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Maybe you already have lots of family holiday traditions — or maybe you’re looking to start some new ones. Either way, here are some of our favorite products, activities, and decorations to keep the holidays merry and bright…and hopefully as low-stress as possible.
A holiday clothing collection with lots of options…
Whether it’s a Hanukkah sweatshirt, jingle bell dress, or pie-themed outfit you’re after, Monica & Andy has something cute and cozy that does the trick. Of course, they have plenty of festive PJs as well. Family matching, right this way. ($15+, Monica & Andy)
An elf for your shelf (plus some much-needed shortcuts)...
If you celebrate Christmas and haven’t gotten on the Elf on the Shelf bandwagon yet, this might be your year. You have four elf options (two boys and two girls), each of which comes with a book and official adoption certificate. If you’re not into adding a ton of “holiday magic” (read: work) to your plate, you can also snag a kit full of props and scenes to set up for your elf this year. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)
An advent calendar that’s not full of candy…
Look, we don’t have anything against chocolate. We just don’t enjoy watching children fight over a tiny piece of it at 6:30 every morning for a month. So we offer these fun alternatives to a candy countdown: a Lego Friends building set they can play with long after the holidays are over, and a gemstone advent calendar complete with a mini dig kit and five jewelry settings. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)
A waffle maker to start new breakfast traditions…
You may already love the Skimm HQ’r-fave mini waffle maker from this brand — but if you want to serve a crowd, this larger one is your best bet. It makes four waffles at a time, plus extra waffle sticks if you put batter in the overflow pockets. Pass the syrup, please. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)
A caviar kit to level up your latkes…
Send this to a friend who’s hosting Hanukkah, or treat your own family to a celebratory upgrade. You’ll get four different kinds of caviar (6 ounces in total), plus a mother-of-pearl spoon, clotted cream, and some blini that you can serve on the side or save for another time. ($169.95, Goldbelly)
A Kwanzaa kinara kit…
Perfect if you’re celebrating Kwanzaa for the first time or introducing the holiday to your kids. This kit comes with a handmade kinara, seven taper candles, and a Kwanzaa booklet that’s helpful for beginners. ($49.99, BlackandFIT via Etsy)
A cute twist on hot chocolate…
Heat up your favorite milk, stir in one of these lollipop-style chocolates, and voilà: a delicious cup of cocoa. Each set has two sticks each of four different flavors: French truffle, peppermint, peanut butter cup, and salted caramel. ($40/set of eight, Uncommon Goods)
Cookie cutters for snowy days at home…
It’s tough to beat a cookie party when it’s cold outside…so grab this set of winter-themed cookie cutters and get decorating. With a snowman, snowflake, gingerbread man, candy cane, and Christmas tree, it has options for everyone. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)
Ornaments that are really hard to break…
If your kids are little, do yourself a favor and skip unpacking the precious family heirlooms this year. Go for these shatter-resistant Target ornaments instead. They come in lots of different color combinations, and at $15 for 50, they’re extremely replaceable — just in case. ($15, Target)
A big, cozy blanket for family movie nights…
This giant knit blanket feels like an enormous sweater. Pick your favorite from eight different colors, line up your favorite movie snacks, try to agree on a movie (good luck), then snuggle in together on the couch. ($50+, Target)
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