I love baking (and eating! ;)) sweet treats and cookies, so when I saw the cookie cutters at The Buttercup House on Etsy, I stopped in my tracks. They have all kinds of neat cookie cutters, such as holiday shapes, states, alphabets, animals, and more!
If you are planning a themed party anytime soon, you will likely find a cookie cutter to fit your theme. Peruse their collection to find the right one for you or buy a few for your friend who loves to bake. I really like this polar bear, but I also really like this gnome!
If you have any friends or loved ones who are Jewish, you might like to see this dreidel cookie cutter or menorah cookie cutter.
![Polar Bear Cookie Cutter ~ Etsy Seller: The Buttercup House](http://www.northpole.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/polar-bear-cookie-cutter.jpg)
Photo Credit: Doug Waldron. License: CC BY SA 2.0
A fun activity the whole family will enjoy is a ride through a holiday light show. Many cities put on an annual holiday light show with hundreds of thousands of Christmas lights. A drive through holiday experience is a perfect way to enjoy the beautiful lights without leaving the comfort of your warm car. Here are a few light shows that you can attend this year—even after Christmas day!
The Dancing Lights of Christmas – Nashville, TN
This is the 5th year that the festive folks at Jellystone Park have put on this fabulous light display. As you drive through this amazing light show, you can jam out to Christmas tunes on your radio and watch the lights dance to the music.
The Dancing Lights of Christmas at Jellystone Park
2572 Music Valley Drive
Nashville, TN 37214
Open until January 4, 2015
Hershey Sweet Lights – Hershey, PA
This sweet light display extends through 2 miles of wooded trails just minutes away from Hersheypark. Make sure you check out their website for hours of operation and directions.
Hershey Sweet Lights
100 W. Hersheypark Drive
Hershey, PA 17033
800.437.7439
Open until January 1, 2015
Lanier Islands Christmas
Take a rolling stroll through Lanier Islands to enjoy the twinkling Christmas light display. At the end of the tour, you can visit the Holiday Village where you can see a live nativity scene, visit with Santa, and even skate around The Polar Rink.
Lanier Islands
7000 Lanier Islands Parkway
Buford, GA 30518
770.945.8787
Open until December 31, 2014
The Winter Festival of Lights at Oglebay Resort
The light show at Oglebay Resort is one of the largest light shows in the US. Spanning over 6 miles and 300 acres, this is one holiday show you don’t want to miss. If you can’t make it this year, perhaps you can plan a family trip in 2015.
Oglebay Resort
465 Lodge Drive
Wheeling, West Virginia 26003
800.624.6988
Open until January 4, 2015
Lights Under Louisville – Louisville, KY
This spectacular light show has over 2 million lights that cover 17 miles of passageways… underground! Drive your own vehicle into the Louisville Mega Cavern to view this one-of-a-kind light show and create a memorable Christmas experience for your family.
Louisville Mega Cavern
1841 Taylor Ave
Louisville, KY 40213
877.614.6342
Open until January 4, 2015
Teehee! This little starfish ornament is so funny! If Santa were a starfish, this is what he would look like—sporting red swim trunks, shades, and his signature red hat. He is holding a fishing rod in one hand, but if fishing isn’t your style, you can get a starfish Santa with skis, a golf club, a volleyball, or holding nothing at all. This would make a nice gift for anyone who loves the beach or collects cute Santa ornaments.
![Fishing Starfish Santa ~ Etsy Seller: Cereus Art](http://www.northpole.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/starfish-santa.jpg)
In 6 short days, Santa will be making his big trip around the globe. He will visit homes in many countries, delivering gifts to children. As you know, many different languages exist, and therefore Santa has a multitude of names besides Santa Claus, Kris Kringle, and Ol’ Saint Nick.
Give yourself a quick, fun foreign language lesson with the infographic below. Practice saying “Merry Christmas” in a different language and say “Fröhliche Weihnachten” or “Joyeux Noël” to your loved ones!
![](http://www.northpole.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/how-to-say-mc-web.jpg)
Click on the image for a closer look! Infographic via Infographic.ca
These whimsical wedding invitations would be perfect for a December or holiday wedding. The floral illustration feels festive and wintery without being overly Christmassy. Love it!
![il_fullxfull.654831871_akne](http://www.northpole.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/il_fullxfull.654831871_akne.png)