Due to family stuff and an emergency I didn’t get this post of Diana’s up before Christmas… Please enjoy it anyway – just looking at the delicious pictures should be enough :) -Erika

I love the holiday season as a whole. The hustle and bustle, the cheer and music, the time spent with family and friends in thankfulness and reflection. But Christmas — or any of the mid-winter holidays — can’t necessarily be called my favorite. That title goes to Thanksgiving. So, when it comes to the time committed to make the season bright, mine — though joyful — pales in comparison to many others’ on a strictly quantity basis. Generally speaking I’m just not motivated to spend a lot of time baking or decorating.

This year is the exception to the rule.

If I were pregnant my behavior might be described as nesting. Because I’m not, it’s mostly just crazy.

First came the insatiable urge to have not one, not two, not three… but six Christmas trees this year. (For the record I could only convince my family — as well as my morals and pocketbook — that two were really necessary.) Next it was the desire to construct myriad wreaths out of fresh pine boughs, string thousands of cranberries and popped popcorn kernels on thread, make vintage styled egg ornaments out of duck eggs, and then, finally, set in the need — yes, need — to bake! Bake, bake, and bake some more!

Cookies and cakes and cake pops and pies. Brownies and gingerbread and candies, oh my!

Except, if I’m truly honest with myself — and as a rule I try to be — I haven’t the time to bake all the things on my list. Or even half the things on my list. Though, you can be assured, it didn’t stop me from making it. Which means prioritization has been in order — a lot of it, and it’s been tough.

I can’t justify not baking the sugar cookie recipe that’s been passed down through our family for generations — the one that comes out moist, thick and cakey, just the way I like it. But perhaps the truffles and specialty cookies could be left to someone else — someone like Aunt Ida, Lillie Belle Farms and Laura of Laura’s Wholesome Junk Food; all Foodzie shop owners who sell the Pomegranate Cookies, Blue Cheese Truffles and Gingerbread Bites pictured, respectively.

Are you baking this holiday season? Share your recipes in the comments! Are you buying this season? What sweets are you ordering in?