When I was a teen, our next door elderly neighbour knocked on our door, dressed as the most perfect Santa. To this day I have no idea where she got the costume. She brought a basket of modest gifts for me and my young nieces. The magic of the effort she made has stayed with me as the most magical Christmas connection . No expensive gift could ever match that.

A boyfriend gave me the money to fly across the world to see my ill mum. This has been the best present ever. Although we are not together any longer, I will always remember his generosity. I spend a month with my mum. The next time I saw her she was in a deep comma. I am extremely grateful for this.

@dietasniley7619

7 ай бұрын

My heart went out to you when I read this. You will treasure this in your memory forever. I lost my mum when I was young. Sending you lots of love.XXX ❤

@galyosorio5647

7 ай бұрын

Thank you so much. It was really hard. What this ex gave me, more than the money, was time with my mum. I will be forever grateful. Sorry for your loss too xxx

Best Christmas presents I received was after my divorce, my parents each Christmas would give me a few small gifts, then they would buy me a ticket to London UK from Canada, hotel and spending money, every Christmas for quite a few years they did this. And since my birthday was 3 weeks after Christmas, they would give me more spending money for my trip to take in the Spring. It was fantastic and gave mesomething to look forward to after being alone, only child and found Christmas a little daunting. This year I am taking myself to a lovely hotel for dinner and planning my trip to London in memory of my parent’s in their memory. Lovely Museum you took us to. One trip to Paris I sent to the Picasso Museum, small at the time and not a large crowd and also shopped at the Gallery Lafayette store too, it was so beautiful. Thank you for this lovely day, it was fantastic. Love all the lights at night and decorations.

One Christmas as a child, I was lucky enough to get a handmade gift from each grandmother- a blue knitted sweater from one and a crocheted (mainly same shade of blue!) afghan blanket from the other. I wore/wrapped myself in both and felt so loved.

Hands down best gift as a child was a kitten. 😊 As an adult, no one gift stands out. I will say, the best gift I've given, according to the recipient (my mom), was a pretty jar filled with my favorite memories of her/us. I wrote them on small, fortune cookie size slips of paper. My mom passed away a few years ago and now I have the collection of memories to pull from, when I'm missing her.

@JessicaRoseWilliams

7 ай бұрын

awh I love that! what a beautiful gift to receive ❤️❤️ and keepsake to treasure

I’m so enjoying your vlogmas Jessica. I look forward to it every day, as if I’m meeting up with a friend! Thank you for being authentic and real, where others don’t appear to be. And thank you for your kindness, gentleness and wisdom and for sharing Paris with us. xx

Jessica, as someone going through the breakdown of a ten year relationship, your vlog is giving me confidence to start over. I also want to say thanks for not shying away from difficult conversations. You’re right about looking at people on social media and j no one really knowing what’s going on. I understand why people don’t share, we are private people, but this is why I’m sharing the good the bad and the ugly of what I’m going through. I’ve had quite a few viewers say it’s making them feel less alone so it’s worth it. Regarding gifts I would say gift with the person in mind. It’s important to remember that if the person is introverted, an experience gift may go to waste. I love the idea of gifting with someone’s love language in mind. Mine is definitely being given the persons company. ❤

When I was eight years old, we didn’t have a lot of money, but my Mom bought me a Madame Alexander baby doll. I loved her so much and still have her today. She is a little worse for wear, but still precious to me.

The first Christmas after I was married, my husband and I agreed we could spend no more than $5. We were at university and struggling to pay tuition and buy groceries. My husband managed to get enough money together to gift me with a beautiful cameo set in gold. I burst into tears when I opened it. It is one of the most precious things I own.

I don't have loneliness in my life. Each day I learn something and watch the seasons and am grateful. I often want to be on my own and happy when I am.

When I was in middle school my grandparents bought my sister's and me the horse we had been leasing. We had ridden for years and worked hard to afford lessons, and getting that horse was like a dream come true. Chocolate was such a good pony, and although older we enjoyed him so much in the years we had him.

Best gift ever was a family member building me a beautiful oak dining table.

When I was a kid, we didn't have a lot of money, so Christmas gifts were always quite limited. One year, though, I got *the whole box set* of *all eight Anne of Green Gables* books, at once, on one holiday. I almost died and went to heaven. To this day, I still love spending Boxing Day on the couch, reading all day with a special new Christmas Book. :)

Best gift ever...a rescue dog that picked me for Christmas.🐾🐾💖💖

@JessicaRoseWilliams

7 ай бұрын

Oh I LOVE that ❤️❤️❤️

Loved seeing the Christmas lights in Paris so pretty, I love museums and galleries too.

Honestly my favorite gift ever was a really tough year where my mom and I ended up on our own, I was only maybe 4 but the gift I got was a matching dress for myself and my baby doll that she sewed for me. I remember it still really fondly

Love everything about this. Your creativity and the beauty you reveal in your everyday. And also the truths you speak … so uplifting and encouraging. Xo

A glass bowl filled with home made biscuits and the recipe

@JessicaRoseWilliams

7 ай бұрын

yum

Beautiful 😍 lights, thanks for sharing 😊 they were like a gift to everyone from each of those companies

Thank you so much for sharing yourself and your wisdom. The dress is beautiful and suits you perfectly. This time of year everyone feels nostalgic I think. I am intuitive and an empath and I feel people’s sadness. So I understand. They say to smile at yourself in a mirror helps. 😁

@JessicaRoseWilliams

7 ай бұрын

you're welcome lovely Georgia. So pleased you enjoyed it ❤️

I always enjoy imagining the stories of the people around me and the stories of the houses as well. Yes, indeed. That's why it's more meaningful to give an experience as a gift rather than an object, because after a few years, we won't remember what it was, but we remember experiences much better, especially if we had good laughs during them.

@JessicaRoseWilliams

7 ай бұрын

we always remember the feeling ❤️❤️❤️

I'm loving your vlogmas episodes. My favourite Christmas gift ever was an Ed Stewpot Stewart portable record.player. My dad gave me all of his old 45 and 33 records. I had a ball as an 8 year old in the 70's and still have an eclectic mix of musical taste to this day.

This is the most beautiful vlog I’ve watched this year. Thank you ❤️ Materially, my favourite Christmas gift was a Sezane cardigan that my sister and brother bought for me. It was my first Christmas away from my family, staying with my new in-laws, and the love I felt on a day where I missed them so much was overwhelming. Last year, my husband and I bought our first home together and we hosted Christmas two weeks later. It wasn’t perfect but it felt magical to be somewhere we could truly call our own.

I relate to so many things you are sharing here. Quality time is my love language and I can honestly say that experience gifts have been the best gifts for me. However, it is true that everyone is different and I am happy to spend money on a physical gift if it brings the person joy. Isn't that what it's all about? Bringing a person you love some joy and meaning? I can only imagine how much work it is to put out a daily vlog, but I truly love them and they bring me much warmth and beauty and make me feel less alone in my own sadness. I am also entering the autumn phase in my cycle (PMS has always been a big struggle for me) and I am learning to embrace everything that comes with it. You are not alone in it. Thanks for the beautiful moments you shared! Oh, and one of the best gifts I have ever received were tickets to a show with one of my favorite musicians combined with a weekend getaway and exploring a new city.

@JessicaRoseWilliams

7 ай бұрын

absolutely! we're all so different and there's no right or wrong. I'm so pleased you've been enjoying the vlogs. thank you for taking the time to let me know

Wow Paris looks so beautiful at Christmas! I hope you're feeling a bit better. I agree with what you said about loneliness. I too can feel my loneliest in a room full of people (depending who's in the room), more so than being on my own. Oh and my favourite Christmas present was a bright yellow tape recorder which I used to record the top 10 hits every Sunday! 😄

Jess I've really been enjoying vlogmas with you. 🎄 Loved today's museum tour and the festive lights. For some reason it got me crying. The music was so beautifully paired with your camera work. Who knows, maybe I just needed a good cry. 😅 One of the best gifts I ever received was when I was in jr high. We never had much money and Isotoner gloves were all the rage. Of course I really wanted a pair but knew they were quite pricey. We always got to open our stocking presents on Christmas Eve and there they were. My mom had somehow managed to get them. Silly that such a materialistic thing is my favourite Christmas memory. However I could feel the love behind the gift. Being a parent now and knowing the worry of, do we have enough money for gifts, makes it that much more special. Does that make sense? I feel like I'm rambling a bit. This time of year does make me miss my mom even more. It lost her jus t after the new year nearly six years ago. Ah, that's why I'm so emotional. Geez, can't believe I didn't think of it before. Thanks for listening. See you tomorrow. 😊

@JessicaRoseWilliams

7 ай бұрын

yay! I'm so pleased you enjoyed and the emotion transferred. they were so so beautiful. see you tomorrow!

My favourite present was a rabbit when I was 10.

Wise words, thank you

My cherished gift would be : Being in Paris for the holidays. that would be my answer I think. : ) Another was when I was a child, my father made rocking horses for myself and my two younger sisters. I still have mine in my studio. While it is a 'thing" is hold so many memories from my life(I'm tearing up as I write this though so Ill stop now.)

Loved all the lights ❤

My house rabbit Dora, she was such a character and lived to the ripe old age of 12 happy years.

Paris lit up! Wow!💕 My very best Christmas gift ever is actually why I celebrate Christmas. It is the gift of Jesus. He is my Savior, my Lord, and my very best friend. Because of Him I actually don’t feel lonely. Of course, we are human so we feel all the emotions at times. Sadness, disappointment, anger, fear……. But, we also get to experience happiness, joy, love , peace. My best gift as a child was a Mrs Beasley doll. Lol! She was a doll that looked like a grandma. I come from a broken home ( like most people) so the grandma doll seemed comforting. We were very poor so I didn’t even tell anyone I wanted her. Christmas morning, there she was! Come to find out, many years later, that someone my mom worked with gave our name to a local church and they provided us the gifts that morning. 🥰🙏

Lovely Post Jessica ,Thank you.

Hi Jess, thank you for sharing your emotions. I feel very down right now but I am relaxed and feel better watching your vlogmas tonight xxx

@JessicaRoseWilliams

7 ай бұрын

I'm so sorry you feel down but also glad you enjoyed the vlog ❤️ thank you for letting me know

Loved this, and loved that Hope walked over to you when you were talking about the experience of being alone.

@JessicaRoseWilliams

7 ай бұрын

❤️❤️

Your vlogmas has been so wonderfully beautifully. This year has to my favorite present and that’s because my husband has been an human advent calendar. A concept I’ve never heard of! So each morning he’ll come in (I wake up vers 7:30) have my coffee and I’ll kiss him to release the advent calendar gift from the kangaroo pocket of his PJ’s. Oh my…sincerely the sweetest and best Xmas gift!

I soo love your vlogs how real and honest you are…I think that is a gift for you on you tube! I don’t often always come across many you tubers that are actually showing the real person! And that’s not to say they are not being real or anything, they probably just prefer to show the glitz and glam more but I think it’s great when you come across someone you can actually relate to and I like that about your vlogs Jess. I love it when you went home at the end and you said about how we basically are more connected than we think and that we don’t always know what people are going through even though they look happy sometimes you don’t know what you don’t know, I think a lot of people in life put on a brave face out there how true this rang to me when you mentioned this it actually brought a tear to my eye as I know people who have said this to me in person so it made me think back to that conversation a couple of weeks ago…we are all one and all connected in some way and all our emotions affect each other in the end. What a lovely vlog Jess thank you for sharing this ❤l

Thank you for gifting us an experience in Paris. I think sometimes we feel lonely because we have lost connection with nature. A little grounding may help. I am having a difficult time remembering a favorite Christmas gift. I do remember the celebrations, decorations and the food. I remember sitting together as a family at the dinner table, saying grace and not knowing where to start because everything was just sooo delicious.

@JessicaRoseWilliams

7 ай бұрын

you're so welcome! and yes I so relate to this

I have everything I need and experiences are definitely a winner for me. That said, the Stella McCartney bag you have would add to my joy for sure 😂 x

@JessicaRoseWilliams

7 ай бұрын

that made me lol xx

I must say ... Hope is such a beautiful and sweet dog. 🥰❤️🥰❤️🥰❤️

@JessicaRoseWilliams

7 ай бұрын

Thank you 🙏🏼

I watched your Athens vlogs at the time... looked amazing x i am terrible at recieving gifts as i feel guilty... x

Hello dear soul❤ I love this museum too. It’s a place to feel yourself, gently touch yourself in simbolistic way…

adore the cafe’s + chatting & paris christmas views🎀🎄💗

@JessicaRoseWilliams

7 ай бұрын

So pleased you enjoyed ❤️

Day in the spa

Thank you for being you Jess and being open and curious to learn about yourself and sharing with us. It helps me feel less alone. Like u say we all have struggles. Connection is my quest in life. Freedom and connection are interlinked i believe. Lights were lovely to see. Its so beneficial to track your cycle and be able to understand why you feel a certain way. I've just come off my period this month. Do u find some months are worse than others in terms of how u feel? This month I was sooo down on myself, as u say that inner critic. Also, heightened anxiety. Emotional and teary. Im glad you talk about this stuff ❤

@JessicaRoseWilliams

7 ай бұрын

always nice to know you're not alone ❤️ mmmmmm I would say the patterns tend to repeat lol

♡

Loved this! It seemed such a nice museum to go to! And love the postcard! It looked a lovely day. The postcard as well can always remind you of when you first started to think of moving to Paris, and the end of the year being in Paris!

@JessicaRoseWilliams

7 ай бұрын

oh it's a beauty! and yes, absolutely

Mr. potatoes head as a young child! I could make faces and I loved it for about one hour! 😐 My memories, are my favorite part of Christmas. Being raised by a French family, the food was always a highlight, but for me Christmas has always been about being surrounded by the people I loved and cherished, and seeing their faces, hugging them, smelling them, kissing them. I get goosebumps, to me it was like heaven. I have received beautiful things over the years and have appreciated them of course, but remains for me the people I love, is what makes me swoon.

@JessicaRoseWilliams

7 ай бұрын

❤️❤️❤️❤️

Jess I so love the softness of your videos, as a 68 yr old in South Africa you living my dream. Bisous ❣️

@JessicaRoseWilliams

7 ай бұрын

bisous xx

Best present of my life at age 10 was a dappled buckskin welsh pony. I’m now 58. As a pretty lonely child I loved that best friend pony so very much 🐎

@JessicaRoseWilliams

7 ай бұрын

Oh I can imagine! Lucky girl ❤️❤️❤️

Know just what you meant by feeling lonely in a crowd. I’ve got our Christmas staff night out on Friday and I always find it such an ordeal despite getting on well with everyone. We are such funny creatures us human beings aren’t we.?

Ugh I have that don't want to bother anyone mentality too. That's why I didn't stop you when I saw you in the Marais!

@JessicaRoseWilliams

7 ай бұрын

You should have! ❤️

For gifting I'm like you, I value experiences more and my top love languages are words of affirmation and acts of service so these always touch me deeply ❤

@JessicaRoseWilliams

7 ай бұрын

ah yes that makes total sense for you

I love your Vlogmas videos! ❤🎄🎁

@JessicaRoseWilliams

7 ай бұрын

thank youuuuuuuuuuu 😘

@Amyavalon1844

7 ай бұрын

@@JessicaRoseWilliams ❤️

Loved this. Thank you for the tips on the quieter museums. 🥰 the Lafayette tree😯

@JessicaRoseWilliams

7 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed!

Loved todays vlog. Thank you for sharing the beautiful Christmas lights of Paris…. Actually made me cry too….. I think for me, my best Christmas gift is yet to come, as next year I’m going to find myself a little rescue dog to be my life’s companion….. In terms of reaching out to people, I’m the same, tend to deal with everything myself and don’t want to bother people as I feel they won’t understand and I feel very misunderstood in life in general anyway. I do have a very lovely best friend who is my rock. She and I have been friends for 36 years so good friendships are so precious I can also relate to the loneliness you express, even with people I still feel it, not all the time, mostly i can deal with it but sometimes it just makes me sad The museum you went to looked beautiful. That gorgeous Art Nouveau staircase! Wow! Thank you 🎄

@JessicaRoseWilliams

7 ай бұрын

awh I'm so pleased you enjoyed it! and I'm so excited for you and your new pooch. what a gift that will be. endless memories to be made

Beautiful architecture of the buildings. I love the way u capture Paris❤🎁 Christmas 🎄 in Paris one day🙏🏼 New subscriber LOVE ur content

May I ask how old you are because I think you just described the toy I bought my daughter when she was a little girl. She is 31

We actually don't give any gifts with Christmas, never have. Maybe in part because my brothers birthday is on Christmasday and in part because we have Sinterklaas on December 5th in the Netherlands. But some of my favourite gifts have been experiences too, trips with my mom. Loved those 😊

@JessicaRoseWilliams

7 ай бұрын

thank you for sharing this. I love hearing how differently people do things

Jess, please share the brand names of your favourite wardrobe basics. I keep drooling over your beautiful leggings and sporty camis. Thank you loads in advance x

@JessicaRoseWilliams

7 ай бұрын

ohhhhh I would say sezane, equipment, splendid la, reformation and sports wise I love oysho and Lulu lemon xx

Have you visited Nissim de Camondo? It's my favourite museum in Paris ☺

@JessicaRoseWilliams

7 ай бұрын

I haven't but I'll add it to my list. thank you for sharing

Depuis 4 ans,je demande un Amoureux. Finalement cette année la Vie m'a offert un temps d'arrêt sans enfants.alors je suis prête à sortir de ma zone de confort et recevoir les cadeaux de la Vie.en premier l'amoureux si longtemps espérer .depuis 5 ans que je suis seule avec mes 2 enfants. Il faut que je redevienne une femme et non ,comme présentement juste une mom

I remember several times in Paris when I was vulnerable especially as I seen happy couples in live romantic experiences that make you feel lonely. I feel Christmas is about experience and my favourite Christmas present was a hand made knitted stocking simple things make me happy. Christmas in Paris is magical and just that is Enough. 😊🩷🌲

Around 25 years ago my husband learned to play a song on the piano for me because we didn’t have a lot of money. We used what money we had to buy our children presents and that is one of my favorite Christmas presents 🫶🏽🫶🏽🫶🏽😄 I just remembered it was the song by the transiberian orchestra the Christmas canon