The wait is almost over, folks. As anyone who’s been around me since September knows, my ringtone has been set to “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” for quite some time. But now it’s true. It is beginning to look, feel, smell and sound a lot like Christmas!
My home has been decked out from top to bottom in holiday décor since October (check it out on page 14), and our presents have been wrapped for weeks. We’re just days away from the single best day of the year!
Although my Christmas shopping has been done for weeks now (that’s just how I roll), I know there are plenty of readers out there who are still looking for that perfect gift for each of their loved ones. We’ve got you covered. Flip on over to page 26, and you’ll find our Christmas gift guide!
We’ve got 25 fantastic gifts for 25 days of Christmas, and you won’t go wrong with any of them. Each and every one of the gifts featured in this section can be found here in Arkansas. It’s always good to shop locally. And throughout this month, we will be giving away one of these gifts each day leading up to Christmas. So be sure to check us out on Facebook!
If food is your thing, our resident foodie Kat Robinson has put together a list of all the best food-related Christmas gifts, and each and every one of them is unique to our great state. From Petit Jean Meats to Martin Greer chocolates, and House of Webster jams to McClard’s famous barbeque sauce. If you have a foodie in the family, you can’t go wrong with this list. I’m getting hungry just thinking about it.
What better way to wash down those awesome treats than with a classic holiday cocktail? We have them in all kinds! See for yourself on page 64. When the whole family is at your house for the holidays, you may even decide to make one of these for yourself.
While I’ve made my way through this year’s Christmas list, there’s still plenty left to do. And that includes soaking up all the exciting, holiday activities with my beautiful family! One of my favorite things to do this month is to see all of the Christmas light displays around our state. As you’ll read in this issue of AY, Arkansas has no shortage of great places to take the kids to enjoy these beautiful displays.
One of the best places to see great Christmas light displays is Garvan Woodland Gardens. Every year, they go all out decking the gardens with incredible lights that truly inspire those holiday feelings. Another favorite can be found in Paris. No, not France. Paris, Arkansas! You sure don’t have to go far to see some great Christmas lights this month!
With all the excitement that comes this time of year, it can be easy to forget the reason for the season. That’s why it is so important to me that this time of year be spent close to the ones I love. Every year, we decorate our tree as a family while White Christmas plays on the television in the background. We bake cookies together to leave for Santa and put out plenty of reindeer food. My children love it, and I love to share this tradition with them.
And then, on Christmas Eve, my family and I attend the candlelight service at Fellowship Bible Church, where we remember what Christmas is all about.
From our family to yours, Merry Christmas!
Heather Baker
