Don’t be afraid of holiday hairstyles that include braids. These tutorials make it easy
Between the hustle and bustle of wrangling your little elves, baking cookies for the exchange, and figuring out what appetizers to bring to the neighborhood gathering, you might not have a lot of time to get gussied up. But the good news is, producing all that holiday magic doesn’t mean you have to forgo the fun of getting glammed up for the holiday season. There are plenty of quick and simple ways to dress up your tresses. Here are a few of our favorite easy holiday hairstyles that glam you up for the season.
The French twist is a classic for a reason: it’s a timeless and elegant holiday hairstyle! This simple tutorial from Alex Gaboury takes what was once thought of as a difficult ‘do to a simple style that any mama can pull off. Cheers!
Easier and quicker than a regular braid, this Rope Braid Crown updo from Missy Sue is going to give your coif a ton of attention! Delicate rope braids are made around the head to form a crown that really kicks up your holiday 'do effortlessly.
While this style looks like something out of a magazine, it's actually just a lot of twisting and a few bobby pins! Abby Smith from Twist Me Pretty uses several elastics to secure and twist locks across the head and then finishes off this look that's fit for a queen, effortlessly.
You had us at messy! This trendy look is actually just a ton of twisting and bobby pinning and can be pulled off in just five minutes. Lainey Marie Beauty gives a simple tutorial on her YouTube channel on this style that's perfect for holiday get-togethers, date nights, and any other fancy event.
There's nothing more frustrating than not being able to whip up an updo on your own, and that's why we love this Easy Triple Braided style from The Effortless Chic. Three simple braids and then wrapped around each other to create this million-dollar look and works just as well at a holiday soiree as it does on the playground.
What better way to get into the holiday spirit than with a festive bow? Professional stylist, Tony Odisho, shares a cute and easy way to dress up your hair for the holidays by turning it into a bow. You can get all the easy steps to creating this look and the tools used here.
Sure, you wear french braid's often but not like this! Rather than learn an entirely new style for the holidays, use this simple tutorial from SweetHearts Hair that involves a little extra oomph to take your braids from drab to fab this Christmas.
A half-up holiday hairstyle is a great way to let your tresses down while still keeping them out of your face because who are we kidding––you're still a mom that’s going to be chasing a toddler at that holiday party. Add some waves, a simple twist, and a pretty hairpin to take that basic mom hairdo to party mode. Get easy-to-follow instructions for this look from blogger Tessa Rayanne here.
Elegant Updo
Tony Odisho
For that grown-ups-only party when you finally score a sitter, you might want to a more elegant look, but with kids demanding your attention while you get ready, you need something that doesn’t take hours to achieve. Stylist Tony Odisho’s Elegant Updo gives your hair that gorgeous look with very little effort. Check out the tutorial here.
Swap out that basic mom bun for something a little more dramatic by sweeping your hair up on top of your head. Avoid those stray, static hairs when you pull your hair up by maintaining your hair’s natural oils to keep it nourished. Stylist Michelle Cleveland suggests, "Using a detangling brush such as “WETBRUSH” comb through your hair, evenly disbursing that scalp oil from roots to ends. The natural oils will help protect the hair from breakage. Next, reach for a dry shampoo and be sure to spray only at the root area, massaging it in with the pads of your fingertips to ensure complete absorption of oils only at the scalp.”
Get ready to check off one item on your holiday to-do list! Our helpful elves scrolled through all of the awesome holiday card designs at Minted, Artifact Uprising and Shutterfly and picked out 15 of their favorites to help you pare down your selections. They found photo Christmas cards, Hanukkah cards, holiday birth announcements and a bunch of cards for those of you ready to celebrate the end of 2021 with a Happy New Year card instead. Snap your family photo and get these ordered!
Actress, mom and media mogul Drew Barrymore just celebrated St. Patrick’s Day in a very special way. Barrymore debuted the St. Paddy’s Day-esque sage green appliances from her new line, Beautiful Kitchenware!
Barrymore’s new kitchen collection is a collab with Made By Gather founder and CEO Shae Hong. The line includes a range of small appliances that creatively combine form and function.
Why did Barrymore and partner Hong, venture into the kitchenware world? According to Beautiful’s website, “Our vision was to create kitchenware that combines high performance with premium design. We always wondered why most kitchen appliances are black or stainless steel. Why not make elegant objects that look good on your kitchen counter?”
The pair partnered with top kitchenware/appliance designers to create a modern line of small appliances that come with touchscreen technology and more. Products include everything from a touchscreen air fryer and programmable coffee maker to a high-performance blender, electric kettle,and toaster oven. Beautiful Kitchen’s sage green line is available right now at Walmart.com. Additional colors will debut on Walmart.com on Mar. 29. Look for the rest of the collection online and in Walmart stores this April.
With many restaurants closed and people still taking careful precautions during the coronavirus pandemic, Valentine’s Day dinner is going to look different. But by now, we’re used to it and this creative option from Cozymeal makes staying in fun.
Purveyor of online cooking classes, Cozymeal is offering some limited-time Valentine’s Day classes that will up your Valentine’s Day, Galentine’s Day, or virtual date night game. The platform has the largest collection of virtual experiences that include cooking, mixology, wine tastings and more, that are all hosted by world-class culinary professionals, starting at $29.
photo: Courtesy of Cozymeal
Looking for something more on the fun side? You’ll want to check out Cozymeal’s pop-culture inspired classes. You can recreate favorite dishes from films and shows that include The Crown, Sex & The City, The Mandalorian (and those galactic macarons pictured above!), Harry Potter, Game of Thrones and more.
Each online offering shares the ingredients and kitchen equipment you’ll need so you’ll be prepared for the big day. Not only that, you can add ingredients directly from Cozymeal to your virtual shopping list and submit to your favorite grocery delivery service. Dinner is served!
To check out all the experiences available, head to cozymeal.com.
Make any day a celebration! The elegant ice cream cake from your childhood is coming back. Good Humor announced that Viennetta will return to stores in Jan. 2021.
After almost 30 years off the U.S. market, Good Humor is bringing back Viennetta, the beloved classic that can turn an ordinary day into a party. This 90s throwback combines a wavy frozen vanilla base between crispy, decadent chocolate layers in a unique cake shape that is perfectly portioned for an entire family to share.
After the year we’ve had many families are looking forward to seeing what 2021 has in store. While New Year’s Eve celebrations might look a little different this year, we can still celebrate the end of 2020 and welcome a new year in a fun and delicious way. Jelly Belly Candy has several non-alcoholic treats to serve at your celebration.
Champagne Jelly Beans
Jelly Belly
Packaged in a mini plastic champagne bottles for a festive touch, the Champagne Jelly Beans are a great themed treat for everyone’s champagne holiday. They have an iridescent finish giving them the “bubbly” touch.
Rosé Jelly Beans
Jelly Belly
Inspired by the trendy, pink sparking wine, Jelly Belly created deliciously dry yet sweet Rosé Jelly Beans. They have an iridescent finish that suggests the effervescence of a real sparkling wine and come in mini bottles.
Cocktail Classics
Jelly Belly
Inspired by the most elegant of shaken, stirred and poured cocktails, Jelly Belly bean mixologists blended the finest ingredients to transport you to the golden age of the cocktail. The Cocktail Classics includes five flavors: Mojito, Peach Bellini, Piña Colada, Pomegranate Cosmo and Strawberry Daiquiri.
Draft Beer Beans
Jelly Belly
Jelly Belly's Draft Beer Beans took the authentic taste of a freshly poured draft beer (without the alcohol!) and turned it into a gourmet jelly bean.
These non-alcoholic products are also a perfect way for those who are participating in Dry January to indulge with a yummy treat.
Ree Drummond has been cooking up something special, and it has nothing to do with the kitchen! The Pioneer Woman has just launched her own apparel collection and it’s exclusively available at Walmart.
Drummond is known for her elegant and comfortable style that is focused on florals, and “The Pioneer Woman” lineup is no different. The versatile collection features favorites like blouses, kimonos, layering pieces and denim. It has 38 pieces with sizing in small to XXL, and ranges from $12.99 to $29.99. Keep scrolling to see some of our favorite items.
Disney+ recently released the first official trailer for the live-action Lady and the Tramp remake—and yes, you’ll get a sneak peek at the beloved spaghetti and meatballs scene.
Don’t look for a theatrical debut date. This Disney classic reboot will stream on the company’s new service this November.
Based on the trailer, the Disney+ small screen gem follows the pup-tastic love story of the original. The film’s iconic mutt Tramp meets, and of course falls for, the ever-elegant Cocker Spaniel Lady. Of course, all kinds of romantic, hilarious, and adventurous hijinks ensue.
As previously reported, Disney’s Lady and the Tramp remake stars Justin Theroux, Tessa Thompson, Sam Elliott, Janelle Monáe, Yvette Nicole Brown and real rescue dogs. Tramp, played by two-year-old terrier mix Monte, was adopted from an Arizona shelter by one of the film’s animal trainers!
Look for Lady and the Tramp to start streaming exclusively on Disney+ Nov. 12.
The holidays are approaching and you’ll probably be attending more than a few soirees. Who wants to show up empty handed? Not us, and that’s why we’ve rounded up some gorgeous and inexpensive hostess gifts that will be sure to wow your friends. Shop this list and have your gifts in hand in two days, thanks to Amazon Prime!
Wood & Copper Salad Spoons
They say the best gifts are the ones you would never buy for yourself, even if it's as simple as something like wood and copper salad spoons ($20). This gorgeous set is made in India and is such a beautiful way to say thank you, especially if paired with a matching bowel or new cookbook.
Iceless Wine Cooler
Your hostess probably has tons of things going on, and that's why a gadget like the Prodyne Acrylic Iceless Wine Cooler ($17) will make their life easier. Whether they end up using it for the party you're attending or to keep their wine chilled throughout the week, this cooler works with a double-walled technology and without ice. No mess!
100% Pure Beeswax Taper Candles
Can you ever go wrong with a pair of candle sticks? No, especially when it comes to these beautiful hand-rolled 100% beeswax taper candles ($10). The honeycomb pattern means a dripless burn, and they are also non-toxic, lead free and are smokeless. Pair with a decent priced bottle of wine for the ultimate hostess gift.
Elegant Place Cards
Help your hostess have the mostess with a 50 pack of elegant place cards ($16) for the perfect table setting. Whether they use them for your party or for plenty of upcoming holiday get togethers, this holiday gift will definitely be useful this season.
Hosting a party and cheese go hand in hand, so the next party you hit up, make sure you bring along these gorgeous marble cheese slicer ($16) for your hostess. The 5x8 marble slab is all natural and comes with two replacement wires for years of elegant slicing to come.
Luxurious Soaps
Help your hostess keep her bathroom stocked by giving the gift of luxurious hand soaps! This pack from Bali Soap is just $9 and not only gets the job done when it comes to hand washing, but looks gorgeous and smells amazing at the same time.
Family Time After-Dinner Conversation Starters
Help your hostess get the party started with a Family Time set ($8.95), that provides family-appropriate ice-breaker questions to get everyone talking. With 50 thoughtful questions about the past, present and future, everyone will get acquainted and have a good time, in no time.
Pretty Tea Towels
Every hostess can use a fresh set of tea towels and we can barely choose our favorite from Floursack ($13), which include plenty of neutrals and farmhouse-chic styles, but we think these flower ones are divine! They are made from 100% imported cotton and manufactured like the old vintage grain bags which also served as kitchen towels.
Chateau Spill Red Wine Remover
Hosting a get together almost always results in a mess somehow. Make cleanup for your hostess a breeze with the Chateau Spill Red Wine Remover ($7.95) that breaks down stains at the cellular level. It removes spills without peroxide, chlorine bleach, or phosphates and even works on set-in stains, like berry juice and makeup. It's also non-toxic and safe for washable items because it's colorfast
As if you weren’t already excited enough for the grand debut of this new home décor line, Target’s new Opalhouse lookbook is out—and you’re going to loooooove it! Opalhouse, Target’s new home brand, is set to launch Apr. 8. And with more than 1,300 pieces, this line is something that you absolutely, positively cannot miss.
The Opalhouse lookbook includes everything from their Indochic French-Vietnamese fusion pieces that are awesomely elegant and packed with jewel tones, the organic look of Canyon Sunrise and the contrasting colors of Mallorca. The new line includes absolutely everything from bedding and bath items to furniture, home décor, kitchen/dining and patio/garden options.
Target’s executive vice president and chief merchandising officer, Mark Tritton, said in a press release, “Opalhouse is another perfect example of how Target offers guests incredible design and great quality at a truly unbeatable value. That’s something you can only find at Target.”
Tritton goes on to add, “With the addition of Opalhouse, out guests will have access to more aesthetics than ever, giving them the opportunity to discover items that reflect their individuality and style, bringing joy to their homes in an easy affordable way.”