Seventeen Days Until Christmas and Sunday Morning Coffee

Christmas is only seventeen days away, and there is still much to do! I am engrossed with decorating, Christmas party baking, and my Christmas countdown.

I was way behind last week, but somehow, I caught up. Who knows why I decided to wait until after Thanksgiving to finish decorating our home for Christmas? This week we lugged twenty-two bins down from the attic, and our house has been a disaster for the entire week. Bins have been everywhere, and I cannot believe how much there was to do! Today is my Sunday Morning Coffee post, so let’s share, learn, explain, dream, and have fun.

A decorated Christmas tree with lights stands near a burning fireplace in a living room, next to a white sofa. A mantel with pinecone decorations is above the fireplace.

Season 4 Volume 48

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About Me

With only 17 days until Christmas, it is time to think about finishing your Christmas shopping.

I am almost done, and I can’t wait to share all the wonderful gifts I have found this year.

We created an interactive Holiday Gift Guide with new shopping ideas for everyone on your list. We even have stocking stuffers!

Tap on the photo below, scroll through the Gift Guide, and select any item to see more. It’s 22 pages long!

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You can also access the Holiday Gift Guide by scanning the QR code with your phone.

My Latest Project

Two beige armchairs with tree-patterned pillows in a bright room with three windows. Windows are decorated with floral wreaths. A floor lamp and a chest of drawers are in the background.

There is a room in our home next to the family room and behind the living room that has been used for many different things. It was a library, an office, a craft room, a storage room, and where I used to host my Amazon Live broadcasts.

I have a new use for it: a sitting room! With all the windows, it’s crazy to think it took me so long to find its proper use.

A cozy room with a beige chair, a pillow with tree designs, a small cabinet, a mirror, and holiday decorations including a wreath and potted plant. Large window with outdoor view.

This is where I will complete most of my work on my laptop, needlepoint, and read.

This is my latest needlepoint project. It’s a Christmas stocking for Charlotte.

A partially completed cross-stitch showing a detailed Christmas stocking design is placed on a beige armchair, with a cabinet and festive greenery in the background.

Needlepoint stocking with a Christmas tree design in progress, featuring a colorful baroque pattern near the toe.

It will also be a great place for our grandson to play. And a nice room to get away and relax.

I may sometimes use affiliate links on this blog, which means a small commission is earned if you purchase via the link. 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.

Rectangular pillow with a pattern of green pine trees on a cream background. — Christmas Pillow Covers 12×20

Festive wreath with pinecones, red berries, and green foliage arranged in a circular pattern. — 22 Inch Christmas Wreath

Three embroidery hoops with floral and animal designs, two sets of colored threads, needles, and scissors are displayed. — 3-Pack Beginner Embroidery Kit

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My Biggest Challenge This Week

Our white kitchen decorated with wreaths in the windows and on the back of the counter stools, red, green, and white trees, red and white towels, and more.

You already know what my biggest challenge is this week. Cooking!

My kitchen has been busy because I make about three menu items daily. I love to multitask, and I end up with stuff everywhere. As I type this, sweet potatoes are cooking on the stove, and royal icing is ready to decorate more cookies.

This year, I changed up the menu and have more make-ahead appetizers. I was able to cook nonstop this weekend, and I feel much more relaxed about my cooking.

Adjustable rolling pin

Five metal cookie cutters designed for crafting holiday desserts, featuring shapes like a gingerbread person, snowflake, tree, snowman, and candy cane.

Christmas Cookie Cutter Set

Silicone Baking Mat with Measurements

Party prep.
Mail Christmas cards.
Wrap gifts.
And more party prep.

Assorted wrapped gifts and festive decorations, including ornaments, greenery, and a Santa mug, arranged on a light surface.

My friend Janine at Happy Happy Nester is sharing free printable Christmas tags!

A baked dish of bread pudding topped with powdered sugar in a rectangular white baking dish. A wooden spatula rests beside it on a marble surface.

A Beautiful Mess shared this French Toast Casserole made with croissants. Yum!

Assorted gift packages wrapped in brown paper and twine are placed on a wooden surface, decorated with various ribbons and dried plants.

Martha shared 6 Sustainable-Yet-Beautiful Eco-Friendly Gift Wrapping Ideas. This is such a great idea.

Four decorated cupcakes in white cups, topped with frosting, waffle rolls, coffee beans, and a gingerbread cookie. Cinnamon sticks are placed in front. Holiday lights in the background.

I love these Christmas Teacup Cupcakes!

A decorated Christmas tree stands in a living room with ornaments and lights. Wrapped gifts are placed underneath, and the tree is topped with a golden decoration.

Have you seen these 17 Thoughtful and Heartwarming Quotes About Christmas?

Red KitchenAid

Stacked blank gift tags with a scalloped edge and punched holes, perfect for adding a personalized touch to your gift wrapping, accompanied by a bundle of jute twine.

Paper Gift Tags

A red and white striped ceramic bowl, perfect for holiday desserts, features a wide opening and a small base.

Red and White Stripe Mixing Bowl

And what a week it was!

All of Our Christmas Party Recipes
Hosting a Christmas party for 150 – 200 people is no small feat, but it’s one of my favorite ways to celebrate the season and unite those we love. Today, I am sharing our Christmas Party recipes. Every December, my kitchen…
Christmas Shopping on a Budget
There’s something magical about Christmas shopping, finding the perfect gift that you know will make someone’s eyes light up. What about Christmas shopping on a budget? We all love the twinkling lights in every store, the smell of cinnamon drifting through…
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…
‘Tis the Season of Giving Christmas Gifts Under $25
The holidays are the season of giving. With so many amazing gifts under $25, you might find something for everyone on your list! The good news is the season of giving does not have to break the bank. There are so…
How to Make a Cardboard Gingerbread House of Your Home – A Handmade Christmas
It’s week fifteen of my A Handmade Christmas series, and I decided to take on a project I’ve dreamed about for ages: replicating our actual house in a cardboard gingerbread house. Every year, I try to create at least one handmade Christmas project…
Handmade Christmas Gift Tags – A Thoughtful Touch for the Holidays
Every year, as the holidays approach, I find myself returning to one of my favorite creative traditions: making handmade Christmas gift tags. There’s something so special about those final details … the thoughtful touches that make a wrapped gift feel personal…

A wooden cutting board shaped like a Christmas tree, perfect for serving festive treats like Christmas tree cupcakes.

Christmas Tree Shaped Wood Cutting Board

Singer Sewing Machine

Glass Christmas Tree Ornaments

Oak Leaf Shape Lever Action Craft Punch

Rubber Roller Brayer Rollers

Stainless steel cookie cutter shaped like an animal with a trunk.

4 inch Ugly Sweater Cookie Cutter

A Christmas wreath hangs on a white brick wall above a mantel decorated with garland, ornaments, pine cones, and gift boxes.

Martha shared Six Christmas Decorating Ideas That Will Make Your Home Feel Festive—Even Without a Tree.

I cannot believe it’s just over two weeks before Christmas! I am sharing my new Christmas decor in the living, family, dining, and kitchen rooms. Also, I am sharing my best Christmas Brunch recipes and my newest Christmas craft, which involves using resin for the first time!

A cozy living room with a lit fireplace, Christmas trees, a white rustic coffee table, and beige sofas adorned with green and white cushions.

Festive table setting with glassware, a decorative plate, and a sprig of berries. A Christmas tree and wreath are visible in the background near a window.

A slim artificial Christmas tree with sparse branches and white lights stands in a bright room with white walls and a large window. — Best Choice Products Pre-Lit Sparse Christmas

Glass Christmas Tree Ornaments

Apothecary Jars

A drawstring bag sits next to a pile of small, green, acorn-shaped ornaments with loops for hanging, perfectly capturing the essence of Christmas colors.

Creative Co-Op Embossed Mercury Glass Ornaments

Two green tree-shaped candles with a textured design, alongside an open box containing two identical candles.

Creative Co-Op Unscented Tree Shaped Taper Candles

A staircase with white railings is adorned in Christmas colors, featuring green garland draped along the banister. An armchair with a wooden frame sits nearby, completing the festive atmosphere.

Real Touch Norfolk Pine Garland

Now you Can Enjoy Listening to My Blog Posts!

I’m so excited to be sharing this new podcast feature I am considering using in my blog posts in 2025. Let me know what you think about this fun new feature; I think it will be a lot of fun. Listen below to my blog post about DIY Metallic Glass Christmas Ornaments. Sit back, relax, and happy listening! Please leave a comment below!