Holidays Made Here Tips & Tricks

 Gilmore Girls is turning 25 years old. It's hard to believe that I started watching when it was first on the air. (I feel old.) The show has always felt like a warm hug to me--there are wonderful characters, a fabulous small town (Stars Hollow!), and the familiar lalalas in the background. (Confused? You can watch the series on Netflix.)

Most people know Gilmore Girls was actually filmed in California and not Connecticut. The town where it was shot at still exists and people can visit all year long. It's at Warner Brother Studios in Burbank, and there's something magical about being allowed to walk around the town that you've watched on TV for years. Every December they do a Holidays Made Here event where the town is dressed up to look like Stars Hollow. We went last year, and had a wonderful time. This year it's bigger and better than ever since it's the 25th anniversary. Scott Patterson, who played Luke, will be making an appearance daily! Tickets are still available! The event is from December 18th-January 4th. Book here!

If you ARE going and are curious on how it all works, I have tips!

Curious on what tour to even pick? If you go to the Warner Bros site, you'll notice different ones. You can book ANY and all include Holidays Made Here. And if you've done the tour and do not want to repeat it, there are just Holidays Made Here tickets and you'll immediately be brought to Stars Hollow. (It's the same price as as the studio tour. We've done the tour twice and continue to do it because the guide puts their own spin on it each time. So we feel like we learn something new.)

If you have no idea where to start when you arrive to the town, it's okay, there are maps! Grab one and all the events and locations will be mentioned. (And yes, I picked up that snow globe last year. They have even more merch this year!)

Stay at The Tangerine. It's affordable and walking distance to Warner Brothers Studios. It's about a 10 minute stroll. We enjoyed our stay--the beds were comfy, there was a military discount, and they do serve delicious pastries for breakfast. 

Realize that Lorelai's house and Luke's will be the most popular spots, so bring patience. This year I read that there might be "fast passes" available to purchase to bypass those lines, but I am unsure the cost. We waited in line last year, and Lorelai's house took about 20 minutes and Luke's took nearly an hour. There are people who will take photos with your cell phone! 

Understand that you can't linger in Luke's--the line is long, so yes, it's not the spot to spend ages. They will take your pic at one of the tables, and if you purchased food, it will be waiting. But it's not like the typical Luke's experience where you can sit and eat and chat. We spent about 15 minutes inside and marveled at the actual cash register that was used in the series.

This year you can buy a Food Passport, which allows you to try different foods and drinks. This year there are even more dining options--there's Weston's Bakery, Antonioli's Pizzeria, Al's Pancake World, traditional tea in the Dragonfly Inn, plus more--and guys, this year the SANTA BURGER will be available. We will be trying it. We did try the traditional tea at the Dragonfly last year, and everything was scrumptious! I also got the Founder's Day punch and yup, it's as potent as they say.

Play the Trivia Game! It's offered at the Black & White & Read Bookstore and last year it went on every half hour. And yes, they do change the questions, so if you attempt to go in multiple times to cheat, you cannot. My daughter actually won and got a free Gilmore Girls magnet! Some of those questions are tough. 

The tree lighting is at 530, and it's a beautiful experience, so make sure you're around. Fake snow even falls! Plus the tree is gorgeous. 

Scott Patterson (Luke) and Emily Kuroda (Mrs. Kim) will be popping up nearly every day of the event, which is different from last year. We cannot wait to meet them. We're lucky, because we'll be there on 18th when Scott is doing his podcast. Matt Czuchry (Logan), Leann Hunley, Gregg Henry (Mr and Mrs Huntzberger, and Adam Wylie (Brad) will also be in attendance. So be sure to follow along on Instagram to see them!

The event lasts until 8 PM, and yup, you can stay until then even if you have a morning ticket. Last year we stayed until they kicked us out. When everyone is clearing out, it's the best time for photos without a bunch of people around. If you find yourself still hungry, Bob's Big Boy is walking distance to the studio. We ate there several times, and it's delicious.

Burbank is the best town, and the Holidays Made Here event is sure to bring joy and wonderful memories to all who attend. My daughter even took her senior photos in Stars Hollow since the show also means a ton to her so if you have a graduating family member, it truly is a fabulous spot for pics.

We cannot wait to return this year. 

Billie Eilish Holiday Gift Ideas

Billie Eilish is a talented young singer who has won many awards for her talents. She sings. She plays instruments. She writes the songs. And she's a kind human. My daughter Natalie has been a fan for many years--in fact, she finally made it to her concert last month.

She has many Billie items on her holiday list, and if you have a person in your life who is also a fan, I have ideas. 

First up is her Ocean Eyes vinyl. Ocean Eyes, as longtime admirers will know, was Billie's first single. This is a limited edition, and what makes it special is that it is a translucence turquoise. Even better, it is only $15. Buy it here. 

Billie has many perfumes out! One of Natalie's all time favorites is Billie Eilish No 1. It smells sweet, and Natalie has gone through many of these, so yes, it truly smells nice. You can purchase at Ulta Beaty or Eilish Fragrances. Or, I even found it on Amazon for $66. Normally it's $72, so you can save HERE. 

Billie Eilish has a website dedicated to merch, and it is where Natalie finds a lot of clothes she likes. Now, they are generally more expensive because Billie only uses sustainable items. Sales do happen, and it's how I got this shirt. It's of Billie's dog Shark. I do not believe it is sold on the site anymore, but check out the other tops available.

The website also has jewelry, like this Blosh necklace. Natalie has had this since middle school, which is why it's missing some stones. There are other styles on the site, and the one Natalie is wearing is sold out, but you can leave your email and be notified when it returns. Check it out here. 

I got a message from Natalie saying that Billie had her own Uno game out, so I picked it up. I'm not sure if Natalie will ever play it. I'm sure it'll be on display.

We bought this Billie Eilish doll years ago, and Natalie still loves her. Yup, this was during Covid times and Natalie even had a Billie mask. Buy the doll here. 

I know Natalie will love her new Billie merch and I hope there was something you could use as a gift idea. 

Check Out These Ornaments At Walmart

The holiday season is upon us. All the decor is out and it's always fun to check out what stores have in stock.

I found a lot of fabulous ornaments at Walmart. (Remember how I shared the 80s ones?)

For starters, check out Furby. Who has an original Furby that would freak them out in the middle of the night? I do! I still have him to this day. (He's been switched off.) This ornament is on sale for $8! Get it here.

We watch the movie Elf every year, so I thought these were adorable. 

If you know someone who plays Minecraft, here's a wolf! Get him here.

I love Grogu, so I found this one to be adorable. Get him here.

And you all know I love Gilmore Girls, so I was thrilled to see this:

If you're a SNL fan, check this out:

My son loves Squid Game (I can't watch! Too violent) so I know he'd like this. Get it here.

Another Gilmore Girls ornament! This is the famous Stars Hollow sign:

And one final Gilmore Girls ornament (it's the 25th anniversary so that's why you're seeing all this new merch!) of the gazebo. This one actually sings the theme song, so it's extra special. Get it here.