12 Days of Chrristmas❄️🧑‍🎄

Christmas is around the corner so here are 12 days of Christmas filled with many activities and events to go through to share that holiday cheer with friends, family and even by yourself.

Day 1

Decorate

If you have already put your tree or your christmas decorations up, amazing! You are already ahead on this list, but if you haven’t gone ahead and get to do that, and if you are one of those people who don’t put up their tree until the last minute, maybe start unpacking those up now and see what to put up. Your house doesn’t have to look like the most perfect, even putting up little toys and christmas colors is more than enough; just enjoy setting them up.

Day 2

Buy Matching PJs

It is always fun matching with everyone, so why not buy holiday themed pajamas to match with your loved ones, such as family, friends, and even pets. You can shop for pajamas at Target, Walmart, Macy’s, Amazon, etc. for up to $30 or less. Here are some options

LOVEBAY Christmas Family Pajamas Matching Sets Christmas Pjs Matching Sets for Family and Couples Christmas Sleepwear – Walmart.com 

ANGELGGH Family Christmas PJs Matching Sets, Cute Holiday Pajamas Printed Top and Pants, Xmas Jammies for Couples/Men/Women

Women’s Plaid Flannel Matching Family Pajama Set – Wondershop™ Green : Target 

Family Pajamas Santa Matching Pajamas Sets, Created for Macy’

Day 3

Bake Cookies

I have so many baking opportunities for you guys that love to bake. To those who don’t have a good track record baking, don’t worry I got you covered with this easy recipe I found for you to try.

Grinch Cookies

Dessert found on Tiktok 

Recipe by Mom on Timeout

A very easy recipe that includes cake mix instead of making the dough yourself, how easy!

Ingredients

• 1 box of vanilla cake mix
• ⅓ cup of vegetable oil 
  • substitute: 8 tbs of butter
• 2 eggs
• green food dye
• powdered sugar
  • substitute: (to make your own powdered sugar) granulated sugar mixed with cornstarch 
• heart sprinkles

Instruction

1. Make sure your oven is set to 375 degrees fahrenheit
2. Mix together cake mix, vegetable oil, and eggs
3. Depends on your preference, but you can be free to add peppermint or vanilla extract to add extra flavor; if not just add in about 3 drops of green food dye or until you get the green color you desire
4. Once mixed, use powdered sugar to coat dough in to be less sticky to start forming the balls
5. Bake for about 10 minutes – you will know if the edges are set and the top of the cookie looks dry
6. Remove cookies and place a heart sprinkle and you are done!

Day 4 

Make hot chocolate

Everyone loves hot chocolate and if you don’t you just haven’t had good hot chocolate. It’s that easy that it just includes chocolate and milk…yeah thats literally it. If you want you can add your flavors like peppermint and vanilla to make it much sweeter to your liking and of course need to add your topping of whipped cream and marshmallows. Pop on some comfy pjs and a christmas movie and enjoy the hot chocolate in the comfort of your own home.

Day 5

Go christmas caroling

Although in New York, christmas caroling isn’t as common compared to other areas there are some places such as the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music & Washington Sqyare Park to watch Carolers in action. And if that is not your cup of hot chocolate, find a christmas playlist or even make one and have your own little concert. This is more of a way to chill for almost a week of christmas activities. Here is a christmas playlist if you are looking for one.

Christmas Hits – playlist by Spotify 

Day 6

Make christmas cards

30 Handmade Christmas Card Ideas to Make for Friends and Family  

If you are more on the creative side, making a christmas card or even a painting can be a great way to show off your creativity and share it with loved ones. It can work as a gfit and even be an activity done for fun – especially those with little siblings would be fun to do. 

Day 7

Visit loved ones

Christmas’ main message is to spend time with family. It is a holiday where everyone comes together as on big family. Its about the quality time and care you give to your family, especially those you haven’t seen in a long time. So, its always good to pop in doing the holidays to check in on them because you never know how they are doing or feeling during the holidays.

Day 8

go to holiday markets

Holiday markets have become much more popular with the variety of things you can do and get like get Christmas gifts, make some art, eat a lot of treats. It is a good time to go during the weekend especially with the number of holiday markets opening. Here are the top 3 holiday markets to go this year and their schedules. 

Union square holiday market

A European-style market located in Union Square Park at E 14th St, New York, NY 10011 filled with 160 venues to visit, including books, decorations, clothes, toys, treats, makeup, and so much more.

Union Square Holiday Market is open from now to December 24th from 11am to 8pm on the Weekdays, 10am to 8pm on Saturdays, and 11am to 7pm on Sundays

To learn more about the market here’s their website

Union Square Holiday Market 

Columbus Circle Holiday Market

100 booths ran by those behind the Union Square Market in Columbus Cir &, Central Park S, New York, NY 10019 with items like Gabriella Ceballos jewelry, Patches and Pins designs, and Hudson Houndstooth pet accessories and clothing.

Columbus Circle Holiday Market is open from now to December 31st from 11am to 8pm Monday through Saturday, and 11am through 7pm on Sundays

Bryant Park Winter Village

Located in Bryant Park 42nd Street and, 6th Ave, New York, NY 10018 a European inspired open air market with over 170 unique artisans from around the world. Where you can try many different foods from burgers, cheesesteaks, crepes, hot chocolate, and more, go iceskating with friends and family, and cuddle up in an ice globe. 

Bryant Park is open daily from 7am to 12am Thursday through Sunday, and 7am to 11pm Monday through Wednesday 

For more activities visit Bryant Park Winter Village  

Day 9

Go see the Rockefeller center tree

The event everyone awaits for, the lightning of the Rockefeller tree at Rockefeller Plaza. Although the lighting already happened on November 29th you can still visit the tree until January 13th at 10pm from 5 am to midnight daily. There are times during the holidays where the tree lighting is different; from December 15th through Christmas Eve the tree will be lit from 5am-1am, on Christmas day the tree is lit for 24 hours and on New Year’s Eve it is lit from 5am to 9pm.

For more activities to do in Rockefeller Center

🎄 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting | NYC Winter Events

Day 10 

Plan a Secret Santa

If it’s with your friends, family, or any loved ones, gifting a secret santa is always a fun way to give back to those you care about and bond with them – and they also don’t have to be given the most expensive gifts either just a nice tradition to share with everyone especially when you open the gifts together.

Day 11

Go watch Christmas Lights

Dyker Heights Christmas Lights

1072 80th St 1st. Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11228

Walk through 11th and 13th avenue from 83rd to 86th street to see the up to $20,000 light shows families have displayed with massive Christmas lights and decorations, in public to anyone who passes by. The walking tour happens at 7pm to 10pm every day from now until after new years.

Westchester Winter Wonderland

1 Bronx River Parkway, Valhalla, NY 10595

On its tenth season, go take a trip at a holiday drive-thru located at 1 Bronx River Parkway, Valhalla, NY 10595. From now to December 31st from 5:30pm on weekdays and 4:00pm on weekends for $35 per car you can go through 1.2 miles of lights with new auditions like an interactive Elf and a 175 foot long string tunnel to pass through.

Macys Santaland

151 W 34th St., New York, NY 10001

Visit Santa Claus at Macy’s Herald Square at 151 W 34th Street on the 8th floor New York, NY 10001, from now to December 24 at 10am (sometimes 9am) to 9pm.

For more information on booking visit Macy’s Holiday Celebrations 2023 – NYC 

Day 12

Watch Christmas Movies

It’s always nice to cuddle up on your couch with some hot chocolate (that I hope you made) and watch christmas movies all weekend. Here is a list of my top 10 christmas movies for you to choose from.

• How the grinch stole christmas

Where to Watch

• Fubo TV (Subsrciption)

• Hulu (Premium Subscription)

• Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Youtube ($3.99)

• Home Alone (1 & 2)

Where to Watch

• The Roku Channel (Free)

• Disney + (Subscription)

• Apple TV ($3.99)

• Amazon Prime, Youtube, Hulu, Starz (Premium Subscription)

• ELF

Where to Watch

• Hulu, HBO Max (Subsrciption)

• Amazon Prime (Premium Subscription)

• Apple TV, Youtube ($3.99)

• The Christmas Cronicles 1 & 2

Where to Watch

• Netflix 

• Rise of The Guardians

I Don’t know if people will consider this a Christmas movie but I do – it is set in Christmas and Santa is literally in it

Where to Watch

• The Roku Channel

• Paramount +, VIX (Subscription)

• Amazon Prime, Youtube (Premium Subscription)

• Apple TV, Vudu, Google Play ($3.99)

• The Polar Express

Where to Watch

• Hulu, HBO Max (Subscription)

• Amazon Prime (Premium Subscription)

• Youtube, Vudu, Google Play. Apple TV ($3.99)

• Candy Cane Lane

Where to Watch

• Amazon Prime (Premium Subscription)

• The Princess Switch 1-3

Where to Watch

• Netflix 

• A Christmas Prince 1-4

Where to Watch

• Netflix 

• Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer

Where to Watch

• Youtube
• Amazon Prime ($7.99)

Bonus

If Snow falls this month go ahead and play in the snow; go sledding, make snowmen & snow

angels.

Enjoy this month and have a very special holidays everyone!