The twinkle of December has officially arrived, and with it comes the gentle nudge to savor the small joys, share a little magic, and make hosting feel a whole lot lighter. This year, I curated a Merry & Bright Guide filled with four simple, creative ideas you can use right away—each one designed to bring ease, delight, and intention into your gifting and gathering.
Think of my guide as your pocket-sized dose of holiday cheer—nothing fussy, nothing overwhelming, just doable inspiration you can sprinkle into your season.
The guide begins with my three-ingredient homemade hot cocoa mix, a cozy kitchen shortcut that doubles as a heartfelt gift. It’s perfect for neighbors, teachers, or stocking stuffers, and especially lovely to sip while you’re wrapping presents late at night.
You’ll also find my free printable Christmas gift tags from the Digital Boutique—pretty designs ready to dress up every gift under your tree. A charming tag has a way of making even the simplest wrapping feel thoughtful.
Next is an easy holiday cocktail featuring pomegranate juice. Jewel-toned, bright, and effortless, it’s the kind of festive sip that makes you look instantly polished without requiring mixologist skills.
This year, I also added something new to help make the holidays feel more manageable: Merry & Managed, my 25-day tip calendar designed to reduce December chaos one tiny step at a time. Inside are prompts like starting a master list of everything you need to accomplish, buying batteries before you need them, and restocking the tape, scissors, and wrapping paper that always seem to disappear. There are reminders to choose simple meals for busy nights and even schedule an evening for “no plans, just cozy.”
Merry & Managed is practical, gentle, and intentionally simple. It’s a daily nudge toward organization so you can enjoy the season rather than rush through it.
Whether you’re mixing cocoa, tying gift tags, shaking up a cocktail, or catching your breath between to-dos, I hope the Merry & Bright Guide and Merry & Managed calendar bring you precisely what you need this month: a slower pace, a creative spark, a little order, and a whole lot of joy.
Here’s to a season that feels beautifully intentional—and delightfully merry and bright. You can download both guides in my Digital Store here.
Hospitality is in my DNA. I founded Home with a Twist, a daughter’s twist on her mother’s traditions, in memory of my mother to celebrate her life and the gifts she shared with me. Mother loved to celebrate life’s occasions – big and small.
