Does your family have an Elf on the Shelf ©? I admit, I missed out on it. Imagine! A tiny little elf that hangs out in your house to report any naughtiness to Santa. How I wish I’d been able to use that to encourage my own kids to behave. “Santa’s watching you,” takes on […]
In Our Christmas Promise, Melissa Upton buys a special bridal gown ornament for the Christmas tree in her family’s bridal shop, Candlelight and Lace. She and her grandmother started the tradition, every year choosing a glass ornament or white bulbs made with lace, ribbons or satin from actual wedding gowns to hang on the tree […]
One of the most magical things about Christmas Town is the snow. Did you know a square foot of snow contains around a billion snowflakes? And every single one is an individual work of art. It all starts high in the sky with a cold droplet of water. The droplet freezes onto a pollen or […]
I love Christmas songs, almost all of them. I admit to liking old-fashioned carols the best, but I like non-religious ones, too. My favorites are the ones that make me feel warm and celebratory and…reminded. Until this year, however, I didn’t give much thought to the origins of those tunes, although I’m sure at one […]
Consuming an entire platter of sugar cookies before you have time to frost them, sweating profusely beneath your ugly Christmas sweater even though it’s 10 degrees outside, an intense desire to hide in your closet until after the New Year? These are just a few signs that you may be experiencing a debilitating bout of […]
In my story, The Hope Chest, part of the 12 Days of Heartwarming Christmas, Evelyn Marshall is a buyer for Dockery’s Department Store and a personal shopper in Christmas Town. She tends to shop for people even when they don’t ask for her services. Clothes simply speak to her. Evelyn would have loved it if […]
In Pride and Presents, my most recent Christmas Town story, Steven Dorsey and his sister, Alexis, are wealthy and lucky to have everything they might need. They promise each other to buy no gifts for Christmas. Because my hero is a smart man who loves his little sister, he immediately breaks that promise. In my […]
I love decorating my house for Christmas. I start after Thanksgiving and add a little bit each week until I get the house just the way I like it. My goal is for everything to look festive, beautiful, but also not overwhelming. We live in a small house—more of a cottage, really—so I like to […]
While Christmas Town, Maine, is always filled with the wonderful aromas, sounds, and sights of the holidays, this year is extra festive as the town celebrates not only the marriage of John Richardson and Lisa Garland but also the restoration of the historic old carousel Lisa’s grandfather was instrumental in creating. Holiday weddings are always […]
Ruby Caldwell here, owner of Holiday Cheer, which puts on Santa School to train Santa and his Busy Elves! I’m the keeper of all Santa lore in Christmas Town. Here are some fun facts to drop at your holiday party this year. The legend of Santa Claus might have begun with a monk named […]
My sister and I love to cook together. Over the years, we’ve perfected our Christmas dinner according to family tastes, the number of guests, and special requests. We keep it pretty simple, but the staples are always prime rib, salad, fresh-baked rolls, a veggie, and potatoes in some form. And dessert, of course. Lots of […]
The holiday season is here and I’m beginning to think my holiday playlist is getting dated, but that won’t stop me from listening to it, start to finish to get me in the mood. I admit that TV influenced my playlist – a John Denver/Muppets Christmas Special, Merry Christmas Charlie Brown, the NSync Christmas Special, […]