The holidays are more than just actual Christmas Day. Its full of little things that make the whole season special.
Its Christmas trees elegantly decorated with ornaments made of popsicle sticks.
Its stockings hung over the fireplace…
Its curling up with a book and your pup on the window seat during a snow day…
Its seeing twinkle lights wherever we go…
Its a mailbox full of cards from people we love… And sending our love back…
Its taking the time to sit down together with friends and family… to load up on comfort foods, like homemade chicken pot pie or soup…
Its a hot cappuccino while working at my desk…
Like most of life, its the little things that make a difference. Little things that can turn a busy, stressful season into a time of joy and peace. Small acts of kindness – like adding a homemade ornament to your perfectly decorated Christmas tree or cooking a favorite meal for a family member – go a long way this time of year.
Do something. Invite the neighbors over for coffee, cocoa and cookies on a snowy day. Shovel the neighbors’ sidewalk. Send an anonymous gift to someone who could really use it right now. Offer to babysit for a stay-at-home mom so she can go shopping all by herself. Drop off a plate of cookies at a school, police station or your town hall. Hold the door. Smile. Say thank you.
And, take time for yourself. Take a day – or even just an hour – to do what you love. This past weekend, we were snowed in. I spent an afternoon curled up on my couch under a warm, fuzzy blanket with a mystery novel. I sipped my Nespresso coffee by the fire, completely absorbed in a story, while forgetting about the to-do lists and the events and gift wrapping.
And I want you to do the same. Nespresso has generously given me a Nespresso Pixie Espresso Maker ($229) and Aeroccino Plus
One winner will be selected at random using Rafflecopter and will be notified by email. Winner must have a U.S. Mailing address. For other contest rules, see our giveaway policies page.
Disclosure: The folks at Nespresso asked me to share what “A Tasteful Holiday Season” means to me and sent me a Nespresso to enjoy myself and one to give to my readers. As always, all opinions are my own.
About Melissa
Putting aside time to spend with nothing to do, just letting our ideas guide us!
Sounds like you are ready for the holidays! To me one thing that makes our holidays so special…is all the baking I do with my kids! Hopefully those memories last them a lifetime 🙂
I love to decorate, and make cookies with my daughter, that is special to me.
Spending time with family and friends. Time is a luxury these days so hanging out and just enjoying one another’s company is what makes the holidays so special for us!
spending time with as much family as I can!
Making gifts for others! 🙂
Dedicating all of my PTO to spend quality time with family 800 miles away!
I just try to spend time with family and friends.
I take most of my vacation off around the holidays so I can spend the most time with my kids, wife and family.
Taking turns covering the office at work so people all get a chance to take off the time that works for them!
Head to our local winter market and pick up a treat for our family!
My husband and I are trying to start new traditions … combining some of the ones we each grew up with and adding in some new ones of our own. For the second year in a row, we will be skiing over Christmas!
I love looking at and reminiscing over our Christmas tree!
This year I’m making my holiday season special by making little gifts and goodies for my students who are less fortunate than I:o)
we help our neighbor (a single mom) shovel and snowblow her driveway every time it snows. which always ends up in a snowball fight with her girls!
By spending time with my family!
We have a kind of complex, multi-cultural/melting-pot extended family with a wide and sometimes will mixed bag of traditions and evolving ways to celebrate and also say/express our grace & gratitude.
A few of these traditions and celebrations that my Honey/Hubby and I especially enjoy are:
Christmas Eve – visit SEVERAL “family” gatherings to celebrate & share before going to BOTH a Midnight Mass and every year, a Christmas Eve service at one of the MANY MANY churches in ours and neighboring towns – and even “the city!” We try to attend a service at a different church every year.
On New Years Eve we always have our own special rituals for reflecting and commemorating the past year – while preparing for the PROMISE of the New Year, new beginnings, fresh starts, the miracle of SPRING and reaffirming our strongest and highest hopes and dreams…
We go out to celebrated with friends and family early in the evening / parties but always come home before midnight to share our own traditions, enjoy something very special to eat (like smoked salmon!) and toast in the New Year with a Kir Royale.
I try to do a lot crafts and bake so that we spend time together
We participate in our local holiday boat parade
My girls and I do an activity advent calendar where each day we do a seasonal activity together. It has been so much fun and they look forward to it each day.
Being with family!!
Spending time with my amazing family and eating great food! diannehall777@gmail.com
I think the most important part of the season is being with family. I try to stay present, be joyful, and give my children lots of attention. Decorating and baking are also a big part of making the season special.
Spending time stress free relaxing and hanging out with my family while doing fun stuff like baking goodies!
nickijoseph91@gmail.com
I make cookies for the whole neighborhood
i leave random gifts for people
I am making everyone homemade gifts this year
I like to decorate my house for Christmas to make the season special
Decorating and making cookies with the kids, playing games and making it ALL about them!
I make the season special by hosting all the family dinners!
During the holidays my kids and I do a lot of baking and crafts (home made ornaments) They love it.
spending time with loved ones and decorating the entire house
By hosting a Christmas Party for those who are alone at Christmas.
My favorite way to make the season special is to bake cookies with my grandma. She’s 81 now, but we’ll never be too old to bake together!
My favorite way to make the season special is to spend time with friends and family.
Well we always try to make at least one person/family having a hard time happy by donating toys or money…I think giving is what a lot of people seem to forget this time of year. We have to teach our kids the act of kindness is, it’s what makes each and everyone us special. One year my daughter when she was about 10, made over 100 xmas cards and brought them to a senior home. At 13, She is still one special young lady. Last year we donated $500 to someone my sister knows who lost everything in Hurricane Sandy. I think it feels great to give and believe me I have had hard times financially in the past. I remember receiving a turkey sent by a local center donating them. I am lucky to have remarried and have a great husband who takes great care of us.
sibabe64 at ptd dot net
I forgot to write that this is the most tasteful way to bring in the holiday, and of course a great way to top it off would be a tasteful cup of coffee 🙂
sibabe64 at ptd dot net
I love spending the holiday in the kitchen with my mom and then surprising friends with our homemade hand-delivered treats!
I love to spend time with the kids – crafting, cooking, watching Christmas shows. Truly they are what makes it special!
We do holiday crafts with the kids, check out lights together and always bake cookies!
My daughter and I bake a lot and pass out the goodies to neighbors, family, and friends!
I spend time with my family.
Gathering with the whole family and making a surplus of food and treats!
We have family over for Christmas dinner
By spending it with my family
I love the Christmas season…
I bake some Christmas treats for my family. 🙂
I decorate the stairs outside my apartment with greenery, wreath and lights to greet my guests. Once indoors I have a lovely mixed Christmas tree with lots or colorful ornaments, have an oil light burning fragrance and lots of homemade cookies for everyone to enjoy. I love to bake anytime but holidays are a great excuse for overindulgence!
we try to spend a ton of time together by going to local holiday events, going to see the lights of down town, seeing santa at the mall and just being together
spend time visiting family!
I make the season special by treating myself and my family to treats we don’t normally indulge in.
spending time with family, especially my grandchildren
We try to take the time to really slow down and spend quality time with one another.
We try to plan special things to do with family and friends!
making homemade candy and baked goods
relaxing and spending time with my loved ones.
Setting time to relax, bake, and hang out with the family!
Spending time with family and cooking lots of holiday goodies!
Spending time with family and baking up a storm!
We spend time with family, after all, isn’t that what its all about
We always use an advent calendar that my grandmother made and used to count down the days until Christmas. This year we also started a book a day until Christmas. My kids are loving it.
we decorate and have everyone here for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Its a couple of days where everything is shut down except for family and friends and good times together
We make x-mas cookies and always save a couple for santa!
We make the season special by spending time with friends and family. We also make sure we devote some extra time to our local shelter so that the season is special for the animals there.
I try to make the season special buy getting my loved ones thoughtful gifts, things that they are not expecting but I know they’d love. I also try to make it special by giving to others as much as I can. Even if it’s buying the car behind me coffee, anything I can do to make someone smile or have a better day is worth it. =)
I try to spread the holiday cheer by decorating my house inside and out, as well as giving friends and family holiday cookies! 🙂
decorating the outside of our home is a family tradition. we love to be the brightest house on the block!
I put up tons of Christmas lights.
I enjoy visiting friends and family.
I bake a lot and spend more time with family
I decorate my home, and make sure to bake some treats.
We make sure if is perfect by ensuring we have a peaceful and warm home, good food, nice coffee and of course the company of my family.
Baking Christmas cookies!
A quiet year this year but enjoying the spirit if chrismas
We do lots of holiday crafts.
Decorate home with my daughter and play funny games 🙂
I go caroling with friends
Traditions with my family from decorating the tree, baking cookies, church!
I shovel my neighbors driveways.
I love to cook and bake special meals and gift foods for the holidays.
We have the same traditions every year…lights at the zoo, a dinner in a kiln, poinsettia display at the conservatory and the train display.
By getting together with people I don’t get to see often, and making personalized gifts.
Spend time with family.
I love making homemade cards and spending time writing everyone a special message.
I try to make mostly handmade gifts if I can. I love making, or cooking, for people. Trying to make everyday special.
I make the season special by being very festive and spending quality time with my family.
I spend time with loved ones eating delicious food!
I spend as much time with my son as I can, take my vacation while he is off.
Being with my family, this is the first holiday season for my great granddaughter, and my granddaughter becoming engaged!!!!
I spend time with my family, donate to the local food bank, and catch up on reading. Thanks for the giveaway!!
a “personal” shopping day with my daughter
My husband and I buy two nice new ornaments every year. We pack them away carefully at the end of the season. We figure when our kids are grown we can pass the collection on. :
I love to spend extra quality time with my family and my kids. I try to make traditions that my kids will remember when they are older.
Spending time with my family. Mainly my younger brother and sister reading books to our parents (the same three every year) and having a “sleepover” in the basement with them for quality time. Used to be waiting for Santa Claus, now it’s just waiting for the festivities.
I always put extra thought and little touches into presents, its def the thought and not the money that makes gifts special. Also, I make sure to find time to spend with important people in my life!
Decorating the house, baking special treats, taking food to others.
I bake lots of delicious holiday treats!
I decorate the house, bake with my granddaughters and host my family’s celebrations.
i try and make every day special, but i try to provide a lot of holiday experiences for my kids and family instead of things.
spoil our niece and nephew!
Our family spends a lot of time together doing baking, crafts, visiting elder, etc
I stock the fridge, pantry, and freezer and encourage my kids to have people over all the time.
I try to do things early and not schedule too much so we don’t get carried away and loose sight of the meaning of the season! we play more games and do more crafts & just spend more time being together!
My favorite way to spend the holidays is relaxing and enjoying meals, gathered together with family and friends!
We make time for friends and family, and don’t fuss about the decor or the presents.
I like to make the season special by decorating the house, making special foods, and spending time with loved ones.
I visit my daughter and my grandchildren for 10 days every Christmas. I give her a break by helping out with the kids, decorating, baking, and cleaning. She gets to relax a little and I get to enjoy my family.
I love getting the family together and having fun!
i spend lots of time with my family
I make the season special by giving my kids extra love!
spending time with family
Spending time with my kids is the most important. Thanks for the opportunity.
A clean house and their individual favorite treats.
By doing things for others! Tis the season 🙂
I make baskets for all my loved ones
Spending time with my family and enjoying a special Christmas morning breakfast.
I always have home baked goodies for guests at Christmas.
i bake cookies with my wife
I spend it with those I love
I take each of my children out at separate times to Christmas shop, have have chocolate and some needed alone time together
Spending time with family and friends
I spend lots of time with friends and family!
love to decorate gingerbread houses with my nieces and nephews
When I was young, my mother made an advent calendar ornament set, and would hang one new ornament on the tree each day leading up to Christmas. In the decade since leaving home, I have not really established any new traditions, a fact I regret. My daughter is one and a half this Christmas, and I want to change that, and give her traditions to grow and thrive on. I think we are going to sit on the couch and watch The Snow Man this Christmas eve, as a start.
When me and my mother go out shopping and finding a nice quiet little coffee shop to unwind in.
We decorate a lot.
We don’t have a lot of money so we take our kids to different neighborhoods to see all the pretty christmas lights on display 🙂
I just focus on my daughter & it seems to work out
I make it special by spending more time with family.
A tasteful holiday is full of *good* food — not just a lot of food.
Spending time with family
Love spending time with good food and family!
spending time with my family making cookies & apple pie while watching Christmas movies together!!
We make it special by volunteering as a family in the soup kitchen as well as baking cookies and taking to the local shelters.
I always try to get my kids involved in the season, especially giving to others less fortunate. We’ve spent time at our local food bank and homeless shelter and we always donate as well.
More special one on one time with each of my two kids. Movies, park, ect.
I try to spend as much time with my grandkids as I can.
Baking all sorts of goodies for everyone!!
I decorate my house with my daughters holiday crafts!
i try and spend as much time with my friends and family as possible.
we like to get dressed up and go to grandma’s house caroling.
We always set aside a day to watch old Christmas movies all day long! What a fun way to spend the day…lots of old movies, popcorn, decorated cookies, hot chocolate and egg nog!
We make the season special by all the little traditions we’ve added over the years 🙂
We make the season special by having my two boys make christmas ornaments every year for the family. It is pretty awesome to see how their art skills have changed over the years
I make the season special by reaching out to old friends.
With friends and family!
Just getting together for Christmas Eve midnight mass then presents and family time.
We make the season special by spending time with family, exchanging thoughtful gifts and making our favorite foods
spending extra time with family!
We make the season special simply by spending the holidays together as a family!
I love spending time with the family and doing art projects, then blogging about them!
I make sure to do something special with each of my daughters- whether it is shopping, volunteering or whatever, and we all pitch in to make sure it is magical for my grandson. 🙂
I make yummy food with my family.
decorating doing as many special things like crafts and baking with my kids as I can I love too see them lightup and laugh
We make extra special memories with our kids. We take them around town to see Christmas lights and light shows, watch Christmas movies together, and bake…a lot 🙂
The Family time for sure
By having a warm fire in the fireplace and good food to eat!
I spend extra time with my children. Thank you
I love making Christmas cookies and spending time with my family on Christmas Eve
I make the season special in a simple way – by spending time with the ones i love! I can’t imagine anything better. Thanks for the chance to win xx
I make the season special by decorating the Christmas tree with my mother, baking Christmas cookies with my sister, and watching a lot of football with my father!
Spending time with the children, decorating cookies, cutting down our Christmas tree,
going on a sleigh ride, and just making time for each other and memories.