Holiday Entertaining

It is a truth universally acknowledged that last-minute guests want to visit busy families during the holiday season. We're expected to be gracious and offer last minute hospitality to these pop-ins, but don't people know how young families live?…

I am a Chip and Joanna devotee. For five seasons of their hit show, Fixer Upper, I watched as they shiplapped their way through the beaten-up homes of Waco, Texas, turning them into something gorgeous. While, admittedly, one of the chief reasons the…

The second Halloween comes along, the holiday season has officially begun. And once the jack-o'-lanterns are gone, it's officially time to begin the next phase of holiday decorating. If you're the type to put pressure on yourself to make everything…

It's almost time to ring in the new year, and if you're anything like me, you're texting friends trying to figure out your New Year's Eve plans. My favorite New Years have always been the low-key ones I've spent with friends making dinner and…

Beginning to feel like the holiday party season just won't quit? I am. Oh sure, it's great to mix and mingle with friends and fam throughout the month of December. But I don't think I'm the first mom to have received one too many holiday cookie swap…

Between parties, work events, and your own family's holiday traditions, there is a lot of cooking to be done. If you're tired of spending most of your time in the kitchen instead of celebrating, it may be time to consider some pre-made holiday…

For years, our children have made it onto Santa's nice list every year with the help of Sprinkle, an elf that does not live on a shelf. Instead, Sprinkle lives in my closet and climbs into the air conditioning ducts to spy on the kids. No one sees…

I've been to plenty of Hanukkah celebrations throughout my life, and nothing makes me feel more tethered to my religious heritage than lighting a menorah and eating latkes with my Jewish friends. If you'll be hosting or attending a celebration of…

Christmas morning can be hectic. Between kids tearing open their presents and the ensuing clean up (not to mention putting all the new toys together, if Santa didn't have the energy for it the night before), you really don't have a ton of time to be…

Food isn't the focus of Christmas like it is on Thanksgiving, but it's still an integral part of the holiday. Whether you'll just be celebrating with your immediate family when Santa visits or you're going to have the whole extended gang in town,…

Christmas is easily the most difficult holiday to plan and arrange. There are presents to be opened, desperate jaunts to Walgreens to get batteries, a fancy breakfast to prepare, and a big meal to plan in the evening. It's a lot to take on.…

In exactly two weeks, Christmas break begins, though it won't exactly be a break for you. Your house that is normally calm between the hours of 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. will become a play land for children hopped up on Christmas treats and anticipation for…

Christmas morning is one of the most magical times of the year. There’s family togetherness, joy, and of course, all those presents — nothing matches up to seeing your kid light up as they tear into their gifts, even if you’re watching through a fog…

If you've got kids, you know that breakfast is probably the furthest thing from their minds on Christmas morning. What kid can think about food when there are presents to be unwrapped and new toys to test out? But when it's all said and done and…

I love everything that is Costco. My membership to the retail super giant is the best $55 I spend all year. And being the Costco pusher that I am, I've compiled the best pre-made holiday appetizers from Costco that you need in your life right now.…

With the holiday season comes festive parties, and probably mingling with people you've just met. Whether you're hosting an event or attending as a guest, it doesn't hurt to have a few holiday party icebreakers up your sleeve so you can avoid using…

The exquisite anticipation of the most magical day of the year can make Christmas Eve feel like the longest night of your life. The little ones will be bouncing off the walls as they wait for Santa, desperate to keep their eyes open when you tuck…

The Thanksgiving meal isn't complete until you've managed to scarf down some pie, no matter how full of turkey you are. There are lots of store-bought options that you could serve up, but nothing beats a homemade pie. If you're wondering how you'll…

I love a sprawling smorgasbord of sweets to round out the Turkey Day feast, although I'm the first to admit that it can be hard to get even one dessert made when there's a big old bird occupying the oven. That's why these Thanksgiving Crock-Pot…