Happy December! Welcome to the Hearth and Soul Link Party!
The Hearth and Soul Link Party welcomes family-friendly blog posts about anything that feeds the soul. Things that feed the soul may include (but are not limited to) recipes, decorating, crafts, family, home, DIY, organization, travel, book reviews, the arts, and self improvement.
The Latest
Last week I got to meet long-time Hearth and Soul participant Julie from Julie’s Creative Lifestyle! Julie was visiting London with her daughter last week and we met up for coffee. I am so grateful that we were able to meet in real life and spend some time together.
Our renovations are due to be finished by Christmas if all goes well. Yay! I have so appreciated all of your support on our renovations journey – your positive comments really kept us going through the tedious bits.
Christmas and holiday preparations are well underway here.
Our son and his partner are hosting Christmas this year. I cannot wait! If you are entertaining this Christmas, be sure to check out my top tips and advice for Holiday Entertaining without Stress.
I’m excited to get started with Christmas baking. I did my first real baking in our new ovens for Thanksgiving. Our son and I made two pumpkin pies and some gluten-free, dairy-free chocolate cupcakes using this Easy Chocolate Cake recipe. I also made some Old Fashioned Bran Muffins. I am so grateful to be able bake again. I never realised how much I took the pleasure of baking for granted.
On The Blog – December 2023 Edition
These are Cherry Christmas Cookies are one of my favourite holiday cookies. Plus, as they are a slice and bake cookie, you can make the dough now and freeze it ready for baking just in time for the celebrations.
If you are still enjoying autumnal recipes, there is plenty for you too, including this easy cake!
Not only is this a seriously delicious cake, but one of the things I love about this Blackberry Apple Cake is just how easy it is to make it look gorgeous!
Or bridge the gap between fall and the holidays with these delicious cookies.
These Orange Gingerbread Cookies are the most popular cookie recipe on the blog and a real family favourite at our house. When Crosby’s Molasses shared the recipe last year on Facebook, their post had over 11,000 shares!
Featured Posts – December 2023 Edition
Thank you all for sharing your wonderful content. Some of the posts which caught my eye include:-
These Chai Snickerdoodles from Curated by Jennifer are both gluten-free and vegan. They look scrumptious!
Travel along with Pat of Mille Fiori Favoriti on her Visit to Ireland and Scotland. You can also take a trip to Napa and San Francisco with Cathy and Soho of The Life of Two Snowbirds.
Learn 15 Healthy Ways to Nix Stress from Nancy at Colors 4 Health.
Take a peek into Carol of Comfort Spring Stations’ beautiful home as she embarks on a new adventure in My Home Staged To Sell.
I love this fun No Sew Holiday Gift Bag from Creatively Beth! Beth also has a free printable Santa Countdown to Christmas Calendar available.
If you are getting as excited about Christmas baking as I am you will love Shirley of Gluten Free Easily’s collection of Cookie Recipes and Sharing Life’s Moments’ curated collection of 100 Christmas Cookie Recipes.
December 2023 Edition Featured Posts from the Hearth and Soul Community on Facebook
Elizabeth of Pine Cones shared a collection of side dishes including Wild Rice with Pecans and Cranberries – a dish I would happily eat any day of the year!
This beautiful Braided Nutella Brioche from Nora of Treat N Trick is a real show-stopper!
The Hearth and Soul Community
The Hearth and Soul Community on Facebook offers opportunities to share your content, expand your reach and connect with other community members. I would love to see even more of you there! I am also looking at ways to add value for you in this group, so please do share any suggestions with me.
You can share also posts which you have already shared here at the December 2023 Edition of Hearth and Soul in the group, to give them even greater visibility and an extra chance of being featured.
Okay, let’s go!
The Hearth and Soul Link Party – December 2023 Edition
The Hearth and Soul Link Party is held monthly, opening on the first Sunday of every month and remaining open until the 25th of the month, or until 300 entries are reached. Please share a maximum of 8 links per month here at the party. (You can share more in the Hearth and Soul Community on Facebook.)
Please share the permalink to your blog post with the December 2023 edition, not a link to the home page of your blog. Please do not link to anything except blog posts.
By submitting a post to the December 2023 edition of the link party here, you assert that you own the content and photographs. You also give me permission to share them here on the blog as well as on Pinterest, Twitter, and both my own Facebook page , The Hearth and Soul Link Party page and The Hearth and Soul Community Facebook Group.
The December 2023 edition is open until 23rd December (a slightly earlier close this month because of Christmas) so please come back as often as you like. I am excited to see what you will share this month, and look forward to seeing you for the January 2024 edition of Hearth and Soul, going live on Sunday January 7th.
Wishing you a wonderful holiday season, and looking forward to all that you will share this month!
Comments & Reviews
Shirley @ gluten free easily says
April, I’m so glad you’re baking again! I know how important it is to so many of us.
It’s always so special to meet a blogger in person that you’ve known online for a long time. What a treat for both of you!
Thanks so much for the feature of Gluten-Free Christmas Cookies You’ll Want To Make Right Now! I linked up some gingerbread cookies today plus one of the pies I made for Thanksgiving.
Thanks for hosting! Have a fabulous week and month. It’s hard to believe we’re in full-on Christmas mode now!
Shirley
April Harris says
Thank you so much for visiting and sharing, Shirley! It’s a pleasure to feature your post. It really is hard to believe how quickly the year has flown by. I hope you have a wonderful December and a very Merry Christmas.
Tea With Jennifer says
Thank you for hosting April & a very merry Christmas to you & your family.
Blessings, Jennifer
April Harris says
Thank you so much, Jennifer! I wish the same to you and yours!
Blessings x
Calypso in the Country says
Happy December and thanks for hosting!
Shelley
April Harris says
Thank you, Shelley! Happy December to you too!
Donna Reidland says
April, happy December! Hope you have a beautiful Christmas season!
April Harris says
Thank you, Donna! Wishing you a lovely month and a beautiful Christmas full of blessings.
Nancy Andres says
Thanks so much April for hosting and featuring my post “15 Healthy Ways to Nix Stress.” I am excited, honored, and grateful!
April Harris says
It’s my pleasure, Nancy! Thank you for sharing!
Laura @ Our Grand Lives says
Happy December, April! Thanks so much for hosting each month! It’s such a wonderful time of the year and I love seeing all the inspiring posts! Wishing you a blessed month ahead!
April Harris says
Thank you so much, Laura! Happy December – I wish you lots of blessings in this wonderful month as well!
Catherine Sokolowski says
Thanks so much for mentioning our trip to Napa and San Francisco! Hope you are enjoying a wonderful holiday season!
April Harris says
It’s a pleasure, Cathy! I hope your holiday season is wonderful too!
Treatntrick says
Thanks so much for hosting and sharing you wonderful recipes. Much appreciated that you have chosen my Braided Nutella Brioche as one of the features….
April Harris says
It’s a pleasure! It looks so pretty and delicious too!
Joanne says
We aren’t hosting this year weight so I even know if I’ll be baking up much of anything. Your desserts and treats all look delicious.
April Harris says
I think you should definitely bake a treat or two if you have time, Joanne 😉 Thank you for the compliment. I hope your holiday season is wonderful!
Nancy Andres says
Hi April and early holiday best wishes. My shares at the party are #96, 97, 98, and 99. Have a beautiful day and wishing all your readers a Happy and Healthy Holiday Season. Nancy Andres @ Colors 4 Health
April Harris says
Thank you so much, Nancy! I look forward to your posts. Wishing you a lovely holiday season!
Valeria Redmill says
Thanks for Hosting this Blog Hop Link Party 🙂
Have a funtastic week!
April Harris says
It’s my pleasure, Valeria, and thank you so much! I hope your week is wonderful too.
Beth says
A big THANK YOU April for including my Santa Countdown and Holly Gift Bag in your features! I wish you and yours a Happy Christmas!
April Harris says
It’s a pleasure, Beth! And thank you, Happy Christmas to you and yours as well!
Barbara Harper says
I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas season!
April Harris says
Thank you so much, Barbara! I wish you and your family a wonderful Christmas season too!
Patrick Weseman says
Thanks for hosting and those cookies look so very yummy,
April Harris says
Thank you for visiting and sharing, Patrick, and for the compliment! I hope you are having a lovely holiday season.
Paula Short says
Happy December and Merry Christmas April!
I value your friendship and hospitality hosting us every month. This community is a gift to me.
Linking up at #1
April Harris says
Thank you so much, Paula! I too value your friendship, and I really appreciate your support of Hearth and Soul. Happy December and a very Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Patty says
April, I am enjoying your blog and your projects and adventures both home and away! Your baked goods look delieious! I am also enjoying posting on your December link party! Thanks for all you do to make it a great link party!
April Harris says
Thank you so much, Patty! I hope you are having a lovely holiday season!
Patrick Weseman says
Happy Holidays to you and your family.
April Harris says
Thank you so much, Patrick. Happy Holidays to you and your family too!
Catherine Sokolowski says
Thank you for hosting your party this year. We hope you have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year!
April Harris says
It’s my pleasure, Catherine. Thank you so much for your support of Hearth and Soul. And thank you for the warm wishes. I hope you have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year too!