Christmas

How to Romjul – Guide to the Week between Christmas and New Years

December 26, 2025 by Amy Slenker-Smith 4 Comments

Every year, we look forward to winter break, especially the week after Christmas (a.k.a. Romjul). We often spend it at the beach with friends. After nearly 20 years, they are the kind of people who feel like family. And together, we have raised our kids. On one of those trips, we stumbled over the term, Romjul. Romjul accurately describes our experience between Christmas and New Year's Day. And now, we have a word for it. Romjul is a Norwegian holiday that refers to the week as a tranquil time to spend at home with friends and family undisturbed by the outside world. And a great time to rest, recharge and reset for the new year. The British equivalent is Boxing Week and I love the Danish term, "Yule Vacation." According to several articles, Romjul is more than a week on the calendar, it’s a mindset, a time to cozy up with loved ones, take long restorative walks, slow down and reflect on the past year. It gives us a reason to snuggle up on the couch and watch Hallmark. Awesome! …

7 Secrets to Hosting a Party You’ll Actually Enjoy

November 21, 2025 by Amy Slenker-Smith Leave a Comment

It’s party time! Maybe you’re hosting Thanksgiving, or pulling together a festive dinner? Each December, we host our annual holiday party—a gathering that now welcomes over 75 friends and neighbors. This year marks our 26th celebration. It’s truly a labor of love and one of our favorite traditions. Along the way, we’ve learned a lot. Whether your party is big or small, these lessons might make your gathering a little easier and a lot more joyful. Keep It Simple No surprise here: we simplified. We do less. Years ago, party prep took over our lives. I used to be scrambling until the last hour. Now? Decorating took just a few hours last week. Back then, I had to declutter and rearrange every room to make space for guests—clearing counters, stashing things in closets. It was like creating a path through a maze of our own stuff. Why didn’t I just donate it? Minimalist homes are always ready to entertain. If It’s Not Broken, Don’t Fix It For a long time, my husband started each menu from …

How to Make Homemade Vanilla Extract

October 18, 2024 by Amy Slenker-Smith Leave a Comment

Every year, I make Homemade Vanilla Extract as Christmas gifts. It’s a hit with friends and family and super easy to make. The only catch….it takes time to steep. About 4-6 weeks before you can use it in baking. And the longer the better! So, now is a great time to get started! Want a Simple 🎁 Gift Tag for your Homemade Vanilla Extract? Click HERE for your FREE digital download. And if you are reading this in December, you can still make it. One year, I told recipients to wait 4 weeks before using it. Don’t let perfection be the enemy of good. I like to order supplies in early November. Needing to make this gift early actually helps with the holiday crazy. Vanilla jars sit happily in the pantry, while I carry on managing the December calendar. Shopping List Vodka - I choose a mid-priced brand of good quality Vanilla Beans - I like these Glass Bottles - I prefer this style for a tall vanilla bean Pint or 1/2 Pint Mason Jars work well and are …

5 Fun Things to Do on Black Friday Instead of Shopping

November 21, 2022 by Amy Slenker-Smith Leave a Comment

Truth be told, I have wonderful childhood memories of Thanksgiving and Black Friday. Our routine included grandma’s cooking times two! For many years, my mom was an intentional Black Friday shopper. As a busy working mom, she capitalized on the day off and finished most of her shopping in one day. Would you like to create a simple Christmas? Learn more in my Christmas Workshop and 3 Digital Downloads. Check it out here! Coffee, Dessert, and Flyers The Black Friday tradition began with the “newspaper flyers”. They arrived Wednesday, unlike modern-day Black Friday advertising. After dinner, Grandma Ruth served apple, mincemeat, and pumpkin pie. She poured coffee as we broke open the cellophane package of ads for Friday's sales. The next day, my mom dutifully packed turkey sandwiches and carried a hand-written list with her Christmas Club envelope. This was money saved weekly from her paycheck which created the gift budget and not a …

Have You Ever Wanted To Skip Christmas?

December 7, 2021 by Amy Slenker-Smith 4 Comments

A few years ago, I watched a movie based on John Grisham's, Skipping Christmas. In Christmas with the Kranks, Tim Allen proposes that he and his wife (Jamie Lee Curtis) take the $6,100 they normally spend on Christmas and go on a Caribbean cruise. He arrives home with the flyer, ready to buy the tickets. Since their only daughter won't be home, he makes a strong case to skip all the work and expense of a traditional holiday. Wouldn’t a real vacation be better? Imagine lounging in the sun, umbrella drink in-hand! Sign me up! Is Skipping Christmas possible? But it made me think? Is Skipping Christmas really possible? Maybe. I already skip parts of Christmas, like obligatory events and tasks. But I kept the parties and experiences. Do you see the difference? When my to-do list held only chores and errands, I found myself rushing to just get it done! Now, my list is filled with holiday experiences. Here’s how it changed over the years. …

Christmas

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