The 2018 Motherchic Gift Guide is here! For optimal viewing, pour yourself a glass of something delicious and view in full screen! Simply click on any item to purchase – they are all linked to various retailers. This virtual catalog is your one stop shop for all things holiday!

Dear Friends,

I just asked Spotify to turn on Mariah Carey Christmas songs so I could get in the holiday spirit to write this annual letter. It seems that the holiday season comes earlier and earlier each year and I do admit that it seems silly to be writing about the holidays with a bowl full of Halloween candy to my left and four empty wrappers to my right. Whoppers and Reese’s, for those of you who are wondering my guilty pleasure of choice. My optimistic self says that this early onset of holiday season just makes the best time of year a little longer. Yeah I like that. I’m all for it, actually.

Last year the theme of my letter was all about stepping back to enjoy and not trying to “do it all”. The reason we put so much effort into this gift guide is to help you streamline your holiday gifting. It’s a resource you can come back to all season long so you can use your brain capacity for other things like…baking for the annual cookie exchange?? In all honesty, I show up to the cookie exchanged empty handed with an empty container. You can bet I fill that empty container to the brim, kiss the cooks, and bring all that deliciousness back to my home. Life is all about recognizing your strengths and weaknesses, and for me baking is the later. And so is singing for that matter. So I lean on my friends (my sister for baking, Mariah for singing) and stick to what I’m good at, which brings me to my next point….

Personally, 2018 was all about getting a little help from my friends and that took shape in many forms. As I look back on the year, I am a more “whole” contented person because I stopped trying to be everyone’s everything. Letting go of some responsibilities and letting in people to help…..well, it feels so good and gives your mind the space it needs to breath. This year’s edition of The Motherchic gift guide plays off that theme because I was able to lean in on all of YOU for help as well. I am learning things from you all on a daily basis and I decided to tap into your kitchens, your expertise, and your hearts to share what makes the holiday special for you. I am so honored to include some of your holiday recipes, hacks, and traditions throughout this gift guide.

Whether it’s swapping kids with a friend so you can run last minute holiday errands alone, getting a mother’s helper so you can wrap gifts in your bedroom during daylight hours, ordering gifts online, or showing up to a cookie exchange empty handed…. do it for you and your sanity. Because in the words of Mariah, all they want for Christmas is you.

Wishing you all the happiest holiday season,

Lindsey