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It’s never too early to start thinking about Christmas! To be honest, we’re already late. But don’t fret! Casey Rose Wilson, everyone’s favorite holiday angel, returns to the podcast with her top picks for decking the halls this year. Her vintage yuletide aesthetic captures the magic of Christmases of old, packed with enough holiday spirit to warm even SuChin’s Grinch-y heart. Plus, Kulap and Casey have a new strategy for more #treetime this year — lighting up a jaunty tenenbaum in nearly every room of their house. Take a break from the summer heat and come celebrate with us!

Please note, Add To Cart contains mature themes and may not be appropriate for all listeners.

To see all products mentioned in this episode, head to @addtocartpod on Instagram. To purchase any of the products, see below.

• These vintage Noma Bubble Lites are a shot of Christmas nostalgia
• The most Christmas Christmas decoration ever – a Christopher Radko ornament garland
• Who needs snow with this Wayfair Artificial Spruce Christmas Tree
• Get into the spirit with this Johnny Mathis vinyl 
• Sometimes one sip of Coca-Cola is all you need to get a taste of the holidays
• Check out Bitch Sesh with Casey and Danielle Schneider wherever you get your podcasts

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Transcript

SPEAKERS

SuChin Pak, Kulap Vilaysack, Casey

SuChin Pak  01:30

Welcome back, listeners to another episode another very special episode of Add To Cart. This is a show about the things we buy, the things we become obsessed with, and what it says about who we are. I’m SuChin Pak.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  01:45

And I’m Kulap Vilaysack, Su. You know what? I’m not talking today about hot dogs and fireworks. Nananananana. No, in July. That’s obvious. That’s what everybody’s doing. Should we feel beholden to celebrating certain holidays? Only during the socially acceptable times of the year?

 

SuChin Pak  02:07

There’s an edge to your voice already, Ku.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  02:11

Is there, is there am I defensive already? Oh, hold on. Hark. Do I hear Jingle Bells in the distance? Am I, am I feeling the Christmas spirit?

 

SuChin Pak  02:21

Insane. Insane.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  02:28

Okay, I know most of you, including SuChin Pak are feeling big feelings about this anatomy. But Su, I asked you to push them down in a box, I can wrap them up, under the tree.

 

SuChin Pak  02:42

Okay. All right. That’s I have a lot of practice. It is here on Add to Cart and possibly the only place on Earth where Christmas is in July. You know, we have August, we have September and October and November. But here we are in the naked heart of summer. On the sizzling black top of July talking about Father Christmas. What the fuck is going on? By the way? This is genuinely we were thinking about well, you know, what are the shows that we want to talk about what kinds of themes you know, and I’m throwing out themes like summer vacation like why don’t we do a travel theme and Ku said Christmas and then the entire staff as if I didn’t exist? Just when I put it in the Google Chart. I was the fastest booking of Add To Cart that has ever and I am totally being honest ever happened.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  03:50

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

 

SuChin Pak  03:51

It went from your mouth to what is about to happen today.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  03:54

Well I’d like you to know that our guests first brought this idea to me in April. So let’s invite the person who is disrupting the Christmas calendar. The reason behind this very special episode. She’s a truth teller, but also an actress. So a professional liar. She’s a comedian, a screenwriter, director, a podcaster People Magazine named her the best looking 40 year old she’s a dear friend of the pod that’s right at the universe. Please welcome the queen of Christmas herself. Casey Rose Wilson.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  04:33

No.

 

Casey  04:34

Angel sing, glory to the new born king.

 

SuChin Pak  04:40

Guys. It’s too.

 

Casey  04:42

Peace on earth. Hi, guys. I’m sorry, I’m late. I’m so frantic, because we’re late, everybody. We’re late. Can you see I’m behind and I feel crazy right now and I, I just if you think we’re early know that you’re late. Happy to be here, everyone.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  05:06

Casey, I think we should talk directly to the people who are enraged that we are speaking about Christmas right now. I mean, what do you what do you have to say to them?

 

Casey  05:16

You know, to you, I speak directly and I say, I think you’re projecting something on to Kulap and I and I say that also to your co-host, whom I love. You know, what’s coming up for you? I want to ask why does this stir something up in you.

 

SuChin Pak  05:32

Casey, I just, I want to hold up a mirror, you know, and I just want say.

 

Casey  05:36

So do I.

 

SuChin Pak  05:38

So here we are in a house of a fun house of mirrors. Where reality time, yes  and space have make no sense. And I say, is it that life is so joyful that Christmas comes here in July? Or is it that life is bleak that we go out?

 

Casey  06:02

Okay, great. I don’t even waste any airtime.

 

SuChin Pak  06:05

I hate to say the latter.

 

Casey  06:07

Because, right. I mean, life is hard right now, particularly in this world and planet. It’s a little of both like obviously, as we draw closer in the calendar year, not in my spirit year towards the date it life definitely picks up joy and feels very joyful. But to me there’s nothing I love more than to take a non-prescribed half of blue Zanni and get in bed and just start going through Pinterest and Etsy and just building my arsenal which is a folder in my notes section, about gifts but that’s for the layperson gifts is first for others. I’m talking about what joy for myself.

 

SuChin Pak  06:44

The feast for the eye.

 

Casey  06:45

Core the feast. Yes, cool. We must use it that world traveler down this road with me.

 

SuChin Pak  06:52

Now, right now, Ku had mentioned that you had mentioned this in, in April. Here’s my question. I’m dead serious.

 

Casey  07:03

So am I.

 

SuChin Pak  07:07

When do you really start building this file folder? At what point in the year? Do you take off your normal hat where you’re a normal person? And then you put on your crazy person tinfoil hat? Right.

 

Casey  07:27

Okay, so I am not insane. I’ll let a couple weeks go after New Year’s you know, because I we all need a break and it’s definitely like the hustle bustle and I get tired like the next person, you know?  Second question. What are the most depressing months? January February? That’s right.

 

SuChin Pak  07:44

When do we need it most?

 

Kulap Vilaysack  07:45

January February.

 

SuChin Pak  07:47

Are you guys serious?

 

Casey  07:48

Black Friday, sometimes I’m buying for the next year. Because I already have my presence. Black Friday, it’s like that’s for you all to skitter about and scuttle about like, like little. I don’t even know.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  08:01

Like that cockroach at the Met Gala.

 

Casey  08:04

Like a cockroach. That’s right. your heads cut off trying to get a TV for your grandpa.

 

SuChin Pak  08:12

I just I was curious that if there was like a hard stop and a hart start.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  08:17

Casey it’s not unlike planning a wedding, you put on the wedding dress immediately. Right?

 

Casey  08:17

Because I want to be totally honest here. So in terms of when I’m putting up trees and decor, I’ll admit and I admitted this to you and just to you, but I want to come clean with everyone. There’s a difference between prepping for the holiday and I think visually seeing it’s a culture mall that’s really new in front of you, right? There’s building of the season and your themes and your wrapping paper themes and kind of your are you doing like a woodland theme or you’re doing a vintage Christmas?

 

Casey  08:51

That would be insane.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  08:52

That would be psychotic.

 

Casey  08:54

Psychotic, but do I put in enough thought that I think when people come to my home in December they say wow, god dammit, that woman has Christmas spirit. Yes. And, you know, is my husband Jewish? Yes. Have our trees you know, quadrupled in amount every year and he says it’s anti-Semitic. And then to that I say I love Hanukkah as well. I love all holidays. I’m into celebrating all holidays. But I hate Thanksgiving because by Thanksgiving is a waystation to Christmas. It’s a means it’s a delivery system. Honestly, well, I mean that pumpkin pie, I’m like, get me through it. Because now that night when we wake up the day after Thanksgiving is the socially acceptable time to start celebrating. But I’ve had my tree up since when would you say Kulap this year, October 20. Did I start getting them going?

 

Kulap Vilaysack  09:44

Did I thought I thought no felt early.

 

Casey  09:46

It felt a little early.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  09:48

But what did we say at the end of the Christmas season is that we both felt that we didn’t get enough tree time. We didn’t have enough tree time.

 

SuChin Pak  09:59

There’s something though, there’s a, there’s a hole in the universe when your ding dong trick or treat and there’s a Christmas tree up yesterday mean like it feels like it’s the upside down world you know a little bit.

 

Casey  10:12

No, you know what I’m maybe I’m thinking sorry I’m sorry I think it was like November 5th.Because I do let Halloween go by okay, but I put up lights for Halloween now they were orange and purple. But really it was like signaling something to the neighborhood like get used to this. Did a neighbor come by angrily when I was putting up my Christmas lights two weeks before Thanksgiving and scream at me can’t wait, wait.

 

SuChin Pak  10:37

Really?

 

Kulap Vilaysack  10:38

That did happen that did happen that was reported? Yeah, that was reported.

 

Casey  10:42

I’m not trying to take this over. But I just want to say kudos because you brought up to time if we could just define that term because I want everyone to feel this as an inclusive space and that.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  10:50

That we’re not gatekeeping good that we all are welcome here. Go ahead.

 

Casey  10:53

So tree time is something that blew up and I have coined I think this last year, which is something that’s meant to be put in your calendar. It’s not Oh, I hope I get tree time and it’s willy nilly, like I hope I remember to you know, drink more water, you know, and you might not.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  11:08

Take my medications.

 

Casey  11:10

Exactly. Brush my teeth. It’s not that, it’s time that I put my calendar from 6pm to 10. Because you know, I’ll give you a little leeway on the backside. Like if you go to bed at 10 or 11. That’s fine. But I try not to plan events. Now I will allow for a Christmas party I will leave my tree knowing I’m going to another trip. But what I won’t do is attend a parent teacher function. What I won’t do is do someone’s like show at Largo. These aren’t things I’ll be doing.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  11:38

Instead of tree time.

 

SuChin Pak  11:42

I just blindly understanding what tree time meant. You literally tree time. I thought tree time was when you put your tree up. But tree time.

 

Casey  11:54

No I’m sorry. I just said I was defining it and yet grew up and I gatekeep we did not define it. We did it in opposite.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  12:00

We’re giving you just pieces and hoping that you’ll put the puzzle together. Here we go. Let’s back it up. Let’s fast.

 

Casey  12:05

Like you have put it together go on.

 

SuChin Pak  12:08

Tree time is actually the time that you two crazy people sit in front of your tree. Oh, my God.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  12:19

Commune with our tree.

 

Casey  12:22

I think I’ve got my phone out. Like I’m scrolling away. And there’s actually no it’s like when you see someone crazy sitting on a bench just staring into the middle distance. Yeah, that’s what it looks like.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  12:32

It looks like that. depending on my mood. I have remote control lights. Maybe I’m changing from white lights to colored lights depending on what’s going on inside of me. That’s pretty much all that’s happening.

 

Casey  12:43

And you can reorient all normal household activities around it. For instance, you know, I read books to my children in bed. Your husband’s book is a favorite of ours SuChin. But now guess what? That’s happening downstairs in our more formal living room, which we’re just frankly not in that much. Over the year. But now everything’s taken place. And if you’re putting your kids shoes on in the morning, it’s they’re passing up a lunchbox tree time.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  13:08

But no worry.

 

SuChin Pak  13:09

Tree time is.

 

Casey  13:10

Coffee, coffee is a great time to in the morning. I do like like 6:30 to seven before the kids are kind of we’re in that mode.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  13:17

And don’t worry though, it’s like you know, the times you’re like Oh, so much of your day is filled with sleeping. Casey and I both have trees in our bedrooms. So that’s also tree time and its own way but that usually isn’t scheduled because you have to sleep.

 

Casey  13:29

And I also have them in my children’s room so there is a nice their safety in knowing and in my, normal living room. There’s safety in knowing whatever room I go to virtually I can be having tree time because it helps you know.

 

SuChin Pak  13:44

Do you have a tree in your bathroom?

 

Kulap Vilaysack  13:47

That’s the next level.

 

Casey  13:48

Great idea.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  13:49

Its a good idea.

 

Casey  13:50

See now you’re getting it now you’re getting it. I have a little tree like a little dash and tree that you plug into this light socket like a little nightlight vintage one.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  14:00

Now Casey’s co host Daniel Schneider from Bitch Sesh sent us almost like in just, Kim Kardashians bathroom where she has like four trees. And I didn’t, I was like, That’s a great idea. I wish I could do that.

 

Casey  14:14

That’s such a good idea.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  14:15

I don’t really feel.

 

Casey  14:16

I think goals are so important and let’s manifest, she was like Ah, no, no no.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  14:22

Dead ass, dead ass.

 

SuChin Pak  14:24

Not ha.

 

SuChin Pak  15:16

Casey, before we get into your cart, let’s let’s talk about your Christmas style like I call mine gilded woodland yours is maybe.

 

SuChin Pak  16:46

Hold on hold on. Hold. Wait, wait, wait. Once you have like Christmas style like that, so that doesn’t change like you are gilded woodland.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  17:00

Great question.

 

SuChin Pak  17:00

Like.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  17:01

I mean, you know, I think you know what, things can change. But usually that’s what I gravitated towards.

 

Casey  17:07

But you build the house and you build the bones and yeah, you could switch out the decorative pillows.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  17:12

Thank you, thank you and maybe perhaps a different room has a different personality or something that but what I genuinely lean pretty hard into is, you know, golden tones with like woodland creatures and a little deer maybe.

 

SuChin Pak  17:29

What about last year when you had like that? That jaunty snowman.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  17:34

Okay. Yeah, that that leans towards I would say Casey’s style, which is like nostalgic and vintage.

 

Casey  17:45

Harkening back to a time that wasn’t that great either in our world, but I like the Christmas time period of it like a vintage more you know, an ornaments of you’re a kind of a jolly Santa. Now I have Santa is representing all cultures in my home. So I’m not trying to exclude and that’s dead ass, but I’ll say I like the ornaments with like, that are a little frosted, and maybe I’m getting them on eBay. You know, a bubble light.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  18:12

Okay, speaking let’s talk about.

 

Casey  18:13

No light blue tinsel like 10 so.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  18:16

Let’s talk about the Noma bubble light set of seven. It’s vintage. Was it that you always have these growing up? And then you couldn’t find them? Okay.

 

Casey  18:26

Yes, so I always had them and I love them so much, but we only have like one strand and with each year like one bubble light was going out. And kind of as the years of our childhood went on until much like the Polar Express, you know, no one could hear the bell ring that all the bubble lights were gone. And then they started making them I think as kind of our generation got older I’m sure Urban Outfitters was but now they’re kind of a great fun accent maybe like on a kid’s tree or even on your tree. You don’t have to It’s not like your staple light. It’s just kind of a fun thing or maybe striped on a child’s dressers nice.

 

SuChin Pak  19:01

So we what is this? It doesn’t sit like a wrecked on a tree branch or does it hang like icicles?

 

Casey  19:09

Great question. It kind of sits erect there’s a clip to it because it needs to be facing upward for the bubbles to go. So it just kind of bubbles, it’s like almost like a little clear you know red cylinder or green cylinder. It’s just simply bubbling. Describe it like simmering. It almost looks like a pot like water that’s simmering in a pot. Percolating Yeah, it’s strange. Now I want you to know while we’re doing this episode, I have chosen to drink a mini coke. Now I like a mini coke. But here’s what I really like about coke. What are they up to Christmas outcomes? The polar bears. Comes to polar bear. When I see a bright red Coke, I get a hit of Christmas. I do. I’m like.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  19:51

That’s a hot tip, that’s a hot tip Casey for our listeners. That’s right. All right.

 

SuChin Pak  19:55

Yeah, if you’re feeling too summery at this moment in time.

 

Casey  20:00

I’m grabbing.

 

SuChin Pak  20:01

To cool down.

 

Casey  20:02

While being reminded of what.

 

SuChin Pak  20:03

What’s to come and what’s already here I’m frankly.

 

Casey  20:08

Yeah, exactly.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  20:10

And in that let’s talk about this other garland it’s the we both love Christopher Radko and this is this is a box, tiny.

 

SuChin Pak  20:19

You can’t say, Christopher Radko Like this is a person that exists in some sort of normal.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  20:28

Like the gap, you know the gap.

 

SuChin Pak  20:30

Like the gap Christopher Radko is not it’s not a person.

 

Casey  20:38

So I would say Christopher Radko and I do think that his stuff is way too expensive but occasionally you can find a good price point in general I do and I actually think you can find some really good knockoff versions of his style, but it’s kind of an old world Christmas when you say Kulap a little bit it’s a traditional look,

 

Kulap Vilaysack  20:56

These are, these are more I would say heirloom tactile very, almost, to me makes me think of department store Macy’s back in the day, like vibes, but like, you know, to Casey and a lot of grandmothers Christopher Radko is really well known name.

 

Casey  21:16

How dare you, Okay, now what I love about so what what I’m speaking of is a garland of glass little garland, but I don’t even have a glass one. I think it’s actually kind of like a fake glass. How would you describe it Kula it can drape almost the way you would drape like cranberries you remember like popcorn strings on your tree. You drape it and if you can do enough or bows even velvet bows could take this place it’s sort of more of a concept and a feeling. But I have found that these particular garlands look so gorgeous everyone in my life that passed through my home as Where did you get them and I had to say Radko comma Christopher.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  21:54

It is like, putting you know a statement necklace on your tree SuChin and you understand that concept? Just, silently nodding also. quizzically unsure.

 

SuChin Pak  22:10

No, I’m uncom I’m, I am uncomfortable. But I am uncomfortable.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  22:15

Hold on to your poise pads.

 

SuChin Pak  22:17

Yeah, and, and just dabbling in my poise as I listened to this conversation of two crazy hens clucking and I’m trying to get in the spirit but also knowing that there are some listeners who need to know that they are also not insane. You know what I mean? It’s like, holding so much, you know, while you two shoot off into this space of absurdity.

 

Casey  22:43

Because is that you very generously in terms of your audience, you think I need to speak for them? You know, I’m the voice of the every woman and yet at the end of the episode, I think you will be queued up and I will be speaking for them. There’ll be a shift and I don’t know when it isn’t going to happen yet. But yeah, I think it’s coming.

 

SuChin Pak  22:59

Okay. Okay.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  23:01

Yeah, there’s definitely an art there’ll be.

 

SuChin Pak  23:03

A point okay. All right. And you know what, when, when we all feel that gentle feeling in our underwear. Let’s put a hand up and let’s say here is where this you know, sled is turning.

 

Casey  23:15

The spirit. The Spirit has moved you know, can I ask you a question? When are you putting up your tree?

 

SuChin Pak  23:24

Okay, so we put up our tree, oh my god Casey’s closing her eyes, she looks nauseous, she looks nauseous. Last year we put it up the first week of weekend of December, and then.

 

Casey  23:46

But, we have a you know you with a December 12.

 

SuChin Pak  23:49

Yeah, We have been known to do with the week before you know if for some reason we just don’t get around to it or you know,

 

Casey  23:59

We weren’t reason could that be?

 

SuChin Pak  24:01

I don’t know I mean.

 

Casey  24:02

Just death in the family all the way for business just tired business?

 

SuChin Pak  24:11

We’re tired Oh, the places that we normally get our trees they didn’t have the tree that we wanted. Okay, we’ll try again next weekend. We still have two more weeks until Christmas. And so Oh, oh we still have.

 

Casey  24:24

Shivers so the most basic, hurdle time you, simple Google search of Mr. Jingles tree lot is not  available to you.

 

SuChin Pak  24:38

Correct. That feels you know there could be a lot happening.

 

Casey  24:41

Anyone question for you, when you hit when you’ve done that in the past. I’m really not like shaming I’m just truly curious.

 

SuChin Pak  24:46

Yeah, of course.

 

Casey  24:47

If you could be honest. When you, you wake up on Christmas in your I hope filled with the Spirit although now I’m not so sure. But on December 26 Are you saying yourself that felt great like I got that experience now are you going oh I kind of wish we had it up longer.

 

SuChin Pak  25:02

No I definitely.

 

Casey  25:03

I won’t ask about your kid.

 

SuChin Pak  25:04

I what, I’m what I’m saying what I’ll tell you what I am an I’m not let me start with am not. I am not, thinking I should have scheduled in some tree time. I definitely am not going to bear absolutely. What I am thinking is.

 

Casey  25:20

About to your truth.

 

SuChin Pak  25:21

Is that yes, I mean I love Christmas I realized I’m saying that in the company of you too, which you know is a.

 

Casey  25:29

New one. I’m hearing that you love it Okay, so great.

 

SuChin Pak  25:31

Last year in a dark phase of my life. I did purchase what I’ve always wanted, is a bunch of Christmas Village pieces.

 

Casey  25:47

Oh, now here’s a breath of fresh air. I think Kulap actually updated me on this.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  25:54

It was, It was amazing. When it happened and it brought you.

 

Casey  25:59

I’m so happy.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  26:00

Have a her daughter Sophie so much joy.

 

SuChin Pak  26:03

I love this. So that goes up.

 

Casey  26:08

And what kind of village are we talking?

 

SuChin Pak  26:09

I am yeah, you know, what I did was I just walked into Michael’s and I saw this display. All I knew is that it moved. It twinkled. There was music. There’s voiceover, in it. Like there’s one. It’s like, it’s like Santa’s sleigh ride or something. And what happens when you turn it on is all the people that are sitting in slays around a Christmas tree go up and it’s a ride, and it goes around and around the Christmas tree. And then you hear a little boy go, hey, I can see my house from here.

 

Casey  26:50

And everybody’s hands just one, slit has turned that you took us all there into the scene and it felt so homey and comfortable. And it was amazing.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  27:03

Gathering around the hearth and Christmas is a time for that where we can unabashedly gather. We can sit by the fire we can enjoy childish sort of not childish, but like.

 

SuChin Pak  27:15

Yeah, I know what we can seize. Yeah.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  27:18

For the also what you loved about this brand is that it reminded you of your friend’s village.

 

Casey  27:26

Yes., and there you have it go. There it is.

 

SuChin Pak  27:29

And she had a village. I mean, it wasn’t as elaborate as this. I don’t remember lots of it. But I remember there was a train. And it went around a Christmas tree. And every year her mother would put it out in the window and I thought one day America. I too shall live the dream. And last year, walked into a Michaels and I felt like home. You know, I felt it was, it was a religious moment. Anyway, I don’t like how this is going.

 

Casey  28:03

But I’ll say look what you this is a beautiful story because I think you are getting at what it is, which is like, I know we’re not here to talk about what Christmas means but and my husband has walked by me doing my trees and yelled you’re trying you’re searching for something that never was, you know, not just a did you know Grinch, but he actually has come to love Christmas so much. But I think that it’s beautiful. I think a lot of Christmases is about what things we longed for. And I think for a lot of people who maybe didn’t have the most happy childhoods their Christmas was a nice day where you’re like, Oh, that was a fun nice day where everybody kind of, brought their best, brought their best.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  28:46

Even leaves more than an hour.

 

Casey  28:47

Till about 2pm.

 

SuChin Pak  28:49

That’s right. That’s right.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  28:52

Now, SuChin, Casey has a solution, for getting a tree so late. Let’s look at this wayfare seven and a half foot artificial spruce Christmas tree. Now this Christmas tree is not just any Christmas tree it I believe is blocked.

 

Casey  29:13

That’s right. Last year was my first time with a flock tree now this is a fake one. I actually got one from the Christmas tree lot where they sprayed on it. Oftentimes my real trim getting so early is dead by the time Christmas comes. So on two occasions I have I know it sounds crazy. You know you’re putting your chair up too early when from another room you hear your Christopher Radko ornaments falling to the ground and breaking because the hot LA Sun has has dried on the branches too. It’s just wilting. But I got a flock tree it brought a lot of joy Hinton when you get your white lights on, it makes sure that the wire between the lights is white, not green. That was a big mistake I made it looked insane. But a flock tree also brought a twist It really made people smile, especially in LA where it’s just simply hot.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  30:05

It brought it to his face.

 

SuChin Pak  30:07

No, I just made me think of it and I I’m sure you guys have never bought a real Christmas tree too early and then it had died before Christmas and so then you had to go back and buy another Christmas tree that has never happened correct?

 

Casey  30:23

It must certainly Yeah. Absolutely. The year 2020.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  30:31

What a year it was what was going on in the world guys think about it.

 

Casey  30:34

Nothing. I just felt like wow, this has been such a great year. You know, I want to celebrate by getting a tree early and then when it died. I thought oh, let me get another one. This year isn’t so great. Like I didn’t take it all down on delight it. You haven’t lived till you’ve put a tree out on December 15.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  31:03

People are like. Sorry, what what what happened to the tree you just brought home, and just to be clear, we’re talking a very large tree. Picture. Is there a picture window?

 

Casey  31:12

It’s a big tree. As Kulap calls it it’s my hero.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  31:16

That’s right

 

Casey  31:16

It is a larger tree.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  31:19

That’s in for, for people who don’t know what that is? That tree is number one on the call sheet. It’s your leading lady. Okay. There’s it’s your Beyonce of trees. Maybe in her family room. You’ve got the Kelly in her bedroom. You’ve got the Michelle but Beyonce she is in the living room. That’s right.

 

SuChin Pak  31:42

Oh my god.

 

Casey  31:43

No, I want to simplify things because I can feel what you’re thinking SuChin in which is like this is a lot of work and what’s wrong with you?

 

SuChin Pak  31:50

You’ve taken so much time off. You’re not taking any.

 

Casey  31:55

I had to get a storage space for all my Christmas stuff. Cuz we couldn’t get the car in the garage. And that’s that doesn’t feel good. But I’ll tell you what, in your bedroom I want to release you have the burden of work. Okay, I want you to pop up a artificial tree get it not expensive. You popper write up white lights on it. And guess what, nothing else. I have found a bedroom tree can be simple and elegant was simply just the warm glow of white lights now or you could do all pink ornaments. That’s a fun place to play around. That’s all I would say you know like I turquoise one lavender ornaments or nothing again, I did nothing this year cool because I was tired but I did set up an elaborate village around it.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  32:41

Your bedroom tree is your canvas. Okay, downstairs and my hero Tree Of course has fun with it. Yeah, gilded woodland. But in my bedroom. I just anything goes. That’s where I have like a you know what? I like cheese. Here’s an ornament from Target. That’s just four wheels of cheese stacked on one another that’s going there.

 

Casey  33:02

Right here’s the Charlie Brown ornament like anything goes but Kula maybe you want to share with everyone because my bedroom tree again. I’m not like a crazy person say no another crazy person like you’re crazy. But mine is of I think a more diminutive size. You want to share your size of yours.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  33:18

Yes, minus nine feet that is larger than my hero tree. But I’m talking like it fits the space of my bedroom. Now I know. I don’t sound normal or approachable.

 

Casey  33:33

Or like you dear listener, none of this is relatable and I really apologize. I do apologize so many ways of doing this. You could get that little tiny tree from Target and put it on a dining room table and I mean tiny like one foot you know there’s little ways and accents. We can add trees to our life.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  33:49

Sure, but again, mine is a nine foot tree. It startles Scott. Every time he needs a good two weeks to kind of get used to sort of a big foot being in the corner of our room and but once he Oh scary in the middle of the night, it can be if you don’t understand that there’s a humongous tree in the corner.

 

Casey  34:11

And Kula if I can just say one more thing is that maybe you remember that this Christmas. Something really sad happened during December and I was forced to abandon my trees when I had to work out of town.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  34:24

Oh yeah.

 

Casey  34:25

Luckily I found a little tree that you put in the suitcase in it pops up. Yes, it was very small and wasn’t wasn’t much. And then two little packs of 100 strings of lights just to brighten up the dingy hotel room and just still feel a spirit.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  34:43

I had to talk her out of like shipping a bunch of stuff.

 

Casey  34:50

Guys, I know we’re headed into an economic downturn and I want to stay Kulap. I’m not doing a big Christmas party this year. I’m taking everything I am taking it all down this year a little bit

 

Kulap Vilaysack  34:59

Well, I mean.

 

Casey  35:00

I’m working with what I have. I’m not.

 

SuChin Pak  35:02

You’re just fine, but you’re traveling you’re traveling with, with Christmas. Mm hmm.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  35:08

If travel happened, whoa, that’s sustainable.

 

Casey  35:09

Yeah. Yeah. Just just little little.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  35:13

Casey. Let’s just see. It’s a little early to say we’re not doing a Christmas party. Let’s just we didn’t intend that to be the case.

 

Casey  35:21

Dinner party.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  35:22

Oh, okay.

 

Casey  35:23

All right. Last year, I flew in a cabaret see? Mistakes were made last year.

 

Casey  36:32

It was so fun. I decided.

 

Casey  36:34

Even I had to have a talk with myself. And that was just the mats of different podcasts of the different podcasts that had gotten away from me for sure.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  36:55

Let’s talk about the Johnny Mathis’ Christmas. You mentioned that your Christmas party you flew in a cabaret singer from Florida.

 

Casey  37:05

Victor Valdes.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  37:06

That’s right. He’s amazing. And music is such a big part of your life but especially for Christmas. So Johnny Mathis, is this your favorite vinyl record?

 

Casey  37:17

Johnny Mathis Christmas is the best Christmas album ever. I actually hold on putting Johnny on until after Thanksgiving. That’s just a rule. I don’t want to get sick of Johnny. But Kulap I also found something cool on Pinterest, which is to take old vintage Christmas records and make them a placemat. That could just be kind of menial that’s just, that’s just fun. That’s just fun to see rocking around the Christmas tree you know I’m not talking about Josh Groban. Okay, I’m talking about let’s go back a little bit.

 

SuChin Pak  37:49

I like to peek into your folder and because well I don’t want.

 

Casey  37:53

Yeah. Well, I can’t add to cart or can I caroling together. But or just a sing along with Christmas carols. I don’t think we do it enough. And I think people are longing to sing and that’s just a blanket statement, be it a sing along. I’m not talking about karaoke. I’m talking about one person getting up there. People want to gather and raise their voice and song and they want to turn the lights low with candles and sing Silent Night as we do every year. These are things people want. They just don’t ask for.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  38:20

And you know what we’d like to say at this podcast is closed mouths don’t get fed. And if you need a meal of coral, like singing, speak it.

 

SuChin Pak  38:32

Into existence. Yeah.

 

Casey  38:33

That’s right. We’re singing into existence.

 

SuChin Pak  38:37

I’m surprised that hasn’t been done, that isn’t done every single year.

 

Casey  38:41

Every year is  just about preparation. But I’m saying you could sprinkle in a little bit of christmas you know, the 10 minutes before you go to bed. You know when you’re scrolling. Choose pop it into Etsy just pop it into Pinterest just to get some ideas. It’s just you know, like when you’re not writing you’re still writing. Yeah, if you’re marinating like Don Draper had to take a nap to just come up with his best ideas if I’m just like short circuiting and I’m thinking of everything December 1st your Christmas will reflect that.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  39:08

Cas.

 

Casey  39:11

Honestly like The Last of Us just people wanting.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  39:14

Thank you, it is exactly like the last of us, exactly like that.

 

Casey  39:22

Kulap.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  39:23

Yes.

 

Casey  39:23

You know I want, to I want to make a retraction and an amendment so I said you asked like you know what month are you starting? What month do you get so crazy and I had said March and that’s not exactly true. That’s crazy. I started in January now here’s why. Here’s why. Kulap you and I have also looked into this year kind of a I know I pronouncing it wrong high GI, high GI Yes. high GI Yeah. I think and a lot of friends my friend Amanda, my friend Meg you Kulap and I have been thinking about what’s a way we could extend Christmas not in a way that feels right wrong because it does feel wrong to have tournaments. And I agree with that.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  40:03

Time in a place. Okay, I.

 

Casey  40:05

Loves Santa and throw it in the storage base. But, what about just leaving the greenery up? What about just your white strand of lights? Like on the mantel, we’re de Christmasing. But we’re keeping a glow of light because the winter months are when a lot of people become seasonally depressed.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  40:22

That is true.

 

Casey  40:23

And it’s such a it’s like pulling a plug out of the socket so quick. It’s like going off medication without even.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  40:29

Shirky, why not show a little compassion towards yourself, right? self love.

 

Casey  40:36

Self care.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  40:37

Self love.You know, like you’re still wearing a cozy sweater. Right? But what about your surroundings? Shouldn’t that be a sweater of its own? Shouldn’t that.

 

Casey  40:47

Be a tight walk? It’s a hard balance to strike. Because while you don’t want it to be Christmas, you don’t want to just pack everything up and then just see your bare ass house. Just leaving a little warm. That’s all I’m asking you and maybe that’s just continuing to do the fireplace.

 

SuChin Pak  41:04

Or you go until.

 

Casey  41:07

Till it’s hot.

 

SuChin Pak  41:11

I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you Casey. Okay Valentine’s Day.

 

Casey  41:12

But definitely through presents, I’m celebrating those guys. I want to have my hug.

 

Casey  41:14

So, so just so I get it straight. We are going from Christmas.

 

Casey  41:33

Uh huh.

 

SuChin Pak  41:33

To post Christmas self love high GI.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  41:37

Yeah.

 

Casey  41:38

Yeah.

 

SuChin Pak  41:38

And we’re moving that in through president’s Spring Break.

 

Casey  41:40

Spring break. Spring Break. Yeah, when you’re in Ocean City with your kids dipping your toes in the sand. Whoa me thinking what? What you could be doing?

 

Kulap Vilaysack  41:47

When you’re sipping a coke out? Can Read coke.

 

SuChin Pak  42:01

A Casey Do you enjoy summer? Like a summer? Not your season? Are you just more of one of those?

 

Casey  42:07

He’s not my Yeah.

 

SuChin Pak  42:07

Okay. Got it. So you like crisp, cold got it.

 

Casey  42:11

I like when it rains. I like to put the fire on. I like, I think it’s because I live in LA though. And to me that unrelenting sunlight. It doesn’t totally go with my spirit.

 

SuChin Pak  42:20

Got it? Okay.

 

Casey  42:21

I was in Seattle for a month this year. And I thought this me, this is who I am with a little fire going in one of those beautiful stove pipe.

 

SuChin Pak  42:30

Yeah.

 

Casey  42:31

See that to me is a Christmas spirit. And it was in January. You know, I think there’s there’s a way of bringing in Christmas in other ways in you guys are thinking.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  42:42

Look SuChin in summation. What checks out is that not everything checks out. And we have to be okay with that.

 

SuChin Pak  42:50

That’s why you start so early. Because you got to vet which ideas right are good. And which ideas are like I can work with this. I can work with.

 

Casey  43:00

I love like kalua on Christmas Eve. I love to see cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning. These are just other tips I’m throwing out as we’re going.

 

SuChin Pak  43:08

We’re making our way out.

 

Casey  43:11

Just a couple of other.

 

SuChin Pak  43:13

She’s squeezing it.

 

Casey  43:20

There’s so much more to say.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  43:22

I know. I know, Casey but we have to we have to wrap it.

 

Casey  43:25

We have to and I’m sorry. Yes, we have to and I, I apologize to the listeners if this was I don’t know. I’m sorry. And but I thank you all for at least having an open mind and you certainly did. SuChin so thank.

 

SuChin Pak  43:36

No I, I.

 

Casey  43:37

Amplify my message about Christmas.

 

SuChin Pak  43:40

Yes.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  43:41

SuChin, thank you for using your platform to.

 

SuChin Pak  43:45

Raise awareness.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  43:46

Raise awareness, highlight. Shout out Christmas in July.

 

SuChin Pak  43:51

Correct. Wow. If that’s what that was I am excited and I’m honored to have been, here for what that was. Okay, both specific and yet nonsensical all at once.

 

Casey  44:12

That’s so nice. What a compliment.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  44:15

What a compliment that if that. What a pure after talk.

 

Casey  44:21

Throated, full throated compliment.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  44:25

Something you could put on a t shirt. Something I’ll fit on.

 

Casey  44:30

Something you can wrap up and put under the grid.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  44:33

Now you’re already following Casey on Instagram everywhere at Casey Wilson. Casey Rosewill. That’s right. That’s right. She is the co host of Bitch Sesh.

 

Casey  44:48

That’s right. That’s right. And bitch session is about the Real Housewives so I have other loves in my life that are elevated and dignified. Other things I celebrate year round and don’t have missed one fucking beat up one day.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  45:04

Well that does it for today. Hopefully we have left you full of holiday spirit and inspiration. So.

 

Casey  45:09

That’s it for those labors during the lingering to make you.

 

SuChin Pak  45:13

As, as we listen to the tunes here check out the links in our description for all the products Casey, well as she talked about, it’s there it’s there for your own eyes and head to at Add To Cart pod for more from me from Ku from our wonderful guests from the Christmas spirit. She’s there as well. See you all soon. Bye.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  45:35

Bye.

 

Casey  45:36

Giddy-up giddy-up let’s go. Let’s look at the snow.

 

Kulap Vilaysack  46:02

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 Cart is a production of Lemonada Media. Our producers are Kegan Zema and Tiffany Bouy. Brian Castillo is our engineer. Theme music is by Wasahhbii and produced by La Made It and Oh So Familiar with additional music by APM music. Executive producers or Kulap Vilaysack, SuChin Pak, Jessica Cordova Kramer, and Stephanie Wittels Wachs. Be sure to check out all the items we mentioned today on our Instagram at @AddToCartPod. Follow Add to Cart wherever you get your podcasts or listen at free on Amazon music with your Prime membership.