Martha’s Countdown to the Holidays

Start your holiday shopping early to beat the crowds and choose from the best selection. If you’re planning to shop online, keep in mind delivery schedules. The sooner you purchase, the less you may have to pay in additional shipping costs to ensure your gifts arrive on time. Section your list by recipient, connection (family, neighbor, coworker), or interest (foodie, decorator, organizer) to make shopping more efficient. Also think about gifts that are easy to give to multiple people, like notebooks for coworkers and wine for party hostesses. If you need help thinking of the right gift, Martha has a few ideas.

Wouldn’t it be the talk of your neighborhood cookie exchange or office potluck if you could say your cookies were baked using Martha Stewart’s recipes? Now you can with the Martha’s Holiday Cookie Box from Martha & Marley Spoon! Delivered right to your door are pre-portioned ingredients and step-by-step instructions to make Big Martha’s Noel Nut Balls (that’s Martha’s mom!), Brown Butter Cardamom Cookies, Chewy Chocolate-Gingerbread Cookies, and Double-Chocolate Peppermint Brownies. The kit makes 11 dozen cookies, and comes with parchment cookie bags and baker’s twine to assemble delicious goodie bags.

Be prepared for impromptu party invites, school functions, and office get-togethers by always having cookie dough on hand. Properly stored dough can last up to three months, and freezing the dough won’t alter the baking instructions by much. For chunky cookies, like chocolate chip, it’s best to freeze them in portioned out balls, while slice-and-bake cookies, like shortbread, can be shaped into logs and wrapped in wax paper. Cut-out cookies, like gingerbread, should be frozen in rounds like pie crust.

Clear, plain glass ornaments are beckoning for a dose of holiday cheer! You can paint them freehand, using stencils, or create your own design with different sized brushes. Martha Stewart Multi-Surface Craft Paints are available in watercolor, vintage decor, acrylic, and metallic finishes, plus they can also be used for your other seasonal craft projects as well. These splatter paint ornaments are a colorful take on the trendy crafting technique. Ornaments can also be nestled into wreaths, strung on garlands, and displayed in glass bowls throughout your home.

Remember that Christmas gift you bought for your sister in July? Now’s the time to retrieve it from the secret hiding spot in the closet and wrap it. Get a head start to avoid a wrapping marathon come Christmas Eve. Ribbon with a sturdy wire edge can be shaped into beautiful bows, making gifts look (almost) too pretty to open. A gift box is ideal for small items with uneven dimensions. Customize one with a winter-themed diorama complete with mini bottle brush trees. Painted fabric in classic red and green motifs can be wrapped around gifts with strong edges without the fear of tearing.

Gifts with a DIY touch are great for neighbors, coworkers, and party hostesses. You can keep the cost low by purchasing multiple of the same item, like coffee mugs and notebooks, and customizing them with a simple set of craft supplies from the Martha Stewart line at Michaels. Monogram the recipients’ initials, use their favorite color paints, and decorate with embellishments tailored to their personal styles.

Choose recipes that are easy and allow you to separate yourself from the kitchen to mingle with guests. Dishes that can be made in one pot can be cooked and then served from the same vessel, reducing cleanup time at the end of the night. A reliable set of cookware and tools will help you cook smarter and more efficiently, and will go to good use far into the new year. Consider ordering meal kits for casual family dinners during busy weeknights. Fresh, seasonal ingredients and step-by-step cooking instructions come delivered right to your door.

Defrost your pre-made cookie dough and heat up the oven! Turn Sunday afternoon into a family bake-off sweetened with fun cookie cutters, decorating kits, dyed icing, and flavored sprinkles. Have the kids decorate cookies for their school parties, while you perfect your signature confection for the neighborhood cookie exchange. Store treats in festive cookie jars or tins that double as countertop decoration.

Keep guests cozy with layered flannel bedding, plush robes, and festive decorative pillow. Throws laid at the end of the bed can be brought into the living room for a movie night by the fire. Bath towels in different colors or patterns help guests remember which one is theirs, and quick-dry fabric keeps them fresh. Refresh the guest bedroom and bathroom by laundering all linens and towels once out-of-town Christmas guests return home.

Whether you still need a stocking stuffer or a small gift to supplement a larger one, Martha’s collection of quality home goods is sure to round out your holiday shopping. Crafts paints and tools from your DIY gifts can be repurposed to personalize boxes and wrapping paper in a few easy steps.

Start organizing your airline tickets, passport, car rental paperwork, and accommodation confirmation now so you aren’t scrambling the morning of your flight. This hardworking backpack from Martha’s travel essentials collection helps keep you organized on the go. This backpack features top handles and adjustable straps, plus the rear bottom pocket unzips to allow the bag to slip over the handle of your rolling luggage. The interior padded sleeve protects your laptop or tablet, and the exterior pockets keep essentials close at hand.

Don’t save grocery shopping and cooking for the last minute; there are certain dishes you can prepare now to save time on Christmas morning. Prepare the cranberry sauce, make the gravy, and bake the sweet treats. Martha’s collection of cookbooks cover a wide and delicious range of foods and cooking methods, and can be ordered with Amazon Prime. They’re a great resource for recipe inspiration to round out your menu. If the bar is feeling a little empty, order a case of wine with convenient home delivery so you’re ready for Christmas and New Year’s celebrations.

One task you can complete before Christmas guests arrive is setting the table with linens, dinnerware, and tabletop trimmings. Beautiful dishes and serving platters printed with seasonal motifs can double as decorations. We also recommended taking inventory of serveware and utensils to make sure you don’t run short right before the big feast.

Besides the usual house keeping chores like vacuuming and dusting, cozy up your home with decorative pillows and throws. Your guests will appreciate the home-away-from-home feel and you’ll enjoy the additions long into the cold winter months. Martha’s collection of pillows and throws are made from luxurious fabrics like mohair, faux Mongolian fur, and velvet.

Pop the bubbly, pass the appetizers, and say cheers to a new year! Make sure your cocktail shaker, bar tools, and high ball glasses are clean and polished after Christmas celebrations. Stock the bar with ease by ordering curated wine packs and individual bottles online. Martha’s collection of cookbooks will help you build a menu of delicious finger foods that can be enjoyed all night long.

Make it an organized new year by switching out your 2017 calendars, storing dated paper work, updating your go-to notebook, and tidying your desktop. The Martha Stewart line of organization solutions are coordinated to work as a system, so you can outfit your entire workspace with brightly colored and functional products.

Ready or not, it’s time for New Year’s resolutions. If your resolution is to cook more often at home, try new recipes, or eat healthier, Martha & Marley Spoon meal kits can help. With trusted recipes from the lifestyle expert, you’ll receive detailed instructions and cooking tips for innovative dishes like this Vietnamese caramel chicken with ginger green beans and sticky rice. Fresh pre-portioned ingredients can be delivered to your door on your desired schedule. Even more convenient, Martha & Marley Spoon in available on AmazonFresh. Add standalone meal kits to your grocery purchase, and enjoy fast Amazon Prime shipping.