Holidays

Easy Halloween Party Food Recipes by Maggie Jackson on KTLA Morning News

Featured on TV: Last-Minute Halloween Party Food Recipe Ideas

Cooking, Holidays, kids

Imagine this: Halloween is one day away (or today!!), and you signed up to bring treats to the class party, or perhaps you offered to host your neighbors for a get-together before trick-or-treating… Or, maybe you simply want to surprise your kids with a spooky spread when they get home from school… And, you still haven’t figured out what food you’re making! AHHHH!! Last-minute party prep is scarier than Halloween movie flicks!! Look, I’ve been in these situations, too, so I get it! I’m a busy mom balancing school drop-offs/pickups, work, children’s activities, housework, marriage and volunteer commitments all while trying to squeeze in workouts and self-care… Phew! Can’t you relate?

Thankfully, my last-minute habit (some may call it “procrastination”) has made me quick and creative when it comes to pulling together fun, festive food for parties and holidays. And, thankfully, with our fab grocery stores in Southern California, like Smart & Final, there’s so many ways to make fast and festive semi-homemade food for Halloween or any themed party!

Monster Rice Krispy Treats – scroll to find the recipe!

Smart & Final sponsored a KTLA Morning News segment that I hosted about last-minute Halloween food, and I’m sharing my tips below. I have 7 of my favorite wicked Halloween party food ideas that you can pull together in no time! From dips to treats and drinks, you can create a spooktacular spread with these recipes! If you’d like to watch the full TV segment featuring these recipes, scroll to the bottom of this blog post.

Frankenstein Layered Dip with Spooky Tortilla Crisps

Frankenstein Layered Dip and Spooky Tortilla Crisps

This is a spooktacular twist on a crowd-pleasing layered dip! Mexican food is one of my favorites, and this dip combines all the best “South of the Border” flavors with sour cream, taco seasoning, pico de gallo, cheese, guacamole and black beans. Make this recipe even more frightfully fun with Halloween-themed tortilla crisps created with spooky-themed cookie cutters, flour tortillas, butter and garlic salt. This recipe is available on my blog here.

Candy Corn Fruit Cups

Candy Corn Fruit Cups (Credit: cozycadence.com)

Here’s a recipe that’s semi-healthy, pretty-looking and SO EASY to put together! To create these candy-corn inspired fruit cocktail cups, use a clear cup and simply layer yellow pineapple on the bottom, mandarin oranges in the middle and whipped cream on top. Add a sprinkle of real candy corn (optional), and voila! Yummy, sweet candy corn fruit cups that the whole family will love!

My Candy Corn Fruit Parfait (without the candy corn candy topping)

Nutella Banana Mummy Wraps

Nutella Banana Mummy Wraps (Credit: ourbestbites.com)

Here’s a treat that’s as adorable as it is spooky: the Nutella Banana Mummy Wraps (credit: Our Best Bites). Ripe bananas wrapped snugly in buttery crescent-dough, layered with creamy Nutella and topped with candy eyes that peer out from their “bandages” — it’s the perfect mix of playful and delicious. With minimal fuss, you’ve got a quick assembly that invites kids to help (who doesn’t love wrapping their “mummies”?), and the bake time means you’ll have fresh pastries just as your little ghouls arrive for trick-or-treating or Halloween party. Serve them warm, let the chocolate and banana mingle in every bite, and watch your gathering light up with “oohs” and “ahhs.” For the complete recipe, visit Our Best Bites here.

Cheesy Crescent Witch Hats

Cheesy Crescent Witch Hats (Credit: Macy Blackwell)

These Cheesy Crescent Witch Hats are the perfect savory spell for your Halloween spread! 🧙‍♀️✨ With only 3 ingredients — buttery crescent rolls, gooey melted cheese, and a couple spooky pepperoni stars — they’re delightfully simple to make yet look like something straight out of a witch’s kitchen. Kids will love helping roll the dough into “pointy hats,” and adults will appreciate that they’re warm, flaky, and ready in minutes. Serve them as a snack, side, or appetizer at your Halloween party — they’re frightfully festive, crowd-pleasing, and guaranteed to disappear faster than you can say abracadabra!

All you need is a can of Pillsbury Original Crescent Rolls, three mozzarella cheese sticks and pepperoni slices. Use a mini cookie cutter to cut the pepperoni into spellbinding stars and moons.

Cheesy Crescent Witch Hats Recipe Directions:

  1. Unroll crescent dough on a baking sheet.
  2. Cut cheese sticks into thirds, and place each of the small cheese stick pieces in the middle of the wide base of each crescent dough triangle.
  3. Roll the base of each hat over the cheese to cover completely. Pinch the sides of the hat to seal.
  4. Cut pepperonis into mini stars and moons, and place on top of hats.
  5. Bake at 400° for 10 minutes.
  6. Serve with ranch, marinara or pizza sauce for dipping!

Graveyard Trifle

My Graveyard Trifle on KTLA Morning News

This Graveyard Trifle is a frightfully fun and decadent no-bake dessert that’s guaranteed to steal the show at any Halloween gathering! Layers of rich, moist chocolate bundt cake (I purchased two at the bakery section at Smart & Final), creamy chocolate pudding, and fluffy whipped cream create a deliciously spooky trifle cake, while the top transforms into an edible “graveyard.” Milano cookies and Hershey bars serve as tombstones, ghostly marshmallow Peeps rise from the “dirt,” and candy pumpkins add the perfect festive touch. It’s the ultimate combination of playful presentation and irresistible flavor — easy to assemble, fun for kids to decorate, and a total crowd-pleaser for anyone with a sweet tooth. A dessert so good, it’s to die for!

Tools needed for Graveyard Trifle:

Ingredients:

Directions:

  1. Cut bundt cakes into small bite-size pieces. Save a small portion to crumble for the trifle’s topping at the end.
  2. In a large trifle bowl, add half of the bundt cake pieces. Next, layer 10 Snack Pack cups of chocolate pudding, then half of the large Cool Whip container. Repeat layers once more: cake, pudding, Cool Whip.
  3. Use saved crumbled cake pieces to create “dirt” on the last layer of Cool Whip. Make a graveyard scene on top with decorations like Milano cookies, Hershey chocolate bars, Peep marshmallow ghosts and candy pumpkins.
  4. Serve immediately. Store leftovers in refrigerator.

Monster Rice Krispies Treats

Monster Rice Krispy Treats

These Monster Rice Krispies Treats are my kids’ favorite! You can make your own Rice Krispy Treats or cut corners, like I did, and use store-bought. These are so easy, it’s scary! Your kids will love helping you make them! Plus, I love that the process of making them does not have to be perfect. Odd-looking monsters is what makes these treats perfect for a ghoulish Halloween party!

Ingredients:

  • Large Box of Rice Krispy Treats (includes 40 individually wrapped treats)
  • Four (4) cups white chocolate
  • Four (4) different colors of food coloring (I used orange, green, purple and blue)
  • Sprinkles (use the same colors as chosen food coloring)
  • A variety of different sized candy eyeballs

Directions:

  1. Unwrap 10 Rice Krispy Treats while melting 1 cup of white chocolate in a microwave safe bowl. Stir until smooth. Add a couple drops of food coloring of choice to chocolate and stir until color is completely well mixed.
  2. Dip one end of the Rice Krispy Treat into the colored chocolate. Dip each treat slightly different to make each coating look odd and spooky. Place dipped treat on parchment paper.
  3. Add a variety of candy eyeballs to each treat. Get creative with different sizes and 1-3 eyeballs per treat to make them look creepy.
  4. Make “hair” on the monster treat by adding sprinkles to the tops of the treats.
  5. Repeat steps 1-4 for the other three food coloring colors.
  6. Allow treats to dry for 30 minutes and serve immediately. Leftovers can be stored in a sealed container for several days.

3-Ingredient Halloween Punch

3-ingredient Halloween Punch (credit: iheartnaptime.net)

This Halloween punch from the I Heart Naptime blog is as easy as it is eerie, and it’s sure to be your new go-to. With just three ingredients (chilled orange soda or Sprite, pineapple juice, and scoops of orange sherbet), this recipe brings bright, spooky color and fizzy fun in minutes. The vivid orange hue fits perfectly into any Halloween spread, and the sherbet floating on top adds a playful, kid-friendly float effect that will have little trick-or-treaters and grown-ups alike reaching for seconds. What I love most: it’s practically no-stress — prep the soda and juice ahead of time, scoop in the sherbet right before guests arrive, and you’ve got a drink that looks festive, tastes delicious, and leaves you free to chat and celebrate instead of hiding in the kitchen.

Ingredients:

  • 1 (2-liter) bottle Sprite or Orange Soda, chilled
  • 1 cup pineapple juice , chilled
  • 1 pint orange sherbet
  • Optional decoration: Plastic eyeballs

Directions:

  • In a punch bowl or pitcher, stir together the Sprite and pineapple juice. Scoop the sherbet into the bowl just before serving.
  • Place plastic eyeballs or other decoration on top, if desired. Serve immediately.

Halloween Recipes on TV!

Watch all these recipes in action during my KTLA Morning News TV segment about family-friendly, last-minute Halloween party food below.

I’d love to hear what you think of these Halloween recipes! Leave a comment below, or connect with me on Instagram and TikTok!

XO Maggie

Halloween Party Food - Frankenstein Layered Dip

Halloween Party Food Recipe: Frankenstein Layered Taco Dip with Spooky Tortilla Crisps

Cooking, Holidays

Get Spooky & Satisfy with Frankenstein Layered Dip & Halloween Tortilla Crisps 🎃

As the leaves outside turn golden, the air crisp, and the pumpkin-candles flicker, it’s time to bring a little themed magic into your get-togethers. Enter the show-stopper: the Frankenstein Layered Dip with Halloween Tortilla Crisps (thanks to Ralphs for the inspiration!) — a booo-tiful, effortless, crowd-pleasing recipe perfect for families, Halloween gatherings, and friendly potlucks. For the complete step-by-step recipe, please scroll to the bottom of this post.

Why it’s a winner for families and get-togethers

  • Easy to throw together: The recipe lists a prep time of just about 35 minutes and a cook/assembly time of around 8 minutes (total approx. 43 minutes). Perfect for squeezing in after the kids’ homework or while you’re prepping other dishes.
  • Layered fun for little helpers: Kids can help build the “Franken-look” layers — spreading the sour cream/cream-cheese base, layering pico de gallo, shredded cheese, guacamole, beans … it becomes a hands-on mini-project.
  • Festive and thematic without being fussy: With a clever Frankenstein-inspired presentation (think green guacamole “skin”, black olive “bolts”, bean “scars” or whatever you choose), it brings Halloween décor to the table without requiring a twenty-step gourmet process.
  • Feeds a crowd: The recipe serves about 24 (so you’ve got more than enough for neighbours, trick-or-treaters, and family members alike) according to the original listing (Ralphs)
  • Kid-friendly & adjustable: You can dial the spice up or down, skip or swap ingredients, and still maintain the layered visual and flavor impact.
  • Great for mingling: One dish everyone can graze on while chatting, costumed kids dart about, and adults sip something seasonal. No one stuck in the kitchen.
Frankenstein Inspired Taco Dip for Halloween Parties

How to turn it into a Halloween hit

  • Presentation is everything: Use a rectangular or oval dish and layer in the “Frankenstein colours”. Spread the sour cream/cream cheese mix as a base (that’s the “face”). On top, layer green guacamole (the “skin”) and then arrange black olives to look like hair or bolts. Maybe a drizzle of taco-seasoning-spiced sour cream to look like “scars”.
  • Use themed chips: Create Halloween tortilla chips by using cookie cutters to make pumpkins, bats and ghosts out of tortillas (recipe below). If you don’t have time to make those, serve the dip with green spinach tortilla chips, or black corn chips, or even pumpkin-shaped tortilla chips if you find them. Adds extra fun for the kids.
  • Add spooky bite markers: Place little plastic picks shaped like skulls or use toothpicks with mini flags labeled “Bite the monster!” to make it interactive.
  • Pair it with a family-friendly drink: Maybe a “Witch’s Brew” punch or just sparkling apple cider in orange cups—this dish hits the savoury snack spot, so you can keep beverages simple.
  • Let the kids get creative: After you’ve done the main layers, let each child add one extra decoration on top—a cherry-tomato “eye”, a slice of jalapeño “mouth”, etc. Great for bonding and gives them a sense of ownership.
  • Prep ahead: Because the layered dip is simple, you can assemble most of it earlier in the day (or even the night before) and just finish any fresh toppings just before guests arrive. That means more time to greet people, help with costumes, and enjoy the moment.

Final spooky bite

So, whether you’re hosting a mini Halloween party, prepping for costume night, or simply want a snack that says festive + family + easy, the Frankenstein Layered Dip is your go-to. It brings flavor, visual fun, and zero fuss.

Photo credit: Ralphs.com

RECIPE: Frankenstein Layered Taco Dip with Spooky Tortilla Crisps

Serves: 24 | Prep Time: Minutes | Cook Time: 8 minutes

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces Sour Cream
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1 tablespoon taco seasoning mix
  • 2 cups pico de gallo
  • 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend
  • 2 cups prepared guacamole
  • 2 large black olives
  • 2⁄3 cup black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 8 (10”) flour tortillas
  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • Garlic salt, to taste

Directions

  1. Combine sour cream, cream cheese and taco seasoning in a bowl until well blended.
  2. In an 8”x 8” casserole dish evenly spread sour cream mixture, top with a layer each of pico, cheese and guacamole. Arrange black olive and black beans to create Frankenstein’s hair, eyes, brows and mouth. Refrigerate until serving.
  3. Heat oven to 400°F.
  4. Cut tortillas with a 2½”-3” Halloween themed cookie cutter. Place on baking sheets; brush with melted butter on one side. Flip brush with remaining butter. Sprinkle with garlic salt. Bake 6-8 minutes until browned and crispy; cool.
  5. Serve tortilla crisps with layered dip.
  6. Refrigerate leftover dip. Store crisps at room temperature in an airtight container.

This recipe was featured in my KTLA Morning News segment about easy Halloween party food. You can watch the segment below and find more recipes on my blog here.

Watch Halloween Party Food Ideas on KTLA Morning News in Los Angeles below!

Do you have any favorite Halloween party food recipes? Let me know in the comments below! Don’t forget to connect with me on Instagram and TikTok!

XO Maggie

Last-Minute Valentine’s Party Ideas for Kids!

Holidays, kids

I’ve always appreciated Valentine’s Day, but I love the holiday more now that I have kids. My son especially loves Valentine’s Day and has declared it as his second favorite holiday after Christmas. Every year, we have so much fun making Valentine’s crafts, heart-shaped treats and finding thoughtful ways to tell our family, teachers and friends that we love them.

This year, Valentine’s Day falls on a Friday, and our school district has the President’s Day holiday (this year, President’s Day is Feb. 17 — it always the third Monday in February) listed as a 4-day weekend, instead of the typical 3-day weekend that I grew up with. So, the kids will be home for Valentine’s Day! Curious about how we should spend the holiday, I decided we’ll host a last-minute mini Valentine’s Day party. As I’m typing this, we’re only two days away from Valentine’s Day, so we need food, decor and activities that we can pull together fast and easy!

Below, I’ve listed my favorite ideas for hosting a last-minute Valentine’s Day party for kids, including heart-shaped food, festive decor and love-themed crafts and games! I also shared these ideas on KTLA Morning News – scroll to the bottom to watch the clip!

Sharing my last-minute Valentine’s Party ideas for kids on KTLA Morning News

VALENTINE’S DAY FOOD FOR KIDS

Heart Shaped Mini Tortilla Pizzas

I love that these pizzas are only three ingredients – so easy! Thanks to TheBakerMama for this cute recipe!

Photo courtesy of @thebakermama

Photo courtesy of @thebakermama

Ingredients:

  • 12 street taco size tortillas
  • 12 slices mozzarella cheese
  • 36 pepperoni slices
  • 1/2 cup prepared pizza or marina sauce, for serving

Directions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
  2. Cut each tortillas into a heart shape with a 4-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter or shape the tortillas into hearts with kitchen scissors. Place the heart-shaped tortillas on a baking sheet and bake for 5-8 minutes until they start to lightly brown and crisp around the edges. 
  3. While the tortillas are baking, cut slices of mozzarella cheese with the same heart-shaped cookie cutter you used to cut the tortillas.
  4. Use a mini (1-inch) heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut the pepperoni into heart shapes or shape the pepperoni into hearts with kitchen scissors.
  5. Once the heart-shaped tortillas have baked, place a slice of heart-shaped mozzarella cheese onto each tortilla and then 3 mini heart-shaped pepperonis.
  6. Return the topped tortillas to the oven and bake for about 5 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and starting to turn golden brown in spots.
  7. Serve with pizza or marinara sauce for dipping.

Deviled Strawberries

This is an adorable healthy-ish treat from one of my favorite TV chef Katie Lee Biegel. The deviled strawberries’ filling is the same recipe – marshmallow creme and cream cheese – used for fruit dip at parties when I was growing up in the 90s. Top your deviled strawberries with coconut, chocolate shavings or sprinkles. Find the full recipe here.

Photo courtesy of Food Network, Katie Lee Biegel

Assorted Treats from Cheryl’s Cookies and 1800 Flowers

It’t not a Valentine’s Day party without heart-shaped treats and chocolate, of course! Cheryl’s Cookies and 1800 Flowers has you covered with a large variety of beautiful and playful treats perfect for a kids Valentine’s Day party! Plus, Cheryl’s and 1800 Flowers offer same day or next day delivery in many zip codes throughout the United States. This is a perfect last-minute option for treats when hosting a party. Here are three of my favorite Valentine’s treats for kids from Cheryls.com and 1800flowers.com:

Cheryl’s Cookies Valentine Gift Tin Treats Assortment – This cute heart cookie tin comes with 15 snack size butter shortbread heart cookies plus 17 other different treats, like raspberry galettes, buttercream frosted red heart cutout cookies, cheesecake flavored buttercream frosted raspberry cookie, gourmet drizzled chocolate pretzel and a raspberry crumb bar, so all your party guests can choose their favorite goodies. Purchase this cookie tin here.

Photo courtesy of Cheryls.com

1800 Flowers Fleur de Chocolate Belgian Chocolate Roses – This box of chocolate roses not only looks stunning on your party table, it’s fun to eat while letting each guest pick their favorite rose! This also could be a fabulous hostess gift! Purchase the beautiful chocolate rose box here.

Photo courtesy of 1800flowers.com

Disney Princess Explosion Box with Spinning Music Stand – Add some excitement to your Valentine’s treat table with this show-stopping explosion music box that’s perfect for a Disney princess fan! When your kids open the box, they’ll feel completely enchanted by the flurry of bright butterflies and a delicious strawberry shortcake topped with an edible bow. Purchase this fun music box with strawberry cake here.

Photo courtesy of 1800flowers.com

VALENTINE’S DAY DECOR FOR KIDS

Florals from 1800 Flowers

Flowers are an iconic symbol of Valentine’s Day, and 1800Flowers.com is the floral and gift authority with 49 years of helping consumer’s celebrate the love-filled holiday! In fact, this year they plan to deliver 24 million stems with 15.5 million of them being roses! They have a curated collection of fun gifts and floral bouquets that are perfect celebrating with your littlest sweethearts and are available for next-day and same-day delivery on Valentine’s Day. A favorite arrangement of mine is the Fields of Europe Romance Bouquet. This vibrant mixed bouquet includes a variety of pink and red blooms. On special request, the blooms can feature a whimsical heart banner that says “Happy Valentine’s Day.” I also adore this Love Pup Arrangement for kids, which includes a plush puppy! Arrangements from 1800 Flowers are designed and delivered by a local florist in your community. If you’re looking to support a local business, this is a great way to do that!

Photo courtesy of 1800flowers.com

Photo Courtesy of 1800flowers.com

Heart Shaped Table Runner

Sprucing up your dining table for Valentine’s Day is easier than you think with foam paper! I love using foam paper for easy crafts, like the heart-shaped table runner. I used pre-cut foam hearts, but you could also cut them yourself from regular foam paper. You could always use construction paper to create a similar table runner, but I prefer foam paper because I think it looks nicer, and it lasts longer!

Photo Courtesy of ANightOwlBlog.com

Tissue Paper Wreath

This was a craft my mother taught me in the 90s, and now I love that I get to share it with my children! To make this wreath, cut a large heart out of a piece of cardboard. You’ll also need Elmer’s liquid glue, a pencil with an eraser, and LOTS of squares of tissue paper – preferably in red and pink Valentine’s colors! If you want to hang it inside or outside, attach a ribbon or decorative pipe cleaner as a hook on the back of the wreath once complete.

Photo Courtesy of Creative Station by Baker Ross

VALENTINE’S DAY ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS

XO Tic-Tac-Toe

In my opinion, there’s not a more fitting kids’ game for Valentine’s Day than tic-tac-toe because of its X’s and O’s! I used foam paper and decorative craft tape to make one version of a tic-tac-toe board and painted wooden hearts for another. You can create X’s and O’s out of pipe cleaners (bonus points if you shape the O into a heart!) or use different colored candies for opposing players. I used Dove milk chocolate hearts for one player and Dove dark chocolate hearts for another.

Valentine’s Themed Tumble Tower

Put a love-themed spin on the classic tumble tower game! I got this cute idea from Vanessa at the Tried and True Creative Blog. Jazz up your blocks with some red hearts, then write Valentine’s themed instructions on each block. Every time your child pulls out a block, they have to follow the instructions. Blocks could say, “Show us how dogs say I love you,” “Give me Eskimo kisses,” or “What do you love most about yourself?” I’ve seen many different versions of Tumble Towers available on Amazon and at Target, Dollar Tree and craft stores, and I used paint pens to write on the blocks.

Photo Courtesy of TriedandTrueBlog.com

Photo Courtesy of TriedandTrueBlog.com

Melissa & Doug Heart Themed Crafts

Sometimes, we don’t have the time or energy to make our own crafts, so I adore Melissa & Doug for helping out with their heart themed craft kits. Melissa & Doug has long been one of my favorite children’s toy and activity brands. From classic wooden toys to realistic pretend play sets, Melissa & Doug products inspire creative thinking through screen-free, open-ended play. They intentionally make well-crafted toys that are developed with care to be passed down from generation to generation or shared family to family. Here’s some of their great heart-themed craft products to consider adding to your Valentine’s Day party:

Created By Me! Heart Beads Wooden Bead Kit

Created by Me! Heart Box Wooden Craft Kit

Wooden Stamp Set – Friendship

All these crafts are so fun to do with friends and guaranteed to last!

Photo Courtesy of Melissa & Doug

Watch the full TV segment featuring all these ideas on YouTube, linked below!

What other ideas do you have for a kids Valentine’s Day party? Share in the comments below or connect with me on Instagram at @maggiehjackson.

5 Easter Basket Ideas for Kids of All Ages

Holidays, kids, Lifestyle

AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some of this post contains affiliate links for the products I use and LOVE. If you take action on these links (like clicking, buying, etc.), I may receive compensation at no cost to you. As always, all opinions are my own, and I’ll only recommend what I truly like and recommend. For more information about affiliates and your privacy, view our Terms & Conditions page here.

Orange color themed Easter gift basket for teens

My mother was the best at making holidays magical when I was a kid, and I have such fond memories of Easter Sunday morning. The night before Easter, my parents would help us set out carrots for the Easter bunny to munch on as a thank you for stopping by our house. We’d wake up early, run downstairs, and see our pastel wicker Easter basket filled with goodies! Some of the top Easter basket filler gifts that I remember were coloring books, a Barbie doll, a VHS of “Beauty and the Beast,” a giant chocolate bunny and Cadbury Creme Eggs. Man, those creamy, chocolatey eggs are GOOD!

These days, I hear of parents giving some outrageous gifts to their kids for Easter, like concert tickets and bikes. When I was growing up, Easter basket gifts were never as big as Christmas gifts. Whatever fit into our small baskets is what we got, and I’d like to keep that tradition for my kids. I try to make the gifts even more practical and fun with themed baskets! By sticking to a theme, parents keep from overspending on unnecessary trinkets and toys. I also love a practical theme, like a “summer” themed basket to prep kids for their summer activities and trips. If your kids are growing like weeds, like mine, then they’ve likely outgrown last year’s swimsuit, and they could probably use a swim goggles upgrade along with some summer vacation road trip activities and crafts to keep them entertained while at home on a hot summer day.

Yep, themed baskets are the way to go, and I have 5 fabulous ideas to share for you to recreate for your kids Easter baskets! Below are my recommendations for Easter basket theme ideas for kids aged newborn to teen!

Baby’s First Easter Basket

An adorably personalized basket for newborns and infants celebrating their first Easter!

A personalized baby’s first Easter themed gift basket from Personalization Mall

There’s nothing more precious than creating memories around your baby’s first Easter, and one way to make the memories last forever is with personalized keepsake Easter gifts from Personalization Mall, like a bib and diaper cover. Personalization Mall provides thousands of unique keepsakes that can be delivered quickly for Easter and beyond. They are the go-to resource for creating personalized gifts that are perfect for celebrating Easter with your kids – especially if it’s your baby’s first holiday! Give baby something to love with a personalized security blanket, stuffy and personalized book, too! For Easter 2024, be sure to place your order by March 19 for the personalized book in order for it to arrive in time for Easter, as this item takes 7-10 days to personalize and ship. For all other items, you can order up until March 29 at 9 am PST to receive in time for the holiday. But, if you order by March 25 you will save big on shipping!

Here’s what to put in the basket:

Personalized White Bunny Easter Basket Liner & Natural Basket with Folding Handle
Baby’s First Easter Personalized Bunny Security Blanket
First Easter Embroidered Diaper Cover
Baby’s First Easter Personalized Baby Bib
Personalized 16″ Plush First Easter Bunny
The Easter Bunny is Coming To Where I Live Personalized Storybook

Busy Toddler Easter Basket

A basket filled with age-appropriate arts and crafts from Michaels is sure to keep your toddler busy and creative this Easter season!

  • Busy toddler themed Easter basket with lots of activities and crafts from Michaels

I’ve been a fan of shopping at Michaels for holidays for my whole life. Seriously, I’d go with my mom when I was in preschool to buy craft supplies to make our July 4th t-shirts and paint our Keds tennis shoes! Now, Michaels has more than ever, and it’s your one-stop-shop to make festive and creative Easter baskets for your kids, including stuffers, baskets, Easter grass and decorative cellophane wrapping! I love how many options Michaels has for fun and easy crafts for little kids. Create the perfect Easter basket for your busy toddler with the products below:

Large White Decorative Basket with Liner by Ashland®
PEEPS® Marshmallow Scented Play Sand Set, 10ct.
Color In Play Pets Bunny by Creatology™ Easter
Easter Egg Shaped Crayons by Creatology™, 6ct.
Easter Bunny Motif Velvet Poster Kit by Creatology™
Easter Pastel Bunny Shape Bead Kit by Creatology™
10.5″ Gray Plush Easter Bunny by Creatology™
Easter Multi-Character Box of Crafts Activity Kit by Creatology™
Easter Bunnies Pom Pom Craft Kit
Pastel Polka Dot Cello Wrap by Celebrate It™
Pongee Stripes Ribbon by Celebrate It® Easter
Iridescent Easter grass

Summer Themed Easter Basket

A practical basket to get your kids ready for summer activities and trips!

A summer themed Easter basket for kids from Maisonette including swimsuits, goggles, egg and bunny shaped chalk, finger crayons, outdoor toys and “seed pops” for your little one to garden!

Maisonette is one of my most favorite online marketplaces for kids apparel, toys, gifts and home decor, because everything they sell is unique and special. Maisonette is your one-stop shop for the best baby and kids products from around the globe! With the warmer seasons right around the corner, Maisonette has all the essentials you need to get your mini ready for Spring and Summer. Whether you’re staying home, taking a vacation, or gearing up for camp, Maisonette is your online destination for quality products of every kind for the little ones in your life; plus, inspiration and intel that’ll make your shopping experience an easy one! For last minute Easter baskets, outfits, activities and decor select 2-day shipping at checkout to make sure you’re Easter Sunday ready. Here’s what to buy to create your child’s summer themed Easter basket:

Seersucker Easter Bunny Bucket, Pink
Seersucker Easter Bunny Bucket, Blue
Food Grade Silicon Beach Bucket Set
Pollinator Seed Pop Trio
Bunny’s 6 Eggs Handmade Chalk
Spring Watering Can Activity Toy
Big Little Universe Finger Crayons
Bling20 Cake Pop Goggles
Bling20 Fish N Chips Goggles
Pacific Blue Stripe Boardie
Pacific Blue Stripe Crossover One Piece

Tween or Teen Beauty Basket

Your pre-teen or teenager will love these age-appropriate beauty and self-care products from Ulta Beauty!

Lots of beauty and self-care goodies for this Easter basket from Ulta Beauty!

You’ve probably heard that pre-teen skincare is all the rage, so if you have a middle or high school aged kiddo, they’ll love a beauty themed Easter basket! Ulta Beauty has all the best products to introduce your beauty and self-care obsessed kiddo to age-appropriate skincare and makeup. Plus, many of the products come in bright spring colors, so the aesthetic of your basket will be perfect for Easter! Consider all these great skincare, makeup and nail polish ideas for your beauty basket:

Ulta Beauty Electric City Eyeshadow Palette
Ulta Beauty Paradise Pout Lip Plumping Lip Gloss
Ulta Beauty Beach Day Jelly Eyeshadow
Ulta Beauty Flamingo Flush Blush Duo
e.l.f. Cosmetics Suntouchable! Whoa Glow Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sunscreen
af94 Acid Patch Salicylic Acid Pimple Patches
Beauty Blender MAKE A SPLASH Blending Duo
Bubble Rise and Shine Brightening Kit
Sally Hansen Insta Dri x HERSHEY’S KISSES Nail Polish Quad Pack

Favorite Color Themed Basket

Surprise your child with an Easter basket filled with goodies of their favorite color!

Pink themed Easter basket with gum, Starbucks pink drink, holiday Lip Smackers, lip mask and Easter candy!
An orange color themed Easter gift basket – great for older kids!

Is it just me, or are older kids so hard to shop for? It seems like all they want is gift cards, which takes the fun out of gifting, in my opinion. For an easy Easter basket idea for teenager, college kid, or even your spouse, make a basket filled with items that are their favorite color. This basket idea is also relatively affordable, as you can buy lots of colorful treats at the dollar store, Target, Walmart or Amazon. Here’s what I bought for an orange color themed basket that I put together:

Assorted Easter Bamboo Basket by Creatology™
Mini Toy Basketball
Cheetos – 3.5 ounce bag
Lume Whole Body Invisible Cream Tube Deodorant
artnaturals Vitamin C Serum
Kinder Joy Easter Chocolates
Reese’s Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Bunny Easter Candy

I’d love to hear what type of Easter basket you’re putting together for your children! Let me know in the comments below, and don’t forget to follow me on Instagram and TikTok for more fun family-friendly ideas!

XO Maggie

Personalized Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas for Kids, Their Friends and Teachers

Holidays, kids

I’ve always loved Valentine’s Day, but when I was a kid growing up the 90s, it felt limiting and sad. Like, why do only couples get to celebrate “the day of love?!” I always had so much anticipation leading up to the holiday only to be let down that it wasn’t necessarily designed for little 7-year-old me. Sure, we had class parties and passed out Valentine’s cards, but it still always felt like the main focus was on romantic couples rather than ALL the people we love.

Then, there came the anti-Valentine’s Day movement when I was in my early 20’s where people dedicated the day to NOT celebrating romance and instead glorified being single. This also felt sad to me. The intent felt like it was coming from a negative place, so I never felt comfortable going out for a night on the town with my single friends celebrating NOT being in love. Valentine’s is supposed to be about all the positivity of LOVE!

Next came the GALentine’s fad in the mid 2010’s, and I loved this trend then and now! Finally, we’re expanding Valentine’s Day to love beyond romantic couples, and we’re sharing love with friends that matter so much to us! Every year, I do a fun little event with girlfriends to celebrate how much we love each other. Gosh, where would I be without the love and support of my gal pals?!

Then, I had children, and it only seemed right that I share my love of Valentine’s Day with them, too! So, in our house, we’ve made a point to celebrate Valentine’s Day as a day full of love for our family and everybody we love! Our kids still get to watch mommy and daddy go on a date and celebrate Valentine’s Day the old-fashioned way (which I feel is important), but we also make time to say and show how much we love each other as a family. And, we share our love with our friends and teachers, too! In our house, there’s never too much love, and it’s important to tell those who we care about how much we love them!

As part of our family’s Valentine’s Day tradition, I love to get small gifts for the children. I know some of you may be rolling your eyes thinking that I’ve fallen victim to another “Hallmark holiday” and consumer capitalism, but don’t freak out… these gifts are nothing like Christmas! They’re just small gestures that say, “I’m thinking of and love you!”

The small Valentine’s gift baskets I gave my kids last year

Another part of our family tradition is taking the time to put together gifts for our children’s friends, family and teachers. It’s so fun to hear what they love about each of their friends and help them pick out gifts for their grandparents and teachers.

I hope you’ll consider joining us in our new way of celebrating Valentine’s Day with everyone! Below, I’ve put together some fun gift ideas for kids, their friends, family and teachers! This year, I’m doing all personalized gifts by purchasing items that can be engraved or monogrammed. There’s just something so much more special about a personalized gift! It feels so thoughtful. Plus, they become keepsakes!

Valentine’s Day Gifts for Kids

Small gift baskets are my go-to for Valentine’s Day. Remember, this is not Christmas, so you don’t need to overdo it! My best recommendation is to stick to a practical theme, so you have a goal in mind and don’t overspend on frivolous toys and candy. For example, if you have a spring break beach vacation coming up, gift your chlid a beach tote filled with beach goodies, like a swimsuit, towel, sand toys, etc. Think of your child’s personality and what they like to do. If you have a budding artist in your house, make them a gift basket filled with art supplies.

For this year’s Valentine’s Day gifts for our kids, I’m turning to Personalization Mall, because they have hundreds of unique gifts you can personalize and use to create theme gift baskets. Here are some of my favorite gift baskets (or in this case, bags and buckets) ideas!

Beach-Goers Gift Bag – Put all these items into the striped beach bag, and you’re all set for your upcoming spring break vacation or summer! For even more fun, add a swimsuit, goggles and beach snacks!

Classic Stripe Personalized Terry Cloth Beach Bag- Large

I Dig You Personalized Beach Pail & Shovel

Classic Stripe Personalized Beach Towel

Vibrant Name Personalized Water Bottle

Sous Chef’s Gift Bucket – If you have a little one who loves helping out in the kitchen, he/she will adore their own personalized chef’s apron, hat and utensils! Add this personalized pizza puzzle for a fun foodie touch! Put everything in an adorable custom treat bucket that can be used year after year!

Chef In Training Personalized Kid’s Apron

Chef In Training Personalized Kid’s Chef Hat

Hearts Personalized Kids Dinnerware

You Have a Pizza My Heart Personalized Round Puzzle

Hugs & Kisses Treat Bucket

Aspiring Artists Gift Bucket – Your little artist will love coloring and painting crafts personalized with their name while wearing this craft smock!

Art Time Personalized Kid’s Craft Apron

Valentine’s Day Personalized Coloring Book

Paint It! Personalized Coloring Canvas Prints

Just For Him Personalized Pencil Box

A Little Treat Bucket Metal Bucket-Large

Construction Lovers Bucket – If your little love can’t get enough diggers and bulldozers, consider building him/her a bucket filled with construction toys and gifts.

I Dig You Personalized Bucket-Large

Construction Crew Personalized Kids Hat

I Dig You Sweatshirt

I Dig You Socks

Melissa & Doug Personalized Tool Kit

Valentine’s Day Gifts for Kids’ Family

There’s no more precious gift than a photo of your kids, and Shutterbugs Photoshoots in LA has Valentine’s themed set-ups for your little loves! Founded by local mom, Rachel Nomann, Shutterbugs puts a unique spin on classic studio photography by capturing a variety of headshots showcasing your children’s personality in a monochromatic style. Shutterbugs is offering three mini photo shoot dates for special Valentine’s Day themed photos – January 28, January 31 and February 1 – but you can book a session with Rachel year-round, too! The Valentine’s Day Mini Sessions are 10-15 minutes per child for $100, and you’ll receive 5-7 black and white high-resolution images per child. Regular photo sessions are $200 per child and include 15-30+ high-resolution images of your child. I did a regular Shutterbugs photo session last year with my two kiddos, and we have used these photos several times as gifts for grandparents and friends, in addition to printing them for art on our wall at home. For larger wall prints, Rachel recommends using Smallwood Home. For standard prints both large or small, she recommends Shutterfly, Minted, or Artifact Uprising. To book a Valentine’s Mini Session or Regular Session with Shutterbugs Photoshoots, visit the link in Rachel’s Instagram @shutterbugs_photoshoots, or email littleshutterbugs@gmail.com.

Class Valentine’s Day Cards

I get nostalgic every year helping my kids making Valentine’s cards for their classmates. What a fun tradition! This year, I wanted to do something a bit more special! Instead of buying whatever character-themed cards were left on the shelves at Target, we decided to create our own personalized class Valentine’s cards with Minted. I love that Minted has hundreds of cards to choose from, and you can personalize each card with your preferred colors, shapes and messaging. This was a perfect excuse to use our Shutterbugs Photoshoots images, too! If you don’t want to use a photo, there’s so many fun cards with cute Valentine’s Day puns or games, like word searches and mazes. I also love that there’s some cards that encourage giving small toys and snacks rather than candy. We ended up choosing few different cards to give to our friends at school and at other activities, like tee ball and music class. We’re looking forward to giving our friends the cards you see below!

You Color My World Valentine’s Cards

You Color My World Stickers

Crayola Crayons Party Favor Pack

Just Another Cheezy Valentine Cards

Just Another Cheezy Valentine Stickers

Cheez-It Cheese Crackers Variety Pack

Happy Heart Day Photo Card

Happy Heart Day Custom Stickers

Jumbo Hearts Photo Card

Jumbo Hearts Custom Stickers

Wonderful Words Cards

Make class Valentine’s Day cards with us!

Gifts for Kids’ Teachers

Teachers need ALL the love on Valentine’s Day! After all, they take great care into loving and teaching our children every day! Instead of gifting your child’s teacher the typical chocolates or flowers this Valentine’s Day, I recommend giving something personal and useful! The best place for personalized gifts in LA? The Monogrammed Home in San Marino! And, if you don’t live in LA, they ship! This adorable boutique has a large variety of thoughtful upscale gifts that can be engraved or monogrammed. I love the idea of giving teachers tote bags filled with desk supplies and other teacher essentials, like a cosmetics bag, key chain, etc. It’s also fun to make sure all the items are red and pink for Valentine’s Day! Below are some fabulous teacher gift ideas from The Monogrammed Home. Make sure you get all your orders in by February 2, so that you’ll get them monogrammed in time for Valentine’s Day! Shopping from here also means you’ll be supporting a small local mom-owned business! LOVE!

Teachers Rule Notepad

Gogo Keychain

Acrylic Catchall

Travel Tumbler

Medium Boat Tote

Screen Cleaning Towelettes

I’d love to hear about how you plan to spend Valentine’s Day in the comments below! For more product recommendations and lifestyle tips, be sure to follow me on Instagram and TikTok!

XO Maggie

Tips for First-Time Thanksgiving Hosts

Holidays, Lifestyle

If this is your first time hosting Thanksgiving, I know it can be very intimidating!

How much food should I serve? How do you make sure all the food is ready at the same time? How long do I have to cook the turkey?

That’s just a small sample of the many questions that come with playing hostess for the nation’s biggest meal of the year!

If you’re looking for guidance on how to make Thanksgiving easier and less stress-free, I have pulled together my 6 top tips for hosting!

Tip #1 – Create a timeline and master to-do list

Make Thanksgiving Day a breeze with a little extra organization and preparation. I like to make a master dinner prep timeline that includes what I should be doing 2 weeks leading up to Thanksgiving Day, along with a master shopping list. You can see my 2-week Thanksgiving dinner prep timeline here.

Tip #2 – Make as much food in advance as possible

In my opinion, the worst way for a hostess to spend Thanksgiving is spending the entire day in the kitchen without the opportunity to mingle with her guests. The solution? Make as much food in advance as possible! I like to make most of my dishes the day before Thanksgiving, but most casseroles can be frozen two weeks in advance! On Thanksgiving Day, all I have left is the turkey, a fresh salad, fresh vegetables and rolls. If you need inspiration for great dishes to make ahead of Thanksgiving, check out this list of my favorite casserole recipes.

Below are my favorite casserole dishes for Thanksgiving and anytime of year!

Le Creuset Stonewear Pumpkin Covered Baker

Le Creuset Heritage Rectangular Covered Casserole

Tip #3 – Prep your table early

A week or two before Thanksgiving, check to make sure you have enough chairs, that your table linens are laundered and confirm that you have all the serving dishes you want to use. Growing up, we had a formal dining room in our home, and my mom would set the Thanksgiving table weeks in advance. Not only did it look beautiful in a space we rarely used, she didn’t have to scramble right before dinner to get the knives and forks on the table. My current home does not have a formal dining room, so I set the table immediately after breakfast on Thanksgiving Day.

Here are some simple tips I learned from Emily Post Institute to remember how to do a formal place setting:

  • Who’s bread plate is that? Holding your hands in front of you, touch the tips of your thumbs to the tips of your forefingers to make a lowercase ‘b’ with your left hand and a lowercase ‘d’ with your right hand. This reminds you that “bread and butter” go to the left of the place setting and “drinks” go on the right.
  • Picture the word “FORKS”. The order, left to right, is: F for Fork, O for the Plate (the shape!), K for Knives and S for Spoons. (Okay, you have to forget the R, but you get the idea!)
Informal Place Setting from Emily Post Institute

Tip #4 – Don’t turn down help!

If someone offers to help with the Thanksgiving meal, allow them! Appetizers, salads, side dishes and desserts are great to delegate to willing guests. Sometimes, all they have to do is swing by a gourmet grocer to pick up a ready-made dessert or side. I especially love Bristol Farms for desserts, because they have such a high-quality selection and everything is made with the best ingredients! Currently, they have a seasonal Maple Pecan Bundt Cake that is absolutely delicious and perfect for Thanksgiving. If you’re a guest at someone else’s Thanksgiving, I highly recommend offering to pick one of these up to bring to your host!

Tip #5 – Have a drink station ready-to-go!

Create a drink station for guests to serve themselves while you’re getting dinner prepared. If dinner is late, no one will care with a drink in hand! For wine, I love serving bottles with a story. My favorite for this Thanksgiving is Thorne Wine, as its my friend’s and neighbor’s family’s wine. The 2019 Pinot Noir is the perfect Thanksgiving dinner pairing. This vintage is the kind that will please a wide range of palates with notes full of juicy blueberry, blackberry and plum with hints of juniper and white pepper. If you’re more of a white wine lover, I recommend trying Thorne’s 2020 Chardonnay, which is full and rich with yellow apple, pineapple and lemon zest notes on entry with vanilla, clove and cream accents. Both wines are available at thornewine.com and can be at your Southern Californian home in time for Thanksgiving if you order by November 19, 2023.

Thorne 2019 Pinot Noir

If you’re into cocktails, try Bristol Farms seasonal mixers, which are made in-house daily at the Fresh Juice Bar. For Thanksgiving, the Winter Rosemary Grapefruit Mixer (great with gin) and Citrus Dragon Fruit Mixer (nice with tequila) are perfect options to impress your guests!

I also always have a pitcher of water and glasses available at our drink station, so our guests don’t have to go hunt down their own water.

Cocktail bar of my dreams | Photo by David Tsay

Tip #6 – It’s okay to do store-bought

Look, hosting Thanksgiving can be a lot, and no one will blame you for outsourcing a few (or all!) of your dishes — especially if they taste great! When choosing where to purchase premade meals, Bristol Farms is a top choice to trust because the chain is known for its excellent quality in SoCal for over 40 years. Their meat department only serves the freshest, highest quality meats, which is hugely important when the centerpiece of your Thanksgiving dinner is the turkey. However, they do offer vegan and vegetarian options, as well! Bristol Farms is offering a wide selection of premade, read-to-heat and eat dishes, like Cornbread Stuffing, Butternut Squash Risotto and Cranberry Relish. And, don’t forget the Roasted Mary’s Turkey, of course! It’s free-range, antibiotic free, simply seasoned with a little salt, pepper, and fresh thyme, and slow roasted for full-flavored tenderness. Make sure you order your Bristol Farms Thanksgiving dinner orders by Tuesday, November 21, 2023 in time for pickup or delivery before Thanksgiving.

Bristol Farms Ready-to-Heat Thanksgiving Dinner

Now, here’s the most important tip: Relax and have fun with the people you love!

What other tips do you recommend for first-time Thanksgiving hosts? Let me know in the comments below!

I hope you’ll connect with me on Instagram and TikTok for more lifestyle tips and party hosting ideas!

XO Maggie

Best Thanksgiving Casseroles

Cooking, Holidays

It’s Thanksgiving prep time, and I’m whipping up my favorite dishes in advance so that I don’t have to scramble the day of Thanksgiving to get the big feast on the table. As the host, I want to enjoy the day with my guests instead of spending all my time in the kitchen.

Enter the casseroles… Would it even be Thanksgiving without casseroles?! I love that you an make casseroles ahead of time, so Thanksgiving day can be a bit more enjoyable.

I grew up in the South, and the Southern women I knew growing up loved a casserole. I specifically remember one ginormous Thanksgiving I went to where everyone was asked to bring a dish and almost every single dish was a casserole except the turkey. Seriously, I’ve never seen so many casseroles! Green bean, corn souffle, au gratin potato, sweet potato, macaroni, broccoli and cheese, 10 different versions of dressing… it was a sight!

Now, I understand that some people despise casseroles. I mean, I get it. If you grew up eating casseroles at potluck dinners in the South, there is a strong chance that you’ve had some yucky casseroles! But, as someone who loves cooking for the selfish reason of wanting to eat tasty food, I have made it a priority to make my Thanksgiving casserole recipes yummy!

The best part about Thanksgiving casseroles? Most of them can be made and frozen weeks before the holiday to help eliminate cooking on the actual T-Day. Simply take them out of the freezer the night before to thaw in the fridge and reheat in the oven.

If you’re looking for a tried and true Thanksgiving side dish, I’ve shared a list of my favorite casseroles below!

The Best Sweet Potato Casserole

This was my favorite Thanksgiving side growing up, and I’m certain that’s because it tasted more like dessert than a vegetable. I’ve never been a fan of adding marshmallows to the sweet potato casserole, though. That’s just too dessert-like. This dish from Food Network is simple to make and a perfect accompaniment to your holiday meal. Find the full recipe here.

The Best Sweet Potato Casserole from Food Network

Bacon-Brussels Sprout-Green Bean Casserole

When I was a kid, my mother taught me that Southern Living ALWAYS has the best recipes. So far, she’s been right. I’ve yet to try a recipe from the premier southern magazine that hasn’t been delicious. Just like this Bacon-Brussels Sprout-Green Bean Casserole. I grew up only eating green bean casserole at Thanksgiving but have taken to loving brussels sprouts in my adult years, so I love that this recipe combines them. Plus, every dish with bacon is better! This recipe calls for frozen green beans, but I like to use fresh. Find this full recipe here.

PHOTO: VICTOR PROTASIO; PROP STYLING: GINNY BRANCH STELLING; FOOD STYLING: EMILY NABORS HALL

Cornbread, Chorizo, Cherry and Pecan Stuffing

When I first hosted Thanksgiving a decade ago, I was really interested in impressing my guests with some stellar sides. My foodie co-worker recommended this cherry-chorizo stuffing recipe to me, and it did not disappoint! I’ve always preferred cornbread stuffing, and the pecans are reminiscent of the dressing I ate growing up. Get the full recipe from Bon Appetit here.

Cornbread, Chorizo, Cherry and Pecan Stuffing

Mashed Potato Casserole

I have a confession… I don’t really love mashed potatoes! I’ve always found them to be a bit bland. A loaded baked potato with bacon, butter and cheese, though? Heck yes! That’s why I love this Mashed Potato Casserole — its a combination of mashed potatoes and a loaded baked potato in one! So creamy and so delicious! Get the full recipe from House of Yumm here.

Mashed Potato Casserole from House of Yumm

There you have it, folks! These are the Thanksgiving casseroles I swear by and the ones our family enjoys each year.

Let me know in the comments below which of these you’d like to try! Connect with me on Instagram and TikTok for more easy recipes and family-friendly holiday ideas.

XO Maggie

The Ultimate Timeline for Planning Your Thanksgiving Dinner

Holidays, Lifestyle

The nation’s biggest meal is upon us! If you are playing host(ess) this Thanksgiving, I’m delighted to share this 2-week dinner prep timeline to help you manage your time and stress leading up to the holiday. No one wants to be frazzled and rushed on Thanksgiving Day! As the person who is sacrificing their time, their home, their kitchen, their money and their sanity to host such a monumental meal, you deserve to mingle with your guests, have a glass of wine… heck, you even deserve to take some time to sit down and rest!

How gorgeous is this outdoor Thanksgiving tablescape? Stole this inspo from andeelayne.com.

You’re probably wondering what makes me qualified to share this Thanksgiving dinner prep timeline. As I’m writing this post, I’m preparing to host my 9th Thanksgiving in California. While I’m probably not as experienced as your granny who’s been making Thanksgiving for decades, I feel like I’ve learned all the rights and wrongs of how to prep for the “big feast” over the last 9 years with minimal help. You see, while I host 6-12 family members for Thanksgiving every year, I don’t actually have any family that lives close by to help prepare dinner (all of our relatives live in Texas). Other than my mother lending me a hand in the kitchen the day of Thanksgiving, there’s rarely any other assistance or delegation for the meal. My family is usually staying in hotels, so unless they pick up something from a restaurant or grocery store, no one is bringing appetizers and side dishes to contribute. And, to be honest, that’s okay with me. There’s no old auntie who insists on bringing her infamous green jello salad (thank god), so I have full liberty to craft our family’s Thanksgiving to my liking. Wow, that makes me sound like a control freak, which I promise I’m not — or am I?! No, what its really about is that I’m delighted to GIVE this meal to my family for Thanksgiving. What an honor it is to have so many family members travel thousands of miles to spend Thanksgiving with us. My husband and I are both the babies of our families, and it’s our way to thank our parents and older siblings for everything they’ve done for us over the years and thank them for making the trip to be with us on this holiday.

Our simple 2021 Thanksgiving tablescape. Rather than making our table busy with decor, I wanted to guests to enjoy each other and the view!
Our 2014 Thanksgiving tablescape. We hosted 8 adults and 1 baby in our small condo. Now, we have 6 children in our family!

Below, you’ll find my 2-week Thanksgiving timeline with suggestions for food, drink and table preparations. This is the timeline I follow every year for a nearly seamless Thanksgiving Day where I can actually relax, sit on our balcony and chat with with my family and sip sangria while taking in our home’s beautiful SoCal mountain views.

If you’d like to learn from some of my past Thanksgiving hosting mistakes (or just have a good laugh!) scroll to the bottom of this post where I share three “Turkey Day Dinner Blunders.”

Ultimate Thanksgiving Dinner Prep Timeline:

2 Weeks Before

  • Plan out your table – Pull out your serving ware, dishes, table linens and décor you plan to use for Thanksgiving dinner. Make sure you have enough chairs for everyone.
  • Take inventory of kitchen tools – Is your food processor still missing that one blade? Do you know where your turkey baster is? Is it time to upgrade your mixer? Now is the time to locate and update your cooking gadgets, especially if you haven’t seen them in a while.
  • Plan your dinner and make your shopping list – List everything you plan to serve. Make note of the spices and ingredients you already have on hand and make a list of what you need to purchase.

Weekend Before

  • Buy your turkey and non-perishable food products and drinks – If your turkey is frozen, put it in the refrigerator to thaw. Stock up on your canned beans and vegetables, dried seasonings, nuts, seeds and beverages.
  • If you’re planning to make casseroles and desserts ahead of time and freeze them, make them now – For less stress on the day of Thanksgiving, desserts, dressing and casseroles, like sweet potato casserole, corn casserole and macaroni and cheese, can often be frozen then reheated in the oven.

3 Days Before

  • Shop for perishable food products – This is when you purchase your produce and dairy so it’s fresh for cooking the big meal

Day Before

  • Move frozen casseroles and dessert to fridge – If you made and froze your casseroles and dessert ahead of time, this is now the time to start letting them thaw.
  • Make remaining casseroles and dressing – If you didn’t already make your casseroles and freeze them, make them now and keep in the refrigerator until one hour before dinner.
  • Prep for remaining dishes and sides – Chop vegetables, make yeast rolls recipe to rise overnight, try to do as much as possible to make your holiday easier, and make a list of when everything should go in the oven tomorrow to be ready at the same time.

Thanksgiving Morning

  • Take the turkey out of the refrigerator and start prep – Let your turkey sit for 2 hours at room temperature before roasting. Plan on 13 minutes of roasting time for every pound or 15 minutes per pound if stuffed. You can view my Thanksgiving Turkey recipe here.
  • Set the table and arrange any centerpieces.
  • Get wine chilling and get your cocktail/drink station ready.

3-4 Hours Before Dinner

  • Assemble appetizers and remaining side dishes – Get as much completed as possible. You can always reheat dishes the hour before dinner.

2 Hours Before Dinner

  • Turn on music – Before guests arrive, set the mood for your party with music. Town & Country created a great Thanksgiving music playlist if you need inspiration.
  • Set out appetizers – The focus of the day is Thanksgiving dinner, so don’t stress about this too much. Some simple cheeses, crackers, fancy nuts and a fruit bowl is perfect. I also love the ease of premade snacks from my grocer’s freezer section and premade cheeseboards and dips from the deli section.
  • Set out drinks – Have your chilled wine and signature cocktail (if you’re making) easily accessible to guests. If dinner’s late, they won’t care if they have a drink in hand and some simple snacks! My guests have always enjoyed this Thanksgiving Sangria. I also fill a large pitcher with ice water and sliced lemons.
  • Let casseroles come to room temperature.

1 Hour Before Dinner

  • Take turkey out of oven – You turkey needs to rest 30 minutes to 1 hour before carving.
  • Reheat casseroles – Adjust oven temperature to

30 Minutes Before Dinner

  • Carve the turkey.
  • Assemble salad if making.

15 Minutes Before Dinner

  • Set out food – Take everything out of the oven and set on your dinner table or buffet table.
  • Light candles if using.
My 2022 roasted turkey was beautiful! My secrets for the best-ever juicy turkey include (1) cooking the bird breast side down for the majority of the roasting, (2) seasoning with Williams Sonoma turkey seasoning paste and (3) topping with Williams Sonoma turkey roasting glaze the 30 minutes of roasting.

Turkey Day Dinner Blunders

As promised, here are some of the silly mistakes that I’ve made when hosting Thanksgiving. Learn what not to do from my past blunders!

But it ain’t got wing: My first year hosting, I was intimidated to make a turkey, so I bought a premade smoked turkey from a local BBQ joint thinking that my barbecue-loving Texan relatives would get a kick out of it! I ordered a 12 lb. turkey to feed 8 adults. Well, when I went to pick up the turkey on Thanksgiving Day, they gave me a turkey that was 9 lb. because they “ran out” of the larger turkeys. I had no other choice so last minute, so I took the smaller turkey. Not only did we not have enough meat to happily feed everyone, the turkey was missing a wing… so it was ugly! I’m thankful to my mom and sister-in-law for offering to only have a “taste” of turkey that year. Lesson learned: If you’re going to order a premade turkey, make sure its from a reputable seller who guarantees the size of the turkey you ordered! This was my first time ordering from the restaurant and found them on an internet search. There wasn’t many restaurant reviews, so I should have taken it as a sign to order something else from them to test before Thanksgiving or at least be a bit skeptical!

When more is a bore: My second year hosting, our house was being renovated, so we rented a condo in Newport Beach to host everyone. Because I had a 3-month-old baby and wasn’t stoked about cooking a large meal in a kitchen I was unfamiliar with, I ordered a premade Thanksgiving dinner from a local grocery store. I was scarred from not having enough turkey the year before, so I over-ordered. I justified spending the extra money with that we’d be able to eat leftovers for a few days and I wouldn’t have to cook (I was an exhausted first-time mom and business owner at the time!). Not only did we have way too much food — think three 9×13 baking dishes of mashed potatoes — the food was TERRIBLE! The stuffing was so bland. I kept adding butter and seasoning trying to spruce it up. The salad was so boring with only iceburg lettuce, diced tomatoes and mini croutons. The turkey was so dry that I was dipping it in BBQ sauce. It was the saddest waste to dump multiple containers of uneaten food in the trash. We considered trying to donate it, but couldn’t figure out all the logistics in time. Lesson learned: Don’t overdo it on food. Again, if you order premade anything, make sure its reputable with good reviews — it’s even better if a friend who’s tried it recommends it!

Don’t dispose-ALL: One year, I was doing a lot of prep work the day before Thanksgiving. As I was cutting and chopping all of the vegetables that I would use in the stuffing, green bean casserole, and sweet potato casserole, I put all of the veggie waste in our sink’s disposal. I grew up in a house where we put everything in the disposal (banana peels, rotten bunches of lettuce, egg shells… seriously, everything!) in an effort to not stink up the trash, and I didn’t realize that this is not normal behavior until I started living with someone else. Sure enough, I clogged our sink, and boy did it STINK! Every time I turned on the disposal, smelly toxic green-brown sludge came spewing from the drain! It took us the evening and half of Thanksgiving Day to fix, so I was so delayed in prepping my meal without access to the kitchen sink. Needless to say, my Mr. Fix-It (A.K.A. my husband) was not very pleased. And, I hated feeling rushed to make all our dinner the day of Thanksgiving. Lesson learned: Not everything needs to go in the disposal. Also, have a handyman on-call who can come help fix any last-minute house repairs before guests arrive. It seems something in our house always breaks right before we host guests!

Now that I’m looking back, these Thanksgiving mishaps are hilarious! And, I realize that this is what Thanksgiving is about… It’s about the effort. It’s about wanting to create a meal that’s meaningful for your family. It’s not going to be perfect, but you’re going to learn a lot. I also believe that hosting Thanksgiving and the mistakes that can come with it is almost like a rite of passage. I watched my mother host Thanksgiving so many times, and while most of my memories are of how it appeared as though she effortlessly perfected an elaborate meal, I also remember her burning rolls, undercooking the turkey, forgetting to thaw the dessert and other funny little blunders. If you’re not able to execute your perfect Thanksgiving meal as you envisioned, brush it off. From my Thanksgiving missteps examples, I hope you can rest easy knowing you’re not the only one. And, you have 365 to try again (haha!).

Thanksgiving tablescape inspo! I dream of hosting an outdoor Thanksgiving like this one day! Image is from kpetersondesign.com.

Please let me know if this timeline is helpful and if you have any questions in the comments below. Connect with me on Instagram and TikTok for easy recipes, party ideas and tips to simplify your life!

XO Maggie

How to Host a Last-Minute Halloween Party

Holidays, Lifestyle

Don’t let short notice hold you back from hosting a party! If you’re low on time and money, I have some easy, affordable ideas for throwing a last-minute Halloween party!

You can see all my Halloween party ideas on KTLA Morning News! It’s always so fun to join the KTLA team live in-studio! On this visit, I shared some spooky snacks and a creepy (but cute!) dessert using products from Siete Foods and Gelson’s Markets. I also made some simple Halloween decor using items from around my home and craft supplies from Michaels Stores. All my Halloween decor used in the KTLA TV segment is from Michaels (as well as almost all the decor I use in my home for every holiday!).

Halloween party food and decor ideas from Lifestyle and Party Planning Expert Maggie Jackson on KTLA Morning News

EASY HALLOWEEN PARTY FOOD IDEAS

Spiderweb Nacho Dip

An easy and festive Halloween party snack with Mexican flair using my favorite Siete Foods ingredients!

Spiderweb Nacho Dip using Siete Foods products

INGREDIENTS:
Bottom layer:
2 cans Siete Foods Vegan Refried Ranchero Beans
2 tbsp lime juice
1.5 tbsp Siete Foods Mild Taco Seasoning
1 tsp minced garlic
3 roma tomatoes, sliced
Middle layer:
1 cup Siete Foods Mild Salsa Roja
1 cup shredded Mexican cheese
Top layer:
1 cup guacamole (I used @gelsonsmarkets fresh guac or you can make your own)
1 cup sour cream (I used Daisy brand’s squeezable for the spiderweb piping)
For serving: Siete Foods Tortilla Chips (my favorite are Siete Foods Lime Tortilla Chips)

DIRECTIONS:
Arrange sliced tomatoes around edge of large platter.
Assemble bean mixture and spread in center of platter, leaving some tomatoes showing. Make sure that you create a bit of a “bowl” with the bean mixture for the salsa to sit in without running all over the platter.
Spread salsa on top of beans, leaving some edge of beans showing.
Sprinkle shredded cheese on top of salsa, leaving some salsa showing.
Spoon guacamole over cheese layer and smooth into thin layer.
Use Daisy Squeeze Sour Cream to create spider web design. Top with toy spiders. Serve with Siete Foods tortilla chips.

Pizza Witch Fingers

These “witch fingers” are quick, easy and no special chef skills are required! When hosting a big party, I’m all about cutting corners to save time, so for this recipe, I used a frozen cheese pizza and premade dipping sauce that I picked up at Gelson’s Market.

Pizza Witch Fingers

INGREDIENTS:
Frozen thin-crust cheese pizza (I used Newman’s Own Four Cheese Pizza)
1 red bell pepper, cut into small triangles
Premade pizza sauce or marinara sauce
Litehouse Jalapeño Ranch Dip (or your other favorite dip like garlic aioli, ranch or marinara)

DIRECTIONS:
Cook frozen pizza according to package instructions.
Cut pizza into very thin triangle slices.
Arrange pizza on circular platter with skinniest ends of the slices facing outward.
Use marinara/pizza sauce as adhesive to add red bell pepper triangles to ends of pizza to resemble fingernails.
Add a small bowl of Jalapeño Ranch Dip in the center of the platter for dipping. Enjoy!

Spiderweb Brownie Cake

No baking required for this easy and spooky cake! Take 2-3 brownies from the bakery section of the grocery store and add chocolate icing to make a “brownie cake.” Gelson’s Market sells decadent dark chocolate brownies by Renaud’s Patisserie, which works perfect for this! Melted marshmallows create a spiderweb effect!

Create a spiderweb effect on chocolate cake with melted marshmallows!

INGREDIENTS:
2-3 chocolate brownies from your grocer’s bakery section (I chose Renaud’s dark chocolate brownies sold in my local Gelson’s Market)
2 16oz containers of creamy chocolate frosting
1.5 cups mini marshmallows

DIRECTIONS:
Remove brownies from packaging. Place first brownie on platter and top with thin layer of icing.
Add second brownie on top of first brownie and add another thin layer of icing. Repeat this step if you are using three brownies. Cover the sides of the “brownie cake” with remaining chocolate icing.
Place marshmallows into a bowl and microwave for 30 seconds.
Using a fork, stretch melted marshmallows around brownie cake to create a spiderweb effect. Decorate with toy spiders. Enjoy!

DIY HALLOWEEN DECOR IDEAS

Upcycled Ghosts

I pulled empty containers out of our recycling to make these cute ghosts! I ended up using an apple juice bottle, coffee creamer bottle and smoothie bottle, but you could also use jars. Here’s the list of all the materials:

-Recyclable containers
–Flour sack towels (cheap at Target or Walmart if you don’t have old ones lying around)
-Sparkly black felt adhesive (you could also use regular felt or even construction paper)
-Battery operated twinkle lights
–Clear plastic ornaments or polystyrene craft balls (the clear plastic ornaments are fun because you can add lights inside but I didn’t have enough for all 3 ghosts)

Upcycled Ghosts Decorations for Halloween

Watch how to make these ghosts on my Instagram!

Ghost Garland

This garland is so simple, and there’s no sewing! Create your own cute ghost garland with a handful of items you may already have at home, like safety pins, clear elastic bands and cotton balls. I got my ribbon, fabric marker and fabric shears at Michaels, which has been my holiday craft and decor go-to store for years! What I love about Halloween crafts is that there’s no pressure to make them exactly right – the imperfections make them spooky!

DIY Ghost Garland for Halloween
Ghost garland made with items from around the home and craft products from Michaels

Learn how I made this ghost garland in the video below!

Bats Centerpiece

Look around your backyard to create this easy centerpiece that will surely impress your guests! I cut branches from a tree and spray painted them black. You could also use dried branches found at Michaels floral department. Next, I created a bat stencil from a bat-shaped cookie cutter and used it to cut about 15 bats from black glitter felt that I found at Michaels. Then, I glued the bats to the branches. I recommend using a hot glue gun, Gorilla super glue or Krazy Glue to ensure they have a strong stick. After they dried, I assembled them into a tall glass cylinder vase. It could be fun to use a spooky vase like this one.

Bat Branch Centerpiece seen on KTLA

Which of these easy Halloween food and decor ideas would you try? Be sure to follow me on Instagram and TikTok where I share more easy recipes and fun DIY party ideas!

Happy Halloween!

XO Maggie

Last Minute Father’s Day Gift Ideas

Gift Guides, Holidays, Lifestyle

AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some of this post contains affiliate links for the products I use and LOVE. If you take action on these links (like clicking, buying, etc.), I may receive compensation at no cost to you. As always, all opinions are my own, and I’ll only recommend what I truly like and think you will, too. For more information about affiliates and your privacy, view our Terms & Conditions page here.

Father’s Day is around the corner, and if you don’t have a gift for dad yet, it’s not too late! Believe me, I know it’s not a good feeling when you wait until the last minute to get someone a gift, but, hey, it happens! And, let’s be honest, dads can be really hard to shop for! If the dad in your life is the kind of guy that either has everything or says he doesn’t want anything, I got you! I’ve pulled together a list of the best last-minute Father’s Day gifts for every kind of dad, from the frequent flyer to the home bartender to the golf enthusiast, below.

For more information on these unique products, tune in to my KTLA Morning News segment about last-minute Father’s Day gift ideas below!

Top 5 Last Minute Father’s Day Gifts

Rollink Flex 360° Spinner

A collapsible suitcase that’s great for the frequent flyer!

If dad is always on the go, make his traveling easier with Rollink‘s collapsible suitcases! Rollink is the world’s slimmest, collapsible suitcase that is trendy, sustainable, durable, and practical. Upon returning home, dad simply collapses the bag and conveniently stores it away for the next use without occupying a lot of closets or hotel room space — you can even stow it under a bed! Rollink suitcases are made with sturdy polycarbonate hard shells, come in three different carry-on and checked bag styles, multiple colors and collapse to 2 inches thick! Rollink’s newest line is the Flex 360° Spinner Collection, and it is the most versatile for your traveling dad. It’s impact-resistant, plus the silent and smooth 360° double spinner wheels provide optimal maneuverability! Rollink’s suitcases are available with 2-day shipping via Amazon Prime, so shop now to get it in time for Father’s Day!

Bushnell Golf Tour V6 Shift Rangefinder and Wingman GPS Speakers

Level up dad’s game with the best golf tech!

Don’t let dad return from the golf course complaining of his missed shots again! Bushnell is the #1 trusted optics brand in professional golf that will help dad improve his game. If you’re not familiar with golf rangefinders and GPS systems, these tools take the guesswork out of how hard dad should hit the ball, informs him on what club to use and helps him improve his overall golf skills. Trusted by 98% of Tour players, Bushnell Golf products will make dad feel like one of the pros!

Debuted earlier this year, the Bushnell Tour V6 Shift is the newest, best performing model with exceptional optics, accuracy, and consistency. It features Bushnell’s patented Slope Technology, which gives dad an idea of the distance between him and his target while taking into account how much yardage there is with the terrain in front of him. The Tour V6 Shift also features improved PinSeeker with Visual JOLT where the PinSeeker algorithm has been enhanced to give golfers even greater confidence that they have locked onto the flag or their intended target. Another plus of this rangefinder is its integrated “BITE” magnetic cart mount which allows the laser rangefinder to be secured to the golf cart without the need for any aftermarket accessories. You can pick up this rangefinder at your local DICK’S Sporting Goods, Golf Galaxy, Roger Dunn Golf Shops, or get it in 2 days with Amazon Prime.

Bushnell also launched two new GPS speakers earlier this year, the Wingman View and Wingman Mini, that are great additions to dad’s golf game. Combining GPS and Bluetooth technologies and featuring an all-new LCD screen, the Wingman View provides dad audible and visual front, center, and back distances, and up to six visual hazards per hole, all while listening to the music of this choice through mobile applications. A removable magnetic BITE remote seamlessly secures the remote atop the Wingman View unit and provides GPS Distances, full music control adjusts, and plays 1st tee introductions and custom messages at a touch of a button. The Wingman View is available locally at DICK’S Sporting Goods, Golf Galaxy and Roger Dunn Golf Shops. At the time of writing this, the Wingman View was available on Amazon but not with Prime 2-day shipping.

A more affordable option, the Wingman Mini packs a big punch in a small speaker. Ideal for both walkers and cart riders, the Mini features audible GPS distances, first tee introductions and custom messages, integrated BITE magnetic cart mount, water resistant IPX7 construction, 10-hour battery life and carabiner clip to easily attach to your golf bag or belt loop. Snag the Wingman Mini in store at DICK’S Sporting Goods, Golf Galaxy and Roger Dunn Golf Shops. You also can get 2-day shipping with Amazon Prime.

You also can get all of Bushnell Golf’s products in time for Father’s Day when you select overnight or 2-day shipping at checkout on bushnellgolf.com.

Crafthouse by Fortessa Cocktail Shaker Set and Smoking Box

The best bar tools for dads who love craft cocktails!

Dads know the benefit of having the top-of-the line tools for any job, whether its woodworking or taking care of the lawn, so make sure dad has the best bar tools from Crafthouse by Fortessa for his at-home cocktails! These finely made tools will look great on your home bar and make it easy for dad to create professional-level cocktails regardless of his mixology experience! Designed by Charles Joly, world-champion bartender and creator of Crafthouse Cocktails, and made in collaboration with Fortessa, a world-renowned designer of tableware, these bar tools celebrate the bold spirit of handcrafted cocktails. Every cocktail enthusiast needs a solid Shaker Set, and I love this this one from Crafthouse by Fortessa because its well designed and includes everything you need: a two-piece Boston shaker, Hawthorne strainer, jigger and beautiful walnut wooden muddler. To get the Shaker Set in time for Father’s Day, it’s available for pickup at select local Williams Sonoma stores or you can get it online with 1 or 2-day shipping with Amazon Prime.

Help dad really impress his friends with a fancy Smoking Box for infusing cocktails with savory smoky flavor. The Smoking Box includes handheld smoker with smoking wood chips. The clear glass design adds a level of showmanship, allowing dad to flaunt his professional-level cocktails as they are being smoked. This product isn’t just for finishing off your favorite drink, it also works great for smoking your favorite foods! The Smoking Box is available online or in-store at Williams Sonoma and Sur La Table or online with fast shipping from Amazon Prime.

Den Mother Wellness Box

Modern self-care for the wellness enthusiast or dad who needs to destress

If you have a dad that needs some stress relief or if your dad loves staying up-to-date on the hottest wellness trends (hello cold plunging!), give him the Wellness Box from Den Mother, a healing house on Abbot Kinney in Venice devoted to techniques and therapies from ancient cultures. Created special for Father’s Day, Den Mother’s Wellness Box features a curated selection of the best supplements and herbs for the wellness dad that will ease muscle aches, reduce inflammation and improve digestion. Products in the box include Evil Bone Water for pain relief, Onsen Saru Bath Fizz for relaxation and to aid sleep, Salt N Stone high performance deodorant, Tame the Flame gut supplement, Royal Rest supplement. Add an optional gift card for a cold plunge + sauna session ($85 for 30 minutes or $145 for 1 hour) to really help dad relax! Everybody is talking about cold plunge and sauna “contrast” therapy which is one of the most sought-after therapies for circulation, inflammation, relaxation and healing from injury.

Den Mother is one of the hottest wellness spaces in LA with a treatment menu designed to help regulate the nervous system for our modern day living. Treatments include everything from massage to acupuncture to neuromuscular testing. Dad also can enjoy plant-based meals and snacks from The Butcher’s Daughter restaurant (located next door) on Den Mother’s patio post treatment.

Pick up this wellness gift set in a masculine branded box for around $150 at Den Mother, located at 1209 Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice Beach. I recommend calling ahead of time to reserve your box: 310-310-8905.

Nanoleaf Elements

Upgrade dad’s man cave with smart wall art lighting!

Help dad transform his home office or man cave into a sophisticated space with an elegant and organic feel with Nanoleaf Elements Hexagons. It’s like glowing artwork for his walls! These wood-like LED smart panels provide a warm light that’s perfect for wellness, work and living spaces. They respond to music and touch, which will leave guests and Zoom colleagues in awe. Nanoleaf provides design recommendations, or he can create his own. They’re simple to operate from the touch panel or from his smart phone. He can create unlimited color schemes or he can use others’ designs within the app. Nanoleaf Elements are in stock at select Best Buy stores or you can get one-day shipping with Amazon Prime.

Which of these products would be perfect gifts for the dads in your life? I know my husband would love the Bushnell Golf V6 Shift Rangefinder to improve his golf game! Let me know what you think of these products in the comments below or connect with me on Instagram and TikTok!

XO Maggie