You can’t always choose when you’re making a move, and sometimes, unfortunately, it falls during a time of year that brings greater logistical and emotional challenges. If you must move amid the holiday season or shortly after, here’s how to simplify the process while also taking care of yourself and your family.
Thorough planning is always important when moving, but it will be critical if you’re doing so during this busy season. If you haven’t already, create a detailed timeline and checklist to help you stay on task and minimize stress. In addition, make sure that you’re communicating with the members of your household as well as with other family and friends to confirm that everyone’s on the same page.
This is not the time to go it alone; you’ll feel better if you lean on loved ones and professional movers during the process. When someone asks how they can help, tell them! Delegating tasks and accepting assistance will, quite literally, help you to lighten the load.
Understand that moving around this time is bound to come with more challenges and disruptions. Set realistic expectations, be flexible with your plans, and go into the process knowing that this season may not look like a Norman Rockwell painting. Everything will eventually get done if you keep your eye on the end goal.
This is the time to prioritize taking good care of yourself. Don’t forgo your usual exercise, meditation, and relaxation. They’re not indulgences—they’re necessities for managing your mental, physical, and emotional well-being.
Remember that the holidays are a period of enjoyment. Make your moving process more fun by celebrating small milestones and achievements along the way, whether you simply packed up a room or completed a successful move-in day. Acknowledging your progress will give you and your family a morale boost to help keep you feeling positive and motivated.
With how much you have going on, you’ll save yourself time if you stay organized. Label boxes clearly and carefully, and set aside a bin for essential first-night items so you’re not searching for them later. Also, keep a moving binder or detailed notes in your phone with contact information and copies of important documents.
If you’re moving before the end of the year, maintaining holiday traditions and routines amid the chaos will be good for everyone. Depending on your timing, put out a few decorations in your old place to keep the spirit alive or adorn your new space with them, even if it’s not perfectly put together. This can also help preserve some of the magic for children and ease their anxieties about the move. Above all, prioritize quality time with those you love to keep better perspective on what matters most.
Take a few minutes out of each day to reflect on new experiences and happy outcomes. While your move might not be entirely perfect, focus on its positive aspects, such as a shorter commute, new opportunities, closer proximity to family, more space, or a big backyard.
Make sure to cut yourself some slack. Moving is inherently demanding, and doing so during the holidays or immediately after is even more so. Give yourself the gift of grace and compassion, and recognize that it’s OK not to be perfect—even if there are a few bumps in the road, everything will work out fine in the long run.
The true gift of the holiday season isn’t found in the presents but in the joy of a shared space and the support and strength you’ll find within yourself and your loved ones. As you reflect on cherished memories and celebrate new beginnings, embrace whatever challenges your moving day may hold, keeping an open mind, a positive perspective, and a focus on every aspect of what it means to be home.
Baker and cookbook author Nikki Wills discusses her love of making gingerbread houses and reminisces about her experience on Food Network’s Holiday Gingerbread Showdown.
How did you get started baking gingerbread houses?
My mom began making them when I was an infant using a published recipe by former White House executive chef Hans Raffert. It makes delicious, hardy gingerbread that’s perfect for constructing all sorts of creations. Around Thanksgiving every year when I was growing up, my mom and I would start making gingerbread houses for ourselves and our friends and family, including my classmates and my dad’s fellow engineers at the Air Force Institute of Technology; she would make me wait until Christmas to eat mine. I have many fond memories of those times.
When did you first bake gingerbread on your own?
I began to miss gingerbread while studying for my first-semester finals at Vassar College. I asked the administration if I could use the mixer in the dining hall and was told that the pastry kitchen wasn’t used on Sundays. I was granted run of the entire facility, including the giant mixers and professional ovens. Following my mom’s recipe, I made a gingerbread house that my friends and I decorated; I also gifted each of my professors their own.
What are your tips for making gingerbread houses?
The dough must be thick and sturdy, and you shouldn’t rush through mixing it. It also helps to have a good mixer. I love my 13.5-liter professional one—I can prepare a triple batch of dough in it.
When assembling a gingerbread house, it’s helpful to put the walls up first, pipe your icing to secure them, and let them air-dry overnight so they’ll be extra sturdy; you can then put your roof on the next day. Royal icing is essential for constructing gingerbread houses because as it hardens, it glues everything together. It is usually made with raw egg whites, but you can also substitute powdered egg whites, meringue powder, or aquafaba, the liquid from a can of chickpeas.
You moved from the United States to St. Albans, England, a few years ago. What inspired you to make gingerbread likenesses of the pubs there?
The pubs are lovely and serve as family-friendly community living rooms, so I wanted to honor them in gingerbread form. Plus, I enjoy having an elaborate project to work on in addition to my usual baking during the holiday season. A couple of years ago, I made a gingerbread house of the Robin Hood Pub. It was later served at the pub during a big party, which I really appreciated—especially since I didn’t have to eat all that gingerbread myself. [Laughs]
What was it like competing on Food Network’s Holiday Gingerbread Showdown?
Terrific, especially because my mom was my baking partner. We competed against two other competitors in nine total rounds—we won the tasting challenge but eventually lost. We both had a blast, even though the competition’s chaos and time constraints were challenging.
I always enjoy myself when making gingerbread houses. It’s hard to have a bad time while making a giant cookie house and decorating it with crazy amounts of candy.
For more info, visit tikkido.com
This holiday season, let your kitchen be filled with the soft glow of the oven and the sweet scent of homemade goodies. Whether baking for yourself or for a gaggle of loved ones, these recipes from the Sweet Little Cakes from Mrs. Zabar’s Bakeshop cookbook offer delightful desserts that are sure to satisfy, helping you experience festive gatherings brimming with warmth, happiness, and a touch of whimsy.
Featuring a fusion of rich flavors and textures, this delectable creation will leave you craving more.
Surprise your guests with a taste of Australia through these easy-to-make squares featuring chocolate, coconut, and a hint of raspberry.
Excerpted from Sweet Little Cakes from Mrs. Zabar’s Bakeshop: Perfect Desserts for Sharing © 2023 Tracey Zabar. Photography by Ellen Silverman. Used with permission of Rizzoli New York.
This simple, spongy cake is made in a tart pan and marbled with an Italian favorite, gianduia—chocolate-hazelnut spread.
Makes one 4 by 13-inch cake (serves 6)
This amazing treat from Down Under will wow your guests. You will be surprised at how easy it is to whip up a little batch to make everyone happy.
Makes four 4 by 2-inch cakes (serves 4)
For many, twinkling holiday lights are a beautiful and anticipated seasonal feature. But what should you do with them after they stop working or when you want new ones? With these ideas, you can find a new purpose for your old festive strands of lights.
While the holiday season can be joyous, it also generates a lot of garbage. Americans throw away about 25 percent more this time of year, straining landfills. Wrapping paper, packaging, and food are the major culprits, but discarded lights are often mixed in as well, releasing harmful chemicals like mercury and lead into the environment. Unfortunately, putting them in the recycling bin instead isn’t a great solution either since they often contain a mix of glass, metal, and plastic that must be separated before processing. Additionally, their long cords can damage recycling equipment by getting tangled in it. If you have old lights on your hands, don’t lose hope—there are several safer options for getting rid of or repurposing them.
Before giving up on your malfunctioning holiday lights, even if they seem determined to stay as dark as Clark Griswold’s in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, you can check for a simple solution. It may be possible that a blown fuse or burned-out bulb is responsible for the malfunction, and replacement parts are likely readily available. However, don’t attempt to revive lights with broken sockets, loose connections, or frayed wires, which can create a safety or fire hazard.
If it isn’t possible to salvage your holiday lights, contact your local municipal waste service to determine whether there is a recycling program in your area where you could drop them off. You could also check whether your local Home Depot or Lowe’s will take them; some locations will accept them for recycling during the holiday season. If your lights are still in good condition, consider donating them to a friend, school, or thrift store or even listing them for free on an online platform like Facebook Marketplace or a Buy Nothing group.
Another option is to use your craft skills to repurpose them. For instance, string them across your patio to create extra sparkle or stuff them into a glass jar or lantern to add inexpensive but beautiful lighting to your front porch. You could even slip a faux flower or brightly colored plastic cup around each bulb to make festive decor for your next party. Creatively reusing these seasonal decorations can give them new value and allow you to enjoy them well past the new year.
It may take extra work to properly dispose of or breathe new life into your old holiday lights, but doing so will be worth the effort for your own peace of mind and the planet.
