A television personality and clothing designer describes ways to make the holiday season bright, offering ideas for themed parties and informal gatherings, recipes, homemade gifts, and decorating tips.

Create a Magical Holiday Season for You and Yours . . . You know the moment when it feels like Christmas—when you make your annual pilgrimage to the tree lot and the 'blue spruce or pine' debate commences, when you share favorite memories over a second helping of your mother's stuffing, or when you feel the tug in your throat during the holiday pageant. Now you can revel in the true meaning and spirit of the season with Ultimate Christmas, an entertaining, touching, and uplifting collection of true stories and awe-inspiring photographs of holiday magic (and a little mania!). From the kindness and generosity of strangers to the turkey that got away, from the innocence and pure joy of a child to the tree that really was too tall to fit, this Yuletide treasury will make you laugh and cry, and help you celebrate everything that is delightful—and perhaps slightly dysfunctional—about the holidays. And, if you're searching for some holiday inspiration, fashion and decorating guru Jeanne Bice, the founder of The Quacker Factory, shares must-know info for making things merry, including eco-friendly ways to deck the halls, a simple, sensational open house menu, homemade crafts, and etiquette rules for regifting, holiday 'brag' letters, and the dreaded fruitcake. This is the ultimate Christmas volume you'll want to bring out year after year to help create lasting memories and savor the warmth of the season.

From picking out the annual Christmas tree and indulging in Mom's special stuffing, to watching a beloved holiday pageant and experiencing the joy of giving from the heart, Christmas is undoubtedly the best holiday of the year for many. For the Love of Christmas is a Yuletide treasure of heartwarming, true stories that will help us revel in the true meaning and spirit of the season. With chapters like "Making Spirits Bright", "Bah, Humbug!", "Turkey Fiascos", "Yuletide Traditions", and "Glad Tidings", For the Love of Christmas helps celebrate everything that is both wonderful (and, at times, wacky) about the holidays. Stories include: A beaming wide-eyed three-year-old who surprises his family with heartfelt gifts of common household items like forks smothered in tape. A thirty-one-year-old Jewish woman who discovers the giddy joy of eagerly opening wrapped gifts from Santa Claus for the first time while visiting her boyfriend's family. And, a jaded police officer who finds himself delivering the best gift of all—the gift of life—thereby rediscovering the joy of Christmas once again. For the Love of Christmas is the perfect read for anyone who wants to celebrate Christmas in all of its magic and wonder.

Jeanne Bice is funny, vivacious, and larger than life. She+s also a self-made woman. Ten years ago, when she began selling her line of -Quacker Factory+ brand clothing on QVC, she barely had two pennies to rub together. But from the moment she hit the airwaves, she became one of the network+s most popular guests. While her sparkly, whimsical sweaters drew raves, viewers really tuned in for Jeanne herself-for her wit and wisdom, and for her inspiring story of pulling herself up+well, by her bra straps. Now Jeanne has compiled her signature stories and the lessons she+s learned into a quirky, quacky book that will resonate with her fans-thousands of women who call themselves -Quackers+ and greet one another by saying, -Quack, quack, quack!+Each chapter is a colorful lesson told in Jeanne+s folksy, endearing voice, with advice like -If you can+t lose it, decorate it!+ and -Take a leap+and grow your wings on the way down.+ Reading these stories will lift your spirits, bring a smile to your face, and empower you to make your dreams come true.

The wife of actor Ernest Borgnine explains how radical and traditional advice both play a key part in making long-term marriages work and help them remain filled with joy, security, and vitality