Venison & Bacon Chili

This hearty & comforting homemade chili recipe has two unexpected ingredients in it- ground venison & smoky, thick cut bacon... 

Well, the holidays are over & we have officially entered the dreariness of the winter season. Not that I think that winter is all bad. I do enjoy the occasional snow day when I can look at the sparkling white stuff from my window while wrapped up in a cozy blanket & sipping on something warm. ;) 

It is definitely no secret that this girl hates being cold. I mean, I can count on one hand how many times I have given skiing a go only to find myself parked inside the lodge drinking a hot toddy within an hour. A snow bunny, I am not! 

Wintertime is when I want to be snuggled up on the couch under a blanket watching Netflix while enjoying cozy comfort food. And what says comfort better than a bowl of hearty homemade chili?

12 Festive Holiday Morning Breakfast Recipes

From simple & easy to impressive & well worth the extra effort, you are sure to find the perfect Christmas morning breakfast idea for your family in this collection of 12 Festive Holiday Morning Breakfast Recipes...

In case you all didn't get the memo yet, Christmas is less than one week away! And surprisingly, I am not in panic mode right now. For once, I was on top of it all this month. The gift shopping & cookie baking are all squared away. The Christmas cards were sent out over a week ago (pssssttt... usually I don't get around to getting cards sent out at all, so this is truly a Christmas miracle!). I have even met all of my holiday deadlines for the blog. In fact, this *might* be my last blog post of 2018. But I may end up churning out at least one more post for you all before we say hello to 2019. ;) Stay tuned, folks...

Today's post is about a little something that I hold dear & near to my heart every holiday season- Christmas morning breakfast. Once the chaos & excitement of the gift unwrapping is done & over with and we are on our second viewing of A Christmas Story on TNT, I like to whip up a special breakfast for the family. Like these 12 Festive Holiday Morning Breakfast Recipes I am sharing with you all today.

From pancakes to french toast casseroles to cinnamon rolls, you are sure to find the perfect holiday morning breakfast idea for your family in this collection of festive recipes...

Holiday Meatball Wreath Appetizer

This easy to make, yet elegant Holiday Meatball Wreath Appetizer is sure to steal the show at your next holiday party or get-together...

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Carando®. All opinions are entirely my own. 

One thing that I really love about the holidays is being able to host & entertain. I love to invite over a small group of family & friends for a little cookie baking party or maybe for hot cocoa & to watch Christmas movies. I always seem to host at least one cocktail or wine party before the start of the New Year. 

I prefer my holiday get-togethers to be casual, simple yet elegant, & as fuss-free as possible for me. I mean, what holiday hostess wants to be spending all her time in the kitchen & not mingling with her loved ones? (Not me! ;) )

That is why my new go-to for holiday appetizers this season is the tasty selection of Fresh Italian Style Carando® Meatballs that I can pick up in the refrigerated meat aisle at my local Food Lion. Not only are Carando meatballs easy & convenient (you only have to brown them in the oven for 20 minutes!), but they are also authentically crafted for the perfect texture & amazing flavor without you having to do any of the work...

Reconnect With Your Kids at Massanutten Resort in Virginia

Relax, have a little fun together, & reconnect with your family with a stay at Massanutten Resort in Virginia...

This post was created in partnership with Massanutten Resort. As always, all opinions & thoughts expressed below are 100% my own.

Earlier this month, my daughter & I set out on a girls only road trip to spend the weekend at Massanutten Resort located in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. This two day mother/daughter mountain getaway was the perfect opportunity for the two of us to relax, have a little fun together, & reconnect before the craziness of the holiday season had officially set in. 

With 6000 acres of the Blue Ridge Mountains as a backdrop, Massanutten Resort has something for everyone in your family. From snow sports to shopping to an expansive indoor water park, a stay at Massanutten is the perfect way for your entire family to enjoy each other & do a little good ole fashioned bonding (maybe over ooey, gooey skillet s'mores or while racing each other down the water slides? ;) ), all while creating fun family memories together.

15 "Hop"pening Gift Ideas for Craft Beer Lovers

Whether you have a craft beer lover, a home brewer, or a self-proclaimed beer snob on your gift list, they will be sure to appreciate these 15 "Hop"pening Gifts for Craft Beer Lovers...

This post may contain affiliate links. Purchasing through them helps support this website.

**Prices listed for each item listed may vary.

I don't know about you all, but I definitely have a few craft beer lovers on my gift list this holiday season. (I just may be a self-proclaimed beer snob myself. ;) ) Whether you have a home brewer you are shopping for or a friend that just has to check in every beer that they drink on the Untappd app, you are definitely going to appreciate the gift guide I have put together & am sharing with you all today.

I scoured Amazon to find the best gift ideas (with free 2-day Prime shipping!) for your brewery touring, hop seeking friend or loved one. Yep, I did all the hard work for you all. I only ask that you click on & use the links below to purchase that perfect "hop"pening gift (see what I did there?) that happens to catch your eye below. ;) Yes, they are affiliate links. And yes, I get a small kickback at no extra cost to you. It's a win-win.

12 Cozy Cocktails for Fall

Inspired by some of your favorite fall flavors, these 12 Cozy Cocktails for Fall will keep you feeling warm & fuzzy all season long...

'Twas the day before Thanksgiving & I don't know about you all, but I could certainly use a drink. ;) Both of the kiddos have been home from school since last Friday. Moments of peace & quiet and a little me time have been very few & far between. And don't get me started on the constant snack requests from the 6 year old & the extra laundry from the college sophomore...

That is why I have already made plans to cozy up with a tasty cocktail tomorrow evening after all of the craziness of Thanksgiving dinner is over. As soon as the leftovers have been put away, I have a date with my couch, a comfy throw, Netflix, & one of these 12 cozy cocktails for fall that I am sharing with you all today. Who's with me?

All of the cocktail recipes below are inspired by some of your favorite fall flavors- pomegranate, chai, apple, pumpkin, pears, cranberries. Whether you are looking for the perfect after Thanksgiving dinner cocktail to serve with a slice of pie or maybe a little something you can sip on while doing that Black Friday shopping online, I got you covered with today's recipe collection... ;)

Holiday Turkey & Cranberry Risotto

Creamy risotto comes together with fresh rosemary, leftover holiday turkey, sweet & tart cranberries, & flavorful cooking wine in this comforting Turkey & Cranberry Risotto...

This post was created in partnership with Holland House Cooking Wine. As always, all opinions & thoughts expressed below are 100% my own.

The only thing I love more than a good home-cooked holiday meal is the leftovers. But after a day or two of eating leftover turkey sandwiches, I am ready to change it up a bit. This Turkey & Cranberry Risotto recipe I am sharing with you all today is going to elevate your holiday leftovers to a whole other level of deliciousness thanks to the bold flavor that the Holland House White Cooking Wine adds to this dish.

Creamy risotto comes together with fresh rosemary, leftover holiday turkey, sweet & tart cranberries, and flavorful cooking wine to create a dish that is almost as good as the holiday dinner itself. It is perfect post-holiday comfort food, you all.