Christmas

The holiday season is upon us, and with it comes a whirlwind of festivities and celebrations. Whether you’re attending a glamorous New Year’s Eve soiree or a festive holiday gathering, finding the perfect outfit is essential.

Do you have people in your life who don’t quite make the gift giving list, but you still want to do something nice for them? Or are you heading to a holiday party and you don’t want to show up empty-handed? I have the perfect solution for you. This super quick, easy and totally thoughtful cookie gift box is your answer.

Are you having trouble finding the perfect Christmas gift for your husband, boyfriend, father or grandpa?

This $500 Amazon Gift Card giveaway has been made possible by these beautiful bloggers above! Enter by performing the actions below in the Rafflecopter.

I love December—full of holiday baking, parties and decorating. I also love the opportunity to buy a flirty and feminine holiday dress for Christmas parties or New Year’s Eve. I generally don’t endorse buying items that aren’t versatile, but I fully support buying one special party dress per year that you can wear to a holiday party (and New Year’s Eve, if you pick wisely).

I’ve made A LOT of cookie recipes over the years. Given that fact, t’s about time I share some of my all-time favorite cookie recipes that I’d definitely make again. As I scrolled through old recipes, I actually forgot about several of the Christmas cookie recipes I’ve made.

Last week, I did a holiday entertaining segment on KTLA and I shared this Christmas tree cupcake topper tutorial. This is a perfect holiday recipe because it is so easy to make at home and you don’t need to be an expert at making candy or baking to create these adorable candy Christmas trees.

The holiday season beckons with festive gatherings, and nothing captures the spirit quite like a meticulously crafted cheese board. Whether you’re hosting an intimate family get-together or a grand holiday soiree, a thoughtfully curated cheese board can stand as the centerpiece of your table, impressing guests with its charm and delicious variety. In this guide, we’ll delve into the art of building the perfect holiday cheese board, exploring the types of cheeses to include, the artful selection of complementary accompaniments, various styles of cheese boards, and inventive presentations to elevate your holiday celebrations.

During the holidays, certain sweet treats always come to mind for me. Panettone is one of them. Although I’ve only made homemade panettone a few times, it’s a holiday tradition I always have at my table, even if that means buying it at the local store.

DIY Christmas ornaments hold a special place in my heart. The Santa whose mouth opened when you pinched the sides, and the clothes pin reindeer, were always my favorites, and both were homemade.

Shopping for the men in my life always seems harder, somehow, than shopping for women. With that in mind, I’ve rounded up 12 unique Christmas gift ideas under $25 that should satisfy a broad range of men in your life.

A quintessential Christmas cookie is the peanut butter kiss cookie. This year, I wanted to try something new, so when I found this crinkle recipe, I thought it might make a good base for chocolate peppermint kiss cookies.

I love the idea of DIY Christmas gifts, which I previously mentioned in a DIY Christmas ornaments post. Homemade gifts have the allure of being personal and are more thoughtful than a store-bought gift. There is just something sentimental and intimate about a homemade gift. Below are nine unique and creative DIY Christmas gift ideas. They all seem doable, even for the not-so-crafty girl like me.

Ginger is one of those flavors that immediately conjure images of Christmas Trees and sitting by the fireplace. I’m definitely a proponent of homemade cookies, but I have been known to buy a tube of that gingerbread cookie dough at the store, roll them in sugar, and make quick and easy ginger snaps.

If money were no object, what gift would you want to receive for Christmas? With that question in mind, I compiled 10 outrageously expensive Christmas gifts. Many of the items I found left me puzzled or laughing, but I wouldn’t mind owning a few of these. It’s hard for me to fathom receiving such an opulent gift, but I could definitely imagine these items elegantly wrapped underneath someone’s gold-plated, diamond-encrusted Christmas tree.

I love chocolate in almost anything, but not that many Christmas cookies are chocolate-based. I’m always on the hunt for a Christmas cookie recipe I haven’t tried, so I was excited to find these Chocolate Snowcap cookies that combine chocolate and a wintry look.

I’m sort of in shock about how quickly Christmas snuck up on me this year. Just in case you aren’t already overloaded with all things Christmas, I compiled some last minute Christmas tips, ideas, and website links to help make your holiday extra special.

For me, the day after Thanksgiving isn’t just about scoring deals at the mall, it’s about getting out the Christmas decorations. I tend to put up the tree first because it just makes me happy. There’s just something about staring at the white lights and back-lit ornaments that gives me pure joy. So much joy in fact, that as a kid, I begged my mom to keep the tree up until my birthday in early January.

Whatever you call them, snowballs, Russian tea cakes, Italian wedding cookies, or even Italian Wedding Christmas cookies, these powdery nutty cookies are a mainstay on most Christmas cookie platters. Despite their popularity, I had never made them before. My mom didn’t make these at Christmas, and I only had them a few times when we received cookies from other holiday bakers.

I love holiday parties because they gave me an excuse to wear a glittery, shimmery, ultra feminine dress. I hardly ever suggest buying clothes that aren’t versatile, but holiday party dresses do not apply. This is the one time of year where I think it’s totally OK to buy a dress you might only wear once or twice because it’s the holidays.

My Christmas wish list almost wrote itself this year. I’ve been eyeing most of these items for awhile now. One of my favorite things about being a blogger is discovering brands and sharing what I love with my readers. It makes me feel like all my internet window shopping serves a purpose. Of all the things I’ve loved this year, here are the eight things at the very top of my Christmas wish list.

I’m always looking for new ways to connect with my Italian heritage—most of the time, that involves trying a new recipe. I first heard of Florentine lace cookies, while watching America’s Test Kitchen.

Merry Christmas! Tomorrow, we’re planning a low-key day with our little family. Our kids are still so young to really ‘get’ Christmas, but Rocco is starting to catch on.

Did you get an ugly Christmas sweater? Another pair of flannel pajamas? A really ugly set of dishes? Despite your family and friends’ thoughtfulness and spirit of giving, I’m sure you got something you don’t like, don’t have space for, or can’t use.

During the holidays, I always search for Italian-inspired recipes to try, as a way to connect to my heritage. Last year, it was Italian wedding cookies and Florentine lace cookies. This year, it’s homemade chocolate peppermint biscotti.

I love the holidays for many reasons — spending time with family, decorating our tree, finding the perfect gifts for my loved-ones — but one of my absolutely favorite parts is finding and trying new Christmas cookie recipes.

Finding cool gifts for my husband is usually my biggest Christmas shopping challenge. I tend to give him sweaters or other clothes, which is just so boring. To find some inspiration, I searched all over to find unique gifts for men under $50. The list I developed has a wide range of options including things for outdoorsy, handy, or techy guys. When I showed it to my husband, he got really excited about the mini – drone.

It’s already that time! Well, not quite, but I’m already thinking about Christmas and all the Christmas cookie recipes I want to make. The minute it turns into fall, I can’t help but think about all the baking I intend to do. I’m extra excited to bake this year because I finally (finally!) have a stand mixer.

Since 2003, I’ve lived far away from my family and many of my friends. Luckily, my parents spend a few months each winter in Phoenix near us. My sister and nephew always make a trip to see us to escape the cold. But unfortunately, we don’t get to see our extended family very often. Making custom Christmas cards for my family and friends is a great way to keep in touch with everyone who lives far away. Plus, who doesn’t love to get mail?

I love to bake. It is so therapeutic and a really great stress-reliever. The holidays can be so stressful and finding gifts for everyone can feel like such a challenge. That’s why I love to give baked goods as gifts. This year, I created these little Christmas tree brownies and found cute little white boxes, perfect for gift-giving.

I love to bake. Especially during the holidays, I’m constantly trying out a new cookie recipe. This year, I knew I wanted to try making a hanging gingerbread man recipe. What I didn’t know is that we’d undertake a DIY cookie cutter project in order to craft the perfectly silly gingerbread men we created.

My kids are obsessed with anything that has their name on it. This Christmas, I opted to get them the best personalized gifts. I got my kids these awesome personalized books because they both love to read and I want to encourage it whenever I can. I have a distinct feeling they will ask us to read their stories again and again.

I decided to try my artistic skills with royal icing to make gingerbread emoji cookies. After making these irreverent and funny gingerbread men, I had a bunch of leftover gingerbread dough and royal icing. I racked my brain to think of another recipe that could use the ingredients.

As a mom of two littles, I’m constantly amazed by all the great products out there. I had the chance to test out some new products and all of them would make perfect new mom gifts. If you have a mommy friend who is having a baby in 2017 or just welcomed a new bundle recently, check out these four products that I think would make excellent presents.

Although most people are rearing to return the item immediately after Christmas, it’s actually really smart to wait until after New Years when stores slow down. Also, you might actually get more for the item if you wait for the Christmas sales to end and for the items to go back to full price.

Family traditions are important to me, especially those that celebrate my Italian heritage. Each holiday, I try to find an Italian recipe I can incorporate into my own little family’s traditions. This year, I tried my hand at a panettone bread recipe.

What do you give someone who invites you to their house for a holiday party, or to the person who is hosting you for a holiday trip? It can be really tricky to decide what is appropriate, so I’ve come up with 12 hostess gift ideas to help you get ready for the holiday season.

What if you could find great holiday gifts that give back to charity? Well, you can. I’ve compiled 20 different companies that also give back to charities because today is Giving Tuesday.

Despite my love of the holidays, I have a problem. My husband is a Grinch. He hates the holidays, for a variety of reasons. We’ve been together for almost 15 years, so I’m used to his grouchiness around the holidays. However, I still want my kids to love the holidays just as much as I do. My husband keeps his grumpiness to himself, most of the time, so I want to start some fun holiday traditions this year that are simple to accomplish with preschoolers.

Even before we had kids, we decided Santa wasn’t going to be a thing in our house, not in a traditional way. We both didn’t like the idea of lying to our kids, but I personally also hated how hurt I felt when I found out Santa wasn’t real. I can still remember the exact day, the entire scenario that played out, and how crushed I was.

Have you heard of La Befana and the feast of the Epiphany? I hadn’t until a few days ago. I’m always looking for more ways to connect to my Italian heritage. My birthday is on Three Kings Day – aka Epiphany, so I researched ideas of traditional Italian desserts and that’s how I learned about befanini cookies.

On Veterans Day, my kids and I attended the first night of Disney Merriest Nites. This is a special after-hours event featuring 6 separate holiday parties. Tickets for this year are sold out, but if you were lucky enough to snag a ticket, here is what you can expect!

If you’re looking for a really easy gift idea, you can make this Christmas candy jar in minutes. I made this specifically as a cuter way to give someone a gift card. Instead of just giving them a gift card, I put it inside of the Christmas mason jar so it’s a bit of a gift with a surprise inside. Plus, who doesn’t love some candy?

How cute are these pretzel Rolo reindeer? They are super simple to make and only take four ingredients. You’ll need red M&M’s, candy eyes, mini pretzels, and Rolos. If you can’t find the red and green M&Ms you could use a regular bag of M&Ms and use the red and brown M&Ms so only some of the Rolo pretzel reindeer look like Rudolph.

It’s holiday entertaining time, so I wanted to try some new cocktail recipes. Next Monday, I will be on KTLA sharing some of my favorite holiday drinks, appetizers, and dessert recipes. (In case you missed my other KTLA appearances 1; 2). One of the recipes I’m going to share is this cranberry and pomegranate margarita.

Are you looking for a really simple holiday dessert that’s as cute as it is tasty? Then you need to make these Santa hat brownies. Seriously, it doesn’t get easier than this. I am always a proponent of sharing semi-homemade recipes, especially during the holidays when people are very short on time. I actually shared this recipe on KTLA the other day, and everyone, including the hosts and crew, loved these brownie Santa hats.

If you’re a fan of Starbucks, you’ve probably tried their delicious Cranberry Bliss Bars. These sweet and festive treats are the perfect addition to your holiday menu. But with this copycat cranberry bliss bar recipe, you can enjoy them year-round.

This delightful project not only adds a sweet touch to your festive decor but also connects you with the rich history of peppermint candies and the reason they are so readily available during the holidays. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll discuss the history of peppermint candies and why they are so universally available during the holidays. Then, I’ll share a really cute DIY Christmas candy dish by melting peppermint candies.

The joyous holiday season is here, and what better way to celebrate the spirit of togetherness than with matching Christmas pajamas! This heartwarming trend has taken the world by storm, transforming bedtime into a festive family affair.

My mom posted this cute DIY handprint Christmas ornament on her Facebook page and I thought it seemed like a really fun activity to do with the kids. So last weekend, we set out to try this DIY baking soda clay to create handprint ornaments the kids could hang on our tree. I used this recipe as the basis for my baking soda clay DIY Christmas ornaments.

Now that my kids are a little older, they are really starting to get into the holidays. With Christmas right around the corner, I wanted to create a cute, inexpensive and kid-friendly craft. I created this DIY Christmas garland using paint sample cards from the local hardware store.

As the holiday season approaches, there’s no better way to get into the Christmas spirit than with a cozy cup of coffee or hot chocolate in a festive mug. Christmas mugs aren’t just containers for your warm drinks; they’re expressions of joy and warmth, often serving as seasonal decorations and personal keepsakes.

The holiday season is a time for creative decorations, and nothing says festive and unique quite like Christmas tree succulents. These trendy arrangements combine the natural beauty of succulents with the charm of a Christmas tree, making them the perfect decorative addition to your holiday décor.