Holiday Ramble 2026 with Jessica Fisher: Holding Christmas with Open Hands
What makes Christmas feel like Christmas to you? A favorite movie, a familiar recipe, the smell of a fresh tree—or the sound of Christmas carols playing wherever you go?
Jessica Fisher is back for another Homemaking Seasonal Ramble, and this time we’re talking all things Christmas! From nostalgic childhood memories and favorite seasonal reads to homemade treats and practical gift-giving systems, we’re sharing ideas to help you prepare for the holidays without losing sight of the people you’re preparing them for.
We talk about when homemade is worth the effort, when store-bought is a gift of time, and why asking your family what they actually want might be the most useful holiday planning tool of all. Jessica shares how she uses a simple survey to gather everyone’s input, and we swap favorite tools and tips for being a gracious guest.
But underneath all the festive favorites is a conversation about change. As children grow, families expand, and our own capacities shift, Christmas won’t always look the way it used to.
We’re learning to make our plans faithfully while holding them loosely—trusting the Lord with the unexpected and remembering that celebrating our Savior with the people we love matters more than recreating a perfect memory.
Whatever season of homemaking you’re in, come ramble along with us!
SHOW NOTES
Connect with Jessica
Good Cheap Eats — recipes and budget-friendly meal planning.
Life as Mom — practical ideas for family life and homemaking.
Advent & Holiday Planning Resources
The Art of Home Advent Guide — Allison’s Scripture study centered on hope, peace, joy, and love; available in both the original free format and, coming November 1, 2026, an expanded study with daily reflection questions.
The Daily Grace Co. Advent studies — another option for seasonal Bible study, with companion family resources.
Jessica’s holiday family survey — a Google Forms approach to gathering input on favorite memories, shared activities, holiday meals, desserts, cookies, and breakfast pastries.
Christmas notebooks and binders — a home for menus, recipes, guest lists, and past holiday plans. Check out Jessica's HERE
A yearly gift list in your phone’s notes app — capture ideas throughout the year, track purchases, and refer back to previous gifts.
Christmas Books Mentioned
Jessica’s picks
A Christmas Carol — Charles Dickens.
The Jesse Tree — Geraldine McCaughrean.
Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree — Robert Barry.
Silent Night — a children’s book about the writing of the hymn.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas! — Dr. Seuss.
Allison’s picks
A Redbird Christmas — Fannie Flagg.
Skipping Christmas — John Grisham; the inspiration for Christmas with the Kranks.
Shepherds Abiding — Jan Karon.
My Beloved — Jan Karon.
Check out THIS POST for more suggestions and links
Christmas Movies & Shows Mentioned
A note on viewing: These titles came up in conversation, but they aren’t all recommendations for every household or age. Preview movies and check content reviews to decide what fits your family.
The Family Man
The Man Who Invented Christmas
While You Were Sleeping
A Charlie Brown Christmas — the original special.
Elf
Home Alone and Home Alone 2
White Christmas
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation — recommend the edited for TV version
Miracle on 34th Street — the original and the remake.
Joyeux Noël — a film about the World War I Christmas truce.
A Christmas Story
8-Bit Christmas —like A Christmas Story but for 80s kids
Christmas with the Kranks — based on book Skipping Christmas
Recipes & Holiday Treats Discussed
From Jessica’s kitchen
From Allison’s kitchen
Classic chocolate fudge using dark and semi-sweet chocolate (butterscotch fudge and chocolate peppermint fudge variations)
A few kitchen takeaways: Fudge can be made ahead and frozen, a pizza wheel makes cutting it easier, and mint-flavored treats should be stored separately so their flavor doesn’t migrate to everything else!
Tools, Gifts & Little Holiday Helps
Roll-up food warming mats for buffet-style gatherings.
Wi-Fi smart plugs and timers for Christmas trees and lights.
Microwavable corn bags — the memorable gift that became a Fisher family favorite. We've linked Jessica's tutorial with pictures.
A thrifted Christmas cookie pan bundled with cookie mix and a small kitchen accessory for a white elephant gift.
Trader Joe’s ready-made cakes as a starting point for a decorating activity.
See’s Candies — part of Jessica’s childhood Christmas memories.
More from The Art of Home
Holiday Hospitality with Melissa Austin-Weeks — our recent conversation about making hosting easier and serving guests thoughtfully.
Last year’s holiday homemaking episodes — more ideas for gathering people throughout the season.
2026 Handwritten Holiday Recipe Exchange — send a favorite holiday recipe to five homemakers and receive recipes from five others. Registration closes October 31; see the episode description for registration details.
Join the conversation: Send me a 🖐️ and tell me how you’re holding your plans loosely this Christmas. You can use the “text me” link in your podcast player’s episode description or email contact@theartofhomepodcast.com.
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