The holidays are officially here, and there’s no shortage of festive inspiration if you need it!
Whether you’re shaking up an Extra Old Fashioned using Matthew McConaughey and his wife Camila Alves McConaughey’s tequila, dressing your pet in glitzy holiday looks as Sofía Vergara or filling your space with seasonal scents recommended by Molly Sims, this is the time to make every moment feel magical.
The inspiration doesn’t stop there. Take a cue from Kelly Ripa and Khloé Kardashian and go bold with personalized wrapping paper, indulge in a 21-inch-tall handmade chocolate Santa from the NYC sweet shop favored by Andy Cohen and Hugh Jackman or craft the perfect jolly playlist with tunes from Lady A or Lainey Wilson.
There’s more! Keep reading for 25 fun and festive ways to celebrate the holidays:
1. Raise a Glass to Something New
Just in time for the holidays, Matthew and Camila McConaughey have released a rare, limited-edition expression of their signature organic tequila — and are sharing their favorite way to mix it up! “Our Organic Extra Añejo is something special,” Camila tells Us. “It’s smooth and full of flavor — agave, oak, a little chocolate — and it’s got that Texas warmth that makes you want to slow down, kick back and enjoy the season.”
Extra Old Fashioned
INGREDIENTS
2 oz Pantalones Organic Extra Añejo Tequila
.5 oz orange liqueur
3 dashes Angostura bitters
.2 oz agave
Garnish (orange peel and brandied cherry)
INSTRUCTIONS
In a mixing glass, combine Pantalones Organic Extra Añejo Tequila, orange liqueur, bitters, agave, ice and stir. Strain into an old fashioned glass over fresh ice, and garnish with a brandied cherry and orange peel.
2. Invite Fido to the Festivities
Take a page from Sofía Vergara, who never leaves her pups out of the holiday glam. Seen here with her Chihuahua, Amore, and her son Manolo’s rescue pup, Baguette, she proves dogs deserve to sparkle too. So, break out the tiny sweaters, reindeer antlers and elf outfits!
3. Smell-ebrate!
Fill your home with the scents of the season courtesy of these celeb-approved candles.“Sniff Candles do a holiday scent so well,” Molly Sims tells Us. “I am currently obsessed with their Old Saint Wick candle with notes of Siberian pine, apple blossom, rosemary, jasmine, fir balsam, sandalwood and cedarwood.”
4. Give ’Em What They Want, What They Really, Really Want
But dress it up! Skip the plain envelope and package a gift card for their favorite store in a festive faux leather holder, available from ModernCreativeButikk on Etsy.
Go Global With Your Traditions
5. Take a cue from the Japanese and skip the cooking this Christmas — families there line up for KFC buckets of finger-lickin’ good chicken.
6. In Germany, the pickle ornament tradition supposedly rewards whoever spots it on the tree with an extra gift — though it actually started as a clever 19th-century Woolworth’s marketing stunt.
Add New Tunes to Your Holiday Playlist
Our top picks:
7. “Wouldn’t Be Christmas,” by Lady A from their new album, On This Winter’s Night (Vol. 2)
8. “I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm,” by Pentatonix, featuring posthumous vocals from Frank Sinatra
9. “Peace, Love, and Cowboys, (Holiday Edition),” by Lainey Wilson
10. “Coming Home This Christmas,” by the Jonas Brothers, featuring Kenny G
11. Throw a Cookie Bash
Want to host a seasonal soiree Martha Stewart would actually attend? “I’ve been throwing holiday parties since about 1980, when I was living in Westport, Connecticut, and writing my first book, Entertaining,” said the lifestyle guru, whose love of cookies runs deep. “When I was growing up, we made hundreds of cookies with my mother every year,” she shared. No time to cook from scratch? Cheat like a champ and grab these buttery, sugary slice-and-bake cookies from Jane’s Sweet Things. Don’t worry — we won’t tell!
12. Stay Up Late
At least on Dec. 20! Saturday Night Live has a long history of holiday hilarity, from Schweddy Balls to D**k in a Box and “The Hanukkah Song.” We can’t wait to see what’s in store when Ariana Grande hosts for the third time and Cher returns as the musical guest for the first time in nearly 40 years!
13. Cue Up Holiday Comfort TV
Get cozy and settle in for a laugh marathon as TBS airs holiday episodes of your favorite sitcoms — including Friends, Modern Family, The Big Bang Theory and more — on Sunday, December 21.
14. Glow for a Ride!
From the over-the-top displays in Brooklyn’s Dyker Heights to the cheery “Christmas Card Lane” in Rancho Peñasquitos, San Diego, neighborhoods across the country are lighting up the night. So pile into the car, crank up the holiday tunes and take a twinkly tour that’ll leave everyone feeling joyful and glowing.
15. Be a Wrap Star
Turn every present into a showstopper! Skip the standard snowflakes and go bold with personalized paper from Gift Wrap My Face, where you can feature your loved one’s mug. Celeb fans like Kelly Ripa and Khloé Kardashian are in on the fun, proving that when it comes to gift-giving, presentation is everything. There’s still time: They print and ship within two days.
Hallmark Channel is the home of holiday cheer thanks to its annual “Countdown to Christmas” programming — which just keeps getting bigger and better. Every year, fans are treated to a slew of feel-good holiday movies starring Lacey Chabert, Andrew Walker and more beloved actors. While the stories showcased are different, there are a lot […]
16. Indulge in Santa’s Sweetest Treat!
The oldest chocolate house in Manhattan is serving up serious holiday cheer. This spectacular 21-inch-tall Santa is handmade from eight pounds of chocolate. Treat yourself (and at least a few others, since it serves 60!) to this festive figure, available for nationwide shipping. Celeb fans like Cardi B, Andy Cohen and Hugh Jackman can’t resist this sweet shop.
17. Crunch Into Latke Love
Seth Rogen may skip Christmas, but he never misses Hanukkah — or the crispy latkes that come with it. “Every Jew on earth is eating Chinese food [on Dec. 25], so it’s hard to get,” he’s joked. But once Hanukkah arrives, potato pancakes take center stage for the actor and his wife, Lauren Miller Rogen. “An elevated latke,” is what Seth tells Us he enjoys. “Love a good sour cream, applesauce combo [on top],” adds Lauren. “Also, love smoked salmon, crème fraîche and caviar.”
18. Plan a Holiday-Themed Trip
NYC is magical at Christmastime, so it’s no wonder that Chrissy Teigen, John Legend and their kids will spend the holiday there, and that Kathy Hilton told Us that she’ll be bringing her grandchildren to the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. But if you can’t make it to the Big Apple, there are so many festive towns across the country — think: Leavenworth, Washington; Macon, Georgia; Woodstock, Vermont; and Sun Valley, Idaho, to name a few.
19. Add a Tartan Touch
Nothing says holiday cheer quite like a pop of plaid! This year, stars like Rachel Zegler are proving tartan is trendy — from cozy throw blankets and stockings to statement skirts and party pj’s. It’s the perfect way to add a festive hint of color and classic charm to your decor and your wardrobe.
Copy a Hallmark Star’s Watchlist
Besides Hallmark’s Countdown to Christmas holiday rom-coms (obviously), Lacey Chabert suggests the following comedy classics:
20. ELF
“Love it. It’s funny. I know so many of the lines by heart at this point.”
21. CHRISTMAS VACATION
“Growing up, that was a big staple in our family, a big tradition every year.”
22. CHRISTMAS WITH THE KRANKS
“You can just watch [these comedies] over and over again, and they never get old.”
23. Have Fun With Food
Skilled culinary content creators share their festive charcuterie boards with Us. For detailed instructions, visit @ainttooproudtomeg for the “chartcut-tree” and @absolutrecipes for the nutcracker.
24. Be Like Tom Cruise
Want to spread cheer like a Hollywood legend? Take a cue from Tom Cruise. Jimmy Fallon and Glen Powell have been lucky recipients of Cruise’s now-iconic coconut cake. The best news? You don’t need an A-list résumé to taste it. You can send your loved ones the same decadent dessert from L.A.’s Doan’s Bakery that the Mission: Impossible star gifts his celeb friends.
25. Party Like the Queen of Christmas
It’s Time… to visit Mariah Carey’s Holiday Bar! With locations in NYC, L.A., Miami and Las Vegas, the pop-up features festive photo opps and delicious cocktails.
