Here’s our one-month-out Christmas countdown checklist that’s been created with real Canadian families in mind. Let’s stay organized, on budget, and actually present for all of the holiday magic.

Week-by-Week Christmas Countdown Prep

4 Weeks to Go: Set the Foundation

• Make your holiday budget (for real)
  Factor in gifts, food, outings, Secret Santas, and the inevitable “last-minute Amazon panic purchase.” A simple note on your phone works—don’t overthink it.
• Create (or update) your gift list
  Kids, grandparents, teachers, coaches, nieces, nephews, the neighbour who always brings cookies… jot down everyone.
• Order anything personalized
  Stockings, name ornaments, photo books, calendars, and custom gifts often have a 2–3 week turnaround.
• Confirm travel or hosting plans
  Book flights, finalize driving dates, and check passports if you’ll be travelling somewhere warm.
• Decorate the house
  Lights, tree, wreath, garland and all the good stuff. Kids love being involved, and this is the perfect weekend activity. Prep your Elf on the Shelf!

3 Weeks to Go: Start the Gathering

• Shop sales strategically
  Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and early December deals are your best friends.
• Stock the stocking stuffers early
  Small things add up quickly. Grab essential items now to avoid the December 23rd drugstore dash.
• Hide gifts in plain sight
  Use an unmarked bin in a closet or locked in the trunk of your car. (Bonus: kids rarely check the laundry room.)
• Book holiday haircuts and Santa photos
  Salon schedules fill up fast, and so do mall Santa sessions.

2 Weeks to Go: Lean Into the Festive Fun

• Plan holiday meals and baking
  Make a list of freezer-friendly dishes and cookies you can prep now.
  Tip: Double your weeknight dinners and freeze half for those busy mid-December evenings when the activities haven’t yet shut down for the winter break.
• Buy teacher, coach, bus driver, and other gifts
  Gift cards (local coffee shops, Indigo, Amazon) are always appreciated and stress-free and you can’t go wrong with edible gifts.
• Do a quick winter-gear check
  It’s gonna be a busy couple of weeks with lots of opportunities for outdoor play. Mittens missing? Boots too small? Now’s the time to sort that out.

1 Week to Go: Prep for Peak Chaos (Lovingly)

• Wrap gifts as you go
  Eke out some time every evening to wrap presents. Do NOT leave wrapping until Christmas Eve unless you enjoy pain.
• Assemble any big-ticket items
  If something requires tools, directions, or “adult supervision,” give yourself the time now.
•  Stock the kitchen with holiday essentials
  Hot chocolate, cider, baking staples, charcuterie supplies, juice boxes for cousins who appear out of nowhere.
• Write out the holiday schedule
  Write it out old-school with highlighted entries. Include school events, potlucks, family visits, and days off work. Post it on the fridge.

Final Stretch: 2–3 Days Before Christmas

• Charge all devices, load up portable power sources, clear storage
  Photos, videos, FaceTime with relatives… your phone will be working overtime.
• Give the house a light tidy
  Think “company’s coming” without the anxiety and rage cleaning… wipe counters, add fresh towels, quick vacuum.
• Put out the gifts from you-know-who
  Hide the wrapping paper evidence.
• Plan a you moment
  Schedule a lovely cup of tea with a favourite Christmas movie, a long walk, or an early bedtime. You’ve earned it.

December is about presence. Don’t worry about perfection. Time spent together. Cookies that turn out “fine.” Kids who still get excited about holiday lights. A house that’s lived-in, not set up for the ‘gram. You’ve got this!

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My friend Theresa Albert first shared this recipe with me over ten years ago, and I haven’t been tempted to try any others (although this spiced hot cocoa recipe is pretty highly regarded). Theresa is a holistic nutritionist and food communications expert who runs the Stratford B&B Rosehurst Stratford. She told me that cocoa is an anti-aging, anti-inflammatory super food that is full of antioxidants. Her take on this classic comfort drink will have you wondering how you tolerated anything before; it’s delicious and nutritious

Theresa advises that the key to this hot chocolate recipe is using a good quality cocoa powder. When choosing a brand, look for one that does not say “Dutch processed.” You want one that has only cocoa powder in its ingredient list. A cocoa powder that is (Dutch) processed uses an alkali that diminishes the quantity (by half!) of the antioxidants.

So basically this hot chocolate is totally good for you!

The Easiest Recipe for Hot Chocolate, Ever

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And we are here for it!

Servings:

Serves 4

Cookies and Cream Milkshakes:

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Here are eight of our favourite warm cocktail recipes that are sure to be a hit at any holiday party you’ve got planned.

8 Warm Cocktails for Winter Entertaining

Toddies:

Toddy recipes vary greatly from family to family and bar to bar. However, the main ingredient tends to be whisky. Really you can probably use whatever spirit you choose to prepare a hot toddy as long as it is boozy and hot to shake off the chill of the evening. In fact, many will swear this is the best cure for cold symptoms as well. Toddies as warm cocktails also often contain spices such as cinnamon sticks, cloves, or nutmeg. The main ingredients tend to be two parts water, and two parts whisky. You can then sweeten to taste with honey and add a squeeze of lemon or a fresh lemon slice that will steep like a cup of hot tea.

Hot Chocolate:

When entertaining, set up a hot chocolate bar with choices of white or milk chocolate and an assortment of liquors and Irish cream. People can create their own concoctions, or you can prepare your own. Classic blends that work well are white hot chocolate with Frangelico, hot chocolate with any type of Irish cream, peppermint schnapps, and (of course) Kahlua. About a shot will suffice. Don’t forget our easy peasy homemade hot chocolate recipe!

Calvados and Cider:

You can prepare this drink in the same manner you would a hot toddy. Replace the water with fresh apple cider and the whisky with calvados and, of course, a cinnamon stick and cloves are musts to complete the warmth and fragrant welcome of this classic warm cocktail.

Mulled Wine:

This is a spicy treat that’s perfect to melt the frost off cold noses. Sugar is dissolved into fruity red wine and simmered with whole cloves, cinnamon sticks, oranges, and lemons. Some people even add a splash of brandy before serving. Think of it as hot sangria.

Tipsy Coffee:

Never mind dessert, warm cocktails are way better offering following a meal — especially “tipsy” coffee. You can use just about anything to make the coffee tipsy and treat it the same way as you would your hot chocolate bar. Put out your liqueurs and see what people come up with to create their own freshly brewed nightcap.

Arnaud’s Café Brûlot Diabolique:

This is a traditional New Orleans drink perfect for chilly evenings. Sip this by a fire with some zydeco music playing in the background. Deep, robust, dark coffee is infused with sugar, lemon peel, cinnamon sticks, and whole cloves, and finished with a splash of brandy. Traditionally the ingredients are warmed and then mixed in a large bowl that is set aflame. The hot coffee is added before serving and then ladled into elegant demitasse cups. Très chic.

Hot Coconut Milk:

For a tropical and quite healthful warm cocktail, combine warm coconut milk with bourbon or rum and sweeten with brown sugar. This is nice with a touch of allspice or vanilla for a more fragrant drink. It’s also perfect for dairy-free guests.

Hot Buttered Rum:

Even the name sounds decadent for this traditional drink that took off the edge of harsh Colonial rum. The nice thing about this drink is it is made ahead of time. Butter is beaten with dark brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice and then kept in the fridge overnight. You then simply boil water and pour into cups with 1. 5 ounces of the rum and two tablespoons of your butter mixture when you are ready to serve. Rummy and yummy.

These warm cocktails will be like a cozy embrace that welcomes your guests on a cold winter’s night.

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I suggested she try offering them ham. Not that I think that’s in any way a superior replacement for poultry or fish, but I have yet to meet a kid that didn’t like ham. Ham and cheese sandwiches are popular for a reason, right? I know that with my own kids, if I make a soup they’re less than crazy about and add some bacon or ham to the pot, it’s devoured much more easily than if the meat was missing altogether.

Which brings me to my new favourite slow cooker recipe: Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup with Ham. I’ve long been a lover of split pea soup, with or without the ham, but seeing as we’re in ham-serving season (side note: why do we almost only ever eat ham at the holidays or for Sunday supper?) this a great family-friendly soup recipe to keep tucked in your back pocket for weekend lunches or a quick and easy weeknight dinner.

After you’re finished serving your ham supper, reserve the bone and keep it for soup. If you don’t feel like making it right away, it will keep in the fridge for a few days. Alternatively, you can easily purchase ham hocks from most butchers so if you don’t happen to have ham on menu plan for the coming week, feel free to use one of those in place of the reserved bone.

Note:

This soup is thick and stocky, which is how I like it. If you prefer a thinner soup, feel free to add more water or chicken stock to the slow cooker.

Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup with Ham:

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