Preparing your Home & Heart for the Holidays

My favorite time of year is here. The one month that encompasses all of my favorite things at once: Entertaining, cooking, decorating, and celebrating. With everything that’s happened this year in 2020, I think we have all (myself included) been in extra need of all things Christmas as soon as humanly possible. My family refers to me as,“The Christmas Fairy” this time of year and have officially made the song, “We need a A Little Christmas” my theme song. Hearing this song on the radio while driving around town getting my own home and client’s homes ready for the Holidays, the lyrics “For we need a little Christmas, right this very minute” was quickly followed by a chuckle and a nod YES!

As fun as the Holidays are, often there is a huge sense of urgency which can sometimes lead to unwanted stress. From trying to finish the year strong in work and school, to Christmas shopping, family and friend get-togethers, putting up the Christmas lights, hosting, and trying to fit in all of those beloved Christmas family traditions, the Holidays can be a lot. So in light of the Holiday season craze and this wild year we call 2020, this month’s blog post is all about prepping our homes and hearts for this Christmas season and what truly matters. My hope is that this post meets you wherever you are in this Holiday season and brings some inspiration, light, and permission to pause.

Preparing your Home: Entertaining

To start off, I thought I’d share some of my favorite Christmas home essentials & favorite traditions. All of these things have become Christmas staples in my home and are traditions and must-haves that make my home feel warm and inviting to my friends and family.

Christmas Cookies

What better way to prep for Holiday guests than with Baking? Once the pumpkin pies from Thanksgiving are no more, I immediately start baking Christmas cookies. I love to make three or four different kinds of cookies starting the first of December to have ready to go for family gatherings and fun impromptu friend drop-ins. Just keep them in the fridge and pop a few out to get room temperature when guests come over! Nothing is quite as welcoming as a homemade seasonal baked good and this is such an easy way to make people feel at home. This is also such a fun activity to do with children and grandchildren and a great opportunity for Christmas memory making. I remember making Christmas cookies with my mother growing up and this is a tradition I have loved continuing with my own daughter and granddaughters. Below is one of my personal favorite Christmas cookies and a Southern Living recipe I’ve used for years. These are easy, lovely and a great option to include on your Christmas cookie platter. Happy Baking!

Sand Tarts

Yields 3 dozen. Prep: 20 minutes., Bake: 14 minutes

Ingredients:

1 cup butter, softened

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1 tablespoon ice water

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup finely chopped pecans

Powdered sugar

Instructions: Beat butter at medium speed with and electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add flour and next four ingredients, beating well. Stir in pecans. Roll dough into 1-inch balls and place on uncreased baking sheet. Bake 350 degrees for 12-14 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool completely on wire racks. Dredge cookies in powdered sugar.

Chicken & Wild Rice Casserole

To my fellow host and hostesses responsible for a Holiday meal, I’ve got you covered. This beloved recipe is another Southern Living recipe (shocker) and I promise is a crowd pleaser for any crew. I came across this recipe in a December issue a few years ago and not a Christmas season has gone by since without this dish making an appearance. My grown children still request it every year and it is delicious and comforting, with a few twists that make it special and elegant.

Makes 10-12 servings, Hands-On Time: 30 minutes, Total Time: 1 hr., 15 minutes

Ingredients:

1 (2.25 oz) package sliced almonds

2 (6.2 oz) boxes fast-cooking long-grain and wild rice mix

1/4 cup butter

4 celery ribs chopped

2 medium onions chopped

5 cups chopped cooked chicken

2 (10 3/4 oz) cans cream of mushroom soup

2 (8 oz) cans chopped water chestnuts drained

1 (8 oz) container sour cream

1 cup milk

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

4 cups (16oz) shredded Cheddar cheese, divided

2 cups soft, fresh breadcrumbs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake almonds in a single layer in a shallow pan 4 to 6 minutes or until toasted and fragrant, stirring halfway through. Prepare rice mixes according to package directions. Meanwhile, melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat; add celery and onions. Saute’ 10 minutes or until tender. Stir in chicken, next 6 ingredients, rice, and 3 cups cheese. Spoon mixture into a lightly greased 15 x 10 inch baking dish. Top with breadcrumbs. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup cheese, and top with toasted almonds. Bake 5 minutes. Enjoy!

My top Christmas Home Essentials

Now that we’ve got the food covered, let’s talk about some of my favorite Christmas home decor essentials that will give your home a little extra holiday cheer.

Nest “Holiday” scented candleAll that needs to be said about this candle is that it is absolutely divine and if I could buy a lifetime supply I would. Go buy yourself one and you won’t use any other holiday candle. Promise. Also makes a great gift idea! (Already asked my family for another one). If your are local to Birmingham, I buy mine at White House Interiors on 280.

Christmas stovetop Potpurri

This Christmas hack is inspired by Elisabeth&Butter (a favorite baker and blogger-go give her a follow!) and is such an easy way to make your whole home smell like Christmas using things you probably already have on hand. Fill a large pot with 4 cups of water, 3-5 cinnamon sticks, 1 cup of cranberries, 1 sliced orange, cloves, and a few trimmed Christmas tree branches and bring to a slow boil. Turn back down to low or simmer and that’s it. Can re-use 2-3 times and so easy to have prepped ahead of time for hosting guests.

Paper whites

My absolute favorite December blossom. I use them for my own dining room center piece, in my client’s homes, and is another wonderful holiday gift idea. You just can’t beat the freshness of this elegant winter white flower.

Preparing your Home: Decor and Traditions

The best thing about family Christmas traditions is how they often seem to occur organically. When both of my children were little, I fell in love with Old World Christmas ornaments. Colorful, beautiful, and timeless, these beloved ornaments quickly became my favorite tree decor. One year I decided that I would begin gifting one ornament each year to my husband and children, each ornament reflecting the receiver. This soon became a favorite tradition and such a sweet way for our tree to reflect the special attributes that encompasses my family. Sports, hunting, ballerinas, college mascots, beloved pets, and countries traveled, our tree each year reminds us of some of our favorite memories.

Needlepoint Stockings

My other favorite Christmas decoration in my home is our needlepoint stockings. I bought both my son and daughter theirs when they were little and it has been so sweet to continue adding stocking after stocking as our family has grown. I love how classic these stockings are and the fact I can continue ordering them after 30 years speaks to their timeless aesthetic. Each stocking is monogrammed and has a different Christmas scene which adds a sweet personal touch and makes each one special. You can find these at Lands’ End online.

What really makes a tradition special is not the tradition itself, but what makes it unique and special to your and your loved ones. From my home to yours, I hope some of my Christmas favorites have given you inspiration and that your Christmas season is filled with loving memories old and new.

Preparing our Hearts for the Holidays

I don’t need to remind anyone how difficult this year has been for us all. We’ve faced challenges as a country and individually none of us could have ever foreseen. As a result, the need for Christmas and the joy this season brings has been large and wide, causing most of us to dive head first into the Holidays. While the traditions, music, and decorations are all magical, they fall short next to real joy behind Christmas that is found in the gift of Christ. If there is one thing I’ve learned this year, it is where my hope and joy is truly found and that is in Christ alone. What hope and peace we have in the Lord that no matter what is happening in the world around us, His love, promises and faithfulness conquers all. My prayer for myself, my family, and all of you is that this Christmas season the love of Christ manifests itself in our lives in a way it never has before and that we all find true stillness to rest in His love.

“For unto us a Child is born. Unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace”.

Isaiah 9:6

From my home and heart to yours, Merry Christmas!