I'm all about the pretty packaging and now that we're smack in the middle of prime gift wrapping season, I thought it would be an excellent idea to share some simple embellishment ideas to make your presents as fun to look at as they are to unwrap!

Fiskars has some great ideas for using felt, as you can see above. Read on for a few more great inspirations!

Ah, the holidays. The decorations, the wrapping paper, the baking, the celebrating, THE MESS! If there's one time of the year when it's especially hard to keep your home tidy, it's right around the holidays. We're so busy, and there's so much going on. Should we get an extra hour or so a day just to maintain order?

If you're feeling less-than-ready for your next holiday party or for visiting relatives, there's still a few things you can do to make your home look tidy enough. Hopefully you've invited real friends who don't judge. But just in case, here's a few tips for whipping your house into shape before the holiday guests arrive.

ZOMG, porchetta roast I didn't have to make myself!Would you love it if on Christmas morning Santa left YOU a present -- a fabulous, fully cooked holiday meal? It's a little fantasy of mine. I love cooking, and I especially love planning big holiday dinners. But as the years go on, I'm less excited about spending whole days in the kitchen. It's time to simplify, right?

So I'm looking at ways I can deliver more bang for less time. No, I won't be ordering Christmas dinner from Boston Market (hee hee!). But I'm planning some shortcuts that don't mean a compromise in deliciousness and holiday glam.

The holidays can be quite a drag. There's all that shopping, spending, eating, and sooo much anticipation about what's waiting for you under the Christmas tree. I'm always sick with worry over whether or not I got my mom the right size, if my sister will like the sweater I knit her, or -- for heaven's sake! -- will my brother appreciate the socks I bought him?! So in my house, the holidays are just another excuse to drink -- and I'll bet it's the same in your house, too.

But we're not talking any ole drink are we, folks? Nope. Since we're all decked out head to toe in our finest festive frocks, this season is all about toasting to health, wealth, happiness, and strong spirited cocktails. So if you're wondering what to whip up for your guests (or hell, for yourself), look no further than these six best holiday cocktails that'll ensure your holiday is holly, jolly, and bright!

Ohhh -- Thanksgiving. How we love you! And how we love the alcohol that is hopefully available -- and flowing quite nicely -- on this family-filled day.

Whether you are drinking an ice cold beer, an oaky red wine, or something much harder and on the rocks -- we thought we'd help you add a little spice to your Turkey Day with a drinking game the whole (over 21) family can play.

It's really quite simple.

Cleaning the house can be annoying. Arguably therapeutic, but super annoying. It's not that you don't want things to be spic 'n' span, but, well, it takes time. A lot of time. Time that during the holidays you don't always have, especially when your mom's begging you to make that one dessert you always make. You know, that one. 

Take my current predicament, for example. Saturday night I'll be having 20 of my closest and oldest friends over for a "Friendsgiving" dinner party. The issue? I have a whole SLEW of errands, things to cook, and hello -- BLACK FRIDAY -- between now and then. So what's an enthusiastic hostess to do? Fake it.

Yeah, you heard me. What if I told you there were a whole bunch of things you could do in less than one hour to make your house appear cleaner than it actually is. Thus I present you with 10 steps to faking a clean house. Don't worry, we won't tell anyone your secrets. 

Yesterday, I was sent a group email asking me to list things I’m thankful for that aren’t traditional, like: "my family," "food on the table," etc. Other moms on the email tree were coming back with beautiful sentiments about new friendships, the help of strangers, and averting disasters.

I didn’t respond because everything I thought of seemed trite, superficial, and a tad less profound.  However, I did write a list, and frankly, I'll share it with you because these things totally deserve thanks in my book -- just refrain from saying them around the dinner table.

1. I am thankful for the dimmer switch in my bedroom.

2. I am thankful that I keep a pair of tweezers in my car.

3. I am thankful my daughter has not lost faith in the tooth fairy, and my son goes along with it.

4. I am thankful I didn't have an affair with the head of the CIA.

5. I am thankful for Homeland -- somehow that red-headed guy is really sexy?!

With the holidays comes a MASSIVE amount of stress - you can try all you want to reduce it by cooking things in advance, taking the time off work to properly prepare ... even putting your foot down about how many people you'll invite to your party. Sometimes it helps, other times, it doesn't. With all the pressure to prepare a perfect Thanksgiving dinner, it can make you feel as though you're playing ball on running water. Or like you want to curl up and hide, as the case may be.

Here are some simple ways to reduce the stress of hosting Thanksgiving dinner.