Welcome back to The Daily Connoisseur. The holidays are upon us. Thanksgiving will be here before we know it and Christmas is right around the corner. I’ve learned over the years that early planning is the best way to enjoy the season because I can finally relax in those late December weeks knowing that everything has been taken care of. I’m using this adorable holiday list book created by my friend Kim, from Free to Family, in combination with my Day Designer planner (CONNOISSEUR10 for 10% off) to make this holiday season an organized one. This video is part of Mega Motivation. I’ll leave the playlist here so you can see how all the other lovely YouTubers are decluttering and planning for the holidays.
Before we begin, let’s put a pineapple apple cider in the slow cooker and then we can enjoy it together at the end of the video:
I’m placing equal parts apple cider and pineapple juice in my slow cooker, along with some cloves, a cinnamon stick and loose-leaf tea, and orange slices. I’ll cook this on low for two hours. This is going to create the most delightful aroma throughout the house.
Slow Cooker Pineapple Apple Cider
Ingredients
- 4 cups pineapple juice
- 4 cups apple cider
- 4 - 8 whole cloves
- 2 cinnamon sticks (or one tsp ground cinnamon)
- 2 tea bags or 1 Tbs loose leaf tea of choice
- One orange, thinly sliced
Instructions
- Place all ingredients into a slow cooker and cook on low for two hours. When finished, strain the cider into cups and top with orange slices. Enjoy!
The tea I use is Plum Deluxe Self-Care Blend Herbal Tea JENNIFER10 for 10% off
Lilysilk shirred dress Daily15 for 15% off
Ten-Item Wardrobe
It may seem strange that we are starting in the wardrobe, but I like to look through my closet and decide on my outfits for the upcoming season. This helps me to not only feel presentable, but festive. And I don’t need to waste time figuring out what to wear.
I’ll be retiring this plaid skirt in December, so knowing that, I’ll get good use out of it in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving.
I’ll be replacing it with this green dress from Lilysilk (Daily15 for 15% off) of which has a gorgeous dark green, emerald color and will be perfect for dressing up and down during the holiday season. I’ll share more about this dress in an upcoming video.
It’s getting colder, so I’ll be making sure my tights, sweaters, and boots are in top order. And, of course, that my coats are all ready to go as well.
⚜️ What I'm Wearing
Mott & Bow navy cashmere sweater JLS10 for 10% off
Mott & Bow Grey Allan jean JLS10 for 10% off
Pink illuminating nail concealer JenniferS for 25% off
Jackie Mack Designs necklace TDC15OFF for 15% off
⚜️ Featured Wardrobe
Thursday Boots Captain Boot
Oliver Cabell black suede driving loafer
Lilysilk green dress Daily15 for 15% off
Mer-Sea courtside short sleeve sweater
SKYE Coraline trench Jennifer20 for 20% off
Teddy Blake Gigi Palmetto bag TBJennC30 for $30 Off
Hipstik sheer tights JEN15 for 15% off
SKYE Enora crystal pearl earring Jennifer20 for 20% off
China and table linens
I’ll be switching out the china from Spode Woodland to Spode Christmas Tree. Making sure all the plates are in order and cleaned and ready to go is a big part of the joy in the transition of holidays. I’m also checking out my table linens for Christmas and making sure they are ironed and suitable for use. I have these darling holly tablecloth and matching napkin set that will brighten up the bird room this year.
⚜️ Holiday Decor Resources
Decorations and Ornaments
Let’s look at holiday décor. You know how much I Iove a theme, so we have Nutcracker-themed stockings and figures. And each year I really enjoy bringing out this one-of-a-kind Kay Burkart Santa that I will treasure forever. Just making sure these decorations are still looking good and deciding on where they will go is a joy.
Books
This is a big one for me. I love to compile all the holiday books I’d like to read to the kids and have them handy in one place. In past years, the books have been scattered from the year before and we will go without reading some of the cozy classics we have enjoyed on an annual basis. Some of the best memories of the season involve us reading a cozy book like The Mary Englebreit version of The Night Before Christmas by the Tree with mugs of hot cocoa. As a child, I have great memories of reading this Christmas book each year: Raffi’s Christmas Treasury, that my grandmother gave me. I still have it and read it to my own kids. We adults can’t forget about ourselves. I like to bring out the books I like to enjoy each season too.
⚜️Books and Magazines Featured
The Day Designer Planner CONNOISSEUR10 for 10% off
Recipe Gathering
And finally, I’m gathering the recipes I’d like to make this year and stock up on the pantry ingredients, so they are readily available for when I like to begin. This involves me looking at some of my favorite holiday cookbooks and magazines. Victoria Magazine always has such beautifully elegant recipes. I’ll be making some of these this year.
Time to enjoy our festive pineapple apple cider. I take the ladle and strain the cider into cups. During your holiday planning, don’t forget to take time to enjoy the season fully.
I hope you enjoyed today’s planning for the holidays video.
May your holiday season be steeped in good cheer. Keep calm and have an elegant holiday season and I’ll see you in my next video. Love, Jennifer
News
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Comment of the Week
Dawn writes, "Thanks for highlighting this topic! Preparedness is so often overlooked and even frowned upon sometimes. We forget how in past years, homes would have larders, pantries, and basements stocked for a full season at a time! I would like to help further explain hoarding vs. preparedness. Hoarding is buying more than you need or can use, resulting in less availability for others in times of need. Preparedness, or a well stocked pantry contains items you regularly use, bought during times of economic stability, slowly built up in quantities over time, and within your budget (often at discount during seasonal sales and in bulk). This reduces strain on the supply chain and sets you up to not needing to “panic buy” and contribute to clearing the store shelves. It brings great peace of mind knowing that you are well prepared and helps the overall community by allowing resources to go to those who need them the most."
Dawn, your comment was so well-written and your observations on hoarding vs. preparedness are spot on. Thank you!
I hope you enjoyed today's Mega Motivation collab. Let us know how you like to plan for the holidays and your comment could be chosen as comment of the week.
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