Holiday

Where to Drop Off Santa Letters Around Baton Rouge "Dear Santa, This year for Christmas I would like . . . " It's a magical time in your child's life when they discover they can make requests from Santa, especially by writing him a personalized letter. These little special touches during the season are what make Christmas come to life. Did you know Baton Rouge has its very own Santa's Mailbox? It's right in Gonzales. If your child wants to send something all the way to the North Pole, the address is: 1732 S. Purpera Ave.  This special mailbox will be accepting letters until the night of December 22nd. I made this a moment. I spent a morning writing and coloring a card with my daughter. We...

A Christmas Tree that Grows With the Kids Growing up, I always anticipated our yearly trip to Christmas Forest, just north of Zachary, to choose and cut our Christmas tree. It was my family's tradition, and I couldn't wait to begin the yearly trip with my own children. For a few years, my own little family continued on with the tradition, then Christmas Forest closed shop. We tried a few other choose and cut places, but none with the same ambiance. Choosing a pre-cut tree in front of a hardware store wasn't quite as festive, and while I know some people prefer it, using an artificial tree seemed cold. We decided to think outside the box and start our own...

Winter Family Bucket List It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Let’s celebrate by doing a countdown to Christmas with a winter family fun bucket list. You can print this bucket list and check off each activity as you do them. Let’s have some winter family fun! Here's the winter bucket list :: Decorate the Christmas tree Make a gingerbread house Watch a Disney Christmas movie Go see the Christmas lights Bake Christmas cookies Make homemade hot chocolate Make ornaments Pick out family matching Christmas pajamas Put up outside Christmas decorations Take a trip to the zoo to see the Christmas lights Visit Santa at the mall Make s’mores Take a winter family photo Put together a Christmas puzzle Go skating Donate toys Make a popcorn garland Write a letter to Santa Wrap presents Have a secret Santa Decorate a stocking Make...

Why a 24-Hour Christmas Trip to Natchitoches is Totally Worth It If you dream of a Hallmark Christmas experience complete with twinkling lights, charming streets, and holiday cheer around every corner, look no further than Natchitoches, Louisiana. This small Southern town, known as the “City of Lights,” is transformed into a magical winter wonderland during its annual Christmas Festival of Lights. And guess what? Even if you only have 24 hours, a trip to Natchitoches during the holiday season is absolutely worth it. Here’s why. 1. The Enchanting Festival of Lights Natchitoches is famous for its dazzling Christmas Festival of Lights, a tradition that has been lighting up the town for nearly a century. The Cane River Lake glistens under the glow...

Surviving the Holidays After the Loss of a Matriarch The holidays are often described as the most beautiful time of the year, but for those grieving the loss of a loved one, they can also be the most challenging. This is especially true when that loved one was the family's matriarch, who orchestrated the magic, held the traditions, and united everyone under one roof. For me, that loss came in December 2018 when my mother-in-law passed away suddenly from a massive heart attack. She was the heart of the family, and losing her left an immeasurable void that we all still feel today. The Year Everything Changed 2018 was a whirlwind of emotion. My son Colston had just spent his first year...