The holiday season is often painted as a serene time of twinkling lights and silent nights, but for Kylie Kelce, the reality is a bit more… colorful. In the latest “More Sh*t Monday” segment of her popular podcast, Not Gonna Lie, the mother of three and wife of NFL legend Jason Kelce pulled back the curtain on the beautiful chaos that is the Kelce household during Christmas. From late-night DIY disasters to the high-stakes world of mall Santas, Kylie’s candid advice is proving to be a lifeline for parents navigating the December frenzy.

One of the most hilarious and practical segments of Kylie’s holiday deep-dive centered on the art of the Santa photo. According to Kylie, there is a very strict hierarchy when it comes to “St. Nick.” Her first recommendation is a personal one: a family photographer who has a Santa connection so authentic it rivals Buddy the Elf. However, for those heading to the public arena, Kylie’s stance is firm. “Go to the big mall,” she urged. “Unless it’s a joke, do not take your kids to a Santa with a beard that pulls down. An elastic dawn beard? Don’t do that!” She joked that at the major malls, they “grow that shit,” ensuring the magic remains intact for the kids—or at least provides a better photo for the mantle.

But the “Santa magic” comes with its own set of logistical nightmares. Kylie admitted that her daughters’ Christmas lists have become increasingly “out of pocket,” making it nearly impossible to find a middle ground between things that actually exist and “crazy whackass options.” She reflected on the pressure of being a “one big gift house,” where the goal is to provide that one spectacular item that fulfills a child’s deepest wish. Last year, that philosophy led to a minor crisis involving three different dollhouses and a sleep-deprived Christmas Eve.

“I ended up with three different dollhouses to figure out which one was the correct one,” Kylie shared with a laugh. “I still ended up painting rainbows onto a dollhouse on Christmas Eve. Jason had one side, I had the other. We were Santa’s elves.” While the image of a 6’3″, 295-pound Jason Kelce meticulously painting rainbows is heartwarming, Kylie was quick to point out the reality: “You know what I would like to be doing on Christmas Eve? Sleeping.”

To avoid a repeat of the “Great Dollhouse Debacle,” Kylie highlighted a brilliant parenting hack she picked up from fellow celebrity mom Mandy Moore. The strategy is simple: when you’re at the toy store and your child spots something they “must” have, don’t buy it—take a picture of it. Tell the child you are “sending it to Santa” so he knows exactly what to look for. This “safety net” allows parents to leave the store without a tantrum, gives them time to research the product (or find a better price), and builds a sense of patience and accountability in the children.

Kylie emphasized that she wants her girls to understand that rewards are earned or saved for special occasions like birthdays and Christmas. “I think there’s some patience built in on that,” she explained. “We can’t just be like ‘I want it now, you have it.’ No thank you.” It’s this blend of high-profile life and grounded, “real-world” parenting that has made Kylie a favorite among fans. She even tasked her producer, “Queen Emma,” to remind her to start this toy-store-photo-shoot strategy as early as November next year to avoid the mid-December scramble.

As the countdown to Christmas reaches its final days, Kylie’s stories serve as a reminder that even the most “perfect” families are often just winging it behind the scenes. Whether it’s dodging fake beards or painting dollhouses at 2:00 AM, the holiday spirit is found in the effort and the laughter. For the Kelce family, Christmas is less about the “glitz” and more about the “sh*t”—the messy, exhausting, and ultimately wonderful moments that make the holidays unforgettable. So, take the photo, buy the “Big Mall” Santa ticket, and whatever you do, keep the paintbrushes ready.