The smell of gingerbread, with the warm and bold spices, gives off the pure essence of Christmas. Then, decorating a gingerbread house is fulfilling to the soul and appealing to the eye. And, if you can get yourself to eat your beautiful creation, the taste is decadent and sweet. With the popularity of this holiday tradition, you may find yourself looking for some inspiration to make your own. With all of the gingerbread recipes, you may want to try your hand at making a gingerbread house completely from scratch....

Here at Parade.com, we’re all about sharing products we love with our audience. When you make a purchase on an item seen on this page, we may earn a commission, however, all picks are independently chosen unless otherwise mentioned. Burt’s Bees Everyday Essentials Travel Set, Originally $9.99, Now $7.98 This Burt’s Bees Travel set is not only great for travel, but also great if you’ve never tried Burt’s Bees before....

Displaying a nativity set either inside or outside of your home (depending on how big it is, of course!) is a meaningful way to teach children about Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, and the miracle birth of the son of God. It’s more than a teaching moment; the nativity set is also a beautiful, symbolic reminder to keep Christ in Christmas. Here are 25 of the best nativity sets to display this Christmas season....

But why now? Why get started on something that could take months or years at this moment? Well, what time could possibly be better than the present? The sooner you start on your goal, the sooner you’ll begin seeing progress. If you’re looking for a sign to begin something new that will shape part of your future—this is it. It’s always time to be the best possible version of yourself....

And even though there are thousands and thousands of quotes about kids out there, you’ll especially love these 250 best quotes about children we gathered—perfect for Universal Children’s Day which falls on Nov. 20, 2022. Some of these quotes about kids and children are relatable, some are cute, some give advice and some are just plain funny. You may even recognize a few of these parent quotes and the people who said them....

However, no matter how different each Disney character is from one another, they are all super memorable in their own way — and chances are, they were a big part of your childhood growing up. In fact, since Walt Disney Animation Studio was founded in 1923, thousands of characters have been introduced over the years. There are 12 official princesses, 12 princes, over 125 villains and hundreds of other characters that range from mermaids and fairies to sea creatures and snowmen....

Best Summer Vegetable Side Dishes There are some recipes in this collection of healthy side ideas that are no-cook, super quick and simple to make, while others are oven roasted and delicious—and definitely worth the time. Here is a collection of simple summer recipes like grilled zucchini spears with lemon vinaigrette, roasted green beans and tomatoes topped with feta, and tomato salad with fresh herbs and a balsamic reduction. Click on the gallery up above to view all 27 of these best spring and summer vegetable side dishes....

What’s a dump meal? It’s a silly name, but dump meals are pretty much just that. You dump everything into one cooking device—in this case, a Crock Pot—and leave it alone to cook until your food is ready. It’s the easiest type of meal to make, and probably the kind that uses the least amount of dishes. Crock Pots are the GOAT of the kitchen It’s true. They’re one of the greatest appliances of all time....

So, which audiobooks did people most often download? Parade rounded up the 30 best audiobooks of 2021, according to bestselling lists by both Audibleand Libro.fm. Keep reading for the year’s top audiobooks! 30 Best Audiobooks of 2021 1. The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet by John Green on Audible, $28 Known for his young adult books like The Fault in Our Stars, Looking for Alaska, and Paper Towns, John Green’s latest release, The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet is his first foray into nonfiction....

There’s a reason why kids love them—adults too—and once you get the hang of making homemade balls, you’re bound to stop ordering take-out meatballs altogether. Well, maybe not, but these 32 best meatball recipes might make you consider it. Best Meatball Recipes Behold our 31 very best meatball recipes, from turkey, chicken and ground beef meatballs, to Swedish and Italian. We’ve also included plenty of options for making everyone’s favorite ball gluten-free, in the air fryer, slow cooker and Crock Pot....

What Are Dumplings? Dumplings can be steamed, fried or pan-seared and while Chinese dumplings are probably the most common kind of dumplings that come to mind, there are also Japanese gyoza, old-fashioned chicken and dumplings, potstickers, Korean dumplings, Polish dumplings—even cornmeal dumplings. Here are 32 authentic and easy dumpling recipes to feast on during Chinese New Year and any other time you’re craving dumplings, which if you’re anything like us, is 24/7....

No matter what style of home you have, there are all kinds of ideas for making a porch look inviting and festive for Christmas. You can decorate with miniature Christmas trees, vintage sleds, buffalo checks, glitzy sparkle or a variety of fun signs. Choose traditional Christmas colors or try some pretty shades of pink. Whatever your style, there are plenty of ideas and options to purchase. Check out these 35 Christmas porch decor ideas that will give you plenty of inspiration for decorating your own porch....

Trader Joe’s, the beloved supermarket chain, is known for its unique products, which include organic foods, vegetarian options, gluten-free delights, unusual frozen meals, and imported and domestic foods. The store has a wide range of meal options, but it’s their snacks that really hit some home runs. From baked cheese bites to chocolate-covered pretzels and vegan pork grinds, Trader Joe’s has a seemingly never-ending selection of munchies that’ll satisfy any craving....

When Is Lent This Year? Lent 2022 will begin on Wednesday March 2nd, Ash Wednesday, and end on Thursday April 14th. The 40 days leading up to Easter are to prepare and reflect before the celebrations begin. Christians do this to replicate Christ’s sacrifice as he wandered in the dessert for 40 days. Why No Meat On Friday During Lent? For centuries, Catholics, and other religions as well, have observed not eating meat on Ash Wednesday and every Friday during Lent....

Now that people are somewhat comfortable traveling again, there’s been an uptick in family road trips. No flights, airports or international headaches to deal with. Just you, the car, kids and an open road (with maybe a map and obviously some road trip snacks). Whether you are traveling to finally check a tourist destination off your bucket list, or to see family for the first time in what seems like forever, there are so many amazing adventures that lie ahead!...

If you love good food and good drink, you probably also like documenting your foodie experiences whenever you can on Instagram. And there are so many so-bad-they’re-awesome food puns out there, your captions for your food content never need to be boring. Especially when it comes to your love of fermented grape juice! Whether you are a seasoned sommelier or an amateur oenophile, this list of 40 wine puns will surely put you on cloud wine!...

Here are the best high school grad gifts from mom and dad. Here at Parade.com, we’re all about sharing products we love with our audience. When you make a purchase on an item seen on this page, we may earn a commission, however, all picks are independently chosen unless otherwise mentioned. 40 High School Graduation Gifts From Parents 1. Custom Photo Book, From $13 at VistaPrint There’s no doubt your child has made so many memories over the years, especially around graduation....

During strawberry season, I want to take advantage of these sweet berries as much as I can—whether it’s at the farmer’s market, the fruit grocer, or at the strawberry farm—the urge to collect and bring home as many strawberries as possible is always there. Whenever I visit the market or my local grocery store, I stalk the fresh berry section, looking for the sweetest, most beautiful carton of strawberries to take home....

What are some good Easter brunch food ideas? You may be wondering: what should be on my Easter brunch menu? A complete brunch menu usually will have something savory, like classic eggs benedict, an easy egg bake or anything with bacon! And you can’t forget my favorite part—the sweets! Whether it’s french toast, cinnamon rolls, scones, sweet breads or Easter bread, we’ve included all the sweet and savory treats synonymous with a celebratory brunch....

Is Cream Cheese Keto? A 1-ounce serving of full fat cream cheese has less than 1 gram carb which makes it very low in carbs. But some brands add in stabilizers that up the carb count, so it’s important to look at the nutritional label and ingredient list. Each serving also has about 10 grams of fat and only 2g of protein, making it perfect for a high-fat moderate-protein keto diet....