I am laughably bad at building gingerbread houses. In fact, the process is so stressful, several members of my family refuse to partake in this holiday activity with me. Beyond aesthetics, my main issue lies in the fact that my houses are always falling down, and that makes me say ugly words, but I've found some tasty reinforcement in the form of Rice Krispies Treats.

Even if you’ve got a serious sweet tooth, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer volume of sugary snacks that get distributed this time of year. If cookie fatigue has set in, there’s a better way: people lose their fucking minds for homemade bread, and it’s so much easier than you’d think.

There are the spices and seasonings you should always have in your pantry, and then are the special bois. These are the blends that smell so good and look so pretty, but maybe seem just a little too precious for everyday use. These are the blends you should give as gifts.

The stretch from December to January is so festive, so cheerful - and so expensive. There are the gifts for your family and friends, new outfits for dinners and parties, booze and food for your own shindigs, airfare or petrol, holiday cards... the list goes on. In my house, at least, the late-January credit bills always bring a horrified reckoning and promises to do better next year.

If you're thinking of getting a friend, loved one, or colleague a present, you might find picking out "the perfect gift" to be an experience fraught with indecision.

Holiday gift-giving has gotten out of hand.

Some people are great at getting exactly the right thing and at a good price, too; for those of us who panic-buy a bottle of wine at the last minute, it might help to think of gift shopping from a different perspective.

Worried about packing on the pounds with all the feasting, parties and delicious gifts of the holiday season? I've got some good news for you then: science says holiday weight gain isn't nearly as big a deal as you think it is.

Christmas trees are wonderful and cosy and festive, but they’re also damn expensive, at a time of year when most of us are already struggling not to blow our budgets.

Something about the holidays makes people want to gift sweet, homemade treats to each other. Even the most kitchen-avoidant among us flock to theirs to whip up seasonal confections. If you possess such an impulse but, like me, are quite lazy, I have good news: we have many treats you can DIY, with required effort ranging from “falling off a log” to “wow, I must love this person a good bit.”

There’s an embarrassment of riches when it comes to content these days. Countless podcasts, TV shows, newsletters, magazines, traditional media outlets, YouTube series, Instagram stories and more all vie for our attention, as well as our subscription dollars. While many of us would like to donate $5 a month or whatever other low figure the creators ask for, we often don’t or can’t.

With the holidays on the way we can turn our attention to other, more important matters, such holiday parties, and holiday party snacks. Hosting a good party is a matter of giving the people what they want, and the people — in my experience - want dip.

You're all set to leave for your well-deserved Christmas holiday when you realise you haven't prepped your home at all. Here's a list of all the energy vampires you should disable (or adjust) before you head out.

Some airports are just better for stopover than others, both in terms of lowering your airfare costs, and adding to your overall comfort and convenience. (And some airports should simply be avoided altogether, if possible.) When I had a couple hours to kill at Honolulu's airport, for example, I was able to relax in their tropical garden (shown above) rather than a crowded waiting area or forgettable airport bar.

The rest of November and December, which encompass a morass of religious ceremonies, rampant consumerism, and insane eating, often feel like a wash. New Year’s Eve is a shining beacon, the time when we’ll reset all our filthy habits — so, why bother now? Because setting a pre-resolution-resolution can still turn some aspect of your life around.

You might not think of airlines offering deals Black Friday and Cyber Monday — usually the deals are on appliances, clothes and tech, right? But if you have a trip in mind and want to save a bit on airfare, research from different travel companies indicates you might want to check out the deals set to occur over the next week.

Every Australian who has ever ventured overseas knows that international holidays don’t come cheap. Not only do you have to factor in a hefty plane ticket price, but currency swings and travelling during peak season also comes into play. With that said, it's possible for two people to travel surprisingly far on a modest budget of $5000 - with flights and accomdation included.

Some people love giving holiday presents: To them it’s an art, something to be mastered, a fun way to spend an afternoon or two. Others dread the annual giving of gifts, wishing family members would just say what they’d actually like instead of relying on their nearest and dearest to waffle back and forth between the festive socks or the scented lotion.

When it comes to airports in the United States, there are definite winners and losers. Some offer amazing places to eat and flights that are almost always on time, while others have tons of delays and one Hudson News where you can grab an overpriced bag of Chex Mix to ride out that 8-hour layover.