“Om” for the Holidays-Shortcuts for a Stress-Free Christmas!

Hello Friends,

Wow! The holidays really snuck up on me this year! I can’t believe we are just days away from Christmas! However, I am determined not to stress out! When I saw this kitchen towel and matching baking spatula at Anthropologie, I just had to buy it! “OM for the holidays” definitely describes my mood this year! In the past I have baked from scratch, decorated the entire house, entertained family and friends, and shopped for unique gifts for all the kids in the family! This year…I am in full chill mode! So I thought I would share some of my quick and easy Christmas shortcuts and decor that will make the holidays stress- free!

Let’s start with a baking shortcut!

If you don’t have the time or energy to make gingerbread dough from scratch, try using a gingerbread mix! You only need 1 egg and a stick of butter and you are ready to roll out the dough! They come out of the oven perfect in 10 minutes so you can spend your time decorating which is the best part anyway!

This also makes a great holiday or hostess gift! You can put everything in a nice mixing bowl and you will have a great gift for someone special!

Now let’s talk about entertaining!

For many years I hosted our family brunch and entertained throughout the season! A couple of years ago I had a fun holiday open house, complete with a dessert bar, signature cocktails, and Christmas Karaoke! You can checkout the highlights from my past blog post, here.

This year, I have been so busy with my floral business that I don’t plan to do much entertaining. I may have something small on Christmas Eve with my sister and nieces. We usually decorate cookies and drink hot chocolate so I thought I would make these cute snowman marshmallow faces to add to our hot chocolate!

I got the idea to make these snowman marshmallows when I saw them at Anthropologies and at Sur La Table! However, they were overpriced and I decided that I could definitely make my own for less! Here’s how to make them:

Just pick up the giant campfire marshmallows from the grocery store, black gel icing, orange gel icing or white gel icing then add a drop of orange food coloring and of course the hot chocolate!

Cut the giant marshmallows in half and create the eyes and mouth with the black gel icing pen and make the nose with the orange icing using a toothpick! Dust both sides of your marshmallow snowman face with sugar to finish them off and make them less sticky! Add to your cup of hot chocolate and enjoy!

I found the cute hot chocolate pitcher for a few bucks at Goodwill and the snowman mug from Tuesday Morning-one of my favorite places to shop during the holidays!

Another simple way to entertain is making a charcuterie board! They are basically a cheese, cracker, and fruit tray that you can jazz up with a variety of wonderful treats! You can keep it simple or get as elaborate as you like! It has become a popular way to serve food at a party or wedding and my go-to way to entertain!

Another way to cut down on cost and time spent mixing different drinks is to have a signature cocktail when you entertain! This year I am going to make a simple Cran-Raspberry Mimosa! Just Champagne, Cran-Raspberry juice and garnish with cranberries, raspberries, and a sugar rim! Quick and easy!

These cute shortcuts will save you time and your guests will still think you are the hostess with the mostest!

Now let’s talk about holiday decorations! If you have been following my blog for awhile then you know I usually have a theme! From winter wonderland to a snowman themed Christmas tree, I usually coordinate all of my decorations!

This year the theme is… NO theme, lol! I decided that a hodgepodge of all my old ornaments that I have collected over the years would be just fine! I wanted the tree to look like “the kids” put it together! I just wanted to have an old fashioned Christmas- a throwback to simple times and old memories! Hum, I guess that is a theme-Old School Christmas! Here are a few pictures!

I think I captured the vintage, old school vibe I wanted and I did it with the decorations I already had! Sometimes the best things are the simple things that you already have! I hope you have enjoyed this post and that you are able to “OM” for the holidays! May you have a blessed holiday season with family and friends! Until next time, Happy Holidays!

Stay busy being fabulous,

Kery B.