mutterhood 
Thank you for joining us to celebrate the 25 days of this holiday season. We wish you a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and the hope that your day is filled with family, joy and love. May the New Year bring everyone health, happiness and peace.
We once had a neighbor, the father of three little girls, who cast a spell every Christmas Eve. After he and his family returned home from church, and late enough that all little children would be in bed, he bundled up, ventured outside and slowly walked around the perimeter of …
And the Grinch, with his grinch-feet ice-cold in the snow, Stood puzzling and puzzling: “How could it be so?” “It came without ribbons! It came without tags!” “It came without packages, boxes or bags!” And he puzzled three hours, till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something …
Yesterday’s winter solstice marked the shortest day and longest night of the year, when the North Pole is tilted the farthest away from the sun. From prehistoric times through the present, the solstice has been celebrated with festivals and rituals marking the beginning of winter. It also marks, according to …
Sometimes I wish my gift-wrapping game was half as on-point as my friend Georgia’s. Every year, she hits the stores as soon as they open on Dec. 26 to grab tags, gift bags, ribbon and paper, all discounted up to 75 percent. She takes it home, stashes it in a …
From today’s newsletter: At my holiday house, we’re singing Let It Go every day. Really? No, not really. I’ve never seen Frozen and I have a musical hating husband and two grown boys. But the idea is the same. Usually this time of year I have a million things left on my to-do list. Presents to …
Do you hide a pickle ornament on your Christmas Tree? Do you know why? The most popular story of the pickle tradition starts in long ago Germany. How long ago is a bit fuzzy, but on Christmas Eve, while the children are nestled all snug in their beds, their parents …
Building gingerbread houses for Holiday-ish: Day 14 left us curious about the origins of this Christmas treat. Here’s what we discovered: While the tradition of making gingerbread houses during Christmas is fairly recent, the earliest known recipe for gingerbread came from Greece in 2400 BC. Ginger root had traveled around …
Here’s a quick and easy last-minute gift, stocking stuffer, dessert and late-night treat all wrapped up into one very cute package: the hot chocolate bomb. I first spotted these in late November on a Target run. (Am I the only person who regularly cruises Target’s seasonal candy section once the …
What’s your pleasure: sweet or savory? When it comes to holiday foods, Team Sweet is a flashy favorite, it’s starting line-up filled with all-star cookies, candies, cakes and buttery cinnamon sugar. Chocolate provides the power, confident in its position as league MVP. Team Savory is an older, more experienced squad …