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Loving My Actual Christmas: An Experiment in Relishing the Season Paperback – September 5, 2017

by Alexandra Kuykendall (Author)
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 577 ratings
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The Christmas season is a particularly difficult time for women to slow down and relish what's right in front of them. An annual marker for many, it is a holiday that can often remind us how life is not going as we'd planned. Our family relationships remain strained, our finances stretched, and our schedules stuffed with too much to do in too little time.

Following the formula of her successful Loving My Actual Life, Alexandra Kuykendall shares with readers her own personal experiment to be completely present in her life as it is during the holiday season. Addressing the themes of Advent and Christmas, she reflects on hope, love, joy, peace, and relishing the season, with practical pullouts on common Christmas stressors, such as finances, schedules, and extended family. Kuykendall's signature candor helps women go easy on themselves, remember what truly matters, and find joy in their imperfect Christmases.
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  1. Print length
    144 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    September 5, 2017
  4. Dimensions
    5.5 x 0.33 x 8.5 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    080107536X
  6. ISBN-13
    978-0801075360
  7. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

"This is the book you need in order to fall in love with the season again."
--Jennifer Dukes Lee, author of The Happiness Dare

Do you long for a time when you can actually slow down and enjoy the Christmas season for what you feel it should be--a delightful, meaningful time with friends and family--rather than what it is--a tornado of commitments and bills that leave you overwhelmed and exhausted?

The Christmas season is a particularly difficult time for many of us. It is a holiday that can remind us how life is not going as we'd planned. Our family relationships remain strained, our finances stretched, and our schedules stuffed with too much to do in too little time.

Following the formula of her popular Loving My Actual Life, Alexandra Kuykendall shares her own personal experiment to be completely present in her life as it is during the holiday season. Reflecting on hope, love, joy, peace, and relishing the season, she shares practical advice on common Christmas stressors such as finances, schedules, and extended family. With her signature candor, Kuykendall encourages you to go easy on yourself, remember what truly matters, and find joy in your own imperfect Christmas.


"Alex Kuykendall has crafted a rescue manual that will enable you to save your sanity as you savor the Savior, focusing on the true essence of the season."--Karen Ehman, Proverbs 31 Ministries speaker; New York Times bestselling author of Keep It Shut and Listen, Love, Repeat

"I highly recommend this book. In fact, it's going to be one of the first gifts I'll be buying and sharing this holiday season!"--Tricia Goyer, USA Today bestselling author of over sixty books, including Where Treetops Glisten


Alexandra Kuykendall is the author of Loving My Actual Life and The Artist's Daughter and is the cohost of The Open Door Sisterhood podcast. A popular writer and speaker, Alexandra has been featured on Good Morning America and Focus on the Family's daily broadcast. She lives in Denver, Colorado, with her husband, Derek, and their four daughters.

About the Author

Alexandra Kuykendall is the author of Loving My Actual Life and The Artist's Daughter, and the cohost The Open Door Sisterhood Podcast. A popular writer and speaker for moms around the country, she is a regular contributor to MOPS International's blog, conference, and curriculum. Alexandra has been featured on Good Morning America and Focus on the Family's daily broadcast. She lives in Denver, Colorado, with her husband, Derek, and their four daughters.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Baker Books (September 5, 2017)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 144 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 080107536X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0801075360
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8.5 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.33 x 8.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 577 ratings

About the author

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Alexandra Kuykendall

Alexandra Kuykendall

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Alexandra Kuykendall spends her days washing dishes, driving to and from different schools and trying to find a better solution to the laundry dilemma. All while trying to sneak in chunks of time to work on various writing projects. On staff with MOPS International (Mothers of Preschoolers) for nearly a decade, Alex continues as a regular contributor to MOPS’s Hello Dearest blog. She is an established and trusted voice in mothering circles.

Alex lives in the shadows of downtown Denver with her husband Derek and their 4 daughters. She is co-hostess of the annual Open Door Retreat and speaks to women’s groups around the country on issues of parenting, faith and personal growth. From church basements to the set of Good Morning America, Alex offers women grounded perspective on how to approach the “crazy busy” in front of them. Find out more about the retreat at TheOpenDoorSisterhood.com or connect with Alex at AlexandraKuykendall.com.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
577 global ratings
Loving My Actual Life is a loving embrace
5 Stars
Loving My Actual Life is a loving embrace
This book was a great read. Kuykendall is honest and funny in her trial and error approach to finding ways to enjoy her everyday life. Loving My Actual Life is a loving embrace saying that we are not alone in our frustrations over daily life's mundane obstacles and that there is hope to finding ways to actually love life in the season we are in...not waiting until we are living our "idea" life. I highly recommend this for any woman struggling with discontent in where she's at and what her life looks like right now.
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Top reviews from the United States

K. Brokaw
5.0 out of 5 stars Encouraging & Practical
Reviewed in the United States on September 2, 2016
Verified Purchase
This book was so timely for me and just the encouragement I needed to slow things down and relish the season I'm in. I appreciated the practical nature of the experiment as well as the honesty of the author in areas where her results differed from her expectations. This is in the nature/format of Jen Hatmaker's "7," but a lot more do-able. Sometimes instead of an entire lifestyle overhaul, what we need is to spend a month just focusing on mastering the morning routine or getting dinner in the table. I am planning to do my own version of the experiment as soon as my book comes back from the third friend I've loaned it to since reading it myself. But even without a full commitment to the experiment, just doing a few of the suggestions and clearing my schedule has given me precious moments with my children and fired my brain creatively for ministry that I'm actually passionate about (not just doing because I think no one else will).

I recommend this for anyone who feels a bit overwhelmed in schedule/activity and underwhelmed by passion/life/community. If you feel like you wake up every morning exhausted and behind, please read this book. If you loved 7 by Jen Hatmaker or The Best Yes by Lisa Terkeurst this book is for you.
4 people found this helpful
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Amanda
4.0 out of 5 stars Transformative Book
Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2019
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I'm giving this 4 stars now because I kinda wanted more book. I think it will be a 5 star book after implementing some of it.

I felt like last year was so rushed and not enjoyable. I was hoping this year would be different and enter said book along with MOPS meeting topic on it. I've spent some time reading and rereading the book now as well as answering the questions. Already I feel a sense of relief that Christmas doesn't have to keep being the same as in years past and that I don't have to feel guilty for wanting to make a change.

I found her recap of the weeks and days to be refreshing and honest. Some days are harder then others and the author doesn't hide that, but gives herself some grace. I also think all her tips and things she found helpful to be very easy to adapt to my life. I could easily do some of the things she did to find out what is important to me and my family.

As someone who isn't all that well versed in the Bible, I liked that she made sure to include more about the Christmas story and verses that are helpful. I also loved her explanation of the Christmas story. It made it easy for me to understand the bigger picture.
One person found this helpful
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Lori S.
5.0 out of 5 stars You need this book!
Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2016
Verified Purchase
I've ordered a hard copy to have to loan, and ordered another copy to be sent to a friend. Yes, it's that important of a book.

Alexandra is a busy, BUSY mom. But don't let that stop you from reading her book! :) Even if you've NEVER been a mom, you'll get something from this one - I was convicted several times, and it's already changed my thinking about some things I do or don't do.

This is a very readable book. I really like Alexandra's writing style - I feel like she's sitting on the sun porch with me, just sharing her life. And each chapter (you can read the synopsis HERE!) she ends with "What I Learned" and "Practices I'll Continue", and then "Questions for Reflection", for you to answer. I *really* appreciate life application steps! :D
18 people found this helpful
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Ashley
3.0 out of 5 stars Quick read for organizing your life
Reviewed in the United States on November 12, 2022
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A sweet, quick read about how Alexandra has learned things about herself so that she can continue to improve as a positive human being. Some good advice to get you thinking about how to enjoy your life as best you can. NOTE: This is not a kick-in-the-pants, get-off-your-ass motivational read that will change your life. More of a relatable, 40-somethings Moms friendship diary - an attempt to seem relatable through the eyes of regular, middle-class motherhood.
One person found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Loving My Actual Life by Alexandra Kuykendall is the perfect read for you
Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2016
Verified Purchase
If you are looking for a book that speaks right to your life as a mom...Loving My Actual Life by Alexandra Kuykendall is the perfect read for you! In this candid, real life experiment, she shares her journey during a 9 month experiment straight from the trenches. It is refreshingly real and not the Pinterest perfect or Facebook fabulous life. But the real life search for rekindling the joy and love for life God intended all along in the midst of the messy, mundane, busy life as a mom. I have been challenged, encouraged and blessed by her journey. This would be a perfect book to go through with a group of other moms, as a MOPS group or a women's Bible Study or Book Club...to read, journal and even do your own experiment. Thank you Alexandra for opening your life and sharing all the ups and downs with us so we can see that we are not alone!
10 people found this helpful
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don mcclure
5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read For This Holiday Season
Reviewed in the United States on September 5, 2017
Verified Purchase
After reading Alex Kuykendall's, "Loving My Actual Life" and being encouraged by it to slow down and to enjoy my life right in the thick of it, I knew that "Loving My Actual Christmas" would be a definite read!

It didn't disappoint! Alex, talks us through the Advent season and shares personal insights of how she and her family, decided to relish the season rather than be bombarded with all the chaos and stress.

Her words made me think hard about the way most of us just zoom right through the season, wishing it was over because there's just to much on the 'to do' list.

This Christmas I really want to slow down and enjoy every aspect of the Advent. The waiting and expectation of Jesus' arrival, the celebrating of His birth, the Christmastide and the beginning of a new way of living out this joyous time!

I strongly encourage you to lay aside your lists and gather your family and make this an experiment you try with your family as well. You just might be surprised by just how much more joy you'll receive just by relishing in the season.

Lolo McClure
5 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

J. J. P. Pritchard
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 17, 2017
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good read
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Rebecca W.
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in Canada on August 5, 2016
Verified Purchase
Loved reading Alex's journey and excited to start my own!
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L.M.
4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
Reviewed in Canada on December 1, 2017
Verified Purchase
Sweet. Encouraging. A nice read :)
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Janet Gerrard
4.0 out of 5 stars Diary style
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 4, 2018
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Easy to read as diary style entries with summaries of each chapter.
Interesting and gave me ideas about setting goals for myself.
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Patti
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in Canada on October 12, 2017
Verified Purchase
Enjoyable
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