Welcome to The Hearth and Soul Link Party. Christmas is nearly here and this week I’m featuring last minute Christmas ideas to inspire you.
Blog posts old and new, about anything that feeds the soul, are welcome here at Hearth and Soul. This includes – but is not limited to – family, home, recipes, decorating, crafts, DIY, travel, organisation, book reviews, the arts and self improvement.
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Hearth and Soul Over The Holiday Season – An Announcement
Next week Hearth and Soul will be going live on Sunday December 23rd.
The party will be staying open over Christmas and New Year so you can add posts over the holidays. I will be popping in to share and pin, and choose featured posts.
The party will be back for a fresh start to the New Year on Monday January 7th.
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I can’t tell you how excited I am!
We’ve got a fun few weeks ahead, starting tomorrow at Highclere Castle, the Real Downton Abbey. My husband and I are attending a Champagne, Canapés and a Castle Tours evening in aid of The RAF100 Appeal. I have visited Highclere before but I have never seen the castle decorated for Christmas. I can’t wait!
I’ve been sharing some recipes that are perfect for the holidays on the blog this week.
My Aunt Dorothy’s Old Fashioned Butterscotch Squares, a treat I’ve been enjoying ever since I was a child, make a fantastic addition to any cookie tray. The work of moments, these are sure to become a family favourite!
We enjoy this Chocolate Banana Bundt Cake all year round, but I love to dress it up for Christmas. Again, it’s a quick and easy recipe , so perfect for this busy time of year. It does around 45 minutes to bake, but it looks after itself during that time, so you can get on with other things.
I know I say it a lot, but I truly appreciate your support of the Hearth and Soul Link Party! Thank you so much for visiting and sharing.
Last Minute Christmas Ideas Features
Last minute Christmas ideas features include (from top left, clockwise):-
If you still have Christmas shopping to do, Best Last Minute Gifts You Can Email or Subscribe To from Stephanie at Abbotts at Home may help!
Homemade gifts from the kitchen are always special and Shirley at Gluten Free Easily has a great collection of recipes to inspire you in Gluten-Free Cinnamon Swirl Coffee Cake and 10 Other Last Minute Gluten Free Recipes.
You can be frugal, creative and environmentally friendly as well as wrap beautiful gifts bu trying some of Mary of The Boondocks Blog’s ideas for How to Repurpose Vintage Fabric for Gift Wrapping.
Get ahead for last minute holiday entertaining and cookie trays with Wendy of The Monday Box’s recipe for Slice and Bake Shortbread – One Dough 3 Different Cookie Flavors.
What will you share this week?
The Hearth and Soul Link Party
Please link to directly to blog post URLs.
I pin and share as many posts as I can. Linking up here means you consent to me featuring your posts and photos on my blog and social media. Of course, all shares include a link back to your blog.
There is no obligation, but sharing the party on social media is very welcome, as is providing a link back to AprilJHarris.com. There are buttons at the top and bottom of this blog post to make sharing easy.
Please keep the party going by commenting on or sharing some of the other posts, and connecting with other bloggers. Thank you for making Hearth and Soul such a friendly place to share!
Comments & Reviews
April thank you for hosting and thank you for featuring my wrapping. I hope you have a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.
It’s a pleasure, Mary! Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Your Highclere event looks magical! A few years ago I went to something a little similar at Holkham Hall in Norfolk – that was amazing too. Hope it’s OK to post their link here (I’m not affiliated but wish I was!):
https://www.holkham.co.uk/events/christmas-at-holkham/make-christmas-special
And thank you, as usual, for hosting the link party.
The event at Holkham Hall looks amazing too! I’m very happy for you to post a link, no worries! If we were closer to Norfolk I would definitely look into it for this year 🙂 Maybe next year… Thank you so much for visiting and sharing 🙂
Hi April,
I just love family recipes and your Aunt Dorthy’s Butterscotch Squares look delicious! Hope you are having a great week and thanks so much for the party!
Miz Helen
Thank you so much, Miz Helen!
Oh my gosh! I can’t wait to see your castle photos!
I really hope we are allowed to take some inside as well as out…especially as it will be in the evening so no natural light. Fingers and toes crossed. I’m desperate to share 🙂
Thank you so much for hosting again this week. You always do so much for bloggers! Have a relaxing week! I am off to see some posts. Looks like a lot of inspiration tonight. Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas, Marilyn!
Thanks for hosting and I hope that you have a wonderful week. Hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas.
Thank you, Patrick! I hope you and yours have a wonderful Christmas too!
Thanks for hosting another great party this week!
My pleasure, Jan. Thank you for visiting and sharing!
April – I am so excited for you and your visit to Highclere Castle. And I can’t wait to read your stories about it! My very best wishes to you and your family for a wonderful holiday. Thank you for hosting this party every week! I will be back in January (I am taking the next few weeks “off”!).
Hi Kristine, Thank you so much! I hope you have a lovely break and that you and your family have a wonderful holiday season 🙂
Enjoy your magical visit to Downton Abbey!
And what a great idea to open the door on December 23 and leave it open for the duration!
Enjoy your break!
Thank you so much, Michele! I hope you have a wonderful Christmas too!
Have a wonderful week as you prep for Christmas April – your recipes are amazing! 🙂
Thank you so much, Ramona! Hope you have a wonderful week before Christmas too!
Thanks so much for the feature, April! Homemade food gifts are fun to make and receive. 🙂
What fun to be going to Highclere at Christmas! We always love visiting Biltmore Estate her in U.S. during Christmas. It’s a whole different experience. Can’t wait to hear your report!
This week I’m linking up my roundup of divine egg nog recipes and a fudge recipe that sounds over the top but definitely hits the spot with its rich, smoky flavor.
Merry Christmas!! Hugs,
Shirley
It’s a pleasure, Shirley! I love homemade gifts any time of year, but especially at Christmas! The Biltmore Estate is definitely on my list. I have heard great things about itl Thank you for sharing your recipes. I love egg nog, although it’s hard to find over here. It’s definitely worth making from scratch though! I’m curious about your fudge. I look forward to the recipe! Merry Christmas to you and yours, Shirley. Hugs!
Such beautiful majestic castle!
Thank you for sharing the food love around even during the holiday season.
I’ll be away during year-end holiday season too. So here’s wishing you and your family a joyous Christmas and a happy New Year.
Thank you for your support of Hearth and Soul this year! Thank you for your good wishes as well! I wish you and your family a wonderful Christmas and New Year too!
Thanks so much, April, for featuring my Slice and Bake Shortbread Cookies! Both your butterscotch squares and your gorgeous bunt cake are on my baking list! I’m really looking forward to hearing about your exciting evening at Highclere Castle. It must have been magical! Wishing you and your family a joyous, meaningful Christmas and a healthy, happy, peace filled New Year!
April, thank you for hosting. I’ve brought my slow cooker beef stew to the party, the perfect ready-when-you-are one-dish meal for this busy week. Happy December!
I’m all about easy dinners this week, Jean, and your Slow Cooker Beef Stew looks lovely! Looking forward to the recipe! Happy December to you too 🙂
April, thanks so much for hosting ♥
Thank you for visiting and sharing, Dee!