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…

New motherhood is a wild ride. Between healing from childbirth, soaking in every inch of your sweet babe, and suddenly being responsible for the every need of a tiny human, it's a lot to take in. It's no wonder Allison Holker's postpartum selfie…

Eight steps to making it from Thanksgiving to the New Year without face-planting. This is not an article about alcoholism. It's not about binge drinking. It's not about the fact that every year, a study comes out saying drinking is good for you or…

Memorial Day is one of those strange in-between holidays, where banks and schools are closed but the mall remains open. It can make it confusing to know if you need to grocery shop in advance for any celebration you might be hosting, but no need to…

There are lots of different ways to celebrate Memorial Day. You can head to your local pool; spend a day at the movies seeing the first summer blockbusters; or you could just stay home and get cozy with the kiddos. But if you're going to host a…

Like most holidays in America, food is a big part of Memorial Day celebrations. It may not require as much prep as Thanksgiving, but you still need to have snacks on hand to feed your kiddos once their fingers go pruney from their first pool day of…

With Easter just around the corner, it's time to start thinking about what to serve at your springtime feast. Whether you prefer an Easter brunch or your family tradition involves gathering around the table for a proper sit-down dinner, you'll love…

Whether you've got a big New Year's Eve party to attend, or just plan on popping some bottles at home, chances are you'll be craving some good old-fashioned comfort food come New Year's Day. And thanks to the magical powers of the Crock-Pot, you can…

It's almost time to ring in 2019, 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 drinking…

The holidays are a busy time of year for an awful lot of people. It's not uncommon to find yourself stressed out or overwhelmed by all that there is to do, between holiday prep, work projects, family responsibilities, and more. But the holiday…

Is it just me or do the holidays make you want to drink slightly more than usual? Between all the parties and celebrating, it seems like there are just endless delicious cocktails going around. And if there aren't, well, there should be... because…

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…

I love everything that is Costco. My membership to the retail super giant is the best $55 I spend all year. Just yesterday, I went in there to get butter lettuce, paper towels, and milk, and I came out with $100 of heavens knows what and a smile on…

The week of Christmas is one of the most stressful times of the year for moms. Parenting is a full time job already, so adding in last minute trips to the mall, gift wrapping, organizing a festive meal together, and making sure your older nephew…

Official announcement: Christmas does not begin at midnight on December 25. Contrary to popular belief, Christmas actually starts when the winter darkness settles in on the 24th and that fleeting feeling of actual magic fills you up. You know the…

Moms, you have been blessed by the timing of Christmas 2018. The holiday falls on a Tuesday this year, which means the kids will have school until the Friday before the big day. You won't have that frustrating week where the little monsters run…

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…