Christmas Desserts, Sweets and Treats

A Little Christmas Inspiration for the Upcoming Christmas 2025

Merry Christmas and Holiday Wishes

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Little by little I am rolling out my Christmas decorations, dinnerware and everything else that has to do with the holiday season.

I’ll be decorating my inside and outside this year. I also plan to buy a bunch of delicious treats this year. I usually buy Walker Shortbread cookies, but this year I will adding Effie’s Cookies to my dessert table. 

Recently, I received what I like to call a care package from Effie’s and I tried them all. Talk about delicious, they literally melted in my mouth. Because I love anything with oats I decided to try the oat biscuits. Well, let me tell you, they were sweet, savory and melted in my mouth.

My husband loved them and ate the whole box in a matter of a few days. He tried to eat them in one sitting, but I told him to save a few more for me. 

We also thought the Walnut, Hazelnut, Pecan and Corn Biscuits were just as amazing as the oat ones. I thought it was beyond kind of Effie to send me all of they amazing flavors. They will be a lovely surprise in my first Christmas gift giveaway on my Facebook page, The Love and Joy of Christmas.

If you love delicious sweet treats that have just the right amount of sugar and a good crunch, these maybe the perfect biscuit for you. They go well with coffee or tea too. Effie’s Biscuits will deliver sweet and savory without being overly sweet. 

christmas time with Effie’s Homemade biscuits are simply delicious and Tastes Like You Made Them From Scratch

Merry Christmas and Holiday Wishes

Clothe Your Table with Cocoa Dark Chocolate Candy Bars from Lindt Excellent This Christmas

The other treat that I’ll be adding to my sweet table this Christmas is Lindt Excellence 85% Cocoa Dark Chocolate Candy Bar. These bars come in packs of 12 at 3.5 ounces. I decided to try these last year because of the potential health benefits that they provide. They are a great source of antioxidants and may improve and even lower blood pressure. I just love any kind of chocolate though. 

Merry Christmas and Holiday WishesThese chocolate candy bars are perfect if you’re looking for a dark chocolate that has just the right amount of sugar. I purchased my Lindt candy bars from Amazon. Order here to get yours before the holidays. .  

Merry Christmas and Holiday Wishes

I hope my Christmas finds have inspired you to create a sweet table for your home this Christmas. 

Merry Christmas everybody.

Cyn

A Champagne Christmas

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Why You Should Prepare for Christmas Now

Why now is a great time to Get A Jumpstart On Your Christmas shopping, decorating and baking 

Why preparing early for Christmas makes sense.

Why preparing early for Christmas just makes sense.

Let’s talk about why you should prepare for Christmas now.

Today is August 5, 2025 and I feel like this is the perfect time to plan for Christmas. Why? Because we have so much to do and we want to be ready when the holiday season comes.

For those of you who love Christmas, you know how quickly it comes and goes which why I am suggesting that you get an early jumpstart to the holiday season now.

It’s all about enjoying Christmas as long as possible. If I could, I’d starting decorating my home August 1st, but that is a bit early and besides, Summer has her place in my heart and I want to relax until Autumn arrives. 

When July rolls around, I have to admit that I begin thinking about Christmas especially when QVC showcases Christmas in July. Although I like to shop their sales I must say that have enough Christmas decorations to last a lifetime.

Last year I bought a few pieces from my girl Val when. she introduced her new lines of Christmas products. I purchase a few burgundy Christmas hurricanes. They are beautiful. 

And now let’s get to the fun stuff!

How can we prepare early for the holidays and have ourselves a merry little Christmas?

I’ll start by saying we need to have a conversation about the most wonderful time of the year. 

First, get out your pen, paper or pad. 

We are going to pen our plans for the holiday season. When we write down our to do list for Christmas we can use this list as a point of reference if we need to. For me, everything is already stored in my heart for all the things I must do for the holidays.

Let’s call it Our 2025 Christmas Love List. This is going to help us to get things done in a timely fashion way before the holiday season arrives. 

Secondly, we should think about how we want to decorate our home for the Christmas 2025 season. Do you have any thoughts regarding how you want your home to look for Christmas? Do you see visions of bright colorful lights and red ornaments? Are you thinking of a Christmas theme this year?

Preparing for The Holidays Early Gives Us Time To Relax and Enjoy The Season More

Starting with the windows in your home, how do you want to decorate them? The possibilities are amazing and endless. Use your creativity to design wonder and splendor this Christmas if that is the look you are going for? Do you plan on using multi colored or white lights? Do you have to buy new ones or do you plan on using your existing lights?

Be sure to test all of the lights you plan to use to make sure they work.check whatever Christmas lights you I suggest testing them now because you may need to buy new ones. I recently found a pack of multi colored lights in my attic and they work. I’ll place those around my home in a space that needs them. I think every space in a home needs to be colored in Christmas. I say this because I love this holiday abundantly. 

Now that you’ve done this let’s think about your Christmas tree. Do you plan on buying a new true tree or will you use the one that you have? If not may I make suggestion?

Two years ago I decided I wanted a flocked tree. I searched unto I found King of Christmas? They have a nice selection of artificial trees. They are beautiful trees and some of them look like the real thing and they are easy to maintain. 

And what about bulbs, baubles or Christmas ornament; do you have enough to give your tree that wow factor. If you need more ornaments I recommend checking out Hobby Lobby. They have a large variety of Christmas tree bulbs in every color you can imagine as well as holiday treasures and trinkets that you can hang on your Christmas tree. 

Your Christmas List Should Be Filled with Creativity, Design and Love

Next on our list would be outdoor Christmas decorations. Do you have inflatables that you plan on putting outside. Be sure to check those as well to make sure that they can still be used. 

Onto dinnerware sets, tablecloths and napkins. I always purchase these items new every year because I want them to be new, fresh and clean. 

If you need to buy any of these paper clothes get them right now. This way you’ll have them in hand all season long. I buy my paper hand towels from Home Goods. They carry a lovely selection of Christmas paper goods including guest hand towels. Keep these fully stocked so that when guests arrive you always have plenty on hand. I always purchase white ones with gold Christmas decorations on them. They look beautiful in my gold tray in my kitchen and bathrooms.  

And let’s not forget to check your inventory for serveware and other serving dishes for the holidays. You’ll also want to keep your Christmas plates, muffin pans, baking sheets, cake pans, parchment paper, foil, cling wrap and cookie sheets near as well. Store these items in or near your kitchen for easy access throughout the joyful holiday season.

If you have a storage bin you can place anything that can be stored in them for safe keeping and quick access. 

Preparing early for the christmas season will give you more time to share with your family and friends

What about candles? Do you use them throughout your home during the holidays? Home Goods has the largest selection of candles I have ever seen. They are reasonably prices, look beautiful and smell amazing.

How about we get you ready to relax and enjoy the holiday season. You have a ton of things to do and that is why I am suggesting that you get a head start to the Christmas season now.

Embrace all of the things that you have to do knowing that it is for a great purpose. Experience the love and joy of the holidays when you begin to piece it altogether early and when the Christmas season arrives you and your family can relax and see the splendor that you designed from your heart for you and your family.

Remember, the number one focus and goal is you. You deserve to enjoy the holiday season to the fullest and preparing now will help you to ho ho ho into the Christmas season with ease, joy and relaxation. 

Merry Christmas,

Cyn

www.achampagnechristmas.com

Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Brownie Mix

A Christmas Tradition That Melts In My Mouth Every Holiday Season

Ghiradelli Dark Chocolate Brownie Mix for the Holiday Season

Ghirardelli’s dark chocolate brownies melt your heart as they warm your mouth.

Good Day Christmas Luminaries,

Today I want to talk about Ghirardelli’s Premium Dark Chocolate Brownie Mix.

One of the things I love about Christmas is baking. 

My family and I love brownies. If I bake Ghirardelli’s dark brownies and nothing else for the holidays I’ll be just as happy as if someone had baked a dozen different desserts for me.

Have you ever used a recipe only to find that it needed your extra special touch? Well, that’s how I feel about these decadent brownies. Now, don’t get me wrong, these babies are more than scrumptious and I love them just the way they are when they come out of my oven.

Here’s the thing with me and these brownies. Although I simply love these moist squares I like to do something a little different with them.

The recipe calls for oil, water and one egg. I find these brownies to be super fudgey (is there such a word).

And even though I do enjoy fudgey brownies, I love cake-like brownies so much more. So to make my brownies more cakey, I add two large eggs to the recipe. You can also add a little coffee to the mix if you really want to bring out the chocolate favor. 

Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Brownies Are The Perfect Blend of Decadence and Goodness

Ghirardelli Dark Brownie Mix for the Holiday Season

These brownies maybe from a box, but they are just as delicious as if they had been made from scratch. That’s how wonderful they are.

Furthermore, these brownies are not too sweet at all. That’s another thing that I love about them.

At one time I was hooked on Duncan Hines’ brownies, but once I discovered Ghirardelli’s dark chocolate brownies, I have not looked back.

They are more expensive than other brands that you find in the supermarket, but they are more than worth spending a bit more.

Another thing that I love about this brownie mix is that they come with chocolate chip morsels added in the mix. If you’re a chocolate lover like me you’re going to love when you bite into your brownie square and a chocolate morsel meets your mouth and make you feel like you’re on another planet because that’s just how good they really are.

Every Time I Bake These Brownies I Add More Chocolate Chip Morsels To The Mix

Wait! I have to tell you this. The other thing that I add to the mix sometimes is peanut butter morsels and you know why? You guessed it. I love peanut butter.

You know chocolate and peanut butter going well together and the two are indeed a marriage made in my heart.

When the chocolate chip morsels and peanut butter morsels are poured and baked into the mix you have a dessert so special that guests would not be able to tell if you made them from scratch unless you told them, but why would you! 

Each and every year at Christmas I bake a bunch of brownies for my family. It is with pleasure that I go into my kitchen to whip up these mouth-watering chocolate squares. I love that I get to watch my family enjoy this one very special dessert every year every Christmas. 

Believe me when I tell you that it doesn’t take long for our hands to reach into the cake plate to grab one brownie, then two and three until they are all gone. 

I think it maybe time for me to get out the Ghirardelli dark chocolate brownie that I bought from Target yesterday because after all Christmas, for me, is everyday!

Why don’t you make yourself some Ghirardelli dark chocolate brownies and treat your family to a special kind of love.

Merry Christmas everyone.

Cyndi

www.christmasevermore.com

 

 

3 Things You Can Do To Prepare for Christmas 2025

here are 3 Things You Can Do To Prepare for Christmas 2025

3 Things You Can Do To Prepare for Christmas 20253 Things You Can Do To Prepare for Christmas 2025

Hello Christmas Beauties,

Can you believe that May 2025 is just down the road and about to make its presence known to the world. When May does arrive that means we have only 7 months before Christmas adorns the walls and living rooms of our homes.

Will you be ready you think? I will be as my Christmas plans are already being written, etched in stone and cemented evermore.

My plans first became a thought and then a vision. They started in my mind and I penned them to paper immediately. Excited? That would be me. I honestly get excited about anything that pertains to this miraculous holiday.

And you know something, because Christmas comes so quickly I like to prepare early for the holiday season.

Now I know that it’s close to the end of April which for me means it’s time to make my plans for Christmas once again. As Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz says, people come and go so quickly here! Well, let me tell you, I feel the same way about Christmas.

I start my decorating in October now because I want to enjoy the decorations and Christmas tree as long as I can because time does indeed fly right on by.

May comes and I often find myself Christmas shopping. 

Some of you Christmas Luminaries are familiar with QVC’s Christmas in July event and you cannot wait to shop. Include me on that list! I look forward to seeing what new products will be presented 2025.

We all need to have our holiday plans in place so that we can relax and enjoy the holidays. A stress-free Merry Christmas season is the goal here.

Here are the 3 things you can do to prepare for christmas 2025

3 Things You Can Do To Prepare for Christmas 2025

Grab your lap tap, pad or journal and let’s get into the 3 things you can do to prepare for Christmas 2025. This list is centered mostly around cooking and baking.

  • Check your Christmas decor inventory.
  • Check your dinner/serve ware.
  • Create and plan your dinner and dessert menus. Get out your cookbooks and let’s make your dessert list for Christmas Eve.

Using this list to help make your planning a little easier have fun with it. Take your time when you check your Christmas decorations.

If you need to purchase any new items check with stores like Hobby Lobby, Michael’s and Pottery Barn. They have some great sales like almost every week. 

You maybe saying to yourself Pottery Barn is super expensive. That maybe true, but they do have great sales from time-to-time and worth checking out. As a matter of fact they are having a 50% off sale right now.

There you have it, 3 things you can do to prepare for Christmas 2025.

I hope you enjoy this short, but fun filled list. My promise to you is that it is going to get you in the best Christmas mood ever!

Merry Christmas Luminaries,

Cyn

www.achampagnechristmas.com

Feeling the Christmas Vibes All Year Long

When Feeling the Vibes of Christmas You Plan for the Holiday Season

Happy Saturday Christmas Friends,

I am in my happy space, my bedroom office, feeling all warm, comfy, cozy and Christmasy.

Feeling the cold that February invited when she arrived I am loving this vibrant cold season. It reminds me of Christmas and its great wonder and splendor.

The winter season is my favorite time of year. My plan is to enjoy every second of the season because it is going to hot enough, soon enough and long enough.

Embracing the winter months never fail to deliver tremendous joy to me every year. Ever since I was a child I have loved and adored the Ber months.

Starting in September when I decorate my home with Autumn, I patiently await winter’s arrival and the moment I feel its amazing presence I start decorating for Christmas. 

Although it’s a new year and I know that warmer days are ahead, as slong as it is still freezing and snowing out, I am going to bask in this wondrous time. 

Christmas Vibes Are In the Air

Deeply moved with Christmas vibes today, February is the month that I start planning for Christmas. I shop for Christmas gifts and I stock up on the essentials that I need for Christmastime.

One of the many things that make Christmas super special to me is baking. Stumbling upon this amazing website, Divas Can Cook, I have tried several of her recipes and I have not been disappointed. I am not the best baker in the world, but I still love to bake for my family and they appreciate my desserts. It’s a part of our Christmas tradition.

The reason I shop so early for Christmas gifts and stock up on staples for my home is because I don’t want to run around trying to find the things I need for the joyous holiday season at the last moment. 

Here’s what I’ll be buying in a few weeks for the holidays: Feeling the Christmas vibes is real and alive.

  • Pam Baking Spray
  • Olive Oil
  • Seasonings for Thanksgiving and Christmas
  • Mayo
  • Carnation Milk
  • Cranberry Sauce
  • Elbow Macaroni

Planning and preparing for the Christmas season early brings me immense joy. It’s all part of celebrating the most wonderful time of the year.

This year I’ll be incorporating a few new from scratch recipes that include a few pasta dishes. I think the Italian in me is longing for something with a twist for Christmas 2025. 

I need my creativity to flourish this year and I am going to see to it that it does in more ways than one.

Well, I hope everyone has a fantastic Saturday. It’s time for to create some new designs right now because Christmas will be coming up and over the hills soon and I have got to be ready.

Here’s wishing you a very Merry Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Cyn

www.godsvirtuouswomenentrepreneurs.com  

The Best Sweet Potato Pie Ever

A Recipe of Sweet, Sweeter, Sweetness Called Sweet Potato Pie

 

The Best Sweet Potato Pie

The best sweet potato pie recipe is here!

My mother, God bless her, made a sweet potato pie that was too good to be true. She was the greatest cook and baker.

I watched her every move in the kitchen and remember every ingredient that lovingly went into that thick strong glass bowl each and every time she created deliciousness all throughout the year. 

At Thanksgiving I could smell those tasty pies permeating throughout our home. When they touched my tongue my tummy smiled.

Now I bake these same pies at Thanksgiving and Christmas. My husband and children love them.

Here’s the recipe.

  • Five large sweet potatoes
  • Butter
  • Carnation Milk
  • White sugar
  • Brown sugar
  • Nutmeg
  • Ginger
  • Cinnamon 
  • 3 frozen pie shells

Christmas Friends I do not measure any of my ingredients. All I can suggest is that you use them to your liking, your own taste. 

One thing I can tell you is that I do bake my pies for about an hour. They turn out perfectly amazing every time. Brown and tan in color with rich velvety goodness define this heavenly warm slice of love.

Have yourself a very amazing Merry Christmas,

Cyndi

www.achampagnechristmas.com

Moist and Delicious Dark Chocolate Brownies

The Best Dark Chocolate Brownies Baking in the Oven
Desserts for the Christmas Holiday

One of the best desserts for the Christmas holiday is Ghirardelli brownies.

I am a brownie lover. Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Brownies are my absolute favorite. They are rich in dark chocolate and just plain mouth watering comfort food delicious.

When I first discovered these rich and moist brownies I went strictly by the recipe on the back of the box which is one egg, a quarter cup of water and a half cup of oil. This recipe was good, but because I love cake-like brownies I decided to change this amazing recipe a bit to my liking. 

Now when I bake the brownies I add two eggs instead of one. I also add a little more water and an extra teaspoon of olive oil. Olive oil brings out the dark chocolate flavor in these super moist brownies.

These brownies yield about 24 cake-like brownies depending on how I cut them vertically and horizontally.

Desserts for the Christmas holiday is something that my family and I look forward during the holiday season.

Every year at Christmastime and all throughout the holidays I bake 2-3 batches of these sweeties. My family gobbles them up in a day. 

I keep at least nine boxes on hand every year. This year I grabbed all nine boxes while they were on sale at Big Lots. 

My family always enjoy eating these brownies with a tall bottle of spring water. The two go well together but that’s because we adore water.

Should you decide to try these brownies, please let me know your thoughts.

I wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Everyone. 

Cyndi

Email: cyndisdesignz@gmail.com

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