the sunday brief | holiday gift guides

thanksgiving was my father’s favorite holiday. and christmas was my mother’s. oh, how she loved to flip through magazines to collect ideas – she would have loved pinterest – then transform our home into a winter wonderland. there was nothing she loved more than hauling her beloved christmas decorations from storage. her favorites? it would be a toss-up between byer carolers or department 56 snow village complete with skating pond. the minute that delicious thanksgiving turkey was carved into leftovers my mother’s holiday drum began to beat. because by golly she was determined to create a tradition or two.

one such tradition was an annual christmas brunch she hosted for friends and family. growing up, i watched my mother chop, slice, and dice her way to that yearly feast. there was no doubt she would give it her all to be the hostess with the mostess. when she opened the door to greet her guests the tree was trimmed, potpourri simmered on the stove, and gifts were wrapped sitting under the tree – even if that meant she stayed up until 3:00 am. can anyone relate?

a tried-and-true trick for a flawless bash was the timeless casserole. it’s the perfect dish as it can be prepared ahead of time, typically the night before, then popped into the oven an hour before brunch or dinner is served. this tactic freed my mother to enjoy her guests, freshen their drinks, and savor the festive atmosphere she worked hard to create. i’ve held on tight to a few recipes i thought i’d share today, considering the holidays are upon us.

one family tradition i’ve kept through the years is a christmas morning brunch in lieu of a lavish christmas dinner. it’s sooooo easy to prepare several casseroles that can easily feed a dozen, or more if your guest list changes at the last-minute.

if by chance you happen to be invited to brunch instead of hosting one don’t knock at the door empty-handed. let your hostess know she’s appreciated by showing up with a lovely gift. sometime it’s a bit challenging to select the perfect present so i’ve shared a few of my favorites. over the next few weeks, i’ll be sharing a gift guide or two in case you’re short on ideas. sometimes i’m short on time and ideas and find myself frantically flipping through catalogs looking for something, anything, that will fit the bill. but this is the year i’m on top of my game and yours. so if you find yourself in that frazzled state of gift-giving limbo take a peek at my gift guides located at the top navigation bar:

this week, i’m sharing a few gift ideas from one of my favorite online stores Mark and Graham. scroll through the widget and take a peek:

okay, gang, let’s take a look at a recipe or two.

Beth Djalali

is the Founder and CEO of Style at a Certain Age. She writes Sundays-Fridays on all topics ranging from fashion, health, wellness, home design and more.

She’s 65, 5’8, and size 8.

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