables to just like.

[Casey Wilson]

That's exactly right.

[June Diane Raphael]

I don't know.

[Sujin Pak]

I had that in my head. Okay. There's a crew. There's.

[Casey Wilson]

Yeah, there's a. Now I also do my organ house organizational on those two days. So it's a lot.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

Well, it's great.

[Casey Wilson]

We call it load in.

[Sujin Pak]

It's load in day. Oh, my God.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Does the whole family then go to a hotel?

[Casey Wilson]

No, but they don't like it. There's a lot of talk about 27 things of Christmas and then a half quarter of a table with our Hanukkah decorations and my husband and, you know, guys, the way families merged so beautifully our. Our seasons. But it takes two full days to do it. But the final thing is that in my office, I have an office out there. And then I have a little podcast studio in here in the main office. I had done a Halloween tree this year. Lauren Lapkis convinced me of that.

[Sujin Pak]

Yeah, I was gonna say. How did that go?

[Casey Wilson]

Well, I decided I was like, I don't wanna spend money on this. So I bought a white tree, thinking maybe I could set, you know, kind of hold that gal between Thanksgiving and Christmas and. But you know what? Culap through and I, through careful consideration and discussions, many, many came up with. Many came up with the white tree in my office doing a kind of Frank Sinatra, kind of old Hollywood, old inspired. It's old, old Christmas of like, I can't even just go, what is it?

[Coolop Vilaisak]

Crosby.

[Sujin Pak]

Bing Crosby.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Casey Wilson]

Pinks, it's light.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

Blues, it's martinis.

[Casey Wilson]

White, it's martini.

[Sujin Pak]

Can I ask Casey? So that's five.

[Jessica St. Clair]

No, that's six. That's six.

[June Diane Raphael]

That's six. And then with podcast Tree seven, now.

[Casey Wilson]

Podcast, I'd like to just touch down on this one. This is where my creativity took flight. And it's the smallest one.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Oh, wow.

[Casey Wilson]

I decided to do an honorary tree to my mother who has passed.

[June Diane Raphael]

Oh, well, that's beautiful.

[Casey Wilson]

Now this tree is all bubble lights, which we used to do in my house, and little red Coca Cola ornaments.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

Oh, that's cute.

[Casey Wilson]

And they're it. I love it.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

That's special.

[Sujin Pak]

That's very special.

[Casey Wilson]

And I really. So I am saying you can get inspired with a little tiny tree too. Could be for something.

[Jessica St. Clair]

So that's seven.

[Casey Wilson]

Well, there's one more su. I'm gonna show everyone that nobody really knows where could it be a secret tree? Okay, well, you know, I did. I did purchase a very small place in La Quinta, California. Now, we loaded in that house this last weekend. Okay.

[Sujin Pak]

That tree, yes, of course.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

This is a Palm Springs. La Quinta people don't know necessarily. It's. But very close to Palm Springs.

[Casey Wilson]

Yeah. So we bought the house with the furniture, which sounds so strange, but it was. I'm so lazy. So it was perfect. Everything's there. So we walk in the house and I have a handy person meeting me there. I mean, I'm not even a foot into the house. He's putting up two large items.

[Sujin Pak]

I have to say, you are. Your Christmas is keeping the economy going. You're really keeping. You're really keeping people working, which is nice.

[Casey Wilson]

And my husband said, we're only here four days of the Christmas season. What is this man bringing in?

[Jessica St. Clair]

What did he bring in? The first thing.

[Casey Wilson]

He had two things to put together. A crib and a tree. And I said, get going on her.

[June Diane Raphael]

Baby needs a nap.

[Casey Wilson]

Baby nap. But my baby needed to really get up. And I'm gonna show you guys a photo. And I know you can't see this, but I thought this was gonna be a casual gal. I thought this. I genuinely thought. In my heart, I thought I got a seven foot, which is big. I did a cheapo is. It's all like cheap, fake, but good. It's not Balsam Hill.

[June Diane Raphael]

Okay.

[Casey Wilson]

So it's like shedding. It looks like the tree in the grove.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

Oh, my God.

[Casey Wilson]

The ceilings are so tall you can't quite see, but it's double the size of that fireplace.

[Jessica St. Clair]

How big? That's not 7 foot. That looks.

[June Diane Raphael]

That's a 12 footer if I've ever seen one.

[Casey Wilson]

Gigantic. That's a depravadable storage tree. You can't see around it. You can't even look.

[Sujin Pak]

Please.

[Casey Wilson]

You can't walk around to the other part of the house. You can't get around.

[Sujin Pak]

It also somehow looks like two dimensional. Like, I can't imagine that there's a back to it. And again, that's no.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

Just.

[Sujin Pak]

That's no disrespect to your tree. Like, I love all trees in all their shapes and sizes.

[Jessica St. Clair]

I've lost count. Is it nine or eight? Are we at seven? What was that? We're at eight.

[Casey Wilson]

Thank you. And then, then I have a little ceramic pink tree in my daughter's room.

[Sujin Pak]

You know, I know exactly what that.

[Casey Wilson]

Tree is, but that is a ceramic one. But it does.

[June Diane Raphael]

I don't. That doesn't count.

[Sujin Pak]

That doesn't count. Although I am thinking of getting. Because, you know, I grew up with the green version of that ceramic one and that could be a nice addition to my office. So that's making me think I was.

[Casey Wilson]

Thinking it this whole time. June, I didn't want to take any more time, but I wanted to say I would like that on your desk.

[June Diane Raphael]

And I want to tell you that I will send you a link. It's [e-mail].

[Coolop Vilaisak]

It absolutely is. It's having a moment.

[Sujin Pak]

Wait, but I have to ask because there was a conversation this year about another, like, fairly controversial topic, Christmas topic. And I don't know where you landed on it, Casey. And it's something I've still been toying with. And that is tinsel.

[Casey Wilson]

Well, June, wouldn't you know it? Inspired by your father. When I go back to La Quinta, this bad boy's getting tinsel.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Oh, wow.

[Casey Wilson]

And I'm thinking maybe no ornaments, just ribbon and tinsel.

[June Diane Raphael]

Love that I look.

[Casey Wilson]

I love that I don't have a.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Ladder, given it's 14ft to get there.

[Casey Wilson]

Yeah, that's right.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Yeah.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

You're gonna just toss it up and hope it lands in the right spot. That takedown is going to be tough with tinsel.

[June Diane Raphael]

She's not doing it.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

Cool.

[Casey Wilson]

Op. I will absolutely text someone and how dare Casey is.

[Sujin Pak]

Is single handedly lowering the unemployment rate in this country. And I tip my hat.

[June Diane Raphael]

This is what this is Casey math like to wait.

[Casey Wilson]

Cool up. Tell Casey math about what you decided.

[June Diane Raphael]

Because we were at traditions and she was like as she's just adding to cart. Adding to cart irl. She's like, I have no more surface. I have no more surfaces. And Casey math is to purchase a home in La Quinta to take half of her.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

That's wild Christmas stuff. What a wild way to live. It's like when you watch the people living. I don't mean to keep bringing back the gilded Age. When you watch them live in Newport and you're like, really? You need a footman for every single party guest. And it's like the excess, you know, and you know what happened to all of those poor people, you know, like their homes got turned into museums because everything fell apart for them, you know, we're seeing the disillusion of the railroad industry, you know, and the upcoming.

[June Diane Raphael]

Why are you bringing this onto tree time?

[Jessica St. Clair]

Why are you.

[Sujin Pak]

This isn't tree talk. This is some tree talk.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

But didn't they enjoy it? Didn't they enjoy it while they Christmas.

[Sujin Pak]

Is a time of excess as far as I'm concerned. It's a maximalist kind of experience. That's the way I practice it, at least.

[Casey Wilson]

And that's the way I will ask Suchin to practice it. Even if. Could we inch that back to the 22nd? That's a genuine question.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

Yeah.

[Jessica St. Clair]

I mean, I'm open. I'm open. We'll see what's left. You know, there's not much left once I go to the. Yeah.

[June Diane Raphael]

There's only like four or five branches. And she's got to prop up the.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

Charlie Brown Christmas at that point.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Yes, we do often get the Charlie Brown. And you have to admit there's charm to that.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

Right?

[Sujin Pak]

Am I right?

[Jessica St. Clair]

Am I right?

[Sujin Pak]

And I will totally, totally. I do think there is. And I will say, as someone who's been on a journey, Suchin, like. Like, you don't have to go. You don't have to be where cool up and Casey are right away, you know, but just let them see what your Christmas edges are and see if.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

To push boundaries and she and your.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Edges all out of our comfort where I'm comfortable.

[Casey Wilson]

If you had told me, yeah, I love it on the 25th. That's how I like to do it, and I love it. And that's that. But that's not what I'm hearing.

[June Diane Raphael]

That's not the energy that you bring forth.

[Casey Wilson]

What I'm hearing is. Is how much joy this Christmas village has brought.

[June Diane Raphael]

That's right.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Yeah.

[Casey Wilson]

Just want to reflect that back to you.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Yeah.

[Sujin Pak]

Can I ask a question about the village? Is the village on the kitchen table? So it's really like. It's really interacted with every day. Dining room.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

Where is it?

[Jessica St. Clair]

No, it's in the corner behind a couch next to a deep freezer. But, you know, things can change every year. There's room to grow.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

Oh, my God.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Spring comes, the daffodils rise. I don't know where I'm going with it, but you know what I'm talking about.

[June Diane Raphael]

You're talking about building something so that it can be displayed better. You are talking about that.

[Jessica St. Clair]

I would like to get to a point where I'm texting Casey's person when that person is off hours. So sometime in between February and March.

[Casey Wilson]

I take them from the 1st to the 30th, of course.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Right, right. And I think the village is gonna have to have some sort of custom build because it is now to the point where there can't be a single table big enough to hold the village.

[Casey Wilson]

Nothing would make me happier for than that custom piece to be built literally in my life.

[June Diane Raphael]

Yeah, me too.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

I want to just put this out there because this is my kind of secret. And not because it's a shame, but I just don't share it with the Christmas is here chain. I probably share it just with cool op. I have a dollhouse filled with mice. With meelig mice. And I consulted a deep diver who has made dollhouses her business at MCS Minis.

[Jessica St. Clair]

And she.

[Casey Wilson]

Say that again, Jess. Cause she's a genius.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

MCS Minis. Okay. M I N I s okay. And I said to her, could you please make my dollhouse into Christmas? And she sent me a box of the most delectable miniature things. Miniature Christmas cakes, miniat a fireplace, all the lights. Now my dollhouse. My. And I say doll. My mouse house has four trees. It has a tree in every room.

[Sujin Pak]

You should be counting those trees.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

Let's count those trees. But what I wanted to say is.

[Casey Wilson]

That it's like little Jessica has her trees.

[Sujin Pak]

Yeah.

[Casey Wilson]

I'd love for big Jessica to get.

[Sujin Pak]

Her nuts at therapy.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

This is pretty crazy because my 10 year old Bibi said, you need to take down this dollhouse. This is embarrassing to me because everyone thinks it's mine and I am 10 years old. And so things are happening.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Move it to the bedroom.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

I could move it to my bedroom. What I have done instead is I moved the mice out onto cupboards and they are having Christmas all over the house.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Oh, my goodness. It's mouse vignettes.

[Sujin Pak]

I love this.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

So I'm looking right now at my mic.

[Jessica St. Clair]

She's back in the group chat. Now I know why she's there. I was confused. I'm gonna be honest.

[Sujin Pak]

This is inspires. Yeah.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

And they even came out, you know, you saw it Thanksgiving. They came out onto the tablescape and they were having the miniature version.

[June Diane Raphael]

And who did that? Bibi did that.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

Bibi did that. So let children like you did with Gus. Let them bring a fresh perspective. And don't. Yeah. If you've got a dollhouse and they're and children are forcing you to take it down, let them spill out over the house.

[Casey Wilson]

I challenge you. Anytime you have an impulse to do something to these mice, I think. Think about maybe I want that.

[June Diane Raphael]

Oh, wow.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

What do you mean, Casey? Tell me.

[Casey Wilson]

Like, the mice have trees. The mice have this. I think maybe Jess wants these trees.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

That is so. I know people think we're doing a bit. This is so insightful.

[Casey Wilson]

I'm not doing. I've never done Less of one. But I love this idea.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

Here's something to remember about these mice. They're never working. Right now, I'm looking at two gal pals catching up over a Christmas cake. There's a whole kitchen set up. And you know this mouse house. They have a chef. They don't.

[June Diane Raphael]

Of course they do.

[Sujin Pak]

Of course they do.

[Jessica St. Clair]

They're not relatable.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

They're always eating carbs. These mice are always.

[Casey Wilson]

I need a lot of photos of them.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

Yeah.

[Sujin Pak]

I can't believe we haven't seen them. Because this is your Christmas village.

[Casey Wilson]

Yes, absolutely.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Thank you, June. Thank you for setting the table again. Wow.

[June Diane Raphael]

Ladies, I have to wrap this up. I know we would go for. I know we didn't. I know we were.

[Jessica St. Clair]

I need to stretch. I have no blood coming to my legs.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

I did.

[Sujin Pak]

We just got started.

[Casey Wilson]

We can't even ask what our hopes are for next year.

[Jessica St. Clair]

No, we really can't.

[June Diane Raphael]

We simply can't.

[Casey Wilson]

Okay.

[June Diane Raphael]

Casey, June, Jessica, what an absolute honor and delight it's been. I don't know if we have any tree time converts because we barely talked about it. We talked about trees. We mainly talked about trees.

[Casey Wilson]

Yeah. We took the time to talk about trees. Yeah.

[Jessica St. Clair]

I love you.

[June Diane Raphael]

You're all so beautiful. You know where to find all of these three ladies. You're only following Casey. Casey, Rose Wilson, June at. June, Diane and Jessica at St. Clair. Jessica. Happy tree time to all, and to.

[Casey Wilson]

All a good night.

[Sujin Pak]

Merry Christmas.

[Coolop Vilaisak]

Merry Christmas.

[Casey Wilson]

Merry, Merry. Hi.

[June Diane Raphael]

Hi, Sue. Hi, Coo. My personal Christmas tradition is wearing a different pair of Christmas socks every day of the Christmas season. I have 35 pairs now, and there's little penguins with hats and scarves, gingerbread men. I've got flamingos in winter garb and a pair I'm very fond of, which is a shark with a Santa hat that says Santa Jaws. But, yeah, I basically define my Christmas season based on how many days I'll be able to wear Christmas socks.

[I]

Hello, aunties. This is Aunt calling from Minnesota. And one of my holiday habits is relatively new. I don't think it's. I think it's too young to be a tradition. But it's only been the past few years. But I got really into punches during COVID My mom has this old antique punch bowl, and I was like, hell, yeah. So started making a bunch of punches between, like, November 1st all the way through New Year. And it makes me feel like I'm at a cocktail party of yore, even though I never host anything, but it makes me feel like a hostess with the mostest, even if I'm bringing it to other people's parties. If you've got any, like, weird things that you're like, what am I supposed to do with this? I'm talking half bottles of vermouth, any of the weird fortified wine things, and then some cheap bubbly. You're you've got yourself a punch. It's so good and it's hard to go wrong. Anyway, happy holidays. Always. Listen.

[Jessica St. Clair]

There'S more. Add to Cart with Lemonada Premium subscribers get exclusive access to bonus content, like where we tell you about the last item we bought or returned and why. Subscribe now in Apple Podcasts Add to.

[June Diane Raphael]

Cart is a production of Lemon on Media. Our producers are Keegan Zema and Tiffany Bui. Brian Castillo is our engineer.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Theme music is by Wasabi and produced by LA Made it and oh so familiar with additional music by APM Music. Executive producers are Culap Vilaisak, Sujin Pak, Jessica Cordova Kramer, and Stephanie Wittleswax.

[June Diane Raphael]

Be sure to check out all the items we mentioned today on our Instagram dtocartpod. Follow Add to Cart wherever you get your podcast or listen ad free on Amazon Music with your prime membership.

[J]

Why, hello there. This is your pal Sarah Silverman. You know, the standup comic that's not afraid of a diarrhea joke. Oh my God, I'm so brave. I hope you're enjoying this podcast that you're listening to. I am just dropping in here to let you know about another podcast I think you'd like, and it's called the Sarah Silverman Podcast. Each week, listeners from all over the world call in and they ask me for advice or they talk about something going on in their life. Anything. Their silliest, grossest, deepest, darkest situations. And then I respond, whether I'm qualified to or not. Go ahead. Search for the Sarah Silverman podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

[Jessica St. Clair]

Bye.

[June Diane Raphael]

Hi everyone. Gloria Rivera here, and we are back for another season of no One Is Coming to Save Us, a podcast about America's childcare crisis. This season, we're delving deep into five critical issues facing our country through the lens of childcare, poverty, mental health, housing, climate change, and the public school system. By exploring these connections, we aim to highlight that childcare is not an isolated issue, but one that influences all facets of American life. Season 4 of No1 Is Coming to Save Us is out now, wherever you get your podcasts.