Last Minute Shopping and Sunday Morning Coffee

Here we are, December 14th, the day after our party, and the moment every year when I suddenly realize Christmas is really around the corner. It’s time for last-minute shopping.

I may not be quite as prepared as I hoped. Even with lists, spreadsheets, Amazon carts, and the best intentions, there always seems to be a handful of gifts that slip through the cracks… or a few people I decide at the very last minute that I want to treat. So today feels like the classic mix of “oh no, I’m behind!” and “okay, let’s do this!”

A sunlit living and dining room with a set dining table, a white sectional sofa, large windows, and a decorated Christmas tree.

Season 5 Volume 48

Thanks for joining me for Sunday Morning Coffee. This is a place to share, learn, explain, dream, and have fun.

A collage featuring a house exterior, a decorated kitchen, Christmas ornaments, the text "Sunday Morning Coffee," and a dining table set for a meal.

About Me

Ironstone bowls and crocks for sale at the Round Top Antique Fair

Last-Minute Shopping on December 14th

The good news? This is truly the best time to finish up any last-minute shopping. Retailers are offering great deals, shipping is still on track (though barely!), and stores are fully stocked with holiday goodies.

I spent this morning reviewing my master gift list, checking off what’s already handled, and circling the names of the few people I still need gifts for. That’s always where I start … taking inventory.

It instantly cuts the stress in half.

Next up: quick-decision gift categories. Cozy throws, candles, kitchen items, games, books, and self-care sets are all easy gifts that feel personal without requiring a ton of time. Amazon is still the MVP of last-minute shopping, and thank goodness for Prime delivery!

I pulled together a few curated lists so all the well-priced, thoughtful, fast-shipping gifts are in one place — no scrolling for hours, no guessing what’s good.

And truly, last-minute doesn’t have to feel frantic. A pretty ribbon, a small ornament tied on top, or a handwritten tag can make even a simple gift feel special. We’re in the home stretch now, and I always remind myself that gifts don’t need to be perfect… they just need to be thoughtful.

Here’s to finishing strong and staying merry while we do it. 🎄✨

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Woman wearing an off-white ribbed quarter-zip sweater, white ribbed pants, and a white top, holding a woven beige tote bag over her shoulder, styled as elegantly as vintage Mercury Glass Ornaments.

Womens Long Sleeve Quarter Zip

LINVIA Ceramic Coffee Mug

Three board games—Scrabble, Monopoly, and Clue—are packaged in book-shaped boxes with a slipcase labeled "Vintage Bookshelf Edition," making them a charming house guest gift.

WS Game Company Scrabble, Monopoly, and Clue Vintage

Cricut cutting machine with accessory tools, colorful vinyl sheets, cutting mats, a pen, and a tablet displaying design software—a creative hostess gift for DIY enthusiasts.

Cricut Maker 4 – Smart Cutting Machine (Seashell)

A pink Ninja CRISPI air fryer filled with cooked chicken sits next to a glass container holding broccoli and a cooked orange dish—perfect as a thoughtful hostess gift for any food lover.

Ninja | Air Fryer | Crispi 4-in-1 Portable Cooking System

Silver smart ring with internal sensors visible around the inner band, designed for tracking health and fitness metrics—a stylish and thoughtful hostess gift for wellness enthusiasts.

Oura Ring 4

A digital photo frame displays a young child in a pink outfit sliding down a playground slide, with a smartphone showing the same image and photo app interface.

Aura Digital Picture Frame – 10.1″ HD Mat Display

A pair of over-ear, wireless Bose headphones in a light gray color, shown against a plain white background.

Bose QuietComfort Headphones

PlayStation 5 Pro Console

Magna-Tiles 100-piece set box with colorful magnetic tiles forming geometric structures; labeled for ages 3-99. A thoughtful hostess gift that sparks creativity for kids and adults alike.

MAGNA-TILES Classic 100-Piece Magnetic Construction Set

A tablet in a blue protective case displays the Amazon Kids app, showing animated characters, including a cat and a bear, on the screen.

Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids tablet

A toy vending machine labeled "Snacks to Go" with colorful buttons, pretend snacks, play coins, and a menu card displayed beside it—perfect as a unique hostess gift for imaginative play.

Melissa & Doug Sort-Stock-Select Wooden Vending Machine

My Latest Project

A woman wearing a light green apron stands in a kitchen with bags of bread rolls on the counter; a window with a holiday wreath is in the background.

The Day After: I Survived… and My Heart Is So Full

There’s a special kind of quiet that settles over the house the morning after our annual Christmas party … the twinkle lights are still glowing, the last few serving trays are drying by the sink, and the scent of rosemary, sugar, and champagne lingers in the air.

And as I sit here with my coffee, feet up for the first time in days, all I can think is… I survived! Not just survived, I thrived. The party was magical, the house looked gorgeous, the food was incredible, and most importantly, our home was filled with laughter, hugs, and the people we love most.

A decorated dining room with a gingerbread house centerpiece, a Christmas tree, wreaths on the windows, and festive table settings. — Did you notice I labeled the white serving dishes with pink Post-it notes! This way, I know what food goes where!

Every year, hosting this party is the ultimate labor of love. For weeks, I plan, prep, bake, chop, marinate, assemble, garnish, and organize (with the help of my trusty color-coded spreadsheet and best girlfriends!).

It is a marathon of cooking, seventeen hors d’oeuvres, seven desserts, and a packed full house of 200 guests. And somehow, every year, it all comes together. Last night, as the doorbell rang again and again and the house filled with familiar voices, I felt that familiar wave of joy: this is why I do it.

A staircase decorated with garland and a Christmas tree adorned with red and white ornaments stands in a bright hallway with wooden floors and holiday floral arrangements.

The trees sparkled, the candles flickered, and every corner of our home felt soft, cozy, and festive. I heard so many sweet comments about the décor … the trees, the garlands, the soft greens and whites from my Cozy Christmas theme, and it made every hour of prep feel worth it.

The kitchen was bustling, the drinks were flowing, and every platter came back empty (which is truly the best compliment a cook can receive!).

But beyond the food, the decorations, and the months of planning, what stays with me most is the feeling in the room. This party is my holiday gift to our friends — the people who have walked with us, cheered with us, supported us, and loved us through every season of life. Hosting them, feeding them, welcoming them into our home… it is my favorite tradition.

My heart honestly feels like it could burst watching everyone gather, reconnect, tell stories, and create their own little holiday memories under our roof.

A living room decorated for the holidays with a wreath on the window, Christmas trees, and a vase with red berries on a wooden table in the foreground.

As I looked around last night at the conversations happening in every room, the groups gathered around the trees, the friends laughing in the kitchen, the kids sneaking extra desserts, I realized once again why this party means so much to me.

It’s not just a party, it’s a celebration of friendship, gratitude, and joy. It’s the one night each year when our home becomes a place where everyone we love comes together.

So today, even though I’m a little tired, and my feet definitely need a rest, my heart is full. Full of gratitude, full of love, full of relief, and full of that wonderful glow that comes from opening your home and sharing your heart.

Another year, another beautiful memory. And I wouldn’t trade a single minute of it.

I may sometimes use affiliate links on this blog, which means I earn a small commission if you purchase through them. The price will be the same whether you use the affiliate link or go directly to the vendor’s website using a non-affiliate link.

Two rectangular ceramic baking dishes, one reading "SANTA STOP HERE" and the other "oh so MERRY," are perfect for your Christmas party, with marshmallows scattered beside them on a white surface.

Hand-Painted Stoneware Baker w/Handles

Four festive wine bottles with holiday decorations and labels reading “Making Spirits Bright,” “Christmas Cheer,” “Santa’s Little Helper,” and “Most Wonderful Wine of the Year”—perfect for your next Christmas party.

Christmas Holiday Napkins

Red ceramic baking dish with lid labeled "FROMAGE BRIE BAKER," shown from top and side view, accompanied by a wooden spreader tied with twine—perfect for serving baked brie at your next Christmas party.

Creative Co-Op Stoneware Brie Baker

A multifunctional cooking appliance with a digital control panel, perfect for Christmas brunch, displaying a variety of dishes like roast turkey, steak, soup, casserole, pie, and sauce.

Electric Warming Tray

Wood Cake Stand with Glass Dome

Silicone Muffin Pan

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My Biggest Challenge This Week

Wrapping Gifts

A table with wrapped holiday gifts, ribbon, and wrapping paper stands by windows decorated with a festive wreath.

So now comes my most significant challenge of the week: wrapping all the gifts. Every year, I swear I’ll start early, and every year, without fail, I end up staring at a mountain of bags, boxes, ribbons, tags, and rolls of paper, wondering how on earth it multiplied overnight.

Wrapping is one of those tasks I adore once I get going, but getting organized enough to begin? That’s the part that gets me.

So today is all about pulling everything together and creating a system. First step: gather all the supplies in one place — scissors, tape, tags, ribbon, tissue, boxes, and every roll of wrapping paper hiding in random corners of the house.

A roll of festive wrapping paper is placed on a wooden table, with a green wrapped gift and other wrapping supplies in the background.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve stopped mid-wrap to hunt for tape! Then I sort the gifts by person or family, which instantly makes the whole process feel less chaotic.

You might want to set up a big table (or take over the kitchen island!) so I have plenty of room. (I also like to wrap up in my craft room, but there is always the decision of whether I want to carry all of the gifts up to the third floor!)

A little Christmas playlist, a mug of tea or cocoa, and suddenly the task feels cozy instead of overwhelming. Once I’m organized, I actually love the creativity of it … tying ribbons, adding ornaments, using the gift tags I made.

This week’s challenge?
Turning the wrapping chaos into a peaceful, pretty production line… and enjoying it along the way.

A gray tape dispenser with a roll of clear tape, perfect for gift wrapping, featuring a serrated cutting edge. — Wrap Buddies

Personalized Packaging Tape

Six rolls of Scotch Magic Tape, perfect for gift wrapping, featuring green plaid design on dispensers, neatly placed on a white box labeled “Scotch Magic Tape.” — Scotch Magic Tape, 6 Rolls

Gold Wrapping Paper

2 Rolls Pomegranate Colored Satin Ribbon

Metallic Christmas Wrapping Paper

Finish shopping.
Wrap all of my gifts.

A white fireplace decorated with greenery, red plaid ribbon, and stockings. A large red plaid bow and small Christmas trees sit on the mantel. A bowl of red roses is on the table in front.

My friend KariAnne shared How to Make This Giant Bow. It’s wonderful!

Check out these Top Fifteen Christmas Crafts from Miss Mustard Seed.

A wreath made of colorful honeycomb paper balls and greenery, arranged on a pink fabric background with a red ribbon.

Lia Griffith shared this DIY Honeycomb Wreath.

A mantel decorated with a garland of hydrangeas, greenery, and blue accents beneath a framed painting; a candle and framed art sit on a side table nearby.

The Inspired Room shared the most beautiful florals and greenery on their mantle. Wow!

Framed illustration of two gingerbread cookies with the text "Count Memories Not Calories," next to a bowl with ornaments, greenery, and an iced gingerbread cookie.

These Christmas Gingerbread printables are very cute.

Candy Cane Spoons

A white ceramic mug with an embossed leaf pattern is filled with pale green marshmallows, set on a wooden surface beside scattered treats—perfectly capturing cozy vibes and inspiring window art creativity.

16 oz. Embossed Stoneware Mug with Snowflakes, White

A rectangular table covered with a light pink Christmas tablecloth featuring a ruffled edge and a thin red stripe near the ruffle.

Cotton and Linen Tablecloth with Embroidered Trim and Ruffled Edge

And what a week it was!

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