Clear and Concise: Say It Simply and Effectively

Can you believe it’s already the first week of December?

This year has been full of surprises and unusual pacing. Some months felt endless, while the last few weeks have simply flown by.

Are you ready for Christmas yet? We’re not quite there — despite planning to finish our holiday decorating in early November, life got in the way and we’re still surrounded by bins of decorations. If you have tips or extra hands, please send help!

One bright spot in the chaos has been sharing holiday ideas here on the blog. If you missed this week’s posts, here’s a helpful recap of what we published and what we found around the web.

On and around the blog

This week we joined 27 other bloggers to share holiday decorating ideas focused on greenery. Check out our ultimate guide to decorating with greenery for simple, beautiful seasonal styling.

Large galvanized tub filled with fresh greenery clippings of magnolia leaves and holly branches covered in clusters of red berries.

Busy evenings call for easy dinners. We’ve been loving a simple Mexican Instant Pot Chicken and Brown Rice recipe that’s flavorful and fast. No pressure cooker? You can easily make this in a slow cooker instead.

Plate filled with brown rice and topped with chicken and green chiles cooked in an Instant pot pressure cooker garnished with red onions and cilantro

If you’ve ever hesitated to make a bow, AnnMarie shares an incredibly easy method that makes beautiful bows in no time. It’s the simplest approach we’ve tried.

pile of completed holiday bows on table

Today we also shared family traditions and tips for creating meaningful Christmas trees. From heirloom ornaments to thoughtful placement, get ideas for decorating a tree that tells your family’s story.

decorated christmas tree in front of window next to fireplace

More festive finds

We also discovered several other creative and helpful holiday ideas you might enjoy:

  • A thoughtful handmade gift idea for crafty friends and family.
  • A cheerful Christmas laundry room makeover to spread holiday cheer throughout your home.
  • Creative and budget-friendly dollar store Christmas DIY ideas.
  • A chewy gingersnap cookie recipe perfect for holiday baking.
  • A beautiful Christmas arrangement using items you likely already have on hand.
  • A complete, healthy meal plan for the entire month of December to simplify busy weeks.
  • Super easy Christmas cookie recipes for quick and crowd-pleasing treats.

Deals we’re loving

If you’re shopping for gifts, we found a few deals worth checking out:

  • 20% off a popular drinkware brand — great for holiday gifts.
  • An adorable tree collar that instantly dresses up your base.
  • Extra discounts on sale items at a well-known apparel brand.
  • A promo code for photo books that saves on orders and shipping — perfect for gifting memories.

We’re so grateful you’re here. Wishing you a calm and joyful weekend as you tackle plans, baking, and decorating. Thanks for being part of our community!

img 15676 5