The holidays have always been magical for Lauren Speed-Hamilton — and now the reality star is ready to create new traditions while honoring the old ones. As she celebrates her first holiday season as a new mom to baby Ezra, the TV personality is taking Us back through her most cherished Christmas memories and sharing how she’s keeping those traditions alive with a little help from Hallmark.
“Looking at old holiday photos just fills my heart,” Speed-Hamilton, 37, tells Us Weekly exclusively, flipping through a worn family album while wrapping presents in festive poinsettia paper. “Each memory, each tradition — they all tell a story. And now I get to pass those stories on to our little one.”
From heartfelt greeting cards that capture the perfect sentiment to thoughtful gifts that will be treasured for years, Lauren has discovered that the right touches make all the difference. “It’s the little things that mean the most,” she says, carefully placing a card for husband Cameron Hamilton alongside his gift. “Whether it’s finding wrapping paper that matches each person’s personality or having those special mugs ready for Christmas morning — these details create the magic.”
Christmas Eve Game Night (Recent Years)
In this treasured photo, Speed-Hamilton and Hamilton are dressed up for Christmas Eve, heading out to a family basketball game. “My mom took this picture and she was acting like it was Christmas prom, literally,” Speed-Hamilton laughs. “But I gotta give it to her — she did snap some super memorable photos.”
That love of capturing moments goes beyond pictures for Speed-Hamilton. “I’m just a fan of cards, because you can keep them — they kind of keep the moment forever,” she says. “I like to go back and look at my cards, so it’s like frozen in time, just like those photos. It makes you remember the memories and all of the love. And this actually talks about all of the things I love doing with Cam, so… perfect.”
Speed-Hamilton emphasizes the importance of capturing these moments. “The same way that my mom captured those photos and those memories, you could do the same with a Hallmark card,” she shares. “I mean, this is literally like putting your heart into words and it’s the little things that mean the most.”
Shop the memory: Hallmark’s cards help express what matters most. “I’ve chosen this card for my husband, Cam — it basically describes all of the things that I love doing with him,” Speed-Hamilton says.
Baby’s 1st Christmas (1988)
A tiny Speed-Hamilton appears in her very first Christmas photo, just one month old. “I was born in November, so this is like a month after I was born,” she recalls. “I don’t remember much, but I was told I had a good time!”
Now experiencing the magic from a parent’s perspective, Speed-Hamilton is especially excited. “This Christmas is super special for Cam and I because we are first time parents. We just welcomed our little boy, Ezra,” she gushes.
Shop the memory: Hallmark’s Baby’s First Christmas set includes an adorable bear with “Baby’s First Christmas” on the bottom and a matching photo frame. “This will actually make the perfect gift for any first time parents,” Speed-Hamilton notes. “I would love to receive something like this. Put Ezra’s picture in here every year and just pull it out — it’s a beautiful set.”
The Wrapping Paper Tradition (2022)
A festive photo shows the family dog Sparks sporting a Christmas vest, surrounded by presents wrapped in various papers. “If you look closely at the wrapping paper, you’ll see that we have a few different types,” Speed-Hamilton explains. “We started this tradition where we’ll pick a paper that matches each person’s personality.”
Shop the memory: This year, Speed-Hamilton is using Hallmark’s wrapping paper collection. “I’m going to use this poinsettia wrapping paper for my mom. She loves poinsettias around the holidays. I just think that this paper is super chic. It’s graceful and it’s beautiful, just like my mom.”
1st Annual Company Holiday Dinner (2024)
Speed-Hamilton beams with pride in this photo from her first company holiday dinner. “I finally got to the point in my career where I could bring all of the people who have helped me throughout the year,” she reflects. “All the people who made it a success, come together, have dinner, celebrate.”
She made the evening extra special with personalized gift bags including handpicked cards for her team. “I gave all of my employees — but really they’re my friends too, so I like to call them my friends and my employees — gift bags with trinkets in it.”
Shop the memory: Hallmark’s appreciation cards help express gratitude. “For my friend Tiffany, who’s my assistant, I got her this card that says, ‘You’re a Christmas blessing and an everyday one too. Thank you for being a friend who puts so much love and joy into the world.’ And that she does,” Speed-Hamilton shares.
Matching Pajama Dreams Come True (2023)
The whole family sports coordinating holiday pajamas in this heartwarming photo. “As you can see, we all have matching pajamas. And as a kid, it was always my dream to do this,” Speed-Hamilton reveals. “So I said, ‘Matching pajamas are happening!’ And I’m so excited that I was able to pull this off.”
Shop the memory: Complete the cozy Christmas morning with Hallmark’s festive Santa mugs. “This year, we’re going to have our festive Santa mugs on Christmas morning,” Speed-Hamilton says. “It comes in four different colors — white, pink, red, also a beautiful green color. And it’s the perfect thing to make Christmas morning even cozier.”
The Magic Continues
As she looks ahead to future holidays with baby Ezra, Speed-Hamilton is excited about the traditions she’ll create with her growing family. “It’s about creating those moments that become memories,” she reflects. “The little things really do mean the most.”
Her advice for other families looking to preserve their holiday memories? “Start now,” she emphasizes. “Capture the photos, write the cards, save those special moments. These traditions — they’re what make the holidays magical.”
This holiday season, Speed Hamilton is partnering with Hallmark to help families create their own magical memories. Visit Hallmark.com or your nearest Hallmark Gold Crown store to find everything you need to make this season amazing.
