I love the holidays…they’re all about making memories and spending time with loved ones!

Welcome to the Holiday issue of Blondie! I’m excited to share this fabulous issue with all of you! Creating a digital magazine has been a great adventure and learning experience for me! I have loved learning some of the ins and outs of creating this magazine and I want to share some of what you’ll find in this holiday issue of Blondie.

This issue starts off with 10 of the most amazing gift guides to make your life easier over the holidays. You’ll find gift ideas for everyone on your list from gifts for children to gifts for the wine lover to the best hostess gifts. The gifts guides are totally shoppable so you only have to sit down at your computer to get you holiday shopping done!

Also, if you’re looking for the perfect holiday outfit, look no further because we’ve come up with four winning combinations for Thanksgiving, your office Christmas party, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Wouldn’t it be nice to have that taken care of…

As with every issue of Blondie, there are interviews and articles about strong women who are living the dream, and making this world a better and more beautiful place.

Susan Kanoff started a non-profit called Uncommon Threads which is an empowerment program for struggling women. Uncommon Threads uses clothes and style as tools for building self esteem and self confidence.

You’ll definitely want to read about Linda O’Neal who started her own skincare company in midlife called Essence of You. I was introduced to Linda and her husband, Rob by my friend Pandora de Balthazar, when I was in Round Top Texas at the Antiques fair. In the article, Linda gives advice about taking care of your skin in midlife and explains how her products work. Linda is also a painter and she and her husband Rob own a property called The White House on the Hill and they have recently planted 300 olive trees and have begun to produce their own olive oil.

Karen Lowe, owner of Alamance Esthetics is a regular contributor to Blondie and in this issue she talks about treatments and products to help with dark spots on the face. Also, if you’ve never experienced Hydrafacial, be sure to watch my YouTube video here!

Alice Williams is an American artist living in France. I had the opportunity to meet Alice and stay in her home recently when traveling to France. I’m so excited to share her story and her art with you!

Christel Van Malsen is another friend who lives in France. Christel owns a company called Chef on Holiday and also finds “the perfect” rental for anyone wanting a luxury experience in Provence. Christel will be coming to the states in March to teach some cooking classes. Who knows, maybe she’ll be in your area and you’ll get to meet her and experience her amazing food for yourself!

Joanne Socha, owner of Travel Far and Well and author of The Red Bandanna Travel Book, has written a piece that you’ll love about traveling alone. It’s something we all will probably do at some point! Follow her on Instagram at TravelWellJo!

No issue would be complete without a few recipes! One of my favorite sides for the holidays is Brussels Sprouts and I’m sharing THE best recipe!

Along the same lines, Darren Atkins, owner of Il Centro Alimentari, in Burlington, NC shares the recipe for his Lemon Olive Oil Cake. It’s so moist and makes a beautiful presentation…it’s something a little different to make for the holidays that everyone will love!

I’m also sharing my advice on how to make the most fabulous cheese board for holiday entertaining. It’s such an easy way to entertain, and certainly around the holidays, we all are looking for easy!

Another easy way to entertain is to decorate your bar cart and let everyone serve themselves. I’ve decorated mine 2 ways…one way for the kids and one way for the adults. You just don’t get any easier than that!

Several years ago, our home was in Southern Home magazine and we’re giving you a little house tour! Thank you so much to Leigh Jones Interior Design for helping me with the interior design of our home! We have been working together for many years and she has never led me astray!

I hope you’ll get a few decorating ideas and enjoy the Holiday decor!

I hope you’ll all subscribe to this issue of Blondie, the Holiday Issue. Sadly, it’s going to be the last issue. I’ve decided to put all of my effort into Crazy Blonde Life and my YouTube Channel. Creating this magazine has been a great learning experience for me and I’m so happy to have been able to share it with everyone who subscribed. As always, I couldn’t have done any of this without Taylor Moser of TCM Design Co., and my daughter Lauren, who created the gift guides and the outfit ideas! When you buy this holiday issue, you’ll also receive the first two issues to enjoy.

The holiday season has begun here at Crazy Blonde Life and I hope you’ll continue to check every day as I share decorating tips, festive food and fashion! Thanks so much for reading!

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