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Just three more sleeps until Christmas Eve — my favorite day of the year! With every December season and each Christmas that comes, it somehow feels a little more special than the last. As I get older, I value time more and more. It goes so fast.
This year has been a whirlwind — hard and beautiful all at the same time. We’ve had growth, setbacks, and some major wins too. As we head into the final weeks of the year, I’m so excited to be home, spending time taking care of my family, watching Christmas movies, and spoiling my mom and sister with Christmas gifts (my favorite thing to do!).
After so much travel, the homebody in me is really shining through. I returned home from a couple of days in Chicago for our HBH community dinner (so many photos below!), followed by a week in New York. I jumped right into holiday baking as soon as I got home — it was late, but I finally shared my cookie box this week!
This season, I’ve been channeling my Nonnie in the best way. Planning my Christmas menu (sharing below), setting the table the night before, wrapping gifts, simmering my Christmas potpourri, and burning my favorite candles. These next few days are all about embracing this special time — and baking lots of cookies. It’s cookie box season, and cookies are being gifted to everyone around me.
I truly love this time of year.
I know I can be that annoying person who genuinely loves all things holiday, but it makes me so happy to wish everyone a Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays. I hope it brings a little cheer to anyone I run into.
What are your holiday plans? What are you looking forward to most? Are you cooking, or maybe excited to enjoy a meal made entirely by someone else? However you’re celebrating, I hope you’re starting to settle into the season.
Enjoy this week’s favorites — I’m keeping them short through the holidays!
1. Things I’m Loving.
cozying up wearing…my favorite Guest in Residence The Plaid Big Scarfand White & Warren Cashmere Travel Wrap.
decking the halls…Making Paper Chains This Holiday Season! So sweet and cute!
Christmas magic…at the Les Airelles Courchevel. The coziest hotel surrounded by peaks and frosted trees in Courchevel. It’s a Christmas wonderland. Crackling wood-burning fires, the most festive holiday decor, and direct access to the largest ski area in the world. I think this is our 2026 family vacation. Planning begins now.
everything in my cart (low)…the Zara winter collection. First off, this Faux Fur Short Coat. It screams Aspen, which is where I will be in the middle of January. So I need this. It pairs well with this classic Double Handle City Bag.
listening to…Lauryn Bosstick On The Story She’s Never Fully Told.
last minute gift idea..hot cocoa mugs! This is so fun and something I do almost every single year. A great gift for the hostess. Keep it easy and pick up your favorite hot cocoa mix, a holiday mug, and your favorite Christmas candle. Put it all in a box as I did here. A thoughtful, festive, and cute gift!
everything in my cart (beauty)…the Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Stix High-Shine Gloss Stick in The MVP – blue red. So pretty!
watching…30 Delightfully Cheesy Holiday Movies to Stream Tonight. Adding Miracle on 34th Street, Eloise at Christmas Time, and the entire Santa Claus Cause collection (my favorite).
mixing up…Christmas week espresso martins!
everything in my cart (high)…eyeing this cute Prada double-breasted chevron peacoat. With a big winter trip to Italy on the books, I’m looking for all the pretty coats right now. My sister would be obsessed with this one too. Zara actually has a similar coat if you’re looking as well!
creating…new holiday traditions and repeating old favorites: cookie boxes, Christmas morning cinnamon rolls, and sneaking away late at night with my mom and sister to spoil them with Christmas gifts (my favorite night of the year).
2. The Christmas Recipes to Make this Week.
The Tradition: Christmas Eve Chex Mix
Popular Appetizer: Cranberry Brie Pull Apart Bread
Baking: Christmas Monster Cookies
Cocktail: The North Pole Cocktail
3. Comfy Holiday Travel Sets.
4. My Christmas Eve and Christmas Menus.
Christmas Eve Menu
Beef Tenderloin with Mushrooms and White Wine Cream Sauce
Creamy French Onion and Mushroom Soup
Mom’s Death By Chocolate
Christmas Menu
Holiday Spiced Honey Baked ham – who has a good recipe?
Cheesy Mashed Potato Casserole
Crispy Parmesan Thyme Sweet Potato Stacks
Shredded Brussels Sprout and Prosciutto Salad
5. An HBH Christmas in Chicago.
Our very first Half Baked Harvest Holiday Dinner with YOU — our incredible community. It was truly the most special night we’ve ever put together, and I already want to do it all over again. So much love.
We gathered in a cozy winter setting with some of the most loyal, inspiring, and kind-hearted HBH friends. A few of you have been here for 13+ (!!) years, which completely blows me away. Some of you I was meeting for the very first time. But somehow, it felt like we’d all known each other forever — like one big, cozy family.
From the moment everyone arrived, it was all smiles, hugs, happy tears, and so much good food. I got to create a special menu just for this night — holiday cocktails, yummy apps, cozy mains, sides, and festive desserts. We truly went all out.
We even hosted a giveaway, and to make the night even more meaningful, every single dollar from the event went straight to ACF — an adoption support organization that’s incredibly close to my family’s heart.
It was magical — exactly how the holidays should feel.
To everyone who came, thank you. You made this night unforgettable. And to those of you who weren’t there but continue to show up here every single day — this is for you too. I’m so grateful for each and every one of you.
A truly magical night that ended with cookies!
6. Inspiring Me – Christmas Gift Wrapping.
7. Favorite Links.
The 7 Most Sought-After Travel Destinations of 2026
From Room Service to Stem Cells: Inside the Rise of Longevity Tourism
Christmas Nails—6 Festive Colors
Employees Are Accepting Lower Salaries Just so They Can WFH—Would You?
36 Things to Do This Winter That’ll Make You Forget How Cold You Are
New Year’s Resolutions Fail–These 13 Tips Will Guarantee Success
Do This Powerful Exercise Now to Reflect on 2025 and Reset for 2026
Reading Nook: These Are the 20 Most Anticipated Books of Winter
8 Things I’m Doing This Week So I Can Truly Unplug for the Holidays
The Decorating Trends Designers Are Leaving Behind in 2026
21 Designers Predict 2026’s Hottest Kitchen Countertop Material
8. Holiday Party Looks.
9. This Week’s Dinners + Weekend Eats.
Monday: Italian Chicken Gnocchi Soup
Tuesday: Crockpot Spicy Queso Beef Chili
Wednesday: Spicy Miso Chicken Katsu Ramen
Thursday: Christmas Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing
serving with: 3 Ingredient Blue Cheese Appetizer
Friday: Crispy Prosciutto Cheesy White Lasagna
serving with: Garlic Butter Challah Bread
Saturday: Frosted Mistletoe Margarita
Sunday: Gooey Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
This post was originally published on December 21, 2025
Your Christmas wrapping paper is gorgeous, merry Christmas 🎄
Thanks for all of your gift suggestions 🎁
Beautiful post!
Thanks so much, Kristine!! Merry Christmas!
I see you making moms death by chocolate in your stories, will you be sharing the recipe before Christmas?
Hi Anita,
No, sorry, I did not plan to share that this year. Merry Christmas!🎄🎁
Excited for Christmas! Making your make ahead gravy again for the turkey (UK) tomorrow.
Hope you and your family and team HBH have a Merry and Happy Christmas. 💖🎄🎉🎂xx
Thanks so much, Kelly-Jane! Love to hear this! Merry Christmas to you and your family!
You look so much like your Mom in these pictures! You two could be twins, except for the hair color of course! Merry Christmas!
Thanks so much, Wendy:) Merry Christmas!!
Why do you always cook prosciutto in your recipes? It’s meant to be eaten as a cold cut, and it’s SO delicious that way! I tried one of your recipes with crispy prosciutto once and I was sad I ruined it by cooking it.
Hi Marge,
Personal preference:) Totally don’t have to do what I am doing, I love eating it cold too, but it’s also delicious crispy!
Happy Holidays!
We make ham every Christmas Day and I use Martha Stewart’s recipe. Has Oj, clove, honey and ginger for the sauce. So good!
Thanks so much for sharing, Jenn! I will have to look up her recipe, I’m sure it’s fantastic!
Merry Christmas!
My family’s favorite ham is a spiral ham coated inside and out with maple syrup and a spicy rub then put in the smoker. Easy and delicious! Also, it frees up oven space for sides. I’m working my way through “Quick & Cozy”. My favorite yet! It’s full of post it notes for future cooks. But so far, The Italian Chop, One-Pot Spiced Chicken & Dumplings, Cheesy Roasted Shallot Bread, Salisbury Steak, Cheeseburger Pasta and Frosted Peanut Butter Brownies are all fantastic! I can’t wait to make the other hundred recipes I’ve marked. LOL. Merry Christmas, Tieghan and thank you for making me a culinary queen in my household.
Hey Lisa,
Thanks so much for reading and sharing your families favorite ham recipe, it sounds delicious!
I appreciate you making so many recipes from the cookbook, I loved reading your favorites so far:)
Merry Christmas!
I was at the Chicago event and thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you for the cookie box! They were all delicious, but I have to ask what the cinnamon type bar things were. They were my favorite. Thank you for all you do and Happy Holidays!
Hey Gina!!!
I am so glad you had a great night! It was so much fun!
Those are the snickerdoodle bars!! Here is the link:
https://fett-weg.today/snickerdoodle-blondies/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Have a merry Christmas 🎄🎁
Where are you finding the “Santa clause cause” to watch? It sounds intriguing but I can’t find it anywhere! I want to add it for a movie night!!
Hi Brylee,
I meant the Santa Clause Collection, they are on Disney:) Please let me know if you have any other questions! Merry Christmas!
Made the Million Dollar spaghetti last week and shared with a neighbor which was a big hit–although I did leave out sun dried tomatoes w oil due to feedback from other reviews.
Please share your Mom’s Death by Chocolate recipe !
Thanks so much, Beth! I am so glad the spaghetti was enjoyed, I appreciate you making it! The death by chocolate is on my list to share, it’s a family fave!
Happy Holidays!
I love ham! But I was just curious how you’re going to make it for Christmas when you don’t have a recipe for it & are asking others for theirs?
Hi Ashley,
Thanks for reading today! I was just curious if any of my readers have a great holiday ham recipe….otherwise I will just wing it as I go and hope for the best! Let me know if you have any suggestions:)
Happy Holidays!
Why do you only buy gifts for your mom & sister? You said above about spoiling just those two. Just curious!
Hey Amber,
I appreciate you reading today! I love buying gifts for my mom and Asher just because I love all the cozy, girly things! I do buy gifts for my dad as well and brothers as well:)
Happy Holidays!
You always talk about buying gifts for your mom and Asher, but never mention your dad or brothers? Do you buy for them as well? I’d love it if you could share some products they enjoy too, it’s always hard to buy for guys, girls are easy!
Hey Johana,
Thanks for reading today! I do, I just really love buying for my mom and Asher, I guess girly items are more my thing:) Totally agree guys can be a bit harder to buy for.
I do have a men’s gift guide that I put together a few years back if you want to check that out:
https://fett-weg.today/2021-hbh-gift-guide-gifts-for-him/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
I hope this helps! Merry Christmas!
Why are you going to Aspen in January? Fun!!
Hi Erin,
I will be in Aspen to watch my brother compete! Thanks for asking!
Happy Holidays!
Happy Holidays! This year, Christmas is a tad different: I broke my left leg & ankle the Sunday before Thanksgiving! A stupid accident, my dog was playing with one of her friends who ran right into me & knocked me down. I heard the crack! Anyway, things are a bit different but fortunately we have friends & neighbours who have helped & are helping. Like the friend who comes every day at 6:30 AM to take our dog out for a walk. Like the neighbour who has made the most delicious crab cakes for dinner, not once but twice! The friend who has taken & will bring g back to me the 4 art pieces I have in a show at the local art league…
Anyway, I sent my wife to the grocery store yesterday. The list had some item not in the usual rotation due to the holidays. Phone call #1: “where’s the tofu?” Phone call #2: “what does a pomegranate look like?” Phone call #3: “where’s the goat cheese?”
The end result was: Instacart for the win, until I can drive & get around the grocery store! She swears she will NEVER do that again-& I just laugh…
Anyway, thanks for all you do & have the best holidays with your family!
Hi Dale,
Thanks for reading today! I’m very sorry to hear about your leg and ankle, that is such a bummer! How nice of your neighbor to help with your dog, what a relief! Lol I love the story of your wife’s trip to the grocery store, how lucky she is that you usually take care of that!
I hope you are able to rest up, have a wonderful Christmas!